The man felt deeply humiliated. He swallowed hard, then reluctantly said, "I just played a little joke on her. Who knew she'd be so fierce?"
Meng Fanyue raised an eyebrow, her voice cool, "Oh? What kind of joke?"
The pain seemed to have cleared the man's mind. He sensed something and skirted the issue, saying, "Just a joke, I only complimented her looks."
Who knew she'd be so violent? Otherwise, no matter how pretty she was or how much money she paid, he wouldn't have taken this job!
Where was the promised delicate woman? (๑१д१)
"Heh!" Meng Fanyue sneered, knowing with her toes that it couldn't have been a kind word.
Still, she kindly gave the man two yuan to send him to the hospital.
This person was most likely hired by her mother. If he were to end up crippled or dead here, it wouldn't be easy to explain!
Of course, before sending him off, Meng Fanyue didn't forget to kick the man to vent her anger.
Meng Fanyue took two deep breaths. Once her mood calmed, she quickly walked in the direction Xingyuan had left.
Not long after, she saw Xingyuan standing quietly in a corner.
The young woman lowered her gaze, her sleeves rolled up to her wrists, revealing delicate skin that drew countless glances.
Meng Fanyue couldn't help but swallow, feeling envious...
Her eyes flickered, and she ran towards Xingyuan, as if unable to stop herself, crashing into Xingyuan's embrace.
Sensing the familiar presence, Xingyuan curved her lips and held her tightly, "Why are you here?"
Meng Fanyue pouted, her voice full of grievance, "I missed you."
"I missed you too." As she spoke, Xingyuan kissed the center of Meng Fanyue's forehead as if no one else were around.
Meng Fanyue chuckled twice, wrapped her arms around Xingyuan's waist, and kissed her red lips directly.
After a long while, she breathed softly, triumphantly saying, "This is where you should kiss."
Xingyuan's eyes were filled with a smile as she gently stroked Meng Fanyue's moist red lips with her fingertip, "Yueyue has become naughty!"
"But... I like it very much."
Their fingers intertwined, and Meng Fanyue laughed with delight.
"Let's go home!" she said softly.
Xingyuan feigned distress, "But I promised your mother I'd pick someone up."
Meng Fanyue: "..." Wasn't the person you just beat up the one she asked you to pick up?
But seeing Xingyuan's expression, she seemed completely unaware that the person she had just beaten up was hired by her mother to break them up or to make her misunderstand her.
"You... don't know?" Meng Fanyue was surprised.
Xingyuan's eyes were full of confusion, "What am I supposed to know?"
"It's nothing." Meng Fanyue shook her head. "Actually, I came specifically to pick you up. Mother said he wouldn't be coming today."
"Oh." Xingyuan nodded and obediently followed Meng Fanyue away.
Xingyuan truly didn't know. She had only sensed ill will from someone, so she had instinctively retaliated.
Looking at their clasped hands, Xingyuan suddenly wondered if she had misunderstood. Perhaps her mother-in-law wasn't trying to trick her but genuinely wanted her to pick someone up!
It couldn't be that she suddenly had a change of heart, could it!
When Mother Meng saw them return, not only had their relationship not worsened, but they were even more affectionate. Her heart ached fiercely.
What was she doing all this for? Wasn't it all for her daughter's good future, so she wouldn't regret it later?
After Meng Fanyue coaxed Xingyuan back to her room, when only mother and daughter were left in the courtyard, Meng Fanyue said solemnly, "Mother, let's talk!"
In the past, she thought that as long as her mother spent more time with Xingyuan, she would naturally see her good qualities. But now she realized she was wrong. The views of the older generation were hard to change.
They made plans for their children's well-being, but in reality, they didn't care about the children's true thoughts, because they believed that as long as the child appeared happy, it was enough.
Materially well-off, a son and a daughter, a harmonious couple – in the eyes of elders, this was the best life. Little did they know, what young people wanted today was never these things.
It wasn't that love was the entirety of life, but whether one was single or in love with someone special, it was the child's own choice.
They were adults and qualified to be responsible for their own choices, rather than forcing themselves to be with a "suitable" person just to please their parents.
Only one knows if a shoe fits; it cannot be forced.
This was precisely Meng Fanyue's current mindset. She cherished her family, so her lover also tried her best to satisfy her and win over someone who might not like her.
If Meng Fanyue had to choose which was more important between the two, she could clearly say she couldn't make that choice.
However, she also wouldn't let her beloved be caught in the middle, making things difficult for both sides.
"Mother, do you remember? When I was little, I loved eating sour apricots, but you always stopped me, saying it was bad for my teeth if I ate too many.
But I just liked eating them! Later, I was afraid you'd be angry, so I ate them behind your back. But my teeth are still fine to this day."
Mother Meng paused, her expression complex, "This is different."
"There's no difference. It's just that sour apricots have become a person."
"I know what you're thinking, Mother. You're afraid I'm just having a fleeting whim, doing something rebellious to challenge convention, and will regret it later.
I was indeed a bit rebellious before, but I've grown up now. And she... she's very good, she takes care of me. When I'm with her, I'm happy. I don't have to think about anything, entrusting all my worries to her."
"When I wake up, she will have already resolved everything perfectly. I sincerely want to spend my life with her."
"To walk hand in hand like you and Father, relying on each other when storms come. I'm no longer the girl who would cry after a fall. I'm strong now, strong enough to stand on my own."
"It's time for you to let go, Mother."
Meng Fanyue looked at her mother with red eyes. Some decisions had long been made in her heart.
Mother Meng was silent for a long time, looking at her daughter earnestly. She saw only determination and sincerity in her eyes.
Yes! Her daughter had grown into a young woman. No matter how unwilling she was, Mother Meng knew she could no longer truly control her.
Even if she really prevented them from being together, her daughter might cooperate outwardly but secretly meet Xingyuan when she wasn't around, just like she used to sneak sour apricots.
She couldn't stop it.
Besides, she was getting old, and her health wasn't as robust as before. She would surely leave before her daughter. So, what was the point of her being the villain?
Was it just to delay their being together?