Chapter 44 044 She reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him back. ...
Chen Sulin's gaze darkened in the dim light. He leaned back against the headboard, his voice even hoarser than before: "Okay."
This single word caused Meng Ran's carefully constructed composure to crumble instantly.
She didn't know how much skill this required, but she certainly had no experience whatsoever.
Meng Ran steeled herself and slowly approached, her fingertips cold and trembling slightly.
The room was so quiet that she could almost hear her own heart pounding like a drum, and his breathing, which was heavier than usual.
She tried awkwardly, her cheeks burning, and dared not look up to meet his gaze.
Chen Sulin watched her silently, watching her bite her lip so hard it left a dent, her face flushed, and her eyelashes trembling.
Finally, he couldn't resist kissing her, prying open her teeth and penetrating her deeply.
Meng Ran shuddered and closed her eyes to feel the kiss.
She wasn't yet adept at multitasking, and as she kissed him, she became so engrossed in their passionate kiss that she forgot what she was supposed to be doing.
Until Chen Sulin's hand suddenly covered the back of her hand, firmly enveloping her slender fingers.
Meng Ran was startled, feeling the hand guiding her movements.
The heat of her palms almost burned her; she was extremely shy, yet also felt a sense of novelty.
Opening his eyes to look at him, Chen Sulin's eyes were half-closed, the calmness and restraint in his eyes gone, replaced by a strong lust.
She had never seen him look like that before. Curiosity overcame her shyness and reserve, and she wanted to observe him more closely.
Chen Sulin, however, refused to satisfy her curiosity and kissed her again, forcing her to close her eyes tightly once more.
Seemingly displeased with her distraction, he gently bit the tip of her tongue: "Focus."
Meng Ran let out a groan, hating his domineering attitude, and tightened her fingers in retaliation.
Hearing Chen Sulin's low groan, he forcefully pressed her into his chest.
...
As she washed her hands, Meng Ran's cheeks were still burning hot; she couldn't believe that she had actually asked to do it herself.
The water flowing over her fingers always inexplicably reminded her of another kind of touch.
After leaving the bathroom and returning to bed, Chen Sulin embraced her again.
Feeling that the body in his arms wasn't relaxed enough, he gently patted her waist, his voice soft and languid: "Sleep."
Meng Ran: "...Hmm."
Whether it was because she was exhausted from all that fussing or because Chen Sulin's words really worked, drowsiness quickly enveloped her.
She slept exceptionally soundly and even had a dream.
In her dream, Meng Ran returned to when she was very, very young, before her mother got sick and before her father became as indifferent as he would become later.
The three of them were making zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) together in the kitchen. The sweet aroma of glutinous rice mingled with the fresh scent of bamboo leaves. The zongzi she made were crooked and uneven, but her mother always smiled and praised her for being so skillful.
When she woke up, Meng Ran stared at the ceiling for a long time.
She hasn't dreamt of the warm moments of her childhood with her family for a long time. Even when she occasionally dreams of her father and mother, it always ends in tears.
This time she remembered the scene in her dream clearly, but when she woke up, she no longer felt as empty as before.
There was no pain, no regret; after a brief moment of melancholy, there was more of a feeling that could be described as "peace."
It seems that none of the past, whether good or bad, can hold her back anymore.
In the following days, Meng Ran continued to work on making the cat tree as usual, while Jiang Yuqing also released several videos on various platforms.
After the pre-sale link went live, the actual enthusiasm of customers to place orders was indeed far less than that in the comments section at the time.
Meng Ran was prepared for this. Because of the high-quality materials used, although the price she set was close to the cost price, it was still not acceptable to everyone.
Jiang Yuqing had also given her a heads-up beforehand, telling her not to have too high expectations.
So she ended up receiving more than twenty orders within a week, which slightly exceeded her original expectations.
This quantity is just within her control; any more and there's a risk that production capacity won't be able to keep up.
Right now, she's in the initial stage, and what she values is not the volume of orders, but rather solid quality and reputation.
These days, Meng Ran has also taken some time to draw several other sketches. In addition to the cat castle based on Chen Miaoying's painting, she has designed several pet furniture pieces of different sizes.
On Wednesday morning, Chen Sulin flew to North America for a business trip.
She asked him if he wanted her to give him a ride, but he said no.
Chen Sulin: "Your period isn't over yet, so just stay home."
Actually, the most uncomfortable days of her period had already passed, but Chen Sulin insisted, so she went along with him.
The time difference between the two sides is almost exactly reversed; when it's daytime for Meng Ran and Chen Miaoying, it's nighttime for Chen Sulin.
Without fail, Chen Miaoying always video calls Chen Sulin before going to bed every day, and each time she says "Dad, I miss you so much" at least once.
On Saturday night, after saying goodnight to her father on the tablet and receiving a goodnight kiss from her mother, Chen Miaoying fell asleep peacefully.
Meng Ran took the tablet and quietly left the bedroom.
Upon entering the study, Meng Ran propped up her tablet on the table and asked Chen Sulin, "Are you about to start work on your end?"
Chen Sulin: "No rush, there's still a while."
Meng Ran rested her chin on her hand and said "Oh": "How have your meetings with clients been going these days?"
Chen Sulin: "Yes. The progress is about what we expected. If nothing unexpected happens, I will board the plane tomorrow and land at Beicheng Airport on Monday morning."
Meng Ran: "Actually, you don't need to rush like this. It's okay to be a little late. Even though Miao Ying urges you to come home every day, she has school on Mondays. Even if you come back in the morning, she won't see you until she gets home in the evening."
She had calculated the time difference and flight duration between the two places. If he landed in Beicheng in the morning, his departure time would be the early morning local time of the previous day.
Even though private jets are much more comfortable than regular economy class, they still can't compare to hotels or home, and jet lag can make you very tired.
Chen Sulin: "And you?"
Meng Ran: "What about me?"
Chen Sulin: "Don't you want me to come back sooner?"
Meng Ran hesitated for two seconds before telling the truth: "I want to."
Habit is a terrible thing. She had only shared a bed with Chen Sulin for a few days. On the first day after he went on a business trip, she felt a little uncomfortable sleeping alone.
What's more, he hadn't been on any business trips for the past month, and now, for several days in a row, she could only see him through video calls.
She rarely expresses her emotions so directly, and felt a little uncomfortable afterward.
Meng Ran added, "But I'm not in such a hurry... It doesn't make any difference to me if you come back a day or two later."
Chen Sulin: "Yes, it does for me."
Meng Ran was taken aback.
He rarely said sweet words, so this simple sentence made her heart flutter.
Before she could say anything, Chen Sulin said again, "I'll send you a message before you board the plane tomorrow."
Meng Ran: "...Okay."
Chen Sulin: "Are you taking Miaoying to the park tomorrow at noon?"
Meng Ran smiled and said, "Yes, Miao Ying has been looking forward to this picnic every day for the past few days. She's been so excited that she packed her schoolbag and the food she wanted to bring early on."
Chen Sulin: "Besides having Uncle Dong escort you, do you need me to send two more people to accompany you?"
Meng Ran: "No need, it's just going to the park, I can manage by myself. Besides, there are two other mothers with us, it would be a downer if I had people following me."
...
The next day, Chen Miaoying got up early and asked Aunt Zhang to help her change her clothes.
Wearing her favorite dress and with her hair styled beautifully, Chen Miaoying found her mother.
"Mom!" Chen Miaoying twirled around, pulling on her skirt. "Am I pretty today?!"
Meng Ran: "Absolutely gorgeous!"
Chen Miaoying chuckled and waved her arm: "Mom, when we go out to play today, I want to wear a bracelet like you, okay?"
Meng Ran remembered that Chen Miaoying seemed to be very interested in wearing bracelets last time, and even said she wanted to wear one when she went to kindergarten.
At the time, she felt it was inconvenient and unsafe, so she refused.
It's perfectly normal for a young girl to want to dress up nicely and elegantly when going out to play today.
Meng Ran: "Okay."
Chan Miu-ying: "I want to wear the pearl bracelet that my mom won in the raffle last time, okay?"
Meng Ran: "Sure, but didn't Dad keep that bracelet for you? Do you know where he put it?"
Chen Miaoying shook her head: "I don't know."
"But I really like that bracelet." Chen Miaoying pouted. "Mom, could you ask Dad?"
Meng Ran thought for a moment and said, "Dad is busy right now, can Mom go look for it in your room first?"
Chen Miaoying nodded obediently: "Okay."
The master bedroom's walk-in closet has a special area for storing jewelry. Meng Ran looked around the jewelry cabinet but couldn't find the pearl bracelet.
Meng Ran hesitated, took out her phone, and then put it down.
It's almost midnight for Chen Sulin now. He said she could contact him anytime if there was an emergency, but she didn't want to bother him over a bracelet.
If not in the walk-in closet, where else could it be?
It's unlikely he would bring a bracelet specifically to his office.
Meng Ran pondered for a while before going to the study.
These days she often works in the study. Although she doesn't deliberately go through Chen Sulin's personal belongings, she has some understanding of the layout of the room.
After opening several drawers and looking through them, Meng Ran found the pearl bracelet in a filing cabinet.
I don't know if Chen Sulin put it here casually after going to his study to work when he got home that day.
Meng Ran didn't think much of it and went back to find Chen Miaoying.
Seeing that her mother had helped her find the bracelet she liked, Chen Miaoying cheered happily and asked her mother to put it on for her.
The mother and daughter changed their clothes, packed their belongings, and set off.
...
Meanwhile, at a private club in the western part of the northern city.
Zhao Yanzhou leaned back on the sofa and glanced at his phone.
His mother sent him a message asking if he was going back to the old house for lunch today.
Zhao Yanzhou: [I've been busy negotiating a business deal these past few days, so I won't be able to come back to keep you company.]
Wang Peiyun replied via voice message: "Okay, Mom understands."
"But Mom still wants to say something: your dad and your brother are supporting the family, so don't work too hard on yourself, Zhou."
"Mom doesn't ask anything of you, she just hopes you are healthy and happy."
Hearing the gentle voice coming from his earphones, Zhao Yanzhou squeezed his phone, his knuckles turning white.
Mom, do you really want me to be happy?
Zhao Yanzhou asked himself.
After receiving that message from Shang Yue last time, he didn't want to take those words to heart.
Shang Yue was originally a selfish and self-serving young lady, so it's not surprising that she would lie and deceive people to exonerate herself.
But a voice inside him told him that this time, Shang Yue wasn't just talking nonsense.
In the end, Zhao Yanzhou couldn't hold back any longer and summoned his men to investigate what his mother had done seven years ago.
This morning, the investigation yielded detailed results.
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Zhao Yanzhou could hardly believe his ears.
He always believed that when his family forced him to separate from Meng Ran, only his mother stood firmly on his side.
He even heard his grandfather scolding him in the room for being ungrateful and going against the whole family for a woman he had only known for a few days.
It was the mother who gently persuaded the grandfather, saying that perhaps Meng Ran was not the vain and materialistic girl that Shang Yue described, and that the grandfather should trust his grandson's judgment.
But everything he found out now was completely different from his mother's attitude in his memory.
His men told him that his mother had personally traveled to Meng Ran's hometown and met Meng Ran's father and stepmother.
Meng Ran's hometown is a small city; there are no direct trains, let alone airplanes or high-speed trains.
The only way to get there is to fly to Shanghai first and then take a train.
His pampered mother actually made a special trip to that small place.
Too much time had passed, and the people Zhao Yanzhou sent to investigate were unable to find out what Wang Peiyun and Meng Ran's parents had said.
But what is certain is that two days after Wang Peiyun returned to Beicheng, Meng Ran's stepmother appeared downstairs at Meng Ran's company, unfurled a banner, and blamed Meng Ran for accepting the breakup fee but not paying for her grandmother's medical treatment.
Back then, Zhao Yanzhou wondered how Meng Ran's parents, who lived more than a thousand kilometers away and never contacted their daughter, could be so well-informed.
At that time, he couldn't understand it at all and could only attribute it to Meng Ran's parents being obsessed with money. They heard that their daughter had found a rich boyfriend and they had to squeeze money out of her no matter what.
Now, everything makes sense.
Pulling himself back to reality, Zhao Yanzhou forced a smile.
Zhao Yanzhou: [I understand.]
Zhao Yanzhou: [I'll come see you when I'm done with my work. I also have something I'd like to ask you then.]
Turning off the screen, his friend Deng Sui leaned over and asked, "So? You're really not going back to the old house today?"
Zhao Yanzhou: "Hmm."
Deng Sui shook his head: "I really don't understand you. Weren't you the most filial to your mother before?"
"When you were working non-stop before, you would rather have meetings with clients in the car than miss an hour of going home to have dinner with your mother. Now that you have free time, why don't you go home to be with her?"
Zhao Yanzhou glanced at his friend: "If one day you suddenly discover that the person you thought was the best to you has been deceiving you about the things you care about most, what would you do?"
Deng Sui was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "You mean your mother? What did she lie to you about?"
Seeing that Zhao Yanzhou did not answer, Deng Sui frowned, already having an answer in mind.
"It can't be..." Deng Sui frowned, "...it has something to do with Meng Ran, can it?"
Zhao Yanzhou did not respond.
Deng Sui sighed: "Yanzhou, I'm not trying to be mean, but regardless of whether your aunt hid anything from you back then, what's done is done, and you and Meng Ran are destined to be on different paths."
Why hurt your aunt's feelings over something that can't be changed?
Zhao Yanzhou scoffed, "I hurt her feelings?"
"She made me lose the person I loved most, and for so many years she watched me being kept in the dark, never once thinking of telling me the truth."
"Didn't she ever think about how heartbroken I was?"
After he finished speaking, Zhao Yanzhou clenched his fist even tighter.
For many years, he believed that he was just a little bit unlucky back then.
It wasn't his fault that he missed out on Meng Ran; it was just that fate wasn't on his side.
If Meng Ran's stepmother hadn't appeared just after their breakup, pushing Meng Ran to the brink and giving Chen Sulin an opportunity, they could have reconciled.
They loved each other so much, if only they had a little more time—
Once Grandpa calms down, with his mother's help, he will surely be able to persuade his father and grandfather.
But today Zhao Yanzhou realized that none of it was a coincidence.
For so many years, what he thought was "just a little bit short" was a joke from beginning to end.
"I'm not drinking anymore." Zhao Yanzhou stood up abruptly. "Put the money in my account, I'm leaving."
Deng Sui: "Hey, Yanzhou, where are you going?"
Zhao Yanzhou: "Let's settle this once and for all."
...
The park is not far from the villa area, and Chen Miaoying had been there a few times before.
However, this time she was going on a picnic with her friends, and Chen Miaoying was overjoyed, chattering non-stop along the way.
When we arrived at the park entrance, the other two children and their mothers also arrived one after another.
Both women were in their early thirties. Although their families were not as well-off as the Chen family, they were still residents of the nearby villa area.
The three children quickly started playing together, roughhousing and frolicking in front of the room.
Meng Ran chatted casually with the other two mothers.
Once they reached the lawn, the group spread out their picnic blankets and took out the food they had prepared from their bags.
The children were very excited about the picnic, and their laughter filled the air.
After the picnic, the children ran around on the lawn for a while and then said they wanted to go boating.
Three adults and three children rented a six-person electric boat and played on the lake for a full two hours.
After getting off the boat, Chan Miu-ying said she needed to use the restroom.
Meng Ran led Chen Miaoying to the restroom. After they came out, Chen Miaoying saw that there were cotton candy for sale and started to fuss about buying some.
Unable to dissuade her, Meng Ran dragged her daughter to the cotton candy stall.
The stall owner was a very kind grandfather who patiently asked Chen Miaoying what color and shape of cotton candy she wanted.
After choosing the cotton candy, Meng Ran led Chen Miaoying back to meet up with the others.
She looked up and froze.
After realizing what was happening, Meng Ran instinctively shielded Chen Miaoying behind her.
Seeing Meng Ran's actions, a look of pain flashed in Zhao Yanzhou's eyes: "Ranran..."
Meng Ran remained silent, watching him cautiously.
After a moment of eye contact, Zhao Yanzhou lowered his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "That's right, you should be wary of me."
Meng Ran gripped her daughter's wrist tightly and said coldly, "Zhao Yanzhou, what are you going to do?"
Chen Miaoying looked at her mother strangely, then at the man opposite her.
She has always had a good memory, but she has absolutely no recollection of ever seeing the uncle across from her.
Chen Miaoying: "Mom, who is he? Is he someone you know?"
Hearing the child's innocent voice, Zhao Yanzhou's fingertips trembled.
He turned his head to look at the little girl opposite him, and her face, which looked so much like Meng Ran's, caused him another pang of pain in his heart.
Zhao Yanzhou couldn't bear to look any longer and lowered his eyes. When he saw the bracelet on Chen Miaoying's hand, he froze.
His mind went blank for a moment, and he opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.
Chen Miaoying tilted her head and lowered it.
Why is this uncle staring at her wrist? Does he like his bracelet too?
Meng Ran didn't want her daughter to have too much contact with Zhao Yanzhou.
She glanced at the distance; perhaps because they had been gone for a while, Xuanxuan's mother, who had come with them, was walking this way.
Meng Ran squatted down and said to Chen Miaoying, "Baby, why don't you go find Xuanxuan's mother first, okay? Mommy has a few words to say to this uncle, and I'll come find you in a little while."
Chen Miaoying blinked, somewhat reluctant, but still agreed: "Oh... okay, Mom."
Meng Ran patted her shoulder reassuringly: "Okay, good girl."
Seeing Chen Miaoying run over and take Xuanxuan's mother's hand, Meng Ran turned around.
"Zhao Yanzhou," Meng Ran frowned, "what brings you here?"
Hearing her ask that, Zhao Yanzhou looked somewhat confused.
Before meeting Meng Ran, he had clearly already thought about everything he wanted to say.
He wanted to tell her that he was sorry and that everything in the past was his fault.
He told her that from now on he would have no more illusions, that he knew he was unworthy, and that he would only atone for his sins while wishing her happiness from afar.
But after seeing the bracelet on Meng Ran's daughter's wrist, all the determination he had made before was shaken once again.
That's her daughter, so beautiful and lovely.
If only he had been more resolute back then and had never mentioned breaking up.
Perhaps today, he will bring her and their daughter to the park.
Meng Ran's voice pulled him back to reality: "Zhao Yanzhou, why did you look at the bracelet on Miao Ying's hand just now?"
"Ranran..." Zhao Yanzhou felt as if he were walking on cotton, his head was heavy and his feet were light, and his voice was shaky, "Your daughter... also likes pearls as much as you do?"
Meng Ran: "What does this have to do with you?"
Zhao Yanzhou blurted out, "Of course!"
Meng Ran's gaze narrowed slightly.
Zhao Yanzhou: "Because that bracelet is, is..."
Reason told him that there would be no good in saying it now, but his blood was surging and he couldn't control himself.
Meng Ran frowned, and something suddenly flashed through her mind: "Was it you who orchestrated that lottery in the mall back then?"
Zhao Yanzhou: "..."
Remaining silent at this point is no different from directly admitting it.
Meng Ran slowly opened her eyes wide: "Zhao Yanzhou, you are simply unreasonable! You went to great lengths to get the shop manager to act with you, just to get that bracelet into my hands?"
Zhao Yanzhou: "I..."
He had nothing to say.
It all stemmed from his resentment; he couldn't bear to see her wearing the bracelet Chen Sulin had given her, and he wanted her to wear the jewelry he had given her.
“But,” Zhao Yanzhou said, “you really liked that bracelet, didn’t you? You even gave it to your daughter.”
Meng Ran: "If only I had known earlier—"
She couldn't continue.
Meng Ran had never felt so disgusted before.
All of this he meticulously planned disrupted her life and even took advantage of her daughter.
Even though it was an accident that the bracelet ended up on Chen Miaoying's wrist, the thought that Zhao Yanzhou had bought it made her feel nauseous.
"Mom." A clear voice rang out, and Meng Ran came back to her senses, looking at her side in surprise.
"Miaoying?" Meng Ran asked, "Why are you here? Weren't you with Xuanxuan's mother?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Xuanxuan's mother not far away.
The other person gave her an apologetic look: "I'm so sorry, Miaoying's mother. Miaoying was so worried about you. I couldn't argue with her, so I had to bring her back to see you."
Meng Ran: "..."
"It's okay." She forced herself to remain calm, and gave a slight smile. "It's not your fault."
Xuanxuan's mother nodded, glanced cautiously at Zhao Yanzhou, and tactfully stepped aside.
Chen Miaoying: "Mom, are you alright?"
Children are very sensitive to emotions, and Meng Ran knew that it was her reaction that affected Chen Miaoying.
Meng Ran said gently, "Mom is fine. She was just talking to that uncle across the street about something."
Zhao Yanzhou: "Miaoying."
Meng Ran gave Zhao Yanzhou a warning look.
Chen Miaoying sensed her mother's emotions and looked at the uncle in front of her who called her by name.
She thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Even if you know my name, I won't be friends with you because my mother doesn't like you."
Zhao Yanzhou: "..."
"Miaoying," he spoke again, "Uncle just wanted to tell you that the bracelet you really like... was bought by Uncle."
As he spoke, he looked cautiously at the exquisitely beautiful little girl in front of him, as if he were hoping for something.
Chen Miaoying froze, raised her wrist to look at it, and after a few seconds, looked at Meng Ran again: "Mom, is what he said true?"
Her little head was full of questions: Didn't Mom say that this bracelet was a prize in a raffle?
Besides, doesn't Mom dislike this uncle? Why would she let him buy her a bracelet?
Meng Ran had already cursed Zhao Yanzhou a thousand times in her heart.
"I'm sorry," Meng Ran said. "When Mom first received this bracelet, she didn't know which uncle bought it, otherwise Mom wouldn't have accepted it."
Chen Miaoying suddenly realized: "He lied to Mom?"
Meng Ran: "...Hmm."
Chen Miaoying nodded firmly: "I understand!"
Zhao Yanzhou watched helplessly as Chen Miaoying tore off the bracelet and threw it into his hand.
He was speechless at the child's actions: "You—"
Chen Miaoying took a step back and spoke clearly: "I don't want your bracelet, because my dad will buy me a bracelet a thousand times prettier than this one. My dad is a thousand times better than you, so please stop bothering me and my mom!"
After saying that, Chen Miaoying turned around and took her mother's hand: "Mom, don't be sad. Let's stay away from people we hate and never talk to them again."
...
Watching Meng Ran lead her daughter away, Zhao Yanzhou's fingernails dug deep into his palms, but he didn't move an inch.
For the first time in a long time, an incredibly clear thought appeared in his mind.
He lost her forever.
For the rest of her life, no matter what happens, she will never want to have anything to do with him again.
.
Even after returning from the park, Meng Ran's mind was still in turmoil until evening.
She tried her best not to show anything unusual in front of Chen Miaoying and coaxed her to sleep.
Before meeting Zhao Yanzhou in the evening, Chen Sulin had already boarded the plane and should be resting on it at this time.
He probably hasn't heard about what happened in the park today.
Meng Ran didn't know how to talk to him about meeting tomorrow.
One thing is certain: even if she doesn't tell him, he will find out sooner or later.
Chen Sulin was already concerned about her taking her daughter to the park, and when she returned in the evening, Uncle Dong noticed that her expression was off, so he would probably report it to him.
Besides, when Chen Miaoying meets her father, she might bring up this matter with him.
Meng Ran pressed her temples; she had a slight headache.
With mixed emotions, it took Meng Ran a long time to fall asleep.
When she woke up the next morning, she took Uncle Dong's car to the airport.
Before Chen Sulin went on his business trip, the two had agreed that she would pick him up at the airport.
I was filled with anxiety the whole way.
It's not that I feel I did anything wrong, but I'm struggling with whether or not I should explain the situation to him after we meet.
She knew that Chen Sulin had always been bothered by Zhao Yanzhou.
After a long and tiring business trip, she finally returned home, only to hear about this upsetting thing. If she were in her shoes, she would definitely feel very uncomfortable too.
Chen Sulin was traveling on a private plane. Uncle Dong's car had been registered and could be driven directly to the edge of the tarmac to pick him up.
Not long after the car arrived, Meng Ran saw Chen Sulin coming out of the cabin from afar.
She pushed open the car door and got out.
Chen Sulin walked through the safety passage to her, and in front of several staff members not far away, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Meng Ran was caught off guard when he hugged her in public. She bumped into his arms and was enveloped by Chen Sulin's unique, cool aura.
After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him back.
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