Chapter 167: Revealed
Listening to Ren Limeng's obvious rebuttal, Chen Xing subconsciously touched Ren Limeng's right leg with his left leg under the coffee table, trying to stop her from asking questions, but Ren Limeng finally finished asking her questions. The only thing she could hold back was her tone at the moment, restraining the aggressiveness in her words, with the calmest confusion.
Wu Murong's body was tense, and she stared at Ren Limeng with a frown, and asked without hesitation, "Ren Limeng, this is how you talk to your mother. We have guests today, can you be more sensible?"
The heavy tail sound was particularly clear and powerful in the silent living room. Even Ren Shunan, who was busy in the kitchen, couldn't help but look towards the living room. "Li Meng, it's your mother's birthday today. You better bear with it. You still have to record your show later! Xingzhi is still here, you kid!"
Ren Shunan's helpless sigh was more like a reminder, and Ren Limeng heard it very clearly.
Her father meant that she had angered her mother, and the upcoming recording might be canceled and she wouldn't be able to finish it.
But she was really puzzled. Whether it was the competition on Wednesday or today's recording, if her mother did not agree, the program team and Meixiang Theater would not be able to force her. Why was her mother's attitude and actions so contradictory?
Her question just now was not meant to nitpick, she really wanted to know her mother's answer.
Ren Limeng's hands, hanging on her thighs, had already clenched into fists. She took a deep breath and finally lowered her eyes after a while. "I'm sorry, I spoke too harshly. I apologize."
She didn't want to quarrel with her mother when she came back today, but it seemed that from the moment she opened the door and saw her mother's face, her attitude also unconsciously became cold along with her mother's indifference. She went back to her own home and did not record the camera. Ren Limeng did not want to pretend to be a professional.
But she should have known long ago that her true self was not accepted by her family. Why did she still unconsciously harbor fantasies?
Her mother's contradictory attitude had nothing to do with her. She should know that her mother's attitude was just her mother's attitude.
"Auntie, you've been performing Huangmei Opera for thirty years, right? What do you think is the most important thing about Huangmei Opera? Honestly, the Huangmei Opera stage our team is preparing for the performance is still a little off the mark, and we're all a little anxious. I'd like to ask you for advice."
Chen Xingzhi smiled a little embarrassedly, his cold voice carrying a deliberate warmth, and he started a new topic as if he wanted to melt the freezing atmosphere around him. Ren Limeng finally turned her attention to Chen Xingzhi who was speaking.
She could sense the effort behind his unusual talkativeness and activity.
Even when facing the program's chief director Yao Xin and Xu Kai from Meixiang Theater, Chen Xingzhi was cold and indifferent, not caring about any awkward silences. But in her home, the way he tried to save the freezing point atmosphere amidst her and her mother's questioning seemed... a little clumsy and sad.
There's no need to force yourself.
Ren Limeng could understand the secret look that Shen Xingzhi gave her, but she was so disheartened that she had no other ideas. Ren Limeng no longer believed that she could achieve her wish today. Reconciling with her mother was like a floating cloud far away in the sky, and she couldn't reach it even if she tried to reach out.
Ren Limeng tilted her head slightly and couldn't help but secretly look at the cabinet at the entrance. The costume gift box she made by hand was just casually placed among a pile of fruit boxes, instead of being put away directly and solemnly like her mother used to do when receiving guests and accepting gifts. Forgive her fragile heart, she really didn't want to force herself.
Today is my mother’s birthday, but she hasn’t had an easy birthday in recent years. Every year, her parents always send her heartfelt advice after their blessings, telling her about their difficulties and advising her not to be rebellious anymore.
Planning the future with good intentions is an obvious love, but also an unbearable shackle.
She should have come to terms with it long ago; nothing can be forced.
Ren Limeng gripped the ground with her toes tightly, suppressing all wandering thoughts in silence. She lowered her head, her eyes focused on something unknown, and suddenly she pulled the corners of her mouth and smiled gently.
"...Thank you for your advice. I'll pass it on to everyone later. Thank you so much. I've always heard Li Meng say that you're a wonderful singer and an even better person. Seeing you today, I realized she was being modest. You truly are a role model for us all."
"Xiao Shen, you don't have to flatter me. I'm just an old-fashioned person. I'm thankful that my daughter doesn't say bad things about me behind my back."
Wu Murong glanced at Ren Limeng with some disgust, and her words were still not very ruthless when she spoke, but when she looked at Shen Xingzhi, her eyes were unconsciously filled with more smiles, and the tone of accusation could even hear some helplessness.
The meaning behind Chen Xingzhi's words made Ren Limeng slightly stunned. She frowned slightly and even forgot to refute her mother's words. She turned her head to look at Chen Xingzhi. She couldn't connect the man who was so serious in answering her mother's polite words with the cold and indifferent Chen Xingzhi in her impression.
This kind of enthusiasm is so unlike Chen Xingzhi...
During those years of pure love, if Chen Xingzhi had even a little bit of the attitude he has today, she would never let him go even if he gave her a cold face or divorced her cruelly!
Sure enough, love and hate are really obvious!
Ren Limeng blinked and turned her head to look at Shen Xingzhi, trying to make him understand the hint in her eyes. She didn't need him to treat her mother so enthusiastically, nor did she need him to deliberately ease the relationship between her and her mother, no matter what his reason was.
However, Shen Xingzhi just nudged Ren Limeng with his left leg again. He folded his hands in front of him, his eyes still looking at Wu Murong sincerely and intently. A hint of gentleness appeared on his face as he smiled, and his cold tone was just the right amount of warmth.
"Auntie, I never say flattering things, I just really feel sorry for you. You and Li Meng clearly both want the best for each other and love each other, but somehow you keep missing each other. I think Uncle must feel the same way. Li Meng is just like you, with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Her true thoughts are not like this."
“Shen Xingzhi!”
Ren Limeng immediately turned her head, her almond-shaped eyes widened with a cold light, and her annoyed and harsh voice contained complex emotions that she couldn't explain.
Chen Xingzhi's sudden words suddenly broke the last layer of window paper between her and her mother. The last calm that she and her mother had supported at the same time was presented in the air. Ren Limeng withdrew her gaze, but didn't know how to look at her mother.
What does Shen Xingzhi know?
She and her mother didn't have that much "two-way running".
But all the emotions disappeared in an instant. When she looked up at Wu Murong again, Ren Limeng had quietly regained her calm expression. She also couldn't see Wu Murong's stern face at the moment, which seemed as peaceful as her.
"Li Meng, I'm sorry. I don't want you to regret it."
Shen Xingzhi's expression was serious, and his voice was filled with unquestionable determination. He stretched out his left hand to hold Ren Limeng, but after slightly floating in the air, it finally fell back onto his legs.
These days, Shen Xingzhi has always seen Ren Limeng's concern.
Just like the sadness in her eyes when she glanced at the door frequently just now, he couldn't help but care.
Chen Xingzhi looked at Wu Murong again and explained seriously, "Auntie, I'm sorry. It's not my place as an outsider to interfere in your and Li Meng's affairs, but I've seen Li Meng's pain these days. To be honest, I've never seen Li Meng so hesitant in all the years we've known each other. This is the only thing she's struggling with."
I have to help her.
Shen Xingzhi finally expressed his point, but Wu Murong's narrowed eyes still noticed everything. She didn't say much, but just asked lightly, "What is your relationship with Li Meng?"
“It doesn’t matter!”
"I like her."
Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi spoke almost in unison. After hearing Shen Xingzhi's rock-solid answer, Ren Limeng held her forehead with her right hand. She felt like the sky was falling. Someone, please save her! She really didn't care about her relationship with her parents anymore. She just wanted to escape! Even if it meant crawling through a crack in the ground!
"I'm chasing her..."
Chen Xingzhi glanced at Ren Limeng who was looking down, then met Wu Murong's eyes again and continued to express himself without hesitation. His gaze suddenly passed Wu Murong and saw Ren Shunan who had been standing at the kitchen door. As they looked at each other, Chen Xingzhi's eyes remained firm.
"Shen Xingzhi..."
Ren Limeng's soft call was an implicit reminder. She was very afraid that Chen Xingzhi would suddenly say "I am her ex-husband", and then the sky would really fall on her.
After graduation, Ren Limeng transferred her household registration to her place of work. To this day, her parents still don't know about her quick marriage and divorce with Shen Xingzhi, and Ren Limeng has no intention of letting them worry about what has already happened.
This visit was an accident.
"Ren Limeng, is this what you call a single-minded career? You're doing a really good job. No wonder you don't want to go home every day! Are you enjoying it so much that you don't want to leave?"
"Rongrong, listen to what the children have to say. They are very good. Li Meng, you are not a child anymore. Your mother and I have always been worried that you would be alone outside without anyone to take care of you. Xingzhi is right. Your mother is indeed a softhearted person with a sharp tongue. We are all very happy for you..."
Ren Shunan walked to Wu Murong's side, he took Wu Murong's hand and stopped her from talking. As Ren Shunan spoke, his eyes unconsciously looked at Shen Xingzhi.
"Dad, he's not my boyfriend!"
Ren Limeng felt that her parents had already tacitly accepted Shen Xingzhi's identity. She interrupted her father helplessly. It was not that she was shy and refused to admit it. She and Shen Xingzhi really had not talked about it!
"Yes, we are now working partners on the same team."
Shen Xingzhi responded readily. Perhaps because he responded so quickly and naturally, Ren Limeng realized that her parents didn't seem to take her explanation to heart.
"Auntie, the stage doesn't lie. You and uncle can tell clearly whether Li Meng is putting her heart into it or not by watching her performance."
Shen Xingzhi's tone paused slightly. Even under the dual gazes of Wu Murong and Ren Shunan, his expression remained calm and sincere. His calm and steady voice continued, bringing the topic that Wu Murong had deliberately diverted back to the main topic.
"Even though Huangmei Week is so busy, you're still willing to take time out to perform in Fan County. And today you're willing to host us as your guests and participate in the recording of a program you don't like. This is actually worth a thousand words. Auntie, uncle, since you care about Li Meng, you should let her know that she needs your support and encouragement."
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