After Li Chuntao left his unit, Shen Zichen started to prepare for work. He was feeling refreshed and his mood couldn"t get any better. The smile on his face was genuine and by the way he hummed a song as he paced around the room, it was obvious that he was in a good mood as compared to his usual brooding face He slid his arms into a fresh light blue dress s.h.i.+rt and b.u.t.toned it up. His gaze then landed on his bed where he and Li Chuntao had shared their first time together. She was in pain earlier, but he was surprised not to see a speck of blood on his sheets when she slipped out of his bed to get a shower.
Shen Zichen didn"t have the heart to ask her if she"d been with another man before. It wasn"t his right to pry on her past and relations.h.i.+ps, but he was curious. He supposed that it"s normal for some women to lose their maidenhead without engaging in s.e.xual activities but still he wanted to know if there was a man before him.
Should he ask her? He wondered. Would she get upset if he tried to probe on her previous relations.h.i.+p? After all, she"d been gone for seven long years. It wouldn"t be impossible for Li Chuntao to meet a man and date while living alone overseas.
After sending a quick message to his mother that he was done moving in, Shen Zichen left his new apartment.
It was nightfall and for Doctor Shen, his work was just about to start. He had several surgeries left for the week and a mountain load of paperwork to fill in, something he wasn"t looking forward to. Just as he thought he would be able to avoid paperwork for not entering the business world with Qingqing, Shen Zichen was slapped with the reality that he couldn"t.
The drive towards the hospital was shorter from his new home compared to his previous place, which he still owned. That bachelor pad was the first thing he"d purchased with his own money. He decided to keep it as his stay near Mu Jianyu was just as temporary as Li Chuntao"s stay.
—-
The sun was up but Li Chuntao and Yu Lou had driven for two hours away from the capital until they reached a private villa owned by the Li family. As soon as she stepped out of the comfy and warm atmosphere the car offered, her whole body s.h.i.+vered from the cold breeze that hit her.
Her long tresses swayed away from her face while Yu Lou stood behind her in silence. She wrapped her coat tighter around her body and took the lead. They might catch a cold if they stay outside for too long.
As they made their way inside, Li Chuntao"s eyes swept around them to survey the property. This was her first time visiting the place after years of absence. There were so many fond memories she had here with Ying, their Uncle Yuren and their Aunt Yue that made her feel old and lonely seeing that they weren"t here to accompany her.
A five-year-old boy suddenly appeared at the front door, his feet pattering at the cold ground with bare feet. He stopped near Li Chuntao who also halted her steps when she saw him.
The boy grinned wide to her and extended both of his hands, asking Li Chuntao to lift him up. Looking at his face, Li Chuntao and Yu Luo saw that he was missing one of his front teeth but it only made his innocent face more adorable.
Yu Luo looked perplexed seeing the two. Would her Miss Chuntao deny this child? Unlike Miss Ying, who was very fond of children, it wasn"t a secret within the Li family that Li Chuntao dislikes any physical interaction with other people, whether it was a hug or a friendly kiss. Thinking about it, Yu Luo realized that only the members of the Li family were allowed to do it with their Miss Chuntao.
"So pweety!" The little boy beamed at Li Chuntao.
Li Chuntao"s lips curled into a slight smile and lifted the boy without a word, shocking Yu Luo. Was she seeing things or did Miss Chuntao willingly touch a stranger? A toddler on top at that!
"Hi, Little Bun. Where"s your Daddy and Aunt?" Li Chuntao gently pinched his chubby cheek. "And why are you running outside without shoes?"
"Dada! " The boy pointed back at the house, answering her question.
"Lin Lin!" A woman came running towards them and stopped as soon as she saw Li Chuntao holding the child in her arms. She chewed her lower lip before acknowledging Li Chuntao. She could sense that she wasn"t just a regular guest because, during the time they were living at this villa, only the Li family"s men occasionally visited them.
"Miss, may I know who you are?"
"I"m Li Xiuying. I"m the one who brought you here," Li Chuntao said with a straight face. This was something she was glad she was able to do even before coming back from overseas. As soon as she found out from Ying about Mu Jianyu"s affair, she"d already sent Su Ling to gather any evidence she could use to destroy Lin Meirong.
The woman gasped and covered her mouth in shock. It took some time before she realized she"d been rude to Li Chuntao by making them wait outside. She saw Li Chuntao brought down the child who immediately ran towards her and hugged her leg.
"Miss Li, please come inside. Actually, my brother and I have been wondering when we would be able to meet you. I"m Meng Lan by the way, and my brother"s name is Meng Huan." The woman called Meng Lan said as she led Li Chuntao and Yu Lou inside the villa.
Li Chuntao strode inside as if she was the lady of the house. She sat on the couch and crossed her legs as she waited for the person she"d been looking for to show up while Yu Lou stood a good distance away from her with both hands on her back.
The boy came to Li Chuntao"s side and sat down with her. She looked at him and smiled.
"So what"s your name, little bun?" She asked.
"Lingxiang," the little boy grinned, "Meng Lingxiang!"
Finally, the man Li Chuntao had been looking for came out from the kitchen.
"Lan"er? Do we have guests again?" His eyes then landed on Li Chuntao with confusion.
Meng Lan went to her brother and pulled his arm to greet Li Chuntao. She was nervous as she couldn"t see any warmth on Li Chuntao"s face.
"Brother, Miss Li came here to meet you," she told him knowingly. Her brother s.h.i.+vered and looked at Li Chuntao"s face with wide eyes.
Months ago, a group of men came to their remote village and saved them from a famine that was ongoing. Not only that, but they also helped him get his son treated for his illness. Since then the Meng siblings had been curious as to why a wealthy and prestigious family like the Li family was extending an olive branch to them.
They may be their benefactor but what could be the motive for their kindness?
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