Zhan Haoze wanted to ask Tang Hua to arrange for someone to send her off, but he was afraid of scaring Mother Shi, so he gave up after some thought. He turned around and went into the room.
Shi Mengwan’s fever had subsided. However, she was still listless and couldn’t get up.
After Shi Mengwan’s mother went out, she fell asleep again in a daze.
Zhan Haoze and Mother Shi were chatting outside, but because the door was closed and the noise wasn’t loud, they didn’t wake her up.
Zhan Haoze entered the door and placed his hand on her forehead. After making sure that her fever had subsided and there was no big problem, he sat down by the bed.
He just looked at Shi Mengwan’s sleeping face. When she was asleep, she wasn’t as glamorous and beautiful as when she was awake. Because she was sick, her small face was pale and she looked pitiful.
His hand unconsciously caressed her cheek, thinking about what Mother Shi had said just now. Marry into the family? This was something that Shi Mengwan would say and do.
He was a little lost in thought, but his hand didn’t move away from Shi Mengwan’s face. Shi Mengwan didn’t sleep at first, but now that she felt someone touching her, she naturally thought it was Mother Shi.
She was still not fully awake, so she rubbed her face against the person’s hand. She didn’t open her eyes. “Mom, I’m so thirsty. Get me a glass of water.”
Zhan Haoze looked at the dependence that she inadvertently revealed. It was something he had never experienced before.
He retracted his hand and gave her a deep look. He got up and went out to get some water.
He poured some water in. A hand was placed behind her, as if he wanted to help her up.
Shi Mengwan yawned, but her eyes were still closed. She drank more than half of the water from the other party’s hand, but she suddenly realized that something was wrong.
Her mother didn’t have the strength to support her body with one hand and feed her water with the other.
She suddenly opened her eyes and looked at the person. When she found out that it was Zhan Haoze, her eyes widened. “Why is it you? Where’s my mother?”
Didn’t he leave?
When she left earlier, she was still thinking about how her mom had been half-hearted when she said that. She would definitely chase him away.
She didn’t expect him to stay.
“Your mom went to buy some groceries. She said that you like her cooking.” Zhan Haoze put his cup aside and sat down by the bed.
Shi Mengwan sat up straight and avoided his hand. She moved a little to the side. “Why are you still here? Aren’t you going to work?”
“You’re sick.”
The lifeless look on her face yesterday scared him. He asked Tang Hua to bring some urgent business matters here.
“Who’s the reason why I’m sick? Who’s the reason why I’m like this?” Shi Mengwan said this rudely, and Zhan Haoze showed a rare hint of embarrassment.
The reason she was sick was indeed because of him. If he didn’t mess around in the bathroom, she wouldn’t be sick.
Shi Mengwan saw the expression on his face and thought he was feeling guilty. She sneered, “I’m almost better now. My mom is here too. It’s none of your business. You can go.”
Zhan Haoze didn’t leave as she wished. “Auntie went to buy groceries and asked me to stay to take care of you.”
“Thank you, but there’s no need.” Shi Mengwan had a look of resistance. “With you here, my illness can’t be cured. If you really want me to get better, then leave quickly.”
“Auntie said that we should have lunch together.”
Shi Mengwan couldn’t help but look at him. “Zhan Haoze, what did you say to my mother? Tell me.”
Mother Shi actually asked him to stay for lunch? That revealed too much information.
“Nothing. I just told your mother that I agreed to your conditions.”
Her conditions? What conditions? Shi Mengwan had never thought that Zhan Haoze would agree to marry into the family, let alone that he would be willing to give his child the surname Shi. So when she suddenly heard this, she was completely confused.
“Your mother told me to be with you, to marry into the family, and to give the child’s surname Shi.”
Shi Mengwan’s mouth was wide open. She looked at Zhan Haoze, and for a moment, she thought there was something wrong with her ears. “Zhan Haoze, do you know what you’re talking about?”
“I know.”
“You want to marry into the family? Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
It was just a surname. Zhan Haoze didn’t care. Moreover, that matter was too far away. He didn’t have the mood to think about it now.
Shi Mengwan suddenly reached out and pulled Zhan Haoze’s front lapel over. She didn’t have much strength. If it weren’t for Zhan Haoze’s cooperation, she probably wouldn’t have been able to successfully pull him to her.
Her gaze weak and sharp, she simply stared at him.
“Zhan Haoze, do you know what you’re talking about?”
Zhan Haoze pulled her hand. “You haven’t recovered yet. Don’t worry about these things for now. Rest well.”
“Zhan Haoze, answer my question. Do you know what you’re talking about? You want to marry into the family?”
“Yes.”
“Does this mean that you want to marry me?”
There was a hint of mockery in her eyes. She just looked at him and didn’t believe what he said at all.
“Yes.”
The two consecutive affirmative answers didn’t cause Shi Mengwan’s attitude to soften in the slightest.
She looked at Zhan Haoze and the expression on her face became harsher. “Then what about Chen Feifei? You want to marry me. What about her?”
Zhan Haoze’s expression didn’t change. He seemed to dislike hearing Chen Feifei’s name very much. “Our matters have nothing to do with her. You don’t have to think about her.”
Don’t need to think about Chen Feifei? Then what?
The entire Lin City knew that Zhan Haoze was engaged to Chen Feifei. Now that Zhan Haoze said that he wanted to marry her, didn’t she become a third party that interfered with other people’s relationship?
“Zhan Haoze, you don’t understand at all.”
He might have some feelings for her and some liking for her, but he wouldn’t understand, nor would he understand, her perspective and her thoughts and worries.
“I’ve said it before, you don’t need to think about those things.”
“Zhan Haoze, you’re so selfish.”
She said it sarcastically, but Zhan Haoze wasn’t offended at all. He saw her sharp side, such a side of her was very rarely shown. He didn’t know if it was because Mother Shi came.
The Shi Mengwan in front of him was much more confident. Some people were like that. With someone to rely on, they would act differently.
He reached out and held Shi Mengwan’s hand in his palm. He looked at her with a deep gaze.
“Wanwan, you can be a little selfish too.”
He didn’t like her to think about Chen Feifei and didn’t like her to think about too many things. Those things were fine as long as she had him to think about them. She didn’t need to think about them at all.
Just like towards what Grandma Shi said and what she did. She actually didn’t need to care about theem at all. She was just tiring herself out.
Shi Mengwan pulled her hand back and her face was ice-cold. “Zhan Haoze, I’m not you. There are some things that I’ll never be able to do, and I’ll never be as unscrupulous as you.”
“Wanwan –”
“Get out.”
Shi Mengwan refused to communicate with him, and she didn’t want to see him either.
“Wanwan.”
Zhan Haoze wanted to say something, but Mother Shi was already back. She took the keys from the front door before entering the door, then put thee groceries into the kitchen.
She planned to go to her room to check on Shi Mengwan, but she realized that the atmosphere between the two of them didn’t seem too good.
“Wanwan?”
Mother Shi looked at Shi Mengwan and then at Zhan Haoze. Her gaze wandered between the two of them.
Seeing her mother come back, Shi Mengwan didn’t show any dissatisfaction on her face.
“Mom.” She was about to get up, but Mother Shi quickly stopped her. “You should continue to rest. I’ll go and cook, it’s all your favorite food. You guys wait for a while. You guys can eat later.”
It was almost noon, and Mother Shi was afraid of starving her daughter, so she said a few words and went into the kitchen.
As soon as Mother Shi left, Shi Mengwan wanted to chase Zhan Haoze away. However, her phone rang. This time, she didn’t give Zhan Haoze a chance and went to answer the phone herself.
Zhan Haoze glanced at her, got up, and went outside.
Just as Shi Mengwan finished washing the rice and put it into the pot, Zhan Haoze came in and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows.
“Auntie, let me help you.”
“No need.” Mother Shi saw Zhan Haoze’s expression and knew he rarely went into the kitchen. “I’m used to cooking. I don’t need your help. You just need to accompany Wanwan.”
Zhan Haoze stood still. “She’s on the phone.”
“You didn’t coax her well, right?” Mother Shi took the food out of the bag. Looking at Zhan Haoze’s expression, she knew they definitely didn’t get along. “Haoze, did you not tell Wanwan about your family’s situation?”
Zhan Haoze was stunned. Mother Shi could tell from his expression. “You should have told Wanwan. Wanwan is a stubborn child with a soft heart. If you told her about your family’s situation, she definitely wouldn’t have messed with you.”
Mother Shi didn’t know the exact situation, but she could understand. Their town also had people like this. When the father brought the stepmother in, the stepmother didn’t treat the child of the ex-wife well. When the child grew up, he wouldn’t acknowledge even the father, not to mention acknowledging the stepmother.
That was human nature. It was normal to not understand at the moment. However, Shi Mengwan was a little stubborn. If he didn’t tell her properly, she probably wouldn’t understand.
Zhan Haoze didn’t reply, and Mother Shi didn’t want his help. However, she asked him some questions.
“Other than your father, do you have any other family members?”
“I don’t have any family members.” Zhan Haoze’s expression was indifferent. “I don’t have much contact with them.”
Mother Shi didn’t ask any further because she could understand. If his father didn’t treat him well, he probably wouldn’t have the motivation to interact with other people.
Mother Shi’s motherly love flared up, so she became more and more friendly towards Zhan Haoze. “So what if you guys don’t interact? Pick a time next time and come home with Wanwan. We have a lot of relatives. If you really get together with Wanwan in the future, you don’t have to stand on ceremony. We’ll be your elders.”
Zhan Haoze pursed his lips and a rare hint of emotion flashed through his deep eyes. “Okay.”
“Although Wanwan’s grandmother is a little off-key, she’s actually not a bad person. Although Wanwan’s uncles and aunts are a little scheming, they’re both good people. You’ll find out in the future.”
Grandma Shi had always been the one talking about the adoptions, and her two brothers-in-law didn’t really have any opinions.
After all, everyone knew how good father Shi was to Shi Mengwan and her sister.
“Okay.”
“That’s enough. This dish will be ready to eat once it’s served. Go and ask Wanwan to eat.”
“Should we bring it in for her to eat?”
“No need. Although she’s sick, don’t spoil her too much. She’s not that delicate. Let her get up and move a little, and she’ll recover faster.”
Mother Shi had never been a doting child.
When Zhan Haoze entered the room, Shi Mengwan had just ended the call with Su Qingsang. Ever since Su Qingsang returned to Lin City, she had started working again. However, this time, she brought her good news.
She was pregnant.
This was really good news for Shi Mengwan. She had long agreed to be the godmother of Su Qingsang’s child.
When she heard that Su Qingsang was pregnant, she was so happy. The two of them had been married for more than a year and now they had a child. They were pregnant with twins. She was truly happy for Su Qingsang from the bottom of her heart.
She had never given birth before, but Su Qingsang was an obstetrician and gynecologist, so she didn’t need to teach her anything.
However, it didn’t affect the two women’s interest in discussing the child, especially when Su Qingsang talked about how the child came about.
Strangely, Huo Jinyao didn’t seem to want to have a child. This pregnancy was considered an accident. Su Qingsang originally thought that Huo Jinyao would want her to abort the child.
However, she didn’t expect Huo Jinyao to be very happy. He was so happy that he was dumbfounded.
Through the phone, Shi Mengwan could feel the happiness that Su Qingsang revealed when she said those words. She was very envious. After hanging up the phone, she couldn’t help but think of Zhan Haoze.
If she was pregnant, would Dear Brother be happy? Thinking of her current situation with Zhan Haoze, she smiled bitterly. It wasn’t the same thing at all.
If she had a child, it would be truly unfortunate.
Just as she thought of this, she raised her head and saw Zhan Haoze entering the door. She especially disliked him now. Not wanting to see him at all, she turned her face away.
“It’s time to eat.”
It wasn’t that Zhan Haoze didn’t see the expression on Shi Mengwan’s face. His lips were pursed into a straight line, and he looked a little gloomy.
Shi Mengwan didn’t have a good expression on her face. She got off the bed, but she didn’t expect her body to go soft as soon as her feet touched the ground.
She rarely got sick, but she didn’t know that because she had slept for too long, her feet were a little weak.
Zhan Haoze’s sharp eyes and he quickly went up to catch her.
The moment his hands hugged her, Shi Mengwan instinctively wanted to struggle. Unfortunately, even if she was healthy, she wouldn’t be a match for him, not to mention that she hadn’t recovered yet.
Zhan Haoze looked at her pale face but didn’t plan to put her down. He just carried her and walked out.
When Shi Mengwan realized what he was going to do, she struggled with all her might. She didn’t want her mother to see her like this.
“Don’t move,” Zhan Haoze whispered in her ear. “You don’t want to fall, do you?”
Shi Mengwan couldn’t help but glare at him, but Zhan Haoze didn’t seem to notice her ugly expression. He wasn’t afraid that Mother Shi was outside, so he directly carried her to the dining table outside.
Mother Shi just came out with the soup and was about to put it on the dining table when she unexpectedly saw her daughter being carried out by Zhan Haoze. The smile on her face became a little teasing.
Especially when she saw Mother Shi staring at Zhan Haoze with “deep affection”, she said, “You brat. Don’t you have legs? Come down and eat.”
“Put me down.”
Shi Mengwan glared at Zhan Haoze again. Zhan Haoze placed her on the dining chair.
Mother Shi now felt that Zhan Haoze wasn’t bad, just from his height and physical strength. What was the Internet saying now? Yes, boyfriend strength.
Not bad, not bad. The smile on her face became brighter.
Shi Mengwan could tell what Mother Shi was thinking when she saw her expression. She was angry again. She couldn’t help but glare at Zhan Haoze again.
Shi Mengwan looked at Zhan Haoze. Her gaze was different now. “Haoze, sit down and eat too.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Zhan Haoze sat down beside Shi Mengwan. Shi Mengwan glanced at him and got up to move the chair to the side.
Zhan Haoze saw this and moved the chair in her direction. Shi Mengwan gritted her teeth and wanted to move the chair again.
“Wanwan.” Mother Shi couldn’t stand it anymore. “You child, you can’t even eat properly. Do you want me to help you move the chair outside the door?”
Shi Mengwan gritted her teeth and glanced at Mother Shi. “Mom, what do you know? He –”
She had a lot to say, but Mother Shi didn’t give her a chance.
“What’s wrong with Haoze? I think Haoze is very good. You really need to change your temper.”
Shi Mengwan’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong with my temper?”
“Stubborn.” Shi Mengwan scolded her daughter without holding back, but she smiled like a flower in front of Zhan Haoze.
“Haoze, Wanwan was spoiled by her father and me. Please bear her with us.”
As she spoke, she scooped up a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Zhan Haoze. Shi Mengwan saw it and was very angry. She couldn’t help but reach out and bring the bowl of soup over.
“You Child.”
Mother Shi looked at Shi Mengwan and felt that her daughter was a little too much.
“It’s okay, Auntie.” Zhan Haoze was quite “magnanimous.” The more he acted like this, the more Mother Shi felt that her daughter was insensible.
She scooped up another bowl of soup and placed it in front of Zhan Haoze. Shi Mengwan resisted the urge to knock the soup away.
“Mom, doesn’t he have his own hands? Let him scoop it himself.”
“You child, don’t I help you scoop soup at home too? Don’t you have hands too?”
“I’m your daughter.”
“He’s my son-in-law.”
“…” Shi Mengwan almost dropped the bowl in her hand. She looked at Shi Mengwan and felt a headache coming on. “Mom, what nonsense are you spouting?”
“How am I spouting nonsense?” Shi Mengwan looked at Zhan Haoze. “Haoze has already agreed to marry into the family. How am I spouting nonsense?”
“He was lying to you.” Shi Mengwan was furious. She couldn’t help but glare at Zhan Haoze. It was this guy who spouted nonsense in front of her mother. “Mom, don’t believe him.”
“Don’t believe him and believe you? I think Haoze is pretty good. I think you really need to change your temper. Otherwise, don’t talk about Haoze anymore, even I won’t be able to stand you.”
“Mom, am I still your daughter? Why are you always biased towards outsiders?”
“If he becomes my son-in-law, then he won’t be an outsider.” Shi Mengwan said matter-of-factly.
Shi Mengwan was furious. She looked at Zhan Haoze calmly drinking the soup from the bowl in his hand. She was furious.
Without thinking, she snatched the bowl from Zhan Gaoze’s hand and put it on the table. Not caring about Mother Shi’s presence at allm she glared at Zhan Haoze fiercely.
“Zhan Haoze, go. Go find your fiancée. Don’t lie to my mother here.”
Even if she had to shed all pretense of cordiality and make Mother Shi unhappy, she couldn’t bear it any longer.
She had no scruples. As soon as she said this, Mother Shi’s expression changed. Her gaze was sharp for a moment, and then she looked at Zhan Haoze inquisitively.
“Fiancée? What fiancée?”
