Second Chance Romance

"Did Xiao Chao call you?"

"I know you don't like being watched, but he cares about you. I also told him to look after you more, so don't blame him."

"I know, I won't blame him. Today, Gao..." She realized that despite having traveled to Ali together, she had hardly ever thought about how to address him. "He was just passing by and gave me a ride home."

Her daughter's obedience and self-restraint left Yu Jia with an indescribable sense of defeat. After a moment of contemplation, she continued, "Gao Xiang is a good young man. He might genuinely care about you. But I think it's best if you don't have any further contact with him."

Yu Jia almost expected Zuo Si'an to stand up angrily and argue back, or to ask in confusion why. She was prepared to patiently reason with her daughter, hoping it might lead to some communication. However, Zuo Si'an's face slowly turned pale, her lips quivered slightly, but she said nothing. Yu Jia sighed inwardly and was about to speak when Zuo Si'an suddenly lifted her eyes, accurately catching the unintentional weariness and helplessness in her expression. Yu Jia was once again startled by her daughter's almost eerie ability to sense her emotions and quickly adjusted her demeanor under Zuo Si'an's gaze, forcing a smile. "Xiao An, I know you need friends. Xiao Chao can keep you company, and you can also try to interact more with your classmates. As for Gao Xiang..."

"Don't worry, Mom. Even if you hadn't said anything, I'd already made up my mind not to take his car home anymore," Zuo Si'an said calmly, without any emotion.

Yu Jia froze, suddenly feeling a bit worried. "Did something happen? Did he..."

Zuo Si'an smiled, half-surprised and half-helpless. "What are you thinking? Not everyone is out to bully me, okay? I just feel like he doesn't owe me anything, and I don't want him to pity me more and more. From now on, I'll take the side gate after school and take Bus 211, then transfer to the tram. It's the same, just an extra fifteen minutes. Is there anything else?"

Yu Jia was at a loss for words and had to change the subject. "That's fine too. The weather is getting colder, so wear more when you go out in the morning. The down jacket we bought last year is too short now. I'll take you to the mall this weekend to buy a new one."

"Okay." She stood up and suddenly asked, "Will Dad come back for the New Year?"

This was a question Yu Jia absolutely did not want to answer. Suppressing her inner frustration, she replied as gently and naturally as possible, "Probably not. The Spring Festival holiday isn't long, and if he came back, all his time would be spent on the road."

Zuo Si'an nodded without saying anything else and headed toward her bedroom. Yu Jia called out to her again, "Xiao An."

She turned around, and mother and daughter looked at each other. Suddenly, they both felt a sense of unfamiliarity toward each other and were simultaneously startled by the thought. Yu Jia seemed to momentarily forget what she wanted to say and stood there in a daze.Zuo Si'an knew there was a lack of communication between her and her mother, and her mother was troubled by this. She was grateful for her mother's efforts and hard work, trying to repay her by sharing household chores, being obedient, and studying diligently. However, they had never been particularly close, the kind of mother and daughter who could talk about anything, and now both of them deliberately avoided many topics. Everything that had happened, the absent male head of the household—all had become forbidden territories, like minefields. With so many obstacles, rebuilding an intimate relationship was almost impossible. She hurriedly said, "I’ll go do my homework now."

Back in her room, Zuo Si'an turned on the desk lamp, spread out her homework notebook, but couldn't bring herself to write a single word. She was well aware that Gao Xiang hadn’t just happened to pass by the school and offered to drive her home, as he claimed. Exactly one year ago today, Gao Xiang had driven her to Qinggang County Hospital, where she gave birth via cesarean section; late the night before, he had also witnessed her sudden emotional breakdown at Aunt Mei’s house in Liuwan. Dark memories surged up abruptly, and she squeezed her eyes shut, silently repeating to herself: It’s all over, it’s all over. These four words were her personal mind-calming incantation, slowly soothing the palpitations that woke her from nightmares and the unease after waves of turbulent thoughts, allowing her to forcibly seal away fear and memories deep in her heart so she could pretend to be a normal girl and cope with daily life. Yet today, these four words were useless.

From the moment Gao Xiang stepped into her home, she had clearly known that he was someone’s relative, and their connection began with that nightmare she couldn’t escape. But at some point, the warmth and care he offered had broken through her defenses, making her gradually accept it without feeling resistant or awkward, and she no longer even associated it with his identity.

On a day like this, her father was far away in Tibet—the last time he called was half a month ago, and after a few brief words, he hung up. Her mother never mentioned the dark times she had endured. Only he had made a special trip, wanting to offer her some comfort. She had wanted to appear relaxed and composed, but she lost control again, only calming down when he held her hand. Watching his profile, she suddenly realized that every time, she couldn’t help but reveal her vulnerable side in front of him. If this continued, her dependence on him would only deepen. Even if Liu Guanchao and Yu Jia hadn’t warned her in their own ways, she couldn’t go on like this anymore.

Zuo Si'an took out a small, thick notebook from the inner pocket of her backpack. It was her phone book, though only a few pages were actually used, neatly inscribed with the only phone number in Liuwan, her father’s office number in Coqên, her mother’s office and mobile numbers. Next was Gao Xiang’s mobile number, followed by the gradually added numbers of new classmates. She had already memorized his number, but she picked up a pen and carefully blacked out his name and number, deciding to forget this person along with everything else she wanted to forget.

8_

Gao Xiang picked up Sun Ruodi and headed straight to the new home. It was a spacious duplex, no longer cramped like the small apartment, located in the city center, not far from the Municipal Heart Hospital. They had moved in less than a week ago, and Bao Bao’s first birthday would be celebrated here. Chen Liguo and Gao Ming had also made a special trip from Qinggang to attend.Sun Ruodi brought a cake and a carefully selected gift, but the baby clearly had no concept of these things yet. Crawling around on the living room carpet, he scattered the various First birthday divination items Chen Zihui had meticulously prepared. No matter how she tried to guide him, he didn’t seem particularly interested in any one item, and the adults gathered around were greatly amused.

The baby, being physically weak, soon showed signs of fatigue and lay on the carpet, grabbing a small calculator nearby. Chen Zihui immediately beamed with joy, scooping him up: "Wonderful! The baby must have a head for business. He can inherit the Chen family’s enterprise in the future."

Chen Liguo looked at the baby with a complicated expression: "I’d rather he focus on his studies and dedicate himself to academia."

"How can that be? He’s—"

Chen Liguo quickly cut off her habitual remark, "the only descendant of our Chen family," and said with a smile, "Having a child makes a house feel more like a home. I’m getting old, and if I can see Xiaoxiang get married and start a family, and have a healthy child, I’d truly have no regrets."

Gao Xiang sensed the melancholy in his grandfather’s words and was about to comfort him when Chen Zihui eagerly chimed in, "Yes, Xiaoxiang, Ruodi, you should hurry up and get married."

Sun Ruodi shyly lowered her head without speaking, and Gao Ming interjected, "Let them discuss it themselves."

Chen Zihui shot him a glare: "The parents from both families should also arrange a time to meet."

"We’ll talk about it later. Mom, check if the baby needs a diaper change."

Having diverted his mother’s attention, Gao Xiang went to the balcony near the dining room to answer a phone call. Just as he was about to return to the living room, Wang Yujiao suddenly emerged from the kitchen and stopped him, saying anxiously, "Xiaoqin just called me. If I hadn’t asked her to bring her brother a winter coat, I wouldn’t have known about the trouble Xiaochao caused. He didn’t realize you were just concerned about Xiao’an when you picked her up from school. Please be magnanimous and don’t take it to heart with that foolish child. I’ll discipline him properly when I get back."

Gao Xiang said indifferently, "I’ve already spoken with your daughter. It’s fine. There’s no need to scold Xiaochao either; he still cares about Xiao’an."

Wang Yujiao relaxed: "Yes, even with his tight schedule at a key high school, he often tutors Xiao’an."

Sun Ruodi’s voice suddenly sounded behind them: "So, leaving me waiting at the mall for so long wasn’t because of traffic—it was because you went to pick up Zuo Si’an from school."

Gao Xiang sighed inwardly and was about to speak when Chen Zihui also came over upon hearing the commotion, saying, "Why would you go pick her up? Is her family bothering you again?"

Wang Yujiao, frightened, quickly defended herself: "I didn’t say anything! I was just apologizing on behalf of my son."

This chaotic scene frustrated Gao Xiang greatly: "Alright, alright, go back to cooking."

Wang Yujiao hurried into the kitchen. Chen Zihui finally realized it was inappropriate to say more in front of Sun Ruodi, but she was never good at subtlety, and the atmosphere grew tense. Fortunately, Gao Ming stepped in to smooth things over: "Come on, Ruodi, take another photo of us with the baby."

Sun Ruodi shot Gao Xiang a glare and obediently picked up the camera to take their picture.After the family dinner, Gao Xiang drove Sun Ruodi home. Seeing her remain silent, he said, "Thank you for saving face and not storming off."

"Your grandfather and parents were there, and it was Bao Bao's first birthday. Do you really think I'm that unreasonable?"

He smiled apologetically. "Yes, yes, you've always been the most generous and sensible."

"Then can you explain why you went to pick up Zuo Si'an again, and why you kept it from me?"

"I didn't specifically hide it from you. I've told you I care about Xiao An. Her father isn't around, and all I can do is visit her occasionally. That's all."

"Is it really just concern?"

"The reason I didn't mention it was to avoid your suspicions and questions."

"That's a classic case of blaming the victim. Clearly, you're the one hiding things from me, but you're making it seem like I'm being unreasonable."

"That's not what I meant."

"Did she ask you to go?"

"Of course not. She's never contacted me on her own."

"Then why would you suddenly think of visiting her for no reason? Don't tell me it was on the way—your company, the mall where we agreed to meet, and her school aren't even in the same direction."

"I just suddenly thought of her and decided to visit, that's all."

"How could you suddenly think of her for no reason?"

"What's the point of interrogating me like a criminal?"

"I've already told you, she's a teenage girl, sensitive and introverted. Your concern might lead her to misunderstand. How will you handle that then?"

"You've considered everything so thoroughly—not only warning me but also alerting her mother early on. Both mother and daughter have kept their distance from me, never calling me. In the past six months, I've only seen Xiao An twice. What could there be to misunderstand?"

Sun Ruodi was stung by his slightly sarcastic tone and angrily shouted, "Pull over!"

Gao Xiang said irritably, "Here we go again. Miss, can you not make a scene while I'm driving?"

Sun Ruodi was so angry she didn't know what to do, and tears suddenly streamed down her face. Gao Xiang pulled the car over to the side of the road, handed her a tissue, and said, "Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, but we really don't need to dwell on this issue."

"I feel like you don't love me."

"Where is this coming from?"

"You keep more and more from me. There are many things you haven't explained clearly."

"Don't be paranoid, Ruodi. It doesn't do any good."

"Then what exactly is your relationship with the Zuo family? Why do you care so much about Zuo Si'an? You said you were friends with her father, so you took her to Ali, but why did her father act so coldly toward you? And why does your mother always sound so strange when she mentions the Zuo family?"