That was the height of politeness.
After she finished speaking, she closed the bathroom door. Xu Qingzhu, who was applying body lotion in the room, paused for a moment. She wiped her fair legs with her palm, spreading a large blob of white lotion, but her gaze still swept towards the bathroom. Then she placed the little body lotion she had left aside and did not use it again.
Although her other leg hadn't been painted yet.
There's enough left over for one person; let's leave it for Liang Shi, Xu Qingzhu thought.
//
The Su family's family relationships are not complicated. Su Zhe and Su Yao are siblings, and their parents have passed away.
Su Zhe has an uncle, but they don't get along. Years ago, Su Zhe had a big fight with his cousin, and his uncle immigrated with his whole family. They haven't been in contact for many years.
The rest are some side branches, all of which depend on Haiwei Jewelry for survival and will not appear at this family banquet.
The people he was closest to were Su Zhe's children, his daughter Su Meiqi and his son Su Nan.
Su Meiqi and Xu Qingzhu are one year apart, while Su Nan is four years younger than Xu Qingzhu.
There is also her biological younger sister, Sheng Yu.
It felt strange and wonderful. I was already old enough to be a mother, but suddenly I had a five-year-old sister.
But Xu Qingzhu also felt that Su Yao's love was touching enough.
Especially after Sheng Linlang told her so many things, she felt that Su Yao was the most pitiful one.
Sheng Qinglin passed away without anyone knowing anything about it.
But Su Yao was left in pain, growing old while clinging to their memories.
They appear to be alive, but in reality, they have become soulless shells.
Xu Qingzhu was most concerned about whether Su Yao had any aftereffects after giving birth to Sheng Yu, given that she was an older mother.
Fortunately, Su Yao pulled through and gave birth to Sheng Yu safely, finding a new emotional anchor.
Su Yao also attended the family reunion banquet that evening.
Under intense stimulation, she regained some of her memories.
She remembered that she had a daughter, but she couldn't recall how her daughter had left her. Su Zhe lied to her, saying that her sister from the Sheng family had taken care of her daughter because she was in a bad situation at the time. Now that her daughter had grown up and her condition had stabilized, her sister from the Sheng family was willing to let her recognize her daughter.
After listening, Su Yao exclaimed, "Linlang is so kind."
Su Zhe felt a mouthful of blood choke in his throat, but for his sister's sake, he had no choice but to tell this white lie.
This idea was suggested by his wife, and he initially strongly opposed it.
But his wife said that Xu Qingzhu would have to maintain contact with both sides in the future, and they couldn't just avoid each other. So they tried to let go of past grievances and establish good relationships. The Sheng family sister was not a bad person.
If the Su family takes a hard line, Xu Qingzhu will be the one who ends up in a difficult position.
Ultimately, the people who have been supporting Xu Qingzhu all these years are Sheng's older sister and brother-in-law.
After thinking it over, Su Zhe was persuaded.
The only people who came that night were Su Zhe and his wife, Su Meiqi and her brother, Su Yao and Sheng Yu.
Xu Qingzhu brought Liang Shi in, and the family members who were sitting in the private room all stood up, except for Sheng Yu, who looked completely bewildered.
But Sheng Yu ran over first, stared at Liang Shi for a long time, tilted her head and asked, "Rainbow's mother's colleague, are you really my sister?"
“I’m not,” Liang Shi turned her head. “This is your real sister.”
Sheng Yu: "..."
Sheng Yu wore a bitter expression. "But she's so fierce! Can't my sister be you?"
Liang Shi picked her up and said, "Where is your sister being fierce? She's clearly very gentle."
Sheng Yu frowned: "Sister, do you want to see an ophthalmologist?"
Liang Shi: "..."
"Sheng Yu," Su Zhe called out coldly, "Don't be rude."
"Uncle." Sheng Yu pouted, looking pitiful, but Su Meiqi came over and patted her bottom. "Can't you be a polite child?"
Sheng Yu said aggrievedly, "You're all bullying me."
"Who told you to talk about me like that?" Xu Qingzhu stood in front of her, then reached out to Liang Shi, who handed the child to her.
Sheng Yu initially wanted to resist, but after Xu Qingzhu hugged her, she accidentally buried her head in Xu Qingzhu's neck.
A few seconds later, she exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, you smell so good!"
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
Liang Shi: "..."
"Are you still going to talk about me?" Xu Qingzhu asked her.
Sheng Yu bit her lip, trying to negotiate with her, "Then you can't be mean to me."
Xu Qingzhu: "...Okay."
Sheng Yu hugged her neck, "Can you hold me like this forever?"
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
This kid's transformation is too fast.
Xu Qingzhu could only helplessly reply, "I can hug you for a while tonight."
"Only for a little while?" Sheng Yu said, sounding aggrieved again.
Su Meiqi said from the side, "Sheng Yu, my darling, don't you know how much you weigh? Why do you dare to let someone hold you like that?"
Sheng Yu retorted fiercely, "I'm not that heavy! I just eat a lot!"
Su Nan, who had been quiet all along, got up and walked over, opening her arms to Sheng Yu. "Come here, I'll hug you."
Sheng Yu sniffed, feeling extremely conflicted.
She buried her face in Xu Qingzhu's neck and took another breath. "Sister smells so good."
Only then did he reluctantly go to find Su Nan.
Su Nan was tall and handsome, but quiet and didn't greet Xu Qingzhu.
Xu Qingzhu had spoken with everyone here before, but this was the first time she had spoken to them in such a formal manner.
Fortunately, there was Sheng Yu, that little devil, who opened the door beforehand, so it wasn't too awkward.
After Xu Qingzhu and Liang Shi were seated, Su Zhe asked the waiter to serve the dishes.
Soon, the table was piled high with all sorts of dishes, and Sheng Yu nestled in Su Nan's arms and began to eat.
Su Zhe cleared his throat and said, "Then we'll officially become a family today."
Xu Qingzhu looked at him, picked up the wine glass in front of her, poured only a little to express her feelings, and called Su Zhe "Uncle".
After exchanging greetings, Su Yao was the last one left.
Su Yao saw that her eyes were already red. Xu Qingzhu, who was originally looking at her across the table, couldn't help but feel sad when she saw Su Yao's red eyes.
When it was Su Yao's turn, Xu Qingzhu got up and sat down next to Su Yao, then took Su Yao's hand and couldn't bring herself to say "Mom".
"Are you... really my daughter?" Su Yao asked.
Xu Qingzhu nodded, "Yes."
The private room was silent, and everyone was watching the two of them. Xu Qingzhu's tears fell.
She thought she was strong enough, strong enough that she wouldn't shed a tear even when she saw Su Yao cry.
Unexpectedly, when he held Su Yao's hand, she was the first to cry.
Su Yao hurriedly grabbed a tissue to wipe her tears and whispered comfortingly, "Little Bamboo, don't cry."
This affectionate address made Xu Qingzhu's heart ache uncontrollably.
She had followed Sheng Linlang's words through the long love story of Sheng Qinglin and Su Yao, and also knew what Su Yao had gone through.
Sitting next to Su Yao, Xu Qingzhu never expected to hear her call her "Little Bamboo".
Her name is Qingzhu (Green Bamboo), meaning unyielding and evergreen.
It was the name her parents gave her, full of hope.
For a long time, Su Yao longed for Xiao Zhuzi, but there was no one she longed for. Year after year, she would look out the window at the lush green bamboo, but she didn't know who she was thinking of.
At this moment, all the longing has found a place to rest.
Xu Qingzhu opened her mouth and called out with difficulty and obscurity, "Mom."
Su Yao nodded in agreement, "Okay."
Sheng Yu jumped down from Su Nan's arms and handed Su Yao a tissue with her short legs, saying, "Mommy, don't cry."
After looking at Xu Qingzhu, she handed her a piece of paper and said, "Xiangxiang's sister, don't cry."
These words left Xu Qingzhu speechless, both amused and exasperated.
//
The dinner went smoothly, and Xu Qingzhu sat next to Su Yao the whole time.
She originally thought that now that she was grown up, she could take care of Su Yao, but she didn't expect that Su Yao would always be picking food for her, and she was the one being taken care of.
Watching them reunite in the private room, Liang Shi thought of his grandparents. Feeling a bit bored in the room, he left under the pretext of going to the restroom.
She went to the hallway for some fresh air and leaned against the wall, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a clear voice rang out in the hallway, "Why can't you break up with her? What she can give you, I can give you too."
Liang Shi glanced sideways and saw a woman in a black halter dress standing on the stairs, her long hair hanging down her shoulders, like a black rose with thorns.
Liang Shi felt this place wasn't suitable for lingering and was about to leave, but the person had already hung up the phone and instead asked, "Hey, do you have a fire?"
It sounds impolite, but it doesn't come across as arrogant.
Liang Shi happened to have a lighter in her coat pocket, which she bought for one yuan downstairs in her apartment complex. She bought it and lit some incense.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Liang Shi still chose to hand her the lighter.
The other person took a cigarette from the cigarette pack; her red fingernails were not vulgar, but rather had a bewitching beauty.