Chapter 169 - A Bittersweet Memory

Another sigh escaped Lu Xian Yu's lips. He knew his wife was gone but to give his only daughter so easily, it ached his heart. "Mengjie," he paused.

Lu Mengjie gulped. She was somehow worried about what her father would say. If worse came, she would have to use her pregnancy. She could only hope that her father would accept her marriage with Yong Liwei despite their age difference.

"Tell me, do you love him?" 

She was surprised by the question her father asked. It was unexpected after all. "I… of course I do. I would not marry him if I didn't."

Xia Liqin rolled his eyes. She was willing to marry him for his looks back then. His sister was a hypocrite!

Lu Xian Yu ended up looking into his daughter's eyes. He could see how handsome Yong Liwei was, so still was doubting. "Not for his looks?"

Lu Mengjie gasped. "Who would marry someone for his looks?"

They all landed their eyes on her, including Yong Liwei. 

She ended up blinking a few times. "That's…" she paused and pouted before she continued, "true— but who can blame me? Dad loves pretty women, mom loves handsome men. I don't need to take a DNA test to prove whose daughter I am!"

Li Bingbing turned to her husband and raised a brow.

Lu Xian Yu ended up gulping. "You're the most beautiful woman in the world, Bibi. That's why I love you so much."

"So you're saying that you love me because of my looks? What if I turn ugly when I grow older? Are you going to look for a younger woman?" She crossed her arms and huffed.

Lu Xian Yu instantly shook his head. "No! Of course not! No one can replace you! You're kind and caring and beautiful—"

"You said beautiful again."

The man pursed his lips. "Amazing in bed?" He muttered.

"So if I was not amazing in bed, you'll never think twice of being with me?"

Lu Xian Yu was in a tight sit as he saw his wife glare at him. He eyed his daughter and son as if asking for their help.

It was such a comical sight for the children. They both knew that their mother was just teasing— rather, she was bullying their father. A common sight in the house.

It was then that another memory flashed before Lu Mengjie's eyes.

…

(Flashback)

Little Mengmeng woke up from her nap and found herself inside the arms of her mother. Li Bingbing was sleeping and hugging her close together with Qinqing who was sleeping on Mengmeng's other side.

Her mother was hugging her...

Mengmeng snuggled against her mother as her eyes started to become misty. For the past few days, ever since her papa died, her mother has been ignoring her, and instead, she was giving most of her attention to her younger brother who resembled Xia Sinian. She would try to get her mother's attention but she was only given attention whenever she played with her little brother, Qinqing.

Who could blame her? Little Mengmeng was the daughter of another man— a man that her mother didn't love.

There were times where she started ignoring her brother but in the end, she couldn't resist her love for him. She could not bring herself to hate him. Qinqing was a reminder of her beloved papa as well. Aside from that, she was his elder sister and she promised Xia Sinian that she would take care of her brother and mother.

Li Bingbing was woken up when she felt her shirt becoming wet. She turned to look at her daughter, she saw her shoulders shaking.

"Mengmeng? Are you alright?" Li Bingbing asked worriedly.

Mengmeng nodded but her face was still buried on her mother's chest.

Li Bingbing gently pushed her back. She sat up so that she could see her daughter better but then was surprised to see her crying. When she saw her that way, she felt a pang in her chest.

"Mama..." Mengmeng sat up and hugged her as she buried her face in her chest once again.

Li Bingbing bit her lower lip, it was her fault why Mengmeng was acting that way. If only she realized things sooner, she could avoid hurting her daughter. She hated to admit it but it was all thanks to her best friend, Xia Meilin, who opened her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Mengmeng..." Li Bingbing hugged her back close as tears welled up at the side of her eyes. "Mama is so sorry for hurting you."

"Mama... please don't hate Mengmeng," Mengmeng begged as she faced her mother. "Mengmeng promised to be a good girl so, please... don't leave Mengmeng."

"Oh sweetheart, I do not hate you. I will never hate you." She gently cupped her wet cheek and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you, I really love you so much... I am sorry if I made you feel unloved... I am so sorry."

This was the scene Lu Xian Yu saw when he took a peek inside the room. He was glad that things started to look well for his daughter and for Li Bingbing.

"I promise... I promise that I will do my best to become a better mother for you and your brother."

Mengmeng raised her head and looked at her mother, a snot was rolling down her nose and her eyes were red and full of tears. "Mama really loves me?"

"Baby, of course, I do, I love you so much," answered Li Bingbing with no hesitation. She wiped her cheeks from her tears before she used her shirt to help Mengmeng blow her nose. "So now, don't cry, okay?"

Mengmeng nodded a few times before she happily hugged her mother, relief filled her body. She really was afraid that her mother would leave her because she doesn't love her anymore.

Li Bingbing patted Mengmeng's head. While she was comforting her daughter, a small growl was heard from Mengmeng's tummy.

She chuckled softly and asked, "are you hungry?"

Mengmeng shyly nodded, her cheeks became redder.

"Why are you being so shy to me right now? This is not my daughter." Li Bingbing laughed, pinching her daughter's soft cheeks lightly.

"Mamaaaa!"

Qinqing woke up because of the noises they were making. He squinted his eyes open before he placed a finger on his lips. "Mama, Jiejie, shhhhh!"

The two blinked a few times, they looked at each other and they erupted into laughter which only made the adorable boy frown. He covered his ears. "Qinqing's sleeping! So shhhh!"

Li Bingbing and Mengmeng grinned at each other before they gave Qinqing a tickle attack. The gloomy atmosphere faded and the room was suddenly filled with laughter.

Lu Xian Yu who was just standing outside the room was relieved. The side of his lips curled up as the laughter inside the room affected his mood. The tingling warm sensation grew in his chest.

The mother was playing with her children, they were throwing pillows and were having a small pillow fight until… the man outside who decided to take a step in was hit on his face by a stray pillow.

"Oopsie..." Qinqing covered his mouth with his hands.