Chapter 29, page 29: "You don't need to understand, it's up to you."...
Meng Ran bent her fingers.
I wanted to pull my hand back, but I felt it would be too deliberate, so I pretended to casually take the milk tea out of the bag.
As she took it, she glanced down at her left hand.
She hasn't worn her wedding ring for the past two weeks; the indentation left by the ring has disappeared, as if it never existed.
Just like her two-year marriage with Chen Sulin, it was a complete blank in her memory.
Meng Ran picked up the milk tea and took a sip.
A man's voice sounded in her ear: "Didn't you like the style of the ring we had before?"
Meng Ran was stunned.
She took off her wedding ring because the marriage felt too unreal to her, and her new identities as a wife and mother left her feeling overwhelmed.
It's both escapism and self-comfort.
But she will probably never say this to Chen Sulin.
She is used to keeping things to herself and doesn't easily reveal her true thoughts and emotions.
Since Chen Sulin had already given her a reason, Meng Ran simply went along with it, saying, "It's not that I dislike it, but I'm not used to seeing it."
That's why I haven't worn it.
Chen Sulin: "Then next time we have time, let's go pick out a new pair together."
Meng Ran looked up in surprise.
She didn't know much about this either, but can wedding rings be changed as easily as ordinary jewelry?
Chen Sulin remained unfazed: "The wedding rings we had before were bought before our wedding. We were in a rush, so it's normal that they don't suit your taste."
Meng Ran: "...Oh."
She suddenly remembered that in the timeline Jiang Yuqing had summarized for her, she married Chen Sulin three months after breaking up with Zhao Yanzhou.
Three months does sound rushed, and the actual time she and Chen Sulin spent preparing for their wedding should have been even shorter, but it shouldn't have been so short that they didn't even have time to properly choose a pair of rings.
Moreover, they did not hold a wedding ceremony.
Was it simply that there wasn't enough time, or did they not believe the marriage could last?
Chen Sulin's deep voice pulled her back from her thoughts: "Next week, let's go to the store to pick something out when it's convenient for you?"
Meng Ran was stunned.
So suddenly?
She believed that in the social rules of adults, saying "I'll be free next time" implicitly gave each other an endless opportunity to procrastinate.
Just like saying "Come to my house sometime" or "I'll treat you to a meal sometime," what it really means is "I'm just being polite; I don't actually intend to invite you to my house or treat you to a meal."
Chen Sulin didn't give her much of a chance to be surprised, and asked again, "When are you free next week? I'll clear my schedule in advance."
Meng Ran: "..."
It feels like being forced into something.
But she didn't have a legitimate reason to refuse.
Having experienced a dramatic change in her life, Meng Ran was unable to accept such a drastic transformation and didn't even want to see her wedding ring.
Now she doesn't mind wearing a ring. For her, her marriage with Chen Sulin is a done deal, so wearing one or not makes no difference.
Meng Ran: "Then... let's go with your schedule. You can choose a day when you're not busy."
She's no longer an office worker who clocks in at the company every day; she can do her work whenever she wants.
Chen Sulin: "Next Friday afternoon?"
Meng Ran thought for a moment and agreed, "Okay."
The date for choosing wedding rings was set.
Meng Ran felt a subtle sense of unreality. She took a sip of her milk tea and looked through the glass of the lounge at Chen Miaoying, who was doing somersaults in the arena.
The little girl is truly a sports enthusiast; her forward roll was so precise and graceful that even her mother felt inferior.
Meng Ran was a good student, but her physical education grades were always among the worst in the class. She was most afraid of running in every physical education class.
Fortunately, physical education was not included in the college entrance examination score at that time, so as long as you passed, you were fine.
Thinking of this, Meng Ran glanced at Chen Sulin silently.
The man always seemed unmoved by the winds of life, making it impossible to tell whether he was good at sports or not.
However, Chen Miaoying's athletic talent probably didn't just appear out of thin air, right?
Moreover, the last time I bumped into Chen Sulin coming out of the bathroom, although I couldn't see it very clearly, he seemed to have obvious signs of working out.
She still remembers the muscle definition she saw at the collar of his shirt.
Meng Ran was lost in thought when Chen Sulin looked up at her.
Chen Sulin: "What's wrong?"
Meng Ran was startled, then shook her head guiltily: "It's nothing!"
Realizing she had been staring at him for who knows how long, she tried to make amends: "I was wondering if your oolong tea was good? I've never had it before."
Chen Sulin raised an eyebrow: "Want to try some?"
Meng Ran: "...Huh?"
Chen Sulin pushed the plastic cup two inches towards her.
Meng Ran hesitated for a moment: "No... never mind, actually I don't really like drinking oolong tea."
After rejecting her, she felt she was being dramatic: "We've already kissed twice, why would I care about drinking a cup of milk tea?"
But humans are such strange creatures; the thought of sharing a straw with Chen Sulin made her feel uneasy.
Chen Sulin didn't insist anymore: "Next time I'll buy you what you like to drink."
Meng Ran replied instinctively, "I like it too sweet, you definitely won't like it."
Chen Sulin: "How did you know?"
Meng Ran: "..."
Chen Sulin: "I'm not picky about taste, I can drink anything."
Meng Ran: "...Okay."
Not knowing how to continue, she took another sip of milk tea and turned her gaze back to the venue.
Just then, Chen Miaoying finished a move taught by her teacher, proudly straightened her chest, and looked at her parents.
Upon noticing that her mother was also watching her, Chen Miaoying immediately smiled broadly and waved vigorously at her mother.
Meng Ran couldn't help but chuckle and waved back at her.
After watching Chen Miaoying's performance in the venue for a while, resting his chin on his hand, Chen Sulin turned his head and saw that Chen Sulin had already taken out his laptop.
I remember the last time he came, he turned on his computer and started working not long after.
Meng Ran first felt sorry for him, as he had missed his daughter's impressive performance.
On second thought, Chen Miaoying had been taking physical education classes for a year, and Chen Sulin might be tired of seeing her like that.
However, Meng Ran was not tired of watching it at all.
At least for now, she enjoys watching Chen Miaoying run and jump freely in the physical education classroom.
After class, Chen Miaoying, as always, said she wanted to eat an ice cream cone.
Chen Miaoying's logic is simple: she ate it after the last physical education class, so she has to eat it today too.
Knowing that her father wouldn't let her finish the whole cone, Chen Miaoying solemnly divided the food: "Mom, I'll eat the tip of the cone, and you can eat the bottom."
Meng Ran couldn't help but tease her: "Mommy wants to eat some pointed cones too, what should we do?"
Chen Miaoying blinked: "Then Mom will eat!"
Meng Ran was surprised: So generous?
She said, "Mom thought you preferred the pointed end of the ice cream cone."
Chan Miu-ying: "I like it, but I can give it to my mom."
Meng Ran was moved: She truly deserves to be her own daughter.
Chen Miaoying then added, "Because I ate the tip last time, Mom is eating it today, and next week Mom will let me eat it again."
Meng Ran laughed.
Well, although the emotion I felt earlier has been slightly diminished, it's still good this way. I won't have to worry about my daughter being taken advantage of outside anymore.
The mother and daughter each took half and finished off the ice cream cone.
After returning to the villa and having dinner, Chen Miaoying went to watch her favorite cartoon on TV.
Chen Miaoying has a strong sense of order. For example, she asks her parents to say goodnight to her every night, and every Saturday night is her dedicated cartoon time.
When watching cartoons, he likes to imitate the characters' lines and actions, and he will correct himself if he imitates them wrong.
Meng Ran went upstairs to her bedroom.
She had been refining the design of the cat tree for the past few days, and finally finalized it yesterday.
Next, she plans to contact several timber and hardware stores in Beicheng to find suitable materials.
Online shopping is very convenient now, and Meng Ran considered whether she should find someone online to customize something, which would be more convenient and affordable.
But after a moment's hesitation, she decided to buy it in a physical store.
When it comes to materials, no matter how clear the pictures and videos are, they can't compare to the feeling of touching them in person to truly appreciate the details.
Of course, an important point is that she is not short of money now, so she values quality more than price.
After exchanging information with the merchant via WeChat, Meng Ran stretched, took off her coat, and went to take a shower.
When she arrived at the changing area, she remembered what she had forgotten when she saw Chen Sulin that morning.
His coat is still with her.
When the cleaning lady tidied the room, she only dealt with the clothes in the laundry basket, so she didn't put Chen Sulin's coat back in its place.
Meng Ran's fingertips lingered on the clothes hanger for a moment before she decided to take a shower first and then return his clothes.
After coming out of the bathroom and drying her hair, Meng Ran walked to the clothes again.
You'll have to pay it back sooner or later.
Meng Ran took Chen Sulin's coat off the hanger and walked out of the bedroom.
The study light was on.
Meng Ran took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
A few seconds later, the study door opened.
Seeing that she was holding his coat, Chen Sulin's eyebrows twitched.
Meng Ran: "I forgot to return your clothes last night."
Chen Sulin: "Hmm."
Meng Ran: "Shall I hang it up for you?"
There was a floor-standing clothes rack against the wall inside the study door. She had noticed it on her previous visits, as Chen Sulin would sometimes casually hang his tie on it.
Seeing that he didn't object, Meng Ran went inside.
Chen Sulin: "Wait a minute."
Meng Ran stopped moving and looked back at him in confusion.
Chen Sulin: "Put it in the bedroom."
Meng Ran: "..."
She handed him her coat: "Then you do it yourself."
Chen Sulin chuckled.
Meng Ran thought to herself, he probably knows his demands are excessive.
She brought him his clothes, and then asked him to hang them in the bedroom.
Chen Sulin took the coat: "Tomorrow afternoon is Chen Miaoying's best friend's birthday party, remember?"
As he spoke, he pushed the study door open completely, gesturing for her to walk out.
Meng Ran walked out of the study: "I remember, Miao Ying specifically reminded me of that during the day."
She wouldn't forget even if you didn't remind her.
Zhu Haoran's mother took her son's birthday party very seriously. After hearing that she would be attending, she specially asked Chen Miaoying to bring her an invitation, which specified the time and place.
Chen Sulin: "Have you decided what time to leave?"
Meng Ran: "Yes, the party starts at 2 o'clock, and I plan to leave at 1:30."
It's impolite to arrive too early when visiting someone's home; leaving half an hour in advance is just right.
Chen Sulin: "Then let Uncle Dong take you and Miaoying."
Meng Ran: "Okay."
The two walked and talked, and when they stopped, Meng Ran realized that she had followed Chen Sulin to the door of the master bedroom.
To be precise, she had already stepped one foot into the room.
Just as she was hesitating whether to stop, Chen Sulin turned his head and looked at her naturally: "Have you told your daughter about the departure time?"
His bedroom wasn't some den of thieves or wolves, so for her to stand at the door and not go in would make her seem petty.
Moreover, strictly speaking, this master bedroom is a shared space for the couple.
Meng Ran hesitated for a few seconds before following him: "They didn't say what time, they only said after lunch."
Seeing her come in, Chen Sulin turned around and walked into the dressing room: "Before you go to sleep later, you'd better tell her exactly what time you're leaving, down to the minute."
Meng Ran asked curiously, "Why?"
Chen Sulin glanced at her and calmly explained, "Otherwise, after lunch, she might have come to ask you every two minutes whether you're leaving or not."
Meng Ran blinked and smiled.
"You seem to be very experienced?" she asked.
Chen Sulin: "After being asked the same question more than ten times, you'll naturally gain experience."
Meng Ran burst out laughing.
She could imagine the scene of Chen Miaoying chasing after Chen Sulin, calling out, "Daddy, Daddy, when are we leaving?"
Meng Ran: "Were you like this when you were little? You had such a strong sense of time."
Unbeknownst to her, she followed Chen Sulin into the dressing room.
Chen Sulin hung his coat on the clothes rack in the temporary changing area and replied, "I guess so. My father is a very punctual person, and he has always been strict with me in this regard since I was a child."
Meng Ran was slightly taken aback.
This was the first time she had heard Chen Sulin mention his father.
In fact, Chen Sulin had never mentioned it to her, neither to her parents nor to any other family members.
At first, Meng Ran thought about asking, but over time she completely forgot about it.
Perhaps it's because she hasn't been in contact with her nominal parents for a long time, and after getting used to it, she feels that this "orphan" situation is the norm.
She forgot that most people, unless their parents have passed away, usually keep in regular contact with them.
Seeing her stunned expression, Chen Sulin said calmly, "My relationship with my parents is so-so. They are both abroad now. My father is recuperating in Switzerland, and my mother is with him in a nursing home."
Meng Ran: "..."
She nodded.
She thought it might be more than just a "casual relationship".
Otherwise, those two, as Chen Miaoying's grandparents, would at least call or video chat with each other a few times a month, instead of having no contact with each other like this.
But Meng Ran decided not to ask any more questions.
Just like Chen Sulin never mentioned letting Chen Miaoying meet her maternal grandparents, there must be a reason why things have developed to this point, and there is no need to delve into it.
At least for now, Meng Ran has not yet opened up to Chen Sulin about her "trauma from her family of origin".
She was the one who started the conversation. Meng Ran coughed and, knowing the answer already, changed the subject: "Is this the walk-in closet in the master bedroom?"
After asking the question, she looked around.
When she came in, Meng Ran's attention was focused on her conversation with Chen Sulin, and she only noticed the surrounding arrangements now.
I thought the dressing area in her bedroom was already quite large, but when I got there, I found that the walk-in closet in the master bedroom was several times more spacious and luxurious than hers.
Not only are there hanging areas suitable for clothes of all lengths, but there are also dedicated areas for all kinds of accessories.
Chen Sulin's ties, for example, were displayed one by one on the shelves, arranged neatly by color, exuding a meticulous and exquisite feel.
Watches are displayed in watch cabinets, and small items such as cufflinks and tie clips are also placed on corresponding velvet trays, showing meticulous attention to detail.
Of course, there isn't just a men's area.
On the other side of the walk-in closet is a large area, clearly designed for women, with shoe cabinets suitable for storing high heels and boots.
For a moment, Meng Ran felt like she had gotten the short end of the stick.
In order to avoid sharing a bed with Chen Sulin, she voluntarily gave up the right to use such a large walk-in closet.
As if sensing the regret in her expression, Chen Sulin raised the corners of his lips.
“If you want, you can move in anytime,” he said. “It just so happens that Miaoying has always wanted her parents to sleep in the same room.”
Meng Ran: "..."
She cleared her throat: "My room is fine too, I've gotten used to it these past few days."
Chen Sulin said meaningfully, "Then you should be able to get used to living here quickly."
Meng Ran was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly, "Let's do it in a while."
Chen Sulin stopped insisting.
The man bent his index finger and lightly tapped the glass door of the watch case with his knuckle: "Help me choose one? To wear tomorrow."
Meng Ran instinctively declined, saying, "I don't know anything about watches."
Chen Sulin opened the cabinet door: "You don't need to understand, it's up to you."
Meng Ran: "...Okay then."
His watch, I imagine, wouldn't be inappropriate to wear out.
Meng Ran is a conscientious person and rarely does things half-heartedly.
Chen Sulin let her choose, and she agreed, but she should at least look at them all before making a decision.
Meng Ran carefully examined the watches in his watch cabinet and gained a preliminary understanding of Chen Sulin's taste.
Contrary to her expectations, they weren't all simple, basic styles; some were quite well-designed, and the colors weren't all the most common black, silver, and white.
Meng Ran: "Are you going out tomorrow?"
Chen Sulin: "There's a business meeting."
Meng Ran casually said, "You must be very busy lately, having meetings on weekends."
Chen Sulin: "The other party has limited time. They only have a half-day layover in Beicheng tomorrow before flying to Europe again in the evening."
Meng Ran: "No wonder."
Chen Sulin gave him a questioning look.
Meng Ran snapped out of her daze, feeling annoyed.
When did she become so relaxed when chatting with Chen Sulin, saying things without thinking?
The two of them are clearly not that familiar with each other yet.
Having already spoken, Meng Ran explained, "It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered that Miao Ying told me today that you're very troubled by work."
Chen Sulin: "..."
Meng Ran: "Actually, if you're really busy, you can postpone other unimportant things."
For example, picking her up, or buying matching rings together.
Chen Sulin: "It's not that busy."
After a few seconds of pause, he added, "It's not that I'm worried about work."
If you only deny that it's because of work, then you're definitely having some worries.
Meng Ran looked at him, unsure whether she should ask.
Even though they had already kissed, she still felt that he was a complete stranger to her most of the time.
After a moment of eye contact, Chen Sulin lowered his gaze and gestured for her to look at the watch cabinet: "You haven't made your choice yet."
Meng Ran: "...Oh, okay."
Since it's a business meeting, it's safer to choose a more conservative style.
Meng Ran thought for half a minute, then pointed to one of the simple silver-gray watches: "How about this one?"
Chen Sulin: "Okay."
The speed of his reply made Meng Ran suspect that even if she closed her eyes and randomly pointed to a piece, he would still say "okay".
Meng Ran glanced at the time: "It's almost time for Miao Ying to go to sleep."
She'd been in his bedroom long enough.
Chen Sulin nodded.
As the two came out of the master bedroom, they ran into Aunt Zhang, who had just finished bathing Chen Miaoying and was about to call them, when they reached the hallway.
When Aunt Zhang saw her husband and wife come out of the master bedroom together, she couldn't hide her surprise for a moment.
Although she didn't intentionally pry into the private lives of the male and female owners, she was very aware that she was in charge of the young lady's daily life in the villa and that the wife and husband always slept in separate rooms.
Meng Ran didn't miss the fleeting surprise on Aunt Zhang's face.
Meng Ran felt her earlobes burning.
The advantages of having a housekeeper far outweigh the disadvantages, but at times like this, she still couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.
She and Chen Sulin hadn't done anything.
Aunt Zhang quickly composed herself and said, "Miss just finished taking a bath and sent me to find you."
Chen Sulin nodded slightly, indicating that Aunt Zhang could return to the annex to rest.
In the children's room, Chen Miaoying jumped out of bed the moment she saw her mother and father.
Meng Ran was surprised that the little girl was still so energetic today when she heard Chen Miaoying say, "Mom! Have you forgotten something?"
"You promised me you'd sleep with me one day a week!"
Meng Ran suddenly realized that there seemed to be such a thing.
The last time I slept with my daughter was on a Saturday.
If you were to take the MBTI test, Chan Miu-ying would definitely be a genius; she even has such a well-planned schedule for when she sleeps with her mother.
Chen Miaoying: "So Mom, will you sleep with me tonight?"
Meng Ran nodded: "Okay."
Chen Miaoying cheered, "Yay! I knew Mom wouldn't go back on her word!"
"Dad, come to Mom's room and say goodnight to us!"
Under the arrangement of Chen Miaoying, the little princess of J, Meng Ran and her daughter lay down on the bed together and fell asleep after Chen Sulin said goodnight to the two of them.
The next day, Meng Ran was woken up by Chen Miaoying, and the two brushed their teeth and washed their faces together.
All morning, Chen Miaoying followed Meng Ran around like a little tail, pestering her mother to play with building blocks with her and watch cartoons.
The mother and daughter were briefly separated after lunch.
Meng Ran went upstairs, took out the invitation, and opened it.
The invitation not only listed the time and location but also the dress code, requiring participants to wear casual clothing in low-saturation colors, and not black.
Meng Ran had never been required to dress in accordance with regulations when attending company annual meetings before, so this was the first time for her.
This was her first time attending such a social event as Chan Miu-ying's mother, and to be honest, she was a little nervous.
Meng Ran herself prefers low-saturation colors, and there are many clothes that meet her requirements.
But having more choices can actually make things more difficult.
She had already picked out a few options beforehand, but now, just before leaving the house, she suddenly had a hard time making a decision and still couldn't decide between the two dresses that made it to the final round.
There was a knock on the bedroom door.
Meng Ran thought it was Chen Miaoying, her little alarm clock, coming to wake her up, but when she opened the door, she found it was Chen Sulin.
She asked, "You haven't left yet?"
Chen Sulin: "Something came up on the other end, so the meeting was postponed by half an hour. That'll give me time to go with you first."
Meng Ran: "Oh..."
Chen Sulin glanced at the two dresses she was holding.
Meng Ran said shyly, "I'm still hesitating about which dress to wear to the party."
Chen Sulin: "Shall I help you?"
Meng Ran didn't understand for a moment: "What?"
Chen Sulin: "Wear it for me, and I'll order it for you."
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