Chapter 160: Chapter 160
Even though her life had a lot of this nowadays, she preferred when the four of them went somewhere normal, to hang out and eat, and enjoy one another’s company. Something they did frequently.
“How about we stick it out another half hour, do a walk around and then we go find a hotpot restaurant?” Linlin suggested brightly. Her stomach gurgling because she had avoided food so as not to pop her dress with a food baby.
“You and hotpot, I swear that better not be your craving food when I do get you pregnant. I’ve eaten so much of it this past few months I can taste it every time I hear the word. It’s almost a trauma response.” ZhengLi joked, poking her in the top of her head in jest.
“Shut up. It’s my comfort food. And if it is my craving, I’ll expect you to go at all hours to fetch it for me…. without complaint!!!” Linlin berated him, throwing him a sassy and narrowed stare as though to challenge his refusal.
“You know I’ll never say no, Linnyboo. Even if I require therapy to get through it. I promise to do the three am hotpot searches for you, even in snow.” He winked at her then hooked her arm in his and pulled her with him to go look at the buffet tables for something to satisfy her hunger. “I’m taking the beast to get fed. We’ll be back soon.” He waved flippantly to YuZhi and TangShi as they departed, continuing his hotpot squabble with his wife as they wandered off.
“Grandfather still didn’t come.” TangShi glanced around them once more, saddened that he had still not put his prejudice aside for Rhea’s family and avoided this happy occasion even though aunt had come. Wishing they could all let the past go and be one happy family.
“I understand him. Besides, Rhea seems happy and she didn’t mention him, so I think all is good. They were never close and I guess he’s content that I married you.” YuZhi guided TangShi to the nearest seat and helped her sit down with ease. Her feet aching from standing too long and fatigue washing in with carrying around this huge bump all day every day. Pregnancy was exhausting and as excited as she was to finally meet their baby, she was also fed up with waiting.
“I’m beat. I don’t think I can handle a hotpot pitstop. I want a bubble bath and a flat comfy place to lay down. Some quiet and cuddles.” She sighed heavily, hating that she was flaking on this day but she couldn’t help it. Her body could only handle so much.
“Come on, baby. Let’s get you home. You should be taking it easy right now. We only have a few days before you give birth. I told you we would leave right after the vows.”
“I wanted to be here. God knows when I can do something like this again. We’ll have little baby Lu Li and sleepless nights to contend with. She is going to be an utter princess thanks to her daddy’s need to spoil his women.” TangShi sulked, not really minding sacrificing this kind of life and social activities for a while, but not looking forward to the night feeds and exhaustion she had been warned about. Finding out they were having a girl had healed so many wounds for her, and she couldn’t wait to hold her daughter and start her motherhood journey.
“Does it bother you that your father won’t be involved? That he won’t be here for the birth?” YuZhi still regretted this development in the past months. The business collaboration between Leng and Lei broke down dramatically when it surfaced that Lei Enterprises was running in a red deficit and completely bankrupt. Creditors, contracts and business alliances broke down when it was brought to light and many took legal action to recover losses. Mr Lei took his wife and daughter and fled the country before the debtors came knocking and left Leng group with a huge mess to clear up as the public partners and marriage connected allies. Thankfully Leng Group had deep pockets and great lawyers and got by with minimal disruption or loss and fully separated themselves from the fallout. As newly appointed full CEO, it was YuZhi’s first crisis and he handled it like a pro. It had been a couple of months and there was no sign of them ever coming back to China to face what they left behind.
“No. he was never a father. They were never my mother and sister and I feel free knowing they have nothing to do with my life anymore. Like a weight has lifted. After everything, I feel like Karma did what he deserved and it’s not my problem. Having grandfather tell me stories and find pictures and videos of my mother has made me feel like I always had her, and she’s the only family worth remembering. I don’t need them nor do I care where they are.”
“You know, you’re a lot stronger than you were. You no longer let people push you around or hold you down.” YuZhi pointed out to her, sitting beside her and scooping her hand into his. Savoring her touch like he always did and proud to be married to this beautiful woman.
“I’m going to be a mother. I can’t have anyone messing with our baby so I have to learn to stand on my own two feet. Linlin has instilled some mama bear into me.” She smiled softly. Knowing herself these past months had made her grow up a lot.
TangShi had slowly started to build her reputation again as an artist. Painting had become her therapy once the death of that monster began to fade in her memories and she was hosting her first solo gallery was scheduled in the next year. YuZhi had delayed the date to allow her time to give birth and recover, although she painted daily from the studio in their new home.
He had moved them from his apartment to a stand-alone mini mansion near the Leng manor, where she had a studio and garden to create all day long. It meant they could eat regularly with the Leng family, who now adored and cared for her as though she was always their daughter. Old grievances forgotten and Xiaosu moved into TangShi’s new home as her constant carer with her new fiancée, who was TangShi’s bodyguard and driver, always at her side.
Life had become calm and simple and it felt like all obstacles and hurt form the past had floated away on the wind. Sometimes she caught herself daydreaming and lost in thought that this was all a fairytale and not true reality at all. Only to pinch herself awake and find that it wasn’t. Her life was happy and full and perfect and would only continue to be so as their family grew. She used to believe fate had a grudge against her, but now she was satisfied that Destiny had brought her on a rocky road to appreciate where she would end up.
You had to weather the storms, battle the rolling seas, and come close to near death to savor finding a safe haven of tranquility that could harbor you for the rest of your days. A rainbow always follows the rain.
The End.