Chapter 366 - 321: Chance Encounter
Chapter 366: Chapter 321: Chance Encounter
Wu Xiaowen wiped her tears with a handkerchief, pretending not to hear Tang Haocheng. Her eyes watched Xiao Man board a bus in the distance as she spoke in a cold voice, "Don’t you use your grandparents to pressure me. Manman is just a rebellious, ungrateful wretch! You only talk about Xuanxuan hiding things, but Manman knew the truth long ago, too. She came face-to-face with your father several times, so why didn’t she say anything? She just wanted to watch us flounder and end up like this! What were her real intentions? Is that how a child should act? Tell me, isn’t that despicable? And what’s wrong with Xuanxuan? She just couldn’t bear to be apart from her parents. Do you know how much psychological pressure she’s been under? She’s on the verge of depression! As for that little mailbox in the provincial city’s mailroom you mentioned, it’s just kids being pen pals, a simple letter-writing game... Hey! Hao Hao, wait! Stop!"
Tang Haocheng had already hailed a taxi. He got in, slammed the door, and left. Wu Xiaowen nearly slipped and fell on the snowy ground, but he didn’t look back—of course, that was because he couldn’t see her. He was so furious with his muddle-headed mother that he felt he would explode if he didn’t leave immediately.
Unable to catch up to Tang Haocheng, Wu Xiaowen felt tears of anger well up again. She had no choice but to get back in the taxi she had arrived in and tell the driver to quickly follow Tang Haocheng’s cab.
The taxi driver was exasperated. ’She said she’d only be a moment to get someone, but who knew it would take this long? If the woman hadn’t yet paid, he wouldn’t have been willing to wait around like an idiot!’
Tang Haocheng was a man of his word. Since he had promised Wu Xiaowen, he wouldn’t just abandon her. He hailed another taxi and headed directly for the hospital where Lin Aizhen was staying. Watching from the taxi behind him, Wu Xiaowen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In her heart, she couldn’t help but curse Xiao Man again. ’It’s all that jinx’s fault! She’s corrupted Hao Hao!’
’Even though Hao Hao was taken away by Old Mrs. Tang when he was little and wasn’t very close to me, he always knew how to defend me. He never wanted to see me get hurt. But now, because of Manman, he’s become disobedient and short-tempered, storming off at the slightest provocation.’
Thinking of Hao Hao led her to think of Tang Qingyun, who hadn’t apologized to her in over half a year. Wu Xiaowen bit her lip as a nameless fury rose in her heart. ’My parents urged me to take family leave to visit Qingyun in the countryside, but I couldn’t swallow my pride. It was clearly the Tang family’s fault. Qingyun was bewitched by Old Mrs. Tang and turned against me, breaking our marital alliance. He should be the one to apologize. Why should I be the first to yield?’
’Could I not live without Tang Qingyun? Not a chance!’
’We’ve been married for over a decade, and for most of that time, we’ve lived apart. It was only when he was assigned to the county and then the prefecture that we had a few decent days together. I thought we would finally be together; I’d wait for him in the provincial city, and then we’d both return to Beijing to live happily ever after. But who knew? Without my consent, without even a discussion, he mindlessly obeyed his old man’s wishes and ran off to that godforsaken, poor mountain valley for at least three to five years! Three to five years! By then, I’ll be old. What glamour will be left for me?’
’Besides, Tang Qingyun couldn’t just reach the top in a single leap. He still had to climb the ladder, step by step. The best-case scenario was for him to stay in the provincial city for two or three years, then slowly work his way toward Beijing. By the time he finally made it to Beijing, I’m afraid he’d be half-bald!’
’Just look at the wives of high-ranking officials my age. Which one of them isn’t flushed with success, always by her husband’s side in marital bliss? Why should I be the one left to guard an empty home, waiting miserably for Tang Qingyun?’
A few days ago, she had gone to a dinner party. It was a farewell for a former classmate who was joining her husband at his military post. Her husband had been promoted to an even higher rank and was apparently being stationed deep in some remote, uninhabited mountains for several years. Her classmate was forcing a smile, but who knew how much bitterness was actually in her heart.
Wu Xiaowen knew she couldn’t do that. ’It’s not like I haven’t suffered or endured hardships before. Most of my life is already over. A woman’s youth is fleeting. I was lucky enough to return to Beijing, and there’s no way I’d be foolish enough to run back to that kind of terrifying, ignorant, backwater place!’
’So we’ll live apart. It’s not my fault. If Tang Qingyun cherished our marriage, he should have fought to the end. But he didn’t!’
’All that talk about being of one mind as husband and wife, about never being separated again—it was all lies! In the end, he still gave in to the Tang family and chose to go back and suck up to Old Mrs. Tang! He never once thought about my feelings. After I was bullied and humiliated by that old woman for over a decade... I wasn’t asking him to get revenge for me or demand justice, but he should have at least stood firmly by his wife’s side, right?’
’But he didn’t! So why should I bother suffering?’
Wu Xiaowen leaned numbly against the window, her thoughts in turmoil. She didn’t even notice when the taxi stopped in front of the hospital.
She took out her wallet and paid the fare. Just as she walked into the hospital, a figure blocked her path. Wu Xiaowen looked up, and the tense expression on her face instantly broke into a wide, delighted smile. "You... What are you doing here? When did you get back?"
Bai Lihua pulled down his thick scarf slightly. His expression was earnest, and the corners of his lips curved into a smile. "Xiao Xiao, are you alright? It’s been a few months. I’ve really missed you! Junjie was having a snowball fight, and he accidentally broke his arm. He’s staying in this hospital. I just happened to be in Beijing on urgent business, so I came to see him. What about you? You’re here because..."
A blush rose on Wu Xiaowen’s cheeks. She glanced at the passersby on either side, then lowered her gaze slightly. "My mother isn’t feeling well. She’s hospitalized here, too."
"Oh, is that so? Then I must go and see Auntie."
"No, no... The children are there!"
After a pause, Bai Lihua said, "I’m... leaving in a little while!"
Wu Xiaowen froze for a moment, then looked up at him. "You just got back, and you’re leaving already?"
Bai Lihua gave a soft smile. "Our city is trying to land a big project, so I have to come back in a few days. I’ll bring something for you then. Should I call you to come out and get it? You’ll be at work; would that be inconvenient? Or should I just deliver it to your house?"
"Then... bring it to my house," Wu Xiaowen said in a low voice.
"Alright. It’s a deal, then!"
Lin Aizhen had come to the hospital for a check-up because of a tightness in her chest and a feeling of suffocation. The doctor diagnosed her with a myocardial infarction. Fortunately, she had been brought in promptly and needed to be hospitalized for observation and treatment.
She was fully conscious and seemed normal, propped up in bed and holding Hao Hao’s hand. She spoke with him softly, a loving smile on her face.
Tang Yaxuan sat on the other side of the hospital bed, peeling an apple. She finished one, cut it into small pieces, and arranged them on a plate. She stuck a toothpick in a piece and offered it to Lin Aizhen. Lin Aizhen praised her, "Good girl," and tried to give it to Hao Hao.
Tang Yaxuan said with a smile, "You eat it, Grandma. I’ll peel another one for my brother. It’ll just take a second!"
Tang Haocheng shot her a cold glance and said nothing.
Tang Yaxuan lowered her head and continued peeling. A moment later, she finished another apple and held it out. "Brother, this is for you!"
Tang Haocheng didn’t look at her or move. Tang Yaxuan bit her lip and glanced at Lin Aizhen, looking a little hurt. Her voice became even softer. "Hao Hao, have an apple!"
Tang Haocheng turned his head and looked directly at her. "This is a hospital, so we shouldn’t be loud. I’ll have to patiently remind you one more time: my nickname is only for family and close friends to use. It’s not for you to call me. There are no blood ties between us. If you’re looking for a brother, I suggest you go back to Gongdao Village!"