It took a while, but her sobs finally subsided. She moved a little and Li Chuanmo released her.
By now, she was no longer upset with Li Chuanmo, but she didn't know how to start the conversation. While she was still thinking about what to say, Li Chuanmo spoke.
"I'm sorry."
Pei Yueran was surprised. She looked at him blankly. Her look was so adorable that Li Chuanmo was carried away and temporarily forgot what he wanted to say.
He cupped her face with his hands, staring into her eyes. Pei Yueran coughed softly, and he finally came back to his senses.
He sat properly, his ears red as he began to talk,
"I apologize for the way I forced you into coming home with me. I was just really worried about you, and to be honest, I also wanted to spend time together with you, that's why I was so adamant. Please forgive me."
Every last vestige of anger in Pei Yueran dissipated. She felt like she had just eaten honey.
On impulse, she cupped his face and kissed him full on the mouth.
Seeing the shocked look on his face, Pei Yueran burst out laughing, almost pulling her wound again in the process.
"Apology accepted. I'm also sorry for being so childish. I don't know why I overreacted. I behaved like a child throwing a tantrum, when you were only being kind. I apologize as well "
Li Chuanmo smiled at her, "But I wasn't just being kind."
Huh? What did he mean?
The more he stared, the more heated he felt. He had to remind himself that she was still sick. To distract himself, he blurted out,
"What kind of flowers do you like?"
"Happy ones."
At Li Chuanmo's look of confusion, she laughed, "I mean according to the language of flowers. I don't have a favorite flower in particular, but I like flowers that give off a happy vibe or have good meanings."
Li Chuanmo made a mental note. He needed to do research on flower language.
Pei Yueran asked, "Would you be going to the office tomorrow? We have been absent for three days now. One of us should at least get some work done."
"No, I won't be going. You still need more care." Besides, he had been taking care of the work they had at the office from home, but he didn't tell her that. He was sure she would want to know the current state of the company and would launch into discussions about work. He wanted her to rest fully.
Pei Yueran mentally rolled her eyes, "But you have many workers here who can take care of me. Even Yuchen can keep me company when he returns from school. That's not a problem."
"So you prefer his company to mine? That rascal cannot even take care of himself, much less take care of you."
Pei Yueran looked at him for a moment and pretended to wrinkle her nose. "Can you smell something sour?"
Li Chuanmo sniffed around, "No. Was something left out for too long?"
"It's coming from you."
Li Chuanmo still didn't get it. He sniffed his clothes, but couldn't smell anything strange.
Pei Yueran gave up and shoo'ed him out of her room, "Go and ask Yuchen. I want to get some rest."
So Li Chuanmo went straight to his son's room. Li Yuchen was playing games as usual.
He passed the level he was on first before acknowledging his dad.
"You need something Dad?"
Li Chuanmo went to stand in front of him and held out his arms. Li Yuchen thought he was asking for a hug, so he went and hugged him.
"What do you smell?"
Li Yuchen frowned. His Dad usually smelled fresh. His usual cologne had a woody, smoky fragrance, which was very pleasant. It was the same smell he had on today.
"Your normal scent. What's wrong?"
"You don't smell something sour?"
Li Yuchen scrunched up his face, "Of course not."
"Your Auntie Pei said I should ask you. She said I smelled sour."
Li Yuchen had a knowing look on his face, "What happened this time?"
Li Chuanmo repeated their conversation.
"Dad, do you know what it means to be a vinegar jar?"
"A jealous person."
"Exactly."
Li Chuanmo quickly connected the dots and looked incredulous as he eyed his son, "Me? jealous of you?"
Li Yuchen felt insulted. He puffed up his small chest, "What do you mean? The way things are going, I might win my Goddess' heart before you do. I'm currently your biggest rival, so treat me as such!"
Li Chuanmo wanted to knock him on the head, but for the sake of their new partnership, he held back. "Alright. But is being a vinegar jar such a bad thing?"
"In this case, no. You did well."
"But she chased me away."
'She also kissed me', he added in his mind, but he didn't want to tell his son that.
"Maybe she felt shy. But how come you didn't get such a simple expression? This won't do. Another assignment for you: study one hundred common internet expressions in time for our next meeting. You need to brush up your knowledge."
Coming from the person that cannot even quote common proverbs correctly, he was being very commanding. However, Li Chuanmo had no choice but to agree. Who told him to need the help of this brat?
"Fine."
*****
*Contains mild description of abuse*
About one thousand miles away, in a rundown, shabby apartment.
The living room was filled with white smoke. It was so thick that it could easily choke a person to death, but the woman sitting in the middle of the room seemed to be undisturbed by it.
She sat down on the moldy rug with her knees to her chest. She cried softly, but even her occasional sob seemed to disturb her partner, because a few seconds later, a man came out of an equally smoke-filled bedroom, slamming the door so hard that the woman flinched.
He approached her menacingly and lifted her chin up. The fear in her eyes were plain to see, as were the shocking bruises on her face, as well as her swollen cheeks. Her battered appearance fed the man's ego. He smiled sinisterly before snarling,
"All you do everyday is cry! You're just a good-for-nothing b**ch, carrying bad luck everywhere you go. Since you have decided to disturb my rest, I'll leave this place for you. But you had better scram before I come back, else, I would make sure you are unable to cry forever!"
Too afraid to say anything, she nodded quickly. The man hissed at her before leaving, slamming the door on his way out.
His voice passed through the thin walls of their apartment, and he shouted as if he wanted the entire neighborhood to hear him,
"Weiwan, I curse the day I met you!"