316— One Hot Mess

Zhou Qiaohui watched them with reddened eyes until she felt Li Chuanmo's hand on her shoulder, "Are you feeling alright?" He asked gently.

She nodded, "I'm just glad that she is fine," she choked out. She had been feeling guilty since she found out that Pei Yueran allowed herself be abducted because of her.

If only she hadn't left the hall, nothing would have happened.

Li Chuanmo saw the self-blame in her eyes and patted her stiffly. Consoling women, apart from his wife, was not something he excelled at.

"She's feeling better now. Go and see her," he invited.

Their movements drew Pei Yueran's attention and she smiled in their direction. Qiao Mingran smoothed out her hair as she said, "I'll be back soon. Let me go and get you some porridge."

Pei Yueran nodded and said thank you, pretending that the idea of porridge sounded appealing at that moment. Both of them knew that she just wanted to find an excuse to leave them alone.

"Baobei," Zhou Qiaohui called out, and Pei Yueran's eyes reddened, "Mom,"

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry."

When both of them realized that they had each apologized, they spoke again,

"Oh Mom,"

"Baobei,"

This time, they managed a little laugh and Zhou Qiaohui told her to go first, but Pei Yueran insisted on hearing what she had to say, so she began.

"I'm sorry Baobei, I'm so sorry. I should have stayed put in the hall. If I hadn't gone out, they wouldn't have taken me to threaten you. Now because of me, my precious daughter is hurt."

Seeing her cry, Pei Yueran rushed to reassure her, "Mom, you have nothing to be sorry for. I should be the one apologizing for putting you in danger. It was me they were after, not you. I shouldn't have dragged you into this mess."

"Nonsense. There's no need for you to think that way. How can you control other people's actions? Besides, anyone after my daughter is after me as well. I'm so glad you're fine, I'm very glad." She said, hugging her tightly.

Pei Yueran hugged her back.

After long moments, they separated and Zhou Qiaohui asked, "So how do you feel now? I heard you were unconscious. Did you hit your head anywhere? Was the abductor...abusive?"

Pei Yueran shook her head. It was obvious that her abductor's plan was not to kill her—at least for the moment— but to take her away. But her mother's words also reminded her about something.

Placing her hands on her shoulders, Pei Yueran said, "Mom, listen and don't be too shocked: I saw.. Lei yesterday."

"You saw Le— what? WHAT?!"

Zhou Qiaohui almost jumped up from the shock. "Are you serious? Are you sure you were not just dreaming? Han Lei is dead." She said, frowning in worry.

Her thought was that Pei Yueran's injuries might have been more serious than they thought. Maybe they needed to consult a neurologist? or was it a psychologist?

"No I wasn't dreaming. Chuan saw him too." Pei Yueran said with conviction.

Zhou Qiaohui looked at Li Chuanmo with skepticism, which changed to disbelief when he nodded. "Seriously?"

She was totally at a loss, "How is this possible?" No wonder her daughter fainted from shock. She felt like fainting at the moment herself.

"Have you spoken to him? What did he say? How did he come to the Capital? Where has he been all this while?" Zhou Qiaohui asked.

It all didn't make sense to her. The Han Lei she knew loved Pei Yueran with all his heart. How could he not be dead for almost a decade and not show up even once?

Pei Yueran shook her head, "I haven't spoken to him yet, I was too frazzled last night, and I just woke up a while ago. I'll talk to him once I'm discharged."

Li Chuanmo looked over with puppy eyes at her words, but she didn't notice. She was still talking, "As far as I know, he's Gao Tinghua —my brother—'s friend and he lives here in the Capital. He was introduced as Han Leifeng I think."

Zhou Qiaohui nodded absentmindedly. Her shock hadn't quite worn off yet.

Taking her words slowly, she said, "So if he's really alive, it means he left you and Yichen to fend for yourselves for so long without a husband and father, and he didn't once look back? That despicable boy, taking all our affection for granted. We loved him in vain!" By the end, Zhou Qiaohui was talking quickly and hotly.

"Calm down Mom," Pei Yueran soothed by the side.

Zhou Qiaohui patted her hand, still trying to process things, "I'm trying Baobei, I'm trying. But when I remember all those years you lived in grief and anguish because of him, I can't help it.

"Why didn't he come earlier? Why now? Wait a minute, if he's truly alive, it means that you were never a widow, Oh dear—".

She trailed off, looking at Li Chuanmo, who looked as stoic as usual.

This was one hot mess.

Pei Yueran hadn't considered that. Doesn't that mean she was married to two men? Instantly her head began to hurt. She had heard from somewhere that that was an offence punishable by law.

No. She would speak to a lawyer, but it was a fact that Han Lei was certified dead by the doctor. She even had the death certificate to prove it.

Li Chuanmo saw her close her eyes with a pained frown and strode to her side, "Rest your head, we'll talk about this later. Just know that you're free to do anything you want to do. I'll support you."

He may not like whatever she chose to do, but he would make sure to be there for her every step of the way.

Pei Yueran nodded, gratitude in her eyes. "Meeting you was an accumulation of eight lifetimes of luck."

"Then I'm certain the luck of all my lifetimes, past and future, is all concentrated into this one lifetime. Else, how could I be so fortunate to have you as my wife?"

That was why in his mind, in spite of his bold words about supporting her in everything, he had absolutely no intention of letting her go if that was what she wanted. How could he? She was his everything.

Both of them stared into each other's eyes and smiled.

Zhou Qiaohui turned to look at them and found her calm. Yes, what was she so worried about? Everything would be alright.

Son-in-law Li was here.