Chapter 343: Unrequited Feelings

him, that's a different story. 。Although the two are still competitors in the business department, she is willing to be friends with Shu Tinglan outside of competition. 。I want to make friends with Sh...“Are you seriously considering this” Lu Kuò couldn't quite put his finger on how he felt. He just didn’t think Cheng Chén would go on a blind date. He had chased after her for a long time, but in the process, he realized their worldviews were different. He lived life carefree, going with the flow and not getting hung up on things. To him, enjoying life in the moment was the most important thing. But Cheng Chén took things seriously and pushed herself relentlessly. When they were together, he felt a lot of pressure, as if not striving hard enough was a sin. Plus, her lukewarm response to his advances had left him disheartened, so he eventually gave up.

But when she heard that she had gone on a blind date and felt the other person was alright and wanted to continue seeing him, he felt very uncomfortable. What he said also carried a hint of sarcasm.

Cheng Chen glanced at him, and surprisingly, instead of his usual sharp retort, he merely replied in a nonchalant tone.

“Well, I want to get married.”

That's life, striving and working hard, but losing to reality. So she chose to keep her feet on the ground. As for Lu Kuo, she had also tried to get closer to him, confessed her feelings, and after being rejected, she gave up the fairy tale fantasy of a princess and chose a suitable partner to live a plain life.

Of course, "lying flat" doesn't exist in Cheng Chen's dictionary. Instead, she is more aware of reality, no longer impetuous, and strives forward steadily. Even without a background in the public service sector, she will still pave her own way step by step.

After she had come to terms with herself, when she faced Lu Kuò again, her heart was at peace. She treated him as an ordinary old classmate or friend. On the contrary, Lu Kuò felt a sense of loss, but he couldn't say a word.

Over there, Zhuo Yúan was already urging him to get in the car, but he only had time to say one sentence.

“Cheng Chen, marriage is not a child's play, don't settle.”

What does he want to say Doesn't she know

Cheng Chen shook his head and went to meet Lin Zhifan and Ting Lan ahead.

Lawyer Sun and her family were discussing countermeasures with Fu Tai and Yi Mu Yang, all of them sympathizing with Tinglan. They had witnessed how hard she had worked to raise her two children over the past few years in the city, and now that Zhuo Yu'an arrived, he directly took the children away. They all felt sorry for Tinglan.

Mr. Sun was the most conflicted. As a lawyer, he rationally knew that refusal was pointless; the court could force Zhuo Yu'an to take the children away. But emotionally, he couldn't accept it. From Tinglan's pregnancy to the day Zhuo Yu'an applied to his law firm, he had watched the children grow up day by day. He empathized with Tinglan.

Shutinglan, who should have collapsed, became the most calm after truly receiving this judgment. Perhaps she had been hurt too many times, it seemed that her life was never smooth sailing. From her father's death to her mother's madness, to marriage, divorce, her mother's death, and the birth of her children, they were all hurdles one after another. So she got used to it, the greater the hardship, the calmer she could face it.

"Everyone, go back. I'm really fine."

She saw off Mr. Sun and his family, then told Lin Zhixuan and Cheng Chen to go back wherever they should go, there was no need to stay with her.

She calmly accompanied the wealthy madam to send Yi Muyang to the hospital.

Yi Muyang never said any comforting words to her from beginning to end, only when they were about to part ways at the hospital did he say...

“Starting tomorrow, I'll accompany you to pick up and drop off the kids.”

This seemingly simple sentence carried weight. It was a promise to protect her and the children, which brought Shū Tinglan peace of mind. "Thank you," he replied.

When I went to pick up the children from kindergarten that evening, seeing them run into her arms with such innocence and joy, my eyes welled up. Thankfully, I quickly blinked them back, but I felt so sorry for them. I don't have the ability to protect them.

When she got in the car, she unprecedentedly asked the two children.

“Would you like a hamburger and ice cream”

Both children were taken aback, looking at their mother in front of them, wondering if she was testing them again Mom was the best at tricking them, so neither of them answered.

At such a young age, he could see right through his mother's tricks.

Shu Xiaohua couldn't resist the temptation first. Her bright eyes looked at her mother who was driving ahead, and she whispered softly.

"I want to eat."

Mom is the strictest with her and her brother, never letting them eat junk food.

"Okay, Mommy will take you there." Shu Tinglan drove the car towards the nearby shopping mall.

"Mommy is the best!" Shu Xiaohua's expression, which had been a little hesitant just moments ago, instantly blossomed into a radiant smile. She was almost about to run up and give her mother a kiss.

Shu Xiaonian was sensitive to his mother's emotional changes. He didn't seem very happy, and instead of getting out of the car happily, he held onto his mother's hand tightly. There was worry in the eyes of the little boy.

After sitting down, Shu Xiaonian politely sat aside and ate ice cream little by little. However, Shu Xiaonian didn't eat it. He sat close to his mother and softly asked

“Is Mommy sad”

Shu Tinglan was taken aback: "No, why do you say that"

Shu Xiaonian couldn't answer, but he just knew his mom wasn't happy now.

Shutinglan picked him up and sat him on her lap, answering very seriously.

“Mommy isn't unhappy, she just hasn't been around much lately because she's been on business trips. She feels really bad about not spending enough time with you and your sister. Mommy promises that she won't go on business trips anymore and will always be with you and your sister, okay”

Shu Xiaonian shook her head and said, "It's okay, Mom. My sister and I are all grown up now and can take care of ourselves. You go do the things you like." Xiao Xin said, "Mom is a brave warrior who goes to help many people."

Her tears, held in all day, were almost brought to the surface by a few words from Shu Xiaonian. She hugged Shu Xiaonian tightly.

“Thank you, baby. Mommy loves you so much.”

Shu Xiaohua, seeing her mother and brother embrace, also opened her arms to come over.

“I love Mommy too, and I want a hug from Mommy.”

Shu Tinglan smiled and pulled her into his arms.

A cold, wet feeling came from the back of her neck. It was Xiaohua's ice cream, half of it had rubbed onto her neck. A second later, Xiaonian couldn't help but say: "Sister, your ice cream got on my face."

Shu Xiaohe smeared half of the ice cream she was holding all over Shu Tinglan's neck and Shu Xiaonian's cheeks. The three of them laughed until they were in a heap, sweeping away all the gloom. Being with the children was just too happy; all worries would dissipate like smoke.

The next morning, Yi Muyang kept his promise and arrived at her house early, leaning on his cane. When he saw the children coming down with their school bags, he still wanted to hug them as he used to with open arms.

Two little kids saw him and excitedly ran over to hug him.

"Be careful, all of you, be careful." Shu Tinglan called out hastily from behind, fearing they might touch his wound.

Yimu Yang shook his head at her, saying it was fine. His abdominal wound had healed, just the leg injury took a little longer. He almost landed on one foot, then scooped up the two children as he used to, one in each hand.

"Have you been thinking about Uncle Yi"

"There is"

"There is"

The children all answered in unison. each stolen kiss.His smirk was too obvious, he fully woke up, and tightened his grip on her hand.CaughtLu Yaoyao looked up at him from his embrace, meeting his shallowly smiling obsidian eyes."Contin...