Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 389 - 268: How I Wish You Could Love Me (2nd Update - 2)
Tang Yansheng responded appropriately, and Tang Yanjian smiled.
"As for Little Brother, I don’t know how he suddenly ended up with this Meng Chuyan. I wonder if it’s Little Sound’s tricky idea."
Tang Yansheng was also a bit surprised upon hearing it: "Oh? Why do you think it’s Little Sound’s plan?"
Tang Yanjian laughed: "Little Sound, he’s always been crafty. From childhood to adulthood, it seemed he couldn’t steal Little Brother’s spotlight, but he could always seize the moment when Little Brother was smug to set a trap for him."
Tang Yanjian’s bright eyes fixed on her elder sister: "This time, he knew that if a rumor came out about him and Meng Chuyan, we wouldn’t let him off easily. He didn’t dare to come and explain in person, so he involved Little Brother. Since Little Brother is family, introducing Meng Chuyan to him equates to explaining everything to us."
Tang Yansheng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "So, are you saying that the rumor about Yanqing and Meng Chuyan might not be true, and it’s just to help Little Sound get out of trouble?"
It’s not just to help Little Sound get out of trouble; it’s also for the sake of the two sisters. Yanqing, this younger brother, has always been like this; he seems to jest about life, but he’s the most sentimental inside. Whenever anyone in the family is unhappy, he silently bears it all.
Tang Yanjian laughed after hearing this: "I think Little Brother might be serious, but there’s a hint of Little Sound’s slyness in it."
Tang Yanjian is still young and completely infatuated with Luo Xiansheng. In the eyes of a girl deeply in love, when comparing Little Brother to her lover, the lover naturally comes out on top.
Tang Yansheng just pursed her lips and smiled, no longer arguing with her little sister.
However, regardless of everything, the rumor about Little Sound and Meng Chuyan is false, allowing the two sisters to finally breathe a sigh of relief. The subtle distance between them over the past few days also finally disappeared into thin air.
Tang Yanjian bit her lip, blushed, and turned her head to glance at her elder sister: "... but now it’s the second sister who’s unhappy."
Tang Yanyi’s feelings for Tang Yanqing, now that everyone is grown up, everyone understands. It’s just that this matter is a bit delicate, so everyone pretends to be muddled rather than clear about it.
Tang Yansheng furrowed her brows slightly. What truly worried her wasn’t Yanyi but Yanqing instead.
The feelings Yanqing had for Shi Nian were evident to her. Moreover, the third aunt had even approved, yet these two kept growing further apart.
.
As the year-end approached, the atmosphere everywhere was joyful. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Shi Nian walked into "Deep Valley," only to find Mrs. Liu packing things. Shi Nian was startled and hurried over to ask, "What’s going on?"
Mrs. Liu raised her eyes with a smile: "Shi Nian, don’t be nervous." She gestured towards the courtyard.
Shi Nian looked over and saw Huangfu Huazhang supporting Xu Xinzhen, taking a leisurely stroll in the courtyard.
Shi Nian was slightly stunned.
In the past, Xu Xinzhen was always guarded against outsiders, even for such a small thing as a walk in the courtyard; she insisted on having Mrs. Liu with her. But today, she was alone with Huangfu Huazhang, with such a peaceful demeanor.
Mrs. Liu also smiled contentedly: "Not only that, Mr. Huangfu also persuaded your mom to agree to spend the Christmas holidays at his house. I’m packing things in preparation for that."
Shi Nian was taken aback again and didn’t bother putting on a coat as she stepped out the door.
Mom was actually so accepting of Huangfu Huazhang, could it be that in her heart, she was more satisfied with him?
She had vaguely heard Mrs. Liu say during casual chats that Mom thought Huangfu Huazhang was mature and stable and could protect her. As for the young gentleman who came before, there was nothing wrong with him, he was just too young, always reminding Mom of that high school student from years ago.
——The feelings came without reason, disregarding her feelings, only claiming love while being one-sided, causing her so much grievance. Yet, all it took was Dad’s few warnings for them to retreat completely, never daring to appear again... This so-called love, this so-called youth, was neither youth nor love, but just a reckless and irresponsible whim.
Shi Nian’s heart skipped a beat: if even Mom hoped she would be with Huangfu Huazhang... then what should she do?
She felt the cold as she pushed open the door and stepped towards Mom, realizing she forgot to put on her coat.
Under the sunlight, Mom and Huangfu Huazhang both lifted their eyes to look at her.
Huangfu Huazhang’s smile was warmer than the sun: "You’re here. Is work tiring?"
She rubbed her arms and forced a smile: "Not tired."
Huangfu Huazhang released Xu Xinzhen’s elbow and took off his coat. Walking forward, he paid no attention to the gazes of the surrounding patients and medical staff and wrapped her directly in the coat.
The coat still carried his body warmth, soothing her.
She resisted slightly, "Sir, I’m fine, you should wear the coat yourself!"
However, he tightened the collar, his long fingers deftly fastening the buttons. He lowered his eyes, his gaze heavy: "What, are you worried that I’m too weak to withstand a bit of the cold wind?"
"I didn’t mean that," Shi Nian felt a bit embarrassed, wanting to step back, but couldn’t escape his grip. Her body was firmly trapped by the coat, making her blush with some frustration: "Sir..."
On the other side, Xu Xinzhen seemed to finally return from her own world. She might be slower than others, but she would have certain moments that looked healthy. She called out softly, "Nian Nian! Why are you still calling him ’sir’? Change it."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Huazhang stood in the wind, lowering his eyes to smile at her, while she felt extremely embarrassed.
Xu Xinzhen propped herself with a cane and walked over, observing their demeanor, she smiled with satisfaction: "I’ve seen the news too, and I think it’s wonderful. Stop calling him ’sir’, I’d say call him by his name."
"Call me." He, unlike a mature 35-year-old man, seemed more like a little boy who had gotten his way. Even in front of Xu Xinzhen, he did not let go of her, keeping her tightly within the coat.
Shi Nian tilted her head to look at Mom again.
Mom sometimes would say things that seemed clear but were actually confused. She felt something was off but couldn’t bear to pull Mom back to reality...
Xu Xinzhen warmly nodded to her daughter: "It’s time to change what you call him."
Shi Nian could only take a deep breath, lift her eyes to meet Huangfu Huazhang’s gaze: "... Calling you by your name, I’m a bit tongue-tied. How about a compromise and call you ’Huangfu’?"
A trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he soon nodded with a smile: "Alright."
Perhaps he was satisfied, he finally let go of his hand, and she quickly returned to her mother’s side, holding her mother’s elbow as they walked back. As they walked, she tried to avoid Huangfu Huazhang’s gaze, seemingly focused on talking to her mother: "Mom, I heard from Mrs. Liu that you agreed to spend the New Year at Huangfu’s castle?"
At the mention of this, Xu Xinzhen’s eyes lit up brightly like a child’s: "Yes. Huangfu said his castle is extremely beautiful."
Shi Nian quietly took a breath: "... Over the years, I’ve always suggested to you, Mom, to come back home for the holidays, but you’ve always refused. Why did you agree as soon as Huangfu asked?"
Xu Xinzhen tilted her head to look at Shi Nian: "Are you saying, does your home also reside in a castle?"
Shi Nian could only shake her head: "No."
Xu Xinzhen blushed like a little girl and smiled: "That’s why, why would I go? But the Huangfu family is different; that’s a real castle."
The question was asked as if it hadn’t been, Shi Nian felt both disappointed and heartbroken.
In the end, Mom was still ill, returning to the time of her own girlhood, loving to listen to music, to write poetry, and also loved fairy tale castles just the same...
Xu Xinzhen, unable to hold back her joy, pinched Shi Nian’s wrist as they entered the door: "You have to move in too, accompany me."
.
Unable to clearly discuss with Mom, Shi Nian had to talk with Huangfu Huazhang again.
As the two left Deep Valley, sitting in the car, Shi Nian spoke earnestly: "I really appreciate you inviting my mom to your house for the holidays... I’m just worried that my mom’s condition might not adapt to a new environment."
Previously, doctors had said that her mother’s condition would make her wary of unfamiliar environments and people. If forced into a new environment, meeting new people, she might break down. It would not only be unhelpful for her recovery but could worsen her condition.
Huangfu Huazhang nodded with a smile: "I understand. How important Auntie is to you, how could I not handle it carefully? It’s just that I want to celebrate the holidays, and I can’t bear to leave Auntie in the nursing home anymore; besides, although it’s meant to protect her by avoiding suddenly facing unfamiliar places and people, without any positive stimuli, she may never overcome her condition."
He looked at her tenderly: "Rest assured, I have taken many buffering measures: Firstly, I told her that I’m taking her to a castle, a castle from a fairy tale. In this way, she thinks she’s still in a fantasy, not a strange environment in reality."
"Then each day I bring some photos from home, introducing each room to her, helping her reduce unfamiliarity in advance."
"Of course, more importantly, she has known me for a long time, and she likes me very much; she doesn’t see me as a stranger."
