Chapter 210 Falling in Love
"Thank you for reminding me. But Qingqing is my wife, and I don't like listening to gossip about her, especially baseless speculation."
Fang Xiaoju nodded obediently, her gaze gentle as she looked in the direction he had left. "I understand, Brother Maidong. No matter what happens, I will support you."
Her voice was soft, but she spoke with great seriousness, "I was just worried that you would get hurt, so I couldn't help but say these things."
"I'm telling you this only because I'm afraid it will affect you."
She added, her tone tinged with helplessness and concern, as if afraid that her loose tongue might cause a misunderstanding.
Fu Li'an pursed his lips and remained silent.
He stood there silently for a few seconds, his eyes deep and complex, before finally nodding slightly and turning to walk towards the other end of the corridor.
His footsteps were heavy, and his back view appeared somewhat lonely.
He had just reached the door of the ward when he saw his mother, Song Yazhi, come out from inside.
She was carrying a thermos of food, and the container was still emitting a faint steam, indicating that it had just been delivered.
She wore an old dark blue sweater, her hair was simply tied up in a bun, and her expression was calm but revealed a hint of fatigue.
"mom."
He called out, his voice low, as if suppressing some emotion, "I just happened to be looking for you. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on his mother's face, his expression serious and solemn.
Song Yazhi glanced at her son and, seeing his expression, frowned immediately. She snorted coldly and said in a detached tone, "What, are you here again to stand up for your wife and scold me?"
Her words were laced with sarcasm and also contained a long-simmering resentment.
"Mom, I don't want to argue."
Fu Li'an said softly, trying to make his tone sound calm.
As he spoke, he gestured for his mother to walk towards the rest area at the end of the corridor. "I want to talk to you calmly. It's too crowded here, so it's not very convenient."
Song Yazhi clicked her tongue in displeasure, but she followed him slowly.
When she arrived at the rest area, she sat down reluctantly, her movements somewhat stiff.
He casually placed the thermos on the chair next to him, making a slight clinking sound. "Alright, tell me, what's the reason this time?"
Fu Li'an took a deep breath, sat on the bench opposite her, crossed his hands in front of his chin, rested his elbows on his knees, and leaned forward slightly.
His eyes were lowered, as if he was organizing his thoughts. After a moment, he slowly spoke: "Mom, I want to tell you about Qingqing's past."
"What's there for her to say?"
Song Yazhi sneered, not even raising her eyelids, her tone sarcastic, "She's just a girl from the countryside, from an average family, not highly educated, and only moderately good-looking, but she thinks she's something special. She talks back to her elders all the time and doesn't respect anyone."
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her voice gradually rising, "In the years you've been married, has she ever been polite to me? You're her husband, so I can understand protecting her, but does she really think she's the one who calls the shots in this family?"
"mom!"
Fu Lian suddenly raised his head, interrupting her.
His gaze suddenly sharpened, piercing his mother like a knife. "Qingqing isn't that kind of person. She respects you and tries her best to maintain this family. Besides, she's my wife, your only daughter-in-law, and you have to respect her."
His voice remained restrained, but every word conveyed an undeniable firmness.
Song Yazhi was stunned by his imposing manner and couldn't speak for a moment.
She had never seen her son so resolute and so emotionally expressive.
The persistence and deep affection emanating from him were like an invisible wall, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Her fingers trembled slightly, and her lips moved, but no sound came out.
"I remember the first time I met Qingqing, I was attracted by her special feeling."
Fu Li'an's voice softened, and his gaze drifted into the distance. "She's really different from other girls."
A soft light of reminiscence appeared in his eyes, as if he had returned to that sun-drenched afternoon.
That day, Qiao Wanyin stood smiling at the door of the ward, wearing a faded floral dress, her hair in a simple ponytail, and carrying a bag of fruit.
Her smile was pure and warm, like a sudden spring breeze that blew into his otherwise peaceful life.
Her smile is particularly bright, full of energy, bold and decisive, and she knows exactly what she wants. It seems like she can overcome any obstacle...
She doesn't try to please anyone, nor does she back down in the face of difficulties.
Whether faced with the hospital's complicated procedures or the hard work of caring for patients, she shouldered the burden without hesitation.
She is not afraid of getting dirty or tired, and can even stay by a patient's bedside at three in the morning, humming softly to soothe the patient's emotions.
Such a woman doesn't please people with her appearance, but rather with her actions that make people want to get close, trust, and rely on her.
Looking at her son's serious expression, Song Yazhi felt a pang in her heart.
It was a long-lost feeling of heartache and shock intertwined.
She looked at Fu Lian'an's profile—the little boy who used to snuggle in her arms and act spoiled, had now grown into a man who would shine in another woman's eyes.
She suddenly realized that she could no longer control his choices as she used to.
She never imagined that her usually composed son would fall in love with a woman.
In her memory, Fu Li'an was a calm and rational child since childhood.
He excelled academically in school, was neither arrogant nor servile in his interactions with others, and never even mentioned matters of the heart.
She had assumed he would follow the expected path in life: graduation, work, blind dates, and marriage.
But what she saw before her completely shattered her expectations.
It turns out that her son could become so gentle yet so stubborn because of someone.
Fu Li'an's throat bobbed. "Mom, I truly love Qingqing, and I want to spend my whole life with her."
He spoke in a low voice, but each word was clear and distinct, like an iron nail driven into a wooden board, carrying an undeniable force.
His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging lightly into his palms, as if to remind himself with pain how precious his courage was at that moment.
After hearing this, Song Yazhi turned her face away, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the handle of the thermos.
It was an old stainless steel insulated container, with some wear on the edges and a crack in the rubber sleeve on the handle.
Her fingertips repeatedly traced the crack, as if searching for some kind of support.
She dared not look directly into her son's eyes, for she feared that if she saw the burning emotions within them, she would crumble completely.
Fu Lian stepped forward and gently took her mother's hand. "I know you can't accept it all at once, but could you please try to get to know her first?"
His palms were warm, with just the right amount of pressure—neither forceful nor timid.
He knew that his mother was always sensitive, especially when it came to family relationships.
He didn't want to force her to agree immediately; he just hoped she could give Qiao Wanyin a chance, even if it was just a chance to sit down and talk.
Song Yazhi remained silent for a long time.
Time seemed to stand still.
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