Tonight, they returned to their room more than half an hour later than usual. Meng Ting didn’t notice the difference of the new location at first, but the next day when he came back to the study, he felt something was off about the study, and he couldn’t concentrate at all.
He brought Dahuang and Maoqiu out of the study, and just as he came downstairs, he heard Nanny Wang and Yan Manjia greeting each other. But last time, Yan Manjia said she would only be back on Saturday night, and today is only Friday.
Yan Manjia walked in through the door, her face still showing some embarrassment and annoyance. Only when she saw Meng Ting did she slightly restrained her expression.
“Auntie, what’s wrong? Who bullied you?” Meng Ting rubbed Maoqiu’s head in his arms and asked Yan Manjia.
Yan Manjia continued to walk in and sat on the sofa. She drank more than half a glass of water before considering how to answer Meng Ting’s question. Meanwhile, Meng Ting also sat on the sofa, with Dahuang and Maoqiu still lying by his side.
“In Haicheng, no one dares to bully me,” Yan Manjia stated a fact. Meng Ting looked over, and she continued, “It’s just that annoying people and things have come again…”
“Tell me, I worked so hard to pursue him back then, but he was indifferent. Now that I’m tired, he regrets it?”
Yan Manjia had a sarcastic expression on her face, but the slight hesitation flickering in her eyes still revealed her inner thoughts; she had not yet let go of certain people and matters.
Meng Ting pondered over Yan Manjia’s words for a long time before finally asking a question, which left Yan Manjia stunned.
“Auntie, are you sure he loves you?”
Meng Ting’s question had no time limit, encompassing both the time Yan Manjia was desperately pursuing someone as well as the time when that person now regretted it. Even if he regretted it, it is possible that he did not love her, or perhaps it was just a matter of not being used to it.
“I don’t know…” After a long pause, Yan Manjia finally responded softly to Meng Ting’s question. It’s quite sad to say, but even now, she still can’t be sure of Xiao Zi’s feelings for her. They have had their share of sorrowful moments together, as well as sweet ones. Time has flown by, and it’s been so many years already.
“He can’t even make you sure of your feelings; he doesn’t love you.”
Meng Ting never knew how to speak tactfully; he was direct to the point of being almost cruel. However, he didn’t speak so seriously to just anyone. He said these words to Yan Manjia because she was Yan Sui’s aunt and was now considered his elder.
Yan Manjia raised her eyes and looked over. Meng Ting thought she couldn’t understand his meaning, so he thought for a moment and said again, “Just like Yan Sui loves me, he can’t bear to make me sad or uneasy. He will clearly tell me and make me feel his love.”
“He doesn’t love you, so your sadness, your unease, he can’t see any of it.”
Meng Ting sighed again, saying, “I’m too stupid, I can’t explain it clearly. When Yan Sui comes back, I’ll have him talk to you. He’ll definitely able to make you understand.”
Yan Manjia gently shook her head—not to reject Meng Ting’s kindness, but because she knew that even if Yan Sui understood this principle, he wouldn’t be able to analyze it for her in such straightforward terms. At most, he would tell her that the person wasn’t worthy of her.
“You are right, he doesn’t love me, yet I still hold onto a bit of hope…”
As Yan Manjia spoke, there was more self-mockery on her face. Admitting that the man she loved never loved her back from the beginning to the end, admitting that she still had lingering feelings for such a man, admitting these things was equivalent to admitting that she had completely failed in this life.
“Do you want to hit him? I can help you.” Meng Ting really didn’t know how to comfort people. Only when he blurted out these words, did he vaguely feel something was off, but upon thinking again, he didn’t think it was too wrong. That person had wasted most of Yan Manjia’s life; giving him a beating would be considered a light punishment.
Yan Manjia’s melancholic mood couldn’t continue after Meng Ting’s words. She quickly shook her head, “If I want to find someone to beat him up, why would I need you to step in? Wouldn’t that make Sui Sui feel distressed?”
“Come here, just lean on your aunt for a bit…”
Yan Manjia felt that she had made the right decision to return home this time. She found the answer with Meng Ting and her mood was somewhat healed.
However, upon hearing this, Meng Ting not only didn’t come over but instead moved further away. He shook his head firmly and said, “I don’t let anyone other than Yan Sui hold me.”
Meng Ting felt that apart from other things, Yan Manjia’s one not-so-good habit was that she always liked to kiss and hug, and she was also very forgetful. He had told her this several times.
Yan Manjia accidentally really forgot about this, and as she sat there, she couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. She had to settle for second best, “Come here, Dahuang, give your aunt a hug.”
Meng Ting patted Dahuang’s head, letting it go to her.
***
Yan Manjia might still have some things she hasn’t figured out, so she didn’t leave today. Meng Ting accompanied her in the living room for a while, then followed his usual routine: two hours of fencing lessons in the morning, and in the afternoon, he worked in the flower garden in the backyard of the Yan residence with Uncle Xiao and the others.
Actually, when they returned from Country F, Yan Sui had already sent someone to plant them. However, Meng Ting sometimes requests different varieties, so there’s always something to be busy with after a while, and today is no exception.
Of course, Meng Ting can handle trimming and picking flowers, but if he really starts planting, it would directly elevate to the level of ‘ruthlessly destroying seedlings’.
“The backyard has actually become this beautiful…” Yan Manjia strolled over, paused in her steps, and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. She glanced at Meng Ting and muttered again, “You really do spoil him.”
The courtyard of the Yan family’s house hadn’t changed much since it was built. Now, in order to make Meng Ting happy, Yan Sui has completely transformed the backyard, filled with vibrant colors. In another month, when the two rows of maple trees in the garden turn red, it will look even more beautiful.
“Auntie is here,” Meng Ting raised his eyes, greeted Yan Manjia, and then continued sitting on the grass, trimming the excess leaves from the bouquet.
“What are you doing?” Yan Manjia was wearing a skirt and it was not convenient for her to just sit down like that. She raised her hand to signal someone to bring over a chair.
“We grow these flowers ourselves. Whenever I’m home, I pick a bunch for Yan Sui,” Meng Ting said, putting the scissors aside and then cradling one flower after another in his arms. Beside him was a long piece of twine he had made himself.
Yan Manjia saw Meng Ting being serious, so she didn’t disturb him anymore. She glanced around and couldn’t help but feel that it really did have a bit of the F country’s Rose Manor vibe. The scenery was beautiful, and the people around her were also pleasant to look at, which lifted her spirits a bit more.
After Meng Ting finished tying the flowers, he continued to sit on the grass with the flowers in his arms. Maoqiu and Dahuang ran over and lay down beside him. He looked up at Yan Manjia and said, “If you like them, I can ask Uncle Li to cut them for you.”
As for himself, he couldn’t do it; he had promised Yan Sui that he wouldn’t give flowers to others anymore.
Yan Manjia glanced at Meng Ting and didn’t ask him why he couldn’t cut the flowers for her. Even when Meng Ting was home alone, he could still flaunt his affection for him and Yan Sui, leaving one speechless and helpless.
“Do you think I can still meet someone I love and who loves me back?”
Meng Ting hesitated for a moment but still told Yan Manjia the truth, “I don’t know, maybe yes, maybe no, but if you can’t let go of those things, then it’s completely impossible.”
She still loves Xiao Zi. Even if she meets someone who loves her, if she doesn’t love him back, she still won’t be able to fulfill her own requirement of being in love.
“You are right,” Yan Manjia finally showed a relieved smile on her face. She reached out to touch the flowers in Meng Ting’s arms, then stood up. “Thank you, my baby, Ting Ting.”
“I’m not…” Meng Ting’s expression grew more serious.
Yan Manjia raised her eyebrows slightly and said with some helplessness, “Got it, got it, you’re just Yan Sui’s baby.”
“Mm,” Meng Ting actually nodded in agreement.
***
Yan Manjia had came to terms with her feelings, so she decided not to stay at the Yan residence any longer. Around four o’clock, she left the Yan residence. When Meng Ting asked her to stay, she only said she would come back tomorrow evening.
Meng Ting didn’t think much about it. Around 5:30, he brought the trimmed bouquet to the door to wait for Yan Sui.
“The flowers we grew ourselves, for you.”
As soon as Yan Sui got out of the car, Meng Ting filled his arms with fragrant flowers. He hugged both the person and the flowers, momentarily forgetting the people who had come with him in the car. He leaned down and kissed Meng Ting on the lips.
Meng Ting obediently let himself be kissed, tiptoeing slightly, cooperating very well.
Zhen Han in the back seat patted Zhao Bing’s shoulder in the front seat and said sympathetically, “You’ve worked hard.”
Enduring a bombardment of dog food every day, yet not exploding and still living so energetically.
After the two finished being affectionate, they went inside, and only then did Zhen Han get out of the car, while Zhao Bing continued to drive the car back to the underground parking lot with a stiff face.
Meng Ting usually speaks little, but when it comes to Yan Sui, he talks quite a lot, especially after Yan Sui fell ill. He clearly became more chatty and recounted everything he did at home to Yan Sui.
He even repeated the conversation between him and Yan Manjia. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I didn’t say it well. You should call auntie again later and say it once more.”
When Meng Ting was roughly recounting Yan Manjia’s arrival, Yan Sui and Zhen Han were both listening attentively. The two of them were somewhat silent at the moment. They exchanged a glance, and then Zhen Han nodded and went outside to make a phone call.
Although Yan Manjia has been a bit disappointing, she is still a member of the Yan family and they won’t allow others to bully her.
Zhen Han walked out, and Yan Sui pulled Meng Ting into his arms again, “What you said was very good.”
He said this while rewarding Meng Ting with a kiss on the cheek. Indeed, it was good. He understood those words but couldn’t say anything that would make Yan Manjia understand. However, Meng Ting could.
Meng Ting thought about it carefully and didn’t feel he had said anything wrong. He nodded and then reminded again, “If you want to fight, make sure to take me with you. I can help you.”
Yan Sui, upon hearing this, smiled slightly, “Alright.”
Zhen Han, who was on the phone outside, didn’t look so good. His gritted teeth and fierce expression made it seem like he wanted to tear the person on the other end to pieces. “Why did you answer my mom’s phone? Give it to her!”
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