CHAPTER 564: CHAPTER 559: CHANGING FORMS OF ADDRESS

"If I really am pregnant, let’s pretend this never happened. Don’t tell Zhiming when we get back, okay?" Xu He saw the look on Zhou Yunmei’s face and knew her words had taken effect, so she stopped rushing to assign blame and began to tempt Zhou Yunmei.

"Mom, our family still owes debts, right? I swear, once I have the baby, Zhiming and I will go out to make money, and then we’ll gradually repay it. Our family’s life will definitely get better."

Zhou Yunmei imagined the scene Xu He described, and her heart was moved, but she wasn’t foolish. She knew Xu He’s character too well, understanding that her sudden good behavior was just to appease her.

But as long as she cared about the child in her womb, Zhou Yunmei couldn’t do much to her. If she really told Zhiming, given how Zhiming had reacted to Fang Xiu previously, he would probably demand a divorce.

However, the reason Zhiming divorced Fang Xiu previously was that there was an Xu He. If he divorced again this time, Xu He would definitely make a fuss about Zhiming’s inability to have children, ruining his prospects of ever getting married again.

In the rural areas at that time, speaking of a man unable to father a child wasn’t just a simple matter; it might be exaggerated to say Zhiming couldn’t even fulfill marital duties, calling him impotent. Who would want to marry someone deemed useless?

Seeing Zhou Yunmei’s concerns, Xu He gently shook Zhou Yunmei’s arm, pleading softly, "Mom, think about Zhiming. He had such a mess with Fang Xiu before. If he divorces me now, how could he carry on? He could end up completely ruined."

This was also a worry for Zhou Yunmei, but her mind was in turmoil, so she merely said, "We’ll talk after the hospital visit tomorrow."

After speaking, Zhou Yunmei went back to rest in the next room.

As for Fang Pingying and the other two, they had been standing outside for a good two or three hours, almost until after 11:00 at night. Seeing Shuanzi leaving the guesthouse alone and not appearing angry, they guessed nothing serious happened, so Fang Pingying called Luo Honglan to go home.

Everything looked fine, so Luo Zhiyong said, "I’ll take you back."

Fang Pingying nodded, and while they walked toward the road to hail a cab, Luo Zhiyong quietly asked her, walking beside him, "How have Yaoyao and Ruirui been recently? Are they easy to take care of?"

"Easy to manage," Fang Pingying responded simply and then leaned against the car, closing her eyes to rest.

Seeing that Fang Pingying didn’t seem willing to talk, Luo Zhiyong hesitated whether to continue asking. But it was rare for him to meet her, and he didn’t want to waste the opportunity; he wanted to know more about her and her family’s situation.

He paused, then asked again, "How is mom’s health now?"

"She’s fine, resting at home." Fang Pingying suddenly lifted her head and looked at Luo Zhiyong, frowning, "Also, Luo Zhiyong, you can just call me Aunt Ping along with Honglan from now on."

The issue of addressing her had been hinted at several times by Li Aihua before, but Fang Pingying had never mentioned it. She didn’t know what her feelings were but always felt that saying it might seem heartless toward Luo Zhiyong.

Maybe today’s ordeal with the Luo family made her more hopeless about her relationship with Luo Zhiyong, so she spoke without further consideration.

Though today’s scheme with Xu He and Zhou Yunmei about borrowing Luo Zhiyong to father a child ended up not happening, having such unprincipled family members made Fang Pingying feel that being tied to such people could lead to messy problems in the future.

She had rarely escaped and didn’t want to interact with such a family anymore, so she secretly resolved to completely sever ties with Luo Zhiyong.

Luo Zhiyong noticed Fang Pingying’s aversion, and he moved his lips, wanting to explain, "Pingying, I..."

But he stopped midway, feeling that anything he said might be premature.

Can he say that he has already cleared things up at home, considering he just had that conversation with Zhou Yunmei? Who knows what kind of trouble Zhou Yunmei might cause in the future.

Even if he’s determined not to interfere, he still needs to take some actions to make Fang Pingying believe him.

Therefore, he feels that it’s too early to say or promise anything right now, he can only prove himself through actions.

He paused for a moment, forcing a smile on his face, "Isn’t it all just words, what’s the big deal."

Fang Pingying glared at him, forcing him to change his speech, "If you don’t change your tune, don’t come to the house in the future."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiyong’s eyes flashed with grievance and he asked softly, "Then what about seeing Yaoyao and Ruirui?"

Fang Pingying said coldly, "Let Luo Honglan take them out for you to see, just in the park downstairs, a quick look will do."

Having no choice, Luo Zhiyong had to compromise, "Alright, then I’ll change it."

Fang Pingying didn’t understand herself—on one hand she hoped to decisively cut ties with him, but at this moment, she would have liked him to explain more, or to persist a little longer.

Hearing his straightforward agreement, she felt somewhat uneasy, but she nodded slightly on the outside as a gesture of approval.

Because it was too late, there were no buses, and they took one of those small motorcycle rickshaw from the train station home.

The rickshaw was small, with two rows of seats facing each other. Although it was said to fit four people, it was just right for two. However, Luo Zhiyong, not wanting them to ride alone, suggested that three of them ride in one rickshaw.

Fang Pingying got into the rickshaw first, taking the seat in the furthest row. After her, Luo Honglan got on, and Fang Pingying assumed Luo Honglan would naturally sit beside her. But when Luo Honglan got on, she thought for a moment and then, surprisingly, sat across from her.

When Luo Zhiyong got on, Luo Honglan specifically said, "Big brother, sit next to sister-in-law. I want to lean back and lie down, I’m terribly sleepy."

After saying this, Luo Honglan even signaled Luo Zhiyong with her eyes, thinking Fang Pingying couldn’t see.

Luo Zhiyong, upon hearing this, knew his sister was creating an opportunity for him. He gave Luo Honglan an approving glance, obviously not wasting this chance, and sat next to Fang Pingying closely.

Fang Pingying could clearly see the covert exchanges between the siblings but kept her composure and smirked silently, not bothering to engage.

If Luo Zhiyong loved to be clingy, let him be. She should be straightforward about it—after all, they already have two kids, why fuss over such trivialities.

As Fang Pingying ignored him, Luo Zhiyong felt somewhat awkward.

After a silence, he coughed and then casually started a topic, "Is everything prepared for Honglan’s engagement tomorrow?"

Fang Pingying replied, "We don’t really have much to prepare. Just pick up Honglan and go to the restaurant tomorrow morning."

Luo Zhiyong noticed her wording, frowning, he asked, "Aren’t you going?"

"What’s the point of me going? You just go," Fang Pingying glanced at Luo Zhiyong, having made it clear long ago—if Luo Zhiyong went, she wouldn’t.