Chapter 796: Chapter 796: Missing The Old Times
Rong Yan waited while he sent a message to the little guy with his smartphone, telling him that he would be coming over soon.
In the Li Villa at Zijing Flower Lane, the old butler brought out two cups of coffee from inside and set them on the table. Meanwhile, in the flower garden, Shen Siyuan dressed in gardening clothes, worked alongside Lin Zhiya to prune the precious plants and flowers in the garden.
The two of them seemed to possess a similar temperament, getting along harmoniously—as if they were mother and daughter.
Taking advantage of the pleasant atmosphere, Shen Siyuan, while pruning the pine tree in front of her, tried to change the subject, “Mrs. Lin, this pine tree has grown so well. The branches are perfectly orderly and the shape is unique. You must prune its branches often.”
Lin Zhiya looked tenderly at the small ornamental pine in her hands and said, “This pine tree was a gift I once gave to Shengxiao’s father, hoping he would be strong just like it, but now it has become my sole responsibility to take care of it.”
That man had left this world early…
Shen Siyuan pursed her lips, somewhat annoyed with herself for saying the wrong thing, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lin, I shouldn’t have brought that up.”
Lin Zhiya, however, didn’t mind and waved it off calmly, “It’s fine, you didn’t know. Besides, it’s not a taboo subject. Shengxiao’s father has been gone for so many years now, I’ve long since accepted and gotten used to it. It’s just that you mentioned that pine tree and it suddenly came back to me.”
“Speaking of which, Shengxiao almost drowned that pine tree when he was little. There was a time when he would secretly water it behind my back. By the time I realized it, the pine tree had almost died from overwatering. I was so angry at him at the time, asking him why he did that. Looking back now, he probably just wanted the pine tree to grow strong and well. He just didn’t say so, and I failed to realize this at the time. I remember once, in my rage, I even slapped him. Ah, I really wish time could go back; I wouldn’t lose my temper with him again.”
Her words were filled with emotion, yet her features were soft and brimming with maternal warmth.
Hearing her reminisce, Shen Siyuan’s thoughts were entirely different; she quickly seized the opportunity, seemingly casually saying, “I also wish time could go back to the past, when I, along with Shengxiao, Cui Xiaosi, my brother Fu Yi, and all of us used to play and frolic together. Those were carefree days, and I was truly happy every day. Not like now…”
Now, Shengxiao disliked her, and Cui Jiangjing, for reasons unknown, didn’t want anything to do with her anymore. Only Fu Yi occasionally showed concern for her!
But Fu Yi had his own matters to attend to.
Even though he might sporadically have time for her, it was just occasional, and many times he simply did not notice her.
Her face carried a wistful expression, as if she was nostalgic, yet also seemed discontent, “Now, I feel like an outsider. There are so many things I can’t get involved in, so many conversations I can’t join. It’s as if I went abroad to study for a few years and became a person from a different world than they are.”
Knowing who Lin Zhiya was—a woman who had once managed the Li Group, who by her own power had sustained it after her husband’s sudden death—how could she fail to hear the underlying intent in Shen Siyuan’s words? She set down the watering can and, with a pause in her usual gentleness, walked to a resting chair not far away and sat down.
Seeing her suddenly stop the gardening, Shen Siyuan felt a bit at a loss and also put down the pruning shears and followed her, biting her lip hesitantly and asking, “Mrs. Lin, did I say something wrong?”