Jiang Pinzhen couldn't help but find it both funny and exasperating. At this moment, Jiang Ye's expression was exactly like that of a child whose toy had been snatched away. He pulled a long face, looking extremely aggrieved.
"How old are you already? Still so childish. Besides..." Jiang Pinzhen gave Xiao Yu a beaming look. "I'm just stating a fact. Ever since we were kids, Xiao Yu has always been more capable than you in everything he does."
Although it was an obvious fact that Xiao Yu was more capable, and Jiang Ye was naturally convinced deep down, he still felt indignant when it was pointed out so bluntly by Jiang Pinzhen.
However, this wasn't the issue he wanted to talk about at all.
"I can see it now. A mother - in - law always finds her son - in - law more and more to her liking," Jiang Ye pouted and said rather pitifully.
"Come on, stop being so talkative. Hurry up and take these things. We're leaving the hospital." With that, she handed her bag to Jiang Ye.
Jiang Ye rolled his eyes around and took the bag very obsequiously. Then he sidled up to Jiang Pinzhen.
"Sis, there's something I want to ask you."
"What do you want to ask this time?" Suspicion was written all over Jiang Pinzhen's face as she looked at his mysterious expression.
This was a complete 180 - degree turn in his attitude. Just now he was looking so pitiful, but in the blink of an eye, he was all smiles and was obsequiously getting close to her.
Jiang Ye rarely acted coquettishly around her. It seemed that he must be plotting something bad again.
When they were kids, although the two siblings had a good relationship and Jiang Ye often acted coquettishly to ask her to do some small things, Jiang Pinzhen was much older and taller than him, so she rarely refused his requests. This kind of obsequious tone was really rare to see since he grew up.
"Sis, let me ask you. Now Xiao Xi is pregnant with Xiao Yu's child, right?" Jiang Ye immediately led Jiang Pinzhen on clearly.
"Yes!"
"Look, you're Xiao Xi's mother, and I'm your younger brother, right?"
"So?" Jiang Pinzhen smiled gently and stared at Jiang Ye, waiting for him to continue.
Following his previous words, Jiang Ye naturally continued with a big smile, "Since Xiao Xi and Xiao Yu are almost getting married, and I'm Xiao Xi's uncle, shouldn't Xiao Yu call me uncle too?"
The meaning was so obvious that everyone naturally knew what Jiang Ye was up to.
Wasn't he just trying to get Xiao Yu to call him uncle?
Jiang Pinzhen had already guessed his intention as soon as he said the first sentence. She also knew very well why Jiang Ye deliberately threw this topic to her.
"I thought you were struggling with something big. This is an easy one!" Jiang Pinzhen smiled.
"Sis, you also think what I said makes sense, right?" Hearing there was a chance, Jiang Ye immediately stared at Jiang Pinzhen excitedly.
Xiao Yu was extremely vain. Since he hadn't married Ye Yanxi yet, this was the perfect time for him to curry favor with his future mother - in - law. If Jiang Pinzhen nodded in agreement, wouldn't it be easy to handle the rest?
That's why he threw this matter to Jiang Pinzhen for judgment. Just as he was feeling smug, he heard Jiang Pinzhen let out a soft laugh.
"It's just a matter of a title. It's not a big deal. You and Xiao Yu have grown up together. I think you two should just keep the old way of addressing each other. There's no need to change anything just because of this new relationship."
Jiang Ye was immediately doused with a bucket of cold water. His hope was instantly dashed, and he looked at Jiang Pinzhen resentfully.
"Sis, are we still real siblings?"
"Of course we are! What do you mean?" Jiang Pinzhen, who was usually dignified and gentle, now put on a rare innocent look.
"If you really see me as your younger brother, shouldn't you help me?" Jiang Ye pouted.
His meaning was so obvious. Jiang Pinzhen should understand his thoughts. Why did it seem that she had no intention of helping him at all?
"I'm just telling the truth. I side with reason, not family!"
Alas, it seemed that he couldn't rely on Jiang Pinzhen. Jiang Ye felt that it was so difficult.
For that simple title of "uncle", he went from expectation to disappointment, then back to expectation and then disappointment again. "I can see clearly now. You guys are all in this together, just bullying me, an outsider. Fine, I'll leave!"
After saying that, Jiang Ye quit on the spot and stomped angrily towards the door.
"Come back!" Jiang Pinzhen immediately called him back.
"What do you want?" Jiang Ye replied grumpily and stopped in his tracks.
"There are still some things in the cabinet that haven't been taken. Go and get them."
Actually, Jiang Ye was on the verge of a mental breakdown at this moment. He was really unhappy, but he was also afraid that Jiang Pinzhen would tell on him in front of Jiang Huaiming. If that happened, he would be the one in trouble.
Forget it. A prime minister's belly can hold a boat. After weighing the pros and cons, Jiang Ye turned around reluctantly and stood beside the cabinet. "What things do you want me to get?"
"Just those. Take them all!" Jiang Pinzhen directed him. "By the way, don't forget the book beside it. I usually read it. Take it to the car too."
"Got it." Jiang Ye replied sullenly and started running around.
Seeing his depressed and reluctant look, Ye Yanxi couldn't help but laugh unkindly.
It seemed that Jiang Ye's scheme hadn't succeeded after all. Xiao Yu had truly outsmarted him.
After everyone packed up their things, they left the hospital together and were about to get in the car to go home.
But just as they were walking out of the hospital, Ye Yanxi caught a glimpse of a figure standing at the hospital entrance.
It was Ye Junze.
At the same time, Ye Junze naturally saw them coming out too. Instinctively, he wanted to find a place to hide, but there was nowhere to hide at the moment. So he stood there awkwardly, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.
"Dad!" Ye Yanxi called out. This call attracted everyone's attention, and it was too late for him to hide.
Then Ye Yanxi took a few steps down the stairs and ran in front of Ye Junze. "Dad, why are you here?"
Ye Junze averted his eyes for a moment and tried his best not to look at Jiang Pinzhen standing on the stairs. His gaze fell on Ye Yanxi. "I... I was just passing by. Don't misunderstand."
The way he stammered made it hard to believe him.
Ye Yanxi, however, smiled. "Dad, you came to see Mom too, right?"
Ye Yanxi had already known about the past between Jiang Pinzhen and Ye Junze.
As soon as she said this, Ye Junze became even more nervous. He couldn't even raise his head. From the corner of his eye, he saw the figure getting closer and closer behind Ye Yanxi.
"I... I was really just... passing by." Ye Junze anxiously defended himself. Seeing Jiang Pinzhen getting closer, he was even more flustered. "I have something else to do. I'll leave first."
After saying that, he wanted to turn around and leave, but a voice stopped him.
"Junze, it's really been a long time!" That clear and gentle voice came from behind Ye Yanxi. For a moment, Ye Junze couldn't take another step forward. He just stood there stiffly.
He hadn't heard this voice for almost twenty - odd years. It felt like an eternity.
Seeing the subtle atmosphere between the two, Ye Yanxi wisely walked away and made up an excuse. "Oh, suddenly I remembered that I left something in the ward. I'll go and get it first."
After saying that, Ye Yanxi ran up the stairs with a big smile on her face. Her movements were so brisk that she didn't look like a pregnant woman at all.
"Xiao Xi, slow down!" Seeing her running in a hurry, Ye Junze and Jiang Pinzhen almost said in unison behind her.
Ye Yanxi turned around with a smile. "I know, Dad, Mom."
This sentence instantly touched Ye Junze's heartstrings, and he almost got teary - eyed.
If he and Jiang Pinzhen hadn't separated more than twenty years ago, maybe their children would be as old as Ye Yanxi now, calling them Dad and Mom affectionately.
However, fate always loved to play tricks on people, making them separated ever since.
Now standing in front of Jiang Pinzhen, Ye Junze felt deeply self - reproachful and guilty.
"Back then, I privately adopted Xiao Xi. I'm sorry."
So many years had passed. Looking at the increasingly aging Ye Junze in front of her, Jiang Pinzhen vaguely remembered the days when they were young together.
But as time went by, the past was gone forever.
Since she already knew the truth, when facing Ye Junze now, Jiang Pinzhen didn't have much emotional fluctuation.
"You don't need to say sorry." Jiang Pinzhen smiled. "Actually, I should thank you. Over the years, you've taken good care of Xiao Xi, let her grow up safely, and now she's so sensible."
"It's not my credit. It's because Xiao Xi is obedient." Ye Junze was so flustered that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.
After that, both of them fell silent. It seemed that they had a lot to say, but didn't know how to start.
After a while, Jiang Pinzhen asked first, "How have you been all these years? I heard that after you adopted Xiao Xi, you had a son and a daughter."
Ye Junze let out a sigh. "My two rebellious and useless children. Let's not talk about them. If they were even half as good as Xiao Xi, I would have saved a lot of trouble."
"Kids always go through a rebellious stage. Just guide them well."
"Alas, they've been spoiled by their mother. I can only teach them bit by bit. By the way, don't always talk about me. How about you... How have you been?"
"I..." Jiang Pinzhen's eyes dimmed. "It's okay."
After their conversation, Ye Junze felt much more relaxed.
From their words, Ye Junze could feel that the things between them were long gone, and time could never go back to that day.
Now they each had their own families and children. He just felt a bit melancholy.
"Now, we're almost like old friends, so I'll tell you the truth." Ye Junze had already let it go and spoke in the tone of an old friend. "Actually, apart from that incident back then, I think he... really treated you well."
Jiang Pinzhen lowered her eyes slightly, hiding all her emotions. "I've already filed for divorce from him."
Divorce!
These two words really shocked Ye Junze.
"You..." Ye Junze moved his lips, wanting to say something, but in the end, he said nothing. What right did he have to comment on Jiang Pinzhen's marriage now?
Jiang Pinzhen's expression immediately returned to normal. It was calm and hard to read any emotions.
"Actually, I'm quite satisfied with how things are now. I'm really content to have Xiao Xi by my side. I don't have the heart to think about other things."
"Then..." Ye Junze still couldn't help but ask hesitantly. "Did he agree? But... he probably won't agree, right?"
"He didn't agree, but I've made up my mind. After a long time, he'll figure it out." Jiang Pinzhen's cold tone showed that she didn't want to talk about this matter anymore.
"Then... what are your plans after the divorce?" For some reason, Ye Junze found it hard to control the impulse of anticipation when he said this sentence.
Hearing this, Jiang Pinzhen just smiled faintly.
"In the future, I plan to focus on my work. As for other things..." Jiang Pinzhen's tone was firm. "There's no need to think about them too much. Having Xiao Xi and my work for the rest of my life is enough."
Ye Junze felt a pang of loneliness in his heart, but his face remained calm.
He laughed at himself in his heart. What was he still expecting? He had hoped that maybe... there would be a chance for him to rekindle his relationship with Jiang Pinzhen in the future. It seemed that he was just overthinking.
Jiang Pinzhen was decisive by nature. She never dragged her feet when doing things. Once she made a decision, it was hard to change. This was very similar to Ye Yanxi.
After adjusting his emotions, Ye Junze looked at her with a smile. "Then congratulations to you first."
"Thank you."
Seeing that Jiang Ye had already moved all the luggage to the car on the stairs, it was almost time to leave. So Jiang Pinzhen bid farewell to Ye Junze. "Well, I should go now. Goodbye!"
"Goodbye."
These two simple words contained so much helplessness.