Silence possessed them for a long while. Han Muzi was surprised that the whole thing would be so dramatic, and that Xu Yanwan bore it all alone without even saying a thing. Even though Han Muzi wasn’t particularly close to her, she was moved and impressed by this woman’s resilience after hearing her story.
Xu Yanwan wiped her tears away and regained her gentle composure. She smiled, her voice calm. “Do you guys think I’m in the gutters too? I think I’m fine, since all the worst days are behind me now. My father used his life in exchange for my future, so I will work hard.” I will never let my parents die in vain, she thought.
After that meal, Han Muzi had changed her view toward Xu Yanwan. Han Muzi might have been a bit hostile toward her earlier, but now, that hostility had vanished. She even thought that it was crude of her to be unkind toward Xu Yanwan because of Yan. With how she was brought up, Xu Yanwan wouldn’t be a mistress and take away someone else’s beloved. If she knew that Han Qing already had a girlfriend, she would just leave him quietly and not cling onto him, for that was how she was brought up. With how proud her late father was, this woman wouldn’t stoop so low either. When they came out of the hotel, Han Muzi asked her, “What’s your plan now? Do you have a place to go? It’s good to rely on yourself, and even though you don’t want help, sometimes asking for a hand does go a long way for you.”
Xu Yanwan gazed at her and thanked her, “Thank you, Muzi. I understand what you’re trying to say, but I plan to find a job and work my way up. That was my father’s wish for me, and I don’t want to disappoint him.” She made her thoughts clear.
Han Muzi smiled, then she said softly, “Your father didn’t want you to beg for help from someone else, but our families are friends, so we aren’t ‘someone else.’ Besides, you didn’t ask us for help. We offered our help willingly.” Xu Yanwan was taken aback, for she didn’t seem to think this was possible. “What about it? Am I right? If we help you from the dark, you won’t even know, and that’s not going against your wish, isn’t it?”
The moment she said that, Xu Yanwan went up to hug Han Muzi. “I’m happy you could think for me that way, Muzi, but I’ve decided to work my way up. My father had protected me too much, so I didn’t know that the human heart could be so cruel. If it wasn’t for my family’s crisis, I would still be living my days out in ignorance. I came to you not for help, but to fulfill my wish. I wanted to come back a long time ago, but I had too many things to handle, so I didn’t have the chance. Now that I’ve seen you and your brother and know that your lives are well, it’s time for me to pursue my own life.”
Han Muzi was touched to hear her being so resilient, and it made her like this woman more. She thought that her brother would definitely help, since their families were friends, though she wondered if Xu Yanwan would accept it. If she kept this up, then the woman probably wouldn’t get too close with Han Qing. Little Bean seemed depressed on the way back. He hung his head low and said nothing, while Little Sprout was asleep. Ye Moxuan covered her with a layer of blanket to keep her from the cold. Han Muzi noticed her son wasn’t looking too happy, so she asked, “What’s wrong?” Little Bean shook his head sadly. “Oh, you’re all grown up now, huh? And you have your little secrets.” Han Muzi patted his head and leaned closer to him. “Let me guess. Aunt Yanwan is too outstanding, so you’re nervous and panicky.”
How did she… He looked at Han Muzi in frustration. No wonder she’s my mom. I can’t hide anything from her. “Hmph.” He snorted. “No I was not. Aunt Yan is the best. I like Aunt Yan the most.”
Han Muzi resigned. “Well, kids will be kids. Your uncle and Aunt Yan are already together, so what are you worried about? Are you worried that Aunt Yan isn’t good enough? Or are you worried about your uncle being unfaithful?”
Little Bean said unhesitatingly, “The second one!”
Han Muzi replied, “If Yan was here, she would be complaining about you. You shouldn’t badmouth her boyfriend that way.”
“Hmph, Aunt Yan loves me the most. She wouldn’t do that to me.”
“Not necessarily. Once she becomes your aunt and has her own child…”
“Mommy! You’re trying to ruin my relationship with Aunt Yan!”
“Oh!” She patted his head and smiled. “You got me. You’re my son, but all you talk about is Aunt Yan, and all you think about is her. Why? Can’t I be jealous and pull something here?”
After giving it some thoughts, Little Bean went to hug his mother and rubbed up against her. “Can you not let Aunt Yanwan meet Uncle Qing that much? Also, Aunt Yan will just become my aunt, not my mommy. You’ll always be my mommy, the person closest to me in the world.” He further rubbed up against her and gave her the puppy-eye treatment. Well, boys are really great at wheedling. She was about to say something, but Ye Moxuan picked his son up by his neck and pulled him away from her. “Let me down, you bad daddy!”
Ye Moxuan’s expression was inscrutable. “Leave my woman alone.”
Little Bean replied, “No! She’s my mommy! The closest person to me!”
Ye Moxuan looked at her and pursed his lips, then he looked at his son. “I’ll get you a wife when we go home, so stay away from my woman.”
Oh god, stop this, you two. They started bickering, and the more they fought, the more explicit it became.
Han Muzi pretended not to hear it. When Little Bean tried to snitch on his father, Ye Moxuan took him back, so all the boy could do was tug on his mother’s collar like a little chick. “Mommy, daddy’s bullying me. Help me, mommy.”
Little Bean looked hurt, as if he had been bullied by someone. Han Muzi felt heartbroken after glancing at him, so she looked at Ye Moxuan. “Stop bullying him. He’s just a child, so why are you being so serious?”
