CHAPTER 407: CHAPTER 377: APOLOGIZE TO HER

Chu Zhengran took Qin Xia back to his place.

Qin Xia was swaying and couldn’t walk steadily.

Chu Zhengran wanted to carry her, but as soon as he did, Qin Xia hit him.

His arm was almost swollen from her hits.

He could only hold her arm, supporting her as they walked to the living room.

The light in the living room was on, and Chu Zhengran had seen the car parked outside just now.

He directly led Qin Xia into the living room.

Madam Chu was sitting in the living room having tea, with two people standing behind her.

Chu Zhengran saw her and flashed a gentle smile, saying, "Mom."

Madam Chu glanced at him and then looked to Qin Xia beside him.

Though Qin Xia was unsteady from drunkenness, she sensed hostility and immediately looked towards Madam Chu.

But her vision was blurry, and before she could see clearly who it was, Chu Zhengran blocked her with his body.

Madam Chu looked back at Chu Zhengran. Her usually gentle expression turned somewhat stern, with a hint of coldness. She gazed at Chu Zhengran for a while and softly said, "You’ve grown bold, coming back to Beijing without visiting home after being away for so long."

Chu Zhengran smiled, "I had some drinks with Yanjing; I planned on visiting you tomorrow."

"Is that so?" Madam Chu seemed to see through him, glancing at the person behind him, "I thought you’d forgotten you have a mother."

"How could I?" said Chu Zhengran as Qin Xia stumbled behind him.

Chu Zhengran quickly steadied her.

Madam Chu watched the two of them, finally lowered her gaze, and said, "Take her to her room first."

Chu Zhengran guided her to the room.

After a few steps, Qin Xia suddenly turned back as if remembering something and looked at the people sitting on the sofa.

But just as she turned, Chu Zhengran held her head down, preventing her from looking.

Qin Xia stopped looking back, but she pushed him away, saying, "Go away. Men and women should keep a distance, keep away from me."

"If I step away, you’ll fall," said Chu Zhengran.

"None of your business," Qin Xia replied.

"Fine." Chu Zhengran released her, saying, "If you fall flat, you won’t be able to act anymore."

Qin Xia froze immediately.

Chu Zhengran stood next to her, "Let’s go."

Qin Xia turned her head and glared at him.

Chu Zhengran chuckled and went to support her hand.

Only then did Qin Xia obediently walk with him.

Madam Chu watched them the entire time, only withdrawing her gaze once they were out of sight. She looked at the people behind her, asking, "Did you all see that?"

The two behind her remained silent.

Madam Chu said, "She’s already turned him down, yet he keeps pushing forward. Truly, truly...."

She paused as if searching for a word, finally saying, "Truly disgraceful."

After saying this, there was a moment of silence, then she said, "Go get her a glass of water to bring up."

"Yes." The person behind immediately went to the kitchen.

Madam Chu added, "Add some honey."

"Yes."

Chu Zhengran watched Qin Xia drink some water before he brought the cup downstairs.

Madam Chu watched him.

Chu Zhengran could sense a feeling of disdain in his mother’s gaze. He sat on the sofa, placed the cup on the tea table, and with a smile said, "Mom."

Madam Chu glared at him for a moment, then paused before asking, "Have her family issues been resolved?"

"Yes." Chu Zhengran refilled her cup of tea.

"Did Yao Mountain Island really not interfere?" Madam Chu asked.

"I’ve been there a few times, but didn’t intervene," Chu Zhengran didn’t mention that Qiao Yuxian knew people there, "Cui Mountain Island is still part of the Qin Family under Qin Xia; only the head has changed, everything else remains the same. Yao Mountain Island won’t interfere extensively."

"Then she..." Madam Chu asked, "Won’t be going back to Cui Mountain Island?"

"She’s signed a ten-year contract with Xi Mei, just renewed not long ago," said Chu Zhengran.

"What about after ten years?" Madam Chu asked, "If she wants to return to Cui Mountain Island, would you follow her there?"

"We’ll definitely be married after ten years," Chu Zhengran said with a smile, "We’ll naturally consider both sides."

Madam Chu was taken aback, looking at Chu Zhengran’s gentle smile. After a while, she said, "You’re trying to anger me."

The elegance of Madam Chu was ingrained in her bones, even while saying such things, her voice remained slow and gentle.

"Mom, you’ll surely live a long life," Chu Zhengran said.

Madam Chu sighed softly, then after a while added, "Is she truly the only option?"

"Absolutely," Chu Zhengran’s voice was gentle yet firm.

"But she doesn’t accept you," Madam Chu said.

Chu Zhengran looked at his mother, without blame nor severity in his eyes, just looking at her.

"So you mean her rejection is because of me?" Madam Chu’s voice was soft.

Chu Zhengran paused before saying, "Mom, in this matter, what you did was wrong."

Madam Chu did not speak.

Chu Zhengran continued, "You bullied that young girl by relying on your status as an elder and my mother, making her suffer all this time."

Madam Chu looked at her son.

Chu Zhengran maintained a calm tone, "Think about Qin Xia’s temperament. If you weren’t my mother, she would’ve retaliated after those words. She wouldn’t tolerate that from anyone else."

"Are you crafting this image of her in front of me?" Madam Chu asked after a pause.

Chu Zhengran chuckled, "She’s truly herself, needing no fabrication from me, nor do I wish for her to discard her true self for me."

Madam Chu sat gracefully, hands overlapped on her leg, she took a soft breath, asking, "So?"

"So I hope you can apologize to her," Chu Zhengran said slowly, observing his mother’s expression.

Madam Chu glared at him, turning her head away from him.

Knowing he had upset her, Chu Zhengran coughed slightly, "Mom."

Madam Chu turned her head away, ignoring him.

"Mom, you taught me to correct my mistakes," Chu Zhengran said gently.

"I don’t recognize any mistakes," Madam Chu said with her head turned.

"I understand, you meant well," Chu Zhengran said, "But, Mom, this time it wasn’t beneficial for me."

"What’s beneficial in the long term remains to be seen," Madam Chu said.

"But what exactly is the long term?" Chu Zhengran asked, "What’s your plan?"

Madam Chu did not speak, listening as he continued.

"Being with Qin Xia, I can envision my future," Chu Zhengran said, "But without her, I cannot."

Hearing his words, Madam Chu remained silent for a long time, then stood up, "That’s enough for today."

Chu Zhengran also stood up, "It’s late, stay here tonight."

Madam Chu looked at him, "Do you think it’s appropriate? Tomorrow when she wakes and sees me here. What will you say to her? Do you want to watch us fight in front of you?"

Chu Zhengran did not say anything.

Madam Chu looked him over, "You’ve lost weight from your trip; didn’t get injured, did you?"

"No," Chu Zhengran said.

"Alright," Madam Chu said, "I’m leaving."

Chu Zhengran went out to see her off. At the door, Madam Chu adjusted his collar, saying, "Zheng Ran, my thoughts haven’t changed, so... no more overstepping. Your mother always taught you to respect women. Although society is open now, not every mind is likewise open, and not everyone views men and women equally. She’s a public figure; don’t let your actions affect her."

Chu Zhengran chuckled, "It’s not about not liking her."

"To be honest, it’s not about like or dislike. I just don’t want her to be your other half," Madam Chu said, "Not wanting her to be your other half doesn’t conflict with respecting her. And given my current attitude, I don’t wish for anything to happen between you."

Chu Zhengran remained silent.

Knowing he was listening, Madam Chu said, "Go back, sleep early."

"Alright."

...