While my mother was earnestly advising me, I also went through the process of thinking about Yang Si. I felt a little threatened, but I wasn't completely swayed by my mother. After a smile, I replied, "Mom, I think Zhang Peiming (the richest man in my small county) did the right thing. He gave his daughter a Land Rover as part of her dowry to tell the man that his daughter was born into wealth... and then he didn't interfere, hoping that the man would have his own backbone and not be dependent on others... It's quite a balanced approach... The problem must lie with the man, but is your son that kind of person?... It's not that I'm arrogant, but a few years ago, I could afford the Land Rover you mentioned with my own two hands, and it would even be a high-end model... I'm a career-minded person with my own ideas."
After a moment of contemplation, my mother replied, "You did make some money the year before last... but without Lu Jia's sacrifice, could you have succeeded? Back then, she not only took care of your father in Chengdu but also paid for his medical expenses... That's why you were able to stay in Dali and start your business with peace of mind... Child, we must never forget our roots!"
Being lectured by my mother on moral grounds left me feeling powerless. After a long while, I finally said, "You really shouldn't get involved in what's between me and Lu Jia anymore. Two people who aren't compatible will still break up in the end, even if they force themselves to stay together... It's good that things are like this now, because we're even, and everything that needed to be settled has been settled..."
"Don't say Mom is being petty... If you two really don't stay together, what will happen to those two houses with Lu Jia's name on them?"
I laughed: "You're telling the truth... It turns out that the people tied up by two houses aren't me, but you and my dad."
“Your father worked hard his whole life and still couldn’t afford a house in Chengdu… These days, a house is the result of the hard work of several generations of a family. How can your father and I not care? Besides, you are the one who made the mistake, not Lu Jia… You should apologize to Lu Jia. There’s nothing to say.”
I was silent for a moment before saying, "If Lu Jia is truly a person with higher moral standards than me, she will definitely handle the house issue properly... If she's unwilling to return even one house... then perhaps you and Dad really misjudged her..."
"this……"
“Mom… let’s wait and see. Time will tell… If Lu Jia ends up owning both houses, then I will truly have no regrets, because she doesn’t love me, your son…”
"What if she returns both houses to you?"
"Then I must have misjudged her. I am inferior and unworthy of her nobility."
"Whether it's good or bad, you're not willing to put any effort into Lu Jia, are you?"
"I can't talk about it anymore, Mom... I didn't sleep well last night, I want to sleep a little longer... By the way, the house I bought in Cangshan Villa, I can get it next week... Fully furnished, move-in ready... The developer should..."
"We've already informed Lu Jia. If you're planning to stay here long-term, ask her if she'd be willing to let you live in this apartment."
What do you mean by that?
"You should go and talk to her."
I didn't spell it out, but regarding the house, ever since Chen Jin reminded me, I've been thinking about the outcome. I'm willing to give the house in Chengdu to Lu Jia as a way of repaying her... As for the house in Dali, I want it back... I'm not a saint, I have my own selfish motives... For me, the house in Chengdu is enough to settle all grievances between Lu Jia and me.
...
In a daze, I spent another ten days or so in the hospital. Tomorrow is the day I will leave the hospital. Although I still can't walk like a normal person, I don't need to continue receiving treatment in the hospital. I can just go home and rest.
For the past ten days or so, I haven't contacted Yang Sisi, and she hasn't contacted me either.
She seemed to calm down suddenly, but I knew she was waiting for me...
I know she's not feeling well, because she knows that this so-called "waiting" isn't entirely innocent...
So before she left, she would tell me: Be a foolish woman, and wait for me.
Actually, she understood better than I did... Before I completely let go of Ye Zhi, all my affection was just a form of comfort.
...
On my last afternoon in the hospital, I lay alone in bed, smoking idly out of sheer boredom. An'an hadn't been coming to visit these past few days, trying to avoid suspicion in front of my parents. Actually, I really wanted to talk to her, to have her offer some perspective and guidance...
That's how people are; only when things are smoothed out can they truly unleash their potential...
At least when facing Yang Sisi, I can no longer be so timid and hesitant, or find an excuse to overturn everything I said before. She would be desperate and unable to bear it.
I can't bear to hurt her like this anymore.
...
It's raining again outside. I checked the weather forecast, and it will rain for the next week. So, the rainy season in Dali this year is over... There's no autumn, we've gone straight into early winter, so every time it rains, the temperature drops a lot.
Last night, my mom brought over my fleece-lined leather jacket.
...
As dusk approached, the door was pushed open... The person who came in was Ye Zhi. She was wearing a thick white coat and a scarf; ten days ago, when she came to see me, she was only wearing a shirt.
Although it was only ten days or so, because of the seasonal distance, I still felt like she hadn't come to see me for a long time.
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