Chapter 195 - 84: Big Sister of the 1960s Art Troupe (23)
Chapter 195: Chapter 84: Big Sister of the 1960s Art Troupe (23)
"You only get one chance in life. Taking responsibility for your family means taking responsibility for yourself."
"I resisted marriage before because I’d never met someone I was willing to be responsible for. Now that I have you, I’m more than willing to work for a stable and prosperous life for you and the children!"
Xia Zhaoyun pressed her lips together, trying to stop the corners of her mouth from curving up.
She was captivated by his affectionate use of "wife." For a man to say such things, it was clear he had truly thought about the rest of his life.
She clutched the two densely written pages, schooling her expression. She let out a faint, intimidating sneer. "Brother Hao, aren’t you afraid this is all an act?"
Huo Tianhao wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her halfway into his embrace. He chuckled softly. "An act to trick me out of my money or my body? Are you sure you’re not just handing yourself over to me in the process?"
"Little one, when it comes to me, you’re still far too inexperienced!"
He Qingran returned with Liu Mingkun, carrying their food with a conflicted expression. She pulled Xia Zhaoyun aside and asked quietly, "Yunyun, is Brother Hao’s full name Huo Tianhao?"
"The same name as that man from our factory... the one you became a widow for?"
"No wonder you kept insisting it was impossible with him..."
"Wouldn’t that be a constant reminder that you let Hero Huo down?"
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Xia Zhaoyun leaned close to her ear. "They’re the same person!"
He Qingran looked utterly bewildered. "I think I’m hearing things. I must not have taken a nap this afternoon."
"I only just confirmed it myself," Xia Zhaoyun said, pressing her lips together. Out of the corner of her eye, she could feel his gaze following her. "Um, the day after tomorrow, I might go back to the factory to get a letter of introduction and register our marriage."
"Come again?"
Xia Zhaoyun said with a solemn expression, "Ranran, didn’t I tell you before? For me to find someone and get married, Hero Huo would have to come back from the dead. Well, that’s exactly the situation!"
He Qingran’s mind was still reeling. "You just told me to carefully vet any potential partners. Now... isn’t this decision a little rash?"
Xia Zhaoyun also felt that, counting her previous life and all these years, this was the first time she had ever made such a crazy decision.
She said uncomfortably, "It’s a now-or-never kind of thing. As it stands, he’s the most suitable person for me, isn’t he? Getting married in three or five months isn’t really any different from now. Would meeting a few more times in between really allow us to understand each other completely?"
"But my situation is unique. Ranran, you can’t copy me!"
He Qingran just said, "Oh," still feeling like something was off.
She had been pushing her friend to actively look for a partner and find happiness. But now that her friend was so successful she’d managed it all in one go, she started to worry all over again.
’Sigh, people really are complicated creatures.’
In a new place, the children were sleeping restlessly. As soon as they smelled the aroma of food, they all scrambled out of bed.
That evening, the cafeteria was serving large steamed buns with crisp, tangy pickled cucumbers and a side of cornmeal porridge. The four hungry adults and two little ones ate their fill.
After dinner, the sky outside had grown dark. As reluctant as Huo Tianhao and Liu Mingkun were to leave, they had to go, out of consideration for the women’s reputations.
"I’ll bring you some antiseptic and some snacks in a bit. Xiaxia, is there anything else you need me to get?" Huo Tianhao reminded Xia Zhaoyun of a few things for several minutes before finally asking this.
"No, that’s everything, Brother Hao. We’re only staying here for a night or two, so we don’t need much. You two should head back. Be safe," Xia Zhaoyun said, waving her hand and lowering her head slightly.
Liu Mingkun had already gone downstairs to wait, while He Qingran tactfully took the two kids to play in the bedroom, leaving the newly official couple to their brief farewell.
Seeing her obedient and slightly shy appearance, Huo Tianhao felt a tickle in his heart. He leaned in and stole a kiss, tossed out a "Wait for me," then turned and trotted away, his arms and legs moving in awkward unison.
Xia Zhaoyun touched her cheek, pressing her lips together to hold back a smile. ’To think that the man who so solemnly rejected me back then also had such a dorky side.’
Not long after, Huo Tianhao knocked on the door with a bag of things. He didn’t come in, just handed Xia Zhaoyun a thermos filled with fresh hot water, the antiseptic from the infirmary, and a bag of fruit and pastries.
"Get some sleep. I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow." With that, he stuffed an envelope into Xia Zhaoyun’s hand and once again ran off, his steps light and practically bouncing with joy.
He Qingran said sourly, "Yunyun, can you two tone it down a little? Have some consideration for the feelings of a single young woman like me!"
Xia Zhaoyun clutched the envelope and said with a laugh, "This is just the beginning. You’ll just have to endure it, my friend. I don’t mind if you take some notes so you can find your other half sooner, too."
"Later, I’ll ask Brother Hao what Liu Mingkun is like. As long as he’s down-to-earth and willing to work hard, you could consider him, Ranran."
He Qingran’s face flushed, but this time she wasn’t shamed into leaving. She fidgeted, tugging at the hem of her shirt. "Yunyun, what do you think he’s like?"
Xia Zhaoyun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
In her memory, He Qingran’s fate hadn’t been a good one.
He Qingran’s mother died in childbirth, leaving behind a five-year-old her and a newborn baby.
After settling matters, Mr. He turned around and found a young, pretty nanny, ostensibly to take care of the children.
He Qingran was young and had just lost her mother, so she spent her days wiping away tears.
Then came an "auntie" who neither disciplined nor restrained her, and the little girl quickly emerged from her grief.
When Mr. He proposed that the "auntie" become part of the family, she had nodded her head happily.
However, He Qingran was a sharp little thing. At first, she enjoyed the bliss of eating candy to her heart’s content. But then she developed cavities and, from the gossip of others, heard the term "to ruin with indulgence."
She finally recognized the ulterior motives behind her stepmother’s daily actions.
From that moment on, He Qingran became like a little hedgehog, fiercely protecting her younger brother and openly turning against her stepmother.
He Qingran got married very early, seemingly in October of this very year. Her husband’s background and conditions were excellent in all respects. But no one knew that her stepmother had a hand in it.
The man was a postman with a good reputation and a sharp appearance. Back then, Xia Zhaoyun had secretly asked around but found no flaws. He truly seemed like a rare catch.
He Qingran, who was already stressed out by her family problems, couldn’t resist the man’s advances and was eager to start a small family of her own.
So, the wedding was quickly put on the agenda. It wasn’t until after she married him that she discovered that while the man was good, he was also a momma’s boy and foolishly filial. He didn’t just sacrifice himself for his entire extended family; he dragged her into it, too. The whole situation was a mess of petty conflicts that was infuriating just to hear about.
He Qingran had a fiery temper. She couldn’t stand her mother-in-law setting rules and making sarcastic remarks, nor did she want to hand over her entire salary. With a trouble-making, competitive sister-in-law fanning the flames from the sidelines, and a husband who never took her side, their home was naturally a place of constant conflict—a small fight every three days and a huge one every five!