Chapter 1284 - 1298: Null -
Wang Xia held Jia Chenggang’s hand, tears streaming down her face with emotion.
"Alright, let’s not talk about it, let’s eat. You should eat more, you look so haggard now," Jia Chenggang said as he put some food on Wang Xia’s plate.
Wang Xia pondered over the question Jia Chenggang had asked earlier, and the food in her mouth seemed tasteless.
After the meal, night fully enveloped the city. It was Jia Chenggang’s first time in Imperial City, and the bustling night view made him feel uneasy.
Wang Xia accompanied him along the streets of the Imperial City. In early October, the temperature difference between day and night was quite large. Wang Xia’s chiffon blouse couldn’t withstand the early autumn chill, and as a gust of wind blew by, she involuntarily hugged her arms tightly.
Jia Chenggang quickly took out a jacket from his backpack and draped it over her.
"Xia, where do you live? I’ll take you home."
Wang Xia adjusted her clothes, lowered her head and asked, "What about you? Where are you staying tonight?"
"Me?... Don’t worry about me, I’ll take you back. The temperature in Imperial City is indeed much colder than in Nan’an," Jia Chenggang said, grabbing Wang Xia’s hand and hailing a taxi without waiting for an answer.
At the neighborhood, Jia Chenggang paid the fare first and got off the taxi with Wang Xia. He looked around; this neighborhood was considered middle class. It should be the property they bought previously, and he felt relieved. It wasn’t as bad as he imagined, at least the mother and son had a decent place to stay.
"You go back, I’ll look around to see if there’s a suitable hotel nearby," Jia Chenggang waved to Wang Xia.
"Chenggang," Wang Xia softly called to Jia Chenggang, who was just about to turn.
"There’s no hotel nearby. If you don’t mind, come up and sit for a while."
Jia Chenggang looked at Wang Xia’s shy face, his heart beating like a drum. He couldn’t utter a word of refusal.
"Alright, I also want to see Rong, so I’ll go up for a while."
Following Wang Xia inside, Jia Chenggang didn’t see Rong, only half-eaten food on the dining table. Thinking that Wang Xia and he had dinner outside, he felt somewhat guilty.
"I should have come home for dinner."
Wang Xia pointed to the sofa with indifference, "You sit first," she said, then went to tidy up the dishes.
Jia Chenggang put his backpack on the sofa and followed her into the kitchen, "Where’s Rong? Is he already asleep?"
Just as he was speaking, the door clicked, and Hairong walked out holding a cup of water.
Upon seeing Hairong, Jia Chenggang greeted him, "Rong, Uncle Jia is here to see you, I brought you a gift."
As he said this, he went over to get his backpack, but when he took out the toy gun, Hairong had already filled a cup with water and turned back to his room.
This whole time, not only did he not speak to Jia Chenggang, he didn’t even give him a glance.
"This..."
Jia Chenggang held the toy gun, looking at Hairong’s back, seeking help from Wang Xia.
Previously, he could sense Hairong’s indifference towards him, but even with indifference, basic manners were there. Yet now, Hairong was beyond just indifferent towards him.
Wang Xia wiped her hands, her eyes reddened, murmuring, "Since coming back from Nan’an, the child has been like this. Not only towards you, even towards me as his mother, he isn’t very affectionate. The other day he said he wanted to go to a completely closed boarding school, I didn’t agree, and he’s been more resistant to me."
After speaking, Wang Xia raised her hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes, her weak and helpless appearance made Jia Chenggang’s masculine heart ache subtly.
Jia Chenggang clumsily reached out his large hand to wipe away her tears, feeling upset, "Xia, if he wants to go to a closed school, let him go. The last incident hit the child too hard, and he misunderstood you. Maybe after some time apart, he’ll understand that you mean well, and naturally, he’ll become close to you again."
"I know too, but... but I looked at a few closed schools, they’re all private elementary schools. In my current situation..."
Wang Xia spoke, turning her face to one side, her tears falling more fiercely, "It’s my fault, making him unable to attend the dream school."
Though Wang Xia didn’t finish her words, Jia Chenggang understood her meaning. Private elementary school meant high tuition fees, which Wang Xia certainly couldn’t afford given her current situation.
"Xia, don’t worry, you find a school, and leave the rest to me."
"How could that be?" Wang Xia shook her head, "Chenggang, I appreciate your kindness. You’ve already taken care of us a lot, I can’t let you do more for us, I’m not worthy of such treatment from you."
"No, you are worthy, Xia. I’ve lived over thirty years, from the day I met you, I knew you’re a good woman."
Jia Chenggang looked at her, speaking resolutely.
Wang Xia looked up, teary-eyed, their eyes met.
Gradually, two warm breaths intertwined.
Jia Chenggang always believed he’s a man of strong self-control and principles.
As a man, he always felt the best way to respect a woman was proper marriage, bright and open.
Yet now, looking at the woman in front of him, he suddenly realized she’s really fragile and couldn’t bear his merciless rejection anymore.
That’s what he thought, and that’s what he did.
...