"It's my mother and big brother's death anniversary," she answered in a low voice.
Tang Li Mei had no clue why she would share something so intimate with him. She was too shocked to even look at his reaction.
Han Zhixin, on the other hand, wanted to bang his head somewhere.
'She was already going through so much today, and on top of that.....how could he behave like a complete ass to her???' He was troubled.
"I'm sorry... I.." He wanted to continue, but he didn't know what to say at a time like this. He had already made the situation awkward. So he kept quiet to avoid any more awkwardness.
His apology made Tang Li Mei feel better; normally, men like him don't like to accept their mistakes. However, he owned it and even apologized; this gained him a few brownie points, and the tattered image she had of him became better in her heart. If the person sitting beside her knew about this, he would be over the moon.
Han Zhixin wanted to let her know that he was there for her, but he had no idea how to express it. He was clueless when it came to women. But when he saw her slim hands resting on her lap, he took the chance and held them tightly.
This action alerted Tang Li Mei, and she tried to pull away, but he held her hand tightly. She glared at him, but he just ignored it.
'Not even a minute passed by before he was back to his old ways. This scheming bastard!!!!'
"Let me hold it for a few minutes. Please!!" he pleaded. His pale blue eyes held gentleness.
Tang Li Mei stared at him for a while and huffed but didn't push him; this brought a sense of hope to his heart.
'At least she didn't push him away; it was an improvement.'
"Where's your car??" he asked as he continued to hold her hand. Tang Li Mei was pissed at him, so she kept quiet and stared outside. Although all she could see was a foggy window.
"You know I won't stop until I get an answer from you," he smirked. Tang Li Mei wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. But she knew that whatever he said, he would do exactly that. She sighed again.
"My father picked me up, and before you ask any more questions, I had some work in the suburbs, so I asked him to go back," she answered in annoyance. Han Zhixin's lips hooked up.
'His woman was getting smarter.'
"Would you mind if I asked you something personal??" he asked her politely.
"If I said no, would that stop you from asking?? It's not like I can run away or something!!" She retorted coldly as her eyes narrowed. She was completely annoyed by her own behaviour. What was wrong with her?? Why was she talking so much??
He laughed as he heard her; he could tell she was annoyed, but he was enjoying this. Normally she wouldn't even answer him, but now she was showing him her true self. The her now was full of life; this was the person he fell for.
Tang Li Mei was completely embarrassed now, so she gave him the cold shoulder. Han Zhixin smiled at her childish behaviour, but soon that smile vanished when he thought about the question he wanted to ask.
"You..... are you waiting for the little one's father??" He gloomily asked Tang Li Mei, who had a conflicting expression when she heard his question.
'Waiting for her brother?? Why would she do that??'
But soon it clicked, and her eyes widened. No one knows the truth except those three people.
"What do you mean??" she asked, trying to ignore her fast heartbeat.
Han Zhixin noticed the changes in her, but he couldn't get anything from them.
"What do I mean?? Don't you know?? It's not like I have been discreet in my approach. But if you want to know it more directly, then....."
He looked at her tenderly as a small smile pulled up on his face. Tang Li Mei felt her heartbeat fasten; his pale blue eyes were staring at her stormy grey ones with so much gentleness that it pierced right through the barrier she had created around her heart. She was filled with mystery, and he wanted to unravel this mystery layer by layer to finally meet the real her that she was hiding within.
"Xiao Mei I like you!! I want to know if I stand a chance. If there is anyone in your heart and if you are waiting for that person." He poured out all his insecurities on her.
Tang Li Mei felt her heart skip a beat at his sudden confession, but she calmed herself. After all, it was because of this so-called love that she lost her family. It was because of this love that she lost her child. The little emotion she felt completely vanished, and her eyes turned hollow.
Han Zhixin felt a sudden drop in temperature, and he quietly gazed at her. The times he felt the changes in her were not many, but the feeling she gave him right now made his heart clench in pain. Betrayal, hate, and loss?? What did she lose, or rather, to whom??
A million questions were running through his mind, but he knew he wouldn't get any answers from her. However, right now, all he wanted to know was if she could accept him. If there was a chance for them??
"If I say you don't stand a chance, would you stop all this???" she asked monotonously.
His face gloomed at her question, and a sad smile played on his lips. He could never bear to see her with anyone else. If there really was someone, he would make sure to keep that person far away from her. He would do anything and everything to win her heart.
"Xiao Mei,... right now at this moment, if there is no one in your heart, can you give me a chance??..... That night, when I proposed to you for marriage, you said we don't know each other, which I completely agree with but at least gives us a chance to know each other. Let me prove it to you!! Later on, if you still think we are not compatible, then.... at least I could accept it." He answered in a low voice, but he felt his heart being twisted inside out when he blurted out the last sentence.
Tang Li Mei thought she knew herself. She would never give a man a single chance to get close to her, but right now she was torn between making choices. Ever since she came to this world, her heart and mind have always been on the same side. However, from the time she met him, they always stood on opposite sides.
The ride turned silent as both of them were occupied with their own thoughts. Soon they reached Silver Woods, and Tang Li Mei helped him with the directions to her home. The car passed through the gates and reached the two-story house. Han Zhixin had just parked the car in front of the porch when the main door opened.
A middle-aged woman ran out with a tear-filled face. Tang Li Mei opened the door when she heard Aunt Lan's sobs. Her body stiffened, and fear filled her heart. Han Zhixin immediately got out of the car when he sensed her uneasiness.
"Aunt Lan, what's wrong!?" She asked the woman calmly, but her eyes were filled with distress.
"Young miss, it's the little master... " Before she could complete her sentence, Tang Li Mei was already gone. Aunt Lan and Han Zhixin followed after her.
Tears filled her eyes as her gaze fell on the little bun sleeping on the bed. There was a white, wet cloth on his forehead. Aunt Lan and Han Zhixin followed her into the little one's room.
"One moment he was playing with his blocks, and the next he fell unconscious; that's when I realized he was running a fever. I couldn't reach you, young miss, and due to the rain, no doctors would come here." Aunt Lan explained as more tears filled her eyes.
Tang Li Mei quietly kneeled beside the bed and shakily held the little one's hands. Fear filled her heart when she felt his burning temperature. She didn't dare lose another child!!
" Xun'er?? Baby.... mama is here!!" She called out in a low voice. The little one looked at her with half-hooded eyes.
"Mama!" he called out in a weak voice as he held out his other hand.
Tang Li Mei broke down completely as tears rolled down her face. She couldn't think straight and didn't know what to do.
Han Zhixin couldn't bear the sight of her being weak like this. He walked forward and kneeled beside her. Quietly pulling her into his arms, he patted her back soothingly. Tang Li Mei tightly held on to his shirt as sobs filled her thin frame.
His shirt was getting soaked because of her, but it didn't bother him. All he wanted to do was calm her and stop her from crying. He couldn't bear the sight of her beautiful eyes holding those endless tears.
Han Zhixin tenderly held her chin to make her look at him.
"Sweetheart, look at me," he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness.
Tang Li Mei stared at him with a tear-filled face as her stormy gaze looked hollow. Han Zhixin's heart twisted in pain; he didn't like this feeling of emptiness within her, and he didn't dare to watch her break down like this.
"Xiao Mei, baby, don't you have a doctor here with you?? What are you worried about??" He whispered as he squeezed her shoulders. But that one sentence felt like a blessing to her.
Her eyes widened as her entire being filled with hope. She saw his pale blue eyes staring at her with gentleness, a small smile playing on his lips. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly let go of his shirt that was crumpled under her palms.
"Han Zhixin, you...never mind." She couldn't express what or how she felt right now. She quickly wiped away her tears and stood up to give him space.
Han Zhixin felt his entire body freeze when he heard her. It was the first time she had called him by his name, and his heart was filled with happiness. The way his name sounded on her lips felt right, and he was very satisfied..... For now..... but later on, he'll get her to call him by his first name. He'll wait for that day!!!
He wanted to hug her tightly and kiss her, but now was not the time. So he calmed himself and sat on the bed to check on the little one.
As he ran a check, the space between his eyebrows darkened. He quickly asked for a thermometer, and Aunt Lan, who had been staring at this couple in shock for a long time, finally reacted. He quietly checked the little one's temperature. As he stared at the result, his eyebrows pulled up in a frown.
Tang Li Mei felt her heartbeat fasten, and distress filled her body.
"What's wrong??"