CHAPTER 285: CHAPTER 275: WHAT ABOUT HIM?

"What?" Su Ronggui was stunned.

"Ronggui, what about you? Do I still have you, son?"

"Mom, I’ve always said that I’ll always be your son, and you’ll always be my mom. Our blood relation can’t be severed." She had just returned from the brink of death...

Shang Qingmei shook her head, "I want more than just blood relations. I want you to come back, Ronggui, come back to me, come back home. Break up with Tu Hengsha, leave her."

"Mom..." He frowned.

"Just thinking about her makes me uncomfortable. No, not uncomfortable, it’s painful. I can’t bear such a daughter-in-law. I can’t accept her. Can you understand, son?" She clutched his clothes with such force her knuckles turned white.

"Mom, please take care of your health first!" He remained stern-faced.

"No! I want you to promise me first! Just the thought of that woman ruining the Xu Family and then the Su family, with my son betraying me by being with her, makes me feel like dying from the pain! If you insist on being with her, it’s like pushing me to my death! Do you understand? I’ve already died once, so I don’t care if I die again!"

Su Rongyu had been sitting quietly, almost in a daze, suddenly looking up at their disheveled mother, whose eyes were filled with chaos.

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Tu Hengsha was about to set off with her equipment. Before leaving, she glanced at Su Ronggui’s place; he still hadn’t arrived. The seat next to him, Su Rongxing’s, was also empty. There was a bouquet on the table, probably delivered the day before?

"Little Sha, are you ready? Let’s go." Hao Ren called out to her.

"Ready." She quickly replied.

She and Hao Ren were going on a three-day work trip.

"Then let’s go!" Hao Ren led the way out.

Her mind was inexplicably restless, probably because she hadn’t seen him since he left her house that day and didn’t know how things were between him and Shang Qingmei.

She sighed quietly and followed Hao Ren.

After getting on the high-speed train, she still sent him a message, telling him she was on a business trip and would be back in three days.

He quickly replied, telling her to stay safe and take care of herself, and asked if she had brought medicine with her. A series of short, trivial, and nagging sentences.

Reading his words eased her mind considerably, and she responded to each message.

Once she finally put her phone away and sat back comfortably, Hao Ren asked, "How have you been lately? A lot has happened. Are you okay?"

Tu Hengsha felt a strange sensation, like she hadn’t seen Hao Ren for a long time, even though they worked together. On reflection, it was likely because ever since Fan Yue’s incident, she had been almost entirely closed off, mechanically performing her job and automatically blocking out interactions with the outside world, separated from others by an invisible wall, and even less likely to discuss these matters.

She nodded, "I’m okay." There wasn’t much else to say.

After a brief thought, she asked, "By the way, how’s that plan to bring your parents over going? Did they agree?" She changed the subject.

Hao Ren smiled, "They’re already here!"

"So soon? Are they adapting well?" Tu Hengsha saw Hao Ren’s warm smile and felt infected by it, happy for him. For some elderly people, it’s hard to leave their hometowns, and the unfamiliar environment of a big city can be intimidating.

"Yes!" Hao Ren spoke of his parents with much enthusiasm, "They’ve adapted! Every morning they go for a walk, then buy groceries and help tidy up my place. I don’t have to live on takeout anymore! And no more searching for socks early in the morning."

Tu Hengsha burst out laughing.

"It’s just..." He had a complex expression.

"What’s wrong?" She thought he might be in some trouble.

He sighed exaggeratedly, "Their adaptability is too high! How long have they been here? They’ve already familiarized themselves with all the neighbors in the community, and they know more people than I do when they go out!"

"Isn’t that great? This way, when you’re busy, they won’t feel lonely!"

He shook his head, "Great? Too great! They’re chatting and having meetings in the community every day, a massive talent exchange and sales pitch, even in the biting north wind of winter!"

"What?" Tu Hengsha thought the elderly might have accidentally joined some pyramid scheme.

"..." He held back for a moment, "They are trying to sell me out!"

Tu Hengsha understood and laughed heartily, "Setting you up with a wife?"

"Aren’t they?" Hao Ren was deeply troubled, "I’ve already been forced to meet two girls this week!"

Tu Hengsha was amused, "Then I can only congratulate you on finding a match soon!"

The three-day interview went by quickly, and the task was not tiring. Before heading back, she sent a message to Su Ronggui with the train number and arrival time.

Hao Ren teased her, "Can’t wait to get home, huh? Just in time for New Year’s Eve!"

She wrinkled her nose in protest at his teasing. But it was quite a coincidence, today was the last day of the year, and she was indeed looking forward to celebrating New Year’s Eve with him tonight. She even thought about where to have dinner, whether to enjoy a romantic evening out or stay at home and have dinner with him and Mom. Or maybe the three of them could have a New Year’s feast outside! Then they could watch a movie or attend a New Year’s concert, maybe invite Mom too!

With these thoughts, she couldn’t help herself and messaged Mom, telling her not to prepare dinner and that they’d eat out instead. She then looked up tickets for a New Year’s concert, unbelievably, there were still some available! She immediately bought three!

It was a rare sunny and bright day today. The sun shone through the train window, warming the small table on which her hand rested, and she felt the warmth at her fingertips.

Will tomorrow be a sunny day too? The first day’s sunshine of the New Year could bring endless cheer for the whole year!

She smiled slightly, put on her headphones to listen to music, and closed her eyes to rest. When she woke, she would see Xiao Xu!

The train arrived on time.

She had already gathered her luggage, eagerly waiting to disembark and meet Xiao Xu!

Hao Ren found her eagerness amusing, "How long have you been apart? Three days! Truly feeling like centuries passed in one day? That’s impressive, three years gone by!"

Tu Hengsha was excited, ignoring his mockery. Hmph!

"Then I won’t play third wheel or annoy you by offering unnecessary help! I’ll take the subway, and you can handle these bags alone! Perfect chance to act coy and let him be your slave!"

She looked serious, "Am I that melodramatic? I am the epitome of a gentle and virtuous, independent, and capable modern woman! I’ve never exploited him!"

After saying this, they couldn’t help but laugh.

True to his word, Hao Ren headed directly to the subway, while she followed the crowd out of the station, looking around for him to avoid missing his figure.

"Over here! Sis! Over here!" A familiar voice called.

She followed the voice and saw an arm waving vigorously at her.

Su Rongyu.

Why was it Su Rongyu again? Where was he? Busy?