Repost\ 3. The time I saw Xia Ou smile the most was on her birthday.
The night before, I was organizing a file at my computer. Xia Ou washed the dishes and then pushed a chair over to lean against me.
A few days ago, I bought her a white lounge dress. It was the first gift I gave her. When she took the very ordinary dress, she smiled, just pursed her lips, but her eyes were full of laughter. Then she wore it often, feeling like a pure white cotton drifting around the room. She looked more feminine than before.
I had said long ago that she had the potential to be charming.
At that time, she was wearing that dress, just enough to let me smell her feminine scent, almost imperceptible. I realized I couldn't work seriously anymore. I turned to glare at her, my eyes full of reproach, but now I met those smiling eyes.
Xia Ou was smiling, and I suddenly felt the whole room was filled with spring, with flowers and grass in full bloom.
All anger vanished.
"Are you laughing, Xia Ou?"
"Yeah!" She replied, nodding childishly, absolutely adorable.
"Hehe, that's strange. Tell me, what are you so happy about?"
"I can get married tomorrow." She said.
Can she get married tomorrow? What does that mean? Xia Ou always speaks so vaguely. "I'll turn 20 tomorrow." She said softly, smiling, and I could feel that occasional smile was so charming. I don't want to keep her topic going. Do you want to talk about marriage with a 20-year-old prostitute? "Yeah, that's great, you've finally grown up. Xia Ou, tell me, what gift do you want?" A woman's expectant glance telling you she's having a birthday probably means something like that. Xia Ou is a straightforward and realistic woman. "If I want it, will you give it to me?" I stared in surprise at the woman who had asked the question, her crystal-clear eyes fully displaying her childlike innocence. "No, it depends on how big your heart is. After all, I'm still working for someone else. There's no way I'd give you a house or a car or anything like that," I thought for a moment, combining her previous topic, and suddenly found it amusing—could she really want me to marry her? "Of course, there's no way I'd promise you anything distant or distant...... "I want you to accompany me tomorrow to meet someone, as my boyfriend." The words slipped out of her mouth, each word clear.
I was still thinking it over; I couldn't guess what she was up to. She was the woman I couldn't understand the most.
"You just happen to have no work tomorrow."
Even that counts as good; it seems she has been preparing for a long time. I looked warily. "Who are you going to see?" ""My mother." The next day, I dressed neatly as if I was really going to meet my mother-in-law: a white shirt, a gold-trimmed tie, a luxurious suit personally ironed by Xia Ou, and spotless leather shoes—"My mother knows how to live." "It was all because of Xia Ou's reminder."
Xia Ou was dressed beautifully, her every gesture radiating youthful energy.
We sat in the car like a golden couple, drawing waves of attention.
As I drove and my gaze occasionally passed by Xia Ou beside me, she was gazing out the window, saying nothing, quietly casting her beautiful reflection in the corner of my eyes. I started hallucinating again, thinking this was the bride I was going to bring home.
I wanted to sigh helplessly, but unexpectedly, I was filled with satisfaction.
After driving for about 30 minutes, we arrived.
It turned out Xia Ou's family wasn't poor; at least her mother's garden community was something I couldn't give my parents. I forgot about Xia Ou's glance, and found this prostitute named Xia Ou even more unbelievable.
The funniest part was, the moment Xia Ou rang the doorbell on the 16th floor, I suddenly started sweating for no reason. I've seen my girlfriend's parents before, almost 30 years old. I couldn't figure out why this fake protector identity made me excited and nervous.
The door opened.
"Ah, baby, you're back! Let mom see you, you've lost so much weight! Where's the key you asked you to bring last time? Why do you always have to ask mom to open the door for you? Hehe, is your baby doing okay at school? "
I stood at the doorway, staring intently at the woman who hugged Xia Ou as soon as the door opened, chattering endlessly while helping her carry her bag. Occasionally, Xia Ou would snuggle in her arms, smiling without saying a word. Her smile was the kind I had never seen before, with a sweet, innocent charm, half affectionate, half spoiled, never getting enough of being affectionate.
That woman was called Xia Ou Baobao. She was just an ordinary mother, letting her daughter whisper affectionately in her arms.
My eyes grew moist, I felt a bit weak; Xia Ou was a prostitute.I can't describe any particular feeling when you see a prostitute with no shame in front of millions of people being intimate with someone in front of her family... or perhaps in the whole world, only her mother would be like that with her.
The woman called Xia Ou Baobao looked to be around 40, full of charm, but very pale and thin. At this moment, there was a certain maternal kindness about her. I imagined that Xia Ou's eyes had completely inherited her mother's allure. But in Xia Ou's eyes, there was a kind of naivety that made people feel relaxed, even stronger than her mother's.
"Alright, Mom, we still have a guest." Only then did Xia Ou pull me in. "This is Xiao Bin."
The woman then noticed me and immediately looked at me with a wary gaze.
"Hello, Aunt! My name is He Nianbin." Acting like a gentleman, I quickly bowed to her, carrying a hint of awkward coldness as if afraid not to be welcomed.
"Oh… good, Xiao Bin." She then turned her gaze back to Xia Ou. "He is…"
"Mom, he's my boyfriend." Xia Ou said it as though it were true.
"Boyfriend?" That uneasy look she gave me was extremely irritating.
"Yes, Mom, he has already proposed to me. We'll get engaged after I graduate," Xia Ou said, smiling softly.
It hit me like a blow to the head. Engaged? With Xia Ou? Just thinking about it felt like a sin.
"Ah! Engaged?" Her mother's gaze instantly turned unusually kind towards me, showing that familiar maternal affection I often found in my own mother.
"Yes… oh, yes, I really like your Xia Ou," I stammered, unable to say much in front of this kind mother, while secretly plotting how I would deal with Xia Ou when I got home.
"Ah, that's wonderful! Yes!! Really wonderful! Oh, come inside and sit!!" She gently pulled me into the house and immediately started bustling about.
Serving fruits, pouring tea, bringing drinks and beer… she seemed to want to bring out everything in the house that could be eaten.
"Xia Ou!" She called her daughter in a rather stern tone. "Why are you still just standing there grinning foolishly? Hurry and peel an apple for Xiao Bin! Really, you're all grown up… sigh, my daughter is grown up, finally…" While she spoke, she went into the kitchen.
I saw the "mother-in-law" busying herself, and immediately changed my expression, intending to scold Xia Ou sternly. How could she say such things in front of an elder?But when I turned around, I saw Xia'ou peeling an apple, and a crystal tear slipped from her eye.
Xia'ou usually didn't cry. I had seen her cry three times in total: this was the first, the second was when her mother passed away, and the third will be told later.
Xia'ou's tears ran down her fair cheeks, sliding quickly, drop by drop. I forgot to scold her and was stunned, not knowing what to do.
Just as I was at a loss, fortunately, her mother came out. She saw her daughter crying at once and hurriedly asked why.
“Mom, Xiaobin bullied me!”
I originally wanted to know why she was crying and was waiting for an answer, but who knew that when she pointed at me in such a coy voice, her mother's gaze followed her small, cute finger to me.
It was really awkward at the time; Xia'ou was so immature. I was also stunned, not knowing what to do.
“Ah? Xiaobin bullied you?”
“Yes, I already peeled the apple for him, but he still wouldn't eat it! He said he wanted a pear! But I had already peeled the apple for him!”
I broke out in a cold sweat; I didn't even notice when she had handed me the apple.
“Sigh, baby, don't be so willful! I thought it was something serious, this child!” Her mother obviously breathed a sigh of relief. Then she turned to me and smiled: “Hehe, Xiaobin, you must have spoiled our Xia'ou. She didn't use to be so coquettish. It's good to treat her well, but sometimes don't indulge her too much. Look at her, isn't she making a fuss?”
“Mom~~” Xia'ou's voice was coquettish, looking very shy.
Only then did I react and cooperated saying: “Sigh, yes, back when she was little and sensible, I pampered her for a few months, but I didn't expect she'd almost be riding on my head now. Aunt, don't worry, I'll treat Xia'ou well in the future. If she can't change, I'll just indulge her, let her be willful her whole life. Even when she's old, she'll still throw little tantrums at me.” Saying this, I felt that my acting was pretty good. I glanced at Xia'ou; her tears hadn't dried yet, hanging on her face. She probably didn't expect me to say that, her expression was a bit surprised. However, in the next second, it turned into full-blown emotion.
Her mother believed me, quietly said a few words to Xia'ou, and then went back into the kitchen.
I looked at Xia'ou, and she smiled at me. I really didn't understand anything anymore.
Xia'ou softly reminded me to go help her mom cook. I said okay, and went.When getting up, Xia'ou quietly said a sincerely heartfelt thank you.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice gentle, her expression sincere.
Then I went into the kitchen. Although I wouldn't really be cooking, I used to always gather around my own mother at home and often helped her with small tasks. So I am fairly familiar with kitchen work. Of course, that was when my mother was alive.
“Auntie, I'll help you! Is there anything you need me to do?”
“Ah~ what do I need you for? Just wait until the food is ready and eat a few more bowls!” Just like my mother used to say. I immediately thought of my mother and almost called out "Mom."
I started preparing some small dishes as best as I could, trying not to be clumsy. During that time, she kept talking about Xia'ou in her family, saying things like “She's a good girl” and “She's always been obedient.” I didn't speak much, only occasionally responding sincerely.
She then mentioned that she's been having stomach aches recently. I thought of the remedy my father used for stomachaches and said I would bring it next time.
She looked at me, apparently touched, as if about to cry. When she looked at me so seriously, her gaze was very similar to Xia'ou's.
I hadn't seen any men around, nor had Auntie ever mentioned Xia'ou's father.
I felt a surge of emotion, realizing this family isn't as glamorous as it seems on the surface.
The food was ordinary, but I ate three large bowls, making Xia'ou's mom's face glow with happiness. She kept genuinely praising me without holding back.
At one point, she asked about my workplace. Just as I was about to answer, Xia'ou interrupted, showing some urgency, “Oh Mom!! Why do you keep asking about this? You make it sound like our family is so materialistic.”
“Oh, okay, alright, I won't ask anymore. Ah, Xiaobin, have some more meat! You need to gain a bit more weight!” Then she served me a piece of twice-cooked pork.
I swallowed it in one bite.
I was puzzled. Normally, working for a well-known and reputable foreign company, and being in a high-level professional position, these were things I used to boast about. Why would Xia'ou be so anxious about me mentioning it? Of course, I didn't need to brag in front of her mom; I just wanted to say something nice to make the elder happy and reassure her that her daughter hadn't chosen the wrong person.
But since Xia'ou didn't want me to say it, I didn't say much.After dinner, Xia Ou said she was leaving. It was obvious that her mother was reluctant, but she only said, "Leaving so soon? Won't you rest a bit longer?" Without Xia Ou's consent, she didn't say anything more.
We lingered downstairs in the neighborhood when I saw them off. Xia Ou said, "Mom, you should go back." She said, "Ah, just going."
Then the car drove quite far, and when turning a corner, I saw through the rearview mirror that she was still standing there, on tiptoe, looking this way.
"You should visit your mom more often; it's not far anyway," I said softly. Xia Ou had already reverted to her usual expression—numb as ever.
She lowered her head and didn't say anything. I didn't ask further either; I didn't want to pursue matters I didn't need to know. I knew it was unnecessary.
As the car was about to enter downtown, Xia Ou suddenly told me to turn the car around.
"Turn around! Go back to where we just were!" she said urgently, a commanding tone hidden in her words.
I looked at her and grew indifferent.
"Oh… please! Okay?"
