Chapter 659: No Objections
Chapter 659: No Objections
Li Xiuxian had found an excuse to avoid chores and come out to dig for sandworms. If she hadn’t, she would have had to help cook dinner at home. Today, Liao Ruixiang’s two older sisters had returned to their parents’ house, each bringing their families, making a total of over a dozen people. She had already eaten dinner and was supposed to cook another meal for her two brothers-in-law and their families, who had just returned from Zhen Shang.
She was too lazy to cater to them, so she had come out to dig for sandworms, only to witness this scene!
Li Xiuxian watched as her daughter and Zhou Chengsen’s new girlfriend got along so well, and it made her feel uncomfortable.
“Just like her father, a real ingrate!”
Li Xiuxian walked straight toward them.
Zhou Chengsen could marry whomever he wanted, but she wouldn’t allow her daughter to be friends with any other woman!
When Zhao Cheng Lei noticed Li Xiuxian approaching Zhou Chengsen, he saw Jiang Xia also notice.
“Li Xiuxian won’t embarrass Dr. Ruan, will she? I’ll go check.”
Zhao Cheng Lei held her back. “Second Brother will handle it.”
He wasn’t blind to the subtle affection between Dr. Ruan and his Second Brother. If they were to have a future together, Li Xiuxian would eventually have to face it. After all, she was Zhou Ying’s birth mother. No one could stop her from finding Zhou Ying, nor could they stop Zhou Ying from looking for her mother.
Jiang Xia agreed and picked up her net pouch. “I won’t meddle. I’ll go collect some snails. You keep digging for sandworms.”
With that, Jiang Xia left Zhao Cheng Lei behind.
“...”
Zhao Cheng Lei had no choice but to continue digging, not even enough for one meal.
Li Xiuxian walked up to Zhou Chengsen and the others, smiling. “Yingying, you’re here to catch some sea creatures?”
The three, who had been working diligently, looked up at her.
Zhou Chengsen glanced at Li Xiuxian and then lowered his head, continuing to rake for snails.
Dr. Ruan glanced at Li Xiuxian and noticed her slightly protruding belly. She recognized her as Zhou Chengsen’s ex-wife and instinctively looked at Zhou Chengsen.
Zhou Chengsen didn’t look at her, focusing on raking for snails without changing his expression.
Zhou Ying stood up. “Mom.”
Li Xiuxian said to Zhou Ying, “Yingying, why don’t you join me today?”
Zhou Ying was reluctant. She preferred spending time with her father and Dr. Ruan. But she didn’t know how to refuse Li Xiuxian.
Zhou Chengsen noticed his daughter’s hesitation and said, “Another time. It’s getting dark, and we’ll be heading home soon.”
Zhou Ying’s eyes lit up. “Right, we’re having a barbecue later!”
Li Xiuxian’s face darkened.
Was this woman already living in the Zhou household?
How shameless!
Zhou Ying, noticing Li Xiuxian’s expression, whispered, “Mom, we can go next time. Today, I want to stay with Dr. Ruan. She’s my friend.”
Li Xiuxian, who had initially been quiet, was now furious. “Come over here with me. Don’t disturb your father and the lady while they’re being all cozy.”
Dr. Ruan: “...”
Zhou Chengsen finally looked at her. “Didn’t you hear what Yingying said? But you are quite a distraction. Don’t do it again next time.”
Li Xiuxian: “...”
Zhou Chengsen was being too harsh, showing no respect for her in front of Yingying and this woman!
She glanced at Dr. Ruan, wondering if this woman knew how sharp-tongued he could be.
Jiang Xia hadn’t come closer, but the wind carried Zhou Chengsen’s words to her. Indeed, there was nothing Zhou Chengsen couldn’t handle.
She walked to a less crowded spot to see if she could find anything. There were usually more things to collect after a low tide or a typhoon.
After leaving Li Xiuxian speechless, Zhou Chengsen turned to Dr. Ruan. “Dr. Ruan, there aren’t many snails here. Let’s check the other side?”
Li Xiuxian was taken aback by Zhou Chengsen's address.
This woman is actually a doctor?
With such a good job and looking so young, why would she be interested in Zhou Chengsen?
Could she be divorced or have some hidden ailment?
Or maybe her family is very poor, and she’s after Zhou Chengsen's money!
"Oh." To avoid awkwardness, Dr. Ruan didn't look at Li Xiuxian, stood up, and picked up the net pouch filled with the sea snails she and Zhou Ying had collected, which already weighed a couple of pounds.
Zhou Chengsen took the net pouch from her and held Zhou Ying's hand. "Yingying, let's find another spot."
Li Xiuxian watched the considerate Zhou Chengsen and felt a pang of resentment, thinking of Liao Ruixiang.
When it came to thoughtfulness, Zhou Chengsen was definitely more considerate.
Sometimes, Liao Ruixiang didn't even know what to do unless she told him.
And yet, the whole family expected her, a pregnant woman, to serve them.
"Bye, Mom." Zhou Ying waved at Li Xiuxian, whose face was twisted in an ugly expression.
Mom looks so scary!
I’m afraid she might drag me away and scold me at any moment.
Zhou Ying pulled Zhou Chengsen and walked quickly.
Li Xiuxian watched them leave, her heart heavy.
Zhou Ying's steps were unusually fast, as if they were a family of three!
Li Xiuxian wanted to go up to them, but then Liao Ruixiang ran over and called her, "Xian! Why are you out here collecting sea snails now? My sister and the others are here. Let's go home!"
Li Xiuxian felt annoyed. Why go home? To cook and serve the whole family?
"My stomach is a bit uncomfortable. I'll stay at my parents' place tonight."
"Why are you feeling unwell again?"
"I stood too long cooking today, and now I feel uncomfortable."
"..."
Every time she does a little housework, she says she feels unwell. He was starting to doubt if it was real.
Dr. Ruan walked a few dozen meters and looked back, seeing a man put his arm around Li Xiuxian's shoulders and lead her away.
At that moment, Zhou Ying spotted a scallop and immediately bent down to pick it up, excitedly saying, "Dad, Dr. Ruan, look! This scallop is so big! It must be really plump!"
Dr. Ruan smiled and said, "Yingying, you're so amazing!"
The beach ahead looked a bit unusual. Zhou Chengsen said, "Yingying, look, there are a lot of sea snails up ahead."
Zhou Ying saw them and immediately ran over.
Once their daughter was far enough away, Zhou Chengsen said, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. My ex-wife can be harsh. She was talking to me, so don't take it to heart."
Dr. Ruan glanced at him. "I don't mind, and you shouldn't either."
Zhou Chengsen: "I don't mind."
He had long since become immune to it.
Then they fell into silence.
Dr. Ruan had to find a topic. Talking about his ex-wife was out of the question, so she asked, "What should you do if you get caught in a rip current? Even if you know how to swim, it can be scary, right? I can swim."
"Once you get caught in a rip current, don't panic. The current only takes you out to sea, not underwater. Don't panic and swim with the current until you're out of the rip current's area, then swim parallel to the shore to avoid it, and finally swim back to the beach."
"That doesn't sound too scary."
Zhou Chengsen: "It is! Rip currents can vary in size. If you get caught in a large one, you might be carried far out. For someone not familiar with the water, it can be very dangerous. Even strong swimmers can tire out after swimming for too long."
"That makes sense."
Zhou Chengsen: "Even if you can swim, don't go in the water recklessly. If you do get caught in a rip current, don't try to swim back to the shore immediately, as it can tire you out. Instead, swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip current's path, then swim back."
"Have you ever been caught in a rip current?"
"No, but I've saved people who were."
"Wow, that's impressive!"
Zhou Chengsen: "What's so impressive about that? Many people in Cun Li have saved drowning victims."
"Anyone who dares to dive in to save others is impressive."
"Compared to you doctors, who save countless lives, it's nothing."
...
They chatted casually.
Zhou Ying then waved at them and shouted, "Dad, Dr. Ruan, come over here! There are a lot of east wind snails here."
Dr. Ruan immediately ran over.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
