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Chapter 89: Why are you so resistant?
“I’m not some serious teacher. They used to call me ‘ge’, and as soon as they heard I started working at the school, they acted like it was a big deal, like I’d been promoted or something. Let them be happy.” Chen Wengang was chatting with Huo Niansheng about this.
“Do you like kids?” asked Huo Niansheng.
“It’s okay. Sometimes noisy, sometimes cute.”
“Have you ever thought about adopting one in the future?”
“That’s another matter.” Chen Wengang was surprised. He didn’t know how Huo Niansheng had thought of this. Nobody would think Huo Niansheng was someone capable of raising children. “Taking care of children is easy; being a parent is difficult. Besides, there are many factors to consider. I like girls, but they won’t just let any man adopt. And when she grows up, it’s not convenient for a man to take care of her.”
“What should we do then?” Huo Niansheng put his hand on Chen Wengang’s flat abdomen. “Why don’t you give birth to one for me then?”
“Nonsense, you can’t be serious for two minutes.” Chen Wengang laughed and brushed his hand away. “Why don’t you give birth yourself?”
The sunlight spread all over the ground, a bit hot on the skin but still acceptable. The weather had cooled down.
Chen Wengang reached out and pulled off a loose thread from Huo Niansheng’s apron.
A black jewelry box appeared in front of him, which Huo Niansheng took out of his pocket. He opened it and deliberately flashed it in front of Chen Wengang’s eyes. Inside the velvet lay two rings, reflecting brilliance under the sun.
Chen Wengang’s expression froze for a moment, his complexion slightly changed, and he reached out to grab them.
Huo Niansheng held him with one hand and raised the jewelry box high with the other, speaking in a slick tone, “Why are you trying to steal my things?”
“That’s mine…”
“Is it yours?” Huo Niansheng asked. “Why would someone order a ring?”
He was joking, but Chen Wengang was stunned and tongue-tied, his expression losing some of its liveliness.
In a feigned tone of complaint, he said, “I’m the customer. How could Miss Meng give my things to you?”
But his eyes glanced down at the ground, and Huo Niansheng noticed his unusual emotions.
It was as if someone had pressed the pause button, and both of them froze for a moment.
In the rift of time, Huo Niansheng saw himself. He was also like this now, holding a box of rings and teasingly flashing it in front of someone. There was a person sitting against the light, but he couldn’t see their face clearly.
However, the other person’s response was very indifferent, just giving a cursory glance.
Huo Niansheng seemed oblivious, “Try it on; see how the design looks.”
The other person responded with something, seeming to brush it off, showing reluctance.
Huo Niansheng went on regardless, reaching out, grabbing his left hand, picking up the ring, and sliding it down from the ring finger to the base of the finger.
However, the other person quickly took it off, making an excuse, “I’m left-handed; it’s inconvenient to wear things on my hand.”
He gently placed the silver ring back into Huo Niansheng’s palm.
Huo Niansheng grabbed his right hand and forcibly slid the ring onto it. “Then wear it on this side; it’s the same.”
The palms of both hands bore traces of erosion, with rough scars, but the scars on the right hand were much more severe.
The person opened his right hand in front of his eyes, glanced at it for a few seconds, then once again removed the ring. “Keep it for someone else.”
Huo Niansheng casually, but unquestionably, held his hand. “It’s not suitable for anyone else. Besides, where would I find someone else?”
The other person stubbornly lowered his eyelids. “I’m not suitable either.”
Huo Niansheng squatted in front of him. “It’s just a small gift. Tell me what’s not suitable about it.”
The person fell silent, faintly smiling. “Someone else once put a ring on me. Guess who he ended up marrying.”
Huo Niansheng’s expression turned cold and desolate as he reached out to touch the person’s head.
The other person continued, “Let’s be clear. I know you have nothing to say to me… but don’t tie yourself to me for a lifetime. You have money and power; you can find someone better out there. With my current situation, with this face of mine, I feel ridiculous even thinking about those romantic promises. I live day by day, with or without these things, it’s all the same to me. I’m sorry, it’s my problem.”
Huo Niansheng closed his eyes, then forced a smile again. “Alright, forget it.”
He put the box back into his pocket, exchanged a few more words with the person, then got up and left.
On his way back to the city, he parked the car by the side of the mountain road, got out, and took out the jewelry box. He opened it and looked at it for a while, then closed it again.
Huo Niansheng casually tossed the box forward.
It seemed like he didn’t exert much force, as the box traced a distant arc and landed in the mist-shrouded mountain stream.
Chen Wengang was leaning against the wall to begin with. As Huo Niansheng approached, he leaned back even further, his back pressing tightly against the wall, turning himself into a taut straight line.
He actually didn’t know how Huo Niansheng handled the rings he rejected in his past life.
Since then, he hadn’t seen those two engagement rings, and Huo Niansheng hadn’t brought up the matter again. Even though later on, Chen Wengang began to feel a faint regret. But one must pay for their own decisions. He was the one who decisively refused. He couldn’t shamelessly bring up any more requests.
It was something he didn’t want.
In this lifetime, he inevitably felt like he was given a new chance.
So when he saw the rings, he couldn’t help but order them, but deep down, he hadn’t decided whether to bring them out.
Huo Niansheng whispered in his ear with a low voice, “You ordered the rings yourself; why are you so resistant?”
Chen Wengang felt nothing but fear. He felt guilty like a thief, his gaze evasive. Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of guilt engulfed him.
He didn’t speak; he just stared at Huo Niansheng with an indescribable look in his eyes.
Huo Niansheng fixedly observed his expression. “Tell me the reason, why? Hm?”
Chen Wengang opened his mouth slightly, sweat breaking out on his back.
“Wengang.”
Qi Tongzhou suddenly appeared, interrupting them, and called out, “Huo-ge”: “What are you guys talking about?”
Huo Niansheng nonchalantly took a step back.
Chen Wengang regained his composure and smiled at Qi Tongzhou, “You haven’t gone back yet?”
“I was too busy and didn’t get a chance to talk to you.” Qi Tongzhou locked his gaze on him, filled with suspicion and vigilance.
The scene he witnessed made him intuitively feel that Huo Niansheng was pressuring Chen Wengang, but the reactions of the two were even more subtle than he imagined.
Moreover, Huo Niansheng showed no signs of guilt and even took the initiative to ask Qi Tongzhou, “Do you have other plans this afternoon?”
“I don’t… I don’t think so.”
“Then let’s go.” He put his hands in his pockets. “We’re going to Wengang’s housewarming party this afternoon. You can come along.”
Qi Tongzhou was inexplicably brought to Jiangchao Street like this.
Huo Niansheng parked the car on the street, occupying the only parking spot available. Qi Tongzhou’s car followed behind them silently, having to take a detour around half the street to park elsewhere. He didn’t come to this part of the old city often, and it was the first time he knew where Chen Wengang lived.
Chen Wengang stood at the door, waiting for him as he jogged over. Qi Tongzhou felt a sweet sensation in his heart, mixed with a sense of gain and loss.
He was excited that he seemed to have taken an extra step into his world.
He was unhappy that Huo Niansheng seemed to be as familiar with this place as his own home.
Chen Wengang had agreed with Zheng Baoqiu to celebrate their move, and both places were fine, but ultimately, this place was his original home.
Qi Tongzhou sat down in the house. It was probably the first time in his life that he had walked into such a small residence. He was curious but didn’t dare to show it.
There were two or three landscape paintings hanging above the sofa. He restrained himself from looking around too obviously.
Chen Wengang was boiling water in the kitchen. Huo Niansheng walked over and poured tea for him, playing the role of the host.
Qi Tongzhou secretly glared at him.
Huo Niansheng sat down on the sofa opposite him, his hands clasped together, with a smirk on his face. “What do you want to say to Wengang?”
Qi Tongzhou scorned his rudeness. “That’s none of your business…”
“Are you trying to see if he’s influenced by rumors, or if he’s reveling in your ‘friend’s’ misfortune?”
“Ahem!” Qi Tongzhou choked on his tea, coughing uncontrollably. “Ahem… no… …Cough cough cough…No!”
His tongue was numb from the scalding tea. “I’m actually… very shocked. I didn’t expect Mu… cough, him to be like that. I don’t mind anything else, I don’t care if he’s using me, I just want to see if Wengang is okay.”
Huo Niansheng said meaningfully, “Don’t worry; with me here, he’ll be fine.”
Qi Tongzhou was choked up and couldn’t speak. He felt annoyed, thinking that Chen Wengang was good at everything except choosing people.
Not long after, Zheng Baoqiu also came specially, followed by Lu Chenlong and his younger brother, who came with Yu Shanding.
Autumn was setting in, and the crabs were on the market. Yu Shanding brought a basket full of big Yangcheng Lake crabs. Kitchenware was brought over from Lu’s house, and steam rose from the four-tier steamer, filling the house with the aroma of cooked crabs. Lu Chenlong also made spicy stir-fried crabs and crab roe noodles. They all had a bit of chrysanthemum wine.
Just after they finished eating, Chen Wengang received a call from Jiang Cai.
She was still abroad, so it was an international long-distance call.
Chen Wengang heard her voice sounding a bit lost. “Can I video call you?”
He hesitated for a moment, then agreed. Leaving everyone behind, he went up to the attic to answer the call. The video call connected, and Jiang Cai saw his face.
Her expression was relatively normal, and she breathed a sigh of relief, as if suddenly feeling infinitely grateful to Chen Wengang, “Thank goodness, I finally see someone I know who can speak Chinese again. You have no idea; I can’t understand anything here, I’m almost going crazy.”
Chen Wengang smiled, understanding her sentiment.
Jiang Cai began to pour out her grievances to him.
Her English was extremely poor; she couldn’t communicate with anyone besides saying thank you and goodbye. Whether she could communicate with the locals entirely depended on whether they could speak Chinese. Every day, going out felt like a gamble. The rehabilitation center arranged for Jiang Wanxia by Huo Zhenfei was indeed professional, but it was located in a remote area. Except for one caregiver they hired, the rest of the Filipino maids only spoke English. Jiang Cai felt incredibly lonely there, almost going insane.
Amanda was responsible for helping her with translation and communication, but her professional demeanor was excellent, always maintaining a businesslike attitude. Unlike Luo Suwei, she wouldn’t show any unnecessary emotions in front of Jiang Cai, nor would she say anything beyond her scope of responsibility.
After listening for a while, Chen Wengang asked, “Aren’t you still supposed to be in school? When are you coming back?”
Jiang Cai suddenly fell silent for a long time. “My mom passed away.”
Chen Wengang was momentarily stunned. “My condolences,” he comforted Jiang Cai. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Upon hearing this, a crack finally appeared on Jiang Cai’s calm face.
But she didn’t cry, and through the unclear camera, it was impossible to tell if there were tears in her eyes.
She stubbornly maintained her composure and sniffed, “Nothing. It’s just that they won’t let her come back to China for the funeral.”
Chen Wengang sighed.
Mrs. Jiang Wanxia was already in the late stage of uremia. After going abroad, her condition suddenly worsened. Although it happened very suddenly, it wasn’t particularly surprising. Jiang Cai accompanied her mother abroad for her final Mid-Autumn Festival, and then she hadn’t returned for a long time.
Now, she was alone in a foreign country, separated from the world.
This woman’s inglorious life came to an end, and before her death, despite her persistent struggles, she finally secured a future for her daughter.
Huo Zhenfei’s secretary conveyed his wishes: to have the cremation done locally and bring back the ashes. Transporting her body back to China for burial would be too troublesome, and since she didn’t have any relatives or friends there, what was the point? No one would go through all that trouble for her.
Having a funeral was already a considerate arrangement.
Chen Wengang could imagine how bleak this funeral would be. Jiang Wanxia and Jiang Cai were a mother and daughter without any family; they were orphans. If she had died in China, at least he and Luo Suwei and other colleagues would show up out of goodwill, maybe she would even have some other friends.
But abroad, the entire funeral ceremony would probably only include Jiang Cai and Amanda.
Chen Wengang asked, “How are you now? Do you need me to come over and accompany you?”
Jiang Cai suddenly felt aggrieved, looking at him with red eyes. “I don’t know what to do, Chen-ge. I really don’t have a mother anymore.”
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