Xu Qiaoyin's heart skipped a beat. Leave?
Leaving forever...
She was locked up during this time, and she relived the past countless times.
The two happiest periods in life are: first, my student days, when I studied hard, got into university, left the mountains, established myself in a big city, and decided my own destiny.
She succeeded halfway, getting into university, but she didn't have her own career. She married into the Lu Family, moving from one "deep mountain" to another.
The second time was when I went to work at a welfare home.
She rediscovered her former dream.
Career, freedom...
Are you leaving?
She continued to pursue her dream: freedom.
But Lu Muchi...
Xu Qiaoyin's hands trembled.
She knew that this departure meant she could no longer stay in the capital, which also meant she would never see Lu Muchi again...
Yan Heqing wrote in her palm again: [Please consider carefully. I will leave after you finish your porridge. If you decide to leave, just nod. I will arrange the rest. I will come again next Sunday.]
Xu Qiaoyin looked at Yan Heqing, wanting an answer, "Am I still pretty now that I'm so old?"
She's almost fifty; does she still have the right to pursue her dreams? Is it worth sacrificing her child?
"Beautiful." Yan Heqing's lips curled up. "When you're working, you're the most beautiful teacher in the children's hearts."
Clang, clang, clang.
It was Lu Muchi brought the porridge upstairs.
It was the first time in his life he had cooked porridge. The housekeeper was there to give him instructions, and the kitchen was a complete mess, but he finally managed to cook No. 1 Primary School.
He brought the porridge into the house with great anticipation.
Inside the room were his beloved mother and Yan Heqing!
Lu Muchi felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
But he was still awkward, and just handed the porridge to Yan Heqing, saying, "You feed him."
Xu Qiaoyin slowly and carefully looked at Lu Muchi.
It's grown up.
At 23, he was no longer the child who would run to her room crying in the middle of the night.
In the southwest region of the motherland, there are still many children in need of help. She had long been thinking about this, but for Lu Muchi's sake, she had stayed here. It seems that she can leave ahead of time.
She was once someone's daughter, someone's wife, and someone's mother.
Now, she wants to be herself.
Xu Qiaoyin withdrew her gaze, looked at Yan Heqing again, nodded, and said softly, "Come see me again next week, and bring that painting with you."
Lu Muchi confused. "What painting?"
But then Yan Heqing scooped up a spoonful of porridge and fed it to Xu Qiaoyin, saying, "Okay."
Chapter 67
After feeding Xu Qiaoyin porridge, Yan Heqing chatted with her for a few more minutes before leaving.
Upon reaching the first floor, Lu Muchi stopped him. "It's ten o'clock. Stay here tonight."
Yan Heqing glanced at him.
With a seemingly indifferent glance, Lu Muchi couldn't help but think of past events.
He had indeed noticed it was getting late and asked Yan Heqing to stay the night. Yan Heqing hadn't said a word, and feeling guilty, he quickly explained, "I didn't mean anything by it, don't worry."
Yan Heqing remained expressionless. "I don't trust you."
"..." Lu Muchi choked.
After a moment, he took a deep breath. "I'll take you." He prepared to change his shoes.
"Can you send someone else?" Yan Heqing asked in a questioning tone. "It has to be you. Just take me to a place where I can get a taxi."
Lu Muchi's good mood vanished completely.
Yan Heqing liked him, yet was wary of him; he understood this feeling all too well. Just like his feelings for Xu Qiaoyin, he longed for maternal love, yet deeply remembered the feeling of being abandoned by Xu Qiaoyin.
Those are wounds to the soul, not something that can be healed overnight.
What he needs to do now is to show through his actions that he will respect Yan Heqing in the future.
Lu Muchi stopped changing his shoes, even taking a few steps back to maintain a distance, and called the butler to escort Yan Heqing.
"Watch closely." Lu Muchi gazed at him affectionately. "I will never treat you the way I used to."
Just then, Yan Heqing received a phone call.
He knew it was Lin Fengzhi, and took it out so that Lu Muchi could see it.
Lu Muchi's face immediately turned as if he had swallowed a fly; he almost wanted to stop Yan Heqing from answering the phone.
It's laughable.
He used to worry about Lin Fengzhi contacting Yan Heqing, and now he's just as worried, only the roles are reversed. Back then he was afraid Lin Fengzhi angry, now he's afraid Yan Heqing will get angry.
Yan Heqing answered the phone on the spot.
"Brother, did you go?!" Lin Fengzhi asked eagerly as soon as the call connected.
Yan Heqing's expression remained unchanged. "Hmm."
Lu Muchi listened intently, his heart pounding in his chest.
The courtyard was quiet, Lin Fengzhi's voice was still relatively clear, "Did you relay the message?"
"Exactly as is."
Lu Muchi cursed inwardly. It was Lin Fengzhi talking nonsense, causing Yan Heqing to misunderstand that he still liked him.
"That's great!" Lin Fengzhi visibly happy. "Thank you, brother! You're so good to me!" He paused, then added seriously, "Brother, please seriously consider what I said last time."
Yan Heqing knew which sentence Lin Fengzhi to, but he wanted Lin Fengzhi to say it himself, "What sentence?"
Lin Fengzhi, oblivious to Yan Heqing's misunderstanding, assumed Yan Heqing hadn't listened. He emphasized, "No matter how much you like Lu Muchi, it's useless. He won't like you back. You need to learn to let go, otherwise you'll only suffer greater hurt."
Lu Muchi's temper flared up, and he was about to snatch the phone and confront Lin Fengzhi when Yan Heqing looked at him first, his eyes clearly saying, "Keep quiet."
Lu Muchi abruptly withdrew his hand, but the anger in his heart was only temporarily suppressed.
He used to find Lin Fengzhi adorable in every way, but now even his voice sounds awful to him. He's allowed to like his uncle, but not his brother. What Lin Fengzhi the right?
Yan Heqing said a few simple words, Lin Fengzhi hung up the phone.
Lu Muchi was eager to explain, but Yan Heqing got into the car, and Lu Muchi almost bumped his nose into the car door.
The butler didn't dare to breathe in the driver's seat. Lu Muchi was extremely annoyed. A few seconds later, he coldly ordered the butler, "Get him back safely. You know the consequences if he bumps into a single hair."