Chapter 685

After Qiao Muting put away his phone, he looked at Shu Xia, who was sleeping very peacefully in his arms; the ice that had just surfaced in the depths of his eyes immediately broke, melting away without a sound.

——

Mother Jiang arrived at Jiang Nannan's apartment carrying a thermal food jar.

"Nannan, this is the chicken soup Mom started simmering at noon. Isn't it your favorite? Since I didn't have much to do today, I brought it over for you. Try some first."

Looking at Mother Jiang, who was showing more concern for her than usual, Jiang Nannan's eyes grew warm. "I was just thinking about wanting to drink the soup you make, Mom."

"We mother and daughter are of one mind; I felt the weather had turned cold when I got up this morning and thought I should boil some soup." Mother Jiang walked in with a smile.

She glanced around the apartment while changing into slippers.

It was better than she had imagined.

She had originally thought Nannan would be devastated these past few days.

But the home was bright and clean now.

Seeing it like this, Nannan's state was not bad, so she could feel a little more at ease.

These past few days, she and Nannan's father had also been feeling a constant ache in their hearts, worrying incessantly about the two children's situation.

In such matters, both children had been hurt, though of course Nannan had been hurt more and had to force herself to accept it; but they knew Nannan's personality too well, which was why they felt so distressed.

They felt heartache for Nannan.

However, they also understood Huo Jingyan very well and knew clearly that Huo Jingyan would treat their Nannan well and would not let Nannan suffer any hardship in this life.

They couldn't bear to watch the two children separate.

"Mom, I'll go get the bowls; let's drink together, I can't finish that much," Jiang Nannan said.

Mother Jiang said okay.

Watching Jiang Nannan walk toward the kitchen, Mother Jiang felt a bitter taste in her heart.

The child had visibly lost a great deal of weight.

It was heartbreaking no matter how she looked at it.

Mother Jiang let out a long sigh in her heart.

After the mother and daughter sat down, they drank the soup first.

While silently drinking the soup, Jiang Nannan could tell that her mother must have had a lot to say on this trip; the two elders must have also been worried for several days about her and Huo Jingyan's situation.

This problem was like a question with no result.

Yet one was forced to solve it and find a result.

"Nannan, you haven't been feeling well these past two days, have you? No, you haven't been feeling well this entire time, have you?" Mother Jiang asked softly.

Jiang Nannan looked up and smiled at Mother Jiang. "Mom, I've made you and Dad worry these past few days."

Seeing Jiang Nannan still able to smile, Mother Jiang felt even worse; it must be that Nannan was afraid of making them worry, which was why she was forcing herself to smile.

"Your father and I are fine, we're just worried about you. Nannan, tell Mom the truth: after learning the truth about why Jingyan cheated these past two days, are you very upset?" Mother Jiang's eyes turned red first.

If it were her own situation, back when she was young and her feelings for Nannan's father were at their peak, if Nannan's father had cheated, she would surely have been heartbroken and devastated.

Even if there was a reason, even if it was involuntary or a last resort, how could such hurt be easily glossed over?

Jiang Nannan did not hide it. "I have indeed been very upset these days. When I first found out Huo Jingyan cheated, I felt everything I knew had collapsed. The bond between him and me was so firm that I believed even if he didn't like me anymore, he would still fulfill his duty to take care of me and would absolutely never cheat."

"Nannan, he... he was also helpless; it wasn't that he wanted to cheat," Mother Jiang said softly, explaining for Huo Jingyan.

Jiang Nannan nodded with red-rimmed eyes. "I know, he was schemed against; with the addition of those messy things, his reason was out of his control."

"Mom knows it's hard for you to get past your own hurdle; if you want to cry, then cry." Mother Jiang felt unbearable heartache.

It was too hard.

For Nannan, it was truly too hard.

Jiang Nannan bit her lip tightly and lowered her head again, only speaking after a long while: "Mom, I'm afraid I can't get past my own hurdle."

She felt she couldn't bring herself to gloss over the situation.