Ling Ruoke will be discharged from the hospital in two days. Finally, she won't have to smell soda water anymore; it feels so good!
In the morning, she was leaning against the bed watching TV when someone suddenly pushed the door open and entered. Looking up, she saw Zhuang Yicheng. Remembering his last visit, when he said it was for personal gain, she said, "For personal gain again?"
"Yes, are you ready with the recording pen?" Zhuang Yicheng took off his hat and gloves, and stared around with wide eyes.
Both of them couldn't help but laugh.
Zhuang Yicheng secretly observed the girl before him. Her body was recovering, but she was becoming increasingly thin. She must be very unhappy inside, yet she was pretending to be fine. He had asked the nurse, and she said she was calm every day and hadn't cried.
"How long are you planning to stay this time? You're not going to have to catch a flight soon, are you?" Ling Ruoke felt quite sorry for him. He's such a busy person, even on a business trip, his schedule is probably very full.
Zhuang Yicheng smiled. "No rush this time. I brought someone else to see you."
At the same time, the door opened again, and a little figure peeked in through the door. "Teacher Ling!" he shouted with a big smile, and jumped over to pounce on Ling Ruoke.
Zhuang Yicheng was once again certain that only in front of Teacher Ling did his son act like a child. When school started, he went to the school and, upon hearing that Teacher Ling was no longer there, he returned home with his schoolbag.
"Teacher Ling, Teacher Ling, I miss you so much!" Zhuang Yuqi had a sweet tongue, but those were truly his feelings.
Ling Ruoke was a little sore from the bump, but she was still happy to see him. "Your teacher missed you too. School has already started, right? You're not skipping class, are you?"
Ling Ruoke looked down at Zhuang Yuqi, thinking of another adorable baby. Now that he was being doted on by Gu Zhenzhen, had he already forgotten her existence? A shadow of sadness flashed in her eyes, and she took a breath, quickly hiding it.
"No way!" Zhuang Yuqi pouted, tilting her chin up.
Ling Ruoke patted his head and turned to Zhuang Yicheng. "Mr. Zhuang, although it's the weekend, such a long journey is too tiring. Please don't let the child go through this again next time. But thank you so much."
Zhuang Yicheng looked at his son and smiled. "Teacher Ling, have you ever thought about continuing to be a teacher? I think you are very suitable to be a teacher. Parents would feel very reassured if their children were in your care."
Ling Ruoke could tell he was speaking from the heart, which made her very happy. "Thank you. However, I don't plan to go back to Z City, so..."
“What if it were here? If you don’t want anyone to know you’re here, I can guarantee they won’t find their way here.” His son had already followed him here; he had to convince her.
Ling Ruoke stroked Zhuang Yuqi's head, not answering for a moment. She loved being a teacher, and if she had to make a living, she still hoped to be a teacher. If she could settle down here, and with his help to stop Cang Weiwo from finding her way here, it would undoubtedly be the best outcome.
But she had already received too much kindness. She didn't know how to repay this life-saving grace alone. "Mr. Zhuang has helped me so much; I don't know how to repay him. I'm really embarrassed to trouble you again. Besides, I owe a large sum of medical bills, and my meager salary as a teacher is probably just a drop in the ocean, so..."
"If you really insist on repaying me, then let's find another way?"
Ling Ruoke looked at him, puzzled. "What method?"
"You are Zhuang Yuqi's mother."
"..."
After being discharged from the hospital, Ling Ruoke eventually settled down in Y City.
She didn't want to accept Zhuang Yicheng's favor anymore, but if she left, Cang Weiwo would likely find her soon. Rather than be captured and taken back by Cang Weiwo, she preferred to remain indebted to Zhuang Yicheng. Since she couldn't repay this debt whether she stayed or left, she could only try her best to do so.
Ultimately, Ling Ruoke chose to become a teacher. Because she loved the job. And also because she had recently found another part-time job—an online writer. Although it was just the beginning, she was confident in herself, because she already had a beautiful love story in her heart.
With Zhuang Yicheng's help, she acquired a new identity—Hua Ximeng.
The flower is named after the mother's surname. "Xi Meng" implies that the past is like a dream.
Ling Ruoke was preparing breakfast when she heard hurried footsteps coming from upstairs, as if she was in a rush.
"Mom, what are we having for dinner today?" Zhuang Yuqi peeked into the kitchen and asked, his hand parting slightly. It was clear he was in a good mood. Strictly speaking, he hadn't been in a bad mood since his mother was born.
Ling Ruoke tried to correct his way of addressing her many times at first. But the boy was very stubborn; no matter how much she talked, he would just lazily smile and continue. Besides, Ruoke understood his mentality, so she eventually gave up.
Ling Ruoke looked at Zhuang Yuqi, who had been becoming increasingly irritable lately, with a hint of helplessness. "Steamed buns and soy milk. Go wash your face, you'll be able to eat soon."
"Yes, sir!" Zhuang Yuqi gave a military salute and ran into the washroom.
Ling Ruoke shook her head helplessly. Little Zhuang Yuqi insisted on squeezing in and living with her. Zhuang Yicheng had abandoned the child and disappeared again. She couldn't possibly let the child sleep on the streets, could she? So in the end, it became a situation where she and little Zhuang Yuqi depended on each other for survival.
However, although Zhuang Yuqi is mischievous, he is truly a good child. With him around, life is much more lively. Apart from work and writing, Zhuang Yuqi is always making a ruckus, so there's no time to dwell on the past. Only in the quiet of the night do I inevitably toss and turn, sometimes waking up from nightmares and unable to fall back asleep.
Ling Ruoke cut off her long hair, sporting what's now called a short haircut, even changing her bangs to a straight line. Coupled with her significant weight loss, the new hairstyle made her look like a completely different person; she was unrecognizable from her original self.
Ling Ruoke was teaching first grade, and Zhuang Yuqi was in her class. She believed this was why Zhuang Yicheng hadn't arranged for her to start teaching preschool. If she were teaching preschool, little Zhuang Yuqi would definitely insist on being moved up to her class.
"Mommy, Mommy. I'm all washed, can I eat now?" Little Zhuang Yuqi rushed out like a cannonball.
Ling Ruoke raised her hand and gave him a flick on the forehead. "Be careful, what will you do if you get hurt?"
Zhuang Yuqi scratched the spot where he'd been tapped, still grinning, his good mood unaffected. In fact, he really enjoyed this kind of interaction. His mother was like that—she'd kiss her child, but if the child misbehaved, she'd also spank them, only very gently…
Ling Ruoke placed the sauce dish in front of him, thinking to herself, Zhuang Yuqi used to be such a little adult, but now he's becoming more and more like a child. Even the most mature child will show their childlike side in front of their mother… I wonder how her little Fu'an is doing?
"Mom, what's wrong?" Zhuang Yuqi noticed her dazed expression and quickly waved his hand in front of her eyes.
Ling Ruoke snapped out of her daze and forced a smile. "It's okay, hurry up and eat, don't be late."
She lives not far from the school; it only takes ten minutes to get there by bicycle.
Zhuang Yuqi's eyes darted around as he remembered the important task his father had given him—to make his mother happy! "Mom, I'll tell you a joke."
Zhuang Yuqi sat up straight and cleared his throat. He had read a lot of joke collections to prepare for this important task.
"My middle school Chinese teacher was an old-fashioned scholar who liked to recite poems in class. One day, it was snowing heavily outside, and the teacher, moved by the scene, recited a poem in class: 'Heaven sends snow but not rain, snow turns into rain on the ground, how troublesome it is to turn into rain, why not just let it rain in the first place?' After reciting it, he said, 'Can any student give me a matching poem?' A student stood up and said, 'Teacher, I'll try. Teacher eats food but doesn't eat excrement, food turns into excrement in the stomach, how troublesome it is to turn into excrement, why not just eat excrement in the first place?'"
"Pfft!" Ling Ruoke spat out her food. She quickly covered her mouth and nose, but the dumpling went down her trachea, making her nose burn. She raised her hand and gave Zhuang Yuqi a flick on the forehead, scolding, "You're not allowed to tell such disgusting jokes while eating!"
Zhuang Yuqi, without even touching the spot where she had been hit, hurriedly brought her some water. "Mom, have some water."
Ling Ruoke rubbed her nose and saw Zhuang Yuqi's head right under her nose, staring wide-eyed. She reached out and grabbed his chubby ear. "If you tell such disgusting jokes again, I'll punish you by not letting you eat for a day."
"Yes, sir!" Zhuang Yuqi sat down obediently and ate his breakfast. When Ruoke looked over, he grinned and chuckled.
Ling Ruoke felt a bit of a headache.
After breakfast, the two of them went out together.
Ling Ruoke hopped on her bicycle and waited for Zhuang Yuqi to get settled. Then, in the morning sunlight, she leisurely rode towards school.
This is Zhuang Yuqi's favorite thing. He hugs his mother tightly around the waist, smelling her fragrance, and feels like the happiest child. He thinks the bicycle is comfortable, much better than his father's long bikes!
When they arrived at the school gate, Zhuang Yuqi jumped off the bike, grabbed his schoolbag, and stood by waiting for his mother to put the bicycle away.
"Good morning, Xi Meng."
Ling Ruoke had just locked her car when she heard someone greet her from behind. It was Mr. Lin Qingzheng, a senior teacher who had been teaching here for five years since graduating from university. He was mild-mannered and easy to get along with. "Good morning, Mr. Lin."
Lin Qingzheng locked his car and caught up with him in a couple of steps. The two walked and chatted for a bit. He didn't mean anything by it; it was just that chatting and doing things together was more interesting than doing them alone.
This scene was intolerable to little Zhuang Yuqi. He ran over and threw himself into Ling Ruoke's arms, sweetly calling out, "Mommy, you're so slow!"
Ling Ruoke was almost knocked down by him, but Lin Qingzheng caught her back as she staggered.
"careful!"
"Thank you." Ling Ruoke smiled, somewhat embarrassed.
Zhuang Yuqi's eyes were practically spitting fire. He squeezed between the two, grabbed Ruoke's hand, and pouted vehemently. "Uncle, my mom's already taken, you have no chance!"
Upon hearing his words, Ling Ruoke blushed with embarrassment.
Lin Qingzheng was extremely embarrassed. He made up an excuse and strode away.
Ling Ruoke flicked Zhuang Yuqi on the forehead. "What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat?" She hadn't thought about relationships and naturally preferred peace and quiet. But this kid was only 7 years old; wasn't it a bit precocious for him to say such things? If he already knew these things, who knows what he'd be dating in a couple of years.
Zhuang Yuqi held his head, looking at her innocently. "The commander isn't here, so I have to keep an eye on his wife." Most importantly, he couldn't lose sight of his mother!
Ling Ruoke was both embarrassed and angry, and raised her hand to knock him on the head.
Zhuang Yuqi covered his head and ran off. After running a distance, he turned back and grinned at Ruoke, showing off his white teeth. Getting beaten up didn't matter; what mattered was keeping an eye on his mother and the commander's wife!
Ling Ruoke was stunned by the words "wife". That deep, slightly cheeky voice rang in her ears.
"From this moment on, I'm broke. Do you mind supporting me, honey?" That's what he said after handing over his paycheck.
"Wife, if you're going to pinch, pinch me openly and honestly!" "Come on, wife, I'll let you pinch me as much as you want!" These were the things he said to show off in front of the soldiers.
"Wife, you've worked so hard!" This was what he said to her after she cooked so many meals to reward the soldiers.
"Wife, do you want to shower together? I'll scrub your back for you!" These were the words he said through the bathroom door, making suggestive remarks.
"It's okay, I like to eat my wife's saliva. Do you want me to eat it now, wife?"
...
Every word still rings in my ears, as if it were just yesterday.
Actually, the most beautiful words in the world are not "I love you", but "wife".
Ling Ruoke felt her nose begin to sting and her eyes start to burn. She quickly looked up at the sky. Huo Ji Qingfeng, Qingfeng was a Huo soaring in the blue sky, he was meant to spread his wings and fly high. As long as he soared safely in that blue sky, that was enough!
"Mom, hurry up, we're going to be late!" Zhuang Yuqi called out anxiously when she saw that her mother hadn't caught up yet.
"Here it comes."
"..."
While Ling Ruoke was cooking dinner, Zhuang Yuqi called the leader, taking the opportunity to boast about his great achievements and make demands of the leader.
After dinner and a shower, Zhuang Yuqi was ushered into his room to do his homework.
Ling Ruoke sat down at her computer and began typing. In college, she was also a talented member of the literary society. However, back then she mostly wrote essays or short stories. Now, long stories are popular online.
Actually, rather than wanting to make money by writing novels, she wanted to express her feelings through these words. Those feelings were like a mountain weighing on her heart. By transforming them into words and letting them flow out, that mountain would gradually lighten. Moreover, in the stories she wrote, they could do as they pleased and have a happy ending.
She was a novice, with no existing readership, so she could only start slowly, step by step. While romance-themed writing is currently popular online, her novels always exude a subtle melancholy. They're best savored in the quiet of the night, not as quick entertainment. However, in this vast world, many people have their own heartbreaks. Slowly, some people discovered her writing, appreciating the lingering emotions and subtle sadness within her words…
Some readers have been speculating whether this story is based on Li Shang's real experiences. Yes, that is her pen name—Li Shang.
She omitted any names of people, places, or shops that matched reality. Even though she knew neither Cang Weiwo nor Huo Qingfeng read these popular novels, she was still very careful. She didn't want to return to that glamorous cage, waiting for her life to end. She didn't want to disrupt Qingfeng's peaceful life, and she certainly didn't want him to suffer even the slightest harm because of her.
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