Paper rose

Chapter 26: A Woman Comes from the North (4)
Kang Jian rolled his eyes at her, he was too embarrassed to look around, for fear of running into someone he knew.

Kang Jian chose a bit of everything, took the plate and walked towards the booth.Next to him, a man who was eating chicken drumsticks with his child stood up suddenly, "Kang Zhu?" He winked fiercely, probably thinking he was dazzled.When he was sure it wasn't dazzled, he rushed over in a big stride and stretched out his hand to Kang Jian.

Kang Jian was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered that this person was the office director of the Urban Management Bureau. He had met him once, and his surname seemed to be Zong, "Hello, Director Zong." flushed.

Two big men stood in KFC, shaking hands like diplomats, "Hello, hello!" The children and their parents who were eating happily in the store raised their eyes one by one, looking at them as if they were aliens .

"Did Kang Zhu come with the child too?" The director of the sect nodded and bowed again.

Kang Jian turned his head weakly, and the pretty boy waved at the two of them.

"Heh, Kang Zhu and his wife are deeply in love, so romantic, then...then I won't bother you anymore." Director Zong greeted him tactfully, and hurriedly said goodbye, not forgetting to drop two envious eyes.

"Leader, after tonight, your affinity will increase by a few percentage points." Bai Yan pursed playfully, took out the eggs, blew on them, and ate sweetly.

"Don't be a laughing stock, I'll be lucky." Kang Jian patted her fair forehead.

"Wrong, now leader Hu is advocating a harmonious society. The image of an official who was ruthless and desireless, and talked about the truth is old-fashioned, and no one likes it."

"You still know about a harmonious society?" Kang Jian smiled.

"Of course, following the leader's ears and eyes, there is always something to learn."

"It seems that I still have some merits." Kang Jian pursed his lips mockingly, and took a sip of orange juice.

Bai Yan was struggling with another egg and had no time to talk.

Seeing how delicious she was eating, Kang Jian couldn't help but also took one and took a bite.Leader Kang came to the conclusion: KFC also has certain foods that can be swallowed.

Sitting opposite the booth was a young couple who looked like students. The two of them only ordered one French fries and two drinks.The boy held the drink, sipped it slowly, and looked at the girl tenderly.The girl ate French fries delicately. While eating, she noticed the boy's gaze, smiled back, and raised a French fries to the boy's mouth, "You eat too!"

The boy shook his head, but the girl refused and held it up stubbornly. The boy had no choice but to look at the girl dotingly, swallowed the French fries, and the girl smiled sweetly.

Bai Yan watched all this silently, put down his egg, his eyes suddenly turned red, and a warm mist rose from his eyes.

"I'm going to the bathroom." She stood up and turned her face away so that he wouldn't see the expression on her face.

Kang Jian was taken aback for a moment, watching her figure.

After a while, Bai Yan came back, and Kang Jian found that she had washed her face and her eyes were a little red. Although she was smiling, Kang Jian knew that she had cried.

After eating, the two took a taxi home.

After getting out of the car, when Kang Jian was paying the fare, he turned his head and saw a black car parked under the apartment building. The license plate was from the provincial capital. He took out his mobile phone, but there was no incoming call.

What's the matter?

"Kang Zhu!" As soon as the car door opened, the driver Xiao Huang came out.

"When did you come?" The two nodded their heads, and Kang Jian asked.

Xiao Huang smiled slightly at Bai Yan, "We set off in the afternoon, Secretary Kang suddenly said that he would come to Binjiang, so we came here."

"Have you eaten yet?" Bai Yan asked.She knew the driver, having met him when they were married.

"Don't worry, Secretary Kang will be down soon."

Kang Jian's complexion immediately turned ugly, and when he went up the stairs, he took three steps in parallel, and Bai Yan was also very surprised.When the two walked to the door, there was a loud bang suddenly from inside, and Li Xinxia shouted hoarsely: "What's the matter, I need your permission to come and see my son?"

"No one dared to stop you, but when we talked on the phone the day before yesterday, why didn't you say a word?" Kang Yunlin was not a little angry.

"Why do you want to say it? If you say it, will you still let me come? I knew you were protecting that little bitch, and my heart ached..."

"Mom!" Kang Jian pushed open the door with a solemn expression.

In the living room, Kang Yunlin and Li Xinxia looked like two fighting cocks with wings spread, blushing and thick necks, you stared at me, I stared at you, on the floor, a crystal vase was broken into pieces and scattered all over the floor.

Bai Yan and Kang Yunlin had contacted twice in total. The first time was to visit him in the provincial capital as Kang Jian's girlfriend, and it was actually for him to appraise whether she was qualified as a daughter-in-law; the second time was to get married, and that time, he Because Kang Jian was not at home on the wedding night, he was so angry that his nose was bruised and his face was swollen. He scolded Kang Jian, and the father and son broke up unhappy.

So far, among the members of the Kang family, only Kang Yunlin has made Bai Yan feel a trace of real warmth. He seems to really care for her and love her like a daughter, kind and gentle.

Li Xinxia despises and despises actions like Kang Yunlin's.Bai Yan read it from Li Xinxia's frost-covered face.

"Bai Yan, go home!" Kang Yunlin managed to suppress his anger, with a slightly embarrassed expression on his face.At such an old age and with high morals, it is always embarrassing to quarrel with his wife in front of the children.

"Dad, have you eaten?" Bai Yan pretended not to see the crystal fragments on the ground, and asked with a smile.A glance at the restaurant is also a mess.Aunt Wu stood at the dining table, staring at Kang Yunlin, as if looking at a betrayed husband, full of resentment.

Before Kang Yunlin could answer, Li Xinxia spoke up first.

"Bai Yan, tell your father quickly, did I bully you?" The tone was sarcasm.

"Xinxia, ​​what are you talking about with the child?" Kang Yunlin scolded.

Li Xinxia smiled sinisterly, "If she doesn't say anything, you can rest assured? You came so far because you were worried about her? Now, look, she is standing there, with red lips and white teeth, young and lovely, is she touched? Which string is in your heart?"

"Mom!" Kang Jian, whose face had been livid since entering the door, suddenly shouted, "Stop talking."

Li Xinxia was astonished at the pain and forbearance suppressed in Kang Jian's tone, and blinked, "If I don't ask clearly, your father will think of me as an evil mother-in-law. He doesn't even look, I sit alone Disabled people in wheelchairs, who have the ability to bully? They lost 24 years ago, will they win now? Bai Yan, you are dumb, tell me!"

"That's enough," Kang Jian suddenly thumped the pillar of the entrance, shaking a painting hanging above it.He panted heavily, "If you want to quarrel, go back to the provincial capital to quarrel. This is my home. We've all been tired all day. Can you give us some peace?"

After speaking, he led Bai Yan and walked up the stairs without looking sideways.

"Jianjian..." Li Xinxia was dumbfounded.

Kang Yunlin narrowed his eyes meaningfully.

The mobile phone in Bai Yan's bag suddenly rang in a low-pressure silence, and she pulled away Kang Jian's arm apologetically, "Mom?"

Everyone who heard this call held their breath in unison.

"Are you in Binjiang? You arrived in the afternoon. There is an opera interview? Hmm... Mom, wait a minute..." Bai Yan saw a strange smile suddenly appearing on Li Xinxia's graceful and luxurious face, and she raised her arms towards Bai Yan. Raise your hand.

"Bai Yan, what a coincidence. Speaking of which, our in-laws haven't met yet. Let's see if she's free at night. It happens that your father is also here. Let's have dinner together?"

Li Xinxia looked sideways at Kang Yunlin secretly, the veins in Kang Yunlin's neck were twitching, and his eyes shot fire with anger.

Bai Yan was startled, "Mom, can we have lunch together at noon tomorrow? Well, fine, I'll pick you up then."

She gently closed the phone and smiled at everyone, "My mother agreed."

"Sister-in-law Wu, I'm hungry now. Where's the spicy fish you made? Serve it quickly." Li Xinxia turned the rocking chair in a good mood, over the vase fragments, and rocked into the dining room. Lili followed her with her tail wagging.

"Yunlin, what do you want to eat?" Aunt Wu hurriedly walked in front of Kang Yunlin.

Kang Yunlin waved his hand impatiently, "I'm not hungry."

"Eat something even if you're not hungry. Your stomach isn't very good." Aunt Wu said softly.

"I'll go out to eat with Dad." Kang Jian frowned and walked down the stairs, "Bai Yan, lock the door, I'll stay in the hotel with Dad at night."

"Okay, Dad, see you tomorrow." Bai Yan smiled like a flower, and walked Kang Yunlin to the gate.

Kang Yunlin looked back at Li Xinxia who was teasing Lili, sighed, and stopped talking.

The door slammed shut.

The smile on Mrs. Wu's face disappeared instantly, she walked into the kitchen with her head down, muttering in her mouth, the sound of setting the dishes seemed to be gambling with someone.

Li Xinxia's good mood was not affected at all, "Bai Yan, come here." She turned her head, arrogant and noble, like calling a maid.

Bai Yan poured a cup of yogurt from the refrigerator, and sat facing her with a smile. "What's the matter, Ms. Li?"

"I heard that your mother is an actress?"

"The news about Ms. Li is really unknown. My mother has been singing for almost 30 years. She is a famous Yue opera actress in our province."

"Sounds like you're proud of her?"

Bai Yan took out a piece of paper from the tissue box and wiped his lips, "Shouldn't it?"

The corners of Li Xinxia's mouth slightly curved, "People of different classes have different opinions. Opera singing, in the past, was a dirty profession, and there is not much difference between an actor and a prostitute."

Bai Yan's small mouth was half-opened in surprise, as if she couldn't believe that Li Xinxia would say such a thing, her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and then she smiled, "But now is the new socialist society, the status of an actor cannot be underestimated." Oh, my mother has a lot of fans, besides, we have climbed up with relatives like Ms. Li, it's like Fan Jinzhongju, even if we go up a few levels, we will be a classy person again."

"I'm afraid I'll give you an imperial robe and you'll be wearing a mandarin jacket." Li Xinxia rolled her eyes, not hiding the disgust in her tone.

"Then what will happen if you wear it for your grandson?" Bai Yan raised his chin with his hand and pursed his lips shrewdly.

Li Xinxia's eyes widened, she took a deep breath, "Are you pregnant?"

Like a mother like a son, the tone and expression of this question were exactly the same as that of Leader Kang in the hospital that day.Bai Yan answered with a smile, sipping yogurt in small sips.

"How many months?" Li Xinxia was in a state of confusion, her fingers on the table trembling.

"Just wait until you hold your grandson. Now I'm going upstairs to take care of the baby." Bai Yan carefully pressed his stomach and walked very slowly on purpose.

"Sister-in-law Wu..." Li Xinxia yelled in panic, "Quickly, give me your phone. Si Lili, don't pester me, get out of here."

"Woof, woof..." Li Li jumped off Li Xinxia's lap aggrieved.

"Ha, ha!" Bai Yan didn't let go of a loud laugh until he entered the bedroom, and at the end of the laugh, hot and humid liquid silently slid down his face.

In fact, Li Xinxia's destiny is Leader Kang, she was afraid that he would be kind to Bai Yan, and that he would be deeply involved with Bai Yan.

She is like a widowed mother who has worked hard to raise her only son. She has an incredible preference for her only son. She is afraid that her daughter-in-law will take away her son's care for her, but such a mother-in-law looks forward to her daughter-in-law to carry on the family.What a life of contradictions!
At this moment, Li Xinxia was scared out of her wits by Bai Yan's joke.Does she want her son to have no offspring forever?No, but she didn't want Bai Yan to be the one who gave birth to her grandson.

This marriage is tacit to everyone, and it is short-lived.

Bai Yan raised his hand to wipe away his tears.

If her marriage with Leader Kang is like a lake, then there are many things hidden in this lake, and now these things are eager to jump out of the water.She has insisted on this marriage until now just to see these things clearly, but now, she is a little afraid to open her eyes.

This was the home she had dreamed of for a long time, and she watched it crumble before her eyes.Leader Kang can be without love, but...don't be so bad.

Bai Yan covered her mouth, feeling sad.

Li Xinxia was so impatient to meet Bai Mumei, the answer might be tomorrow.

Weeping silently for a long time, Bai Yan didn't take a bath until tired, and fell asleep.

I don't know if I woke up from the heat or was awakened by the dream. When I opened my eyes, it was still dark, and there was a person sitting by the bed.

She jumped up in fright and touched the lamp on the bedside table.

"Don't be afraid, it's me!" A pair of long arms patted her lightly, making her lie back on the pillow, her fingertips rubbed against his shirt, and her hands were wet.

"It's raining outside." Kang Jian's voice was also wet.

"Didn't you say you slept in a hotel?" Bai Yan asked.

Kang Jian suddenly grabbed her hand and put it on his heart, "Bai Yan, it hurts here."

"Are you too tired?"

Kang Jian shook his head.

"Because your parents quarreled?"

Kang Jian didn't make a sound, and after a while, he said softly: "They have been arguing ever since I can remember. When they quarreled, all the things on the table fell to the ground, and no one would let anyone else , and then, my father left for a month... I'm used to it... Do you know why they are arguing?"

"why?"

Kang Jian squeezed Bai Yan's wrist tightly with his hands, and Bai Yan gasped in pain, "Leader..."

"Bai Yan," Kang Jian let go of his hand, lay down slowly, hugged Bai Yan, and let her sleep in his arms, "Don't ask, don't think, don't talk...let's sleep!"

He lifted his body and pressed a kiss between her cheeks, as if she was sleepy, and after a while, she let out a slight snoring sound.

Bai Yan wanted to push him away and let him change his wet clothes, after thinking about it, he decided to forget it.

The rain fell all night, tick-tock, like a beating on the apex of a person's heart.The rain was not heavy, and it didn't take away some of the heat. Instead, it attracted the heat from below the surface. When we woke up in the morning and opened the windows, the humid and stuffy air rushed in.

Bai Yan gently closed the window again, turned on the air conditioner to dehumidify, and Kang Jian was still sleeping, so she walked outside lightly.

"What time is it?" Kang Jian asked hoarsely.

"06:30, you can still sleep for a while." Bai Yan froze there for a while, uncomfortably facing the night when the two of them shared the same bed.

Kang Jian's clothes were wrinkled like a dishcloth, after two people steamed them overnight, they were already dry. "Don't sleep anymore, I'll take a shower, and you help me get my clothes."

He just walked into the bathroom, the door was wide open, his clothes were scattered all over the floor, his naked body was clearly reflected by the glass door, the water was rushing down, he raised his hands to comb his hair ...

Bai Yan took a deep breath, and then another deep breath, admiring the naked man out of the bath early in the morning, his heart couldn't bear it, even though this man was her husband in name.

She put his changed clothes one by one, from top to bottom, from inside to outside, neatly placed on the bed.

If the truth came out today, this morning might be the last he and she would spend together.

I don't want to be sad, but my heart is still sour.

Mama Wu had already prepared breakfast. On the dining table, there were three soup bowls full of gnocchi, a pancake on the middle plate, green onions and fried sauce on the side.

Li Xinxia was trimming the orchid grass leaves on the balcony, while Lili was lying in the kennel, lazily, probably because of the weather.

(End of this chapter)