In early March, the night in Licheng still carried a chill. A breeze blew by, and the streetlights cast egg-yolk-colored halos on the ground.
At this moment, beside a Rolls-Royce, petite Tan Mo, wrapped in a thick coat, was forcefully pulled into Xie Qichen’s arms. His kiss fell upon her lips with no mercy, instantly stealing away her consciousness and breath.
Like a snake, he pried open her lips, entwining her breath around his.
Unafraid of being seen, he was extremely bold.
Tan Mo’s chin was lifted, unable to escape, she could only tilt her head back and endure Xie Qichen’s ruthless plundering. Her fingertips tightly gripped his clothes, her mind exploding like fireworks.
Her entire face flushed red, as if it would bleed, her nervousness and shyness repeatedly rushing to her head, moaning softly under his kiss.
After a while, the man hugged Tan Mo and turned, his back now facing Ye Yao’s direction.
With possessiveness, he completely shielded the little girl within his coat, visible only to him.
From afar, one could vaguely see Tan Mo still being kissed.
A thick, passionate intimacy that seemed to hide something.
On the other side.
Ye Yao, who had just stood there watching Tan Mo walk toward Xie Qichen, was so shocked he momentarily forgot to leave. Then he saw Xie Qichen embrace and kiss Tan Mo.
A man surely understands another man.
This was clearly a declaration of ownership right in front of him.
Ye Yao’s mind went blank, his expression gradually darkening. Watching Tan Mo willingly stay in that man’s arms, he clenched his fists tightly, like a defeated opponent watching the enemy lift the trophy—humiliated and awkward—before turning and leaving.
The surroundings were quiet, with only faint insect chirps.
After a while, beside the Rolls-Royce, Xie Qichen finally ended the kiss.
Few people passed by the area.
The moon hung high, leaving only faint ripples on the lake.
Xie Qichen opened his eyes, resting his forehead against Tan Mo’s, exhaling deeply. Looking into her watery eyes, his voice was low and hoarse:
“He’s gone.”
Tan Mo’s face was fully flushed, too shy to look up, her voice soft:
“Xie Qichen, why are you so jealous…”
His eyes darkened:
“Do you know how long I’ve tolerated him?”
From the day they got married, when he saw Ye Yao giving her flowers, to later calling to invite her to ring in the New Year—he had been seething with jealousy all along, holding himself back. Now that their relationship was finally official, of course, he had to cut off certain people’s hopes.
Seeing his jealous expression, Tan Mo couldn’t help but want to laugh.
Suddenly, she thought about how trivial her jealousy over Song Ranxia seemed?
She curved her red lips, gazing up at Xie Qichen:
“Xie Qichen, you’re so silly. I don’t like Ye Yao. Why are you jealous? Besides, I already told him you’re my boyfriend.”
Her eyes twinkled mischievously, her finger hooking his tie:
“If I had gotten closer to other boys back in high school, maybe you’d get jealous and couldn’t hold back, and I might have found out you liked me sooner.”
The man chuckled softly, lowering his gaze and pressing her into his arms:
“Yeah, you would’ve known sooner—and been mine sooner too.”
“…”
If he hadn’t gone abroad back then and they had gotten together naturally, this little girl probably would’ve been his the moment she entered college.
His meaningful words whispered by Tan Mo’s ear, making her cheeks flush red with embarrassment. Irritated, she silently cursed the older man as a “rascal” in her heart, just before he finally opened the back car door.
“Let’s go, get in the car.”
He feared she might catch a cold from standing too long in the cold wind, so he carefully helped her in.
After both got into the back seat, Tan Mo suddenly realized the driver was there too, her mind instantly struck by thunder.
Waaah! So embarrassing!!!
But the driver, seemingly professionally trained, remained unusually calm and even considerately lowered the partition before smoothly driving off.
Thinking back to the last time in the car when Xie Qichen kissed her, almost leading to something more, Tan Mo felt the driver was preventing a repeat, making her even more embarrassed. She stubbornly kept a one-meter distance from Xie Qichen during the ride, preventing him from getting his way.
The man rolled his Adam’s apple, glancing at her:
“You think you can avoid me all night?”
Later, the car returned to the villa.
Tan Mo, wanting to play, hurriedly pushed open the car door, quickly got out, and ran toward the villa.
But as she entered the fingerprint at the door, the system unhelpfully displayed an error. A few seconds later, she felt Xie Qichen approaching.
Just as she tried to hide, the man grabbed her, unlocked the fingerprint with his other hand, then scooped her up and carried her into the villa, smirking:
“Think you can run away?”
Tan Mo screamed, wrapping her arms around his neck:
“What are you doing…”
“You tell me what I’m doing?”
The man especially emphasized one word.
Meeting his gaze, Tan Mo saw the answer reflected in his eyes, her heart racing and face blushing.
From the entrance to the living room, Xie Qichen carried her and sat on the sofa.
Her body was pinned by his hands, and his lips covered hers again.
This time, Tan Mo had nowhere to escape, pressed tightly in his arms.
In the empty villa, only moonlight poured in. Tan Mo became bold, clinging to his shoulders and leaning closer.
Just having tasted new sweetness, both were somewhat addicted, their love growing stronger, as if they’d never tire.
As they kissed, Xie Qichen’s phone suddenly rang.
The man, caught in the moment, naturally had no intention of answering, but the ringing startled Tan Mo’s heart to race. Blushing, she gently pushed him away, finally catching her breath like a fish out of water:
“Xie Qichen, answer the call first. What if something’s wrong…”
Frowning, Xie Qichen rolled his throat, suppressing his rising irritation. He reached for his phone while still holding her.
Seeing the caller was Xun Huo, Xie Qichen answered and turned on speakerphone. A voice came through:
“Hey, Achen?”
After clearing his hoarse throat:
“What is it?”
Tan Mo wanted to listen, but the man started mischief secretly. Her mind throbbed, realizing someone was on the line, she tightly bit her lip, unable to make a sound, wanting to escape but unable, her entire body instantly blushing.
Xun Huo, unaware of what was happening, continued:
“Achen, what are your plans this weekend? Are you free?”
“What’s up?”
“Remember how we all said after Wu Yuan’s wedding that we’d hang out again on a free weekend?”
Xun Huo chuckled:
“My brother recently took over a winery. The environment is great. We can all go over and play around. There’s horseback riding, golf, like a resort.”
Xie Qichen smirked:
“You just want us to help your brother’s business, right?”
“Exactly! Who wouldn’t want you, Mr. Xie, to come check it out?” Xun Huo laughed even more, “Hey, just kidding. I’ll cover all the expenses. I thought since you and Goddess Song are back in China, we friends in Licheng could hang out more often.”
As Xun Huo spoke, on this end, Tan Mo was being teased by the man. After a while, her eyes reddened, her red lips involuntarily letting out a soft “Mmm…”
Hearing the sound, Xun Huo paused, puzzled:
“What was that noise?”
Tan Mo: I’m so embarrassed… Wuwuwu…
Her heart pounded, so ashamed she almost wanted to hide underground, only to meet Xie Qichen’s smiling gaze. He casually said:
“Nothing, I have a cat at home. It’s playing.”
Tan Mo: ?
At this moment, Xie Qichen had no mind for anything other than the girl. Briefly, he told the caller:
“Talk tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Xun Huo on the other end, actually guessing everything, chuckled inwardly.
“Have a cat at home?” As if he didn’t know what was happening on the other end of the line!
Following the idea of not disturbing a couple’s intimacy at night, Xun Huo wisely backed off, teasingly adding:
“Alright, talk tomorrow. Don’t let me interrupt. Keep playing with your cat.”
Tan Mo: …
After hanging up, Xie Qichen tossed the phone onto the sofa. Tan Mo, pouting, hit him:
“Xun Huo definitely found out…”
The man captured her fists in his palm, his throat vibrating with deep laughter:
“It’s fine. He thinks it’s normal.”
“Normal? Xie Qichen, you’re so bad. I’m not talking to you anymore…”
Tan Mo scolded, but it sounded more like coquettish teasing, soft like a glutinous rice ball. How could Xie Qichen hold back any longer? He scooped her up and headed upstairs, his voice hoarse, biting her earlobe:
“Alright, we’ll talk about whether you’re still with me later.”
“Umm…”
—
The night deepened, the clock on the wall already pointing to 11 PM.
Only one lamp lit the second-floor hallway.
Inside the master bedroom, darkness enveloped everything, like a girl submerged in water being steadily lifted by the man and carried to the bathroom.
After cleaning up and coming out, they found the bed unusable, so Xie Qichen carried Tan Mo to the adjacent bedroom.
Lying down again, Tan Mo was covered with a blanket, Xie Qichen embracing her, stroking her hair gently, whispering:
“Tired?”
The girl nestled on his chest, grumbling:
“My legs are about to break…”
The man softly laughed by her ear:
“You couldn’t even stand steady holding the mirror just now. How useless.”
Thinking back, Tan Mo blushed with embarrassment:
“Well… I just didn’t have any strength then…”
His smile deepened:
“So you like me carrying you?”
“Mmm…” Tan Mo buried her hot face, too shy to look at him, “Don’t talk about it anymore…”
He chuckled:
“Alright, won’t talk about it.”
Tan Mo huffed softly, lifting her face:
“Turn down the heating a bit.”
“Too hot?”
She glared at him:
“Don’t you know how hot you are yourself?”
The man’s body was warm like a stove even in winter, especially after just finishing that business. She didn’t want to sweat again right after taking a shower.
After adjusting the temperature, Xie Qichen lay on his side, half-holding her in his arms. Looking at her, he gently twirled her hair and brought up the previous topic again, making Tan Mo blush once more with just a few words.
Hmph, she now knew she was no match for an older man, especially one who had been holding back for years.
After a while, they changed topics. Tan Mo thought about what happened at school tonight:
“Probably now that Ye Yao knows I have a boyfriend, he won’t come looking for me anymore.”
Previously, she thought she had been clear enough with him, but who would have thought he still wouldn’t give up?
Xie Qichen glanced at her indifferently:
“Yeah, I hope you won’t be called ‘gege’ by certain people anymore.”
Tan Mo recalled the time Ye Yao called to invite her to ring in the New Year. At that time, the man said he was her family member, and she casually made up a story saying he was her older brother.
Tan Mo couldn’t help but smile, wrapping her arms around his neck:
“I’m sorry, okay…”
As they cuddled, Tan Mo suddenly heard her phone on the nightstand ring. Picking it up, she was surprised to see it was her father.
It was rare for her parents to call this late. Tan Mo looked at Xie Qichen, puzzled, then sat up, adjusting the slipping spaghetti strap of her nightgown, and answered the call on speaker:
“Hi Dad?”
A gentle voice came through:
“Hey, Mama, are you asleep?”
“No, Dad. It’s pretty late. Is something wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing. Dad just wanted to ask something…”
Xie Qichen sat up, pulling her into his arms. Hearing her father hesitating, Tan Mo glanced at Xie Qichen and guessed:
“Dad, are you going to ask about my sister?”
As soon as she spoke, a shrill, angry female voice came through the speaker, distant but clearly audible:
“What do you think you are, Tan Mo! You’re just a foster child in my house. How dare you get Xie Qichen to do this to me!”
The furious, hysterical voice was unmistakable.
In the study of Tan’s villa, Tan Zhiwan turned to look at Tan Mo, his face immediately darkening:
“Tan Zhiwan, shut up! How dare you speak like that!”
“Dad, you’re even defending her!”
Tan Zhiwan glared, eyes red, wanting to rush forward to grab the phone, but was stopped by her mother:
“Wanwan, calm down…”
“Don’t cause trouble. Sit quietly in the study!”
Tan Zhiwan’s father, furious, directly walked out of the study and slammed the door shut.
After calming himself a bit, he apologetically said to the person on the other end of the phone:
“Mama, did you hear what your sister just said? Don’t get angry, okay…”
On the other end, Tan Mo hadn’t even had time to get angry when the man beside her had already turned cold from Tan Zhiwan’s insults.
Tan Mo held his hand to soothe him. Actually, she had heard those words so many times they were worn out in her ears. Calmly, she responded:
“It’s okay, Dad. Are you asking about what Xie Qichen did to my sister…”
Tan Zhiwan sighed:
“Mama, don’t misunderstand. Dad isn’t calling to protect Wanwan, I just wanted to understand what happened. Your sister insists you hate her and deliberately found Xie Qichen to retaliate against her, but Dad knows you’re not like that.”
Tan Zhiwan’s father loved both of his daughters equally. Although he tolerated the domineering Tan Zhiwan more, over the years he had also realized how much Tan Mo had suffered at home.
The recent argument between Tan Mo and him at home made Tan Zhiwan realize how much the child had endured, silently suppressing her grievances.
Today, when he learned that Xie Qichen had intercepted several of Tan Zhiwan’s cooperation deals, he was first shocked, finding it unbelievable. But thinking about Xie Qichen’s character, he realized he wouldn’t do such a thing without reason. Thinking deeper, he guessed the truth.
Tan Zhiwan asked:
“Is Qichen there with you now?”
Tan Mo glanced at Xie Qichen:
“Mm, he is.”
“Can I talk to him for a moment?”
Hearing this, Xie Qichen directly took the phone, speaking gently:
“Dad.”
“Ah…”
“This has nothing to do with Mo Mo. She didn’t know beforehand. Don’t blame her.”
“That won’t happen.”
The man paused before speaking:
“First of all, I want to apologize to you. Regardless of anything, Tan Zhiwan is Mo Mo’s elder sister, and I should call her ‘sister.’ You love her dearly.
At the same time, you’ve worked hard to raise Mo Mo. The Tan family has shown Mo Mo immense kindness, and indeed, for your sake, I shouldn’t have acted this way, as it disrespects the Tan family.”
His tone was gentle and courteous, yet clearly laced with anger:
“However, Tan Zhiwan has repeatedly crossed my boundaries. Since my marriage to Tan Mo, she has openly belittled Mo Mo as merely a tool for an arranged marriage. She maliciously slandered Mo Mo in front of her grandmother, and now this latest incident—I can no longer tolerate Tan Zhiwan’s repeated provocations, which nearly caused misunderstandings between Mo Mo and me.”
Tan’s father was shocked: “Misunderstandings? What do you mean?”
“A couple of weeks ago, on a Sunday evening, Tan Zhiwan should have approached you with rumors about me and another woman.”
Then, Xie Qichen recounted the entire story. A few minutes later, Tan’s father, now aware of the truth, was stunned: “How could it be like this…”
Xie Qichen looked at the young girl beside him, his voice hoarse, unable to suppress his anger:
“Dad, do you know how Tan Mo has been excluded and hurt by Tan Zhiwan all her life?”
“Tan Zhiwan and her group have often mocked and humiliated her, and this continues to this day. Mo Mo has endured much silently, partly because she didn’t want you to feel caught in the middle, and partly because she always recognized her status as an adopted daughter. She loved you all and didn’t want to become Tan Zhiwan’s enemy.”
“Do you know that when she was in high school, she cried and told me she was afraid of being sent away because she performed poorly, fearing you would abandon her just like her birth parents?”
His voice was cold and thin, each word falling heavily:
“Please tell me, after repeated verbal warnings proved ineffective, what else should I do to make Tan Zhiwan stop hurting my wife for all these years?”
Beside him, Tan Mo, upon hearing this, grabbed Xie Qichen’s hand, her eyes slightly red as she shook her head.
On the other end, after several seconds of silence, Tan’s father spoke hoarsely:
“I failed Mo Mo. As her father, I neglected my duty. I didn’t protect her well all these years, letting her suffer. How could this child be so foolish? To me, she is my real daughter. How could her mother and I ever abandon her…”
Hearing this, Tan Mo lowered her eyes, her eyes silently moistening.
Tan’s father said: “This matter was indeed Tan Zhiwan’s mistake. Don’t worry, I will definitely discipline her properly. It’s my fault for indulging her repeatedly, allowing her to make such a grave mistake.”
Tan’s father said he wanted to talk to Tan Mo, and the latter took the phone, saying softly, “Dad…”
Tan’s father’s eyes reddened. “Mo Mo, this matter is Tan Zhiwan’s fault. Dad will stand up for you. Remember, you will always be the daughter of the Tan family. Your parents will never abandon you. From now on, Dad will protect you.”
Tan Mo wiped away her tears, softly replying, “Okay, thank you, Dad…”
Tan’s father comforted Tan Mo for a while before hanging up the phone. He put away his phone, his face cold as he walked back to his study.
Inside the study, Tan Zhiwan was holding Tan’s mother’s hand, complaining bitterly about Tan Mo’s behavior. When the door opened and Tan’s father walked in, she burst into tears, looking at him with a pitiful expression:
“Dad, you have to stand up for me. Don’t forget, I’m your real daughter…”
Tan Zhiwan wept as she spoke, but noticed Tan’s father staring at her coldly and silently, which made her feel more guilty than when he was angry normally.
Her voice gradually softened, and she saw him finally speak:
“Go ahead, why don’t you continue speaking?”
“Dad, did I say anything wrong…”
“Do you feel wronged? Do you think the whole world is against you?”
Tan Zhiwan was slightly taken aback, lowering her eyes, her tone innocent: “Dad, look at what Tan Mo made Xie Qichen do. It’s obvious she has something against me. After all, I’m Tan Mo’s elder sister. She’s being too disrespectful to me…”
“You suddenly remember you’re Tan Mo’s elder sister now?”
Tan’s father sneered, raising his voice: “I don’t see any sisterly qualities in you at all. I realize I’ve been deceived by your innocent act all along!”
Tan’s father’s sudden outburst startled Tan Zhiwan, while Tan’s mother was surprised and confused: “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean? All the lessons I gave you at the ancestral home on New Year’s Eve were in vain!”
Tan’s mother was astonished as Tan’s father angrily told her: “That night, do you remember her coming to us saying that Xie Qichen might be having an affair? It was completely fabricated, made up out of thin air, just so we would believe it and stir up trouble between them!
She also approached Tan Mo that day, telling her that Xie Qichen looked down on her, stirring up discord between them. Later, she was delighted at the thought of their divorce, spreading the word everywhere that Tan Mo had been abandoned by Xie Qichen! Look how malicious her heart is!”
Tan’s mother was shocked: “Zhiwan, how could you…”
Tan Zhiwan’s face fell apart as she was exposed, not even having time to defend herself before Tan’s father angrily scolded her:
“Tan Zhiwan, when you were little, you bullied Tan Mo, and I thought it was just childishness. I knew you felt insecure with a sister around, fearing we wouldn’t love you enough. But now that you’re grown up, how can you still be so petty?!”
“I…”
“Do you know how lenient I’ve been with you over the years?!” he continued, his voice rising. “You didn’t like Tan Mo and wouldn’t let her live at home, forcing her to move into an apartment before she even graduated from university. I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to upset you.
And when she came home, you’d speak to her with sharp, sarcastic words, and I sometimes let you have your way, making Tan Mo feel hurt. I just thought you two had incompatible personalities and couldn’t get along. But I never imagined you’d turn out this evil. How could I have such a malicious daughter!”
Tan Zhiwan, hearing her father’s words, exploded in rage: “So, you regret having me? Yeah, Tan Mo is the obedient and kind one, and I’m the worst and most unlovable. You must wish she was your real daughter, right? I really don’t understand. Tan Mo is just an adopted brat. Her birth parents didn’t even want her. Why do you treat her like this—”
Before she could finish her sentence, a slap landed on Tan Zhiwan’s face.
A burning pain immediately spread across one side of her face.
Tan’s father raised his hand, breathing heavily, his anger reaching its peak: “Don’t you dare say such things again!”
Tan Zhiwan covered her face, tears immediately streaming down as she glared at him fiercely:
“Sure enough, in your heart, you’ve always loved Tan Mo more! Because she looks pitiful and innocent, you all feel sorry for her. But who cares about me? When I was kidnapped to the mountains as a child, often beaten and scolded, going hungry and cold, Tan Mo was living happily like a little princess in the Tan family. She has already received so much of your love. Don’t I have a reason to hate her?”
Tan’s father rebuked: “Zhiwan, you were kidnapped when you were young because your parents didn’t protect you well. It has nothing to do with Tan Mo. You have been venting your unjustified anger on her all along. How innocent she has been! And ask yourself, in all these years, has Tan Mo ever taken advantage of being adopted by us to bully you? Hasn’t she shown you enough respect?”
Tan Zhiwan bit her lip tightly, unable to utter a word.
Indeed, over the years, Tan Mo dared not do anything to her, but every time she saw Tan Mo’s face, she couldn’t help but feel jealous for reasons unknown.
“Zhiwan, you suffered a lot when you were kidnapped, but that’s not a reason for you to harm others recklessly and feel justified. You did these things and now you come crying to us. I’ve been too lenient with you. This time, I must teach you a lesson!”
Tan Zhiwan started crying, “Dad, how can you say such things…”
Tan’s father looked at her, and after a few seconds, he spoke coldly, each word heavy: “The two cooperation cases you wanted to talk about, let them be intercepted. From today on, all the accounts under your name will be frozen. The several small companies I previously allowed you to manage, I will remove you from all your positions. Until you realize your own mistakes, don’t appear before me, and I will not forgive you.”
“Dad, I’m your real daughter, and you treat me like this!!!”
Tan’s father met Tan Zhiwan’s gaze: “It’s precisely because you are my flesh and blood that this time, I will no longer indulge you.”
After Tan’s father finished speaking, he turned around and walked out of the study. Tan Zhiwan panicked, grabbing Tan’s mother’s hand, pleading pitifully:
“Mom, Dad is going to freeze my assets. Can you make him stop? Mom, you must stand by me, right…”
Tan’s mother looked down at her, her eyes slightly red, her eyes filled with disappointment and anger:
“Zhiwan, Mom didn’t expect you to treat Mo Mo like this. This time, you’ve disappointed me greatly and made me feel very heartbroken.”
Tan Zhiwan was stunned.
“You really should reflect on your own issues. If your happiness is built on hurting others, you will never be happy in this life.”
“Mom, Mom…”
Tan’s mother pulled her hand away from Tan Zhiwan’s grasp and turned to walk out of the study.
“Dad and Mom, how could you…”
Tan Zhiwan, losing all hope, slumped onto the carpet, staring at the door, suddenly breaking down and bursting into uncontrollable sobs.
The moonlight was bright.
The night grew deeper.
On the other side, in the bedroom of the villa in Jiayu Tiancheng, Tan Mo lay resting against Xie Qichen’s shoulder, held in his arms.
After a while, he gently wiped away her tears with a tissue, his eyes full of tenderness as he looked at her:
“Feeling better now, little crybaby?”
Perhaps the long-suppressed grievances and sorrow in her heart had finally found an outlet. After hanging up with her father, Tan Mo could no longer hold back her tears.
Xie Qichen was heartbroken, soothing her gently and staying by her side without hindrance, allowing her to vent her emotions.
The young girl didn’t fuss, just quietly sobbing into his shoulder, her eyes drooping, her face flushed red, a pitiful sight like a stray little cat on the roadside.
Feeling the drops of tears on his shoulder, Xie Qichen’s heart shattered completely.
He wished he could crush her into his heart, protecting her from anyone who might ever hurt her again.
Hearing Xie Qichen’s question, Tan Mo gently shook her head, murmuring softly:
“I’m okay now…”
Xie Qichen got up, slightly loosening his embrace, and kissed her forehead: “Wait a moment.”
The man got out of bed and, after a while, returned with a warm towel and some warm water, “Come, drink some water first.”
Tan Mo took the cup and sipped it slowly. Then the man leaned forward, gently wiping away her tears, looking at her face-to-face, a smile playing on his lips:
“Why are you still like before? Whenever you cry, your whole face turns red, like a little peach.”
“Umm…”
After wiping her face clean, Xie Qichen got back into bed and pulled her into his arms. Tan Mo raised her hand to hug him, nuzzling her head against his shoulder, which drew a soft chuckle from above:
“So clingy now.”
Tan Mo murmured softly, her nose slightly tingling:
“Xie Qichen, thank you…”
He sighed, ruffling her long hair: “Tan Mo, I don’t like it when you’re so polite to me.”
“It’s not politeness, it’s from the heart,” she looked up at him, “Xie Qichen, thank you for defending me and speaking up for me in front of my parents and Tan Zhiwan…”
Xie Qichen smiled, “Isn’t that what I should do? I’m your husband. If I don’t defend you, who else would?”
Tan Mo curved her lips slightly, rubbing her slightly sore nose: “Xie Qichen, I suddenly remembered many things from the past just now.”
“What things?”
“I remember when I was little, I loved eating candy and was especially fond of stuffed dolls. Back then, Mom and Dad would give one candy or one stuffed doll to each of Tan Zhiwan and me. But later, Tan Zhiwan would secretly take mine away, saying that I didn’t deserve such good treatment from Mom and Dad because I was just an adopted child…”
Hearing this, Xie Qichen was suddenly speechless.
Tan Mo whispered softly: “Gradually, when I was around seven or eight years old, I stopped asking for candies and stuffed dolls. Then Tan Zhiwan would tell me that I was ugly and didn’t deserve to wear nice clothes. She forced me to tell Mom that I wanted to wear her leftover clothes and wouldn’t let me buy new clothes.
Sometimes when relatives visited, she would force me to stay quiet and sit in a corner. Whenever I didn’t listen to her, she would secretly throw away my favorite toys or tear up my books, doing everything she could to bully me.”
Xie Qichen’s heart twisted painfully, he closed his eyes for a moment and held her even tighter.
Tan Mo spoke softly: “As I grew older, she no longer bullied me with those methods, but she would always whisper to me, saying that I was born to be disliked. Otherwise, why would my birth parents abandon me? She said that if I wasn’t obedient, Mom and Dad would regret adopting me. So I worked hard to study and learned to be a well-behaved and obedient child. Only then did I feel that I was valuable.”
Tan Mo looked at the man, her voice trembling softly: “Xie Qichen, that’s why I feel like I’m not good enough. I always tell myself that I need to become better to deserve more people’s love.”
“No… Tan Mo.”
Xie Qichen spoke hoarsely:
“No one is perfect, but love exists in this world.”
His eyes were burning with emotion as he gazed deeply at her:
“Real love is unconditional. Just like I love Tan Mo, I love her for her good side and her not-so-good side. She can be gentle and obedient, lively and cheerful, sometimes she can be rebellious and domineering, bold and aggressive.”
Tan Mo gazed at him, locking eyes with the man’s gentle gaze. “Loving someone doesn’t require an evaluation checklist or mathematical formulas. I won’t love Mo Mo less because she doesn’t perform well today, nor will I love her more because she does better tomorrow.”
With her eyes brimming with tears, Tan Mo saw Xie Qichen curl his lips into a smile.
“Baby, actually, you don’t have to exhaust yourself trying. You don’t need to be able to handle formal occasions or household chores, nor must you master all kinds of talents and skills like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. To me, you can forever remain an imperfect little girl, an imperfect Mrs. Xie. Even if you’re never perfect, it’s okay.”
Xie Qichen lowered his face to imprint a kiss upon her brow, gazing solely at her.
“The one I love is Tan Mo. Her name needs no adjectives attached before it.”
“Just being her is enough to drive me wild with infatuation, no matter how she is.”
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