The Overnight Chosen Wife: Darling, Kiss Me Deeper

Ji Huifen stared at her hard as though he wanted to say something but couldn't say it. In the end, he simply let out a tired sigh. "Me either. I don't like the idea and you know that better than anyone." He had struck a chord at her, and she continued before she could say a word. "But that doesn't give us the right to force our decisions on them. The way you handled it was not just imm.a.t.u.r.e. It was absurd and rude and you ruined our relationship with our son and his wife for no good reason." He didn't mince his words, and as expected Wen Lin looked like she was ready to detonate.

"Now you are blaming me?" She squinted her eyes at him. Luckily, Ruby was asleep. It would be embarrassing for her to witness such a childish fight between her parents. ​​

Ji Huifen shrugged. "Yes. Aren't you to blame?"

Wen Lin laughed bitterly.

"Look. I hate to be on bad terms with Lanni too. Especially now that she is my daughter-in-law. But I'm not going to pretend to approve of something I don't like."

Ji Huifen stood. "That's up to you. The worst that could happen is Lanni leaving our son because his family is against her."

"Don't say such things." She roared.

"Well, it's the truth." He left and went upstairs.

In the hours that followed, she thought about her tone when she expressed her disapproval. Had she been too much? Was Ji Huifen right, that it might cause trouble in Xiehan's marriage?

Her son's happiness was important no matter what, and she didn't want to risk ruining it.

Hence, she bought presents and tonics the following day and here she was, at her son's door—unannounced and probably unwelcome too.

"Hey Lanni." She greeted cheerfully in an attempt to mask the awkwardness.

Lanni pursed her lips as though she didn't know what to do. In the end, she stepped aside to make way. "Hello, come in."

There was no hug, no friendly greeting. Just like one would welcome a stranger to their home only because their family knew the stranger.

This felt like in the past when she was against Lanni being with Xiehan, before she got to know the young woman well enough. Only, it was much worse. It was gnawing at her entire being.

"Lanni, I…"

She was still speaking when Xiehan emerged from the kitchen.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" He didn't seem pleased to see her either. He must still be mad at her.

"I'm here to visit the two of you. I brought fruits." She attempted to smile without seeming awkward and was clearly doing a bad job at it. Lanni looked like she would rather drown herself in the glass of water she was holding than sit here in the living room and force a conversation with her—not that the latter was any fun.

She took the bag of fruits and presents but that was only because she could not reject a gift from her mother-in-law. The last thing she wanted was for Xiehan to have to choose between her and Wen Lin. No one deserved to have to make that choice, so she smiled and forced out a "Thank you."

Wen Lin couldn't handle the awkwardness either, she went to the point. "Lanni, I acted like an idiot that night. I'm sorry."

Before Lanni could say a word, Xiehan interrupted. "Mother, I don't want to dwell in the past. I just need you to do me one favor. Stay away from my wife if you are not going to treat her with respect. It's for everyone's good." It was much better for his mother and wife to not be close than it was for them to fight.

Wen Lin was taken aback. "What are you saying? I respect her."

The look in her son's eyes was enough to prove that he didn't believe a word she was saying. She could only sigh. "Can I have a word with Lanni, woman to woman?"

Xiehan was about to protest when Lanni looked up at him sweetly. "Xiehan, please get us some drinks. Mother must be thirsty."

He understood that she was comfortable having whatever conversation was brewing so he nodded. "Sure."

He quickly brought drinks and disappeared up the stairs, muttering to Lanni that she should call him if she needed him.

"Lanni," Wen Lin was about to speak when she was cut off.

"I don't understand why you hate my mother so much." Lanni spoke, her tone firm yet not rude. If she remembered correctly, Wen Lin's hatred for her was purely based on the fact that she was Li Yuming's daughter. Li Yuming, the woman who had supposedly charmed her son to love her more than he loved his own mother, and the woman who might as well have been Ji Huifen's mistress. Even after the air was cleared about the misunderstandings, the women didn't exactly become friends. It was more like tolerating each other because their children were together.

"I don't. Not anymore." Wen Lin explained.

"Then why…" She wondered why Wen Lin was so much against the Li surname.

"I was jealous." Wen Lin sighed, in relief after letting it out.

"What?" As expected, Lanni was taken aback.

Wen Lin took a deep breath and a gulp of her drink. "You must be wondering why it was I who reacted so negatively while Huifen didn't even say a word."

She pursed her lips. Yes, that had crossed her mind too and she couldn't make sense of it.

"Lanni, I don't have parents anymore, nor do I have siblings. I'm the only one with the surname Wen." She started, and Lanni immediately knew where this was heading.

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