Chapter 675: Chapter 673: Kind Father 52
Duan Mu did not go to find Duan Li. After receiving the borrowed money, he first repaid part of the student loan, set aside some for living expenses, and then continued to look for a job.
Things went smoothly after that, without any further obstacles.
He initially thought, if it really didn’t work out, he would go back to his mom; after all, they were mother and son. At this moment, Duan Mu had the thought of compromising.
Since he found a job, there was no need to go back. It would be better to settle down first, so that when he shows up in front of her, he would have more confidence.
At this moment, Duan Li held her phone, staring at that familiar number in a daze for a long time.
"If you can’t let go, call him and ask. It’s been so many years," said her second husband, a responsible and gentle man. Although he might not earn as much as she does and is not particularly outstanding in appearance, he is upright, and their meeting was just fate. She had no such thought initially, but once fate arrives, you can’t stop it.
She’s not some kind of single-minded person. On the contrary, people from orphanages yearn for a complete family more, and she’s no different.
The first time was a wrong choice, but it doesn’t mean she didn’t want it.
Since she met him, she should give it a try. After all, she had experienced worse things. Why be afraid? What if the gamble succeeded.
After being married for two years, she finally experienced what a happy marriage is like. She never thought she could have all this.
She doesn’t know what the future holds, but she is happy now.
Duan Mu is her child. No matter how rational she is, how could she not pay any attention? In fact, she had been secretly observing all these years. Even some of his part-time jobs while studying were secretly arranged by her.
He is her child. Back then, without being fully independent, how could she watch him have no one to care for him?
But that was all she could do, fulfilling her last responsibilities. Deep down, she never expected Duan Mu to change.
However, this was ultimately the only thing she couldn’t let go of; she wanted to contact Duan Mu and ask about his situation.
Duan Li dialed the phone. After a few rings, it was answered.
"Duan Mu," Duan Li spoke, "How have you been lately? Do you want to come home this year?"
She tried to keep her voice calm.
When he received the call, Duan Mu was a bit surprised, and his heart relaxed a little, but he quickly remembered Duan Li’s dominance. He thought about how many people online complain that when parents see their kids have grown up and can be relied on, they will soften, after all, they need their kids to support them in their old age.
Instantly, the little excitement he felt dissipated, and his expression turned cold.
"I am working now. I don’t need to ask you for money anymore. What do you mean by calling now? Don’t worry, if you can’t work in the future, I will give you pension money according to the law. Don’t worry about being left to starve."
Duan Li’s anger rose, and all her worries and concerns dissipated completely at that moment.
"Do you think I contacted you because I need something in return?"
"Duan Mu, really, what you mentioned isn’t much."
Raising this son, she never hoped for a reward; he used to be her pride too.
She really shouldn’t have expectations.
"Well, if you don’t want to come back, forget it. I don’t need you to support me. I have social security, my own saved pension funds, and other supplemental insurance." Duan Li hung up the phone, "Let’s move, and then rent out the house."
One reason she called Duan Mu was because she was moving to another city to live.
On the other side, Duan Mu frowned, thinking his mom was still so strong-willed, so he’d better not go back. If he did, she might start urging him to get married and have kids, which would be too annoying. Right now, he doesn’t need her to interfere.
Today, a very special guest came to their house, a middle-aged woman who was well-maintained.
"I just came to have a look, no other intentions," Zhu Xuan said, looking at Li Feiwei with a bit of fear, but looking at Ah Chen with more gentleness and gratitude.
Li Feiwei, seeing Ah Chen puzzled as to who this person was, took the initiative to introduce: "Ms. Zhu is my biological mother."
The tone was indifferent but contained no resentment or hatred.
"I’m sorry," Zhu Xuan said to Li Feiwei, "I was very afraid at the time, if not for Li Jingming, raising you wouldn’t have been difficult at all. I’m not trying to make excuses for myself or ask for forgiveness. This time, when I returned to the country, I just wanted to take a look, or I would always feel uneasy. If it’s a disturbance, I won’t appear again."
She felt somewhat guilty about the matter, after all, this was the child she carried for ten months and gave birth to.
"It’s okay," Li Feiwei said generously, "I never counted on you anyway. You were no match for him, so it was better you left. Otherwise, you might have died long ago, casting a bigger shadow over me."
"Having a mother who didn’t love me is still better than a dead one, who made me mistakenly believe she did."
Zhu Xuan opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.
"As long as you’re well."
"I’m leaving." Zhu Xuan stood up.
Li Feiwei said, "I once went to look for you but was informed by Li Jingming about your deeds. He said someone like you wouldn’t want me, so I should give up. If I didn’t give up, he would get rid of you."
"After that, I never thought of looking for you again. Back then, I just wanted shelter, like the other kids. But then I realized it wasn’t possible," Li Feiwei said nonchalantly, "Last time, I saved your life."
Zhu Xuan’s eyes reddened: "When I was young, I indeed wanted Li Jingming’s money, knowing he was a little perverse because he couldn’t have children. But I was really afraid of being poor, constantly dreaming of getting rich overnight, taking shortcuts, wanting to gain without effort. Then I unexpectedly got pregnant. He changed a lot and wanted to marry me, but I was still scared because I had seen his perverse side. I just wanted to leave with the money as soon as he got tired of me. Unexpectedly, it changed like that. I believed marrying him would be miserable, maybe even deadly. If not carrying you, I probably would’ve been beaten. Later, I negotiated to give birth to you in exchange for a smooth departure with money. He did care about bloodline; he agreed. Maybe he felt I wasn’t fit to be his heir’s mother. But he said his heir couldn’t be an illegitimate child, so he would marry me first before divorcing me after you were born. I couldn’t resist. At least, in the end, I managed to take the money and go far away, thinking I’d never come back."
"It’s good that you’re different from him, and that’s great," Zhu Xuan said and left, her steps more relaxed than when she came.
"I really don’t hate you," Li Feiwei said. To him, she was just a stranger with a blood relation.
With Zhu Xuan’s limited abilities, what could he expect her to do? If she had stayed to do something, she might’ve ended up a victim of Li Jingming, too.
Zhu Xuan turned back with a smile and nodded.
But she was indeed weak, cowardly, and vain, unfit to be Li Feiwei’s mother. It was quite a surprise that the other party didn’t hate her.
Was it because of Ran Chen?
This outcome was indeed not bad.
Time passed in a blink, and Ma Zihou’s group was released from prison.
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