Lin Mei hummed, not taking the matter to heart.
Xu Shang and Xie Junyao picked up Jing Chu and played with him for a while. When Jing Chu was tired, he wanted to nurse and sleep. Lin Mei stayed to feed him, and Xing Zheng took the two of them outside.
As soon as they sat down, Xu Shang said to Xing Zheng, "Azheng, your parents haven't left since they last visited. Lin Mei has given birth, and they want to see the child. What do you think..."
Without needing her to finish, Xing Zheng understood Xu Shang's meaning. He remained silent, and Xie Junyao chimed in, "They just want to see the child. After all, it's their grandson."
"No need," Xing Zheng refused. "The child has nothing to do with them, and he doesn't need their concern."
"Azheng." Xu Shang was helpless but couldn't fault him.
After much pleading and persuasion, Xing Zheng refused to let Xing Sha and Xie Qin Jia see the child. The two finally gave up, returning defeated.
Xing Zheng saw the elders out and then returned to the bedroom to accompany Lin Mei while she nursed. He wasn't in high spirits, staring at the little infant feeding. Lin Mei asked softly, "Did Grandma Xu talk to you about your parents?"
Xing Zheng replied, "Yes," and "You guessed it perfectly."
"Only this matter can change your expression," Lin Mei asked, "What did they say?"
"I didn't realize you knew me so well," Xing Zheng evaded the important issue and joked with her, "Should I thank you physically?"
"They want to see the child, right?" Lin Mei ignored his diversion and cut to the chase. She was so smart that when Xu Shang and Xie Junyao arrived, she had already guessed that besides seeing the child, they would also act as "pleaders" for Xie Qin Jia. Older people, with their traditional views, naturally hoped for reconciliation between mother and son.
"I didn't agree," he confessed everything since he couldn't hide it anymore. "I don't want them to disturb the child."
His life had been almost ruined by such family relationships. It was better to have no such distorted relationship.
As soon as he said this, Lin Mei fell silent. She didn't say another word until Jing Chu finished nursing and was placed back in the crib. Xing Zheng couldn't fathom her thoughts and remained silent with her. He stood by, feeling inexplicably flustered.
Unexpectedly, two soft arms suddenly wrapped around his waist. She had hugged him. "Then don't see them. I'll listen to you."
"You don't blame me?" Xing Zheng was surprised by her answer. She had grown up in such a harmonious and warm family atmosphere. He thought she must have longed for "reunion."
"Why should I blame you? Because other children have grandparents to look after them, and mine don't?" Lin Mei said, "You are his father, and your feelings are more important."
"No one has the right to persuade you to forgive, including me," she hugged him tighter. "Whatever decision you make, I will stand by you."
Her sudden display of true affection left Xing Zheng somewhat at a loss. He choked for a long time, unable to utter a complete sentence. She didn't seem to mind, just holding him like that, and they stood quietly in the bedroom.
In the afternoon, Lan Lan and Feng Feng came over together again. The three of them were in Lin Mei's bedroom, chatting about private matters.
Lin Mei chatted with them while feeding the child. Lan Lan frowned tightly as she watched the child nurse, experiencing pain along with her. "Does it hurt you?"
"It hurts," Lin Mei had only been nursing for a few days and hadn't adapted yet. "The first day was the most painful."
The first mouthful of breast milk was drawn out by Xing for her. Even though he was very careful, she still shed tears from the pain. She was often in pain while nursing the child these past few days.
"A colleague of mine goes to the mother and baby room every day to pump milk. It's so troublesome," Lan Lan asked Lin Mei, "How long do you plan to breastfeed? You should stop when you go back to work!"
Feng Feng was much more rational. She asked, "When do you plan to return to work?"
Lin Mei had taken a long leave this time. Xing Zheng had informed Manager Sun that she was on unpaid leave, and her position would not be affected. Her work ability was outstanding, and as soon as she returned, she could resume her previous role.
Having just given birth, Lin Mei hadn't considered this issue yet, but Feng Feng had indeed hit the nail on the head. Lin Mei began to consider it.
After thinking for a while, she said, "I'll have surgery after confinement."
She couldn't go to work without dealing with the scar on her face. "After the surgical recovery period, I'll go back to work."
She made such a quick decision, which greatly pleased Feng Feng. "I'm starting to feel like my old self again."
Lan Lan also said, "Yes, Manager Lin's demeanor is back."
Lin Mei smiled. Perhaps it was true. During her late pregnancy and her return to Xiangxi, her mood had improved considerably compared to when she was in Nanjiang. In the days after giving birth, she hadn't shown any symptoms of postpartum depression, likely because the people around her were taking such good care of her.
"What are your plans with Xing Zheng?" Feng Feng asked.
"It depends on his performance," Lin Mei said.
Lan Lan teased, "Not bad, you've persisted for a few months this time. That's progress!"
Lin Mei was already accustomed to Lan Lan's teasing. The three chatted relaxedly. After finishing feeding the baby, Lin Mei was about to put the child into the crib. Feng Feng came to help, but Lin Mei inadvertently noticed teeth marks on her collarbone. The skin was broken and had scabbed over. She blurted out, "What happened to your neck?"
Lan Lan also looked over. She immediately recognized that it was from someone biting. "Did you meet a man last night?"
"No," Feng Feng replied calmly. "It's nothing."
"Then it's Shen Su?" This excuse couldn't escape Lan Lan's sharp eyes. "Did you two sleep together again last night?"
"I happened to have a need, and it's easier to find trouble with someone you know," Feng Feng's tone was normal, betraying nothing.
Lin Mei recalled that during dinner last night, Shen Su seemed to have been taking care of Feng Feng. Their relationship was far from what Feng Feng described, or rather, Shen Su's feelings for Feng Feng were not so simple.
"Ms. Feng, do you still like Wen Zhouyuan?" Lin Mei asked, bringing up the name that was like a white moonlight to Feng Feng.
Wen Zhouyuan was the man Feng Feng had loved but couldn't have. He was six years older than Feng Feng. Feng Feng met him during her undergraduate internship and he was her first "mentor" after entering the industry.
Feng Feng continued to work with Wen Zhouyuan until her master's degree. After graduation, she naturally followed him into his company. However, she soon discovered that Wen Zhouyuan was preparing for a wedding, and to curb her own thoughts, she transferred to her current company.
Shortly after, Wen Zhouyuan also went to work in London. They never saw each other again until Wen Zhouyuan returned to China after his divorce.
Lin Mei had never asked this question before, but she was curious now.
Feng Feng did not evade the question. Her answer was very candid, "Perhaps I do, but I won't be with him."
"Then what's your relationship now?" Lan Lan pressed. "You even went to take care of him when he was sick last time. Didn't anything spark between you?"
"Then what about Shen Su?" Lin Mei hit the mark. "Ms. Feng, how do you feel about Shen Su?"