Chapter 16: Pitiable Aspects

Even the most hateful person has their pitiable aspects, but that doesn’t…

“I went for a stroll in the east today and met a child. She said her name was Wen Shu,” Meng Huan said absentmindedly at the dinner table.

Wen Zhaoyin had been so busy these past few days that she was running around in circles. She had just returned from outside and didn’t know anything yet.

Upon suddenly hearing this, her pupils constricted slightly, and the chopsticks in her hand paused. She then turned her head and asked him, “What did you two talk about?”

She didn’t have time to conceal her emotions, and that look even scared Meng Huan into a daze. He truthfully recounted everything that happened today.

After listening, Wen Zhaoyin turned her head and continued picking up food, even adding a piece of fish for him. “What made you think of going there? It’s quite far from Bamboo Courtyard to Crane Garden.”

She actually hadn’t figured out Meng Huan’s position in the Wen family herself, to the point that she hadn’t even given him a status yet. So she didn’t want her daughter to see him now.

Fortunately, they only had a simple exchange and didn’t say anything unnecessary. Otherwise, it would be a bit troublesome.

Meng Huan came back to his senses, thinking that she might have just had a maternal outburst of anger. Sometimes, after women become mothers, their personalities become tougher and more sensitive.

His mother was also like this after giving birth to his younger sister. Because after divorcing his mother, his biological father revengefully molested the daughter his mother had with his stepfather.

Although he was completely unaware, that bastard’s blood still flowed in him. Before he was financially independent and able to leave home, he had been subjected to all kinds of mental abuse from his biological mother and stepfather.

So whenever he encountered similar situations, Meng Huan couldn’t help but want to explain, to smooth over the other person’s emotions.

“You were quite scary just now. Please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t intentionally approach Wen Shu. I only wanted to go to Crane Garden because I had finished walking around the west side, and you weren’t home…”

He explained while observing her expression, finding that there was nothing unusual on her face. That fleeting murderous look from earlier seemed like an illusion.

“I…” He still wanted to say something.

Wen Zhaoyin had already put down her chopsticks, wiped her hands, and stood up. “It’s fine. I was just asking. Hurry and eat.”

“I still have some matters to deal with today, so I won’t come tonight. Get some rest early.”

After staying over last time, she had been sleeping in Bamboo Courtyard every night. But today, she suddenly said she had something to do and wouldn’t come. Meng Huan knew without thinking that it was related to him meeting Wen Shu today.

What was she doing? Playing the cold shoulder in front of him just because he happened to meet her daughter and exchanged a few words? She was going to treat him like this?

It was exactly the same way his mother handled things, thoroughly enraging Meng Huan.

“You stop right there!”

He didn’t want to be like a henpecked husband, smiling when she came and crying when she left. He had his own temper too.

It wasn’t like they couldn’t live without each other. Who was she putting on airs for? Besides, he didn’t even do anything wrong.

“Clarify things before you leave. You’re the one who trapped me in the Wen family. You even said you wanted to have a child with me before. Now just because I saw your daughter, you’re like this?”

“To be honest, if you just want to fool around, forget it. My time is precious. I don’t want to waste it on you. There are plenty of women out there waiting for me!”

Wen Zhaoyin was stopped halfway. After hearing his string of ‘shocking’ words, she couldn’t help but press her eyebrows.

She walked back, grabbed Meng Huan’s clenched fist that was tight with anger, and pried it open bit by bit. “Open your hand, so you don’t hurt your palm with your nails. I really do have something to do. I might not sleep tonight, that’s why I said I wasn’t coming over.”

“It has nothing to do with Wen Shu, really.” She even specifically emphasized it again.

She was so gentle now that Meng Huan was dazzled, his emotions miraculously soothed.

Perhaps it was because in modern times, he had never encountered such tolerance. So now, he was completely unable to distinguish whether Wen Zhaoyin was being genuine or pretending, but deep down, he chose to believe his feelings.

“Then stay. I’m a sound sleeper. You definitely won’t disturb me.”

“Don’t go, okay?” For the first time, Meng Huan exposed his own vulnerability, subconsciously hoping to beg for a bit of elusive love.

It wasn’t the casual love between a man and woman, but rather what he lacked in his family life.

He was like a snail, carefully extending his feelers. If it succeeded this time, he would use the same method next time. If he was rejected this time, he would quickly retract into his shell and be a carefree scoundrel.

Anyway, that was how it had always been before.

The choice was in Wen Zhaoyin’s hands. She might not know that her one decision could change a person, but she still made the best choice.

“Alright, I’ll stay.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Huan couldn’t help but smile. The heavy mood from earlier instantly vanished. Here, he wouldn’t be misunderstood or scolded and accused for no reason. There was someone who would listen to his explanation and be willing to believe him.

In his joy, he ate three big bowls of rice. If he wasn’t stopped, he might have even eaten a fourth bowl.

Who knew what was going on with him recently? His appetite had almost doubled compared to before, and he also easily felt sleepy and tired.

Meng Huan thought that the original owner might be growing, so he didn’t pay much attention to it.