People had told her before that after living together for a long time, people’s views would converge. She had also seen many people influenced by their partners. However, Lan Lan had always been a person with her own ideas. She had dated many boyfriends, but none had ever changed her views.
How was it that with Liang Yufeng, she had become an exception?
Or was it that she had been with Liang Yufeng for too long, and couldn't escape his influence?
It was rare for Liang Yufeng to hear Lan Lan mention resting. Since she thought so, he began to plan for her. "Well, then, you should rest well for a while, relax, and then consider work matters."
Mai Xuanfeng trotted over, sticking his head out for Lan Lan to pet. As Lan Lan stroked his fur, an idea suddenly struck her. She proposed to Liang Yufeng, "Let's take her out to play."
Liang Yufeng: "Hmm?"
Lan Lan had seen many videos online about taking dogs on road trips. When she took Mai Xuanfeng to events before, she had also heard a lot about it. It had been some time since Liang Yufeng brought Mai Xuanfeng back. Both of them were busy with work, and they hadn't officially taken her on a long trip. After Lan Lan mentioned it to Liang Yufeng, he started making plans. However, regarding Jiang Wan, neither of them mentioned it, as if by unspoken agreement.
Lan Lan had already been persuaded to leave Xinhe. When she resigned, her supervisor should have told her the reasons. Liang Yufeng had already prepared himself to be questioned by her, but after they met, she didn't mention it at all, as if she knew nothing about it.
As they chatted about the road trip plans, the morning flew by quickly. Liang Yufeng made lunch. After eating, they returned to the living room and sat down.
The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Mai Xuanfeng lay on the floor, sleeping peacefully.
Lan Lan and Liang Yufeng sat together on the carpet. She looked out the window and smiled, saying, "Since I bought this apartment, this is the first time I'm sitting here basking in the sun at noon."
This apartment was bought by Lan Lan with a loan in her second year of work. She was outstanding, and in her first year, she had saved enough for a down payment with her salary and bonuses. Later, she made some investments and paid off the house gradually.
The apartment was not small, and the renovation was all done according to her taste and preferences. However, she was usually too busy with work, leaving early and returning late. On weekends, she either went out to play or slept soundly in her bedroom, never truly observing her home.
"I never knew before that sitting in the living room and basking in the sun was so comfortable." The sunlight made her head feel warm, and Lan Lan leaned on Liang Yufeng's shoulder. "I don't know what I've been busy with all these years, just drifting along."
"You weren't drifting," Liang Yufeng said, sensing a hint of sadness in her tone, and he tried to praise her. "Your career is very successful."
"Yes, I know," Lan Lan said with great confidence. "I'm just being melodramatic. You don't need to mind me."
Liang Yufeng: "..." So, the matter of being laid off had still affected her mood somewhat.
Liang Yufeng hesitated for a moment and said to her, "If you still want to return to Xinhe, I can..."
"Aunt Jiang looked for me last week," Lan Lan interrupted him before he could finish. After struggling for so long, the truth had finally come out.
And Liang Yufeng didn't pretend to be unaware. "Yes, I know."
"She's quite disappointed in me," Lan Lan said. "Perhaps things between us really need to come to an end."
Hearing the word "end" from Lan Lan's mouth, Liang Yufeng's nerves suddenly tensed, and his heart leaped into his throat. Did the "end" she spoke of mean an end to their relationship?
Liang Yufeng wanted to speak but found he couldn't make a sound. He could only stare at her intently. At this moment, Lan Lan said to him again, "But I haven't figured out what to do yet."
"Liang Yufeng, if, I mean if," Lan Lan emphasized, as if afraid he would overlook it, "if Aunt Jiang never agrees, will you persist?"
"Am I not persisting now?" Liang Yufeng retorted.
Lan Lan was enlightened by his words. That was true, Liang Yufeng was indeed persisting now, to the point of losing his job...
"You left the company because of this, didn't you?" Lan Lan recalled Xu Zhengxi's warning that day. Although Liang Yufeng had told her it was fine before, she was still worried. "If I hadn't left, would you not have been able to go back?"
"No," Liang Yufeng said. "As long as I want to, I can go back anytime."
"I really understand those plots in movies and TV shows where people break up for the other person's good," Lan Lan said with a laugh. Her casual remark made Liang Yufeng nervous again. "Are you going to leave?"
"Are you an idiot!" Lan Lan patted his shoulder. "If I wanted to leave, I would have dumped you on the spot when they persuaded me to resign. Why would I put myself in such a miserable situation?"
Liang Yufeng was speechless. It was true, he was too nervous and his thoughts were muddled. "I'm sorry."
Lan Lan wasn't angry about this. She pondered for a moment and then asked Liang Yufeng, "Is Aunt Jiang okay with Xu Zhengxi?"
This question hit the nail on the head.
Liang Yufeng was not at ease with Jiang Wan being with Xu Zhengxi. Xu Zhengxi didn't genuinely care about her; he was merely trying to use her to threaten him. Jiang Wan should have known this, but because she wanted him to separate from Lan Lan, she was willing to cooperate.
"She's fine for now," Liang Yufeng said. "In a while, I'll go talk to her. It'll be fine once she calms down."
"She's not angry with you," Lan Lan knew very well that Jiang Wan simply wanted Liang Yufeng to be with someone who liked him and cherished him. He had gone through too much hardship, and as a mother, she felt sorry for him. She also knew clearly that she hadn't treated Liang Yufeng very well before.
Lan Lan looked at the sunlight outside the window. After a long period of contemplation, she finally made a decision. "Let's go and meet Aunt Jiang tomorrow."
Liang Yufeng's heart rate suddenly quickened. He thought of a possibility, and his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest. Before he could speak, Lan Lan added, "The last time they met me, Aunt Jiang asked me if I would marry you."
Liang Yufeng clenched his fist on one side, his palm sweating from nervousness. The two words he hadn't had the courage to utter until now were spoken by Lan Lan.
What was her answer, yes or no?
"I've been thinking about this these past few days. I'll tell you the truth, I haven't figured out if I want to get married yet, but I can tell you with certainty that I don't want to break up with you." Lan Lan's words were very candid. "However, this is just my personal thought. Now that Aunt Jiang opposes you being with me, and I can't give you an answer for the time being, it must be difficult for you caught in the middle."
"Liang Yufeng, let's go see Aunt Jiang tomorrow?" Lan Lan said. "There are some things I think I should let her know."
The last conversation was interrupted because Jiang Wan suddenly fainted. In fact, she hadn't expressed her attitude very well.
And Liang Yufeng was so stunned by her words that he couldn't speak.