âSheâs my mother.â
He frowned. âOf course I know sheâs your mother.â
Something felt a bit off with the conversation.
âThen why didnât you address her as âmotherâ?â asked Weiyi directly.
Shi Yuting paused for a moment. He had never thought that in this life, apart from his own mother, he would have to address his wifeâs mother as âmotherâ.
He had always been a loner since he was young and rarely had to address anyone on more familiar terms. Even when his grandfather and fatherâs family friends came to visit, he had never address them as such.
Now that he was facing his mother-in-law, he could not help but feel a little awkward.
However, he knew this principle very well, just like how she called his mother.
Shi Yuting stared at the photo on the tombstone and did not speak for a long time.
Zuo Weiyi seemed to have seen through his awkwardness and her face suddenly darkened. She lowered her head and said, âDo you dislike my mother? Do you think that she was once sullied by Jiang Huaiyuan and became the mistress of others? Do you think that she doesnât deserve to be called that by you?â
When she spoke, she looked very hurt.
Hearing this, Shi Yutingâs heart couldnât help but tighten. He caught a glimpse of her sad face.
âWeiyi, you should know that I donât care about these things.â
âThen why donât you call her âmotherâ?â
He stared at her and was at a loss for words for a moment.
After a long while, he opened his thin lips and said, âWhen I was four years old, my father brought me to the Shi family. It was the first time I left my mother and also the first time I faced those strangers in the Shi family.â
It was also the second time he saw his father, so his father was still a stranger to him. For a really long time after that, he never saw his mother.
âAt that time, grandfather also asked me to address Xiao Yayue.â He turned his gaze to her delicate face. âSo I have always... hated calling women other than my mother as âmotherâ.â
Zuo Weiyi was surprised.
She remembered Nuannuan had said that he had left his mother when he was very young. His grandfather actually asked him to call Xiao Yayue Mother? Well, according to Shi Yutingâs personality, wasnât it impossible?
Although she had silently guessed it, she asked anyway. âThen, did you call her âmotherâ later?â
Shi Yuting was startled.
âWhat does Madam think?â
She looked at him and smiled. The answer was already clear.
âBut you canât keep up with not addressing my mother.â She looked at him. Although she knew that he did not have any intention of disliking her mother, him keeping this up wasnât right either.
He glanced at her, and then his gaze fell on the photo on the tombstone. At the same time, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer into his arms. Then, he looked at the tombstone with a serious face, âMother-In-Law, I am Shi Yuting. From now on, I will take care of your daughter. Do...rest in peace.â
Zuo Weiyi fell silent upon hearing his words to Zuo Qing.
Him calling Zuo Qing âmother-in-lawâ definitely killed two birds with one stone: he had managed to address her mother and remove the awkwardness in his heart.
âIs madam satisfied now?â He smiled at her.
She smiled sweetly. âYes!â
It was already noon by the time they left the cemetery.
After lunch, Shi Yuting left in a hurry for Di Zun. After settling some urgent matters, he planned to return to C Country.
At home, Zuo Weiyi slept until three oâclock in the afternoon, as usual.