Chapter 1235 Maternal Grandma
"Actually, you know the reason for this rejection," said Tang Hebe.
"Oh?" Xiang Weimin raised his brow at her.
"You just said earlier that you're somewhat like Raelle," told Tang Hebe with a faint smile on her lips. "That name had always been like a rock weighing down on me. For years, I lived under the shadow of that name. Even though I didn't meet her in person until this year."
"Your insecurity is the reason?" asked Xiang Weimin.
"I won't deny it. I was indeed a lot insecure. I'm not feeling that way now though," she replied. "But you actually give me the same feeling as Raelle. And I'll tell you honestly, that whenever I'm around her, I feel a little uncomfortable. Only because she is always able to see my fears. I am not able to hide anything from her and I don't like that feeling very much. You and her, both exude the same kind of pressure. You both even have the same look in your eyes."
Xiang Weimin didn't think she'd reject him for this reason. It was surprising but not that surprising either.
"Although the idea of having Raelle Xiang calling me elder sister-in-law is quite appealing," she added. "I'd still like to keep my distance. Our connections are complicated enough. I don't want to add more to this complexity. I'm not sure about others but I'm certain that we can provide Justin with a warm and healthy growth environment without binding with each other through marriage against our own wishes."
"That's exactly what I think," he agreed. He had thought about it a lot since Hyson had told him that marriage would solve everything. For a moment, he did consider it but he still couldn't bring himself to do so. First of all, as she said, she was Raelle's husband's ex-wife. Even if Raelle always forgets that he couldn't forget it as Raelle's brother.
Secondly, he didn't like making unnecessary compromises.
He did believe that love wasn't a necessity just like Raelle. He also believed that a marriage could work without love and whether it'd be a good one or not, only time would tell. After all, his parents' love marriage was also broken, how could they guarantee that arranged marriages would always work? There was always a factor of uncertainty in life.
It's not like Xiang Weimin didn't think about marriage. He did consider it. It's just that he hadn't found someone until now. And also, so many people have played tricks to get him that he slowly started getting a little disgusted with the idea of a relationship.
"By the way, we don't know what the future will bring. I won't promise you that I won't marry in the future. After all, I told you, I still am a person who belives in love. If one day I did fall in love, I won't step back from a new relationship. And I won't ask the same from you too," said Tang Hebe. "But I can promise you that my love for Justin will never change. He will always be my son."
Xiang Weimin gave her a small smile, "Indeed. We can't be sure that we won't get married in the future. But I still have no such plans."
"You can never be sure about that," said Tang Hebe. "Some things are truly out of our hands." She gave him a sincere smile and added, "After talking to you, I understand why Chi Xirui fell in love with you."
Xiang Weimin paused, "Did she really love me though?"
"If she didn't, she wouldn't give birth to Justin and neither would she try everything possible to keep you safe from her own background. Don't you agree?"
Xiang Weimin went silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know why she did it. Don't you think it'd have been better if she had told me the truth? I don't like people who assume that by hiding something from the other person, they are doing the right thing. Just because they think it's for the goodness of the other person."
Tang Hebe didn't comment on that.
Xiang Weimin stood up and said, "I'm leaving now. I'll come another time to see Justin. If you need something from me or need any help, just let me know."
"Wait!"
"Huh?"
"I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"Someone sent some very interesting photos to my mother the same day she came to see me for Ruan Meilin's matter. Can you tell me who did it?"
Xiang Weimin rubbed his nose, "I believe that has something to do with my aunt. Consider it a little gift from her to you."
Tang Hebe didn't know what to say. She could still remember the vivid expression of her mother when she saw those photos. How mad she was just after seeing in those photos how pitiful her poor little niece had been doing. She felt like laughing just thinking about it.
"Your aunt sure knows how to give a gift," said Tang Hebe.
"Oh, you'd be surprised at how good she is at that."
Xiang Weimin went to see Justin and said goodbye to him before leaving. As soon as he opened the door to leave, he ran into someone and said, "Sorry!"
"It's okay," replied the other person with a stunned expression.
Xiang Weimin didn't pay attention to the newcomer and left.
"What are you looking at?" asked Tang Hebe when she found her cousin standing there just staring at something.
"Who was that?" asked Tang Ping.
"Xiang Weimin," answered Tang Hebe.
"Justin's real father?"
Tang Hebe nodded her head and Tang Ping's expression changed then her brows furrowed a little, "Damn! Isn't that Xiang Wai's elder brother?"
Tang Hebe gave her cousin a look like she was looking at a fool and rolled her eyes, "Took you long enough to make that connection. Haven't you seen him before? You studied with Xiang Wai in school. And I heard he is very close to Xiang Wai so he must have appeared around her at some point."
"He did!" replied Tang Ping. "But I didn't pay much attention."
"Right. You're too busy looking at your boyfriend."
Tang Ping didn't deny it as she entered the house and said, "Did he bring Justin back?"
"Yeah." Tang Hebe went in and then turned to look back at her, "What are you doing here? Didn't you just drop me off here an hour or so ago? What's up?"
Tang Ping smacked her own head, "I almost forgot. Beauty is distracting. Anyway, Mom asked me to bring you and Justin over." Before Tang Hebe could refuse, she raised her hand, "Don't say you won't come. Mom said her problem is with your mom. We as young ones should stay out of the matters of the older generation. She still loves you and cares about you. Besides, our Justin also needs a maternal grandma. We can't let him deal with a meany like your mom all the time. What kind of impression would that leave?"
"You really have all sorts of reasons now to convince me just to go home with you, eh?"
"I can't help it. Mom said not to come back unless I bring you two with me," Tang Ping looked very pitiful as she said that. "I'm still not as valued as a daughter. You as a niece are more important in our house."
"So, do you hate me?" asked Tang Hebe.
"Why would I?"
"Because I hated Ruan Meilin all my life since she had always been more important to my mother than me."
Tang Ping pursed her lips, "Your mother is a different species. My Mom isn't that partial in life. Yes, she loves you, and seeing that you have always been so pitiful, I also think you need more love and care than me. So, I don't mind it at all."
"Oh, look at you being so generous. Thank you for your generosity, Miss Tang!"
"You're welcome!" said Tang Ping shamelessly. "Oh, by the way, where is my nephew?"
"Here!"
Tang Ping was startled when she heard Justin's voice and looked back at him.
"Hi, kiddo!"
"Justin," he replied. "Not a kiddo!"
Tang Ping chuckled, "Oh my gosh! You've learned to talk now."
Justin looked at her like he was looking at a fool and Tang Ping found this expression very familiar. Oh, wasn't this how Tang Hebe looked at her?
"Don't tease my son," said Tang Hebe. "Baby, your aunt came to take us with her to see grandma."
Justin showed resistance, "I don't want to see that loud grandma."
Tang Hebe's heart was wrenched when he said that. Such a small kid could tell when he wasn't liked. She really didn't know what to think about her mother. So, she patiently told him, "It's not that grandma. It's auntie Ping's mom. She is very kind, gentle, loving, and caring. You'd love her. She makes the best sweets."
"Do you love her?" asked Justin.
"I do," Tang Hebe didn't know why he asked but she answered truthfully.
"Then let's go," he agreed so readily that he didn't give her a chance to react. She suddenly hugged him wondering how her luck became so good that she got such a sweet son in this life?
Visit freewe𝑏(n)ovel.𝘤ℴ𝑚 for the best novel reading experience