085 Is Manman your nickname?
Upon hearing the name "Manman," Xie Yaoyao tensed up to her core.
She didn't look at the caller ID and didn't know it was Grandma Deng calling.
The old woman's voice was strong and penetrating, but fortunately the driver honked his horn, drowning it out.
She glanced guiltily at the rearview mirror and saw that Huo Yanxi was resting with his eyes closed.
He probably didn't hear me, right?
"Manman, can you hear me? Hey, hey, hey, Manman..."
Startled, Xie Yaoyao quickly turned the phone volume down to the lowest setting and forced a dry laugh, saying, "I'm listening."
Grandma Deng was Grandma Chi's old best friend and had taken good care of their family in the past.
After the houseboat burned down, Xie Yaoyao suspected that someone wanted her dead, so she never contacted Granny Deng until two years ago when she went back to pay respects to her maternal grandmother and met Granny Deng.
After hearing her unspeakable secret, Grandma Deng promised to keep it a secret and would never let anyone know that she was still alive.
Grandma Deng said, "Little Huo is doing well now, isn't he? I heard that the people he sent are going to rebuild your grandma's grave and erect a new tombstone, and also throw a banquet. That must cost a lot of money, right?"
When Grandma Chi passed away, her family still owed their neighbors a lot of money, so they couldn't afford a proper burial.
It was only after Grandma Deng lent them five thousand yuan that they were able to bury Grandma Chi.
Huo Yanxi's desire to hold a grand funeral now is likely to make up for the regret of his grandmother's hasty burial seven years ago.
Xie Yaoyao glanced at the rearview mirror again, and unexpectedly met a pair of dark and deep eyes.
Huo Yanxi had opened his eyes at some point and was silently watching her.
Xie Yaoyao guiltily looked away, her heart pounding like a rabbit. She gripped her phone tightly. "I don't know. We haven't been in contact."
Grandma Deng was taken aback. "Aren't you two together? Manman, your maternal grandmother raised Xiao Huo for more than ten years. I thought that after she passed away, Xiao Huo would take care of you."
Xie Yaoyao said softly, "It's because I didn't want him to take care of me, Mother-in-law. I have something to do right now. I'll call you again tomorrow."
Grandma Deng is old and talkative. She always remembers the past. "You two were so close back then. Why aren't you together? If your grandma knew, she wouldn't be able to leave this world peacefully."
Hearing her sighs and lamentations, Xie Yaoyao felt a pang of sadness herself.
Everyone thought that she should take advantage of Huo Yanxi's kindness and make him repay his grandmother's kindness in raising him.
But only she knew.
What she ever wanted was not gratitude, but love.
He doesn't love her; keeping him by her side will only cause them both pain.
They grew up together and went through so much together.
She would rather suffer herself than see him suffer.
"Grandma, I'm hanging up now. Take care of yourself." Xie Yaoyao hung up the phone.
She turned her head to look out the car window, the light from the streetlights brushing against her face, revealing a faint sadness in her eyes.
They used to be so close, but now they are strangers to each other, even though they are riding in the same car.
Xie Yaoyao didn't look in the rearview mirror, so she didn't notice that the man's gaze had become deep and melancholy.
Just now, he seemed to hear the person on the phone call Xie Yaoyao as "Manman".
"Does Teacher Xie have a nickname?"
Xie Yaoyao suddenly heard Huo Yanxi in the back row ask a question, and she became tense.
Could it be that he heard Granny Deng call her by her childhood nickname?
Xie Yaoyao shook her head. "No."
"Really?" Huo Yanxi's intense gaze fell on the back of her head, making Xie Yaoyao feel like she was being pricked by needles.
Xie Yaoyao turned slightly to the side, looked back at Huo Yanxi, and said frankly, "Really, no, my closer friends all call me Yaoyao."
She needed to dispel Huo Yanxi's doubts and prevent him from recognizing her.
Huo Yanxi's gaze swept across her face, then he gave a self-deprecating laugh, realizing that he was indeed indulging in wishful thinking.
But sometimes, once a seed of doubt is planted in a person's mind, they will try every means to verify it until they get the answer they want.
He was so concerned about the familiarity Xie Yaoyao gave him, and the taste of her cooking.
This is definitely not a coincidence.
The car drove into No. 22 Victoria Peak, and the two got out. Huo Yanxi was carrying a package of desserts from a French restaurant.
Xie Yaoyao was taken aback.
Just now at the observation deck, Huo Yanxi left in such a hurry that she thought he had forgotten to pack the dessert.
She quickly stepped forward, "Mr. Huo, let me take it. You had two portions packed, so I'll send one to Mr. Huo."
Huo Yanxi didn't say anything, stepped onto the stairs, and disappeared from Xie Yaoyao's sight in a short while.
Xie Yaoyao watched his figure disappear behind the door and let out a long sigh.
They managed to fool everyone again.
only……
Huo Yanxi is going back to the small fishing village to hold a memorial service for his grandmother's seventh death anniversary. What will she do then?
In recent years, in order to avoid Huo Yanxi, she would go back a week in advance.
However, it would be inappropriate for her to go back early on such an important day as the seventh anniversary of her death.
Xie Yaoyao looked down at her shadow cast on the ground by the light.
She didn't want to appear before Huo Yanxi in this state and make him certain that she was Chi Xiaoman.
He'll probably be incredibly glad he divorced her five years ago.
As she slowly walked into the villa, Xie Ziyu jogged over and hugged her leg.
"Mommy, what delicious food did you buy for me? I can smell how good it is."
Xie Yaoyao smiled and said, "I bought desserts, one for you and one for Huo Zidu."
"Wow, I love desserts the most, Mommy, I love you!" Xie Ziyu put his hands on his head and made a heart shape with his hands.
Xie Yaoyao was amused by him and felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
Thankfully, Yu Bao was there for her during these five years, helping her through the most difficult days of her life.
"Yubao, Mommy loves you too."
I will always love you.
You are a precious gift from God to me.
Xie Ziyu took a dessert, knelt on the carpet next to the low table, and excitedly hummed a little tune as he unwrapped it.
Listen carefully, it's Xie Yaoyao singing him a lullaby.
Uncle Jian greeted him, "Teacher Xie, you're back. How was the house inspection?"
When Xie Yaoyao left, she mentioned to Uncle Jian that she was going to accompany a friend to look at houses.
Xie Yaoyao smiled and said, "The locations are all very good, and the houses are spacious and bright. I just don't know which one my friend likes."
Is the transportation convenient?
New housing developments in the port city have reached saturation, but because it is an economic capital, property transactions are very frequent.
Therefore, many older properties are constantly being renovated to make them easier to rent or sell.
"Yes, there are two apartment complexes right next to the subway station, which is quite convenient."
"That's good."
Xie Yaoyao said, "My friends are all very satisfied, and now we're just torn about which one to choose."
Uncle Jian said, "Could you tell me which agency you used? I'd like to see if I have any connections there, and maybe we can save some money on the rent."
Xie Yaoyao's eyes lit up. "Uncle Jian, thank you. I'll ask my friend right away. Saving him some money would be a good thing too."
As she spoke, she caught a glimpse of Huo Yanxi standing on the spiral staircase, looking at her with an ambiguous gaze.
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