Chapter 182: Has She Ever Returned?

"Han Yangting, about what happened back then..."

Han Yangting did not even turn his head: "I don't remember what happened back then."

While eating, Nana hesitated for a long while before she couldn't help but ask Han Yangting: "Brother Yangting, was the matter with your ex-wife caused by that lady just now?"

Han Yangting took a sip of soup, and only after a moment did he say: "It has nothing to do with that lady."

"Nothing to do with her?"

He said slowly: "That lady's actions were merely the catalyst; the ultimate reason was that my ex-wife and I did not love each other enough, or rather, my ex-wife never took me seriously, and I never once walked into her heart."

Nana looked at Han Yangting; he was recounting the desolation in his heart so calmly, which made her feel a pang of heartache.

This was a very devoted man; he had given his all, and he had been deeply disappointed in return.

Fengcheng.

Meng Ze called Bai Shuruo and asked: "When are you all coming back? Is Fengcheng too much fun? Are you not planning on coming back?"

It was already evening, and Bai Shuruo had just coaxed Xiaofeng to sleep.

Looking at Xiaofeng's sleeping face, she tucked the air-conditioning quilt in for her, then walked to the windowsill and said: "We have indeed had a lot of fun in Fengcheng these past few days. Either my elder sister is keeping her company, or my stepmother is, and there's also my younger uncle; she might really be having too much fun to want to come back."

Meng Ze gave a bitter smile: "Then staying in Fengcheng wouldn't be bad either; perhaps that place is more suitable for Xiaofeng's growth."

Hearing that bitter smile from Meng Ze, Bai Shuruo felt a pang of reluctance in her heart.

Over these past few years, Meng Ze had helped her a lot; they had raised Xiaofeng together, and they were already in a relationship of mutual reliance.

She said: "These past few days, my sister talked to me about Xiaofeng's future; she hopes Xiaofeng can receive a better education."

Meng Ze said without hesitation: "Your sister is right; Xiaofeng shouldn't be following poor people like us."

Meng Ze's self-deprecation made Bai Shuruo's heart ache. She said: "What my sister said has some truth to it, but the final choice still depends on Xiaofeng. I'll ask her again tomorrow."

Meng Ze said: "You don't need to worry about me; everything should still be centered on the child."

After saying this, Meng Ze hung up the phone.

Bai Shuruo knew that Meng Ze wasn't angry. Of course he hoped for the best for Xiaofeng, but he had indeed given so much for her; she couldn't just abandon him and leave him alone in Dali because of a few words from her sister.

The next day.

As soon as Xiaofeng woke up, she excitedly said to Bai Shuruo: "Mom, younger uncle said he's taking me to the science museum today."

Bai Shuruo looked at Xiaofeng's excited little face; she couldn't bear to dampen the child's spirits, so she said: "Alright, then let's hurry and wash up for breakfast. But, Mom wants to ask you, do you miss Uncle Meng Ze?"

"Uncle Meng Ze? I do, Mom. Shall we give Uncle Meng Ze a call?"

Bai Shuruo said: "Xiaofeng, Mom wants to ask you, do you want to stay in Fengcheng?"

Xiaofeng nodded.

Bai Shuruo asked again: "But, if we stay in Fengcheng, you will have to be separated from Uncle Meng Ze from now on, and it will be a very, very long time before you can see Uncle Meng Ze again."

Xiaofeng thought for a moment and said: "Mom, then let's go home. I miss Uncle Meng Ze."

"But, after we go home, it will be a very, very long time before you can see your aunt and younger uncle again."

Xiaofeng fell into a dilemma.

Why is life so difficult? Is it okay not to make a choice?

"Xiaofeng, we cannot be greedy; we must learn how to make choices."

Xiaofeng's cute face looked very conflicted, her eyebrows twisted into a knot. After a long while, she said: "Mom, I want to play in Fengcheng for a few more days, and then go back to find Uncle Meng Ze."

Bai Shuruo didn't know why, but she felt a wave of emotion. She pulled Xiaofeng into her arms and kissed her: "Alright, then we'll play for a few more days. Why don't you give Uncle Meng Ze a call in a bit and tell him your decision, okay?"

"Okay," Xiaofeng said sensibly.

When Bai Shuhua took Xiaofeng to the science museum, Bai Shuruo wandered around outside.

She had already been to the science museum many times; in elementary school, middle school, and high school, the school often organized visits, and she had also gone with classmates a few times in college, so she was long since tired of it.

She ordered a milk tea at a nearby shop, then held the cup while walking and looking around.

Walking to an intersection, she vaguely saw a high-rise building not far away.

Her heart gave a sudden jolt.

A high-end building built in this kind of place must be a high-end residential complex; that complex was called Sunshine Garden.

That was the place where she and Han Yangting had lived.

As if possessed, she walked toward the complex.

The complex gate used a facial recognition system, but she didn't scan her face; instead, she followed behind other residents as they entered.

She arrived at the building where they used to live. Just as it happened, the door downstairs wasn't closed, so she went straight into the elevator.

Arriving at the 16th floor, she stared blankly at that door.

That door was opened with a key at first, but later, because she often forgot to bring her key, Han Yangting changed it to a fingerprint lock. Looking at it now, this lock was still the original one; it hadn't been changed.

Could she open this door? After opening this door, what would she see?

It had been over three years; had Han Yangting ever returned here? Had he sold this property?

Bai Shuruo stood at the doorway for a long, long time, but in the end, she lacked the courage to knock, and even less courage to press the code on the lock.

Not long after Bai Shuruo left, Han Yangting arrived.

Han Yangting had gotten off the plane this morning, alone.

He didn't know why he wanted to come to Fengcheng either; perhaps it was because of that painting of the old house, or perhaps it was because he wanted to bid farewell to the past.

Where it began, let it end there.

He had already decided to make a fresh start with Nana, and perhaps in a while, he would marry her; since he was going to marry Nana, everything related to his ex-wife should be brought to an end.

Therefore, he wanted to sell this apartment.

He used his fingerprint to unlock the door.

Everything here had remained unchanged, including their fingerprint lock; if Bai Shuruo returned, she would still be able to open it.

Entering the house, all the furnishings inside remained exactly as they were.

That sofa—he and Bai Shuruo had rolled on it many times, and it felt as if the traces of their lovemaking still lingered upon it.

There was also the dining room, the kitchen, the bedroom, and even the gym; all were memories of her.

Afterward, he sat down on the bed she used to sleep in, alone, sleeping from daylight until dark.

When he left, he took a look at the surveillance camera by the door.

This surveillance equipment had been installed after buying the house, and the footage could be viewed on a mobile phone.

For the first two years after she left, he would check it almost every day to see if she had returned.

Later, it gradually became once a week, and later still, once a year.

It was always disappointment anyway.

Since he intended to sell the place, the surveillance software on his phone naturally had to be uninstalled as well.

However, at the very moment he prepared to uninstall the software, he suddenly and inexplicably opened the app, wanting to take one last look at the playback.

As a result, with just a casual swipe back, he saw Bai Shuruo standing at the door.

She had stood at the door for a very, very long time.

What on earth was she thinking? Why didn't she come in?