Additional Inheritance - Chap 83
Chapter 83
Wen Xiaohui felt particularly nervous when he arrived at the airport with Luo Rui. He reiterated, “We’ll see my mum soon. You have to go along with what I say. She has a great life now, I can’t let her worry about me.”
Luo Rui silently nodded.
Wen Xiaohui rubbed Luo Rui’s curls. “You don’t have to worry about me either.”
“Baby, I’ll listen to you, but don’t pretend to be tough.”
“Don’t worry.” Wen Xiaohui grinned, “Did you forget that my goal in life is to find a rich man to take care of me? Hasn’t it come true? How amazing!”
Luo Rui forced himself to laugh.
Wen Xiaohui was waiting anxiously at the exit after the plane landed when eventually, he saw a familiar figure walking out.
“Mum!” shouted Wen Xiaohui. His eyes immediately started to water. He rushed over and hugged1 his mum tightly.
Feng Yuehua, moved to the point of tears, thumped him on the back. Afterwards, she cried in his embrace.
“Mum, I really missed you. I missed you so much.” Wen Xiaohui inhaled the fragrance of her hair and felt her familiar warmth. He couldn’t contain the grievance, depression, and pain in his heart anymore, which poured out along with his tears.
“You bastard! You wouldn’t tell me anything beforehand and left without a word. How can you say that you missed me?” sobbed Feng Yuehua as she scolded him.
“Sorry, Mum. I’m sorry.” Wen Xiaohui’s tears rolled down his face, and he felt so upset that it couldn’t be expressed in words. Hugging the closest person to him in the world, he didn’t dare and he couldn’t possibly tell the truth. Although he felt wronged and depressed, he couldn’t act spoiled and complain to his mum like he did as a kid. In the past, his mum and dad could handle the problem no matter how big it was, but as a grownup, he realised he had to shoulder his own burdens when it came to bigger hurdles.
Feng Yuehua whacked him a couple more times and buried her face in the hollow of his shoulder. Wen Xiaohui’s shoulder started to spasm violently.
Luo Rui, standing to the side, also had bloodshot eyes.
Wen Xiaohui soothed her for a while before all three of them departed the airport.
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When they got into the car, Feng Yuehua wiped away her tears and said in a hoarse voice, “Sorry, Luo Rui, I forgot my manners.”
“Auntie, why are you being so polite?”
Wen Xiaohui had his arm around his mum’s shoulders. “Mum, I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving.”
Feng Yuehua grabbed Wen Xiaohui’s hand and drew a deep breath. “You and Luo Yi… What’s going on between you?”
Wen Xiaohui was accustomed to his mum’s personality – she was blunt regardless of the subject, and therefore, there was no way to dodge the question even if he didn’t want to answer. He lowered his head. “Mum, we… got back together.”
Feng Yuehua glared at him. “What did you say?”
Wen Xiaohui tried to look relaxed. “There was a misunderstanding. I was annoyed at him and I didn’t want him to bother me, that’s why I went to Pengcheng. The misunderstanding has been cleared up and we’re…”
Feng Yuehua slapped him across the face. She scolded, “Haven’t you woken up yet?!”
Wen Xiaohui’s cheek was scorching. He licked his lips and put on a brave face to say, “Mum, I’m very clear-headed now. After all, we still have feelings for each other and we already thought of each other as family back when I hid this from you. Afterwards… Anyway, there were a lot of misunderstandings. I’m planning to give him another chance.” He felt like a hypocrite as he was speaking. These were probably the words that Luo Yi most wanted to hear, and they were the only words he could say to his family and friends, but unfortunately it was all a lie. He wished it was true. He wished it was just a misunderstanding between him and Luo Yi, instead of lingering resentment.
Feng Yuehua stared at Wen Xiaohui in a daze with an expression that was complicated and difficult to describe. She opened her mouth and said extremely quietly, “It’s not like I can control what you do.”
Wen Xiaohui felt distressed. “Mum, I can take care of myself. Don’t worry about me.”
Feng Yuehua closed her eyes as she leaned against the seat. Her face looked weary.
Feeling both distressed and guilty, Wen Xiaohui gave his mum a gentle massage of the acupuncture points by her temples.
Feng Yuehua continued to stay silent for a while before she opened her eyes and said calmly, “Tell him to come see me.”
Wen Xiaohui’s hand froze in mid-air. “Mum, that…”
“Aren’t you getting back together with him? You’ve been in a relationship for such a long time, shouldn’t you bring him back for me to see?”
Wen Xiaohui gulped. Under the harsh gaze of his mum, he wouldn’t be able to refute even if he were more eloquent.
Luo Rui glanced at them through the rearview mirror, feeling too frightened to take a deep breath. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead. In actual fact, he was like Wen Xiaohui – he used to be frightened of Feng Yuehua as a kid and although she’d always treated him well, her forceful and shrewish nature featured in his childhood memories.
Wen Xiaohui pursed his lips. “Okay.”
“Let’s make it today.”
“Mum, you should rest first since you just got off the plane.”
“I’m not tired. Ask him to come over today.” Feng Yuehua turned to look out the window. She didn’t say anything else.
Wen Xiaohui frowned and hesitated as he took his mobile phone out. He’d asked Luo Yi repeatedly not to show up in front of his mum, but he never expected his mum would take the initiative and request to meet him. What would happen if they met? His mum was so intuitive and sharp. Would she find out that he was hiding something from her? He didn’t dare to dwell on it. His fingers shook slightly as he sent Luo Yi a text message asking him to come to his house at 3pm.
Feng Yuehua went to take a shower when they arrived home, while Wen Xiaohui and Luo Rui were cooking in the kitchen.
Luo Rui whispered, “Auntie wants to meet Luo Yi. Will it be alright?”
Wen Xiaohui pretended to be relaxed. “It should be fine. It’s not like my mum eats people.”
Luo Rui looked pensive as he stared at Wen Xiaohui.
Wen Xiaohui asked, “What’s up?”
“You look nervous.”
“Yeah, a little. Don’t say the wrong thing if my mum asks you.”
“What do you mean?”
Wen Xiaohui sighed. “If my mum asks how Luo Yi and I get along, just tell her we get on well.”
Luo Rui furrowed his brows. “Do you want me to lie to Auntie?”
Wen Xiaohui’s voice became more stern. “I’m not telling you to lie. We really are getting on well, so you don’t have to make any wild guesses.”
Luo Rui said hesitantly, “Okay.”
Wen Xiaohui looked down to cut some vegetables, not daring to look Luo Rui in the eye.
“Li-dage.”
Wen Xiaohui’s hand shook. The blade gilded over his finger, and he immediately saw red.
Luo Rui rushed to rinse Wen Xiaohui’s finger under the tap. Wen Xiaohui appeared jittery as he retracted his finger. “I’m fine… What’s wrong with Li-dage?”
Luo Rui asked dejectedly, “Are you really not planning to get in touch with him again? You really hurt him that day.”
Wen Xiaohui felt a little distressed and he replied harshly, “I’m not going to contact him. It’s best for both of us.”
“But…”
“Stop being such a nag!” A wave of irritation welled up in Wen Xiaohui’s mind and he slammed the cleaver down onto the chopping board.
Luo Rui jumped in shock, and his eyes began to redden immediately.
Wen Xiaohui regretted it, but the words had already left his mouth and he couldn’t take them back. He felt upset as he said, “I’m sorry. I’m going nuts.”
Luo Rui lowered his head and used the rinsing of the vegetables as a cover for the awkwardness.
Wen Xiaohui suddenly realised that his relationship with Luo Rui had changed. He knew Luo Rui was suspicious of what he said and of his relationship with Luo Yi. Luo Rui was simple, but he wasn’t stupid. On the contrary, he was very perceptive. It was impossible to hide when two people were in love, and similarly, it couldn’t be faked either. Luo Rui must have been able to see through it from the beginning, even if he didn’t admit it. Building trust required honesty over a long period of time, but destroying that trust only took a split second; Luo Rui must have felt very disappointed.
As soon as he thought of this, Wen Xiaohui felt so upset that his chest ached. What else was Luo Yi going to take from him before he would stop?
Once dinner was cooked, the three of them sat down around the table to eat. There was an understanding between them and no one mentioned Luo Yi; instead, they talked about the two years they’d spent apart.
Wen Xiaohui listened to Feng Yuehua recount her life in the US. He felt grateful for her smile, which was brimming with happiness.
After dinner, they chatted in the living room. Wen Xiaohui kept looking at the time, appearing more nervous.
The doorbell rang at practically 3pm sharp.
Feng Yuehua’s chest heaved as she stared at the door.
Wen Xiaohui stood up to open the door. The view of the front door from the living room was obscured by a folding screen. He grabbed the door handle, drew a deep breath, and opened the door.
Luo Yi had a slight smile on his face as he stood on the other side of the door. He wasn’t wearing a suit, sporting casual wear and trainers instead. He even wore a baseball cap, which made him look like a student with an air of natural youthfulness.
As a result of Luo Yi’s maturity and high IQ, Wen Xiaohui frequently forgot how he was actually 20 years old. His outfit made people lower their guard.
Luo Yi blinked and whispered, “Try not to be nervous.”
Wen Xiaohui took out a paper bag from the shoe cabinet and said quietly, “Give it to her yourself.” It was the jade jewellery set Luo Yi asked him to give to his mum.
Luo Yi took the paper bag, lowering his head to give him a quick kiss. Then he walked inside the house.
Feng Yuehua and Luo Rui both turned around to stare at them.
Luo Yi’s smile was sunny and gentle, and he said confidently, “Hi, Auntie. Luo Rui-ge, you’re here too.”
Luo Rui appeared uneasy.
Feng Yuehua was stunned, either because Luo Yi’s face closely resembled Luo Yaya or because of his refreshing and refined youthful aura. She was very surprised regardless of the reason.
Wen Xiaohui wasn’t sure how Feng Yuehua had expected Luo Yi to look. At least, she wouldn’t have had a good impression of an eight year old kid who wanted to burn his own father to death and was known as a ‘monster.’ Therefore, he understood why she was surprised. It was like how he wouldn’t have believed that the gentle and considerate Luo Yi had a demon hidden inside.
Feng Yuehua came back to her senses. Her originally tense appearance was replaced by shock as she struggled to maintain her stern expression. “Hi, please take a seat.” Feng Yuehua’s stance softened in the face of Luo Yi’s gentle demeanour2, and despite her reservations about Luo Yi and the prejudices she had against him, she wasn’t able to show how she felt.
Luo Yi and Wen Xiaohui walked to the sofa and sat down. Luo Yi eagerly placed the gift in front of Feng Yuehua. “Auntie, this is a little token of my appreciation. I should have given it to you on your wedding day, but…” Luo Yi smiled bashfully. “Xiaohui-ge and I had a fight back then. Sorry to trouble you as well.”
Feng Yuehua replied at once, “I appreciate your thoughts, but I can’t accept your gift.”
Luo Yi smiled and said, “This present isn’t just because of Xiaohui-ge, it’s an expression of gratitude from my mum. You should accept it for the sake of my mum.”
Feng Yuehua sighed and shook her head. “I… I let Yaya down. I really can’t accept this gift. I appreciate your kindness.”
Luo Yi was a little disappointed as he replied, “Then I’ll leave it with Xiaohui-ge, so he can look after it for you. I know you feel apprehensive about me, it won’t be too late to accept it when you genuinely approve of me one day.”
Luo Yi’s words left no room for argument, giving Feng Yuehua no grounds to disagree. In the two minutes since Luo Yi entered the house, the mood had become contrary to everyone’s expectations.
Wen Xiaohui didn’t know whether he should be happy or worried. He’d expected Luo Yi to be met with strict criticism and interrogation, but when his typically assertive mum encountered such a gentle and refined Luo Yi, she couldn’t function at her usual intensity.
This finally dawned on Feng Yuehua and she coughed slightly. “It’s not important. I asked you to come today, firstly to see what kind of person you are, and secondly, to chat about Xiaohui.”
Luo Yi smiled charmingly. “Auntie, please speak.” He removed his baseball cap, smoothing out the hair that was sticking up from being beneath the cap. His casual actions showed a hint of innocence.
Luo Rui was already flabbergasted and Wen Xiaohui was speechless at Luo Yi’s absolutely flawless acting.
All the words Feng Yuehua had prepared in advance became redundant. She didn’t know what to say at that moment. She froze, then stuttered, “Eh… What do you do?”
“I started my own company.” Luo Yi said slightly helplessly, “Starting a business is hard work.”
“You started your own company at such a young age? How old are you?”
“I’m nearly 21. I graduated early.” Luo Yi smiled as he said, “Did Xiaohui-ge not tell you? I skipped a year before I started university.”
“I think he might have mentioned it.” Feng Yuehua glanced at Wen Xiaohui with a complicated look.
“My business has great prospects despite being hard work. Besides, I feel really determined with Xiaohui-ge by my side.” Luo Yi’s eyes formed crescents as he smiled. “Auntie, I insisted on giving you a gift because I don’t know how to thank you. You and Uncle helped my mum and Xiaohui-ge helped me. No, I should say that Xiaohui-ge saved me. I want to express my gratitude for bringing him to my side. He’s more important to me than anything else in the world.”
Feng Yuehua’s eyes widened. She didn’t know how to respond.
Luo Yi smiled shyly again. “No one took care of me when I was a child and I was very introverted and eccentric. Often, I didn’t speak a word to anyone for days. But when Xiaohui-ge appeared, he taught me how to socialise and interact like a normal person. He opened up a new world for me, and if it weren’t for him, I might have struggled at school, not to mention starting a company.” He held Wen Xiaohui’s hand gently and turned to smile at him. The smile was gentle and full of affection. It was very moving.
Wen Xiaohui gulped. He didn’t know how to respond.
When Feng Yuehua blinked, Wen Xiaohui’s brain immediately went into overdrive.
Footnotes:
The original text used 保住 (save or keep), which seems to be a typo for 抱 (hug).
伸手不打笑面人 means that a hand does not strike the face of a smiling person (colloquial phrase) i.e. people usually don’t bully someone who is kind.
