I don't know why, but after the meal, I had a strong desire to join this family. Was it my mom's gentle personality, or Lao Wang's approachable friendliness, or Wang Rui's straightforward way of doing things that stirred up my combative potential? I couldn't say for sure, maybe it was a little bit of everything.

Because this was what a family should be like, the atmosphere and appearance it should have. I seemed to have never enjoyed such an environment.

After sitting for a while, Wang Rui was the first to want to leave. Lao Wang immediately stopped her, saying in a slightly serious tone, "Don't go out to play for a few days. Go home with Lin Che later. As a member of the family, you should show the enthusiasm you should have."

"What do you mean?"

"Lin Che will be living with us from now on. Although he's only a few months older than you, he's still your older brother. You must get along harmoniously."

Wang Rui picked up her bag and replied casually, "I won't object to him living here, but I have an appointment tonight."

"You keep making appointments, but you never bring a man home. Is it so important to go out on such an important day?"

"We agreed to have dinner together, I'm already giving face."

My mom said tolerantly, "Let Rui Rui go. We can take Lin Che back ourselves."

After Wang Rui left, we also got up and left the restaurant, walking again on this tree-lined path. The bamboo forest was now decorated with colorful lights, completely different from before.

I reached out and touched one of the lights, feeling a slight warmth. The stones under my feet were laid out in a regular pattern, each step seeming to match the size of my stride.

Seeing that there were few people outside, I casually lit a cigarette. My mom was walking in front of me, and as soon as she smelled the smoke, she quickly turned around and said in a serious tone for the first time, "Smoke less outside. You need to change this habit."

"Isn't there no one around?" I retorted casually.

"Isn't Mom here? Especially in front of women, you need to have basic etiquette."

After taking a puff, and considering the need for a good way to communicate, I immediately put it out, giving us both a way out.

Lao Wang was driving a black Mercedes 600, which was conventional and matched his age. My car was parked some distance away from theirs. After Lao Wang got into his car, I privately walked towards mine. I heard footsteps and talking behind me: "A Che, Mom will ride in your car."

I immediately stopped and turned around, saying, "Why not ride in the big Benz, and instead ride in my beat-up car?"

"I don't care about that, as long as it's safe."

Then she walked parallel to me, and I realized that she was quite tall. Although her figure was a bit plump, at this age, it was not only not unattractive, but added a touch of good fortune.

She opened the car door herself and sat in the passenger seat. As soon as I got into the car, she started chatting with me. Both her facial expressions and body language made me feel very warm. After only knowing each other for a day, I had almost forgotten that she had abandoned me. This knot in my heart that I had held for so many years was being untied by her gentle side.

"You should stay at home tonight. Mom will go back with you tomorrow to pack up the necessary things. You don't need anything else. Everything is prepared for you at home."

I hesitated for a moment and replied, "I think it's better to live separately. I've been used to being alone since I was a child. Suddenly integrating into a big family, I'm afraid everyone won't be used to it."

"Feelings need to be cultivated slowly. You may not be used to it now, but you'll naturally get used to it after living together for a while. If we live separately again, we'll always be strangers. You've been wandering outside for too long, it's time to settle down."

"I don't want to live together." My answer was firm.

"What are you worried about? If you have a girlfriend, just bring her home. Mom will accept her..."

I immediately interrupted the topic, "No, I've never planned to get married."

"Never had a girlfriend?"

"Almost. Who would like such a carefree man?" I said, trying to brush it off.

But she took it seriously, saying in an educational tone, "If you know your shortcomings, you need to change your image. If Mom introduces you to a decent woman, she'll run away when she sees you."

I sneered inwardly. The term "decent woman" was indeed too unfamiliar to me. Apart from having had one serious relationship, I had always been messing around with women from nightclubs. Maybe I didn't even understand what love was? Was that a kind of helplessness for a thirty-year-old man?

My silence made my mom think I was listening. She seemed very interested in the topic of relationships: "What type do you like?"

This stumped me. The conclusion I had reached the last time I asked myself seemed to be beyond my reach, so I replied disappointedly, "As long as she likes me, it doesn't matter if she's missing a leg."

"You need to adjust your mindset, you can't give up on yourself."

"Life has beaten me down like this, can't I even give up on myself!"

Actually, my mindset wasn't that cynical. Maybe it was because I had lacked family affection for too long, so I was deliberately amplifying this fragile point to gain sympathy. It wasn't exactly trying to win sympathy, just an instinctive outburst from the heart.

At this time, the traffic on the road was heavy, with one traffic light after another. While waiting, I habitually touched my cigarette case, then stopped the action.

Under her guidance, the car drove into a relatively quiet area, a high-end residential area. The European-style buildings looked very classy, and their economic conditions exceeded my expectations.

Lao Wang had already arrived and was standing next to his car, waiting for us. I deliberately parked the car a little further away from him. If the conditions weren't equal, it would seem out of place. My outdated car felt incomparable in front of the luxury homes and cars, and I didn't want to wrong my little beat-up car.

My mom seemed to see my motive, but she didn't say anything. She opened the car door and got out first. I deliberately turned off the engine slowly, observing the surroundings. The wide passage and perfectly designed garden made it seem like I had suddenly entered the ranks of the rich and handsome. This illusion made me grin, a feeling of wanting to laugh but not being able to.

Just as I was about to get out, Lao Wang greeted me. Maybe it was his personality that had won my respect and awe.

"Lin Che, come on down. Park your car at the door from now on, no need to park so far."

After getting out of the car, I realized that the whole area was full of three-story villas. I adjusted my open coat, seemingly subconsciously trying to add to my presence.

I thought my movements were cool, but my mom standing beside me suddenly laughed, patted me on the back, and affectionately took my arm, as if giving me strength and comfort.