“Just some warm water,” Lily answered. Slowly, she balled her hands into a fist, her knuckles turning white. Lily turned her gaze away from Su Ma. “Thank you,” she uttered. She knew what was Qin Yuanfeng trying to do and she was very grateful for his help. “So… you met in Wujin.”
“Yes, we did. It was really an accident.” Su Ma smiled. “I was on my bike. I always bike every morning just to relieve stress. At that time someone called me on my phone and I didn’t notice Mr. Qin crossing the street.” She used her hand to cover her mouth as she let out a giggle. “It was a silly accident.”
“Well… it was a good type of accident.” Qin Chuan mused.
“Why would you say that?” Lily asked before she chastised herself inwardly. She could feel herself control slipping. She knew that the result won’t pleasant once she let her inner self win. She bit her lips and lowered her eyes at her phone.
She stared at the home-screen image on her phone. It was her wedding photo with Zhou Jingren. She was wearing her red gown in his arms, smiling as the latter tried to maintain a calm expression. Slowly, Lily felt herself calm down.
But, Lily didn’t try to correct herself. She stared at Qin Chuan and Su Ma’s uncomfortable expression and smiled. “Are you married?” she asked Su Ma.
“I — ” Su Ma avoided Lily’s eyes.
“She is not.” Qin Chuan answered, his voice had a tinge of authority. But it was not enough to intimidate Lily. “She just lost her husband a few years ago.”
“Oh… then are you in a relationship with Qin Chuan?” Lily continued as she watched her father’s expression changed. Her calling him Qin Chuan did not miss his ears.
Su Ma’s eyes widened at Lily’s questions. Her face turned red as she looked at Qin Chuan’s way. “I — I don’t know.”
“Yes, we are.” Qin Chuan’s voice echoed after Su Ma’s answer. He then met Su Ma’s eyes and held her hand. “I realized that we are not getting any younger. So why waste time? We are not some teenagers who haven’t experienced love before. I think you already know that I liked you since I met you.”
“Chuan… I… this is embarrassing.”
“Do you think having feelings for someone is embarrassing?” he asked, his eyes turned gentle.
“I — No. But your children are here. We should— “
“No.” Qin Chuan stubbornly shook his head. “The other reason I wanted you to meet them is so I could do this… let them know that I am in love. I am happy and hope that they will wish us well.” He then shifted his eyes towards Qin Yuanfeng, then towards Lily.
“Chuan… let’s not do this here.” Su Ma forced a smile on her face. “It is embarrassing.” She turned towards Lily. “Miss Lily, please don’t mind us.”
“Oh!” Lily gave a mirthless smile as she waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t mind. We are all adults here. Surely, doing stuff like that in front of your children whom you haven���t seen for months should not be that embarrassing.” Animosity coated Lily’s words. “Right?”
“I — Please forgive him this time.” Su Ma said. “He was lonely and was in a gloomy place when we met.”
“Really?” She feigned surprise. “I thought… he has been like that for the last twenty years or so of his life?”
“Lily,” Qin Chuan uttered in a gloomy voice.
“Is there something wrong?” She smiled. “You know… all these public displays of affection are making me hungry. Perhaps… we can stop this for twenty minutes and we can concentrate on eating? I really cannot wait to leave this place.”
“Lily!”
“It’s alright.” Su Ma held Qin Chuan’s arm. “I always knew she would not accept me. I already told you that she won’t just accept this. We should just…” Su Ma didn’t continue her words. Tears instantly started streaming down her cheeks. “I should just… This is a terrible idea. Just call me once this is all done.” Su Ma wiped the tears in her eyes as she rose from her seat.
“Where are you going?” He held her hand. “Are you going to leave?”
Su Ma eyed the other guests that were now looking at them. She shook her head. “Let’s talk once we are all calm. We are attracting everyone’s attention.” She used her other hand to remove Qin Chuan’s hand. “Call me.” Without waiting for him to say another word, Su Ma walked out of the restaurant alone.
“Someone told me I have the talent in making people speechless. Now… I guess I also have a hidden talent of making people walked out on their own.” Lily shrugged as she met her father’s angry eyes.
“How dare you do that to Su Ma?”
“Su Ma? Oh… you mean the woman who looked exactly like my mother?” Lily narrowed her eyes at Qin Chuan. As expected, the latter’s expression changed, his furious eyes vanished.
“I just— “
“You were guilty. I get that.” Lily said. “But… that poor woman… is not my mother. Does she even know that she looked like her?”
Qin Chuan turned quiet. He never told Su Ma about his past simply because he was afraid that she will judge him. He was afraid that she will leave.
“I see.” Lily nodded. “Did you check her background? Her past?”
“What are you trying to say?” Qin Chuan frowned. “Are you trying to say that she is trying to seduce me?”
“Why are you being so defensive?” Qin Yuanfeng spoke. Since Qin Yuanfeng didn’t have the chance to met their mother, his emotions are not as intense as Lily’s.
“So… you didn’t do any background check. You just let her get close to you because she looked like my mother?” Lily clarified. “Tell me… are you really my father? The stupidity here is just… mind-boggling, I can’t even believe that you didn’t even have her checked!”
…..
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