Chapter 331 - 293: Decision to Return to the Tang Family
Chapter 331: Chapter 293: Decision to Return to the Tang Family
Wu Xiaowen gritted her teeth and sobbed. ’I was too naive, I valued family too much. I wholeheartedly thought only of my closest relatives, but in the end, the ones who hurt me were these so-called family members!’
’Forget Yang Qianrong and those little bastards. But Wu Xiaoyang and Wu Xiaorui, just you wait. There will come a day when you’ll be begging me!’
’Do I really need the Tang family to get things done? Not necessarily! The only reason you all could return to Beijing so smoothly, move back into the old house so peacefully, and get Mom and Dad’s jobs all arranged was because Bai Lihua pulled all the strings!’
The thought that Bai Lihua had to leave in a couple of days filled Wu Xiaowen with reluctance to part. These past few days, she had been scorned by the Tang family and alienated by her own children. Qingyun had left without sending her a single word of news. If it weren’t for Bai Lihua’s companionship, comfort, and wholehearted help, Wu Xiaowen feared she wouldn’t have been able to take a single step.
An image of Bai Lihua’s tall, lean figure appeared in her mind. His deep, affectionate eyes, the loving words that seemed to still whisper around her ears and neck... Wu Xiaowen couldn’t help but feel her cheeks flush. She quickly shook her head and closed her eyes, but his tenderness and consideration were already etched into her very bones and hidden in the depths of her heart. ’How could I not miss him?’
Wu Xiaowen didn’t consider herself shameless. ’Bai Lihua was my first love. We were madly in love, a love so pure and sacred. Who would be willing to give that up if they weren’t forced to? That was why I forgave him long ago. It’s just as people say: a first love is always the most beautiful and precious, and a first lover is always the man a woman loves most in her heart of hearts! Seeing how the hardships of life had worn him down, his face now bearing the marks of time, my heart ached for him. For some reason, when I compared the greatly changed Bai Lihua with the still elegant and handsome Tang Qingyun, I always found myself leaning toward Bai Lihua. I even felt that I was happier and things were sweeter when I was with him. He still treated me like a princess, doting on me and holding me in the palm of his hand, making me feel as if I had returned to my carefree and blissful girlhood!’
’Unfortunately, this happiness and bliss couldn’t last. Bai Lihua is leaving, and I have to face all of life’s troubles alone!’
The chiming of a clock from the main living room announced the time. It was already four in the morning. Wu Xiaowen made a decision: she would follow her parents’ advice and move back into the Tang family’s house.
’Mom and Dad will escort me back personally. No matter how fierce Old Mrs. Tang is, she has to give her in-laws some face!’
’Once I’ve moved into the Tang house, I’ll come back and stomp all over the faces of those shallow, worthless wretches! I’ll make them understand that I’m not to be trifled with!’
’As for how to get along with that old hag after moving back? I’ll just play it by ear. At worst, I’ll just have to swallow my pride and endure it for a while. Hao Hao said Manman is taking the college entrance exams this year. Whether she makes the cutoff score or not, the Tang family dotes on her so much they’ll surely find a way to get her a spot at Kyoto University. Once she comes to Beijing in a few months and we’re living under the same roof, I refuse to believe that I, her mother, can’t handle a little girl. When the time comes, I’ll get some nourishing and beauty-enhancing recipes from her. Then I’ll bring her back to the Wu family to meet her maternal grandparents and help them take care of their health, too.’
’Mom was right, there really are many benefits to living at the Tang residence. I can go back to enjoying the treatment of a young mistress. The house has three or four maids and staff members, plus guards and gardeners in the yard. I won’t have to do a thing. A car and driver will be waiting just a few steps from the door. I can chat on the phone for as long as I want without worrying about the bill. If I want anything, I just have to say the word, and someone will rush to deliver it in minutes... And most importantly, those people who offended me will have to re-evaluate the status of a Tang family daughter-in-law!’
’I’ve been giving Qingyun the cold shoulder for so long, it’s probably time to make up, right? Actually, Qingyun has always been very good to me, doting on me and listening to whatever I say. It was only because of this business with Manman, plus the pressure from Old Mrs. Tang, that his temper became so short and irritable... SIGH! We’ve been married for over a decade, after all. These past few days, I’ve actually missed him quite a bit. This can’t go on. I should take the initiative to show him some concern. It’s not easy for him out there alone in some poor, mountainous region. He has gastritis, too. I need to remind him to eat on time.’
What kind of expression would Qingyun have when he found out she was living with his parents? Wu Xiaowen let out an unconscious laugh. ’When Qingyun isn’t busy, he calls the house in Beijing a few times a month. From now on, I’ll be the one to answer every time. And I’ll deliberately refuse to say anything nice to him. Let’s see what he does then.’
Wu Xiaowen drifted off into a drowsy sleep. But across from her, on the other bed, Tang Yaxuan’s eyes were still wide open. Hearing that Wu Xiaowen was no longer tossing and turning and was clearly asleep, she sat up in bed. In the darkness, she bit her lip, holding back tears, her hands clutching the blanket that covered her. She, too, made an important decision, just as Wu Xiaowen had. Then, she lay back down, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.