Tang Xiuxia harbored a complex mix of admiration and resentment towards the woman who should have been her mother-in-law.
When Qin Hongwen and his sister were very young, their parents divorced. Their mother, never remarrying, painstakingly raised the two children alone, pinning all her hopes on them becoming successful.
The children, understanding their mother's sacrifices, did not disappoint. Qin Hongwen gained admission to Qingbei University with astonishing results, and two years later, his sister enrolled in a prestigious university in the capital.
Their mother chose to leave her hometown and move to the capital, working multiple jobs while ensuring her children could attend university. Her sole wish was for her son and daughter to establish themselves in the capital as soon as possible.
Tang Xiuxia was in her early twenties when she moved to the capital.
Through a chance encounter at a restaurant where she worked, she met Qin Hongwen, who was then pursuing his postgraduate studies.
He stepped in to defend her when a customer caused trouble, and that's how they met.
The restaurant was also a place Qin Hongwen occasionally visited for gatherings with friends. Afterward, they would exchange a few words whenever he came by.
In those days, mobile phones were not yet widespread.
On one occasion, after a meal with friends and having had a bit too much to drink, Qin Hongwen, with a flushed face and egged on by his friends, walked over and handed Tang Xiuxia a slip of paper with his dormitory's landline number.
However, for a period afterward, Tang Xiuxia did not dial the number on the paper.
This was simply due to her own sense of inferiority.
She was just an ordinary person who hadn't attended university, lived in a cheap rental, and worked in a restaurant. Qin Hongwen, on the other hand, was a postgraduate student at Qingbei University with limitless future potential.
They were from different worlds, and she dared not aspire to more, despite harboring feelings for Qin Hongwen.
That month, Qin Hongwen and his friends did not visit the restaurant again.
Tang Xiuxia's emotions shifted from initial relief to a growing sense of loss.
She had assumed Qin Hongwen would not reappear.
Then, on the Qixi Festival, Qin Hongwen walked into the restaurant holding a bouquet of flowers and publicly confessed his love to her.
Caught completely off guard by such a public display, Tang Xiuxia was stunned. After the initial surprise, everyone in the restaurant joined in to create a celebratory atmosphere.
Qin Hongwen's sincere confession gradually reassured the bewildered Tang Xiuxia, who set aside her reservations and agreed to be with him.
And so, they began a sweet romance.
This continued until Qin Hongwen's mother learned of their relationship.
She went directly to the restaurant where Tang Xiuxia worked, demanding that Tang Xiuxia leave her son and rudely stating that she was not good enough for him.
Tang Xiuxia naturally refused, and Qin Hongwen argued with his mother for the first time.
Afterward, Qin Hongwen's mother did not appear for some time, and the couple continued their relationship.
Being young couples in their early twenties and in the throes of love, it was inevitable that their time together would lead to intimacy.
They had been very careful and used protection, but to their surprise, Tang Xiuxia still became pregnant.
For them at that time, this was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue.
Qin Hongwen proved to be responsible, expressing his commitment to take responsibility, marry her, and raise the child together.
That same day, he returned home and confessed to his mother, clearly stating his resolute decision.
However, his mother, while saying nothing on the surface, was internally in a panic.
She had initially thought her son's fascination with that woman was just a passing phase, believing they were from different worlds and would soon break up.
She never imagined it would lead to pregnancy.
She absolutely refused to let her son, with his bright future, marry that woman.
A few days later, she appeared again with a young and beautiful girl to find Tang Xiuxia.
The girl was a junior from Qin Hongwen's university, who had always admired and liked him, and came from a well-to-do local family in the capital.
"I have already met with her parents and arranged an engagement for the two children. Take this million [yuan] and leave the capital. Whether you keep the child or have an abortion is none of our business."
Tang Xiuxia still clearly remembered these words. At her young age then, she felt immense humiliation.
Naturally, she refused the money, not even looking at it, and left in indignation.
She gave Qin Hongwen three days. However, for some reason, Qin Hongwen never showed up. Feeling disheartened, she packed her belongings and boarded a train back to her hometown.
"Why did you leave without telling me? Don't you trust me that much? Do you think I would listen to my mother and marry that woman?"
Qin Hongwen, his eyes reddened, looked at the only woman he had ever loved and asked through gritted teeth.
Tang Xiuxia cupped her tea mug in her hands, lowered her head, and said, "I waited for you for three days, and you never came to explain. I called your dormitory phone several times, and your classmates said you weren't there."
Qin Hongwen was silent for a long time, then said in a deep voice, "That day, after I found out my mother had secretly met with the other party's parents and arranged an engagement behind my back, I had a huge argument with her. My mother fainted from anger and was rushed to the hospital. It was also then that the doctor informed us she had liver problems."
"I stayed at the hospital with my mother for those few days. Once her condition stabilized, I immediately went to find you, only to learn that you had already left the capital."
"I only knew your hometown was in Yucheng. I've been to Yucheng many times over the years, but I couldn't find you."
Tang Xiuxia placed the mug in her hands on the coffee table, covered her face with her hands, and wept silently.
…
…
Qin Tian drove his car through the traffic, heading straight for the residential complex where Xia Nuannuan lived.
At some point, he had begun to consider this place his second home, and in a sense, even a more complete home.
Even with his strong mental fortitude, his composure had been somewhat shaken by the sudden appearance of his so-called father.
At this moment, he felt like a sad and helpless child, desperately seeking someone to lean on, to pour out the grievances of so many years.
After parking his car, he quickly walked to Xia Nuannuan's doorstep and rang the doorbell.
"Who is it?"
Su Xia's voice came from inside.
"Auntie, it's me!"
Qin Tian responded loudly.
"Xiao Tian?"
"Brother?"
In the living room, the family of three, having just finished dinner, was somewhat taken aback.
Although Qin Tian had visited their home many times, he had never done so so unexpectedly.
Moreover, a woman's intuition, combined with her understanding of Qin Tian, made Su Xia and Xia Nuannuan sense from his voice and tone that his emotions were perhaps not quite right.
"I'll get the door."
Xia Nuannuan hurried to her feet and went to open it.
As soon as the door opened, before she could even react, Qin Tian hugged her tightly.
Xia Nuannuan froze for a moment, then, regaining her composure, raised her hands to pat his back.
"It's okay, it's okay, what's wrong? Tell me slowly."
Behind her, Su Xia and Xia Zhengping, the couple, exchanged bewildered glances.