Chapter 3 Three
Ren Yunyou would secretly go to see Ruan Mianmian every day after school.
Ruan Mianmian was waiting there as promised, sometimes carrying snacks or treats, sometimes comic magazines, and sometimes building blocks or craft sets.
"Don't tell Mom." The two sat in the bubble tea shop, and Ruan Mianmian chose the seat furthest inside.
Why?
"Because Mommy still has things to do, I won't tell Mommy yet."
"Are you preparing a surprise for your mother?"
"I guess so." Ruan Mianmian reached out her hand and made a pinky promise with her. "Then it's a promise, you'll keep it a secret for me."
"Mmm!" Ren Yunyou ate until his cheeks were bulging, afraid that if he ate too slowly, Ren Yi would find out when he got off work. "Then Mommy, you have to hurry up, tomorrow is Mommy's birthday."
Of course she remembers.
"How is Mom doing lately?" Ruan Mianmian asked cautiously.
She struggled with the decision for a long time, but in the end, she still couldn't let go of Renyi.
"What does Mommy want to hear?" Ren Yunyou looked up at her, "Is Mommy doing well or not?"
"Hey, who taught you that? You're so precocious for your age." Ruan Mianmian pinched her cheek.
That's how it's portrayed on TV—Mommy, stop pinching my face—
"Then answer me properly."
“Mom isn’t doing well,” Ren Yunyou rubbed his face, looking at her with a resentful expression, “not well at all.”
That's not good.
Ruan Mianmian touched the ring on her ring finger.
It was bought during my first year of working. I saved up for a whole year.
That crybaby even cried when they were putting rings on each other's fingers.
After finishing the egg waffles, Ren Yunyou gulped down the milk tea.
"Mom's almost done with her meeting, bye-bye Mommy." She glanced at her watch and slung her backpack over her shoulder again.
"Okay, be careful on your way home." Ruan Mianmian patted her head.
"Mommy, come home early!" The little girl hugged her waist, rubbed her face against her chest, and ran away.
"Your daughter?" The bubble tea shop owner, who had witnessed the whole thing, propped his chin on his hand. "That's wonderful."
Ruan Mianmian smiled.
I really want to go home.
She flipped open her phone, which was lying on the table, and saw the messages popping up constantly. Her expression immediately turned cold.
*
"How about we go to the banquet with Mom tonight?"
"Okay~" On the way, Ren Yunyou held his mother's hand and bounced around like he was on a swing.
"Why are you so happy today?" Renyi asked her.
"Hehe, I'm just in a good mood." Ren Yunyou pursed her lips, determined to keep her secret from her mother!
My distant cousin is getting married, and tonight is the thank-you banquet.
She didn't want to go, but she got off work a little late today, and her parents would be attending.
The relatives hadn't seen Renyi for a long time, and the conversation at the dinner table revolved entirely around her.
"Is Xiao Yi a teacher?"
"Oh, hello teacher! Your job is stable, and you get winter and summer vacations."
“She’s usually very busy,” Ms. Ren sighed. “She has to take care of forty or fifty children in a class, plus there are evaluations and assessments… Teachers are often exhausted.”
“Yes, the homeroom teacher also has to communicate with the parents, it sounds like such a hassle,” the aunt sitting next to them added.
He nodded and served food to Ren Yunyou.
Little did they know that their words would come true. Before they could even take two bites of their meal, a parent called to say that their child still hadn't come home.
"Yunyun, go home with Grandma first. Mom will pick you up later." After hanging up the phone, Renyi got up and left the room.
Ren's mother told her to go to work without worry, assuring her that she would take care of things.
I asked several of the boy's close friends, but none of them knew where he had gone.
Remembering the recent incidents of students from our school being bullied by students from the neighboring middle school, Ren Yi felt a pang of anxiety and returned to the school security office to check the surveillance footage.
After school, the boy left with several people who looked like gangsters.
I took a picture with my phone, contacted some acquaintances at the police station, and went with them to places these people might go to look for them.
Several hours later, the boy was finally found in a karaoke bar.
"Cough cough." The night wind was a bit cold, and after blowing on it for a while, my throat became uncomfortable.
"Teacher Ren, are you feeling alright?" her companion asked.
He waved his hand casually and coughed a few times.
"Sister Mianmian! Over here!"
Is it really that much of a coincidence?
Hearing the name he had been longing for, he turned around at will.
A young girl stood at the entrance of the bar and waved to the other side of the street.
"It's cold outside, why don't you go inside?"
"I was waiting for you." The girl hugged her arm, seemingly pleading.
"Remember to wear a coat next time."
"Alright, alright, come inside with me."
Ruan Mianmian followed behind her, but before she could take a step, someone grabbed her wrist.
Unlike the overwhelming, chaotic smells, the person behind me smelled warm, with a soapy scent mixed with a hint of lemon.
It's any flavor.
Ruan Mianmian frowned and turned around to face her.
He kept his head down, however.
"Mianmian." After a long while, Renyi finally spoke.
"Why did you take off your ring?"
The bells of the square rang in the distance.
It's midnight.
Ruan Mianmian took a white box out of her pocket and handed it to her.
"Here you go."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com