Noon.
Lunch.
Dong Xuebing placed the dishes on the table. “Hurry up and eat. It’s been a while since I cooked. Try it and see if I am still as good as before.”
Xie Huilan picked up her chopsticks and tasted the food. “Haha…. Not bad.”
Qu Yunxuan also tried some. “Not bad. The taste is just right.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Great. Eat it while it’s hot. Here.” He placed the food in their bowls.
They started eating, and no one said a word. Dong Xuebing felt uncomfortable and chatted with Xie Huilan. But he noticed Qu Yunxuan looking at him when talking to Xie Huilan, and he quickly spoke to her. When speaking to Qu Yunxuan, he felt Xie Huilan glancing at him. In the end, he kept quiet and ate silently.
What should I do?
It felt awkward.
Dong Xuebing volunteered to do the dishes after lunch to avoid them. When the dishes were done, he said to both of them. “I will bring Qianqian out for a walk.”
Qu Yunxuan immediately stops him. “It’s cold outside. She might fall sick.”
“It’s not cold.” Dong Xuebing replied. “I will bring her out for some sun.”
Xie Huilan laughed. “Yunxuan and I had brought her out this morning.”
“Err….” Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “Then I will go out to buy some stuff for dinner. You two can watch TV when I am gone.”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Ding dong… ding dong… ding dong…. The person outside was pressing the doorbell non-stop.
“Who is it?” Dong Xuebing shouted as he opened the door. Luan Xiaoping was standing outside furiously. “Mum, why are you here? Come in.” Dong Xuebing did not expect his mother to be there and quickly opened the door for her.
Xie Huilan got up and walked over. “Mum, why didn’t you call before coming? I can ask Xiao Bing to fetch you.”
Qu Yunxuan was also shocked. She stood up and greeted her. “Sister Luan.”
Luan Xiaoping entered the living room and waited until Dong Xuebing closed the door before slapping him.
Slap!
Dong Xuebing was stunned. “Why did you slap me?”
Luan Xiaoping shouted angrily. “What do you think? Huh?!”
Xie Huilan quickly went over to pull Luan Xiaoping. “Mum, what happened?”
“Sister Luan….” Qu Yunxuan rushed over and stood before Dong Xuebing to protect him. “What is this for?”
Luan Xiaoping shouted angrily. “Step aside, Yunxuan. I will beat this brat to death today!”
This was the first time Dong Xuebing saw his mother so angry. She was always mild-tempered and had never lost her temper.
Luan Xiaoping rolled up her sleeves and was about to continue to hit her son.
Xie Huilan quickly stops her. “Mum, Xiao Bing had just donated more than 1,000 ml of blood and has not recovered. It will be bad if you continue to hit him.”
Qu Yunxuan added. “That’s right, Sister Luan. Please stop.”
Luan Xiaoping’s eyes were red, and tears flowed down her cheeks. She pointed at her son. “I would rather beat him to death and wish I never had her.”
Dong Xuebing was about to retort, but Qu Yunxuan pulled him back. She signaled to him to keep quiet.
Xie Huilan persuaded. “Mum, just tell me what happened. How did Xiao Bing make you so angry? I will teach him a lesson later.”
At this moment, Little Qianqian woke up from the commotion and started crying.
Luan Xiaoping pointed to the baby in the pram. “Tell me! Who is the father of this child?”
Luan Xiaoping’s face changed. “It’s mine.”
“Who is the father?!” Luan Xiaoping stared at Qu Yunxuan.
Qu Yunxuan immediately keeps quiet.
Dong Xuebing was shocked. “You know about it?!”
Luan Xiaoping yelled angrily. “If Yunxuan’s mother had not called me this morning, I would still be in the dark! Dong Xuebing! What have I taught you when you were young? Huh? We can be poor, but we must live upright. What have you done?! You had forgotten everything after you became wealthy and a government leader. You are married to Huilan, and you should treat her well. How can you make Yunxuan pregnant? Huh?! How are Yunxuan and your child going to live?!”
Dong Xuebing was afraid to let his mother know about this. His mother might look weak and mild-tempered, but she could not stand a speck of dirt in her eyes. She would be furious if she knew he had a child with Aunt Xuan. He always gave excuses when Qu Yunxuan’s parents wanted to contact or meet Luan Xiaoping. He even gave them a fake phone number that no one would answer. He did not expect Qu Yunxuan’s mother to contact Luan Xiaoping today. He bowed his head and kept quiet.
Dong Xuebing could not retort as he was guilty.
Dong Xuebing admits that he had not correctly handled Aunt Xuan and Huilan’s issues.
No one dared to say a word.
When everyone was districted, Luan Xiaoping pulled her hands from Xie Huilan and slapped her son again. “I wished I never had a son like you…. I….”
Dong Xuebing could easily dodge Luan Xiaoping’s slap, but he did not. He accepted the slap without saying anything.
It was painful.
Dong Xuebing’s left cheeks became red, and Luan Xiaoping’s handprint could be seen clearly.
Qu Yunxuan quickly stops Luan Xiaoping. “Please calm down, Sis.”
“How can I calm down?” Luan Xiaoping yelled. “Anyone with a conscience will not do such things. I am embarrassed to have a son like him!” She pointed at Dong Xuebing. “You have not heard how Yunxuan’s mother scolded us, and I can’t even retort. We are wrong!”
Xie Huilan held Luan Xiaoping’s arm and consoled her. “Everyone will make mistakes. Mum, don’t be angry with him. You should know Xiao Bing is not that bad.”
Qu Yunxuan added. “That’s right. Xiao Bing had done nothing wrong. It was my fault. Sis, you can scold me all you want. He has nothing to do with this.”
“Aunt Xuan….” Dong Xuebing interrupted. “It’s not your fault. Mum, I’m sorry.”
Luan Xiaoping shouted. “Kneel before me!”
Dong Xuebing pleaded. “Mum….”
Xie Huilan helped Luan Xiaoping to the sofa. “Please stop…. You have high blood pressure. Xiao Bing, what are you waiting for? Bring Mum’s medicine over.”
“Oh….” Dong Xuebing quickly searched his mother’s handbag and took out a bottle of pills before getting a glass of water. “Mum, I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry.”
Luan Xiaoping refused to take her medicine. Her tears flowed uncontrollably as she held Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan’s hands. “It’s my fault for not bringing up my son well. I am sorry to let you two suffer.”
Xie Huilan patted Luan Xiaoping’s back to calm her. “Please don’t say this.”
“Sis, don’t be angry.” Qu Yunxuan grabbed a box of tissue to wipe her tears.
It was a mess at home.
Luan Xiaoping wiped her tear, and Little Qianqian was still crying.
Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan sat on both sides of Luan Xiaoping to calm her.
Dong Xuebing was standing beside the sofa, not knowing what to do.
A few minutes later, Luan Xiaoping stopped crying. She sat up and pointed at the door. “Get lost! I don’t want to see you! You have no place in this house!”
Dong Xuebing pleaded. “Mum….”
“Get out, and don’t ever come back!” Luan Xiaoping was furious.
Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing. “Mum is very angry now. Just stay away for these few days. Mum will stay here with me.”
“But….” Dong Xuebing was frustrated.
Qu Yunxuan added. “We will take care of Sister Luan. Don’t worry.” She whispered to Dong Xuebing. “Come back after she calmed down.”
Dong Xuebing sighed. “Alright…. Please take care of her and remember to ask her to eat her medicine. She must eat her blood pressure pills every day. Give her half a tablet if her blood pressure is not high and a tablet when it is high.”
Luan Xiaoping yelled. “I don’t need you to worry about me! Are you leaving?! Huh?!”
Luan Xiaoping looked around and grabbed a glass fruit platter plate. She raised it above her head and was about to throw it at Dong Xuebing.
Everyone was shocked.
“Mum!”
“No….”
Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan quickly stop Luan Xiaoping.
Dong Xuebing got shocked. “Ok… ok…. I am leaving now. Don’t be angry, Mum. I will go now.”
Luan Xiaoping put down the plate.
Dong Xuebing was feeling bad. He had never seen his mother so mad before. Qu Yunxuan’s mother must have said something nasty over the phone. Sigh…. He could only blame himself for all these. He looked at Luan Xiaoping again before stepping out of the apartment.
