Daddy, Mommy Ran Away

An Ruoxi pulled Moli aside, initially thinking it would take a lot of effort to explain everything and make her understand. To her surprise, as soon as she mentioned marrying Shen-Ge to escape Mai Shuo, Moli jumped up in excitement and agreed immediately.

After An Ruoxi laid out the reasoning and explained the pros and cons of the situation, Moli became even more enthusiastic about the idea.

Watching Moli beam like a magpie freed from a golden cage, An Ruoxi suddenly furrowed her brows. Did Moli actually have feelings for Mr. Mai without realizing it? Was it possible that she herself had overlooked this?

Well, she thought, let everything follow its natural course. Fate cannot be forced; if it can be, then it ceases to be fate.

When the two of them returned to the private room, three men were passionately singing a rendition of “Red Sun.”

An Ruoxi had never heard Leng Haoyin sing before and was astonished by how good he sounded. His voice was deep and resonant, leaving her utterly captivated.

After the song ended, Leng Haoyin stepped aside, leaving the two flamboyant men to continue singing a duet-a bittersweet love ballad, with one taking the male part and the other the female.

“Wait, where’s Zhan-Ge? Wasn’t he here earlier? And Qiuling hasn’t arrived yet?” An Ruoxi glanced around the room but saw no sign of them.

Just then, the door to the private room swung open. A man and a woman walked in, hand in hand, their intimate gestures unmistakable. The woman leaned against the man’s tall frame like a delicate bird, and their silhouettes were so harmonious, so visually pleasing.

This striking yet jarring scene hit everyone like a sudden tornado, catching them completely off guard. As they exchanged bewildered glances, Leng Qiuling stepped forward with a faint smile and introduced Louis Tian’en to the group: “This is my elder brother, Leng Haoyin. Beside him is my sister-in-law, An Ruoxi. Over there are Zhan Moli, Shen Jun, and Mai Shuo.”

“Hello, everyone. I’m Louis Tian’en,” Louis greeted them in fluent Mandarin. He was French but had learned the language after meeting Leng Qiuling.

“Uh…” The group responded with polite smiles and nods, still processing the situation.

The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, and when Zhan Tianxiang entered the room, the tension escalated to an almost palpable level.

“Tianxiang, the three of us just sang solo performances. Now it’s your turn. Come on, sing something you’re really good at,” Shen Jun said, immediately pulling him aside upon noticing his somber expression.

“Yeah, yeah! How about ‘Baby, Please Forgive Me One More Time’ by Huanzi?” Mai Shuo chimed in, egging him on.

“Elder Brother, just one song. Pour your feelings into it,” Moli urged, glancing at her brother’s pained expression before turning to see Qiuling chatting amicably with another handsome man. Her heart ached for her brother’s current state but also burned with anger at how he had let such a wonderful woman slip away.

She knew her elder brother better than anyone. Over the past five years, his gaze toward Qiuling had transformed from indifferent calm to deep, unwavering affection.

She couldn’t help but think of herself. Once upon a time, she had been a naive young girl, just like Qiuling, filled with longing for love. But when she had just begun to harbor a secret crush, Elder Brother and her sister-in-law had divorced. Seeing Qiuling’s devastated state back then, she had become timid and withdrawn.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted toward a corner of the private room.

Just one glance, and under the dim lighting, her face flushed faintly, betraying her emotions.

Zhan Tianxiang’s eyes had been fixed on the figure on the sofa ever since he entered. Watching her chat intimately with Louis Tian’en, her face radiant with smiles, she seemed like a woman blissfully lost in a honey jar. A bitter smile tugged at his lips, while a sharp ache crept into his chest.

Wasn’t this what he had always wanted? Hadn’t he always hoped she would find a good man and live happily ever after? Now she had done it-she no longer loved him. So why did his heart feel so bitter, so agonizing, as if a sharp blade had carved out a piece of it? And with a heart missing a piece, how could one go on living?

In the end, he didn’t sing the suggested song. Instead, he chose Huang Pin-Yuan’s “Why Do I Love You So Much.”

“Leaving you-was it foolish, was it right, was it wrong? Was it clarity, or was it weakness? Is this outcome love, hate, or something else? If it’s a kind of release, why does longing still linger in my heart? Why do I love you so much? Leaving you-was it foolish, was it right, was it wrong? Was it clarity, or was it weakness? Is this outcome love, hate, or something else? If it’s a kind of release, why does longing still linger in my heart? Why do I love you so much…”

His deep, resonant voice carried so much emotion that it struck a chord in her heart. Listening to it, she felt an unbearable ache. Her heart seemed to be hit again and again. Flustered, she picked up her drink and took a sip. But as she set the crystal glass down, it tipped over, spilling the drink onto her sleeve. “Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom.”

In the restroom, cold water splashed over her face again and again. This time, she couldn’t hold back her tears. They streamed down uncontrollably, merging with the water, indistinguishable from the flowing stream.

As she stepped out of the restroom, she saw Louis Tian’en standing in the hallway. He extended a hand towel toward her.

“Thank you.” Her lashes curved slightly as she offered a faint smile, but they quickly lowered again.

“You’ve been crying,” he said softly, his keen observation picking up on her distress.

“No, I just washed my face. It’s still wet,” she replied with a faint, bitter smile, denying it nonetheless.

“Your eyes are red and swollen, filled with bloodshot veins,” Louis Tian’en pointed out bluntly, exposing her lie. His handsome face tightened, and his gaze carried a mix of disappointment and sorrow. “Is it because of that man earlier?”

He had noticed her unease earlier-the tension in her body, her sudden display of intimacy. Everything pointed to the presence of that man.

That man-the one who had hurt her so deeply five years ago, causing her to build an impenetrable fortress around her heart. No one could enter, and she herself couldn’t escape.

“No, he’s just my Elder Brother’s classmate… Mm-”

Before she could finish, her body was suddenly yanked forward, crashing into a solid chest. Before Leng Qiuling could react, her lips were sealed by his.

“Mm-” Her eyes widened in shock, her pupils dilating as she instinctively pushed against his chest. But as he lowered his head, she caught sight of a figure behind him through his shoulder and stopped struggling.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed as the figure fled in haste.

A gentle breeze brushed past, leaving a cool sensation on her cheek. Only then did she realize that tears had once again fallen from her eyes, tracing down her face and slipping into the corners of her lips, tasting as bitter as windblown sand.

Louis Tian’en finally released Leng Qiuling, his gaze filled with pain as he wiped away her tear-streaked cheeks. “That man-he loves you.”