"So, in your eyes, am I the former or the latter?" Shen Nian asked directly.
"I said earlier, you're smart. My son has good taste; you guess whether I categorize you as the former or the latter?" Mrs. Xiao tilted her head playfully.
Shen Nian: "..."
"If I really disliked you, two years ago I wouldn't have let my son continue associating with you, or I would have already taken out a check for five million and asked you to take the money and stay away from my son."
"..."
"I know some things about you," Mrs. Xiao didn't spell out the details, but both knew what she was referring to.
At seventeen, her parents died in a car accident. At eighteen, she went through that ordeal. Her best friend went down a path of no return, and she suffered with guilt and self-blame for five years.
A pitiful child.
"Actually, I quite like you. From the small act of you pouring me a drink earlier, I can see that you're a thoughtful girl. If we were mother and daughter-in-law, I think we could get along quite well. It's a pity..."
She paused. "You don't like my son."
"So you came to ask me to stay away from Xiao Mubai in the future?" Shen Nian asked.
She thought no parent would want their child to remain immersed in unrequited feelings.
Shen Nian was direct, and Mrs. Xiao didn't beat around the bush either.
"Precisely, yes. Mubai is my husband's and my only child, and he was doted on by us and the elders from both sides while growing up. This child is also quite sentimental."
"..." Shen Nian had noticed this too. Just because he met her, Xiao Mubai wasted five years on her despite knowing there was no answer.
"A few days ago, my father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, mid-stage. The doctor said the chances of a cure were not high or low, but there were risks. For now, we haven't told Mubai about this yet. Ever since Mubai was little, my father-in-law has doted on him. This year, Mubai turned twenty-five, and lately my father-in-law has been wanting to see Mubai get married and have children. Otherwise, even when he passes, he'll have regrets."
"By chance, I happened to notice the recent hot search a few days ago. After mulling it over for a few days, I thought I should meet with you for a chat."
"..." No wonder Xiao Mubai was so gentle and tactful; it turned out he had a mother with high emotional intelligence.
If Mrs. Xiao were now sitting here, taking out a check from her bag and arrogantly pushing it towards her, making it clear what her status was and telling her to stay away from her son henceforth, Shen Nian thought she would turn around and leave immediately.
But instead, Mrs. Xiao was candid with her, expressed her positive impression, and shared her true thoughts about Shen Nian, as real as could be, leaving her unable to utter a word of refusal.
A gentle knife, cutting deep into one's heart - this saying was indeed reasonable.
"So I didn't come to cause you trouble today. I wanted to hear your answer," Mrs. Xiao said. "If you're willing to be with my son, I would naturally be delighted..."
"Since Mrs. Xiao has investigated me, you should know about my messes," Shen Nian interrupted her. Since the other party had been so frank, she would be too. "I've been pregnant before, had abortions."
She paused, then added, "Twice."
Continuing, she summarized, "Currently, with my ex-boyfriend, who is also the father of my two children, our relationship is unclear - we have the reality of a married couple but not the name."
She and Lu Lingchuan were no longer boyfriend and girlfriend. During the day, she was his assistant. At night...
"..." Mrs. Xiao was stunned for a moment, then smiled wryly. "You are quite honest."
"There's nothing to hide," Shen Nian said nonchalantly. "Lies can only deceive oneself."
Mrs. Xiao didn't show any disdain, but said, "I had investigated you beforehand, so I was mentally prepared before coming."
"As for what happened back then... I'm sorry about it, but since I don't know the full story, I won't comment. Whatever your past was, I wasn't involved, so I have no right to lecture you. But if you're willing to choose my son, the Xiao family will treat you like our own daughter. However, I do hope you can resolve things properly with the other party."
She had already told Shen Nian as tactfully as she could.
To be frank, she didn't dislike Shen Nian. Plus, her son liked her so much. If Shen Nian was truly willing to be with her son, the Xiao family would cherish her like their own daughter. But this didn't mean she was willing to accept Shen Nian's ambiguous relationship with her ex-boyfriend.
No matter how diplomatically she spoke, it didn't mean she was willing to see her son metaphorically wearing a green hat.
She only had this one request for Shen Nian.
"..." Shen Nian lowered her head in silence. Mrs. Xiao didn't press her for an immediate answer either. The two remained quiet for nearly a minute. Just as Mrs. Xiao was about to say she could have time to consider, Shen Nian, who had been stirring her drink with the straw, suddenly spoke up.
"Do you know what my first impression of you was?"
Mrs. Xiao frowned. "Hmm?"
Shen Nian looked up at her. "A woman soaked in the honey jar of marital bliss."
Mrs. Xiao raised her eyebrows.
"Whether one is happy or not can often be seen on their face. At first glance, I noticed your bright eyes, upturned brows, and even when not speaking, your lips were slightly curved upwards. It's clear you live a very happy life."
"Yes, I'm happy," Mrs. Xiao didn't deny this. Her husband and son both loved her dearly, which was the foundation of her happiness.
"The last time I saw someone like you was about six years ago."
The first time Lu Lingrui brought her to her home.
When she first saw Li Mingshi, she was just like the current Mrs. Xiao.
Beautiful, elegant, gentle, youthful - whether in figure or demeanor, she didn't look like the mother of three children at all, because she was so happy, with a devoted husband and carefree children, so she could only be joyful every day.
Mrs. Xiao only knew about the incident with Lu Lingrui back then, and that Shen Nian and her ex-boyfriend Lu Lingchuan, Lu Lingrui's brother, had an entangled relationship. But she didn't know much about the two from the Lu family.
Although both families had decent backgrounds, they developed in different directions, so they didn't really associate.
"And then what?" she asked.
"And then..." Shen Nian paused. "That smile was ruined by me."
Nowadays, Li Mingshi was haggard and gaunt, her eyes dull and lifeless, constantly red from crying, no trace of her former gentle, elegant lady of the house.
"My parents died in a car accident, destroying my family. Lu Lingrui and Lu Lingchuan both said they would give me a family, but I ended up ruining their family too. Perhaps... I'm just an ill-fated loner. Anyone who gets close to me becomes miserable."
Thinking of this, Shen Nian wore a self-deprecating smile.
"..." Mrs. Xiao opened her mouth but didn't know how to console her.
