Chapter 202 Helping
Tang Wenhua remembered that Xia Mian was allergic to mangoes. However, with so many people and things to do today, he had overlooked it and hadn't thought of it.
"Look at my memory," she laughed awkwardly, "Are you alright, Mianmian?"
“You all have bad memories, but I have a very good one. I know what I can and can’t eat. Don’t worry,” Xia Mian said. “I won’t get sick in Xia Garden and ruin your New Year celebrations.”
Tang Wenhua was even more embarrassed. Because Zhou Pingchuan was present, he couldn't say anything, so he could only raise his glass and use the act of drinking to cover up his embarrassment.
Xia Dongbo then adopted the authority of the head of the family: "Mianmian, how can you talk to your mother like that? You're married now and you still speak so recklessly! Pingchuan, don't mind him. This child has only been with us for a short time. We left him outside for over twenty years, and we feel guilty. We always wanted to make it up to him, but we ended up spoiling him."
He argued with Tang Wenhua. More than feeling sorry for his wife, Xia Dongbo was afraid of affecting his son's image in Zhou Pingchuan's eyes. Xia Mian thought to herself, "This couple is really interesting."
Xia Mian is not good at hiding her emotions. As she thought this, she couldn't help but show a hint of sarcasm on her face.
Zhou Pingchuan was sitting right next to him and could see everything clearly. He smiled and said, "It's alright, I spoil him too."
Xia Dongbo and Tang Wenhua exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief.
"...Cough cough." Xia Mian almost spat out her juice!
After dinner, they chatted for a while, then Zhou Pingchuan and Xia Mian got up to say goodbye. Xia Dongbo and Tang Wenhua tried their best to persuade them to stay overnight, but Zhou Pingchuan refused, citing other commitments.
The Xia couple had no choice but to smile and see the two off. When they returned to the living room, Zhou Ting was still waiting for them, but Xia Mingzhao was nowhere to be seen.
Tang Wenhua asked where Mingzhao was, and Zhou Ting said that Mingzhao was sleepy and had gone back to her bedroom for a nap. Tang Wenhua sighed, made a warm cup of fruit tea, and carried it upstairs.
Xia Mingzhao's door was unlocked, so Tang Wenhua pushed it open and went in. His son was lying on the bed with his back to the door, hunched over.
Tang Wenhua placed the fruit tea on the bedside table: "Mingzhao, Mom knows you're not asleep. Get up, have some water, and talk to Mom for a while, okay?"
Xia Mingzhao did not move.
Tang Wenhua watched her son's retreating figure. His hair had grown long, he was thinner, and the smiles on his face were less frequent than before. After getting married and forming a family with the person he loved, her son didn't seem happy.
She sighed: "Mingzhao, don't blame your parents. Your parents are doing this for your own good."
“You’ve been at home a long time and know our current situation. Without outside funding, the Xia family really won’t be able to hold on. Your parents don’t want the Xia family to fail in their hands, and they won’t be able to face their ancestors after they pass away. Most importantly, your parents want you to continue to live a carefree life and have someone to rely on in the Zhou family. So we must get the Zhou family’s funds and resources.”
“Then just getting on good terms with Third Master is enough!” Xia Mingzhao finally turned around, propped himself up, and Tang Wenhua could see his reddened eyes. “We’re already married, and our two families are practically inseparable. As long as the demands are reasonable, the Zhou family will definitely help! Why belittle me just to please Xia Mian!”
“Mingzhao, you don’t understand. Merchants don’t get up early for nothing. Besides, the Third Master of the Zhou family has a reputation for being cold and aloof. He might give us a few small favors, but why would he wholeheartedly help us? Don’t we still need Mianmian to mediate? Besides…”
Tang Wenhua hugged his son and pressed his forehead against his: "Your parents will leave you one day. Mianmian is, after all, a descendant of the Xia family. If you get along well, Mianmian can help you if you have any difficulties in the future. Your parents can rest in peace in the afterlife."
At this point, Tang Wenhua's eyes also reddened. In her heart, Xia Mingzhao was the best child, and no one could compare to him. But she didn't want the Xia family to go bankrupt, turning her son from a well-off young master into an ordinary person who had to carefully budget his food and drink.
“Mingzhao,” Tang Wenhua hugged Xia Mingzhao, “Mom knows you’re upset, Mom loves you.”
Xia Mingzhao suddenly reached out and pushed her mother away.
Of course he knew that Tang Wenhua loved him and that Tang Wenhua was doing it for his own good, but when he heard that Xia Mian was to "help" him, his nerves, which had been taut for days, finally gave way and snapped with a "bang".
Yes, he was indeed jealous of Xia Mian. Why was that idiot bullet, from the slums, uneducated and narrow-minded, who only knew how to compete with him for rooms and boyfriends, living a better life than him?
Why is he surrounded by fans? Why is he so popular online? Why do so many people like him?
Even Zhou Ting likes that fool.
Zhou Ting clearly liked him more before!
Actually, even before the wedding, Xia Mingzhao had already realized that Zhou Ting's heart wasn't with her anymore. At that time, he didn't sleep for days and nights, and many thoughts flashed through his mind.
But no matter how unwilling he was, and how much he wanted revenge, he eventually held back.
Because he loves Zhou Ting.
Because... he originally had a pure and kind heart.
Today, his parents' actions have finally ripped away his last fig leaf and stripped him of his useless conscience.
What's the point of love? Money is more important! Power is more important!
I have no money, no power, and even my parents look down on me!
Moreover, after countless arguments and frictions, the person he loved no longer loved him, and even the last bit of affection between them was almost completely worn away.
Why not give up and pursue a new life? He deserves a better life.
"Mom, don't worry about me," Xia Mingzhao said firmly, enunciating each word clearly, "I will possess everything Xia Mian has now, a hundredfold, a thousandfold!"
While the Summer Garden was in chaos, the Dragon Seal, which was in the midst of the Lunar New Year, had become quiet.
Before going to sleep, Xia Mian finally asked the question she had been holding back all day: "How did you know I'm allergic to mangoes?"
He probably didn't tell Zhou Pingchuan.
“Every time there’s a fruit platter at a meal, you skip the mango and eat the other fruits instead.”
"Oh..." Xia Mian then realized that, since some time ago, mangoes had not appeared in the after-meal fruit. Perhaps Zhou Pingchuan had ordered the kitchen to change them.
Of course, it could also be the meticulous Uncle Li.
"Alright, go to sleep." Zhou Pingchuan straightened his pillow.
Actually, Zhou Pingchuan had nothing to do today. After returning from Xia Garden, he had been reading in his study. Xia Mian, on the other hand, was running around choosing clothes and accessories to wear to Nangang tomorrow.
Matching outfits is the most brain-intensive activity, and even Xia Mian was a bit tired, so she obediently crawled into bed.
He knew that Zhou Pingchuan's reluctance to stay in Xia Garden was for his sake.
Gradually, he distanced himself from Xia Yuan, Xia Dongbo, and Tang Wenhua.
The house beneath him became his home.
The person next to him became his family.
After learning about Zhou Pingchuan's childhood experiences, Xia Mian gained a new understanding of him. His second uncle wanted him dead, and his grandfather, knowing the truth, chose to become an accomplice. In such an environment, it was already quite remarkable that he didn't go insane.
Zhou Pingchuan was far more capable than he had imagined.
They are also... pitiful in many, many, many ways.
Thinking of this, he leaned over and gave Zhou Pingchuan a light kiss on the cheek.
"You should go to sleep early too, goodnight."
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