After the cashier processed the remaining payment, she blushed as she returned the card to Zhou Songyan.
This was the boss’s friend, his first time at the store.
He’s so handsome!
She didn’t dare look at him directly.
Her heart was pounding.
Zhou Songyan took the card back.
He looked at Qin Xuan: “I’m leaving.”
Qin Xuan: “Don’t go! Peng Zixu is coming soon. Let’s have lunch together.”
Zhou Songyan didn’t respond and walked out with his long strides.
Qin Xuan turned around: “Give me that girl’s ID card.”
The staff member found Li Mai’s ID card and handed it to the boss.
Qin Xuan took it.
“Li Mai?”
So that girl’s name was Li Mai.
They all knew that Zhou Songyan had a girlfriend five years ago who eventually dumped him.
But Zhou Songyan never mentioned the girl’s name.
Qin Xuan didn’t know that Li Mai was the girl who had dumped Zhou Songyan back then.
“What are you looking at?”
Peng Zixu walked in.
Qin Xuan excitedly handed over Li Mai’s ID card: “Look, isn’t she pretty?”
Li Mai’s ID photo looked a bit immature—it was taken five years ago.
“She looks even better in person than in the photo.”
Peng Zixu looked at the photo and commented: “Yeah, not bad. A hundred times better than those women you used to chase.”
Qin Xuan snatched back the ID card: “I’m not interested in her—it’s Old Zhou who has his eye on her.”
“What?”
Qin Xuan explained what had happened.
Peng Zixu was silent for a moment: “No wonder he’s been so distracted lately. Turns out he’s interested in a girl.”
“Right, right! Judging by the situation, he hasn’t won her over yet. If he had, he would’ve just openly given her the car instead of making up that story about a discount.”
Peng Zixu: “If the girl came to buy a used car, her family situation must be average.”
Qin Xuan: “Yeah, you can tell she’s different from the women around us. Very modest and simple.”
” Zhou Songyan didn’t pretend to be poor, did he?”
Qin Xuan: “…”
They had originally agreed to have dinner at home, and Li Mai was planning to make hot pot.
Halfway there, You Huan called: “Li Mai, I have something to do later. I can’t come to your place for dinner.”
Li Mai: “Okay, come to my place tomorrow when you’re free. I’ll cook.”
“Great! I love eating your cooking.”
Li Mai drove the car back to her apartment complex and found a temporary parking spot.
To rent a parking space, she needed to wait for her license plates to be processed.
Back at home.
Li Mai made a simple lunch for two.
At the dinner table, Li Mai glanced at her son, who was eating quietly.
Chengcheng hadn’t said much since they got home.
About Zhou Songyan…
She should explain things to Chengcheng.
Chengcheng had seen Zhou Songyan’s photo.
He knew that was his father.
After lunch, Li Mai washed the dishes.
She came to Chengcheng’s side.
Gathering her courage, she said: “Chengcheng, Mommy lied today. Are you angry at Mommy?”
Chengcheng looked up: “No.”
Li Mai felt a pang in her heart.
Her son was too mature—nothing like other children his age.
“Chengcheng, he really is your father.”
“I know. He looks exactly like the person in the photo on your phone.”
“Chengcheng, I’m sorry. Mommy promised to find your father so our family of three could live together.”
“…But now Mommy has broken that promise.”
When she learned Zhou Songyan’s identity, she still wanted to try.
But Zhou Songyan’s words made her give up.
If she told Zhou Songyan that Chengcheng was their child…
Zhou Songyan would think she was manipulative, using the child as leverage.
There were two possible outcomes.
First, Zhou Songyan might compromise and be with her, but he would resent her. They wouldn’t be happy.
Making Chengcheng live in that kind of environment would be worse than just the two of them living alone.
The second possibility was that Zhou Songyan would take Chengcheng away from her.
She couldn’t bear that outcome.
Chengcheng was hers.
She had never received her father’s love in her life.
A mother’s love… she had longed for it.
As for romantic love, she was no longer certain.
Only her son was truly hers.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about taking Chengcheng back to Sucheng.
But good jobs weren’t easy to find, especially one like her current position.
She wanted to give Chengcheng a stable living environment.
She thought that Beijing was so big, she and Zhou Songyan probably wouldn’t cross paths again in the future.
During these five years, Zhou Songyan never looked for her.
For Zhou Songyan, that past relationship was just a minor episode.
Zhou Songyan would get married in the future and have his own children.
He probably wouldn’t discover that Chengcheng was his child.
Until she had a better plan, things would stay this way for now.
Compared to romantic feelings…
What she needed more right now was figuring out how to survive.
The only one she felt sorry for was Chengcheng.
Perhaps sensing Li Mai’s sadness, Chengcheng leaned against her, his little arms hugging her.
“It’s okay. Having Mommy is enough for me.”
Li Mai choked up: “Don’t you want to ask Mommy why?”
“I know Mommy has her own difficulties. It’s okay—I don’t need a dad.”
Li Mai completely lost her composure.
How could he not need a father?
She knew that Chengcheng, just like she once was, really wanted to find Zhou Songyan.
“Chengcheng…”
“Don’t cry, Mommy. You still have me.”
Li Mai cried even harder—she couldn’t control it.
Chengcheng hugged her tighter.
It took Li Mai a long time to get her emotions under control.
The atmosphere was too sad.
Li Mai changed the subject: “Chengcheng, at the used car dealership, how did you think to say those things? I mean about your uncle and aunt getting divorced, and your grandmother being sick…”
Chengcheng shrugged his shoulders with a sly smile.
“Who told them to be mean to Mommy!”
Li Mai: “…”
She helplessly rubbed his face.
“How do you understand everything?”
Chengcheng crossed his little arms and lifted his small face: “Of course! I’m incredibly smart! Mommy, you can rely on me from now on.”
Li Mai burst out laughing.
Chengcheng kept a straight face: “Mommy, don’t laugh. I’m serious. Don’t treat me like a little kid.”
Li Mai kissed him on the face: “Got it, sweetheart. Mommy will rely on you from now on.”
Chengcheng felt a bit dejected.
Mommy still didn’t believe him.
He really did understand everything and could take care of himself.
But Mommy was always worried.
Li Mai thought about Chengcheng’s situation at kindergarten.
“Chengcheng, humans are social animals. You need to learn how to get along with other children at kindergarten.”
“Mommy, they’re too immature. I can’t play with them.”
Li Mai: “…”
Son, you’re the one who’s too mature, okay?
But Li Mai absolutely refused to believe there was anything wrong with Chengcheng.
Her son was just more mature for his age.
“Mommy, can I not go to kindergarten and just stay home?”
“Mommy, I really don’t want to go to kindergarten.”
“I’ll be fine at home, and I can even help you with housework.”
Li Mai: “…”
Chengcheng really resisted going to kindergarten.
What should she do?
“Baby, let Mommy think about it.”
She couldn’t bring herself to refuse him outright.