novelraw Chapter 443: Try to Rely on Him
Chapter 443: Try to Rely on Him
Ji Rui chatted with Mr. Yuan for a bit and then turned to see Le Tong standing motionless by the window. Ji Rui left Mr. Yuan behind and strode over to the person standing by the window, who was still motionless, gazing at the sunset sinking on the horizon."Reluctant to leave?"
For some reason, Ji Rui seemed to understand Le Tong’s mood at that moment.
In the years since his mother left, he had often sat in the corner of the study his mother loved most, staring blankly at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window. The scenery remained the same, but the person daydreaming under the window was no longer the person from that year.
Le Tong withdrew her gaze in a daze, turned her head, and smiled gently at him, then shook her head.
"No!"
As she spoke, she rarely took the initiative to lean against Ji Rui, who stood behind her, resting her head lightly on his shoulder, as if indifferent. "What’s in the past is fine just kept in the heart."
Before Ji Rui could agree with her words, she leaned closer against him, staring intently at the half-sunken sunset in the horizon, and continued.
"My mother’s illness appeared very suddenly. After she fainted, she didn’t even have time to say anything to me. Her last words were ’Tongtong... find your father...’ I knew she wanted me to find my dad, but as for why, she didn’t have time to say. Perhaps she actually wanted to tell me the true identity or residence of my father, or it was about the truth of my own identity. But I never had the courage to confront this matter. Before Baobao came, I didn’t even dare to think about it. Since I brought Baobao back, I’ve slowly figured it out. The past, none of it matters. What matters is the future. I am the continuation of my mother’s life, and Baobao is the continuation of mine..."
With that, Le Tong slowly closed her eyes and quietly leaned against Ji Rui.
Ji Rui sighed slightly, wrapping his arms around her waist, tightening them as if to imprint her entire being onto him.
It seemed, she knew very well that he was worried about her, so she said all this to reassure him. These words indirectly told him that she was doing well, her hope and future were in Baobao, and she wouldn’t be upset over her father, and he need not worry about her.
"Mm, as long as you and Baobao are happy!"
She was willing to tell him about her past, and he genuinely felt happy. She had bottled up too many heartbreaking memories, and if given no chance to let them out, he feared she might be crushed by the weight.
"Le Tong, promise me one thing."
Ji Rui gently kissed her hair with a faint fragrance, speaking in a tone that seemed inevitably persuasive yet tender.
"Hmm?!" Le Tong remained with her eyes closed, enjoying the rare tranquility.
"I’m not always perceptive; guessing someone’s thoughts is quite difficult for me. Even if I tried to guess, I might not get it right," Ji Rui paused.
Such self-aware President Ji left Le Tong a bit unsettled. She leaned her head back, half-closing her eyes playfully at him, "Oh, so what?"
Ji Rui raised his hand to touch her face, "So, in the future, whatever makes you happy or unhappy, you must tell me, okay?"
Le Tong’s eyes flickered with a subtle light; she blinked rapidly and then, somewhat annoyed, closed her eyes again.
"Oh..."
"I’m a coward, right?" Le Tong murmured with her eyes still closed.
Ji Rui gently caressed her smooth cheek, "Of course not!"
These words were entirely from Ji Rui’s heart, with no falseness.
Everyone has certain scars they cannot touch. Le Tong has them, Ji Rui has them too.
After dinner, Baobao was still in an excited state, pulling both Le Tong and Ji Rui to go furniture shopping and bought some new furniture.
When it was time to pay, Ji Rui held onto Le Tong’s hand that was about to take out her card.
"Baobao is also my son. You bought the house, paid for the decorations; let me buy the furniture, okay?"
Having spent time together, Ji Rui understood that Le Tong was quite sensitive about money. To avoid making her feel burdened, he had been holding back the urge to shower her with everything good.
The patience Ji Rui spent on Le Tong during this time surpassed all he had spent on people in his thirty-one years.
Le Tong thought for a moment, nodded, and let the sales lady take Ji Rui’s bank card.
After the sales lady left, Le Tong smiled at Ji Rui, "Mr. Ji, aren’t you afraid I’ll drain you dry?"
Ji Rui vigorously ruffled her hair, "Sure, welcome to squeeze!"
Le Tong didn’t expect him to suddenly become easy to bully, gave him a sideways glance and smiled, "Tsk, Mr. Ji, you really are impressive, I haven’t done anything yet and you’re already surrendering?"
Previously, Ji Rui thought being used as an open to anyone and everyone only appeared in novels or TV dramas; if someone like that existed in real life, they’d surely be a fool.
But now, he had become a bona fide fool himself.
"Yes, I’m on your chopping board. Do whatever you please."
These words of Ji Rui came sincerely without any embellishment.
But clearly, Le Tong took it as a joke. Or perhaps, she knew Ji Rui was serious but pretended to be clueless.
"I wouldn’t dare!"
Ji Rui was slightly disappointed, "Not dare? I thought it was reluctance!"
Le Tong nearly choked on her saliva, coughing "cough cough" a few times, and shot him a glare.
"President Ji’s skin is thick, why should I be reluctant?! It’s right to use hard force and vigorously torment!"
When Le Tong said this, she was purely unintentional.
Unexpectedly, the listener took it to heart.
Ji Rui glanced at the newly bought double bed, put on the poker face rarely seen before Le Tong, and earnestly said, "If it’s on that bed, Ji would more than welcome!"
Le Tong only wanted to gain some verbal advantage and didn’t expect President Ji’s mind to be so depraved, blatantly teasing while still wearing a poker face.
Furious and annoyed, Le Tong took the chance when her son ran off to see new things, she lifted her foot and mercilessly kicked Ji Rui, gnashing her teeth.
"Didn’t expect Mr. Ji to have such inclinations, let’s see if any store sells whips later!"
Ji Rui laughed, turning back to hold her, "Really willing?"
Le Tong glared at him and nudged him with her elbow, trying to escape his embrace.
But Ji Rui’s arms tightened even more; then, he leaned closer and whispered softly in her ear, "If hitting me once makes you happy, I honestly don’t mind."
Le Tong was startled and hadn’t even reacted when she heard him say in an unusually serious tone, "Le Tong, you can try relying on me once."