Actually, Kong Demin wanted to drink long ago, but it's not convenient for him to go out now.
When his stepmother brought two bottles of wine and even helped pour it, Kong Demin didn't refuse anymore.
He almost finished a bottle, Yu Jing was sleepy, and Meng Xiu Fen coaxed the child to sleep. Now, only he was left in the living room, and with the wine hitting him, he casually took off his shirt, still wearing a vest, drinking by himself, feeling rather good.
He didn't plan to drink the second bottle. His drinking capacity was average, but he knew he couldn't get drunk; that wouldn't be good.
Standing up, he felt a little dizzy and wanted to clean up the table.
At this moment, Meng Xiu Fen came out. "Demin, don't bother, I'll handle it. Why did you stop drinking?"
"Mom, I'm a bit drunk already. I'm afraid if I drink more, I'll start missing Shuling."
"It's okay, drink, I'll pour for you." Meng Xiu Fen came closer and noticed her son-in-law's good physique, no wonder her daughter always complained about not being able to take it.
"Mom, don't pour, I really won't drink."
"Drink, after you're drunk, you can sleep."
"Mom, will you sit and drink a bit?"
"Come on, have some, drinking alone isn't fun."
"Alright, I'll accompany you for a few sips, can't drink much."
The two sat down again. Kong Demin poured a cup for his stepmother.
"That's too much, I can't finish it, it'll be wasted."
"It's alright, I can drink it if you can't.
Mom, thank you for taking care of me, ever since Shuling left, you've truly been great to me, here's to you."
Kong Demin drank it in one go, and Meng Xiu Fen took a sip as well.
"Demin, let it go, Shuling is gone, if you want to remarry, we're not stopping you."
Kong Demin didn't speak, poured himself another cup, just a small one.
"Demin, really, I mean it, you're still young, and having you live alone so early, I can't bear it."
Kong Demin drank another cup. He originally had a high demand, and after having a wife, he couldn't satisfy his needs; now that his wife is gone, it's even harder.
Meng Xiu Fen watched her son-in-law not speak, worried, raised her cup, "Demin, have another drink."
Their couple certainly didn't want Kong Demin to find someone else, but if they were forceful, they couldn't keep him. Just this one granddaughter, and her health is very poor.
Kong Demin said nothing, continued drinking two cups with Meng Xiu Fen, and now he was truly drunk.
"Demin, eat some food, don't just drink."
"Mom, have another cup," he said and immediately filled her cup.
Meng Xiu Fen also felt a bit drunk, looking at the strong young man opposite her, worried about his performance today, afraid he really might consider remarrying.
He's young and strong, it's unrealistic to keep him single.
"Mom, have another cup, why is our fate so bitter? You lost your daughter, I lost my wife."
"Yes, it was Shuling's fortune to have been with you."
"Mom, please stop," he said, picking up another cup, waiting for Meng Xiu Fen to drink together.
With the second bottle almost empty, both were very drunk.
"Mom, go to sleep, I'll tidy up."
"Don't worry, I can handle it, you go to sleep quickly."
Meng Xiu Fen stood up but lost her balance, almost falling, luckily she held onto the table.
"Mom, be careful, I'll help you back," Kong Demin slurred, swaying.
He moved closer, wrapped his arm around Meng Xiu Fen's shoulder.
Being held by a young man, Meng Xiu Fen's heart raced, like she went back to her newlywed days.
She looked up, bewildered, at this man.
Kong Demin also felt something was off, thinking he might be too long without a woman.
Their eyes met. Who made the first move is unknown, but they ended up together.
They were both quite pleased, but they forgot their identities.
Next morning, the sound of a child crying woke them up.
Seeing each other, they were dumbfounded. Meng Xiu Fen, being older, left shaking, speechless.
Kong Demin lay down again briefly, then got up, feeling unprecedentedly comfortable.
At the dining table, the three sat eating, the dishes from last night turned sour, none touched but noodles were cooked.
"Grandma, will you take me to school?"
"Go on, Dad will take you, your grandma isn't feeling well," Meng Xiu Fen blushed.
Looking at Kong Demin's back, her heart suddenly tightened, and she hurriedly composed herself.
She didn't feel like going to work today, cleaned the house carefully. Suddenly thinking of yesterday's bedsheets, she quickly entered Kong Demin's room.
The blanket was folded, sheets were already stripped.
Meng Xiu Fen took them out for washing, worrying in her mind, avoiding thoughts of last night.
Kong Demin dropped his daughter at school, arrived at work. After the morning meeting, he suddenly felt he should return.
At home, seeing the door locked, he knew his stepmother didn't go to work. He stood at the door for a while, finally knocked.
This can't continue, it needs to be clarified.
Meng Xiu Fen heard the knock, opened the door to see Kong Demin, turned and went inside without speaking.
Her body was weary, a mind burdened by the incident, sleep non-existent.
Kong Demin entered, locked the door.
"Mom, wait, let's talk."
Meng Xiu Fen stopped, sat at the dining table, "Demin, let's pretend this never happened."
"We should carry on as usual. But I hope you wait until Yu Jing is grown up before you find someone else; I'm afraid the child might suffer, having a stepmother means a stepfather too."
Kong Demin sat down, "I am just twenty-five, making me live is too cruel."
"But Yu Jing is still so young."
"Am I to live a monk's life?" Kong Demin got slightly angry.
Meng Xiu Fen fell silent. Being someone experienced, she knew it wasn't fair.
She knew once Kong Demin settled down again, they couldn't rely on him as they aged.
"Can't you compromise for the child's sake?"
Kong Demin lowered his head, not answering.
"Are you longing for a son?"
Kong Demin froze momentarily, looked up, "I haven't thought about it."
What he wanted was to have someone by his side, and that won't affect Yu Jing.
"Demin, you must understand if you remarry, your dad won't support you upwards, and it's no benefit to us. We won't make clothes for someone else."
"I don't wish for that either. Why don't you stay with me, then I won't look anymore."
Meng Xiu Fen never thought Kong Demin would say that.