The eldest aunt took the two children to school, leaving only Shuyan and Fang Zeyu in the house.
It seemed like it had been a long time since the two of them had sat down and chatted. Shu Yan looked at Fang Zeyu and asked, trying to make conversation, "Why did that girl come out to apologize?"
Anyway, Shu Yan didn't believe that she would come out and apologize in front of so many people in such a grand manner, it was like acting.
“One of my brothers is looking for her.”
Fang Zeyu was puzzled at first, but later learned that Mao Weiping had gone to Yin Xueqin and offered her money if she apologized in front of everyone, the more repentant the better. Yin Xueqin, who was already penniless, agreed. She could apologize to ease her guilt and get money at the same time. What was wrong with that?
She really put in a lot of effort, kneeling down and crying her eyes out, even bringing her own mother along to keep her company. The effect was truly amazing. No one in the surrounding villages spoke ill of Fang Zeyu anymore, and now the blame was directed at his stepmother.
As for Yin Xueqin, she took the money given to her by Mao Weiping and disappeared with her mother. With her looks and education, she could easily find a good job in any city or county, and she could marry into a good family in the future.
Shu Yan nodded, glanced at Fang Zeyu, grabbed a cushion and hugged it. "My family favored boys over girls. I was only allowed to finish elementary school up to the third grade. I stayed home to help my parents with farm work and housework. When I was 17, several people came to my house to propose marriage. The Ye family from the neighboring village offered the highest dowry, so my parents chose them. We got married after just one meeting. Less than two months into the marriage, he said he wanted to go out and make his way in the world. After he left, I found out I was pregnant. My in-laws were also biased towards boys, and they didn't even give me a proper postpartum period after I gave birth to Jingjing. My ex-husband was working on construction projects and needed someone to cook, so he thought of me. I went to cook for him, and that's how I got pregnant with Tianbao. When I got too heavy to cook, I went back to the countryside. Later, in order to marry that other woman, he ignored me for several months, and then he started picking fights with me. I felt I couldn't live like this anymore, so I divorced him."
She felt there was nothing wrong with talking about these things; the more she avoided it, the more complicated it would become, so it was better to be open and honest with him. She also told Fang Zeyu that she had no feelings for her ex-husband and that the relationship was purely a sham.
Fang Zeyu understood Shu Yan's meaning: if she truly had feelings for someone, she wouldn't talk about her past like a stranger.
This truly surprised Fang Zeyu. He wasn't worried about the difficulties of being a stepfather; he was more concerned that Shu Yan wouldn't be able to get over the hurt from her previous marriage.
“You’ve probably heard some of my story. My dad was a sent-down youth, sent to the countryside in my mom’s village. He couldn’t stand the hardship, so he coaxed my mom into marrying him. In 1980, when the sent-down youth returned to the city, he came back too, but we never heard from each other again. My mom scraped together money and brought me to find him. As expected, he remarried in the city. My mom didn’t take me back; she abandoned me here.” Fang Zeyu’s eyes flickered slightly as he spoke of being abandoned by his mother. “I can understand her. I’m a boy. Whoever marries my mom has to build me a house and find me a wife. Who would want that? She can’t support me alone. It’s better to leave me in Nancheng. At least I won’t starve, and having a city household registration is better than having no future in the countryside.”
Shu Yan listened to him silently, unable to imagine what it felt like to be abandoned by one's mother at such a young age.
“I went back to see her after I grew up.” Fang Zeyu turned his head and smiled at Shu Yan. “She married a widower from next door. His wife died in childbirth and they lost their child, so she didn’t have to be a stepmother. After she married him, she had two sons. The older one is a year younger than me, tall and big, and I heard he does well in school. The younger one is a bit naughty and doesn’t like to go to school. After graduating from junior high school, his father sent him to learn carpentry. They are both doing well.”
Hearing Fang Zeyu say that his younger brother, who shared the same mother, was only a year younger than him, Shu Yan suddenly felt extremely sad.
“I have never regretted having that little girl, but… I regret that I was unable to see my grandparents one last time.” When Fang Zeyu mentioned his grandparents, his eyes reddened and moistened. “If it weren’t for their worry about me, my grandparents would not have passed away so early. They were in such good health.”
“It’s all in the past.” Shu Yan thought of her parents, how heartbroken they must be to know she was dead.
"It's over." He sent those people in one by one.
The two sat quietly for a long time before their emotions calmed down.
They shared their past experiences and felt a step closer to each other.
Shu Yan leaned back lazily on the sofa, clutching the corner of a cushion. "What are your plans for the future?"
"I originally planned to take good care of the old lady next door after I got my revenge. After she passed away, I would find a place with green mountains and clear waters to live a simple life, all by myself." Fang Zeyu stared at Shu Yan and said very seriously, "Plans can't keep up with changes. I met someone who moved my heart, and now I want to marry her and live the life she wants."
Shu Yan's ears turned red from his stare.
"It won't be easy for you to marry her." She glared at him. When did he learn to say sweet nothings?
“I will overcome all difficulties. As long as she is willing to be with me.” Fang Zeyu kept his eyes fixed on Shu Yan.
Shu Yan pursed her lips and looked up at Fang Zeyu. "Are you really mentally prepared? I'm sure everyone around you has given you advice. Being a stepfather isn't easy."
Fang Zeyu sat up straight and said firmly, "I knew you had children from the moment I met you. I don't think it's a problem. I treat my children with all my heart, and they can always feel it. When they grow up and start their own families, they can live with us if they want, or they can live their own lives as the two of us. If you're willing, we can travel all over the beautiful mountains and rivers of our country together. If we can still walk, we can go abroad. When we can't travel anymore, we'll come back."
Shu Yan's heart pounded. This was her dream from her past life. She hoped to retire at 60, then travel the world with someone she loved, and return to her hometown when she got too old to travel.
"Don't you want to have your own children?" It seems that having his own children is not part of his plans.
To be honest, Shu Yan wanted to have one child, just one would be enough. However, she worried that having a child would make her focus more on the younger one and neglect her two older children, which was a difficult balance to strike. Not having children wasn't realistic either. Since she was planning to remarry, and her partner was getting married for the first time, it would be unfair to Fang Zeyu not to have a child.
It would be a lie to say he didn't want children of his own. Fang Zeyu was abandoned by his father at a young age, and later abandoned by his mother. If it weren't for his grandparents, he might have starved to death long ago. He had always thought that if he had children in the future, he would definitely take on the responsibility of being a father, protect them, and take good care of them. But it doesn't matter now. Jingjing and Tianbao are doing well, and he will treat them as his own children.
"It's okay. It's the same with Jingjing and Tianbao." Fang Zeyu said this sincerely.
Shu Yan raised an eyebrow, meaning it was okay, not that she didn't want it.
"If, and I mean if, I remarry and have children, I hope to get Jingjing and Tianbao's consent."
Fang Zeyu stared at Shu Yan in surprise. Did this mean that she hadn't had her tubal ligation yet, and if Jingjing and Tianbao agreed, she would be willing to have another child?
"I've talked to Jingjing and Tianbao about remarriage. Tianbao is probably still young and doesn't seem to care, and he even looks forward to having a new father. Jingjing is older and knows more, so I can't say she's against it, but she's very insecure and afraid that I'll leave her if I remarry. So you'll need to put more effort into getting her involved." Shuyan finished speaking and, receiving no response from Fang Zeyu, turned to look at him. "Is there a problem?"
Fang Zeyu stared blankly at Shu Yan for a long time before stammering, "You...you agree...agree to be my girlfriend..."
“We’re not young anymore. We’ve been through so much. There’s no point in playing chase anymore. It’s not easy to meet someone you like, so why not be more open and brave?” Shu Yan has also had several relationships. Now that she’s thirty, what she wants more is a strong arm and a warm harbor.
"I'm not as brave as you." When it comes to relationships, Fang Zeyu feels that he is not as open and brave as Shu Yan.
If Shu Yan hadn't brought it up today, he probably would still have been racking his brains trying to figure out how to pursue her, instead of bravely standing in front of her and confessing his feelings openly.
She's already taken the first step, there's no reason for him, a man, to dawdle like this.
"Shuyan, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Shu Yan put down the cushion, got up and walked upstairs. "Summer vacation is coming soon, let's think about where to take the kids."
At this moment, Fang Zeyu's heart was as bright as fireworks.
When I got up to go back, I couldn't even walk.
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