Free Web NovelChapter 185: Chapter 185: Low Self-Esteem
Su Li knew she was probably just worrying over nothing, and that it wasn’t fair to Tang Yuanxiao, but she couldn’t help herself.
Looking at Tang Yuanxiao before her and thinking back to how he had carried her all that way during the field march, a complicated feeling welled up inside her.
The better he treated her, the harder it was to refuse him. Her feelings grew more complex, and she felt she was being unfair to him.
Su Li glanced down at Little Tang Mo, smiling as she gently covered his ears.
Little Tang Mo didn’t know what Su Li was doing and thought she was playing a game with him, so he tilted his head back and kept smiling up at her.
Su Li looked at Little Tang Mo’s smiling face and spoke in a low voice.
"Tang Yuanxiao, I don’t even know if my inability to let go of Little Mo is right or wrong anymore..."
Because of Little Tang Mo, their lives were constantly intersecting. They could never create any real distance, and now he was saying he wanted to keep pursuing her...
Su Li had lived two lifetimes, but when it came to matters of the heart, she was completely inexperienced.
She was a little dense when it came to romance and was incapable of skillfully handling affections from multiple people.
Over the past two days, having Tang Yuanxiao and Wu Sheng appear one after the other had left her feeling deeply unsettled.
Even though she was divorced and technically single, she was still afraid people would think she was leading men on—refusing to let one go while stringing another along.
The most terrifying things in the world were people’s prejudice and idle gossip.
So many people felt entitled to stand on their moral high ground and judge others.
Wu Sheng had told her not to worry, that it was a matter between them as men, but Su Li still felt a little uneasy.
Tang Yuanxiao could see Su Li’s unease.
"Su Li, you don’t have to feel this way... and don’t overthink it. I didn’t mean anything by bringing up Wu Sheng just now. I just hope I can have the same opportunity."
He paused for a moment. "You’re so outstanding, and you’re single now. It’s normal for people to like you, and it’s normal for you to accept their advances. I’ve never thought there was anything wrong with that."
He glanced at Little Tang Mo. "If you can’t let go of Momo, then don’t. In the future, whether we get together or not, I won’t blame you. It won’t affect your relationship with Momo."
Seeing Su Li’s stunned expression, he scratched his head. "Maybe I’ve been appearing too frequently, and living right across the hall from you has put you under pressure. But Su Li, please believe me, I truly have no intention of forcing you into anything."
He pressed his lips together and said the same thing Wu Sheng had: "Just follow your heart."
This was one of the longest speeches Tang Yuanxiao had ever given.
Everything Tang Yuanxiao said was right, but he didn’t realize that her anxiety stemmed not only from the reasons he listed but also, in part, from her own deep-seated insecurity.
Yes, insecurity.
Su Li was insecure.
After what she had experienced in her past life, it was impossible for her not to feel insecure.
That was why she hadn’t dared to confirm that Tang Yuanxiao actually liked her until he said it out loud.
She had also never imagined that Wu Sheng had feelings for her. The possibility had never even crossed her mind.
Only when Wu Sheng confessed did she learn of his affection.
In this life, she had worked hard to change herself, inside and out. But insecurity had become a habit, and she couldn’t switch her mindset so easily.
The old saying "a fine woman will have a hundred suitors" wasn’t just an empty phrase.
But Su Li couldn’t see how it applied to her, and instead felt anxious because of Tang Yuanxiao and Wu Sheng.
After hearing Tang Yuanxiao’s words, Su Li didn’t know how to respond. She glanced at the time. "I’m going to be late. I have to go."
"Go on," Tang Yuanxiao said, nodding with an inward sigh of relief.
"Bye-bye, Big Sister!" Little Tang Mo piped up cleverly.
"Mhm, bye-bye, Little Brother Mo," Su Li retorted playfully.
"Haha, Mommy called me Little Brother!" After Su Li had gone down the stairs, Little Tang Mo, who had been watching her leave, turned back and giggled.
Tang Yuanxiao ruffled Little Tang Mo’s hair, unable to stifle a laugh.
"Big Sister... Big Sister... that’s pretty good. Mommy likes it," Little Tang Mo said, shaking his head contentedly. He then tilted his head to look at Tang Yuanxiao.
"Dad, you’re older than Mommy, so you can call her Little Sister from now on." He covered his mouth to stifle a giggle.
"Dad calls her Little Sister, and I’ll call her Big Sister!"
Little Tang Mo grew so excited by his own idea that he started to jump up and down.
Hearing this, Tang Yuanxiao was speechless. "..."
’Son, are you sure you’re not trying to screw your old man over?’
’It’s not enough that they’ve become sister and brother, leaving me as the sole elder. Now I’m supposed to call her Little Sister, too? Big Brother, Little Sister, Little Brother... the whole family hierarchy is a mess!’
But after his initial speechlessness, Tang Yuanxiao found it amusing. He couldn’t help but try it out, "Little Sister."
Little Tang Mo nodded furiously beside him. "That’s it! Mommy will definitely like it, hehe."
He and Tang Yuanxiao went back inside. "Mommy told me before that she likes being called ’Big Sister,’" he said. "She says it makes her feel young."
"You two really have a lot of names for her. Mommy, Teacher, Big Sister," Tang Yuanxiao said as he poured water for Little Tang Mo to wash his face.
"And Auntie," Little Tang Mo added.
After washing up, Tang Yuanxiao made breakfast for Little Tang Mo. Then he took out the first-grade textbooks Little Tang Mo carried with him to get a detailed understanding of his academic progress.
Half an hour later, Tang Yuanxiao was completely won over.
Little Tang Mo had really learned it all.
He looked at his clever little son, his own face flushing with excitement.
"Kiddo, your mom was right. You’re a little genius."
He checked the time. "Come on, let’s go out."
He took Little Tang Mo to a place that bought and sold used books and returned with what looked like brand-new textbooks for the second, third, and even fourth grades.
For the rest of the time, the room was filled with the sound of his questioning, each query laced with surprise.
Having barely spent any time with Little Tang Mo before, Tang Yuanxiao was now truly stepping into his role as a new father.
He didn’t have much experience raising a child. He had recently gotten the hang of daily life, but he hadn’t yet delved into his son’s academics.
Little Tang Mo didn’t require much supervision; he completed his homework perfectly without being told. Because of this, Tang Yuanxiao had never taken the time to fully assess the extent of his son’s knowledge.
So, one could only imagine his surprise this time.
"Momo, you’re amazing."
Tang Yuanxiao excitedly planted a kiss on Little Tang Mo’s cheek. Just like any other parent, his pride and surprise were written all over his face.
Little Tang Mo couldn’t dodge in time. "Your stubble is scratching my face..."
This little game of a father’s scratchy beard against his son’s cheek, something they had rarely done before, was finally a part of their lives.
"Momo, you could go straight into the third grade," Tang Yuanxiao said after their bout of roughhousing, making a decision after some serious thought.
"After Teacher’s Day, I’ll talk to your teacher about the situation and arrange for you to skip a grade."
"Mhm, mhm!" Little Tang Mo nodded eagerly.
"Don’t you worry, Momo. You study at whatever pace is comfortable for you. It doesn’t matter if you skip grades all the way through. Learn whatever you want to learn. Dad will always support you."
As Tang Yuanxiao spoke, stroking Little Tang Mo’s head, his words felt less like a simple statement and more like a solemn promise.
"Okay," Little Tang Mo nodded. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
"You and your mom are both amazing." The gentle look in Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes made Little Tang Mo feel closer to him.
He leaned against Tang Yuanxiao. "Mhm, Dad is amazing, too."
Tang Yuanxiao bent down and kissed the top of Little Tang Mo’s head, the determination in his eyes hardening.
"Dad, when is Grandma coming here? I miss her," Little Tang Mo asked suddenly after a moment.
"Grandma... I don’t know yet." A complicated expression flickered in Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes.
Little Tang Mo looked at Tang Yuanxiao, hesitation written all over his small face.
"What is it? What do you want to say?" Tang Yuanxiao asked.
"Grandma... isn’t very nice to Mommy," Little Tang Mo finally said. "I never mention Grandma in front of Mommy, and I never say that I miss her. I only tell you."
It took Tang Yuanxiao a long moment to find his voice.
"I know." He held Little Tang Mo tightly. "Dad knows."
Before the military training showcase began, Tang Yuanxiao hurried over to Huaguo Communication University. freewebnoveℓ.com
But at the entrance, he saw Wu Sheng on a bicycle, a camera slung around his neck.
