Saturday, Leisure Time Café, 2:00 PM.
Luo Wei and the man arrived by car, stopping on the road beside the café. Just as Mo Huai was about to unbuckle his seatbelt, Luo Wei quickly reached out to stop him. The man looked up at her, his expression as calm as ever.
"Huai-ge," Luo Wei called softly, hesitating for a moment before saying, "I'll go in by myself."
The man frowned slightly but said nothing, his deep eyes fixed on her.
"I want to handle my own matters," Luo Wei lowered her gaze, her voice gentle. "Can I take care of this on my own?"
After she finished speaking, she looked up at him, her eyes wide and sparkling—an endearing sight in the man's eyes.
After a moment of thought, Mo Huai's tone lifted slightly, "Alright, but promise me you won't let yourself be wronged, okay?"
He leaned his forehead against hers, gently tapping her nose.
"I won't let myself be wronged," Luo Wei said, lifting her head confidently.
Mo Huai suddenly leaned over and quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, then turned to hand her bag from the backseat.
"If the conversation doesn't go well, come back right away," Mo Huai reminded her.
"Okay," Luo Wei agreed, then opened the car door and stepped out.
Luo Wei walked into the café. As soon as she entered, a server with a bright smile approached her. "Miss, how many are in your party?"
Luo Wei smiled back. "I have a reservation, thank you."
"Are you Miss Luo?" the server asked kindly, maintaining a professional smile.
"Yes," Luo Wei nodded slightly.
"Miss Luo, please follow me. Mr. and Mrs. Chi are waiting for you," the server gestured politely and led the way.
Since it was after lunch, the café wasn’t very crowded. Luo Wei glanced around, noticing only a few tables occupied by customers leisurely enjoying their afternoon tea.
The server stopped at a private booth. "Mr. Chi, Mrs. Chi, Miss Luo is here."
Luo Wei saw Chi Yu and his mother seated in the booth and greeted them with a smile. "Auntie Chi, sorry to keep you waiting."
Mrs. Chi, her hair elegantly styled in a bun, beamed with joy. "It's no problem, we just arrived as well. Please, have a seat."
Chi Yu, with his short hair, slightly open white shirt collar, and sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing tanned skin, had deep and captivating eyes.
Chi Yu shifted to make space beside him, but Luo Wei hesitated and instead sat next to Mrs. Chi. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Chi Yu's composed demeanor. Was it just her imagination?
"Wei wei, you’ve lost so much weight these past few months. Now that you’re pregnant, you need to eat more and take care of yourself, alright?" Mrs. Chi took her hand, her voice full of concern.
"Thank you for your concern, Auntie Chi," Luo Wei replied with a faint smile.
"Are you hungry? Let’s order some food." Mrs. Chi handed her the menu, smiling.
Chi Yu waved over a server.
Luo Wei casually ordered a few dishes, and soon after, the food was served. Mrs. Chi offered her some dishes. "Wei wei, eat more, okay?"
"Thank you, thank you," Luo Wei hurriedly held out her bowl to receive the food.
Chi Yu quietly picked at his own food, clearly lacking appetite. Mrs. Chi shot him a glare, silently thinking, "I've already arranged for her to be here, and now you're just sitting there silently? What kind of hero are you?"
Luo Wei nibbled on her food without much appetite. She had already been fed by Mo Huai before they left, and there was no room left in her stomach, especially not with Chi Yu there... It only made her lose her appetite more.
After a while, the server cleared the table, and Chi Yu ordered two cups of Hong Kong-style milk tea and a mint lemon water.
When the server brought the drinks, Chi Yu pushed the mint lemon water toward Luo Wei, a faint smile on his lips.
Luo Wei's tone was flat as she stiffly said, "Thank you."
Mrs. Chi, watching the awkward interaction between the two, felt anxious but was at a loss for what to do.
Mrs. Chi hoped that today they could clear the air, and that her son would come to his senses and live his life, rather than be stuck in the past.
"You two chat, I have some errands to run," Mrs. Chi said, glancing at Luo Wei before giving a forced smile, grabbing her bag, and preparing to leave.
"Okay, goodbye, Auntie Chi," Luo Wei said, forcing a smile of her own. She knew that Mrs. Chi was just making an excuse to give them some privacy.
After Mrs. Chi left, neither of them spoke. Chi Yu's deep gaze rested on the girl opposite him.
After a long while, Chi Yu finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with a hint of compromise. "I know you don’t want to see me, but I still want to warn you—Mo Huai is not a good person. I don't want you to be deceived."
Luo Wei let out a cold laugh, as if she had heard the world's biggest joke. He was still so full of himself. "At least he wouldn’t subject me to emotional abuse."
Chi Yu's grip on his cup tightened, leaving him momentarily speechless as he stared blankly at her.
Chi Yu's brow twitched with irritation, his expression dark and troubled. "I... I'm sorry."
Luo Wei turned her head away, finding his apology particularly grating. Since when did the high-and-mighty Mr. Chi apologize?
"You have nothing to apologize for. I'm very happy now," Luo Wei said coldly, her face devoid of emotion.
To Chi Yu, Luo Wei's demeanor resembled that of a spoiled, proud, and willful girl throwing a tantrum.
Chi Yu thought to himself that a girl throwing a tantrum would come around as long as he lowered his head and coaxed her.
He reached out, placing his hand on Luo Wei's, "Wei wei, I was wrong."
Chi Yu's apology was sincere and earnest.
Luo Wei was startled by his gesture, and after regaining her composure, she violently shook his hand off. "I’m married."
Chi Yu's pupils dilated, a shadow crossing his face as his expression grew darker and darker. "Do you really not like me at all anymore?"
"Look into my eyes and tell me you don’t love me anymore," Chi Yu demanded, his voice rising.
His sudden outburst drew curious glances from the surrounding customers.
Luo Wei steadied herself, adjusting her posture to meet his gaze.
Chi Yu's face was stormy with anger, his eyes blazing with fury. "I don't believe you. Is it because of the child you're carrying?"
"I can overlook the child, and we can raise it together. I also don’t care that you’ve been married before."
Chi Yu still wasn’t giving up, his voice filled with determination. Luo Wei was left speechless, staring at him in disbelief.
Luo Wei let out a bitter laugh, a wave of sadness washing over her. In the past, she had longed for him to look at her—just one glance, and she would have been content.
But back then, he didn’t care at all, showing her nothing but indifference.
And now, this proud man was willing to raise someone else's child, not minding that she had been married before.
Wasn’t that just the most ridiculous thing?
"I care. I don't like you anymore," Luo Wei said, her eyes brimming with tears as her voice choked up.
Luo Wei couldn’t understand why she felt so hurt—she was indeed disappointed in him and didn’t like him anymore, but the injustice still stung.
Maybe it was just one of those things that weren’t meant to be. Some people, once missed, are lost forever, just like in that song by Rene Liu, "Later."
Hmm.
ReplyDeleteLeisure Time Café: Come for the tea, stay for the T. —?