She picked up the teapot on the table and refilled Lin Tianxin’s cup, speaking slowly, “Don’t doubt it. That rascal has had his eye on you since you first started high school.”
Lin Tianxin was even more surprised, almost dropping the cup in her hand. “High school?”
Back then, she had barely interacted with Lu Ye. The Lu family had been military for three generations and lived in the military compound, while her own parents were high-ranking officials in administrative departments. Their homes were just a street apart, and all she knew was that there was this tall, well-built boy in the military compound the kind parents always compared others to.
She had only seen him from afar a few times. In her memory, he always looked fierce, like someone not to be messed with.
“Of course,” Wu Wanjun said with a smile, reminiscing. “Back then, after school, you always went with your classmates to that popsicle stall at the alley entrance. Every time he came back from the army, he’d pretend to pass by and stand under a tree watching you eat popsicles for ages.
“There was even a time when a few half-grown boys cornered you and tried to take your pocket money. He was the one who stepped in and beat them off. Afterward, he just left didn’t even give you a chance to thank him.”
Lin Tianxin froze. That memory was hazy to her she only remembered someone helping her out of trouble. She had been too scared at the time to see the person clearly. So it had been Lu Ye?
Why hadn’t he said anything? Why had he hidden from her?
“And the year you got into medical university, your family held a celebration. He specifically took leave to come back, but he didn’t dare go inside. He just stood outside the courtyard listening to the lively noise for almost an hour before leaving.”
Wu Wanjun sighed, her tone tinged with frustration. “Your father and I both saw it clearly this boy had put you right at the tip of his heart. But he’s so bad with words, couldn’t squeeze out a single nice sentence. Later, when he heard your father was thinking of matchmaking, he was so happy he couldn’t sleep for days. Then he got worried you wouldn’t agree and walked around frowning all day, like he was about to be executed.”
Something in Lin Tianxin’s heart stirred softly, leaving a faint, bittersweet feeling.
She had never imagined that the seemingly rough and unruly Lu Ye had been hiding such deep feelings.
In her past life, she had only seen him as crude, overbearing, someone who forced her but she had never noticed the care hidden in all those small details.
“That rascal,” Wu Wanjun cursed him in her heart countless times, though she smiled as she patted Lin Tianxin’s hand, “he’s all tough talk and soft heart. He doesn’t know how to express himself, always doing foolish things instead. If he’d told you all this earlier, you wouldn’t have suffered so much.”
Lin Tianxin lowered her head, looking at the rippling water in her cup. So all those years she had overlooked, Lu Ye had always been there, watching over her in his own clumsy way.
“Mom,” she said softly, “I understand.”
She didn’t have deep feelings for Lu Ye at most, just a bit of goodwill, and that had only started since last night. It wasn’t exactly moving, perhaps because she was still a little afraid of him.
Seeing her expression soften, Wu Wanjun felt relieved, knowing she had made the right move. Her son’s happiness depended on himself, but as a mother, she had to give him a push.
“Alright, enough about him.” Wu Wanjun changed the subject. “Where do you want to go this afternoon? I’ll have the guard drive you. Whatever you want to buy or do, Mom will pay.”
Lin Tianxin lifted her head, the confusion in her eyes fading, replaced by determination. “Mom, I want to go back to my parents’ home to talk with my mother.”
She had to go back not just to stop Xu Su, but also because in her past life, her mother had passed away, leaving her with regret and sorrow. She desperately wanted to see her family again.
Wu Wanjun’s smile faltered slightly. The hand holding the teacup paused, her heart skipping a beat. Just married and already eager to return to her parents’ home could it be she still hadn’t let go of the idea of not wanting to live with Lu Ye?
She discreetly studied Lin Tianxin. Though there was determination in her expression, there was no resistance or disgust it didn’t seem like she was trying to run away.
But the more it seemed that way, the less at ease Wu Wanjun felt.
Her own son was rough and blunt. Tianxin hadn’t wanted the marriage to begin with. If she went back home and felt wronged, what if she changed her mind?
But the words had already been said she couldn’t very well stop her from going back. That would make the Lu family seem small-minded.
Steadying herself, Wu Wanjun smiled again. “You should go back and visit. Your parents must be thinking of you. How about this I’ll have Old Li drive you. Later, I’ll have him pick you up again so your mother doesn’t keep you overnight. If Lu Ye finds out, he’ll get mad at me.”
She deliberately mentioned Lu Ye, watching for Lin Tianxin’s reaction.
As expected, Lin Tianxin looked up at her, a trace of complexity flashing in her eyes before she nodded. “I’ll just talk with my mom and come back by evening.”
She understood Wu Wanjun’s concerns. If she were in her place, she would worry too. But right now, her mind was filled with thoughts of Xu Su and her parents.
Seeing her agree so readily, Wu Wanjun relaxed a little, though she was still uneasy. She turned to Zhang Ma and instructed, “Go call Old Li in. Tell him to get the car ready to take Tianxin to the Lin family.”
When the guard, Old Li, came in, Wu Wanjun added deliberately, “Be careful on the road. Make sure you bring my daughter-in-law back don’t let her stay there overnight.”
Old Li had served the Lu family for years. One look at Wu Wanjun’s expression and he understood there was more to it. “Yes,” he replied.
Lin Tianxin felt a warmth in her heart, knowing Wu Wanjun truly cared for her and didn’t want her to suffer.
She stood up and said, “Mom, I’ll head out first. I’ll be back tonight.”
“Alright.” Wu Wanjun prepared two baskets and personally walked her to the door. Watching her get into the car, she leaned on the window and reminded her, “Talk properly with your mother don’t be stubborn, okay? A married daughter belongs to her husband’s family now. You can’t go back empty-handed. Normally, you’d return home after three days, but since Lu Ye isn’t here, go visit if you miss your mother. When it’s time for the formal visit, I’ll go with you.”
“I understand, Mom.”
Lin Tianxin smiled and nodded. As the car slowly drove off, she looked back at Wu Wanjun standing at the doorway. Suddenly, she felt that this life might truly be different.
At least, she now had a mother-in-law who cared about her.
In truth, Wu Wanjun had always been a good person. In her past life, even though she avoided Lu Ye, Wu Wanjun had never once spoken harshly to her.
After Lu Ye’s sacrifice and the Lu family’s return to the city, when she met Wu Wanjun again, the woman had only said that everyone had their own fate that she and Lu Ye were not meant to be. Since Lu Ye was gone, she should marry someone she truly liked.
She hadn’t blamed her instead, she had comforted her.
Even at the wedding yesterday, when Lin Tianxin had been cold and unwilling, Wu Wanjun hadn’t said a word against her.
In this life, she would cherish them and be a good daughter-in-law.
Wu Wanjun stood at the doorway, watching the car turn out of the alley before heading back inside, muttering, “That rascal when he comes back and finds out I let Tianxin go to her parents’ house, he’ll definitely glare at me again. But if I didn’t let her go, I’d be afraid of pushing her too far…”
Sighing as she walked, she could only hope Lin Tianxin would be sensible and that her son would step up, warm his wife’s heart as soon as possible.