Chapter 94 Mom asked: Your boyfriend is Zhaojing, right?
The following evening, the two arrived in northern Beijing. Only after the car entered Xiyuan did Lin Zaoyi realize that she had returned with Tan Zhaojing again.
Thinking that he should go in again in half an hour, she ran into Tan Jiani, who was strolling in the courtyard. She told her that her mother had gone to the old house with Uncle Tan.
The three of them went into the living room together.
The aunt handed over a fruit platter.
Tan Jiani forked a piece of apple and ate it. "What did you guys do this weekend?"
She asked casually, but her brother thought she was trying to find out something and gave her a cold look, saying, "Why ask so many questions?"
"Can't I be free?"
Tan Zhaojing: "If it's salty, drink more water."
Tan Jiani: "..."
Lin Zaoyi chuckled silently, a grape suddenly appearing in her mouth—Tan Zhaojing had stuffed it in. She instinctively glanced around, relieved that her aunt wasn't nearby.
"I can do it myself."
Tan Zhaojing took another one and held it to her lips, saying, "It's okay, there's no one around."
Tan Jiani paused in her chewing. Was she not human?
"You guys have gone too far."
Lin Zaoyi: "Don't add 'we,' it's your brother who doesn't treat you like a human being."
Tan Jiani: "..."
One poisons, the other finishes off.
They really are a perfect match.
Lin Zaoyi was a little tired. Someone had been too restless these past two days, and she hadn't slept much. She lazily stood up from the sofa and said, "I'll go back to my room first."
Tan Zhaojing stood up and said, "Come to my room."
Lin Zaoyi glanced at her sideways, "Is there something you need?"
Tan Zhaojing: "I have a few emails to process."
Lin Zaoyi didn't understand the connection, "And then?"
Her wrist was grabbed, and someone pulled her towards the stairwell, saying, "Come with me."
"..."
Tan Jiani almost choked on a bite of fruit; does it have to be this cloying?!
Hey bro, this is home, be careful!
Mingxian arrived home half an hour later. The maid said that Zaoyi had already returned, along with Zhaojing, and the two of them were together.
She went upstairs to her daughter's room, knocked but received no response, then pushed the door open, only to find no one there.
Staring into the empty room, Mingxian's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. She closed the door, retraced her steps, paused at the top of the stairs, and turned her head to look towards the third floor.
After hesitating for a few seconds, she turned around and walked down to the living room.
Tan Jiani played the game in landscape mode until she finished a round and then noticed that Aunt Ming was sitting on the other side of the sofa. Her mind went blank for a moment. When did Aunt Ming come back?
It must have been just now, right?
I wanted to ask a couple of questions, but I managed to swallow the words that were on the tip of my tongue.
Anything you say could arouse suspicion.
She secretly texted Lin Zaoyi: "Still all lovey-dovey! Your mom's back!"
Lin Zaoyi took a nap, really just a nap, but it wasn't a deep sleep. She opened her eyes as soon as the message notification sounded.
Upon seeing the message, he quickly jumped out of bed. "Brother Zhaojing, my mom's back. Come down in a few minutes!"
Downstairs, Mingxian rested her elbows on the handrail, her palms supporting her forehead.
Da da da—
A slow, unsteady slurring reached her ears. She opened her eyes and saw her daughter walking towards her, looking as if she had just woken up.
My heart sank.
Has it come to that point with Zhaojing?
Lin Zaoyi sat down next to her mother and noticed that her complexion was not good, with light blue circles under her eyes. "Did you not get enough rest?"
Uncle Tan's voice came over, "He's been having insomnia for two days. He says it's because of work, but I don't believe him. Zaoyi, you should ask him properly."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zaoyi's eyes filled with worry. "Mom, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing serious."
Mingxian pulled her daughter up. "Come on, let's go eat."
Lin Zaoyi wasn't sure if she was being too sensitive, but she felt something was off about her mother. "Mom—"
"Let's talk after we finish eating," her mother interrupted.
Tan Zhaojing was the last to sit down. As soon as he sat down, his father looked over and asked, "Zhaojing, do you know why your grandfather called me over?"
Tan Zhaojing probably knew, "My marriage?"
Mr. Tan nodded and asked, "What are you thinking?"
Lin Zaoyi dreads hearing about the marriage alliance with Zhaojing, as it feels like a reminder that their relationship is nearing its end.
It's time to part ways.
She was aware of this from the beginning, but she buryed her head in the sand, believing that as long as she didn't mention it, the separation would never happen.
But the moment it's mentioned, my emotions immediately vanish, and my heart aches.
He spoke in a crisp, decisive tone, “No marriage alliance.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with arranged marriages,” her mother, who usually didn’t participate in the conversation, suddenly chimed in, and she instinctively looked at her.
Mingxian didn't look back, afraid she wouldn't be able to be ruthless, but if she softened her heart, her daughter would be met with endless pain.
A slight smile appeared on his face. "The old man chose her. He considered all aspects carefully. Zhaojing, you can try to get along with her."
Tan Zhaojing frowned almost imperceptibly for a moment, then slightly lifted his eyelids. "Aunt Ming, feelings are not projects. I can fail at the latter at will, but not feelings."
This is what Mingxian fears second, causing her great inner turmoil. Even before it happens, she has already foreseen the future paths of her two children.
She only hoped that her daughter wouldn't be too deeply in love.
It shouldn't be deep.
Zhaojing had only been back in the country for two months.
Forcing a smile, she asked, "Are you sure this relationship of yours will last?"
Lin Zaoyi felt a chill run down her spine. "Mom, you..."
Her mother didn't look at her, but simply asked, "What's wrong?"
Her tone was warm, and it was this gentleness that calmed her racing heart a little. "It's gone..."
"Aunt Ming."
Tan Zhaojing opened his lips gently, "No one can predict whether we'll stay together, but I'm certain I won't have a marriage alliance."
Mingxian chuckled, "See, you can't even predict it yourself, so why not end it sooner?"
Tan Zhaojing remained calm, speaking slowly and deliberately, "I just don't want to make any absolute statements. Everything depends on human effort."
As soon as the words were spoken, the dining table fell silent.
Mr. Tan was quite surprised. He really didn't expect his wife to take the initiative to bring up this topic. He patted the back of her hand and said, "I agree with Zhaojing. I don't want him to go down the same old path as me."
Tan Jiani, who had been silent all along, opened her mouth, but after calling out "brother," the words she wanted to say died in her throat. She thought for a moment and realized that she didn't seem to have a say at this dinner table.
Even if I told him, my brother wouldn't listen, and he might reveal something.
Speaking of which, Aunt Ming is acting a bit strange today.
Why are you getting involved in my brother's affairs?
...
After dinner, Lin Zaoyi left the living room with her mother. She felt that her mother was preoccupied with something to do all evening, and she responded absentmindedly to several topics.
He hooked his arm around hers and shook it gently. "Mom."
Mingxian kept thinking about how to tell her daughter. A few steps away was the backyard, where no one passed by. She stopped.
She glanced at her daughter for a few seconds, then said, "Your aunt called me."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zaoyi's calm eyes cracked for a moment. She couldn't panic, she couldn't panic. Her mother only knew she had a boyfriend…
Stay calm, stay calm.
She swallowed hard, making up an excuse, "I just feel... I feel it's not the right time to bring it back..."
The necklace around her neck was caught on something, and her mother chuckled softly, "Your boyfriend gave it to you, didn't he?"
Before she could even deny it, her mother's next words drained all the color from her face.
"Your boyfriend is Zhaojing, right?"
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