Marriage First, True Love Later



237 A familiar chest

The call was from Chengxiang’s mother.

Lin Li was very surprised that Cheng Zheng’s mother would call at this time. She was completely unprepared.

Lin Li, do you have time? Auntie wants to treat you to a meal, can I? ”

Lin Li was stunned. Cheng Zheng’s mother sounded very sincere on the other end of the phone, and her tone even sounded like she was begging. This was an attitude that she had never had before. Even when Cheng Xiang ran away at the wedding and caused her to have a miscarriage, she had never really lowered her tone to her. Her attitude had always been high and mighty.

When she didn’t hear Lin Li’s reply, Cheng Zheng’s mother asked with uncertainty, ” “Lin Li, are you listening?”

Lin Li finally reacted and said, ” “May I know what’s the matter?” She didn’t think that she would be so bored as to suddenly invite her to dinner. Even though she had been with Chengxiang for ten years, she had never truly accepted her. In the end, if it wasn’t for the fact that she had a child, she probably wouldn’t have agreed to let them get married.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and Cheng Zheng’s mother said, ” “It’s regarding Chengxiang.” His tone seemed to be suppressing some kind of pain and forbearance.

Lin Li frowned, took a deep breath, and said, ” “I think Mrs. Cheng has found the wrong person. My relationship with Chengxiang ended half a year ago. I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

On the other end of the phone, Cheng Zheng’s mother was anxious to explain, ” “Lin Li, I know.”

Lin Li didn’t want to listen to anything else, so she directly took away her phone and hung up.

Everything that should have ended between her and Chengxiang had already ended on that day of the wedding. There was nothing else to be involved in.

After tidying up the things on the desk, Lin Li took her briefcase and went directly to pick up Xiao bin from school.

Lin Li didn’t know what Chengxiang’s mother had called her that day to say, and she didn’t want to know either, because she wouldn’t have any more interactions with Chengxiang in the future.

However, when she returned home that day, she unexpectedly received another phone call. It was su Yicheng, and he said that he wanted to ask her for help. After hearing what he said, she realized that he wanted to arrange a surprise for Anran when she returned, and that surprise was his and Anran’s late wedding.

Lin Li understood that the wedding wasn’t just an ordinary wedding. It was also su Yicheng’s promise to Anran.

She understood everything that had happened between them, and she also understood the true meaning of this wedding to them.

Lin Li felt happy for Anran from the bottom of her heart. She was happy that Anran had found a man who truly loved and doted on her.

So, when su Yicheng said this, Lin Li agreed without hesitation.

In fact, su Yicheng’s request was very simple. He didn’t need her to do anything. As long as she agreed to help him hide the truth, then on the day Anran returned to the country, she would be able to pick Anran up from the airport to the wedding venue.

In response, Lin Li called Anran. When she heard from Anran that mother Gu’s surgery was a success and that her wound had recovered smoothly, she was genuinely happy for her. According to the rules, she didn’t disclose anything about su Yicheng’s wedding plans to Anran and only asked her to inform her when she returned to the country. The two of them hadn’t had a good chat for a long time.

Lin Li would still bring Xiao bin back to the institution compound every weekend to see mother Zhou and father Zhou. Sometimes they would have a meal together, and sometimes they would stay the night.

“Here, Xiao bin, eat this. Grandma made you some braised meatballs.” Her precious grandson rarely came back once a week. Mother Zhou attentively picked up the food, afraid that the child would be hungry.

It seemed that after Zhou han released the paternity test report to the media previously, mother Zhou’s attitude towards Xiao bin became even more intimate. Lin Li knew that it was also because of the guilt that mother Zhou felt for not being able to arrive in time after the little guy’s identity was exposed. It should also be because she no longer had any doubts about the little guy’s identity as a descendant of the Zhou family.

However, on the other hand, the little guy was more sensitive in terms of his thoughts due to the environment he grew up in. Therefore, he became a little distant from mother Zhou and father Zhou. Sometimes, when he smiled, there was a sense of alienation and wariness. Lin Li guessed that because the little guy was too sensitive, he had been holding a grudge against Zhou Han’s previous words.

The little guy looked up at mother Zhou, then said respectfully, ” “Thank you,” he said.

Mother Zhou’s heart ached. She didn’t want him to say thank you. As long as he was willing to smile at her, she would be satisfied. Mother Zhou blamed the change in the child’s attitude on her own negligence last time. She felt even more guilty. She reached out and touched the child’s head and said,”Good girl.”

After dinner, the little guy sat on the sofa in the living room and watched TV, while Lin Li accompanied mother Zhou to sit on the side and chat.

“Sigh, Xiao bin, are you still angry at me?” Looking at the child, mother Zhou’s eyes were a little dejected.

Lin Li followed her gaze, ” the incident last time has affected him a lot, and Xiao bin is a sensitive child, so he may need more time.

Mother Zhou nodded. I understand, I understand. As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at Lin Li. He reached out and pulled her hand over to place it on his lap. but it’s good that I have you, Lin Li. Thank you so much. With you by their side, I have nothing to worry about.

Lin Li smiled and held her hand back. She only said, ” “Don’t say that,”

“Lin Li, have you been having a bad time with Zhou han recently?” As she spoke, mother Zhou directly brought the topic to her.

Lin Li was stunned, and her expression changed slightly. She laughed awkwardly and said, ” “No, no, we’re fine.” In terms of working relationship, the two of them did work together quite well.

“Don’t hide it from me, I can tell.” Mother Zhou said, ” you guys were pretty good before. When you came back, you came back together. Look at now. You’re the only one who brought Xiao bin back. I didn’t even see Zhou Han’s shadow.

“Zhou Han’s just a little busy recently.” Lin Li explained with a dry smile.

Actually, ever since they made it clear on the phone that day, Zhou han had been avoiding her. If it wasn’t necessary, he wouldn’t take the initiative to talk to her. Of course, it must be related to work. Actually, when he avoided her, she did the same. The two of them rarely met at home because she would separate their time. Even if they were at home at the same time, she would always try her best to stay in the room to avoid meeting him.

Mother Zhou naturally didn’t believe Lin Li’s words. She looked at her and asked seriously, ” Lin Li, tell mom the truth. Do you mind ah Han’s past? ” She could tell that their relationship seemed to have soured after Xiao bin’s identity was exposed.

Lin Li glanced over and said in a low voice, ” I didn’t … he pulled his hand back from her hand and placed it on his leg, clenching it unnaturally.

Seeing her like this, mother Zhou thought that she was upset that Zhou han had been married before. She sighed slightly, but she was a little puzzled and asked, ” if you can accept Xiaobin, why can’t you accept that Zhou han was married? ”

Lin Li raised her head, knowing that she had misunderstood. She explained, ” “Mom, I didn’t. I don’t mind that he was married.” When it came to marriage, she and Chengxiang were only one step apart.

“Then why?” Mother Zhou was even more puzzled.

Lin Li shook her head and forced a smile. no, really nothing.

Lin Li, if you have anything to say, just tell mom. I won’t side with my son. As a mother, she always hoped that her children could live happily ever after. Now that she saw them like this, her heart was extremely sad.

Lin Li turned around, feeling an indescribable sourness in her heart. She only said in a low voice, ” maybe Zhou han hasn’t forgotten about Ling LAN. Even though he was deeply hurt back then.

Mother Zhou pulled her over and said with some excitement, You’re saying that ah han still loves Ling LAN? ”

“Maybe,” Lin Li said with a bitter smile.

Mother Zhou retracted her hand and lowered her head to think about something.

Sometimes, it was like this. When you were planning to surprise the person you love, the person you love was also planning to surprise you.

Therefore, when su Yicheng planned to hold a wedding for Anran on the day she returned, Anran also hid the fact that he had returned home a day earlier, hoping that he would be surprised to see her.

Fortunately, su Yicheng managed to react in time and didn’t reveal any flaws. The original task of letting Lin Li and su Yicheng’s sister, su yijiao, go to the airport to pick up Anran was changed to going to su Yicheng’s single apartment that morning to pick up the bride to the wedding venue.

The surprise that su Yicheng had arranged for Anran had truly shocked her, but of course, she was also overjoyed. Anran had almost finished her makeup in tears because she was so touched. She was so touched that a man like him was willing to do so much for her.

An ran was very beautiful that day. Although she had a big belly, it still couldn’t hide the elegance of the female lead.

The wedding went very smoothly, and it was clear that su Yicheng had put in a lot of effort. The wedding venue was dreamy and beautiful.

As she watched Anran hold father Gu’s hand and walk step by step toward su Yicheng, who was at the other end of the red carpet, Lin Li sincerely wished them well from the bottom of her heart.

Perhaps it was a sad scene, but Lin Li couldn’t help but feel emotional in the face of such a scene.

She had dreamed of such a scene countless times. Ever since they graduated from University, she had always looked forward to the day when she would walk to Chengxiang in her wedding dress. Every time she woke up from such a dream, she would smile in happiness.

After that, for a long time, she rushed to the wedding. However, that wedding was no longer the beautiful dream that could wake her up with a smile. Instead, it was a nightmare that scared her awake countless times. Because for a long time after she lost her child, she always dreamed of her wedding with Chengxiang. She dreamed that Chengxiang ran away from the wedding scene without any hesitation. She dreamed that he had pushed her to the ground with his own hands. Then, she woke up in fear.

Her whole body trembled violently, and her palms were sweating. Even thinking about it now, she still had some lingering fear.

As she watched father Gu put Anran’s hand on su Yicheng’s hand, Lin Li smiled in her heart. She turned around and was about to go to the bathroom, but when she turned around, she accidentally tripped on her bridesmaid dress. Her center of gravity tilted, and she lost her balance and was about to fall to the side. Suddenly, she felt a gust of wind behind her, and before she could react, she felt herself fall into a familiar chest.