"In my eyes, Zhirou is still such a little girl, wiping away tears as she walks home... In the blink of an eye, she's already found a boyfriend, a perfect match, how wonderful."
Aunt Wu smiled and took a sip of water. "The girl has really grown up. She was pretty when she was little, and she's even more beautiful now."
She had always known that Liang Zhirou was a natural beauty, the kind who was pretty since she was a child.
Now that she has bangs, her skin is much smoother than before, and she looks so beautiful that she almost doesn't recognize herself.
Big cities really do nurture people.
"I...I'm not that much of a crybaby..." Liang Zhirou felt a little embarrassed when Aunt Wu said this in front of her boyfriend.
"Wow~ I've always thought you were a really strong girl. Back when I was playing mahjong across the street, I often saw you crying outside before going home."
Aunt Wu sighed softly, "Actually, when you were in junior high school, I went to the school to find those bullies who liked to bully you, but some of them were really little beasts and weren't afraid of being scared. There was only so much that Aunt Wu could do."
"Where are they now?" Chen Lu asked casually, expressionless and seemingly indifferent.
"He doesn't study properly every day and dropped out of school to work. There's a girl who stayed at home and got married, but she has no taste in men. She found a street hustler with blond hair and a motorcycle, and now she's getting a divorce with her child."
......
The house was rented out quickly. Aunt Wu was willing to pay more penalty fees to the person she had originally agreed to rent the house to Xiao Xunfang.
Even though they had known each other for six years, they weren't that close. But just based on the fact that Liang Zhirou cleaned the house to the point of being spotless before she moved out, the house looked like no one had ever lived there, except for the naturally aged walls.
She was willing to do that.
Chen Lu's years of law studies paid off; under Aunt Wu's shocked gaze, he personally completed the contract. After seeing the landlady off, he and Liang Zhirou started helping to pack up. By the time everything was finished, it was already 3 p.m.
After washing his hands in the restroom, Chen Lu shook off the water droplets and said softly, "Auntie, I'm going back now."
"Take a break before you go, you've been busy all day..." Xiao Xunfang put the mop aside and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Hmm? Where's Zhirou?"
Chen Lu looked around curiously. How come his girlfriend had disappeared in the time it took him to wash his hands?
"When your Aunt Wu left, she didn't take the things you gave her, so she chased after her and brought them over."
Xiao Xunfang sat down on the sofa and waved to Chen Lu, "Xiao Lu, come here, Auntie has something to tell you."
Seeing her serious expression, Chen Lu didn't dare to delay any longer and quickly sat down next to her, quietly waiting for her to speak.
“Auntie probably won’t be going back for a long time,” Xiao Xunfang said earnestly.
"Of course that's not what I meant. I will definitely go back after you get married."
Chen Lu nodded silently. Perhaps, like Grandpa Yin, Aunt Xiao also wanted to stay in the place where her beloved had passed away.
Isn't she also someone who only has the journey home left?
Just then, a rough hand suddenly covered his right cheek and gently stroked it.
He looked up and saw Xiao Xunfang looking at him kindly, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"Xiao Lu, I'm someone who only got cured thanks to you, so I probably don't deserve to say these things..."
“I won’t listen to you if you, as an elder, speak in that tone,” Chen Lu said with a slight smile. “My subordinates in the company don’t speak like that. Just say what you have to say.”
Xiao Xunfang's wrinkles gradually curved at the corners of his eyes. "How can you be so kind-hearted, lad?"
After saying that, her expression gradually became serious again. "I won't be by your side anymore. Your relationship is a matter between the two of you; you can talk about it yourselves."
Don't ask me if I agree or not. Ever since you came to my house, I've noticed you secretly squatting down below my eye level.
I've always treated you like my own son, really.
I've never been a good mother, and in the end, all I can do is offer advice...
Xiao Lu, Auntie only asks you one thing.
Chen Lu nodded vigorously, "Please tell me, I will definitely listen."
"I believe in your feelings for Zhirou, but I still want to say, please don't bully her..."
Zhirou has never had a father since she was little. Even walking is difficult for me. This girl, after getting married, isn't like other girls; if she has a fight, she doesn't even have anywhere to go back to.
Xiao Xunfang spoke softly, almost pleading, and as she spoke, tears streamed down her face, dripping from the scars left by the years.
"If... if one day you feel that Zhirou is no longer good to you, or you don't like her anymore, just tell Auntie, and Auntie will come and take her back."
Please don't bully her, okay?
Chen Lu was somewhat at a loss because of Xiao Xunfang's almost pleading tone. After a moment, he came to his senses and looked at the old woman in front of him with a firm gaze.
"First of all, Auntie, you've done enough. Whether you ask me or Zhirou, you're a qualified mother."
Secondly.
Chen Lu took a deep breath. "She's more important than my life."
When Liang Zhirou returned, Xiao Xunfang had just finished washing her face and came out. After seeing her, he waved to Chen Lu.
"Xiao Lu, go and drive the car over first. I'll have Zhi Rou help me pack some more things."
Chen Lu nodded with some confusion. He didn't ask what else needed to be packed, and turned the key as he went downstairs.
Liang Zhirou stared blankly at Chen Lu's back, then suddenly said, "He's not wearing a coat."
Just as she was about to chase after him, Xiao Xunfang suddenly called out to her.
"Ni'er, wait a moment, Mom has something to tell you."
"good......"
Liang Zhirou was startled by her mother's solemn tone, and obediently sat back down on the sofa, clutching her coat.
“You’ll be getting married and becoming a wife someday, so you can’t just think of yourself in everything.”
"Mmm." Liang Zhirou nodded her chin and obediently responded.
"You have to take care of the family, you know? Also, Xiao Lu doesn't earn money easily, so no matter how much money he earns, we can't spend it recklessly."
The girl continued to nod.
Xiao Xunfang's words were all meant to instruct her on how to be a good daughter-in-law.
Because of her long-standing witnessing experience, and having just seen the way the two looked at each other, she knew very well—
These two will definitely make it to the end.
"Although Mom hasn't really taken good care of you all these years... I'm sorry, but you have to take good care of yourself even when Mom isn't around anymore, okay?"
"good."
Liang Zhirou never seemed to get annoyed no matter how much she was nagged.
Xiao Xunfang gazed at the sensible girl in front of her, a girl whose maturity was so touching. Looking at her delicate face, her feelings grew increasingly complicated. She let out a long breath and suddenly made up her mind.
"And then, there's one last thing I want to tell you..."
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