Chapter 128: Chapter 121: A Thought of Heaven, a Thought of Hell
Healed scars, forgotten pain!
"Mom, Xiaomeng mentioned you like calligraphy and paintings before, so I brought one over as an apology."
As he spoke, Yin Shixiu opened his suitcase.
Su’s mother frowned, "You don’t think that just by offering something good, you could..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Yin Shixiu had already handed the meticulously packaged, well-preserved painting by Qi Baishi to Su’s mother.
Initially, Su’s mother was indifferent, but she glanced sideways and saw the three characters "Qi Baishi" engraved in seal script on the sandalwood box.
Taking it over, her actions seemed rough, but she was actually careful and cautious. She only took one look before closing it again and putting it back in the wooden box.
"Where did you get this?"
She asked coldly.
"I have a friend in that circle. During the New Year, I noticed your study had quite a few calligraphy and paintings. Later, I heard from Xiaomeng that you love these literary things, so I kept it in mind and got this painting from my friend."
Su’s mother raised an eyebrow.
Yin Shixiu was known to be tactful and smooth, a fact she was aware of.
The white jade chess set he gave to his husband back then, and today’s painting given to her...
Perhaps for the Yin Family, they were not much, but to say he was not attentive might be a bit forced.
"I’ll accept this painting."
Su’s mother was so straightforward, even Su Xiaomeng was taken aback...
She thought her mother would be much more resolute.
At least, she felt her mother wouldn’t be easily bought off by just a painting...
"Mom... did you forgive uncle?"
Su’s mother glanced at Su Xiaomeng, "It’s not forgiveness. I just feel that raising such a spineless girl is not as good as exchanging her for a painting."
With that, Su’s mother went back to the bedroom, taking the painting with her.
Su Xiaomeng stood there, feeling conflicted because while it was good that her mother wasn’t holding grudges with uncle, she couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable...
"Meng Meng, take Xiao Yin’s luggage into the room. Come on, Xiao Yin, play a couple of games of chess with me."
"Dad, it’s quite late already, shouldn’t we rest?"
"You’re the pregnant one; he isn’t. Rest for what?"
Su Chengji spoke as if it was a matter of course.
Su Xiaomeng glanced at Yin Shixiu, and he nodded, "Go ahead and sleep first. I’ll play a couple of games with Dad."
"...Oh."
Since uncle said so, she didn’t dwell on it.
Su Chengji took out his cherished white jade chess set from his cabinet, placing the chessboard on the coffee table.
Yin Shixiu sat opposite him.
Su’s mother placed the painting on the desk in the study without opening it again.
Although Qi Baishi’s painting was attractive to her, trying to buy her off with just a painting would be treating her like Su Chengji.
It’s just that...
She hadn’t expected Yin Shixiu to follow them to Chengdu.
Being born into a wealthy family herself, she had some understanding of rich kids like Yin Shixiu.
The more successful they are, the more arrogant they become, and the more arrogant they are, the more they disregard others.
Yet, even so, young and outstanding girls continue to throw themselves at them one after another.
For Yin Shixiu, there were countless better choices than Xiaomeng.
The commotion reached such a point partly out of heartache for her daughter, and partly out of anger towards the elder Yins.
She thought Yin Shixiu would give up...
Yet, the image of her daughter’s heartbroken face leaving Beijing lingered in her mind.
As a result...
She even found herself defending Yin Shixiu, making excuses for him. Perhaps... it wasn’t really his fault that Meng suffered.
This painting was his way to seek a step of reconciliation.
And after thinking it over, she concluded...
Giving him this step might make Xiaomeng... happier.
At least, Yin Shixiu had shown his willingness, and she couldn’t fault him for that.
As parents, all they wanted was such an attitude.
"Even if he can stay in Chengdu with Meng for a while, what about the future?"
Su Chengji made a move, asking offhandedly.
"Actually... Xiaomeng is someone who doesn’t back down easily either."
Yin Shixiu said calmly, facing Su Chengji’s doubt without panic, "She just hasn’t found a career yet that she is willing to continuously devote herself to. But someone with such a stubborn personality will surely find something she loves and is willing to fight for in the future."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"I promised you guys that I wouldn’t ask her to change anything, but what I can’t control is that as she grows older, she will change."
Yin Shixiu moved a chess piece.
"Just like she used to love dancing, maybe in the future, she’ll fall in love with something else. As long as she finds what she wants to do and is willing to fight for it, I’ll support her fully."
Su Chengji paused for a moment.
"When that time comes, I’ll listen to her. If she wants to stay in Chengdu, then I’ll settle down in Chengdu. If she’s willing to return to Beijing with me, then we’ll go back to Beijing. If she doesn’t want to stay in Beijing, I can also take her to London."
"Isn’t your career more important?"
"Men may struggle for two goals, one is chasing their ambitions, and the other... is for their wives to spend money and to earn milk powder money for their children."
Yin Shixiu gave a light laugh, looking at Su Chengji, "Am I right?"
Su Chengji nodded, somewhat approvingly, "That’s indeed the logic."
"For me, my ambition was fulfilled when Yin became the number one Internet brand in the country. Now, there’s only the second reason left."
"But Xiaomeng is only twenty... She doesn’t understand many things."
Su Chengji took a deep breath, "Xiao Yin, I’m very worried that in the future, you won’t be able to do what you are saying now."
"...I’m worried too."
"That’s why I said it. If I don’t deliver in the future, you’ll have a reason to hold me accountable, won’t you?"
Yin Shixiu had a faint smile on his lips.
Su Chengji raised an eyebrow, then chuckled lightly, "Pop!"
He excitedly moved a pawn!
The sound of the white jade hitting the chessboard made Yin Shixiu clear his throat a bit uncomfortably.
Perhaps...reminding Su Dad that this isn’t how you play the game would be a good idea?
The conversation in the living room went straight into Su’s mother’s ears.
For a moment, her mind was a bit cluttered.
Two people liking each other is naturally a rare good thing...
But can a relationship make both families completely happy, rather than some being overjoyed and others very sad...
Su Xiaomeng was packing Yin Shixiu’s luggage when she saw the Winnie the Pooh he mentioned sleeping with in his arms.
She stared blankly at this Winnie the Pooh...
Somehow, she couldn’t help but imagine Yin Shixiu sleeping on the plane holding the bear.
Not knowing how long she thought about it, she eventually held the Winnie the Pooh and lay down on the bed, feeling a bit dizzy.
When Yin Shixiu came in, she was occupying the entire bed by herself.
He sat at the edge of the bed, looking at the little girl’s slightly flushed cheeks, the scars on her body still obvious and glaring.
Su Xiaomeng only felt an itchy, warm sensation on her neck, shuffling around uncomfortably.
However, the warmth rubbing against her neck didn’t move away...
"Uncle..."
Su Xiaomeng finally came to her senses, and just as she turned around, her small mouth was blocked.
In the darkness, she met Yin Shixiu’s pitch-black eyes...
She couldn’t breathe, and only then did Yin Shixiu let her go...
He flicked her nose, "Did you miss me?"
"Did you miss me?"
He asked again.
Su Xiaomeng stared intently at him, looking at the familiar flirtation and heat in his eyes...
Yin Shixiu caressed her cheek, "Why aren’t you speaking? Shy?"
"Yin Shixiu... I’m really starting to doubt what intentions you have in coming to find me now!"
"The intention to completely have my way with you!"
Saying that, he engulfed all her sounds into his mouth again.
The next morning, after Su Xiaomeng got up, she found her eyes a bit swollen.
Her eyes being swollen was one thing, but her obviously thicker than usual lips were a bit frustrating.
She knew that perverted uncle couldn’t change his nature.
After washing up and returning to the living room, Su Dad went to open the store, Su Mom went to school, and only Yin Shixiu was sitting at the dining table flipping through the newspaper.
"You’re up?"
Su Xiaomeng walked to the seat across from him and sat down, glancing at the newspaper in his hands, "What are you reading?"
"Just browsing."
Yin Shixiu set the newspaper aside, then went into the kitchen to reheat some porridge, scooped it into a bowl, and brought it out, then took the warmed milk from the warm water and handed it to Su Xiaomeng.
As Su Xiaomeng ate breakfast, Yin Shixiu continued reading the newspaper.
She glanced at him, pretending to ask casually, "Aren’t you going back to Beijing to work?"
"I’ll be gradually shifting the focus of my work to Chengdu for now."
"...Oh."
"What’s wrong?"
Yin Shixiu looked at her shifting gaze and couldn’t help but ask.
Su Xiaomeng stirred her bowl of porridge, murmuring, "What I said at the airport yesterday...you don’t have to take it to heart."
"What?"
"About letting go of everything and coming to Chengdu with me..."
Yin Shixiu raised an eyebrow, looking at Su Xiaomeng’s slightly lowered head.
Su Xiaomeng saw his silence and couldn’t help but look up, unintentionally meeting his meaningful expression, "Why are you looking at me like that? I just don’t want to be a femme fatale..."
"A femme fatale? You’re capable of that?"
Yin Shixiu propped up his chin, looking at her with interest.
Su Xiaomeng found his words somewhat unpleasant and glared at him.
Yin Shixiu understood what she meant, and it was precisely that understanding that made her even more endearing.
"Don’t always stare at me with those lustful eyes..."
Yin Shixiu raised an eyebrow, "By the way...parents aren’t home today."
"Of course, they have their own things to do."
Su Xiaomeng said naturally, then took a sip of milk.
"Then...can we continue what we didn’t finish last night to our heart’s content today?"
"Pffft! Cough, cough...cough!"
Su Xiaomeng quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe her mouth, nearly choking on the milk.
Yin Shixiu just smiled lightly, seeing that she had almost finished eating, and picked up his coat, "So? Are you coming to the company with me or..."
"...You’re going to the company today?"
"There’s a meeting at noon."
"Oh...then you go yourself, I’m staying home."
Yin Shixiu looked at her, went inside to get her coat, phone, and tablet, bent slightly, curving his eyes, and softly said, "I wasn’t finished speaking, are you coming to the company with me or am I taking you to the company?"