The more Papa Gao talked, the angrier he became. Mama Gao was afraid that he would get a heart attack, so she directly dragged him upstairs. “Don’t talk with him anymore! Go upstairs and sleep! Huaiqing will come to pick me up for morning tea tomorrow.”
“Where? I want to go too!”
“Do you have the time?”
“Yes!”
“That’s fine! Remember to remind me tomorrow morning!”
“Okay!”
They left Gao Lang, who was inwardly annoyed, standing downstairs.
In the bedroom, Bai Duoduo dejectedly leaned against the door. She wasn’t able to fall asleep at all. One of the reasons she couldn’t sleep was because this was a different place, and the other reason was because of nervousness and anxiety.
Thus, she had heard the entire conversation just now.
Even if she knew that Gao Lang’s unreasonable accusations toward Papa Gao and Mama Gao were wrong—after all, it was her and Gao Lang’s fault—Bai Duoduo still felt a little uncomfortable.
She thought about how she was pregnant, how uncle and auntie had agreed to their marriage, and how everything was gradually getting better. But now, it seemed that things were not going as she expected.
At the very least, uncle and auntie had not shown that they cared very much about her pregnancy.
Bai Duoduo wasn’t under the impression that she was a Cinderella who had married into a wealthy family with a baby trap, like on television and on novels. But she also hoped that her children would grow up in love and anticipation.
But now it seemed that even if there was love, this love was very shallow.
Bai Duoduo was sad for a while. Hearing footsteps, she quickly wiped away her tears and lay back on the bed.
She felt someone lying down next to her; quickly closing her eyes, she slowed her breathing and pretended to be asleep.
Gao Lang gently covered Bai Duoduo with the quilt. Seeing Bai Duoduo sleeping soundly, Gao Lang still felt aggrieved in his heart. He didn’t think he was in the wrong regarding this matter. Duoduo was pregnant—shouldn’t everyone direct their concern and attention to her? If she’s happy, the child will grow up healthily. Wasn’t it just one call that we forgot to make? If my parents do this, won’t they be afraid that Duoduo will be sad?
Li Huairou must have instigated it!
Gao Lang leaned against the bedside and, as he thought of Li Huairou, Gao Lang would inevitably think of Li Huaiqing—then, thinking of Zhou Minglang, he had some complicated feelings. He was very sure that he didn’t like Li Huaiqing. The reason he hadn’t corrected the people who’d thought they were in a relationship was just because of vanity. But when he heard that someone was pursuing Li Huaiqing, he felt unhappy, like his own possession was being coveted by others.
Seeing that Gao Lang hadn’t moved for a long time, Bai Duoduo couldn’t help turning over, trying to see what he was doing. However, she saw Gao Lang staring at his phone, in a daze.
Looking at this, Bai Duoduo felt a bit sour, and tears almost came out from her eyes. Gao Lang’s phone showed the previous texts he had made with Li Huaiqing.
Gao Lang heard the movement, and he automatically locked the phone screen. Putting it aside, he turned around, hugged Bai Duoduo, and patted her gently. “What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream? It’s okay, I’m here.”
Bai Duoduo endured her tears; she closed her eyes and nodded indiscriminately, burying her head in Gao Lang’s arms.
Gao Lang hugged her, no longer thinking about the things he did or didn’t have, and gradually fell asleep.
But Bai Duoduo couldn’t sleep. She tried to persuade herself—don’t worry, don’t think about it. But when she thought about that scene, she still felt a little sad.
When he woke up the next day, Gao Lang saw how blotchy Bai Duoduo’s face was. “Is it uncomfortable? Shall we go to the hospital?”
Bai Duoduo shook her head. “I’m fine. I didn’t sleep well because of last night’s dream.”
“Are you really okay? Don’t hold it in!” Gao Lang replied.
Bai Duoduo touched her stomach. “Shall we get the marriage certificate?”
“Get the certificate? Today?” Gao Lang spontaneously took his phone out to check the date. “But the almanac says that today is a terrible dayl And everything is inappropriate.”
“I just want to get it today. You still believe the almanac? That’s not important—the important thing is that we love each other!” Bai Duoduo insisted.
Gao Lang thought for a while. “Okay, then we’ll go get the certificate today.” He didn’t care about this very much either, but his parents paid attention to it. But since Duoduo insisted, then he’d go along with her.
After the morning tea, Papa Gao went directly to the office, while Mama Gao returned home. She had just entered the house when Gao Lang and Bai Duoduo also came back, following closely behind.
“Mom, look.” Gao Lang handed the red marriage certificate to Mama Gao. “Mom, Duoduo and I went to get the certificate today.”
Mama Gao almost choked. “What did you say? Today? Didn’t I have you pick a good day? Today is a single-number date, and…” When she saw the four characters on the yellow calendar that said everything was inappropriate, Mama Gao was so angry that she could not speak.
Business people were a little particular. You had to pick an auspicious day for business, let alone marriage.
“Mom, what age are we in right now? We don’t pay attention to those,” Gao Lang still stated.
Mama Gao didn’t even have the strength to speak; she leaned on the sofa and waved weakly. “Don’t talk to me now. I don’t want to listen.”
“Mom, I mean, Duoduo and I got the certificate today. She’s my wife—the daughter-in-law of our Gao family. Let’s have a meal with our family tonight and call Li Huaiqing and Li Huairou. Let’s not talk about the previous things—let’s get along well in the future!” Gao Lang suggested.
Mama Gao shook her head. “You can arrange it yourself. I’m not in the mood.”
Upon hearing this, Gao Lang picked up his cellphone and first called Papa Gao, but Papa Gao scolded his ear off on the phone.
Gao Lang didn’t care.
Papa Gao was so angry—but this was the end of the matter, so what was the use of anger? Gao Lang called Li Huaiqing again and told her that he’d obtained the certificate and wanted to have a family meal together to celebrate.
Li Huaiqing’s reaction was lukewarm. After only saying one word, she hung up the phone in a rush.
Gao Lang felt a small chill in his heart. It seemed that Li Huaiqing’s calm appearance was all just for show. It was just, how could she have no reaction at all?
Li Huaiqing hung up the phone and looked at Li Huairou, who was next to her. Li Huaiqing didn’t know what to do—Li Huairou always stayed at the flower shop for some reason; she had even written the novel in the flower shop.
“Should we go?”
“Let’s go, why not!” Li Huairou saved the document, closed the laptop, and looked Li Huaiqing up and down. “Jie, I’ll help you look after the flower shop. You go to the beauty salon for some skincare. Also, your hair, it’s always been black and straight, so change your hairstyle this time. Let the stylist design a hairstyle for you!”
“Is that necessary?” Li Huaiqing felt helpless.
“Of course it’s necessary, Jie, go! Go!” Li Huairou pushed her wheelchair to Li Huaiqing to take her hand and act like a baby.
Li Huaiqing couldn’t stand this, and she quickly agreed, “Okay. I just need to go?”
“I have to buy new clothes too!” Li Huairou exclaimed.
“Okay! Got it.” Li Huaiqing smiled, and then went out with a bag.
There weren’t many guests today, and Li Huairou set to writing in a leisurely manner.
Suddenly, the wind chime rang, and Li Huairou raised her head. It was Zhou Minglang.
Zhou Minglang looked around. But when he didn’t see Li Huaiqing, he was a little disappointed.
Li Huairou thought for a while and closed the computer. “Mr. Zhou, are you busy? If you aren’t busy, how about we have a cup of coffee?”
Zhou Minglang was a little surprised, but he still agreed.
“Lele-jie, I’ll go out for a while. Call me if you need something!” Li Huairou called out.
“Okay, I see.”
Zhou Minglang was a gentleman and helped push her wheelchair; the two went to a cafe not far from the shop.
“Mr. Zhou, I am a straightforward person and don’t like to talk in circles. So if I have anything to say, I will just say it,” Li Huairou said with a smile, looking at Zhou Minglang.
Zhou Minglang nodded. “Okay.”
“You like my sister, right?” Li Huairou asked, staring into Zhou Minglang’s eyes.
Zhou Minglang nodded. “Yes!”
“You should be clear about the life experiences of us two sisters, are you not?” Li Huairou continued to ask.
Zhou Minglang did not deny it.
“And knowing this, you still like my sister? Knowing her past relationship experience, as well as me as an oil bottle?” Li Huairou asked.
[Oil bottle means the children brought over from a previous marriage to the second marriage. Li Huairou is saying that she’s the only relative and Li Huaiqing plans to take care of her for a lifetime.]
“Everyone has past relationship experience; I also have some. This is not a problem. Secondly, Miss Li, you are an independent person—it is difficult for me to associate you with the phrase ‘oil bottle’. Moreover, if I am lucky enough to become a family with Miss Huaiqing, Miss Li, you would naturally be my sister. Taking care of you would also be my responsibility,” Zhou Minglang answered seriously after thinking about it for a while.
“You’re very good at talking.” Li Huairou smiled. “Actually, I also really hope that someone will be able to pull my sister out of her former relationship. The bond between us and the Gao family is too deep and unclear. Gao Lang’s such an asshole—I don’t want my sister to get hurt. So, I hope that you can hurry up and get your girl faster. I shall help you.”
When Zhou Minglang heard this, he was not joyous, but frowned instead. “Isn’t Miss Li afraid that I’m not a good person? Don’t you worry that I will hurt your sister?” You’re pushing your sister into the arms of a strange man who you haven’t known for long so easily?
Li Huairou smiled. “If you’re ruthless, I will give up. With me there, I won’t let my sister get hurt. In this world, women don’t necessarily need marriage to prove anything! A person can still live comfortably. Besides, there’s still me!”
Zhou Minglang looked at Li Huairou deeply and promised, “I won’t let that happen.”
Before getting to know Li Huaiqing, he had never believed that there was love at first sight in this world.
It had been a sunny morning. Because of a traffic jam, he was feeling a little irritable, and he lowered the car window without thinking to look outside.
As a result, he happened to see a girl holding a handful of cornflowers; his heart instantly grew restless.
When he snapped out of it, he had gotten out of the car and stood in front of the flower shop.
“Sir, do you want to buy flowers?”
“Right, I want these.” He pointed to the cornflowers in the girl’s hand.
Ten minutes later, Zhou Minglang returned to the car with a bunch of cornflowers, but he knew that his heart had been lost in this flower shop called Fanhua.
“I will cherish her, love her, and never let her get hurt!” Zhou Minglang solemnly declared.
“Very well, I will remember this,” Li Huairou said with a smile. “Gao Lang invited us to the Gao household for dinner tonight. You are also aware that I am in a wheelchair and it is inconvenient for me to travel. Say, I wonder if Mr. Zhou will have time to pick us up?”
Zhou Minglang nodded. “It would be my honor.”
