[Urban] Campus Maple Leaves Red (Complete) - 38

[Volume 2: Passionate Maple Leaves] Chapter 3: I Saw It All (3)

The car was parked under a patch of trees. A constant stream of people and cars came and went in front of the car window. Sitting in the car, Fei'er's mother seemed to feel nothing at all. Because at this moment, she would see in her mind the image of a big man wiping his sweat in the sun in the rearview mirror when she left No. 33 Middle School.

Was she really that afraid of him? And he was supposedly a big man who was going to become a hero? Fei'er's mother shook her head slightly, and a bitter and complicated smile appeared on her face.

Her daughter had found a lover she liked, and when her daughter graduated from university, she brought this slightly shy big boy to her.

In terms of knowledge, speech, manners, and family background, this slightly shy big boy quickly gained her approval. Even if it was a while later, he would marry her daughter and take her to live in a city hundreds of kilometers away from her.

She met the young man her daughter brought home as her future husband, and a few months later, she met his family.

A father who looked younger, and a little sister with a sweet smile on her face—they were there to discuss her daughter's marriage to the young man.

The wedding was on schedule; her daughter, who had been by her side for over twenty years, was finally going to a city hundreds of kilometers away to continue her married life.

What would the next moment bring? No one could say for sure. Just like her daughter's marriage, only four years had passed, yet after so many events, it had become a change she still couldn't fully accept.

From daughter-in-law to stepmother of two children, and in a few months, her daughter would become a mother herself. This change in her identity meant that her daughter would carry a heavy burden she couldn't tell anyone for the rest of her life, a burden that could shatter her instantly.

Facing everything, her daughter's unexpected determination and composure made her, as her mother, both heartbroken and angry at what her daughter had gone through!

Why should your son's heartless and ungrateful behavior be rewarded with your despicable and malicious father's? Is all of this something Fei'er owed you two in her past life?

However, his worries and anger, under his daughter's unwavering devotion and protection, became helpless, with no outlet for his frustration.

What had bewitched his daughter? Why couldn't she see what was before her? Was it just because of the sweet words of an older man? But after carefully reviewing everything that had happened to his daughter, and observing the older man he so utterly despised, he couldn't believe it, even though he didn't want to.

His daughter, the daughter who had given him her whole heart, had fallen hopelessly in love with an older man even older than her mother! And all of this, from the information his daughter revealed, indicated that she was not only willing to do this, but… she was practically throwing herself at him!

Was an unattractive older man so charming?

He hadn't shown any of that at all!

Was it an older man whose successful career and decisive personality attracted his daughter's attention?

Looking at his current stall and his cowardly demeanor, like a mouse before a cat, what could possibly capture her heart?

These past few days, I've been reflecting on everything carefully, and in a calm and collected way, I've come to a conclusion that leaves me with a bitter taste.

My daughter's relationship with him began after she had experienced immense pain and sorrow. A relationship that shouldn't have existed suddenly appeared due to some terrible accident. Wanting to find solace and support for her wounds, she made a reckless choice.

But as the pain in her heart gradually subsided, and she began to seriously consider her new choices after the pain, her heart, initially mixed with resentment and spite, underwent a thorough examination.

It was this examination from the bottom of her heart that led her to make a choice for the rest of her life: to love unconditionally, without regret, someone she shouldn't, and couldn't, love!

And what about this person whom she loved unconditionally for the rest of her life?

He understood better than his daughter what they would face after making this choice. But why did he do it, knowing the consequences?

Why?

Was it for his daughter's youthful beauty? Was it a momentary lapse of judgment? Or was it a choice forced upon him by guilt over that damned accident with his daughter? Wasn't it a choice he reluctantly made out of a sense of compensation for that heartless little beast who abandoned Fei'er?

It was his daughter's beauty, but not a momentary lapse of judgment. It was the guilt that began with that accident, and a genuine desire to atone for his son's actions, all intertwined with his love and care for his daughter.

Watching him treat his daughter, bit by bit, she saw everything he did! Yes, even his cautiousness in front of her stemmed from his daughter.

He was afraid of letting her suffer even the slightest injustice, afraid of depriving her of any happiness. And so, this grown man, he was afraid of himself.

He was afraid, afraid that his daughter would feel wronged in front of him because of him. He was afraid that his presence would create a rift between him and his daughter. He was even more afraid that, under all the pressure, he would force his daughter to make a choice that wasn't right or wrong.

It was all this fear that made him spoil his daughter without any limits. It was all this fear that made him lose all his manly demeanor in front of himself.

A woman may have countless dreams and desires in her life, but the most real thing is to have a man who always pampers and loves her gently take her hand and walk with her for a lifetime.

The bitterness behind his smile was because his daughter's choice was truly too difficult. And the complicated question was whether it was because someone was spoiling and pampering his daughter so much that he felt his daughter's happiness? Or was he still completely compromising despite his reluctance?

Perhaps none of these were the most important things. What mattered was that his daughter's choice would not change. Whether she was right or wrong, whether he, as her mother, compromised or felt helpless, he would stand by his daughter.

My daughter's pregnancy was progressing rapidly, but the man who had vowed to spoil and pamper her for life almost broke his promise to her just a few days ago!

My daughter fainted when she found out, and as soon as she recovered, she frantically rushed to the hospital to see him! The raw emotion she displayed at that moment was incredibly moving, and it was impossible to hate the man who had almost broken his promise.

Yes, a man, no matter how big or small the matter, no matter how much he has to bear, has absolutely no reason to shirk responsibility when it's his turn to step up.

From that day on, I began to try a different approach to our relationship.

Knowing my pregnant daughter couldn't overexert herself, and wanting to change the atmosphere between us, I went to the hospital to take care of him for her. But this was so unexpected. He trembled all over when he saw me, and he was so stupid that he didn't realize that I came to the hospital to try to make things easier.

Does she really have to spell it out for that idiot to understand her stance? She's already made her stance clear; it's his own fault for not realizing it! If he wants her to talk to him, he'll have to wait!

But seeing that stupid, silly face every day is quite amusing…

A fleeting smile touched her lips, and she habitually, almost reflexively, glanced at the rearview mirror. The back seat was empty; the stupid, silly, sweaty figure was gone. With a calm feeling, Fei'er's mother slowly started the car.

A commotion erupted. Yu Lian, ever the troublemaker, and Hui Min, equally eager for chaos, stirred up a group of vibrant young women, drawing them into Old Li and the dark-skinned girl's embrace. In an instant, the ambiguous, chaotic atmosphere, which even the earlier passionate kiss between Yu Lian and Old Li hadn't fully ignited, swept through everyone present like a madman…

The married woman had already begun… This

wasn't the first time such a frenzy had occurred…

What's next…?

Before the dark-skinned girl could even release her, Hui Min and Yu Lian, one on each side, had already embraced her and Old Li together. Crowded and oppressive, the barely perceptible distance that had been maintained between them, even in their embrace, completely vanished.

Embracing and pressing tightly against her sisters, like two burning, restless flames, not only were they themselves burning with passion, releasing their girlish emotions, but they also ignited the passion hidden within their teacher, who was also embracing her. She, at the heart of this raging fire, felt the intense heat of their burning passion most deeply. Her body

was completely pressed into Old Li's broad, warm chest. Not only were her two sisters' arms wrapped around her and Old Li's, tightening their embrace, but her teacher, equally affected, was also directly holding her. As her embrace gradually made it difficult to breathe, his hands, which had been under her armpits and around her back, slowly tightened, seemingly unconsciously beginning to caress her, sending shivers down her spine.

The large hands on my shoulders and back dug their fingers almost into my flesh through my clothes, pressing tightly against the teacher's chest. My arms, the only support for my body and the only way to avoid rubbing against his chest, were exhausted by the increasingly tight and powerful pressure. Surrounded by the flames, I too was consumed by the burning passion, losing even the last vestige of my will to continue. My

limp, powerless hands rested on the teacher's shoulders, and the two of us, now without any support, rubbed together more and more tightly, feeling each other's warmth.

The scorching heat made me dizzy. When more sisters joined this embrace like firewood thrown into a fire, the immense pressure and intense friction made me tremble and feel suffocated.

Her head, drooping under the teacher's shoulder, swayed to ease the dizziness in her head. Like a fish out of water, she opened her mouth wide, gulping in air to drive away the trembling, suffocating feeling that was gradually driving her to the brink of madness!

The dizziness didn't lessen with the swaying, but the suffocation, with each rapid breath, stirred every cell in her body, feeling as if it were about to explode from extreme oxygen deprivation.

Ah—a cry of liberation escaped from the depths of her heart, and her head, drooping under the teacher's shoulder, suddenly jerked upward.

In an instant, before her eyes was Lü Na, who had somehow squeezed behind the teacher, their lips locked in a wet, passionate kiss!

Stunned! Her mind went completely blank.

A glistening line of saliva stretched slowly between Lü Na and the teacher's parted lips, then snapped away in an instant. Lu Na, still panting with lingering pleasure, gently licked her teacher's lips with her pink tongue. The teacher's thick, moist lips, glistening with saliva, were now incredibly close to her face.

Unable to dodge, in a moment of hesitation—fear, anticipation, and trembling—those thick, domineering, yet genuinely gentle, moist lips pressed heavily onto hers.

A short, gasp escaped her throat as the teacher's lips silenced her. It was as if everything around her had vanished from her consciousness; she was frozen, trembling and stiff.

Her first kiss, her very first kiss, had arrived unexpectedly on a summer day when she was seventeen.

The stiffness stemmed from the shock and bewilderment that followed the sudden arrival of her first kiss.

"Trying to escape," was my first instinctive response to his domineering, unprepared kiss.

Clumsy and awkward, it was a mixture of fear and anticipation in my heart that left me powerless to resist. In the midst of passive acceptance and struggle, I began to gradually perceive the first experience of love from the man who had inexplicably entered my heart.

Did I reciprocate? Was it only when his greedy, domineering tongue pried open my lips, swept across my gums, and lingered on my teeth that I began?

Was I truly engaged? He held her tongue firmly, swallowing the saliva that welled in her mouth. She seemed to have no time to think, letting her shy, tentative tongue, like tentacles, gently touch and intertwine with his lips and tongue, until she swallowed his saliva, until the last bit of air in her lungs was sucked out, until all the sisters surrounding her and him offered their blessings, their playful laughter echoing. Then, she broke free from his still greedy, domineering, and increasingly gentle lips and tongue, burying her face in his shoulder, refusing to lift her head for a long time.

Was this the lounge? When she finally saw everything clearly, she, all the sisters present that day, and him—the one who had made her blush—were here.

One, or two, or three sisters, took turns beside him. Perhaps it was him, or perhaps it was his sisters beside him. They laughed, they whispered, and they...

there was a bittersweet feeling, a tremor in their hearts, a slightly astringent taste that they savored. They thought of leaving, of burying away what had suddenly descended upon them, this bittersweet feeling, just as they had at the beginning, deep within their hearts, slowly distancing themselves from him, slowly forgetting him and everything else.

But why couldn't they move on? They endured this unbearable torment, sitting here waiting, as if they had lost themselves in anticipation.

A kiss, that was it. Neither his sisters nor he said anything more, just that natural intimacy between them, that familiar understanding of each other's hearts. When their initial blossoming, like a needle piercing their hearts, ended without result, they made a painful but necessary decision: to leave, to leave having learned to distance themselves and forget.

Warm hands, gentle breath—that familiar yet strangely powerful embrace—once again, as they were about to rise and leave, encircled them.

He didn't ask himself why he left, nor did he explain why he was asked to stay at this moment. Touching his short, ear-length hair, he also touched Ya Rou's face, which was resting its head on his lap, with his other hand. He spoke of himself little by little, and also recounted the intimate and familiar past between him and each of the sisters here.

Hearing this, being touched by him, my heart, soaked in sourness, trembled again, and my emotions, filled with bitterness, began to drift. Gradually, he lovingly kissed my forehead, and gradually, the fingers that were stroking my short hair gently grasped and kneaded my earlobe. With a quick glance, I saw that his other hand, which was stroking Ya Rou's face, was now clearly kneading under Ya Rou's sportswear.

Run! It was my instinctive thought after the shock of what I saw.

However, the hand that was kneading my earlobe slid down to my shoulder and tightened, and I fell into that unfamiliar and powerful embrace, losing my chance to leave.

[Volume 2: Passionate Maple Leaves] Chapter 3: I saw it all (4)

Xie Xin and Coach Mi returned one after the other. The team members, who had come out of the team members' rest room a while ago, were doing group practice under Lao Li's guidance. Seeing the two coaches appear, Old Li walked over to them.

"The team members are in good spirits and maintaining a good level of performance. Thank you both, coaches,"

Old Li said sincerely, shaking their hands.

"This isn't our achievement," Coach Mi said, pulling Old Li's hand slightly away. "It's because these girls went to the hospital to see you wake up that day, and after returning to the team, they've been training with their heads down. Now, with these girls around, Xiao Xie and I are basically just here checking on things; we haven't had much to do."

Coach Mi's eyes swept over Old Li's face as she spoke, and she continued, "It seems that in the hearts of these young girls in our team, you, the principal, hold more weight than Xiao Xie and me, the coaches!"

"Hehe... Coach Mi, I don't see it that way! I think the girls in our team really admire you and Coach Xie. Otherwise, when I was in the team before, they rarely trained so diligently. And now, after only a few days away, they've become so proactive in training. This must be thanks to you two coaches!"

As he spoke, Coach Mi's hand, which she had just pulled back, was tightly grasped by Lao Li. Lao Li continued, "I really want to thank Coach Mi! Not only do the girls in the team think this way, but I myself am especially grateful to you! Coach Mi, thank you!"

With each word of thanks, Coach Mi's face flushed red. She tried her best to pull her hand back from Lao Li's tight grip, but Lao Li released her hand at the opportune moment. In the final "thank you," he couldn't help but give Coach Mi a hug that was even tighter than a handshake.

"Old...Old Li...you..."

This sudden enthusiasm seemed to have really overwhelmed Coach Mi, otherwise, why would she be so flustered, unable to say anything, and struggling to stay upright with her face flushed red?

"Fengying, thank you so much."

A gentle, sincere, and very magnetic male voice rang in Coach Mi's ears as she struggled to stay upright.

The repeated thanks before had been joking and slightly insincere, but now, with just a soft voice, Coach Mi felt something from the heart.

Stopping struggling and lowering her face slightly, a complex look quickly flashed across Old Li's eyes as he gazed at her. Coach Mi quietly accepted the man's embrace.

He gently patted Coach Mi's shoulders, gave her a light and quick kiss on the cheek, and then walked over to Xie Xin, who had been smiling at him and Coach Mi.

The same hug, the same thank you. Old Li, who had just released Xie Xin and was about to say something more, noticed Xie Xin gesturing to him repeatedly with her eyes.

Turning around, Old Li saw Fei'er's mother already at the entrance of the training field, walking towards them.

Silently praying for her safety, Old Li secretly wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Yes, if Old Li had shown any more enthusiasm with words or actions, and Fei'er's mother had seen or heard it, he wouldn't just be facing Fei'er's mother's expressionless face every day.

Fei'er's mother, smiling, greeted Xie Xin and Coach Mi, and casually mentioned that Old Li had sneaked out without the hospital's permission, and it was time for him to go back.

It seemed like he was still a dozen minutes away from their agreed-upon return time to the hospital? Old Li muttered to himself, but his feet didn't stop, following behind Fei'er's mother towards the school gate.

"You have a good relationship with the teachers at your school, right?"

Having already spotted Fei'er's mother's car, Fei'er's mother asked in a moderately loud voice without turning around.

"Um...yes, although our school still faces many difficulties, the relationships between my colleagues are very good."

He hesitated for a moment, paused slightly, and then slowly caught up, answering slowly and deliberately.

"It seems like every female teacher at your school treats you better than the others?"

Still in a low voice, Fei'er's mother asked at about the same pace as Lao Li, stopping in her tracks.

Uh! A little distracted, Lao Li quickly stopped, otherwise he would have bumped into Fei'er's mother who had stopped.

"Ah...I...the female teachers at my school are...very good to me and my other colleagues, because we all work together."

His carefully chosen words inevitably caused a slight stutter when unprepared, but Lao Li still managed to answer the question clearly.

"Really? Your school's female teachers are quite hospitable! Is it true that after getting along well with them, you can hug anyone? Hehe! Your school's female teachers are really well-mannered! So familiar and skilled in using Western etiquette!"

After Fei'er confessed everything about her and Lao Li to her mother, Fei'er's mother turned to face Lao Li, and for the first time, a smile appeared on her face when she asked Lao Li a question. Her

slow, unchanging speech, the raised eyebrows and the forced smile, made Lao Li's heart pound even harder than the question itself! A burst of rapid coughing made Lao Li's face turn pale.

"Oh! You choked on the wind, didn't you? You'd better be careful next time! Since the female teachers at your school are so warm and welcoming, I think I'll come here often to observe and learn, to see how to properly use such warm Western etiquette!"

Looking at Old Li, who was coughing and pounding his chest, Fei'er's mother continued speaking to herself, emphasizing each word with logical pauses at the end.

Ignoring Old Li, who had suddenly stopped coughing, Fei'er's mother turned to the car, opened the door, and got in.

The boat was a bit old and worn, but the sudden gust of wind and waves was quite a sight, wasn't it? But that's understandable; Fei'er's mother had seen Old Li sit down just now, and had only asked to learn, so what was there for Old Li to be so surprised about?

Didn't he see Fei'er's mother's car was waiting? Old Li quickly walked a few steps and got in.

I saw it, but it was just a quick tap. However, that doesn't mean Fei'er's mother wouldn't have other thoughts. Could you explain this a little? Should we explain it now, or later? Fei'er's mother hasn't said a word since Old Li got in the car and drove off, but Old Li himself has been pondering many questions. Unable to make up his mind, Old Li, sitting in the back seat, secretly glanced at the rearview mirror.

A pair of seemingly casual eyes caught Old Li's furtive glance. Startled, Old Li's eyes immediately darted from the rearview mirror to the car window.

His initial fear subsided slightly, but for some reason, his eyes, which had been wandering aimlessly outside the window, involuntarily swept back towards the rearview mirror.

The same seemingly casual eyes, swiftly scanning the mirror, still managed to capture Old Li's gaze, sending it swiftly away again.

This cycle repeated itself, the alternation of capture and escape. A barely perceptible gentleness in those seemingly casual eyes, a silent hint of something more, began to emerge. At this moment, Old Li's eyes lingered on the rearview mirror for a few seconds.

A subtle gentleness, barely perceptible, appeared in his gaze, the oppressive fear of escape dissipating, and his eyes in the rearview mirror gradually cleared. Perhaps one explanation is silence, or perhaps a promise needs no sound. In those few seconds of quiet, clear eyes meeting that gentle gaze, everything that had been unspoken for so many days, everything that had been unexplained and unexplained, was conveyed silently to each other.

A touch of apology, a touch of promise, a touch of gratitude—Old Li's quiet, clear eyes gently left the rearview mirror once more, withdrawing their seemingly gentle gaze. Fei'er's mother drove more smoothly.

"Old Li, it's time to eat!"

The ward door opened, and Fei'er's mother, expressionless, walked in carrying a plate of cutlery, speaking stiffly.

Old Li and Fei'er's mother had only been back in the ward for a few minutes when a person Old Li knew from the adult education center, along with two other people he didn't recognize, entered the ward, claiming to be visiting the injured and hospitalized Old Li.

Wu Tong, 43 years old, was the current deputy director of the Jiangzhong City Administration for Industry and Commerce. When she met Old Li, she was already a deputy section chief in the Administration for Industry and Commerce, and she was pursuing a correspondence bachelor's degree. After getting to know Lao Li, and after several meetings, Lao Li thought she was quite good. After Wu Tong graduated with a correspondence bachelor's degree, Lao Li not only helped her obtain her bachelor's degree but also, through a professor at Qingjiang University, recommended her to pursue a part-time master's degree.

It's understandable that Wu Tong, who has maintained contact with Lao Li, visited him when he was injured and hospitalized. However, Lao Li really couldn't figure out how he had gotten these two other people with him to visit him.

Ma Xuefeng, the director of the Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce, and Cao Liying, the director of the office of the Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce—two people Lao Li had never met or even known in his life—were now sitting opposite him, and these three people had been sitting in Lao Li's hospital room for over an hour.

Politeness is something everyone should have, especially since Fei'er's mother is a very well-educated and reasonable woman. Even the most well-mannered person would struggle when faced with three people who rambled on about everything under the sun without saying a word. Fei'er's mother, usually a good-natured woman (except after Old Li had annoyed her), finally returned with her icy expression, her face as cold as a frozen mountain.

In the sweltering summer heat, if the room temperature suddenly plummeted to minus thirty degrees Celsius, it would be unbearable for anyone. So, the three guests, who had been chatting enthusiastically with Old Li, immediately got up and left.

*Thump!* The stainless steel plate slammed onto the bedside cabinet.

Uh—it was practically suffocating—Fei'er's mother choked Old Li with a napkin.

"Open your mouth!"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Fei'er's mother scooped up a large spoonful of rice mixed with sauce and held it to the bewildered Old Li's lips, squeezing out two words through gritted teeth.

Uh! The sound was only made when the spoon was almost stuck in his throat. *Gulp—glug—* He slowly stuffed a mouthful down, leaving no room for chewing, and when he was desperately trying to swallow, that's usually the kind of noise Old Li made.

He stretched his neck, his eyes wide, almost unable to catch his breath, when a hand reached behind him. The initial anger intensified, but with each subsequent pounding, the pressure lessened and eased.

A small mouthful of rice, a small sip of refreshing broth, and a slow, deliberate voice asked, "Do you know that Cao, the office director at the Industry and Commerce Bureau?"

"Well… let's say I know her,"

Old Li replied slowly, swallowing the broth in his mouth, giving a slightly vague answer.

"What do you mean 'let's say I know her'! Knowing someone is knowing them, not knowing them is not knowing them. Is it that when there's something private, you just try to cover it up?!"

Fei'er's mother, her eyes wide, glared at Old Li as she casually scooped up a spoonful of rice.

Uh! Reflexively, the moment the large spoonful of rice in Fei'er's mother's hand left the plate, Old Li already reacted.

"How exactly do you know her?"

Fei'er's mother glanced at Old Li with pursed lips, gently shaking the large spoonful of rice into a small spoonful, and asked in a slow, deliberate tone.

"She... when she was in elementary school in the military region, I was her homeroom teacher. After she graduated from elementary school, because her father, the former Political Commissar Cao from the military region, was transferred to the Central Military Commission, her family moved away. I haven't had much contact with Political Commissar Cao over the years, and I don't know the specifics of his family situation. If Cao Liying hadn't mentioned it today, I really wouldn't know how she knew me."

Having given a general account, but speaking the truth, Old Li had barely finished speaking when Fei'er's mother, the small spoonful of rice that had been shaken a bit softer, brought it to Old Li's lips.

After taking a small spoonful of soup, Lao Li gently wiped his mouth with a napkin. Fei'er's mother then asked, "So you're saying she came to the hospital today with her colleagues just to see you?"

"A few days ago, Director Ma Xuefeng called me. I think his call and his visit to the hospital today are related to our school's expansion,"

Lao Li told her honestly, since Fei'er's mother was family.

"Isn't the school expansion basically finalized? What if they bring up some more ideas?"

Fei'er's mother asked casually as she brought the last spoonful of rice to Lao Li's lips.

"The specific expansion projects for our school have now been handed over to Xinrui Company, which Da Mei and Qing Yu have contacted. The school will no longer interfere. If they have any ideas, I will pass them on to discuss them with Xinrui Company."

The day after tomorrow is the day when No. 33 Middle School and Xinrui will officially sign the contract. And judging from the information that Qing Yu and Da Mei have given back, this matter is basically settled. Now, no matter who else wants to take advantage of the land transferred by the vocational school, Lao Li knows that he doesn't have, nor does he need, such decision-making power.

This is very simple, because the land transferred by the vocational school is not just about half of the campus area; it's almost like the development and utilization of an entire street. Anyone who wants to take a bite out of such a pie cannot be dictated by Lao Li or No. 33 Middle School.

Knowing this, and wanting to secure more benefits for the school, no matter who tries to take a bite after the contract is signed, Qing Yu and Da Mei will make a dowry, but everything else is none of Lao Li's business.

However, the contract hasn't been signed yet, so there's always room for change. With Qingyu and Damei leading the effort, there's no factor within Qingjiang Province that could put pressure on Lao Li and No. 33 Middle School and cause any changes. The biggest variable might come from Xinrui Company. The reappearance of the student who hadn't been heard from in years suggests that things might be about to change for Xinrui Company.

Fei'er's mother gently removed Lao Li's napkin and quietly cleared away the dishes, not wanting to disturb him as he pondered his thoughts, and left the ward with the tableware.

Xinrui Company? Cao Liying? Perhaps even more people? If these things intertwine a few times, No. 33 Middle School will inevitably reap the benefits sooner or later, but this will delay things, severely hindering Lao Li's well-planned development strategy for No. 33 Middle School. That's truly worrying!

With a deep sigh, Lao Li lay back on the bed.

[Volume 2: Passionate Maple Leaves] Chapter 3: I Saw It All (5)

A slender, warm hand gently touched Old Li's neck as he pulled the blanket up to cover him. Lying on his side, he was lost in thought and vaguely felt that it was very late. When Old Li felt someone behind him, he thought it was Juanzi, who was on night duty, and without thinking, he gently grabbed her hand. The hand that was about to leave his neck was grabbed by Old Li.

The slender hand holding his neck paused, and there was a faint intention to break free. When he was a little confused, Old Li's nose also smelled a faint but very familiar fragrance.

People working in the hospital, even female medical staff who love beauty, generally do not let themselves carry perfume during work. But this very familiar perfume scent has now exploded in Old Li's mind like a thunderbolt!

With a lightning-fast release, she scrambled to her feet, looking utterly embarrassed. She withdrew her hand from Old Li's, the hand he had just shaken. For days, her expression had remained unchanged, a faint blush playing on her slightly awkward demeanor.

"Don't lie in bed right after eating. Go for a walk,"

she said, her awkwardness vanishing instantly, the faint blush disappearing as if it had never been there. Her expression returned to its usual unchanging state. "

A hundred steps after a meal, perhaps you'll live to ninety-nine," Old Li thought, offering his suggestion to the bewildered Old Li. Whether this old saying was accurate or not, given his age, Old Li would need at least forty years to verify. But even if he had forty years to live, he would still stroll slowly in the gentle breeze, as the setting sun painted the western sky.

Neither spoke, nor did they often glance at each other. Yet, as youth quietly faded and time could be revisited, in the gentle leisure of walking side by side, Old Li and Fei'er's mother seemed to have a faint starlight shining in the sky above them. They had returned, silently walking side by side once more.

Half a lifetime of vicissitudes had passed, and with each sunset lingering on the horizon, they were both growing older. The romance of laughter echoing in the sunset might be found in the next life's reflection. Accumulated, tacit, and silent, the gentle starlight quietly fell upon their shoulders.

"Mom!" "Dad

!"

Fei'er, on one side, clung to her mother's arm, while on the other, she held her father's hand, still carrying the bouncy little bamboo. At that moment, the silent starlight suddenly shone brightly.

Little bamboo, calling her "Auntie," peeked out from Old Li's side and spoke to Fei'er's mother. Fei'er, having finished whispering to her mother, looked at Old Li with a slight smile.

At the entrance of the ward building, Old Li and Fei'er's mother, who had both turned their heads slightly, exchanged a brief glance before following Fei'er and Xiaozhu into the building.

The ward was deserted; usually, it would be autumn with its bitter rain and fallen leaves, but this summer evening breeze had also blown away. The clock had struck past 10 PM, and Old Li, lying in his hospital bed, felt restless and unable to sleep.

When people come, the room is packed, almost impossible to stand in. But people also leave so suddenly, leaving not a trace. Isn't this just deliberately playing a trick on you?

And to be honest, since Xiaozhu's mother left for overseas, Old Li had been rolling around alone in his cold bed for over ten years. But now, only a year or two has passed, and someone has finally come to warm his bed. And this is the only night he's sleeping alone, and he's already feeling unbearable loneliness. Isn't that puzzling?

Well, that's how people are—they forget their roots. When they're suffering, they can endure any hardship. The problem is, after only a few days of comfort, even something ordinary that isn't hardship makes them feel like there's no end to suffering in the world! In short, people can only live a life of hardship, otherwise they'll forget who they are.

Another hand reached out, again when Old Li was unable to sleep, but this time the hand reached for the bedside lamp switch.

The slight sound of the switch closing plunged the room into darkness. Old Li, who habitually sleeps on his side, said in the darkness after the slight sound of the switch, "Sister Wei, you're here?"

A moment of silence followed, and Sister Wei silently sat down beside Old Li's bed.

"Do you want to ask about Juanzi?"

Old Li sat up halfway and asked Sister Wei, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Old Li's second wife, Ya Rou, called her "sister," so she followed suit, addressing her as "sister." Old Li, who was a few years older than her, also called her "sister." In terms of age alone, she and the other women in the hospital should all call this man "brother."

But this man, who called her "sister" but was actually more like a brother, especially when he asked about Juanzi, truly left her at a loss for words.

Old Li was a good man; in fact, after more than ten years of knowing him, he was a good older brother. This was the conclusion she and the other women had reached after all the little things they'd done since Ya Rou left.

Perhaps from the moment they met him until now, she had always considered him a trustworthy older brother, even after learning that Ya Rou had divorced him, she seemed to still maintain this attitude towards him.

But when I first learned of his injury, when the news struck me like a knife to the heart, I had been pondering this question for some time. Seeing him and Juanzi that morning, a new pain deeply stirred within me. I finally understood: in the more than ten years we'd known each other, I hadn't realized when I'd developed such a deep attachment to this man.

This attachment wasn't simply the familial affection one might have for an older brother; it had unconsciously become intertwined with a woman's feelings for a man.

This feeling was hidden, it was unnoticed, and it was only awakened by chance that it was so sudden, so intense, and enveloped in an unspeakable pain that my heart was in complete turmoil.

Yes, an inappropriate feeling had suddenly arrived, bringing with it such intense pain. This agonizing dilemma, this dilemma of what to do, was almost unbearable for me, no matter which choice I made.

Juanzi—he was talking about Juanzi again now, Juanzi, who, like me, had a family. After making a choice that brought her such pain, had she disregarded everything else? Yes, Juanzi has her own family, and her family relationships have always been quite good over the years, so why should she make this choice?

And what about herself? She also had a family, and like Juanzi, her family life was quite good. So why did she suddenly develop feelings for another man? What was going on?

And... why did this man in front of her accept Juanzi? Didn't he know how much this would affect Juanzi's family? Didn't he care about anything?

"I don't want to know more about Juanzi's affairs. I just want to know what you think,"

Sister Wei said, her voice softening as she looked intently at the man in the darkness.

As a married woman, regardless of how Old Li and Juanzi's relationship began, they had to confront this crucial issue. In a sense, from Sister Wei's perspective, Old Li's attitude towards this matter would fundamentally determine the future of his relationship with Juanzi.

Now, if Lao Li were to say yes, there are essentially three options: Juanzi divorces her husband and gets back together with him; Juanzi does nothing, letting their relationship remain ambiguous; or they can simply treat it as a coincidence and let it all fade away. Should Juanzi divorce him? Continue living in this ambiguous state? Or…?

Sister Wei's simple question hit the nail on the head, so Lao Li looked at her sitting across from him in the darkness, silently pondering.

Divorce! For Juanzi, whose married life had always been quite good, this seemed too abrupt, and even more so, too difficult for others to understand. However, in Lao Li's view, this was the only option. Although Juanzi would face many problems with a divorce, such as the children, the relatives of both sides of Juanzi's family, and, for example, how Lao Li himself would accept Juanzi—could he, with Fei'er and a group of women, still formally marry Juanzi? But Lao Li believed these things could be put aside for now. He was stubbornly convinced that since he and Juanzi had reached this point, divorce was inevitable.

"I want to persuade Juanzi to get a divorce first."

After being in the dark for a while, Lao Li had mostly adjusted and could roughly see Wei Jie's face, so his tone was calm and unwavering when he answered her.

He directly addressed the core of the relationship between Lao Li and Juanzi, but his direct answer, given after some thought, still surprised Wei Jie. Yes, such a rigid approach, leaving no room for negotiation—didn't Lao Li, a man who had lived half his life and usually had a good sense of propriety, realize how many thorny problems he would face if he did this?

For one thing, Juanzi's family relationship had been quite good over the years. If Juanzi were to rashly file for divorce at this time, she would need a plausible reason, wouldn't she? Was she supposed to go home and say, "I have another man outside, so let's get a divorce now?"

In today's society, even when faced with issues of family and marriage that demand a strong sense of responsibility, a considerable number of people have downplayed morality and responsibility, equating it with childish games. However, there are still responsible individuals who cannot arbitrarily disregard morality and insist on upholding these principles. Among these people is Sister Wei.

"Do you think there will be any good results from what you're doing? Have you considered Juanzi's feelings?"

After a brief silence, Sister Wei asked quietly.

"I have, but are there any other ways? Besides, aren't other methods even more difficult to control? If Juanzi has any difficulties, I will step in if necessary."

Once he made a decision, Old Li not only didn't hesitate, but also never lacked responsibility, giving Sister Wei a very straightforward affirmative answer.

Old Li must have been struck by lightning! Otherwise, why would he disregard the consequences of something like this? If he intervened in Juanzi's divorce, it would be tantamount to a blatant provocation in front of Juanzi's current husband! "Isn't Old Li afraid that Juanzi's current husband will chop him up with a knife?!

" "Are you delirious from a fever?"

Sister Wei, genuinely bewildered by Old Li's thoughts, was a little shocked, but even more so by the way he was bewildered. She instinctively reached out and touched Old Li's forehead, checking his fever.

"Hehe... Sister Wei, what I mean by 'stepping in' isn't what you think."

Smiling, she gently took Sister Wei's hand from his forehead and placed it, along with her own large hand, on his lower abdomen. "

Stepping in" didn't mean arrogantly showing off to Juanzi's husband, nor did it mean groveling and begging. A reasonable approach could be a way to completely resolve the problem!

A reasonable approach? What reasonable approach could be when someone's family has been destroyed? Sister Wei couldn't think of one for the moment.

Where did this confident Old Li find such a seemingly reasonable method? Sister Wei listened to his explanation but couldn't glean any concrete logic from him. Out of concern for Juanzi, she tugged at Old Li's large hand, urging him to tell her what a truly reasonable and justifiable solution would be.

Did such a method even exist? Old Li, who had only offered this explanation and temporary comfort to alleviate Sister Wei's worries about him and Juanzi, was now inwardly seething. After all, his relationship with Juanzi had developed over time; the feelings were genuine, but it had crossed a moral line—something that shouldn't have happened beforehand. But as a man, he had to be "hard," even knowing he was about to give up, he still had to say he was.

Sister Wei's urgent questioning, waving her hand, made Old Li, despite his own distress, feel a sense of comfort at having such a caring older woman. Yes, in these past ten years, not only the woman before him, but also the other three women among his sisters, had shown him the same deep affection!

For his own sake and Juanzi's, and for the deep bond between these four sisters, Lao Li could no longer dwell on moral issues. Because genuine feelings, once that crucial step has been taken, there's no point in trying to escape. The only solution is to smooth things over as much as possible.

Lao Li knew he was wrong about Juanzi, and even now, he believed it wasn't about accepting Juanzi's feelings for him, but about him having done what he was supposed to do with her in bed before considering how to face the situation. At that moment, Lao Li subconsciously avoided a crucial point: when it comes to morality and responsibility, a mistake is a mistake, and that's the bottom line.

Lao Li will never waver in his sense of responsibility and commitment in the future. But what about the rest? It's fair to say that Old Li has been avoiding the topic ever since. He's changed. From the day he accepted Fei'er, he's changed day by day, and he's become hopelessly irrational when it comes to handling emotional issues.

Holding Sister Wei's trembling hand tightly, the dazed and anxious look in her eyes became increasingly clear in the darkness. Having only thought of himself as having misjudged the timing in Juanzi's situation, Old Li was now deeply moved, touched by a woman who cared for him in the darkness.

Gently pulling her clenched hand to his chest, Old Li looked at Sister Wei, whose expression was now full of surprise, and softly said, "Xiao Hong, you and Juanzi agreed to come here today, right?"

The first time they met was after Old Li and Ya Rong had confirmed their relationship. She happened to be there when Old Li came to pick up Ya Rong from work at the hospital. From that day on, Ya Rong introduced her to Old Li as Sister Wei Hong. More than a decade had passed in the blink of an eye, and Old Li, except for the missing "Hong," still called her "Sister."

In this dimly lit hospital room, at this moment, a form of address that seemed utterly unfamiliar after more than a decade of interaction with Lao Li suddenly rang in her ears! Wei Hong froze, so much so that she forgot the surprise and embarrassment she had felt when her hand was pulled to Lao Li's chest.

Perhaps in these past ten years, a younger sister who should have been a sister and a younger brother who should have been an older brother had been misplaced for some reason, allowing their relationship to be carefully maintained.

Now, not only had the misplaced relationship been restored by this simple "Xiao Hong," but this newly established relationship also meant that everything deeply hidden in their hearts, carefully nurtured by both of them, had been shattered.

Suddenly, Wei Hong understood why Juanzi had given herself so recklessly in what was once a happy family life, and she understood why Lao Li, a usually very composed person, had become so impulsive.

Feelings, once hidden in your heart, cannot be easily avoided or forgotten. Even if you've carefully avoided crossing the line, a single, unexpected moment, a moment when you confront the unavoidable, can unleash the pent-up emotions that have been suppressed for so long, allowing you to break free of your strongest shackles!

You don't think about why, nor how you'll face it in the future; when darkness gives you the most courage, everything comes so naturally.

In the warm breath, there's that expectant yet unfamiliar call, and she's drawn closer, knowing that the man's lips are only a hair's breadth away.

Perhaps, it's just one night of indulgence! This thought had barely formed in Wei Hong's mind when Old Li's lips crossed that line, pressing deeply onto Wei Hong's lips…

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