After dinner, Nian Nian sat on the sofa and heartily watched animated cartoons. Chen Xi took this chance to talk about the past with Aunty Zhang.
“Not long after you left, Ying Ying realized that she was pregnant and had especially found me just for this 的matter.”
While recalling, Aunty Zhang heavily said, “Ying Ying was born from a rich family and has never been through any hardships. After you left, a pregnant lady was left all alone, and even living became a problem. Hence, when Nian Nian was about to be born, I decided to move here so that it’s more convenient to take care of them.”
Chen Xi was silent.
He could picture that scene.
Day by day, a woman saw her stomach getting bigger and bigger, yet there was no one by her side to rely on. Simple daily stuff such as grocery shopping, cooking, doing the laundry, and cleaning was extremely difficult for a pregnant lady.”
Before the child was born, she became a single mother. Who would have known how she felt then?
The more Chen Xi thought about it, the more his heart ached. Suddenly, his heart was filled with a sense of stuffiness that could not be released.
“…When Nian Nian was born, the household expenditure increased. Seeing that money kept on flowing out every day, she became extremely worried. Hence, she went out to find a job and worked till exhaustion every single day.
Saying up till here, Aunty Zhang suddenly glances at Chen Xi. She then sighed and said, “To tell you the truth, during the time she went to work, so many cars were parked outside the apartment. All of them were guys that were chasing after her, some even started a fight while trying to come in, causing several complaints coming from the neighbors.”
“I saw that anyone of them is better than you, leaving behind an orphan and a widow. If she could marry one of them, her’s and Nian Nian’s life would turn for the better. That’s why I advised her to consider it multiple times…”
“However, that girl was extremely stubborn, she got angry every time I brought it up. I’ve no idea what she sees in you, who breaks people’s hearts, and leaves her to suffer alone.”
Upon hearing it, Chen Xi could only bitterly laugh.
He worked till late at night on that fateful day. When he was running home, it started raining extremely heavily, and out of a sudden, he was struck by lightning and fainted.
When he woke up, he was already in the Tian Xuan world that was hundreds of millions of miles away. This was the world of cultivation that the legends spoke of.
When Chen Xi thought about if after a while, the distance between Earth and 已经Tian Xuan world was several galaxies away, and how powerful could the might of lightning be?
It was impossible that the lightning-caused him to instantly travel through the stellar as his body felt quite an itch due to the “w陈曦忽然觉得这两个eak” current.
不禁有些百感交集。The real reason might be due to a secret ancient treasure being activated by the lightning and coincidentally affecting him who was running in the rain…
The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it got. He quickly shook his head and concentrated on Aunty Zhang’s recount.
“…When Nian Nian was around 1 year old, Ying Ying suddenly told me that she was going to find you and entrust Nian Nian to me.”
“Although I was her family’s maid in the past, I’ve witnessed Ying Ying growing up and to put it bluntly, I’ve long seen Ying Ying as my daughter. Naturally, her daughter is my granddaughter, so I promised her.”
“Find me?”
“En, and after that, I’ve never seen her ever again.”
“Did she go home? Aunty Zhang, can you tell me where her house is? I will go find her.”
Chen Xi started to panic.
They were together for 5 years. However, in that 5 years, she had never once mentioned her family or where her family is at. Every time Chen Xi inquire her about it, she would be slightly unhappy. Hence, Chen Xi did dare to continue to ask after that.
“I can’t tell you.”
Aunty Zhang shook her head and sighed, “Before she left, she said that if you came back and she is not back yet, then you don’t have to go and find her, what more going to her house as she can't go home…”
“Why?” Chen Xi could not comprehend some of it.
“Aye, stop asking. Anyways, her family matters are very complicated, I can’t tell you.”
Aunty Zhang glanced at Chen Xi, she felt that leaving it like this was too perfunctory and explained, “Moreover, based on her temperament, she would bring Nian Nian home if she decided to go home. However, Nian Nian was almost 4 now and she has yet to return, so I think that she might still be looking for you.”
“Find me? What will she use to find me…” Chen Xi gave a wry smile and shook his head.
At this time, one episode of cartoon just ended and the little kiddo excitedly threw herself onto Chen Xi’s chest, interrupting the conversation.
“Let’s not talk about Ying Ying for now. The matter with this little kiddo is the most urgent.”
When Aunty Zhang saw that the little kiddo and her father were much more intimate than before, she said with gratification, “I planned to wait until the New Year celebration to bring Nian Nian home if you guys were not back by then…My granddaughter has grown quite a fair bit and my son and daughter-in-law are so busy working that they have no time to take care of the child, hence, I wanted to go back and raise the child…”
When he heard it, Chen could not help but glance at the lively and cute little kiddo in his arms. He then solemnly said, “Luckily you were here all these years, I am eternally grateful. This kindness, I will forever remember it.”
If not for Aunty Zhang, Chen Xi did not dare to think about what kind of life would his wife be living.
Such a huge favor, how could a simple thank you be enough to repay it?
“You don’t have to say all these, no matter what, Ying Ying could be considered my half-daughter. Since she entrusted Nian Nian to me, I will of course treat the child nicely. However, since you are back, Nian Nian should then be under your care. It’s about time for me to go home to see my granddaughter.”
After that, Aunty Zhang took a look at Nian Nian, as if she could not bear to leave Nian Nian.
This time, when the kiddo heard her words, she immediately jumped down from Chen Xi’s body and ran to Aunty Zhang’s side. She instantly wept and whimpered while hugging Aunty Zhang’s legs, “Grandma don’t go…”
“Good girl, grandma won’t go, grandma will stay and accompany you.”
Aunty Zhang smiled while rubbing Nian Nian’s head, her eyes contained wisps of longingness.
Even a few years of daily interactions could develop deep feelings between pets, what more about an innocent and cute child?
After calming down the kiddo, Aunty Zhang carried her and earnestly said, “I won’t ask where have you been all these years, but based on your appearance, it must not have been good…”
“Around there, anyways, it’s hard to explain…”
Chen Xi nodded his head, in his heart, he could vaguely guess what Aunty Zhang was about to say.
“I don’t want to pass the child to you because I’m anxious. But you are, after all, her father, and as an outsider, I can’t intrude too much. Therefore, I hope that we can leave the past incidents to the past, and hope that you can understand one thing…”
Saying up till here, Aunt Zhang paused before looking at Chen Xi and seriously said, “You are a father, I hope that you can perceive what this word ‘responsibility’ means and not be like 5 years ago, alright?”
Responsibility.
Suddenly, Chen Xi felt that this word was a bit heavy.
For a short while, his heart was filled with mixed feelings..
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