Chapter 145 The Woman's Infatuation
Nan Zhiyi gave her a reproachful look, then ordered another braised pork rib and a stir-fried vegetable dish, and paid with the fare.
"Are you still being so polite with me? You're such a busy person these days, it's rare for you to come out with me, you have to eat something good."
Zhou Anping helped Nan Zhiyi sit down at the corner table and laughed, "Alright, alright, I won't stand on ceremony with you. Today, I'll beat up your nouveau riche!"
The two chatted and ate in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
After finishing their meal, the two didn't take a car, but instead walked back hand in hand.
The sun was shining brightly, the breeze was gentle, and chatting while watching the street scene was quite pleasant.
When they arrived at the entrance of the Zhou family compound, they ran into Song Lanxin, who was carrying a cloth bag and about to go out.
"Aunt Song." Nan Zhiyi stopped and greeted her with a smile.
This was the first time she had met Song Lanxin so closely and face-to-face since she returned.
When Song Lanxin saw the two of them, especially Nan Zhiyi's large and obvious pregnant belly, her eyes flickered with mixed emotions, but she quickly suppressed them and put on a kind and friendly smile.
"It's Zhiyi and Anping! They're back from their prenatal checkup? Is everything alright?"
She spoke with concern, then said to Nan Zhiyi, "Zhiyi, you've been back for so long, and I've rarely seen you go out. Come visit us more often when you have time."
Nan Zhiyi was somewhat surprised by this sudden warmth and friendliness. After all, although Aunt Song hadn't treated her badly before, there had always been some distance between them.
She replied, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Song. Everything is fine. I will definitely visit you when I have time."
Song Lanxin smiled and said a few more words of concern, such as "Eat more good food" and "Take care of yourself," before telling them to "Go home and rest." Then she turned and walked out of the compound.
Zhou Anping escorted Nan Zhiyi back to the entrance of the Gu family courtyard. Watching his mother's departing figure, he breathed a long sigh of relief, patted his chest, and felt lingering fear.
"I was so scared... I thought my mom was going to say something... Did the sun rise in the west today? She's actually being so easy to talk to?"
Looking at her exaggerated manner, Nan Zhiyi thought to herself, "Isn't Aunt Song always like this? As long as her core interests aren't touched, she's always been a very kind and approachable elder."
But when she looked at Anping, she just smiled and said, "Maybe Aunt Song is in a good mood today."
After listening, Zhou Anping frowned and thought about it for a while, and had to admit that Nan Zhiyi's words made some sense.
Since I told my mother about Meng Qingshan last night, when my mother learned this morning that I was going to accompany Zhiyi to her prenatal checkup, she smiled and told me to take good care of Zhiyi…
"Never mind, as long as my mom is happy."
She couldn't help but complain a bit more about how her mother looked so aggrieved in front of that woman, and how that woman acted like a queen while holding her pregnant belly, before waving goodbye and going home.
Nan Zhiyi stood at the door, watching Zhou Anping enter the courtyard diagonally opposite, before turning back into the house. Aunt Wu had already prepared tonics and snacks, and helped her sit down to rest.
"Oh, right, Zhiyi, the Li family sent over a wedding invitation this morning." She took out a red invitation with gold lettering from her apron pocket.
Nan Zhiyi picked up the wedding invitation and looked at it; the gold-embossed "double happiness" character and her name were somewhat glaring.
She gently put it down: "Dad's not home, and with my health... it's not convenient for me to go to those lively occasions."
Aunt Wu said, "That's right, it's not good if they bump into something. According to etiquette, we should ask someone to send a gift of money over, or... I'll see if we have any suitable bed sheets or thermos flasks at home, and send them over as a gift."
"Well, you decide. As long as the formalities are observed, it's fine." Nan Zhiyi's mind wasn't on this.
Director Zhang instructed her to get some exercise, so she took a leisurely stroll in her small yard every day, watering the flowers and plants that Aunt Wu had planted and pruning the weeds. The activity level wasn't high, but it allowed her to get some fresh air. Seeing that she wasn't tired, Aunt Wu let her be.
Before we knew it, it was the afternoon of April 30th. The sun was shining warmly, and the courtyard was very quiet.
Nan Zhiyi sat at the stone table in the courtyard, taking small bites of the rock sugar and white fungus soup that Aunt Wu had stewed for her.
Suddenly, there was a gentle knock on the courtyard gate.
While Aunt Wu was busy in the kitchen, Nan Zhiyi slowly walked over to open the door, supporting her back.
When the door opened, she froze.
"Sister Yaqin? Why did you suddenly come back?"
Nan Zhiyi was both surprised and delighted, but her heart tightened immediately when her gaze fell on Zhao Yaqin's face.
Zhao Yaqin, standing at the door, was almost emaciated.
Her once round cheeks were now deeply sunken, her face was pale and haggard, her eyes were dark and her gaze was empty and lifeless. She looked like a flower that had been withered and broken by a storm.
Nan Zhiyi quickly invited her in, pulling her arm and saying, "Come in quickly, sit down inside."
Zhao Yaqin, like a puppet, let Nan Zhiyi pull her into the living room and sit on the sofa. She remained silent the whole time, only occasionally letting out a very soft "hmm".
When Aunt Wu brought out the tea, she was startled to see Zhao Yaqin. She looked familiar, but when Nan Zhiyi called her "Yaqin," she recognized her as Director Zhao's cheerful and energetic daughter. How could she have become like this?
Aunt Wu sighed inwardly and quickly brought over some snacks and fruit, gently urging, "Comrade Zhao, have something to eat."
Zhao Yaqin silently shook her head, staring blankly at the teacup in front of her.
Nan Zhiyi knew that she couldn't hear anything at the moment, so she stopped asking questions and just quietly stayed by her side.
After a long, long time, Zhao Yaqin seemed to finally gather some strength, her throat terribly hoarse: "Zhiyi... I... I want... to see him one last time... just one more time..."
Nan Zhiyi's heart sank; it was indeed because of this.
She grasped Zhao Yaqin's cold hand: "Sister Yaqin, tomorrow... tomorrow he's getting married. Meeting at this time... is probably not appropriate, it's not good for either of you."
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Yaqin's tears instantly overflowed, but she cried almost silently, her shoulders trembling violently, her suppressed sobs heartbreaking to hear.
"Why...why...he clearly...he clearly told me to wait for him...why did he suddenly change...why can he just let go like that...but I can't...I'm like this..."
She pounded her chest hard, "...It hurts so much...it feels like I'm going to die..."
Seeing her in pain, Nan Zhiyi's heart also ached.
The scholar's infatuation is something that can still be explained.
The woman's infatuation is beyond words.
Since Li Weidong has already made his choice, and the wedding date has been set for so long without any changes, it means that he has already compromised, or rather, he has made a choice that he believes is more "correct" or more "easy".
What can we change by saying goodbye now, other than adding to the pain and potential risks?
After a long while, Zhao Yaqin calmed down a bit.
Nan Zhiyi tried to organize her thoughts and gently convey these principles to Zhao Yaqin, telling her that letting go was the best way to protect herself, and that meeting again would only reopen the wound.
But Zhao Yaqin was completely immersed in her grief and obsession, and wouldn't listen to any advice.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com