Meng's father stopped and turned to look at her.
Liu Zhi walked behind him, her hands were terribly cold.
Although she was flustered, Liu Zhi remained calm.
"Can I talk to you?" Liu Zhi asked.
Heaven knows how much cold sweat Liu Zhi broke out in his palms.
After a long silence, Meng's father gazed at her and said, "No need."
Liu Zhili remained where he was and did not follow.
"Dad?" Meng Yang called out to his father again, but his father still did not answer.
He didn't even wait for the elevator; he went straight down the stairs.
When Meng's mother, who was waiting downstairs by the poplar tree, saw him come down with a dark face, she frowned.
"What's wrong?" Mencius' mother asked.
Meng's father's lips trembled, but he couldn't speak.
"What's wrong?" Meng's mother asked again. "Why are you acting like you've lost your soul after taking that bag?"
Meng's father shook his head and remained silent.
Mencius' mother suddenly had a guess.
"Did Mengmeng and Xiao Liu not go to the supermarket?" Meng's mother asked.
Meng's father nodded with a heavy expression.
"Are they still home?" Meng's mother called out. "Really?"
Having been married for so many years, Meng's mother knew her husband all too well. With just a glance, she had already guessed the general situation.
"You already knew, didn't you?" Meng's father said.
"What?" Meng's mother pretended to be stupid.
"Mengmeng and Xiao Liu..." Meng's father paused halfway through his sentence, "Just pretend you don't know!"
Mencius' mother sighed, "We can't reach that far, so let's not meddle in the children's affairs."
"How could you have such an idea?" asked Meng's father.
What are your thoughts?
"Let them go astray!" Meng's father slapped his leg.
"How can you say that's going astray?" Meng's mother raised her voice a bit. "Is there something wrong with Xiao Liu?"
"She has a good education, she's good-looking, she has a stable job, and she has a good personality!" Meng's mother said. "Xiao Liu is also good to Mengmeng!"
"Xiao Liu is good in every way." As he spoke, Meng's father lowered his voice and turned to look behind him.
"But how come two young girls are together?"
"What's wrong with a girl?" Mencius' mother, mindful of her husband's closed-mindedness, lowered her voice. "In what way is Xiao Liu not better than a man?!"
"Strong, strong, strong!" Mr. Meng exclaimed with a pained expression, "But..."
"What era are we living in? You still discriminate against people?"
"I didn't!" Meng's father hurriedly said, "What am I supposed to do... what am I supposed to do?"
“I was originally thinking that I would help Mengmeng find a boyfriend and vet him, and I could also help them take care of their children in the future.”
"Meng Hui, you're studying medicine; you should be aware of the risks pregnancy poses to women," Meng's mother said earnestly. "Are you willing to let your daughter suffer like that?"
Mencius' father was speechless.
"Discard your discrimination and prejudice," said Mencius' mother. "I only have two requirements for my daughter's partner."
"He loves her and is responsible."
"Those who love her will definitely treat her seriously and respect her. Those who are responsible will definitely be ambitious and take on their due responsibilities."
Mencius' father's lips moved, but he ultimately remained silent.
"Don't you think so?"
"Ultimately, it goes against moral principles." Meng's father finally said this after holding it in for a long time.
"Old Meng, why are you so stubborn?" Meng's mother sighed.
Mencius' father also sighed.
...
Liu Zhi lowered her hands, drew the curtains, and her gaze met Meng Yang's.
Neither of them spoke.
"I've really come out." Meng Yang gave a wry smile. "Now my parents know."
“My dad might not be able to adjust for a while. It’s just a stress reaction today, don’t worry about it.”
“I can understand how you feel, Uncle.” Liu Zhi lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on Meng Yang’s shoulder.
Meng Yang couldn't stand her gaze, so he rushed over and hugged her.
Liu Zhi ruffled her hair.
"No matter what, we'll face it together." Liu Zhi's tone was calm, as if she were talking about something insignificant, but Meng Yang could still hear the determination in her voice.
"The older generation values the approval of close relatives, and I'm actually quite particular about it too."
“It’s fine as it is.” Meng Yang understood Liu Zhi’s unspoken meaning. “This is enough.”
Meng Yang was actually afraid.
She craved Liu Zhi's warm embrace and feared all external pressures. Everything now seemed like a luxury before. Having tasted the sweetness, Meng Yang dared not gamble on letting her continue to be lonely.
She longed for her father's approval, and the approval of all her closest relatives. But she feared even more losing Liu Zhi due to external pressure.
She didn't even dare to face her own father, let alone Liu Zhi's parents.
Liu Zhi gently pressed her cheek against Meng Yang's, as if to comfort him.
--------------------
Author's Note:
I have an exam tomorrow, and I'm too exhausted to write anymore. I'm posting this now and will update again over the weekend. orz
Chapter 55 Chinese Valentine's Day
On Monday evening, Liu Zhi was going back to Yancheng.
As they approached the security checkpoint, Liu Zhi turned around and waved to Meng Yang.
"Liu Zhi," Meng Yang called out, clasping his hands together.
Liu Zhi stopped in his tracks.
Meng Yang rushed over quickly, and Liu Zhi instinctively opened her arms and hugged her.
There were quite a few people around, so Meng Yang loosened his grip after a while.
"You must take good care of yourself." Meng Yang's eyes stung, and Liu Zhi could see tears welling up in his eyes when he lowered his head.
"You too." Liu Zhi raised her lips slightly, feigning composure, but Meng Yang could clearly see the bitterness in her eyes.
Meng Yang took a step back, distancing himself from Liu Zhi.
"You can go now," Meng Yang said.
Liu Zhi pursed her lips.
"I'm leaving," Liu Zhi said.
Meng Yang nodded.
Liu Zhi took a few steps and then turned back. Meng Yang waved to her a few times.
Liu Zhi held up her phone and pointed to the screen. Meng Yang lowered his head and saw the new message she had sent.
"Let's go home together for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
When he looked up again, Liu Zhi was no longer there.
Meng Yang rubbed his eyes and replied with a "good".
...
There are still about half a year until the Mid-Autumn Festival. This half year can feel both long and short.
Liu Zhi was originally working at a health center in Yancheng, but was later transferred to the newly established Third Hospital of Neurosurgery.
Yancheng has a serious aging population, and many of the elderly suffer from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Yancheng Third Hospital has set up a green channel for stroke treatment, and Liu Zhi, along with the head of the neurosurgery department, travels along this channel every day.
Meng Yang became the chief resident and worked non-stop for quite some time. When the interns called her Teacher Meng, it took Meng Yang a while to react.
Both of them were very busy. Liu Zhi was often in the operating room, and Meng Yang's calls to her often went unanswered. Meng Yang had a lot of work to do, and might have to answer dozens of calls a day, so Liu Zhi's calls to her were often busy.
We finally managed to get a word in, but after a few hurried words, we had to hang up.
Despite being busy, the romance didn't diminish at all.
Meng Yang often picks up a few packages on his way home from get off work; sometimes they're snacks, sometimes health tea...
On Qixi Festival, Meng Yang, whose hair was all messed up from sleeping, received a call from an unknown number early in the morning. The message was marked as a delivery or takeout order.
Meng Yang walked to the door with the phone in hand, and only pushed the door open after confirming that it wasn't a scammer or a salesperson.
The young man carrying the flowers was panting, but he was so happy to see Meng Yang open the door that he burst into tears.
"What is this?" Meng Yang asked.
"Are you Ms. Meng?" the young man asked, straightening up.
Meng Yang nodded.