Chapter 1630: Sounding Out One’s Intentions
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Based on this point alone, in the face of Ding Jiayi’s departure, Qiao Dongliang really wanted to celebrate for Qiao Nan by setting off fireworks.
“She’s really leaving?” After receiving Qiao Dongliang’s call, Qiao Nan herself wasn’t sure what her expression was like when she listened to the contents of the call. “Okay. Trouble you for this matter.”
“It’s no trouble at all. We would normally walk more when we head out to shop as well. Nan Nan, you’re about to knock off work. Head home quickly. Remember to have a good meal. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” Whenever Qiao Dongliang called Qiao Nan now, he would definitely say words of concern and ask her to take care of herself.
Qiao Nan would never have enjoyed such treatment back in the past.
Qiao Nan felt extremely helpless when she felt Qiao Dongliang’s change. She really didn’t want to use the term ‘worthless creature’ to describe her father. However, when she treated her father well, he ignored her every day and looked as if she had thrown him outside alone to fend for himself.
She hadn’t really done so now, but a call alone had made her father so happy, and she enjoyed the treatment that only Qiao Zijin would have.
After hanging up the call, Qiao Nan didn’t know what else she could say besides sighing.
No matter what, now that Ding Jiayi, a time bomb, was gone, Qiao Nan felt as if she had finished defusing a bomb and was relaxed all over. She had always been guarding against Ding Jiayi because of Qiao Zijin’s death. She was uncertain when she would ‘explode’ and drag her to be buried with Qiao Zijin since she was the one who had knocked her down.
Qiao Nan, who had died in Ding Jiayi’s hands once, didn’t feel that her thoughts were unfounded or that she had thought too much. However, this time, the alarm was removed.
Without these people disturbing her, to Qiao Nan, time was like sand in her hands. She had obviously grasped it tightly, but it was still running out so quickly.
Seeing that Da Bao and Er Bao had grown up and were now studying in university, Qiao Nan said emotionally, “It seemed that in the blink of an eye, the three of you had finished senior high school and are now in university. Looking at all of you now, I’ve indeed grown old.”
San Bao smiled and grabbed Qiao Nan’s hand. She said happily, “Mom, come off it. Did you forget that someone else thought that you were my sister when we went out shopping the last time? Mom, tell me. Why does everyone else look older except you? How do you maintain this? Teach your daughter a trick or two. We can’t let others misunderstand that we are sisters now and that I’m the elder sister and you’re the younger sister in the future.”
San Bao’s level of envy was still alright. When her G.o.dmother came over to their house previously and saw her mother’s face, that was called ‘hatred’. G.o.dmother said that her mother had obviously gotten pregnant earlier than her and had given birth to three children at once, but it didn’t look as if she had aged. Instead, she looked like an auntie when she was standing next to her mother.
Once she thought of how her peer looked like her junior, s.h.i.+ Qing couldn’t help but feel jealous. She couldn’t wait to tear off Qiao Nan’s face and stick it on her own.
“Don’t learn from your G.o.dmother. Those words were filled with jealousy. Your G.o.dmother is a soldier and has to brave the wind and rain all day. The missions she carries out are dangerous as well. To be honest, I’m already very happy that Zhu Yu still has both parents. I just don’t understand why your G.o.dmother is still working so hard at this age. Even your G.o.dfather has conceded defeat.”
“That’s because my G.o.dmother is a strong career woman,” San Bao said happily. Compared to other women, she liked her G.o.dmother more. Of course, she was pretty accepting of women like Auntie Xu. “Oh, right, Mom. Are Ling Ling’s results still alright after attending senior high school?”
“Yes.” Qiao Nan nodded. “Ling Ling is a sensible child. She knows that it isn’t easy for your Auntie Xu alone to raise her up, so she’s exceptionally obedient and doesn’t let your Auntie Xu worry.” When she talked about Fang Ling Ling, she felt happy for Xu Shengnan.
Xu Shengnan might have married Fang s.h.i.+you wrongly, but she definitely didn’t make a mistake by giving birth to a daughter like Fang Ling Ling.
Strictly speaking, the second year Xu Shengnan divorced Fang s.h.i.+you, Fang Ling Ling was no longer called Fang Ling Ling and she had officially changed her name to Xu Ling Ling. Xu Ling Ling knew that her father and grandmother despised her for not being a son and didn’t like her. Her father had found another woman behind her mother’s back and wanted her mother to let out her t.i.tle after this third party had given birth to a son.
There was plenty of such news outside. When it really happened to her, Xu Ling Ling felt that it wasn’t that difficult to accept.
Furthermore, although her father and grandmother didn’t like her, her mother loved her. Her maternal grandparents pampered her like she was their precious. Compared to other people, she was pretty fortunate.
Xu Ling Ling knew that although she lived in a single-parent family, her mother was capable and didn’t let her suffer financially in any way. She was even leading a life better than some children who had both parents in their families. All of these were because of her mother’s contributions.
Even though she didn’t have a father’s love, the sensible Xu Ling Ling never felt that she was a monster. She felt she was no different from others. She might not have a father’s love, but her mother loved her wholeheartedly. She was more fortunate than everyone else.
The more sensible Xu Ling Ling became, the fewer worries Xu Shengnan had. When Xu Shengnan was studying, her academic results were good. Otherwise, how would she have made it to Peking University? Under Xu Shengnan’s nurturing, Xu Ling Ling became even more outstanding. Her academic results were always among the best.
“Yes.” San Bao’s eyes moved. “Mom, Auntie Xu is pretty and capable. She is not considered old either. Why doesn’t she want to find another man? Could it be that she wants to get back with Ling Ling’s father again?” That shouldn’t be the case. Auntie Xu didn’t look like a person who would turn back.
It was just that her close friend, Xu Ling Ling, had such doubts and worries and wanted her to find out more information from her mother. For her close friend, San Bao said that she would help her at the loss of her life. Wasn’t it just finding out more information? That wasn’t a big deal!
Qiao Nan raised her eyebrows. How could she not understand her own daughter? “Why do you ask? Who are you asking for?”
“Hehe, Mom, you’re really formidable. I’ve long said before that I could never hide it from you. Mom, tell me. I know that you have a good relations.h.i.+p with Auntie Xu. Every time Auntie Xu feels lost and doesn’t know what to do, she would definitely have a chat with you. Mom, tell me. Ling Ling said that her father has been pursuing Auntie Xu diligently recently and wants to remarry her. Her father obviously doesn’t like her, but in order to reconcile the marriage with her mother, he even tried to work on her.”