To My Dear Mr. Huo

As her body became hot, Shi Mengwan put her arms around Zhan Haoze’s neck and looked into his eyes.

She had long discovered that Zhan Haoze’s eyes were darker than the average Asian’s. Most Asian eyes had a light brown tint.

However, Zhan Haoze’s eyes weren’t. His eyes were pure black. They were like a pair of extremely beautiful obsidian.

Every time he fell in love, the color of those eyes became more and more profound. Like a deep spring, she often couldn’t help but indulge in it.

Not only now, but a long time ago, she had liked to look at her Dear Brother’s eyes.

She thought that he was really her disaster. She could talk and laugh freely, she could deal with difficult clients, she could face her troublesome grandmother with a strong attitude. She could even make fun of Xiang Caiping and make her happy.

However, she couldn’t feel at ease in front of Zhan Haoze.

Every time she saw him, she felt helpless.

The face in front of her overlapped with Dear Brother. Shi Mengwan couldn’t help but call him Dear Brother again.

Zhan Haoze, who was working hard on her body, became more and more interested. In the end, he banged her so hard that she couldn’t speak anymore.

When her consciousness was shattered, she naturally couldn’t say the words “Dear Brother” anymore.

..

After Shi Mengwan told Qiao Ze everything, she felt that what Qiao Ze said before might be true. He really had something to do, so he left early and returned late.

Because after that day, Qiao Ze returned to the days where he would go home early every day, eat dinner with her, wake up early and eat breakfast with her.

After the first month, the temperature in Lin City slowly rose. Shi Mengwan grew taller again. She could no longer wear the clothes from before.

In the past few months, some of the clothes she wore were bought for her by Qiao Ze, and some were picked up by her directly.

Her mother used to know how to make clothes, and she was the only tailor in the town at that time. Shi Mengwan had watched her mother step on the sewing machine since she was young. Not only did she know how to make clothes, she also knew how to tailor clothes with a needle and thread.

Qiao Ze also grew very fast. After the new year, he seemed to have grown a few centimeters taller. As he grew taller, he looked even thinner.

There were some things in the closet that couldn’t be worn, such as t-shirts, shirts, and jeans. Shi Mengwan took them over and changed them smaller so that she could wear them for herself.

Qiao Ze once laughed at her. “Are you planning to be a tailor when you grow up?”

“No.” Shi Mengwan shook her head. “I don’t want to be a tailor. I want to be a fashion designer.”

“Isn’t that the same as a tailor?”

The youth didn’t know much about the fashion world and he started joking. However, Shi Mengwan was unusually serious. “That’s not right. A tailor is a tailor, and a fashion designer is a fashion designer. I’ve checked all of them. They’re different.”

The young girl’s eyes were clear and bright. When she talked about her dream, she didn’t back down at all. The youth stared at the clothes in her hands. However, he stopped mocking her.

“Okay. It’s different. I’ll wait for you to become a fashion designer.”

Shi Mengwan’s eyes were mirthful, and she had an obvious smile on her face. “You trust me that much?”

“I trust you.” Just by looking at the stitching and the clothes that she had changed, he saw that there was nothing that didn’t fit. There was nothing for him to not believe.

Shi Mengwan smiled, but that smile didn’t last long. She thought of another matter.

She was hanging out with Qiao Ze every day now. She didn’t go home, nor did she go to school. To become a fashion designer, she had to at least go back and finish her studies.

But when she thought of Grandma Shi and the messy affairs at home, she didn’t want to go back. Grandma Shi didn’t want to go back.

“What’s wrong?” The youth looked at her with a pair of sparkling eyes. When he met the sadness that flashed in Shi Mengwan’s eyes, he seemed to understand something.

“Do you not want to stay here anymore?”

“Dear Brother?” Shi Mengwan was shocked when she heard this. “Are you trying to chase me away?”

“If you don’t want to stay, then go home. You’re different from me.”

Shi Mengwan had parents. She only ran away from home because she was angry with her family. Qiao Ze already knew about this.

Shi Mengwan bit her lip and finally shook her head. “I don’t want to go back.”

“If you don’t go back, how are you going to go to school? How are you going to be your fashion designer?”

“I don’t know.” After all, she was only a little over twelve years old. How could she think about so much?

“Dear Brother, don’t chase me away, okay?”

The youth wasn’t moved by her words. Instead, he was very serious. “You have to know that if you follow me, you might not be able to fulfill your dream.”

Shi Mengwan’s expression was conflicted. She knew in her heart that what the youth said was true.

But —

Her gaze was fixed on the youth. Under the light, the youth’s eyes were as black as ink, and caused her to sink into them.

“Dear Brother.”

“I won’t chase you away.”

The youth discovered his feelings for her, so how could he bear to chase her away?

“But you have to think clearly. If you follow me, you won’t have a good life.”

Not to mention the current environment, even if he wanted to do things in the future, the further he went, the more dangerous it would be. He couldn’t say it out loud, but did she really understand?

“I’m not afraid.”

Shi Mengwan hadn’t realized her subtle thoughts yet. She only knew that she didn’t want to leave Dear Brother like this.

“So silly.” Qiao Ze looked at her and felt that the girl was a little silly.

Shi Mengwan bit her lip and suddenly put down the T-shirt in her hand. She reached out and hugged Qiao Ze. “Dear Brother, I want to follow you. I don’t want to go back.”

Even though their life was actually quite tough now, even if she didn’t have anything here, she had a big brother.

She did not have an older brother in the past. Although father Shi treated her well, that feeling was different.

Shi Mengwan’s slender body was soft, and there was the faint fragrance characteristic of a young girl on her body.

The young man’s ears quietly turned red. He almost didn’t dare to look at the young girl. “If you don’t want to go back, then don’t go back.”

He said these simple words with an especially stiff tone.

Shi Mengwan didn’t notice it. She only felt happy because the young man didn’t chase her away. What was the reason for that happiness? She was still too young, so she didn’t know at this moment.

..

Shi Mengwan opened her eyes and felt a hand on her waist.

The dlanket had slid down quite a bit, but she couldn’t feel the cold. She didn’t know when the heater had switched on in the room.

She looked up and saw Zhan Haoze still sleeping with his eyes closed in front of her.

She thought about her dream just now. The young man had a thin but strong chest. She hugged him. He was still a thin and weak young man, but he gave her a sense of security.

She raised her head to look at Zhan Haoze. The feeling he gave her was the same, but she didn’t know whether this feeling was only for her or for other women as well.

She knew that this was because she was different from him.

She gently removed his hand and Shi Mengwan got up to go to the bathroom.

Before she left home, Shi Mengwan was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to take care of herself in Lin City alone, so she asked her to bring a lot of food over.

Among them were dumplings and wontons that Shi Mengwan had personally made. They were all frozen and packed. If she was too lazy to cook in the future, she could just cook them directly.

Shi Mengwan took a look and decided to cook wontons. She was very handy when it came to doing these things, and it was done very quickly.

When Zhan Haoze came out of the room, he saw two sets of wontons, one big and one small, on the table.

Shi Mengwan glanced at him. “Let’s eat.”

Her voice was still very calm and without a trace of emotion.

Zhan Haoze sat down opposite her and looked at the wontons in front of him, which were almost twice as big as the one in front of Shi Mengwan.

“You eat. After you eat, I have something to tell you.”

Shi Mengwan felt self-loathing and disgust at herself for being in Zhan Haoze’s arms again.

She felt conflicted. On the one hand, she couldn’t control her emotions, but on the other hand, she felt that it was inappropriate. She was conflicted on both sides, but it was difficult for her.

Zhan Haoze heard her and paused his action of picking up the chopsticks. He glanced at Shi Mengwan, but she lowered her head and didn’t look at him anymore.

Shi Mengwan’s cooking skills were very good, and the wontons she made were very delicious. It was different from the ones sold outside.

Shi Mengwan’s speed was very fast. She had the inspiration yesterday, but the feeling today was still there. She wanted to finish her design in one go.

After the New Year, there was a fashion design competition in France, and she wanted to give it a try.

Although such a competition was almost impossible for a small studio like theirs, her teacher especially admired her and gave her an invitation letter.

Behind the invitation letter was a design. It was first sent to the other party’s competition organizing committee, and then the competition organizing committee would pick out the shortlisted designs from these works.

If they were shortlisted, they would have a chance. There was still a month before the submission of the initial works of the competition. Shi Mengwan wanted to send the works that she had thought of yesterday to the competition.

She had something on her mind, so she ate quickly. After finishing the wonton in front of her, she found that Zhan Haoze was still eating.

She put down the bowl, sat up straight, and looked at Zhan Haoze with a serious expression.

“Zhan Haoze, after this breakfast, don’t come again.”

Zhan Haoze raised his head and glanced at her. Shi Mengwan didn’t need him to speak, nor did she need him to respond.

“You have Chen Feifei. I don’t want to be a mistress. Everything that happened between us before was wrong.”

“Yes, I admit that I’m also responsible for this matter. But I also paid the price. You didn’t suffer a loss. So that’s it. That’s it. We both know some things, so that’s it.”

When she faced Zhan Haoze, her aura was always a little weaker. She didn’t want to continue like this, she needed to end this mistake.

Zhan Haoze didn’t speak, but listened to her words. He finished the rest of the wontons. He took out a tissue and wiped the corner of his lips.

“I’ve said it before, Chen Feifei isn’t my girlfriend, and she’s not my fiancée.”

“Is that so?”

Zhan Haoze knew that Shi Mengwan wouldn’t believe him. There were some things that he couldn’t say more about. “She has nothing to do with me. I, I only treat her as my sister, and you aren’t a mistress.”

After them knowing each other for so long, this was the most serious explanation Zhan Haoze had given.

Shi Mengwan looked into his eyes. For a moment, she almost wanted to believe that what he said was true. But it was only for a moment.

“You regard her as a sister, but what about her?”

Zhan Haoze frowned. “That’s her business.”

“Okay.” Shi Mengwan skipped this part. “Zhan Haoze, you said that Chen Feifei has nothing to do with you. What about me?”

Seeing that Zhan Haoze didn’t seem to understand what she meant, she smiled. “Chen Feifei has nothing to do with you, but what does it have to do with me? In your heart, what am I?”

In silence, Zhan Haoze looked at Shi Mengwan’s face, as if her question was very difficult to answer.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Shi Mengwan sneered and looked at Zhan Haoze’s troubled face. “Zhan Haoze, I admit that I have feelings for you, but I will never allow myself to be a mistress, and I will never allow myself to become so humble in love.”

“I didn’t mean that.” He had never looked down on her.

“Didn’t mean that? You don’t want me to be a mistress? Or do you not think of me as a prostitute?”

Zhan Haoze’s brows furrowed. “I’ve said that I didn’t mean that.”

“Okay. I’ll pretend that you don’t.” Shi Mengwan stood up and rested her hands on the table. She leaned over and looked him in the eye. “So you’re serious about dating me?”

Zhan Haoze pursed his lips into a straight line and didn’t refute her words.

“Zhan Haoze, can you marry me?”

Shi Mengwan leaned forward again and stared straight at Zhan Haoze’s face. She was especially serious.

“Zhan Haoze, are you willing to marry me? Marry me. You know, after the New Year, I’ll be 26 years old. I want to get married too. I also want to start a family with a man. Are you willing to?”

Zhan Haoze froze for a moment. This time, he was really silent.

Shi Mengwan seemed to know the answer and nodded with a smile. “See, you don’t want to –”

There was no need to say the rest. Shi Mengwan took the bowl in front of him and cleaned up the bowl in front of her. She turned around and went into the kitchen.

She cleaned up the kitchen in no time. When she came out, she saw Zhan Haoze still sitting at the dining table without moving.

She didn’t care. She went back to her room, changed her clothes, picked up her coat, and was ready to leave.

When she walked to the door, Zhan Haoze had already stood up from the dining table and walked in front of her.

He didn’t take any further action, but Shi Mengwan didn’t mind continuing to speak more resolutely.

“Zhan Haoze, the next time you come, I’ll call the police. You can be considered a reputable person in Lin City now. I think you don’t want to lose face either, right?”

She picked up the car keys and opened the door. “More importantly, I believe that you don’t want Miss Chen Feifei to know, right?”

The moment she was about to step out, Zhan Haoze suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.

Shi Mengwan froze for a moment. The next second, her body was carried into Zhan Haoze’s arms.

He lowered his head to kiss her. She avoided him. The coat in her hand fell to the ground. She pressed her hand tightly against his chest.

“Zhan Haoze, don’t use this trick on me all the time. I’m really, really, I’m not that cheap.”

Zhan Haoze froze for a moment. He watched her pick up the coat and keys that had fallen to the ground, then put the bag on her back back.

Before Zhan Haoze could react, she had already stepped out of the door and left.

She moved very quickly. When she walked outside, the elevator just happened to arrive. She ignored Zhan Haoze and directly entered the elevator.

Zhan Haoze didn’t catch up. Shi Mengwan breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she felt very disappointed.

There were some things that she already knew the answer to, and she also understood that she and Zhan Haoze actually had no future.

But knowing was one thing, accepting and slowly digesting this matter was another. Leaning her body against the wall of the elevator mirror, she told herself that it didn’t matter. It would pass, everything would pass.

..

In the next few days, Zhan Haoze didn’t come again. Since Shi Mengwan wanted to participate in the fashion design competition, she naturally had to prepare well.

She told herself to temporarily put Zhan Haoze behind her and focus on drawing. Occasionally, when she was free, she would go to the hospital to accompany Xiang Caiping.

The studio was already on vacation and was different from other companies. For people like them, the orders were all processed in advance. During the new year period, there weren’t many visitors.

Therefore, Shi Mengwan generously let her subordinates rest until the Spring Festival before coming back to work.

New Year’s was in two days. Huo Jinyao had something to do in Rong City, so he went back to Rong City. Su Qingsang didn’t go back because she had to take care of Xiang Caiping.

Since her good friend wanted to take care of her mother in the hospital, Shi Mengwan thought about it and suggested that she come over to take care of Xiang Caiping on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

However, her offer was rejected by Su Qingsang and Xiang Caiping, especially Su Qingsang. She knew that Shi Mengwan usually didn’t go home often, so she wanted her to hurry home for the New Year.

Shi Mengwan couldn’t win against Su Qingsang, and her mother kept calling. In the end, she still went home.

The Spring Festival in the rural town was very lively, and preparations had been made a long time in advance.

Father Shi was the eldest in the family. On New Year’s Eve, Shi Mengwan’s two uncles and aunt would come to their house for a reunion dinner.

Shi Mengwan’s second uncle had two sons and a daughter. Shi Mengwan’s third uncle also had two sons and one daughter. Shi Mengwan’s aunt gave birth to two daughters and one son.

In addition to her aunt, uncle, and Grandma Shi, the living room was filled with two tables of people. Grandma Shi sat in the living room.

Shi Mengwan’s mother was cooking in the kitchen while Shi Mengwan went into the kitchen to help. Shi Mengwan’s mother tried to kick her out several times, but she was unwilling to go out.

She would rather sit under the stove to light the fire than look at the smug expressions on second uncle, second aunt, and third uncle’s and third aunt’s faces.

Speaking of which, over the years, the two uncles and aunts always felt that they were superior to them because they had given birth to sons.

Shi Mengwan didn’t like to be bullied. In fact, among the third generation of grandchildren, no one could open a studio at such a young age and earn money to buy a house like her.

But so what? Just because she wasn’t a son, no matter how well she did, she couldn’t get a good word from Grandma Shi.

It was really ridiculous.

“Your grandmother is old. After the new year, it will be 82 years old. If she says anything, don’t take it to heart.”

As for the last time when Shi Mengwan came back, Grandma Shi didn’t mention that matter recently. She only talked about it occasionally, and her tone was always sarcastic.

Mother Shi didn’t plan to argue with her. After all, she was an elder.

“Got it.” Shi Mengwan nodded, picked up a piece of wood, and threw it into the stove. She looked up at mother Shi. “Mom, how about I take you to live in Lin City?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Mother Shi didn’t respond. “What can we do there? We’re used to staying in the countryside. It’s not like we haven’t been to Lin City before. It’s not suitable for us.”

When Shi Mengwan’s house had just been renovated and moved in, she had also asked father Shi and mother Shi to stay there for a few days. However, the two of them weren’t used to living there. After that, they came back.

“Why are you talking nonsense? What’s not suitable about it? Look, you’re still burning this earthen stove. How inconvenient. Everything is convenient in Lin City now. Besides, your daughter can earn money now. I’ll support you.”

“It’s your duty to support your parents. But I think your parents will be happier when you bring back the man you mentioned.”

The sudden voice made Shi Mengwan turn to look at the kitchen door. Grandma Shi stood at the door and sneered at Grandmother Shi.

“Wanwan, you said you wanted to recruit a son-in-law. Where is your son-in-law during the New Year?”

Shi Mengwan’s expression didn’t look too good. “Grandma, you know it’s the New Year now?”

She knew it was the New Year, yet she still said such things. It was really uncomfortable to hear it.

“Yeah, isn’t the New Year about getting married? You said you wanted to recruit a husband, so why don’t you bring that person over?”

“Grandma is old, I think her memory isn’t very good. Didn’t you say you’d give me two years? This isn’t even two months, right?”

“Hmph.” Of course, grandma Shi knew what she said. However, the more she thought about it when she went back that day, the more she felt like she had been tricked by this little girl, Shi Mengwan.

What two years? She was already 82 years old now. Who knew how many more days she could live?

What if she died and this wretched girl still hadn’t brought him back? Who would be in charge of old master’s matters then?

“Mom.” Shi Mengwan looked at Grandma Shi. She was also a little helpless. “There’s a lot of smoke in this kitchen. You should go sit outside first. Besides, Wanwan is still helping me light the fire today. She’s tired from work, so let’s not talk about that for now.”

“Do you think I like to talk about it? Tired from work? What’s the big deal about being tired from work? Let me tell you, no matter how well a girl does, it’s still better to find a man to marry.”

As Grandma Shi spoke, she snorted at Shi Mengwan before turning around and leaving. Grandma Shi didn’t want to hear about this.

Mother Shi knew that Shi Mengwan didn’t like to hear about this. She was afraid that Shi Mengwan would be unhappy, so she wanted to advise her, but Shi Mengwan instead comforted her.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’m not angry, and I won’t argue with Grandma.”

It was the New Year. She would only be back for a few days, so she didn’t have the leisure to be angry with Grandma.

Shi looked at Shi Mengwan and thought about how she had been worried for the past half a month. She couldn’t help but ask tentatively.

“Wanwan, do you have a boyfriend now?”

“Mom, what are you thinking about? Where would I get a boyfriend?”

She used the action of putting firewood into the stove to hide her expression. She didn’t have a boyfriend, but she couldn’t help but think of Zhan Haoze.

Zhan Haoze didn’t come to look for her these past few days, so he must have gotten her message, right?

“Wanwan, I heard your uncle mention someone last time. The other party’s conditions are pretty good. I mentioned your request to her, but the other party didn’t object. Why don’t you meet him?”

“Mom –” Was she trying to ask her to go on a blind date?

“I’m serious.” Mother Shi quickly explained, “That person is from the county and is said to be working in Lin city now. I heard he’s also some manager. The other party has three sons, so he doesn’t mind this kind of thing. Why don’t you meet him?”

“Mom, I’m not interested.”

“But, there’s not much that can agree to your request.” Mother Shi picked up the dishes and put them aside. She was really doing Shi Mengwan a favor. “I think you can meet him. I heard that the boy is quite good-looking. Really, will you consider it?”

“Mom.”

Shi Mengwan looked at the anxious and worried expression on Mother Shi’s face. In the end, she sighed helplessly.

“If you want me to see him, then fine. However, I can’t guarantee the result.”