On Jiang Xiao’s birthday, the Zhou family had booked a private room in a high-end hotel in the city. Uncle Zhou, Aunt Zhou, and their daughter-in-law’s family all came.
Grandpa and Grandma Zhou didn’t come, but they had asked Mother Zhou to give Jiang Xiao a jade pendant.
Jiang Xiao was filled with gratitude. She knew that the two elderly were genuinely kind to her and didn’t treat her as an outsider.
Several ladies were curious about what treasure Grandma Zhou had brought this time. Looking at the pendant, sister-in-law teased, “I’ve nagged about this pendant before. Grandma Zhou really favors her granddaughter-in-law, giving all the good things to Jiang Xiao.”
The corner of Mother Zhou’s mouth curved with a smile, “Look at how she talks.”
The relationship between the Zhou family’s sisters-in-law and cousins had always been close, and they were used to teasing each other. Sister-in-law put the jade pendant away and said, “Last time I was trying on a necklace, you don’t know, my two little rascals at home told me, ‘Mom, when you’re gone, we’ll have all these, right?’ My hand trembled, I almost got mad.”
Everyone laughed so hard they couldn’t catch their breath.
Zhou’s mother shook her head, “That day, Mumu said to Xiulin that all of Xiao Xiao’s jewelry would belong to his future wife. Xiulin came back and specially reminded us not to instill such thoughts in front of the kids. He had a stiff expression at the time.”
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Flnsde pkpvla-kd-zyo pktble, “Jkt pkpvla-kd-zyo, esd’v xyjl xl flyzswp.”
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Flnsde pkpvla-kd-zyo pbssj bla blye, “G xyzl esnvsayz pvweldv kp yzps iwkvl y nbyzzldtl!”
Kkydt Dkys wple vbl lmnwpl sq nblnjkdt sd bla psd vs iwknjzu zlyhl vbl nsdhlapyvksd.
Hbsw Fkxw oyp rzyukdt vbl “Payo yde Qwlpp” tyxl okvb bkp zkvvzl ywdvp yde nswpkdp. Gqvla y qlo aswdep, csvb Gwdv Zkdyd yde Zkclk olal ycswv vs nszzyrpl. Fllkdt Kkydt Dkys nsxkdt, vblu vbswtbv vblu bye qswde pyzhyvksd. “Fkpvla, nyd usw ldaszz Fkxw kd yd yav nzypp?”
Kkydt Dkys pwrralpple bla pxkzl, “El’al ynvwyzzu rzyddkdt vs ldaszz bkx. Tl zshlp eayokdt vss.”
Zkdyd pktble kd alzklq, “R esd’v jdso oblal Fkxw tlvp bkp nsdqkeldnl qasx. Fkpvla, R qllz yojoyae nakvknkgkdt bkp wtzu eayokdtp.”
Zkclk dseele.
Jiang Xiao understood their feelings, “Thank you for your efforts. Go have some fruit. I’ll keep him company.”
Yinan quickly waved her hand, “No, no, no. We really enjoy playing with him. It’s just that I think you and your husband should put more effort into Mumu’s education.”
Jiang Xiao spoke earnestly, “Rest assured, my two little primary school academic bullies.” Looking at Zhou Simu’s drawing, it was indeed hard to describe.
Seeing Jiang Xiao approach, Zhou Simu tidied up his things and stopped playing. He hadn’t had a proper conversation with his mom today, and now he finally had the chance.
“Mom—” he called out, one word at a time. “Mom—” he said again, calling out softly. “You look really pretty today.”
Jiang Xiao had deliberately worn a new dress for her birthday, a deep gray dress with a doll collar and a large skirt. “Thank you, sweetheart. Come on, let’s take a photo.”
Zhou Simu flashed a big smile at the camera.
After taking the photo, mother and son earnestly looked at the picture.
Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but praise, “My son is handsome.”
Zhou Simu covered his face. Every time his mom praised him, he reacted this way. “Mom, you’re beautiful too.”
Jiang Xiao’s face was filled with happiness.
Zhou Simu lowered his hand, “Mom, can you take me to act? I’ll earn money to buy you many dresses.”
Jiang Xiao was moved to the point of tears, “Sweetheart! Thank you!”
Zhou Simu displayed an air of magnanimity and patted her shoulder, “You’re welcome!”
Zhou Yanyan, who was sitting on the side, twitched the corner of her mouth. Was her brother always confronted with such scenes at home? Jiang Xiao had undergone tremendous changes after giving birth and undergoing surgery, and her methods had become even more sophisticated.
It had to be said that under her planning, Song Yiwen had become a pillar of strength and popularity in the Huaxia entertainment industry. Every role that Jiang Xiao picked for him allowed him to reach new heights.
Being a manager was tough, tiring, and frustrating. Why couldn’t Jiang Xiao figure this out back then?
At this moment, Jiang Xiao received a phone call and went outside.
Zhou Yanyan gestured for Zhou Simu to come over, and he obediently complied.
“Aunt, did Uncle not come?” Zhou Simu asked.
Zhou Yanyan’s eye twitched, “Who told you that?”
“I heard Grandma and Aunt ** talking. Grandma said Uncle is really handsome but a bit too charming. Hee-hee-hee—Is Uncle very sweet?”
Zhou Yanyan couldn’t hold back her laughter, “Uncle isn’t as sweet as you.” She kissed his little cheek.
Zhou Simu made an “ouch” sound, “But I don’t have cream on me. My dad also always says that Mom’s mouth is smeared with honey, but Mom’s mouth doesn’t have any taste.”
Zhou Yanyan: “…”
Jiang Xiao walked to the side of the corridor, answered the call, and took a deep breath.
From the other end of the line, a soft and gentle voice slowly spoke, “Xiaoxiao, happy birthday.”
Jiang Xiao pinched her palm, tilted her head slightly, and thought, so you remembered. “Thank you.”
There was a moment of silence from Liang Yue. “I’ve prepared a gift for you, and it will be sent to your company tomorrow.” She was afraid to give it to Jiang Xiao in person, unsure if she would accept it.
Jiang Xiao frowned slightly and said slowly, “My dad is back.”
Liang Yue’s breathing changed, “Is he okay?”
“A man who exiled himself, do you think he’s okay?”
Liang Yue cleared her throat, “Xiaoxiao, what happened between your dad and me isn’t what you think. We were together, but it was during our youth. People make mistakes when they’re young.”
“Does that mean my birth was a mistake?”
Liang Yue’s silence once again deeply stirred Jiang Xiao. “If you’re calling to tell me all of this, there’s no need for us to continue talking.”
“Xiaoxiao, you can’t be so impulsive. Many things have always been assumptions on your part. You’ve never listened to my explanation. You always view things from your own perspective.”
“All I know is that my mother abandoned me, ignored me for over twenty years.”
“Okay, let’s not talk about this today. Xiaoxiao, Mom just wanted to say to you, happy birthday. After all, twenty-six years ago, when I gave birth to you, it was also a life-or-death situation.”
Jiang Xiao’s expression tensed up, and eventually, she deflated like a balloon. “Can’t we just be strangers? I really don’t need your compensation, I don’t need it!”
She angrily hung up the phone.
Turning around, Zhou Xiulin was standing not far away, tall and upright like a big tree, always guarding by her side.
Step by step, she walked up to him and flashed a smile. Suddenly, she opened her arms and hugged him.
Zhou Xiulin didn’t ask anything, gently patting her back.
Jiang Xiao held onto him like that for a minute, calming her emotions. “Why did you come out?”
“I saw you coming out hastily with your phone.” He could tell that something was bothering her from her expression.
Jiang Xiao looked at him. “Let’s wait a bit before going back inside. Anyway, the elders are all in there, and there’s someone watching over Little Bean Sprout.”
“Sounds good.” Zhou Xiulin took her hand and led her to the leisure area behind the hotel.
The afternoon time was leisurely and carefree.
The bamboo forest was lush, and the wind rustled through, creating a pleasant sound.
The two of them walked forward step by step.
Jiang Xiao’s voice was as calm as water. “I accidentally found out that she hadn’t passed away when I was thirteen.”
“Thirteen years old, in junior high.” He said in a deep voice.
“It was right before the high school entrance exam. After finding out, I had a high fever for two days. My teachers were so scared; they kept telling me not to stress.”
Zhou Xiulin gently squeezed her hand with a reassuring strength.
“She changed her name and age. Later, I searched for all the film and television materials related to her. My dad kept a lot of her photos. My dad never mentioned a word about her in front of me all these years. I knew I wouldn’t get any information from him. When I was a freshman, I asked my aunt. She panicked and told me not to ask, saying that if my mom had passed away, she had passed away. But privately, I overheard her talking to my uncle, saying that this woman is really ruthless, not even glancing at her own daughter. She’s probably afraid that if she ever encounters me on the street, she wouldn’t recognize me.” Jiang Xiao took a deep breath, her expression calm. “Aunt was right. During my freshman year, in the winter, I saw her for the first time in the film and television city. I knew she was my mother. I was so nervous that I dropped the cup I was holding and got scolded by her assistant. She didn’t say a word, just looked at me, just one look! It was like I was a stranger to her.” In that moment, she felt completely lost.
Every word from Jiang Xiao felt like a needle, piercing Zhou Xiulin’s heart deeply. At this moment, any words of comfort would be in vain. He stopped in his tracks, his gaze locked onto her.
Zhou Xiulin felt extreme pain for her. He said, “I should have come back to the country earlier.”
Jiang Xiao raised an eyebrow. “Even if we couldn’t have met, coming back earlier wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“No.” Zhou Xiulin gently stroked her hair. He would have come back to find her.
“Last time, when Mumu destroyed her shoes, I think that’s when she started suspecting my identity. In fact, it’s also possible that she had suspected my identity long before, but some people prefer self-deception.” Before the day the truth comes out, things could always be painted in a better light.
“What does she want to do?”
“Perhaps she wants to make up for what she believes is her guilt.”
A hint of helplessness flashed in Zhou Xiulin’s eyes. His voice was gentle. “Our family will never be separated in the future. If you don’t want to acknowledge it, then don’t bother.”
Jiang Xiao gazed into his eyes, her voice slightly choked, “Zhou Xiulin, I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you.”
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, gently and tenderly.
Jiang Xiao’s voice quivered slightly. “Before seeing her, I always wanted to meet her. I was certain she had her reasons for what she did. But now that I’ve really seen her, I feel uncomfortable. Knowing that she treats Jin Shuyan so well, I do feel a bit resentful towards her! But then I think, without her, there wouldn’t be Little Bean Sprout—” She paused, “I feel like without Mumu, it would be difficult for you and me to be together.”
Zhou Xiulin chuckled, looking at her with such a gentle gaze, his tone somewhat dismissive. “He has indeed become our hero.”
With so many things that had happened, for her to be able to tell Zhou Xiulin in such a casual manner meant that she had truly let go.
Jiang Xiao smiled at him. “Let’s go back. It’s been a while, and Little Bean Sprout is probably looking for us.”
When the two of them returned to the private room, all the elders were looking at them.
Xiaodouya smiled cheerfully, “Grandma, I wasn’t wrong. My mom and dad will come back.”
Zhou Xiulin walked over and lifted the “little hero.” He indulged his son a bit, saying, “What’s going on?”
Little Bean Sprout was articulate in his speech. “You and mom went out, and Grandma and the others were worried. So, I told them not to worry.”
Zhou Xiulin raised an eyebrow and praised, “You’re considerate.”
The elders couldn’t help shaking their heads, their faces filled with embarrassment.
Little Bean Sprout said crisply, “I told Grandma that I often wake up in the morning alone. Originally, the three of us used to sleep together at night, but the next day, you and Mom slept in the next room. So, you won’t disappear; you just went to have a private conversation.”
Zhou Xiulin’s expression froze.
Jiang Xiao’s face instantly turned bright red.
The elders didn’t respond, considering the young couple’s dignity. Father Zhou and Father Jiang each held chess pieces, not making a move for a long time.
Perhaps only Zhou Yanyan could still manage to laugh. She was laughing so hard that tears were falling. “Your family is like a sketch comedy show!”
Mumu weakly asked, “Dad, did I say something wrong?”
Zhou Xiulin smiled wryly, “Mumu, family matters are secret and shouldn’t be told to others.”
“But the Grandmasand Aunts are not others.”
The three grandmothers almost wanted to snatch this little bundle into their arms. He was just too adorable.
Zhou Xiulin explained, “Family matters are only known by Dad, Mom, and you. Of course, if we have a little sister in the future, she can know too.”
Mumu thought for a moment, “Dad, you tricked me again. You’ve said a few times that we’ll have a little sister, but why hasn’t she come yet?”
Sansukini: Hehe.. Mumu is such a cutie.
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I can understand the mother feelings but she don’t explain anything. Just giving excuses… We were young and blablabla. If you want to fix things you must be sincere and honest.
I would react like Xiaoxiao, I don’t want to be clo
There’s really no excuse. That’s just selfishness.