Su Yue had been listening intently to the story and when she noticed something amiss, she immediately looked at her.
After all, he was her own son. Even though she wanted to maintain an indifferent attitude to comfort Su Yue, her eyes reddened as she reached this point.
“Auntie.” She tightened her grip on Meng Hualan’s hand and called out with some concern.
“Mm, I’m fine.” Meng Hualan took a deep breath and smiled again.
After composing herself, she continued:
“He started interning during the summer vacation of his second year and quickly distinguished himself. But when he told me, I wasn’t happy at all.”
“I was truly terrified, but knowing I couldn’t convince him, I asked Uncle Chen to find someone to transfer him out of the police station.”
“However, Uncle Chen understood our son better than I did and trusted him more, so he objected and managed to calm me down.”
“But I only found out later that, in private, he would still regularly check in with Chen Ziming’s superiors to understand his work progress, and he would specifically instruct them not to give him any special treatment.”
“There were indeed many moments that made my heart pound, but perhaps because it happened too often, I gradually got used to it.”
“And Chen Ziming never really got himself into serious trouble, at most just minor injuries. Although it still pained me, psychologically, I could accept it.”
“This time, when he went on assignment, he asked me to bring you to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and to have a good chat with you.”
“He really likes you a lot.”
Meng Hualan’s face showed a look of relief. Seeing Su Yue lower her eyes seemingly shyly, she continued:
“I know you’re worried, but don’t let yourself get discouraged. You wouldn’t want him to come back and see you looking haggard, would you?”
“And believe me, and believe him, he will definitely complete his mission quickly and return safely.”
“It’s always like this.”
Meng Hualan’s words greatly comforted Su Yue’s heart.
She lowered her head, appearing to be thinking seriously. After a moment, she looked up at Meng Hualan.
She nodded earnestly.
Before parting, Meng Hualan specifically arranged the time for the Mid-Autumn Festival gathering with Su Yue.
Without Chen Ziming present, Su Yue still felt a sense of dread, but seeing Meng Hualan’s gentle gaze, she ultimately decided to go.
She had promised him, and she intended to keep her word.
However, the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, her mother called.
Su Yue was at Li Niannian’s house at the time, delivering Mid-Autumn gifts to her parents.
Seeing the incoming call, she retreated to the bathroom.
“You really aren’t planning to come home?” Ever since Su Yue had abruptly hung up on her last time, Jiang Ling had harbored some resentment towards her daughter.
Her tone was naturally not good.
Su Yue knew her mother was angry, but no matter what, she didn’t want to see Su Minghua.
After thinking for a moment, she replied with a firm tone:
“I’m not coming back. I’m going to my boyfriend’s house.”
Jiang Ling was clearly choked with anger.
Su Yue could hear her mother’s exaggerated breathing tinged with rage.
She felt a bit sad, but she compromised slightly: “How about tonight, I take you out, and we have a separate gathering?”
Jiang Ling’s voice, carrying a hint of coldness, came through:
“No need, Su Yue. If you insist on going to a man you’ve only known for a short time, I can’t do anything about it. Since you don’t want to come back to this home, then don’t bother.”
With that, she hung up the phone in anger.
Su Yue looked at the call ended screen, tears welling up in her eyes.
But her mother being angry with her was better than her idealized world collapsing.
So, in the end, she didn’t call back.
And she certainly wouldn’t go home.
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
In the morning, Meng Hualan sent a driver to the downstairs of Li Niannian’s house to pick Su Yue up for the meal.
Su Yue looked at her reflection in the mirror with some nervousness as she dressed.
A decent and elegant long-sleeved dress, her hair half-tied up, made her appear gentle and serene.
Li Niannian watched her from beside her and couldn’t help but praise:
“As expected of my darling, you look so beautiful!”
Su Yue hadn’t told Li Niannian who Chen Ziming’s father was, and Li Niannian hadn’t deliberately asked.
Especially recently, during Chen Ziming’s absence, Su Yue had been absent-minded.
Li Niannian had mostly comforted her, refraining from jokes or excessive chatter.
“Do you really think this outfit is appropriate for meeting his parents?” The thought of who she was about to meet sent waves of nervousness through Su Yue.