After dinner, Ling Ruoke and Yuan Meng cleaned up in the kitchen.
Huo Qingfeng was called into his mother's room for interrogation.
"Tell me, why did you suddenly move houses without telling us? This is such a high-end neighborhood, how much did this house cost? You've spent all your meager salary on it, don't you even want to live on? She's not young anymore, how can you be so careless with your money..."
Huo Qingfeng listened quietly as his mother poured out her many complaints. He understood that, in the end, his mother was simply trying to show how bad Ruoke was. Her numerous criticisms were nothing more than an attempt to embarrass Ruoke. This was his mother—seemingly gentle, but actually quite stubborn.
"Mom, I want to buy this house. I think the old place is too small. I want a gym, so I had to go for a villa. As for the money, I can afford it, so don't worry about how much it costs. Mom, don't think your son is so capable. When it comes to making money, Ruoke is much better than me. Let me tell you a secret, my pitiful savings are nothing compared to Ruoke's!" Huo Qingfeng said with a humorous gesture, pointing to a spot the size of a fingernail.
Yang Ziyun narrowed her eyes slightly, clearly not believing it. "You're just bragging. I knew you'd always protect your wife; I, as her mother, can't say a word against it."
Huo Qingfeng grinned and put his arm around his mother's shoulder. "Mom, I'm not lying to you. Ruoke runs a company, isn't she better off than your son? At least your son has a salary and dark skin, otherwise he would definitely be mistaken for a gigolo."
"She started her own company?" This really surprised Yang Ziyun.
"Of course. She's the real boss now, and your son is just an employee." The colonel was so focused on praising his wife that he didn't realize he was putting himself in a position of "living off a woman."
Seeing how serious he was, Yang Ziyun began to believe him. "Then where does she find the time to take care of you and Fu'an? She's not going to let you and your son eat out every other day, is she?"
Huo Qingfeng felt a little resentful towards his mother. No matter what, she always managed to find fault with Ruoke. If she weren't his mother, he really would have lost his temper. But after thinking so much in the car, he couldn't afford to be angry with his mother anymore. Parents always have good intentions; her intentions were always good. "Mom, don't worry, she's taking good care of us. She's managing her work well; it won't affect our lives. Mom, I'll take care of my wife, so you don't need to worry!"
"What about Fu'an? Isn't he an orphan? How come he suddenly has a mother? Shouldn't his mother take the child away?"
Huo Qingfeng clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on his mother with unwavering seriousness. "Yes. Fu'an is Yuan Meng's support in life. Once Fu'an is truly able to accept her, I will send Fu'an back to her side. As for whether she wants to stay in Z City or go somewhere else, that is her choice."
Yang Ziyun was immediately indignant. "So all these years we've been raising their child for nothing? Why should I give away the child I've worked so hard to raise?"
"Mom!" Huo Qingfeng's forehead veins bulged. Although he understood his mother's feelings for Fu'an, her words were too much. What did she mean by "giving it away"?
“Mom, Fu’an is Yuan Meng’s son. She carried him for ten months and gave birth to him. If it weren’t for Fu’an’s father, your son might already be a pile of bones! Compared to this kindness, what is our raising Fu’an? Even putting that aside, he was my comrade-in-arms. He unfortunately died in the line of duty, and it is my duty to raise his child! I have never thought of getting anything in return for raising Fu’an. I just want to raise his child to adulthood for my brother! Mom, Yuan Meng is Fu’an’s mother, and Fu’an is her child. We are not giving Fu’an to her! I hope you will not say such things again!”
"I...I didn't mean that, I..."
"Mom, I'm going out for a bit!" Huo Qingfeng's emotions were on the verge of exploding. Ignoring Yang Ziyun's reaction, he opened the door and strode out.
Lei Kaiyi's death and Yuan Meng's imprisonment had always been a taboo subject in Huo Qingfeng's mind. Yang Ziyun's words touched on this taboo.
Ling Ruoke brought out the fruit after the meal and was about to knock on the door to call the mother and son out when she suddenly saw the door open and the colonel storm out. Without stopping, he slammed the door shut and left.
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then hurriedly put down what she was holding and chased after him.
Huo Qingfeng rushed straight to the gym, and when he saw the sandbag, he pounded it relentlessly as if it were his enemy.
Ling Ruoke stood not far away, silent. Yang Ziyun must have touched a nerve with him; the veins on his forehead were bulging. Even his expression was fierce.
She felt sorry for him, but she didn't stop him and let him vent.
Sometimes, Ling Ruoke really disliked Yang Ziyun. She couldn't understand how a mother could prioritize her own comfort while watching her son suffer. What, then, was truly important to her?
After an unknown amount of time, the colonel stopped after letting out a roar. Then he turned to look at her and pitifully called out, "Wife."
Ling Ruoke rushed to him, letting him pull her into his arms so tightly it hurt. She didn't utter a sound, only gently nuzzling him as he buried his face in her shoulder.
"Wife, sometimes I really don't understand..." He didn't finish his sentence. Because that person was his mother, not a stranger.
Ling Ruoke understood. She broke free from his grasp and hugged him. If Yang Ziyun weren't his mother, perhaps he wouldn't be in so much pain. Sometimes, the deepest wounds come from the interference of those closest to us, disguised as love.
Huo Qingfeng took a deep breath; the clean scent of his wife calmed him down. He put his arm around her waist, sat down on the floor, and let her lean on his shoulder. "If Yuan Meng takes Xiao Fu'an and leaves Z City, are you willing to let her?"
Ling Ruoke smiled. "I'm reluctant to let them go. But if it's Yuan Meng's choice, I respect her. Besides, even if they leave Z City, I can always see them if I want to."
Knowing Yuan Meng's personality, she wouldn't stay in Z City. There are too many memories here, too heavy a burden; she needs to get out and rest.
"Thank you, my wife!" The colonel tightened his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead. What she said was exactly what he had been thinking.
Ling Ruoke wrapped her arms around his and looked up at the colonel's handsome face. "Alright, stop making that long face. You're practically a bitter gourd. If your mother can't understand, we don't have to force her. As the saying goes, there's a generation gap every three years. She's more than 20 years older than us, and that generation gap is insurmountable, so let it be."
"I'm not forcing you, I just don't understand. But it's okay, as long as I have you, that's enough." Let the father worry about his mother's stubbornness.
Ling Ruoke looked at him and smiled slightly. Her colonel was strong and outstanding, but he always let her know, unintentionally, how important she was to him! Everyone longs to feel needed, just as they long to be cherished.
"Alright. Go back now, or your mom will overthink things again. She's getting on in years, don't get angry with her. She gave birth to you and raised you, not to suffer!" Ling Ruoke patted her pants, stood up, and extended her hand to the colonel.
Huo Qingfeng leaped away, bent down, picked her up, and tossed her into the air.
Ling Ruoke screamed in fright, clinging tightly to the colonel's neck as he caught her. Once the initial shock subsided, she couldn't help but giggle. "Let's go!"
Huo Qingfeng walked while kissing her. He only put her down when they reached the door.
"Qingfeng." Upon hearing the voice, Yang Ziyun rushed over, looking at her son with a hesitant expression.
Huo Qingfeng took a breath and put his arm around her shoulder. "Mom, I'm sorry. I've been too tired lately and haven't been in a good mood. Please don't be angry."
"Mom isn't angry. If you're tired, take a shower and go to bed early. You'll feel better after a good night's sleep." Yang Ziyun was actually quite afraid of her son getting angry, so she hurriedly pushed him upstairs.
"Mom, you should go to bed early too." Huo Qingfeng grabbed Ling Ruoke's hand and led her to the bedroom. "Wife, stay with me!"
"Hey, Qingfeng..." Ling Ruoke tried to break free from his hand. Yang Ziyun was there; she needed to arrange rooms and such.
Huo Qingfeng stopped and turned to his mother, saying, "Mom, the bedding in the guest rooms is clean. You can choose the room you like. I need to discuss something with my wife, okay?"
Before Yang Ziyun could answer, he pulled Ling Ruoke aside and slipped into the room.
"Why are you being so ridiculous? What if your mother gets angry?" Ling Ruoke punched his chest and glared at him reproachfully. Even if Yang Ziyun got angry, she wouldn't make things difficult for her son; instead, she would pick a fight with her.
"Ignore her." Huo Qingfeng said dismissively, pulling her into the bathroom. "Wife, come with me to take a bath, I want to scrub my back."
Ling Ruoke wanted to say something more, but considering his bad mood, she kept quiet.
"Wife, take off your clothes." The colonel stretched out his arms, like a child waiting for his mother to serve him.
Ling Ruoke was both amused and exasperated, and pinched him. "You're over thirty years old, do you still think you're a child?"
Despite saying that, her hands obediently unbuttoned his shirt and helped him take off his sweat-soaked clothes. His dark, muscular upper body was now fully exposed to her view. "Okay, I'll go run the water, you can do the rest yourself."
Ling Ruoke finally couldn't help but laugh and kissed his cheek. "I'll turn on the water first."
The colonel, like a thug, clung to her body, saying, "Wife, you'll stay with me!"
You could tell from his voice that he was still feeling down.
Ling Ruoke said nothing, but smiled and pulled him to the edge of the bathtub. "Lie down!"
"Wife, are you going to force yourself on me?" the colonel said mischievously, putting on a pitiful, innocent act.
Ling Ruoke chuckled, grabbed the showerhead, and poured it over his head. "Even if I wanted to force myself on you, I'd have to wait until you've washed off all this filth. You stink!"
The colonel grinned mischievously, draped his arms over the edge of the bathtub, and looked quite content.
Ling Ruoke turned off the shower, applied shampoo, and slowly washed his hair. His hair was short and easy to manage, but she carefully and patiently scrubbed it, as if she were doing something very important.
Huo Qingfeng slowly closed his eyes, enjoying his wife's service. His depressed mood gradually warmed up, and when he opened his eyes, he saw his wife looking at him intently.
"Close your eyes, the water's going in!" Ling Ruoke laughed as she covered his eyes and brows to prevent the dirty water from getting in. But having short hair is great; it's so easy to wash it clean.
"All done—" Before she could finish speaking, he pulled her into the bathtub. He held her tightly, and she nestled against his chest. His hands gripped her slender waist tightly, and she didn't struggle, obediently staying close to him, enjoying the quiet moment.
The two embraced quietly, remaining silent for a long time.
"By the way, has that woman been giving you any more trouble?" Huo Qingfeng frowned as he thought of Gu Zheng, that troublesome woman.
Ling Ruoke placed her hands on his chest, rested her chin on them, and looked up at him. "No. Did she bother you again?"
Seriously, even the colonel's love life is so troublesome. Thinking this, she couldn't help but pinch him.
The colonel, being thick-skinned and tough, felt nothing. "No. But knowing her as I do, she won't give up so easily. You need to be careful. Or, should I have Xuan Yuanqi send someone to protect you?"
"No need. Just have someone protect Yuan Meng and the little one." She then looked at the colonel with a half-smile, changing the subject. "I told you last time that your unwanted romantic entanglements would cause trouble, and I was right!"
She poked his chest hard with her finger.
The colonel grasped her slender fingers and gently rubbed them. "I'm sorry. I never expected that after all these years, she would still be bothering me. We had no contact since we broke up back then, and nobody knew that she would go crazy again after six years!"
His tone was full of dissatisfaction, even disgust.
Ling Ruoke frowned and analyzed rationally. "According to my analysis, there are only two possibilities: the first is that she is not doing well, especially in her relationships, so she wants to go back to you; the second is that she is too proud and cannot tolerate you being good to another woman, let alone you living a good life with another woman, so she will do anything to take you back."
"A bit of both, I suppose. In any case, this woman is troublesome, you have to be careful." The colonel held her tighter, still feeling uneasy.
Ling Ruoke thought so too. A woman who is too proud and has a powerful backing is often prone to acting rashly. "I know."
After thinking for a moment, she nudged him again. "Hey, she's really beautiful, with that face and figure, she's a total stunner. Didn't you feel even a little bit tempted when you saw her?"
The colonel, seeing her alluring eyes and luscious lips, grabbed her and kissed her a few times. "Are you jealous?"
"No!"
Take another bite. "Are you jealous?"
"No."
Take another bite. "Are you insecure?"
Ling Ruoke glanced at him and finally couldn't help but chuckle. She reached out and tugged at the colonel's handsome face, saying seriously, "What do I have to be ashamed of? She's prettier than me, but I have my own strengths that she can't match."
The colonel gave an approving look, took a few big bites, and only stopped when he saw his wife's bright red lips. "That's the right way to think."
The colonel rolled over, lay flat on his back, and let her lie on his chest.
"I don't deny that I liked her back then, but that was six years ago. I don't even know if I was more attracted to her looks back then. But now, I only like my wife. I can't be bothered to even glance at other women, and she's no exception!"
Ling Ruoke tugged at a few hairs on the colonel's chest, nodding rhythmically. "You have good taste. You'd have terrible taste to prefer those big-breasted, brainless women to such a wonderful wife like me!"
Before she could finish speaking, she screamed. The colonel's large hand was scratching her side, causing her to twist and struggle desperately.
"Oh no, stop it, stop it now!"
Seeing that she was about to run out of breath, the colonel stopped, pecking at her lips and saying, "It sounds a bit arrogant, but I like it. My wife is the best woman, no one can compare!"
"Even Yuan Meng can't compare?" she deliberately made things difficult for him.
“Yuan Meng is a good woman. But for me, a wife would be even better. I believe there is another man who thinks Yuan Meng is the best woman.” Yuan Meng has a kind heart; as long as she can move on from the past, she will eventually find happiness.
Ling Ruoke hugged his neck, smiled sweetly, and stopped teasing him.
In her eyes, her colonel was the best man in the world!
...
Huo Qingfeng was originally not free. But given his mother's behavior yesterday, he was worried and insisted on taking the day off.
Yuan Meng took the little one to school. Ling Ruoke also went to work as usual, as required by the colonel.
At home, only the mother and son remained.
"Mom, would you like me to go for a walk with you?" Huo Qingfeng asked Yang Ziyun after seeing her off and returning home.
Yang Ziyun had a huge fight with her son yesterday and tossed and turned in bed all night, unable to sleep well. This morning, she even secretly checked on her son's expression. Right now, she wasn't in the mood to play. "No need. I've been here several times already, and there's nowhere to play."
"Alright. Then let's have a good talk, mother and son. It's been a long time since we've sat down for a proper conversation." Huo Qingfeng put his arm around his mother's thin shoulders and sat down on the sofa with her.
At that moment, he was deeply moved. His mother was short and thin. Although she was well-maintained, her age was undeniable. She was, in fact, a sixty-year-old woman. As people age, they tend to become stubborn and prone to confusion. But no matter how confused or foolish she became, she was still his mother, a sixty-year-old woman! How could he hold a grudge? How dare he?
"Mom, I haven't spent much time with you since I joined the army. Don't you feel like you don't have a son at all? Am I being too unfilial?" As he said this, the colonel felt his eyes welling up with tears. Parents' hearts are always full of love and concern. Although his mother was concerned about her image, her son was still very important to her.
Upon hearing his words, Yang Ziyun's nose suddenly stung, and tears welled up in her eyes. "No way, you've already been very good."
Compared to those good-for-nothing sons in other families who do nothing and are always causing trouble, he is already very worry-free! He walks the right path, does an excellent job, and is someone his parents can be proud of!
Aside from his stubbornness and disobedience in choosing Ling Ruoke, he is quite considerate at other times!
Thinking about it this way, Yang Ziyun's heart softened. It was as if she were back in his arms, a tiny little bundle of joy that touched her heart. After so many years, she felt that same delicate emotion again.
"Mom, let's talk things out calmly and not argue. It's actually quite nice, isn't it?" The colonel suddenly became emotional.
Yang Ziyun looked at him and seemed to turn into a child all of a sudden. She smiled, patted his spiky head, and smiled too. "Hey."
The two leaned against each other quietly for a long time without saying a word.
"Mom, I've always listened to you and never disobeyed you or Father, right?" At this moment, Huo Qingfeng suddenly felt that he had entered his mother's heart.
Yang Ziyun nodded.
"Mom, the reason I won't listen to you about spending my life with Ruoke is because I know all too well who I'm suited to spend my life with. Whether it's Gu Zhenzhen, Gu Miaomiao, or Gu Zheng, even if I marry them, I'll either end up divorced or spend my whole life in misery and just making do. Mom, marriage is a matter between two people; others can never truly understand it. Just like Father, to other women he's like a rock in a latrine, smelly and hard. That's because they don't know that this general melts into tenderness in front of Ms. Yang Ziyun, treating her like a precious treasure, right? To me, Ruoke is like Father. As for you, only you and I truly know what she is like, whether she's good or bad!"
Yang Ziyun didn't refute, looking at her son, unable to find a word to refute him. They had been deadlocked on this issue for a long time. But when her son spoke to her so frankly and empathetically, she suddenly found herself speechless.
After such a long stalemate, for the first time she felt that her son was right. Love is like drinking water; only the person drinking knows whether it's hot or cold.
When she married Huo Zhixun, everyone disapproved because Huo Zhixun had a really bad temper. But she insisted on marrying him, ignoring her family's objections, and Huo Zhixun was truly wonderful to her! If there are any men who cherish their wives, then Huo Zhixun is definitely one of them. It was precisely because of this that she married him without hesitation.
That marriage, which was not well-regarded back then, has now lasted for over thirty years. In those thirty years, they haven't even had a single serious argument. Occasionally they'll quarrel, but it's mostly just playful banter. Meanwhile, some of their close friends from back then have long since divorced, or are silently enduring their husbands' infidelity while shedding tears at home. If you really have to compare, Yang Ziyun is the happiest one!
Looking at her son's handsome face and those sharp yet tender eyes, Yang Ziyun was filled with emotion.
The tenderness her son showed towards Ling Ruoke was just like Huo Zhixun's towards Yang Ziyun back then. She and her husband had been happy their whole lives; shouldn't she let go and allow the young people to pursue their own happiness? Was it foolish of her to force her own child to suffer the same fate she herself had?
Well, children and grandchildren have their own destinies; let them choose for themselves.
Slowly, Yang Ziyun smiled. Like a gentle spring breeze in February.
Huo Qingfeng was stunned. He hadn't seen his mother smile like that in a long time. In truth, his mother was a true beauty. Even though she was over fifty, one could still vaguely see the graceful figure she had when she was younger.
...
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