Zhao Youlin had departed with Duan Yarong. Unbeknownst to her, a certain one already made up his mind without her consent to vent out the spleen on her behalf.
Even if she knew about it, she would not overreact to this. This was because she could not even take care of herself. Her fate was unknown.
After getting caught for kissing Mu Tingfeng in the hospital, Zhao Youlin was tensed up. This was especially so when Duan Yarong had not spoken to her since they entered the car.
‘Could she be so angry that she doesn’t even want to speak with me?’ Zhao Youlin shuddered at the thought.
As time passed, Zhao Youlin could no longer bear with the awkward silence. She blurted out, “Mother, Mu Tingfeng and I…”
“Youlin…” Before Zhao Youlin finished speaking, she was interrupted by Duan Yarong, “Be frank with me, you still haven’t given up on Mu Tingfeng, right?”
Zhao Youlin froze, “Mother, what makes you think so? Was it because of the incident in the hospital? It was just a misunderstanding. I have nothing to do with Mu Tingfeng. Just now… It was just an accident… An accident only…”
“An accident?! If it was an accident, how did you guys get so engrossed in kissing to the extent of not even being aware that we’ve returned?!” Duan Yarong looked at Zhao Youlin sorrowfully. The way she looked at her was akin to telling her to not lie to her just because she was not highly educated.
“Pfff…!” Acting as the temporary driver for the two, Xiao Jingyao, who had been sitting in the driver seat could not help but burst out into laughter.
Zhao Youlin choked. She was embarrassed at first, but later she became angry. She glared at the certain one, who had been eavesdropping on their dialogue, as if listening to her making a fool of herself. She said helplessly, “Mother, it’s really not like what you think…”
“I understand. You still have unresolved feelings for him. You’ve been with him for so many years, after all. How could you give up on him so easily? The reason why you cut ties with him so soon was all because you don’t want to upset me.”
Zhao Youlin felt like she really wanted to burst into tears. What happened to her mother today? Did she have a few screws loose in her head? Why did she think like this?! Something must have gone wrong!
On top of that, Duan Yarong said she understood that she could not possibly give up on him due to their many years of affection.
Zhao Youlin had been wrongly accused. It was the previous Zhao Youlin who had been in love with him for many years. The previous relationship with Mu Tingfeng had nothing to do with her at all!
Zhao Youlin was so aggrieved that she felt like banging her head against a wall. Yet, she could not find herself to refute Duan Yarong. These people had assumed she was the previous Zhao Youlin, who once fell head over heels on Mu Tingfeng to the point of even drugging him, conceiving his child, and marrying him. She was perceived as the same Zhao Youlin who used her child to shackle Mu Tingfeng and entangle him for a decade!
“Mother, you’re right that we can’t entirely give up on someone like tossing rubbish into a bin. But, I must say, time heals all wounds including our affection for someone. Mu Tingfeng and I were divorced. Wasn’t this alone sufficient to prove that our relationship was over? Haven’t I already explained to you the reason why I agreed to take care of him for this time? He saved me twice. I owed him a favor. Now, taking care of him in the hospital is to return his favor only. We’re really not what you’re thinking about.”
After Zhao Youlin finished speaking in a serious manner, she turned around, and looked at Duan Yarong expectantly, hoping to see a trace of trust and assurance from her. However, the way Duan Yarong looked at her was complicated.
Zhao Youlin thought to herself, ‘Mother, have you lost your trust for me?!’
“Alright. Since you’ve said so, I assume you’ve nothing to do with him, then.”
‘We’ve nothing to do with each other all the while. Why did you sound as if we were having an affair?!’
The corner of Zhao Youlin’s lips twitched. She felt something was… wrong with Duan Yarong today.
“Mother…” Zhao Youlin opened her mouth and was about to say something. But, she was once again interrupted by Duan Yarong.
“Wait, Youlin. Listen to me first.”
Zhao Youlin thought to herself, ‘I wonder if we could chat normally…’
Duan Yarong heaved a sigh. She sounded hopeless, “I just want to tell you that I won’t interfere in your affairs with Mu Tingfeng in the future. In the past, the reason why I objected to you two was because I was afraid you would have to suffer all over again the moment you returned to him. However, I’ve thought over it. I believe the younger generations will do just fine on their own. I am fine with anything as long as you’re happy.”
Zhao Youlin was struck dumb, ‘What… What’s going on now?’ Why did she find it hard to understand her entire sentences even though she understood the meaning of each word?!
Looking at Zhao Youlin’s dumbfounded look, Duan Yarong had misunderstood her once again. She thought Zhao Youlin must have been overjoyed after getting her approval.
Duan Yarong heaved a sigh helplessly, and she continued, “Although President Mu has not been good to you in the past, he has repented for his mistakes. I could see that he’s been working hard to court you over the past few days. To be honest, if not for the previous twists and turns, seeing a great man courting you would already bring me great joy. Above all, you two have a son. With your current conditions, even though you could easily find a stepfather for Joy, it should be saved as the last resort. It’s still best to have someone closest to him to accompany him. President Mu has not been… easy over the past.”
Right after Duan Yarong spoke, Zhao Youlin felt like she had been struck by lightning and had been heavily charred. She hurriedly raised her hands to signal her to stop.
“Wait, wait, wait! Mother, what did you say? Did I hear it wrong?”
“Youlin, I’ve spoken my thoughts clearly. Why didn’t you believe in me? What I meant was, I wouldn’t interfere in your affairs with Mu Tingfeng in the future. If you want to remarry him, I won’t object to it.”
‘You don’t just sound like you’re not opposing us, you’re actually siding with him, and speaking up for him, do you know that?’ Zhao Youlin’s mouth was parted, she felt as if the world had turned upside down.
Duan Yarong was the only member in the family who avoided Mu Tingfeng like the plague, and constantly discouraged her from getting involved with him. She could not even be at ease when she was told that she would spend time alone with Mu Tingfeng. Now, she actually spoke up for him. Did pigs have wings?!
She clearly was cagey about Mu Tingfeng when she was in the hospital just now. She made a 180-degree change within less than half of the day. ‘Mother, do you have a few screws loose in your head?!’
On second thought, she had acted strangely right after seeing her kissing Mu Tingfeng. Before this, she clearly had acted normally to the point that she was reluctant to leave the ward with Su Ruixin.
Could she be agitated by their kissing scene, or… had Su Ruixin said something to her?!
