Xiao Li noticed Zhuang Longâs gaze. She thought of something and her gaze froze. When she looked at Zhuang Long again, she could not help but have a deeper meaning. Xiao Meng came downstairs and wore the new dress she had bought two days ago, looking less old-fashioned.
However, she had worked in prison for so many years. No matter how beautiful her clothes were, they could not make her look younger.
The two women met and stared at each other in a daze.
Xiao Meng thought that this wife was really beautiful.
Xiao Li was thinking that Aunt Meng was really old.
Xiao Li nodded at Xiao Meng and greeted her respectfully, âHello, Madam. Iâm Qilinâs mother.â
Xiao Meng tried to look more benevolent.
She walked to Xiao Li and held her hand. She said, âYouâre really good-looking.â
Xiao Li said, âMy name is Clarice, Clarice Lawson. My Chinese name is Xiao Li. Madam, you can call me Ah Li.â
Xiao Meng seemed to have heard something and her body swayed as if she had been struck by lightning. She muttered in disbelief, âLuo Sen⦠Luo Sen⦠Clariceâ¦â She stared at Xiao Liâs face and the image of a little girl flashed across her mind.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Xiao Mengâs face suddenly turned pale.
Zhuang Long saw that his motherâs face had turned pale and thought that she was feeling unwell. âWhatâs wrong?â He strode over and held Xiao Mengâs body.
Xiao Meng leaned against Zhuang Long and shook her head with a weak smile. She said, âIâm fine. Iâm old. Perhaps I have anemia.â
......
Zhuang Long did not think too much about it and took it seriously.
During the meal, Xiao Mengâs face was still a little pale. After the meal, her complexion looked much better.
After the meal, Zhuang Long directly conveyed Xiao Liâs decision. âAh Li, when you go back, take Qilin with you. I wonât be staying at home for the next few days. Leave him here. I donât have time to accompany him.â
Xiao Li was a little surprised.
She asked Zhuang Long, âWhere are you going?â
Zhuang Long said, âIâll be on a long trip. The date of my return is uncertain.â
It was already the 20th, and she was going to get married in a few days, but Zhuang Long chose to travel far away at this time. Xiao Li had reason to suspect that he was avoiding reality. However, Xiao Li did not criticize his cowardice. Instead, she asked another question. âIf you want to travel far, what about your mother?â
Zhuang Long looked at Xiao Meng.
Xiao Meng smiled and quickly said, âXiao Bao, go do your own things. Donât worry about me. Youâre already so old. There will be times when you have to travel far. I wonât hold you back.â
Zhuang Long said, âIâll be back as soon as possible.â
âThen can Xiao Bao tell Mom where youâre going?â
Zhuang Long said, âItâs a little far. A place youâve never heard of.â
In the past, Zhuang Long would make one whenever he thought of one. He often went to some distant places and brought back some strange things. Hence, Xiao Li did not doubt Zhuang Longâs words. âQilin, come, letâs go upstairs to pack your things.â
Zhuang Qilin turned off the television and went upstairs to pack with Zhuang Long.
Only Xiao Meng and Xiao Li were left in the hall.
The two women looked at each other calmly. No one could guess how deep the turmoil in each otherâs hearts was.
In the end, Xiao Meng spoke first.
âI really didnât expect Xiao Bao to marry you.â Xiao Mengâs tone was filled with emotions. She really didnât expect it. âWhen I saw you back then, you were still a little girl. Now, youâre the childâs mother.â And the mother of her grandson.
Xiao Li was also emotional. She asked Xiao Meng, âHow have you been all these years?â
Xiao Meng replied, âItâs just like that. I changed in prison. I couldnât reduce my sentence, but I didnât suffer any unfair treatment.â
âYeah.â
âYou and our Xiaobaoâ¦â Xiao Meng lowered her voice and asked,â Our Xiaobao said that he doesnât remember what happened when he was young. Then, does he still remember you? â
Xiao Li shook her head slightly and said, âI donât remember.â
Xiao Meng nodded.
The two of them were silent for a moment before speaking at the same time.
âChrisâ¦â
âAunt Meng.â
The two of them were stunned.
As a junior, Xiao Li took the initiative to give in and said to Xiao Meng, âAunt Meng, you go first.â
Xiao Meng said, âChris, itâs a good thing that our Xiaobao doesnât remember those things. Auntie hopes that you wonât mention what happened when he was young in front of him. Let him forget it. Itâs a good thing to forget.â
Xiao Li knew that he was going to say this.
Nodding, Xiao Li said, âThatâs what I wanted to say too.â
The two women had the same thought.
At the corner of the corridor, Zhuang Long stood there quietly and listened to the conversation between the two women.
He had previously suspected that Xiao Li and had known each other before, but he did not know that they had known each other since they were young. If Zhuang Long had only wanted to regain his memories before, then at this moment, this thought had completely taken root and sprouted.
He had to find the truth. He had to remember Xiao Li. Otherwise, he would be letting Xiao Li down.
He wanted to recover and chase Xiao Li back as a normal person to give Zhuang Qilin a happy home. Before that, he had no right to disturb Xiao Li.
He stood there quietly and heard Xiao Meng say to Xiao Li, âSpeaking of which, I have to thank you for your help all these years. Iâve always kept the photo you sent. Seeing that Xiao Bao is doing so well, Iâm finally relieved.â
Xiao Li said, âThis is only right.â
Zhuang Long was surprised again.
It turned out that the photo was sent by Xiao Li to her mother.
In that case, all these years, in places that he could not see, Xiao Li had been paying attention to him. For a moment, Zhuang Long felt very guilty and complicated. He felt both happy and sad.
Zhuang Long rubbed his face hard, got up, and went upstairs. Then, he carried Zhuang Qilinâs things and went downstairs with him.
When the two of them saw the father and son coming downstairs, they stopped talking.
Zhuang Long also pretended not to know anything. He said to Xiao Li, âQilinâs things have been packed. You can go back and take him away later. I still have to pack my things.â
âOkay.â
Zhuang Long did not have many things. He packed his luggage and was not in a hurry to go downstairs. He sat in his room and only came downstairs when he heard Xiao Li drive away. Xiao Meng saw him and said, âDo you have a lot of things? Why did you pack for so long? Clarice and the rest were waiting for you just now. They left first when you didnât come down.â
âYes, a little too much.â
Zhuang Long looked out of the door with a gloomy gaze.
He left home that night and asked the driver to send him to the airport. He only bought the tickets when he arrived at the airport, and the place he was going to was not overseas, nor a famous tourist spot, but San Francisco.
It was still dark when he arrived in San Francisco.
Zhuang Long hailed a night taxi and went to Monterey Bay.
Monterey Bay was a very famous scenic area in California. It had charming scenery and many wild animals. Many rich people came here to relax and travel all year round. This was also where Zhuang Long lived when he was young.