From Broken Family to Life Winner: A Reborn Mother's Journey

After comforting Little Tang Mo, Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao stood before her door in a silent standoff. Tang Yuanxiao’s expression remained stubbornly innocent.

”Aren’t you going to open the door?” Tang Yuanxiao finally asked Su Li.

”What about it?” Su Li asked slowly.

”I mean, if you don’t open it... I will.” Tang Yuanxiao’s expression was still guileless.

Su Li’s brow furrowed. ”What do you mean, if I don’t, you will? You have my house...?”

Before Su Li could finish her sentence, she saw Tang Yuanxiao walk over to the apartment opposite hers, take out a key, and open the door.

Su Li: ”...!!!”

’What is going on!’

Tang Yuanxiao opened the door across from her, then turned back and glanced at Su Li, explaining, ”I rented an apartment here.”

Su Li pressed a hand to her forehead.

’Is Tang Yuanxiao really a man of his word? He said he wouldn’t give up, and he really isn’t giving up. He actually rented the apartment right across from mine!’

Su Li’s guess was correct. That was exactly what Tang Yuanxiao was thinking.

’The closer you are, the better your chances!’

He had come up with this move all by himself. As for the rent and all that, he could afford it.

Seeing Little Tang Mo’s current state, he would probably want to come find Su Li every weekend from now on. Su Li would welcome Little Tang Mo, but not him, so he found a place to stay in advance.

”You must be tired after a full day of military training, right?” Seeing that Su Li wasn’t speaking, Tang Yuanxiao wasn’t anxious and started a conversation himself.

”Yeah,” Su Li replied distractedly.

”Mommy, your face is all red from the sun. Hurry and open the door,” Little Tang Mo urged Su Li.

Su Li took out her key and opened the door. Little Tang Mo, knowing the way, scampered inside first.

Su Li went inside and glanced at Tang Yuanxiao across the hall. Meeting his expectant gaze, hopeful that she would let him in, she shut the door without a hint of hesitation.

Tang Yuanxiao rubbed his nose. ’Renting this apartment was definitely the right move!’

Su Li closed the door and turned around to see Little Tang Mo holding out a damp towel for her.

”Mommy, here. Use the towel to cool down.”

The little guy had run in just to get a towel for Su Li.

He had learned this from Su Li. Whenever he spent too long outside and his face got red from the sun, Su Li would press a cool, wet towel on it to help him cool down.

Su Li took the towel. ”Thank you, Little Mo.”

’Even though he isn’t a daughter, he’s still my sweet and caring little boy.’

Su Li obediently sat on the sofa and used the towel to cool her scorching-hot cheeks.

Little Tang Mo helped from the side, frowning. ”The water isn’t cold.”

Back in Xinghua Village, since it was in the mountains, the water was cool even in the summer. But the water in the Imperial City wasn’t.

”It’s fine.” Su Li patted Little Tang Mo’s cheek.

She had barely finished speaking when there was a knock on the door. Without even thinking, she knew it was Tang Yuanxiao.

Su Li glanced at the door. ”Little Mo, you get it.”

”Okay.”

After hearing Tang Yuanxiao’s voice from inside, Little Tang Mo opened the door.

”Here are some popsicles—sticky rice and fruit flavored. You and your mom can each have one. You can press one against your mom’s face, wrapper and all, to cool her down.”

Tang Yuanxiao gave Little Tang Mo three popsicles.

Little Tang Mo’s eyes lit up. ”Okay.”

He took them and quickly ran over to Su Li, offering her one. ”Mommy, have a popsicle.”

Su Li took the towel off her face and glanced to the side.

Tang Yuanxiao was standing outside the door and gave her a smile before closing it for them from the outside.

That smile was just a little too brilliant.

Su Li blinked, her gaze returning to the sticky rice popsicle in front of her, and couldn’t stop her mouth from watering.

’Sticky rice popsicles were her absolute favorite. Nothing was more refreshing on a hot summer day!’

Su Li looked at the three popsicles: two sticky rice and one fruit. The fruit one was for Little Tang Mo; that was his favorite.

”Go on and eat, Mommy. Daddy bought this for you. It’s sticky rice, your favorite.”

Little Tang Mo urged her.

Su Li gave up the struggle and took it. ”Your father wouldn’t know that I like sticky rice popsicles.”

Su Li said it casually, taking a bite of her popsicle. Then she wrapped the other one, still in its plastic, with the towel.

But Little Tang Mo replied matter-of-factly, ”Daddy does know you like sticky rice! I told him all about it.”

Su Li quickly pulled the popsicle from her mouth. ”You told him?”

”Yep. Daddy remembered it all. He can even recite it. I’ve quizzed him on it several times,” Little Tang Mo said proudly.

Su Li: ”...Why did you make your dad memorize it?”

Little Tang Mo, happily licking his popsicle, said matter-of-factly, ”So that Mommy will like Daddy, of course. He’s been a very serious student.”

Su Li felt like her brain couldn’t keep up. ”You mean, Little Mo, you were the one teaching your dad?”

Little Tang Mo grinned. ”Yep. Mommy likes me so much, but you don’t like Daddy. It must be because he’s too dumb, so I decided to teach him.”

He shook his head gleefully. ”Daddy was a very serious student. After the beginning, he started coming to me for lessons. He even asked me a lot about what Mommy and I do at home.”

As he spoke, Little Tang Mo sighed and leaned against Su Li, remarking with emotion.

”The more we talked about you these past two days, the more I missed you. I missed you so much I wanted to cry, but Daddy said that a big boy shouldn’t cry just because he misses his mommy. I didn’t cry, but I think Daddy almost did.”

Little Tang Mo chattered on, completely oblivious to what Su Li was feeling.

”Sounds like you and your dad have gotten a lot closer these past two days.” Su Li swallowed her bite of popsicle and placed the now-chilled towel back on her face.

Her burning face finally began to cool. Su Li let out a breath. ”Little Mo, how about you don’t teach your dad anymore from now on, okay?”

”Why not? Was it because Daddy’s smile wasn’t handsome enough just now?” Little Tang Mo asked immediately.

Su Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and helplessly gave up on the topic.

After they finished their popsicles, her face didn’t feel so bad anymore. Then, another knock came at the door.

Su Li paused for a moment before getting up to open the door. She looked at Tang Yuanxiao standing outside and said seriously,

”Tang Yuanxiao, I see your intentions, but I’m just not in the right mindset for this right now. You might end up with nothing to show for it, so you don’t have to go to all this trouble...”

’She had to make things clear with Tang Yuanxiao, or else her conscience would bother her.’

”I know.” Tang Yuanxiao nodded calmly.

”You know... and you’re still doing this?”

This time, Tang Yuanxiao just nodded emphatically and said nothing more.

After a brief pause, he spoke again.

”Momo and I haven’t had dinner yet. I’m taking him to eat. You should come with us, eat a little more.”

”Oh, Little Mo hasn’t eaten yet? I completely forgot to ask.” Su Li slapped her forehead. ”I won’t go. You should hurry and take him.”

”Alright. Then you get some rest.”

Tang Yuanxiao held Little Tang Mo’s hand and watched Su Li close the door. The smile fell from his face.

’Just as he expected, Su Li had laid things out clearly for him first.’

’Hearing her say that was naturally upsetting, but no matter what, he would not back down!’

Tang Yuanxiao took a deep breath, his eyes growing even more resolute.

He had made up his mind when he decided to pursue Su Li again. Later, when Yu Le found out about his plan, he had supported him as well.

Yu Le had said that a good woman can’t fend off a persistent man. Since he’d made his decision, he had to be shameless!

”What’s a little pride compared to a wife, especially for you, Old Tang.”

Tang Yuanxiao had taken Yu Le’s words to heart and remembered them clearly.

’He really did need to be a bit more shameless. He had to hang around in front of Su Li whenever he could, lest she forget about him.’

Tang Yuanxiao went downstairs and glanced up in the direction of Su Li’s apartment, his eyes filled with firm resolve.

He knew when he decided to win Su Li back that this path would be difficult, but he wasn’t afraid.

It was a matter of the heart, that was all.

Su Li said she wasn’t in the right mindset for it now. He could understand that. He could wait until she was.

One year, two years, three years... he could wait.