CHAPTER 454: CHAPTER 454: ASHAMED BEFORE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

"Mom, my leg was hurt when I fell during a spring outing to Yan Mountain." Lian Qingyang was startled by the sudden appearance of Xiang Yazhi, and even though he knew they would come, he didn’t expect them to arrive so quickly.

Lian Qingyang hastily said, "Mom, the doctor said that in a few days, after the cast is removed, my leg will be back to normal."

"Qingyang, how could you not tell me about something so serious?" Xiang Yazhi said, her eyes rimmed with red as she looked at Lian Qingyang’s leg: "Come on, Mom will take you to the best hospital in Jing City."

"Mom, the hospital I went to is already a good one, there’s no need for another visit." Lian Qingyang explained, and he quickly added, "Dad, Mom, let’s go upstairs so we don’t disturb their work."

Lian Qingyang made an excuse to lead people away. He did want to go upstairs, but with his current leg condition, it was inconvenient for him to climb the stairs. He said, "I..."

"I’ll carry you upstairs." Lian He squatted down and said.

Lian Qingyang looked at Lian He’s broad back for a long while and could not utter a word. Lian He glanced sideways and said, "Come on, what are you waiting for?"

"Oh." Lian Qingyang carefully leaned onto Lian He’s back.

Going upstairs, Lian Qingyang suddenly felt that Lian He’s profile appeared very tall and large. Ever since he was little, he had been causing trouble; besides his strict face, his father Lian He had no other expressions.

This injury, however, deeply moved Lian Qingyang.

Once they reached the second floor, Lian Qingyang said, "We can stop here on the second floor."

There were many rooms on the second floor. He could clean up one for them to stay in. He took them to the conference room and explained the reason for his injury. Of course, he did not mention anything about Tang Yue at all.

Father Lian He wasn’t afraid, but Mother Xiang Yazhi might start disliking Sister Xiao Yue again.

Lian Qingyang, being sweet-tongued, was upstairs, and Mrs. Hu quietly called Lian Tong, and then she went downstairs to cook dinner.

In the evening, the family had dinner on Southwest Road.

Xiang Yazhi felt sorry for her son, but with Lian Tong here, even if Xiang Yazhi wanted to say something, she couldn’t say much.

After dinner, everyone returned to Lian Qingyang’s residence, and Lian Qingyang came back with them. Originally, Lian Qingyang was supposed to go to Southwest Road, but Lian He objected, stating it was inconvenient for him to move up and down there, and moreover, he could always get a car to take him to and from work.

"Brother, I do like this little niece Xiao Yue," Lian Tong said, revealing that she and her brother Lian He might not have seen each other for a long time. The siblings still had a decent relationship.

"Have you met Xiao Yue?" Lian He looked at Lian Tong excitedly and smiled, "Xiao Yue has a pure and honest look, just like her mother, and it makes you cannot help but want to protect her."

"Brother, how could you have left Xiao Yue and her mother behind in the first place?" Lian Tong asked bluntly, making Lian He somewhat embarrassed.

These matters, which had been hidden in the deepest part of his heart, elicited a long sigh from Lian He after being questioned by Lian Tong, who said, "If I had known about Xiao Yue, how could I have had the heart to leave her and her mother?"

Taking one out, Lian He lit a cigarette, surrounded by the swirling smoke, he said: "Xiaotong, I am not a good husband, nor a good father."

"Yes," Lian Tong answered, "You are not, for Xiao Yue and her mother; and you are not, for Qingyang and the three of his family."

"Brother, the family has been urging me to find someone to marry, but I don’t want to get married," Lian Tong spoke slowly. "I think I wouldn’t be able to live if I had to spend every day with someone I don’t love."

Lian Tong clasped her chest; just the thought of that person made her heartache.

"Right." Lian He exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze becoming hazy as the smoke billowed. He thought to himself that he was experiencing the same thing, staying beside someone he didn’t love.

"Xiaotong, neither you nor Gu Chun are young anymore. Can’t you both let go of the past?" Just as Lian He began to speak.

Lian Dan’s icy face turned even colder in an instant, and she said, "Brother, you should worry about yourself instead. What are you going to do about Xiao Yue?"

"She doesn’t want to acknowledge me," Lian He said with a bitter smile on his face.

"Good for you," Lian Tong said impatiently. During these past few days living at Tang Yue’s house, she learned that Tang Yue was a student at Jinghua University and also designed her own clothes, clothes that even Lian Tong liked very much. Moreover, the demeanor that Tang Yue exhibited made Lian Tong feel that her brother must be blind to cast aside such a wonderful girl.

It’s true that there must be a certain rapport between people. She just couldn’t bring herself to like Lian Qingqing of the family, yet with Tang Yue, she felt a closeness from just one glance.

"Has Xiao Yue’s mom remarried?" Lian Tong asked.

"Mhm," Lian He nodded, images of Zhang Hualian as she looked now springing to his mind, nearly identical to his memories, yet she seemed even more charming. She looked happy and content with her life now, her entire face radiating happiness.

He had met Tang Zhengde too. Although he was just the owner of a small restaurant, he was attentive and caring toward Zhang Hualian, and even at their age, their love for each other was evident.

"Brother, it would’ve been great if Xiao Yue’s mom had become my sister-in-law," Lian Tong mumbled, not liking Xiang Yazhi in the slightest.

"Xiaotong, you shouldn’t say that," Lian He admonished, his expression becoming serious. Even though he didn’t like her, Xiang Yazhi was his wife in name.

*

"Xiao Yue, where’s the rental contract?" Tang Mingli searched the house and suddenly realized it was missing, so he specifically came to Tang Yue’s house to ask.

"You forgot to take it with you last time you were here," Tang Yue said with a quiet laugh, taking out the well-kept contract from inside the house and handing it to him, "What made you think of it out of the blue?"

"Today, Lian He and his wife showed up." Tang Mingli inspected the contract carefully, saying, "Xiao Yue, after renting for this year, you should move in to work at the factory instead of staying at his place."

Even though the rent had been paid, he didn’t like the Lian Family people.

"The rent for Uncle’s house has been paid, and it’s even a bit more than the usual amount, so there’s really no need," Tang Yue reassured him, suggesting, "If it’s really not okay, you can move to another place. Maybe by next year, you’ll be able to buy your own place in Jing City, right?"

Tang Yue spoke with hopeful enthusiasm, especially looking forward to the new branch factory.

"That’s true," Tang Mingli said with renewed energy, "Xiao Yue, the profits from Wangjiang County’s clothing factory for this month are out. Our factory’s orders are increasing, and the sales are getting better and better."

"Yeah, now we’re just waiting for the Jing City branch to open. After that, will we be worried about money?" Tang Yue said with a playful wink. Recently, everything had been going well. Star Bright Clothing’s branch stores had opened fifteen locations, and each one was bustling with business. Qin Anyu had also been incredibly busy.

Since the Yan Mountain incident, Qin Anyu had made several business trips. Cheng Zhiqing and Zhao Rou had even come to personally thank Tang Yue, indicating just how profitable the clothing stores were.