Chapter 269: Chapter 261: How Long Has It Been, Still Angry? (2)
She once left him messages on WeChat and even sent emails to his inbox.
But all her efforts eventually yielded no response, disappearing without a trace.
"It’s me, Momo." The man’s voice was still clear and mellow, like a mountain stream, soothing and refreshing.
It was indeed him.
Jin Jumo clutched her phone tightly but suddenly didn’t know what to say...
"Momo." Ying Jingyao called her softly, his slightly hoarse voice wrapped in deep longing, "I miss you."
"..." Jin Jumo’s fingertips curled into her palm.
She never thought that guilt toward someone could reach such a suffocating level, leading to unexpected avoidance.
"I’m sorry, Momo." Ying Jingyao said in a hushed voice.
Jin Jumo’s lips trembled slightly; at this moment, even breathing seemed difficult, "Jingyao, don’t say that. I’m sorry to you."
"I know Rong Mochen forcibly took you to Z City, but I couldn’t get to you. I’m not a qualified boyfriend." Ying Jingyao’s voice was low and melancholic.
"..." Jin Jumo closed her eyes softly, "How have you been? Has the injury on your hand improved?"
"I’m undergoing treatment now. Momo, once I’m better, I’ll come to Z City to find you, okay?" Ying Jingyao said.
A lump formed in Jin Jumo’s throat, "Take good care of your injury..."
"Jingyao, you’ve gone the whole day without eating. I specially made chicken soup for you..." A gentle female voice gently flowed from the phone, leaving Jin Jumo slightly stunned. Before she could react, the call was abruptly disconnected.
The first call with Ying Jingyao after such a long separation ended without resolution.
Jin Jumo couldn’t quite pinpoint her feelings, holding the phone for a while before slowly releasing it and placing it on the long coffee table in front of the sofa.
In the afternoon, Jin Jumo went to the supermarket to buy fresh ingredients and carefully prepared a meal in the evening.
Xixi drooled at the dining table, staring wide-eyed and almost salivating at the delicious, colorful dishes, "Mommy, is it Xixi’s birthday today?"
Jin Jumo couldn’t help but laugh, pinching her little nose, "Our Xixi wishes it was her birthday every day."
Xixi giggled, "If it’s my birthday every day, Mommy will make me delicious food every day."
"All you think about is eating!" Hanhan pouted.
"Then don’t eat." Xixi defiantly retorted.
"It’s not just for you; why wouldn’t I eat?"
"Then why are you saying that about me?" Xixi pouted in displeasure, glaring at Hanhan.
Hanhan raised his eyebrows, "Am I not speaking the truth?"
Xixi puffed up her cheeks, "Bad brother."
"Bad sister!" Hanhan replied casually, not intending to pay attention to her, but couldn’t resist teasing her when he saw her sparkling, angry eyes.
"Bad brother, bad brother, bad brother..." Xixi rushed up to Hanhan, pouting and glaring at him.
Hanhan’s eye twitched slightly, "Alright, I’m the bad brother."
Xixi thought it over, still feeling unsatisfied, huffed with arrogance, and followed Jin Jumo with little fat hands on her hips, complaining, "Mommy, brother is too bad; he always bullies me. Why don’t you say something to him?"
Jin Jumo just smiled and said nothing.
"Brother says all I know is eating, but he’s the one who loves fish. I always let him have it, even though he’ll give me the drumstick." Xixi said, contemplating whether Hanhan wasn’t so bad after all, standing conflicted, glancing back at Hanhan.
Hanhan glanced at her without responding.
In a few seconds, Xixi couldn’t help but walk over to him.
Hanhan pretended not to notice.
Xixi stood in front of him, staring at Hanhan for a while before softening her tone, "Brother isn’t a bad brother."
Hanhan’s lips curled slightly, quickly retracting, raising his bright eyes, looking seriously at Xixi, "Will you still say brother is bad in the future?"
Xixi obediently shook her head, "No. But brother can’t call Xixi a foodie either."
"You are a foodie."
Xixi was stunned, "..." How could he not follow the rules!
Wasn’t he supposed to say: "Brother won’t say that about Xixi anymore?"
Xixi pouted, turning her little body in disappointment, her big eyes shining again when she saw Jin Jumo bringing out a large plate of drumsticks from the kitchen, immediately rushing over.
Hanhan watched, shaking his head affectionately.
Jin Jumo placed the last dish on the table; Xixi was already sitting expectantly on the chair, her eyes glowing with anticipation, waiting for the meal.
Jin Jumo noticed and smiled knowingly, "Did you wash your hands?"
Xixi nodded vigorously, "I washed them."
Jin Jumo served rice to both Xixi and Hanhan, watching them enjoy their food, a gentle smile spreading across her delicate face.
"Mom, why aren’t you eating?" Hanhan noticed Jin Jumo was just serving them food without eating herself, puzzled.
Upon Hanhan’s remark, Xixi also curiously looked over at her.
Jin Jumo squinted slightly, "Mommy’s not hungry yet; you two go ahead."
"How can you not be hungry? Xixi always feels unfilled, hungry again in a little while." Xixi whispered as she stuffed her mouth full of food.
Jin Jumo and Hanhan, "..."
After dinner, Xixi and Hanhan left the table to play in the living room.
Jin Jumo sat at the dining table, glanced at the clock on the wall, her thick eyelashes drooping slightly, then got up to start cleaning up.
The moment they just stood up from their seat, the sound of the door suddenly opening with a click came from the entrance.
Jin Jumo’s eyes trembled slightly as she heard Xixi’s loud voice floating in from the living room.
"Dad."
"Mm." The man responded softly.
Right after, Xixi raced into Rong Mochen’s arms.
Rong Mochen opened his arms and lifted Xixi up in a single motion.
"Hehe." Xixi laughed joyfully, her tiny chubby arms wrapped around Rong Mochen’s neck, her forehead affectionately pressed against his, her bright eyes staring at him.
Rong Mochen slightly curled his lips and pecked Xixi’s chubby cheek.
In return, Xixi also kissed Rong Mochen’s face and said, "Dad, have you eaten?"
"No." Rong Mochen said in a low voice, glancing sideways at Jin Jumo, who was about to clear the dining table.
Xixi obediently turned her head towards Jin Jumo, "Mommy, Dad hasn’t eaten yet."
Jin Jumo pursed her lips lightly and looked at Rong Mochen, "Do you want to eat?"
Rong Mochen finally moved his gaze onto Jin Jumo.
At the moment he looked over, Jin Jumo unexpectedly felt a bit nervous, taking a light breath and saying, "The food’s a bit cold, if you want to eat, I’ll go heat it up in the kitchen."
Rong Mochen squinted slightly, his voice neither cold nor warm, "Sorry to trouble you."
Jin Jumo bit her lip, feeling as if her heart was pierced by his polite yet distant words, stirring a faint, bitter pain.
She clenched her hands slightly and said nothing, picking up the dishes on the table and heading to the kitchen.
Rong Mochen’s dark eyes deepened as he watched Jin Jumo’s silhouette disappear into the kitchen.
Jin Jumo brought the heated meal back to the table, glanced towards the person sitting in the living room playing racing games with the two children, and bit her lower lip, saying, "The food is ready."
"Mm." Rong Mochen didn’t even look at her, responding indifferently.
Jin Jumo felt her heart as if it had been soaked in sour water, with an overwhelming acidity flooding her heart.
As she watched him get up and walk towards her, his profound, unnoticeably emotional eyes casually swept over her, then looked away.
Jin Jumo bit her lip, turning towards the kitchen before he came closer.
Rong Mochen’s brow moved slightly, saying, "Join me for a bite."
"..." Jin Jumo’s back slightly stiffened, uncertainly turning back to look at him.
Rong Mochen raised his cold eyes to her.
Jin Jumo then confirmed that he was speaking to her.
She clenched her fists slightly and nodded, returning to the dining table.
The two sat across from each other at the table, Jin Jumo’s long lashes lowered as she ate bite by bite, appearing utterly tasteless.
"Lost your appetite eating with me?" He suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as ice.
Jin Jumo paused slightly, raising her eyes to him.
Rong Mochen barely lifted his eyelids, his dark eyes showing no trace of emotion.
Jin Jumo blinked and said softly, "No, I’m just not hungry."
Rong Mochen squinted, "If you really don’t want to eat with me, don’t force yourself."
Jin Jumo’s delicate face wrinkled, something began to well up in her peach blossom eyes, biting her lower lip as she stared at Rong Mochen’s coldly handsome face, still soft but with a hint of restraint, "I said I’m not."
Rong Mochen coldly tugged at his thin lips, not commenting.
Jin Jumo clenched her chopsticks tightly, a breath stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down, her face switching between pale and flushed.
Rong Mochen seemed not to notice, eating slowly and deliberately.
Jin Jumo stared at him for a while, getting no response, feeling disheartened, she let out a self-mocking smile, put down her chopsticks, and left the dining room.
Rong Mochen didn’t pay attention to her, only slightly tensing his thin lips.
It was past ten at night, and both Xixi and Hanhan were already asleep.
In the master bedroom, Jin Jumo sat dazedly on the edge of the bed, the ticking of the clock filling her ears.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard the sound of the door opening quietly behind her.
Jin Jumo’s hands clenched tightly on her knees, then released, and she stood up from the bed, heading towards the door, "I’ll sleep with Xixi and Hanhan tonight."
As she passed by him, her arm was caught firmly by the man’s large hand.
Then, his gentle voice came, "You don’t have to deliberately avoid me. If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave."
Jin Jumo’s thin body quivered, her eyes unconsciously reddening as she looked up at Rong Mochen, her voice slightly hoarse, "Fine, leave then."
Rong Mochen remained expressionless, his dark eyes glanced lightly at Jin Jumo’s reddened eyes, letting go of her arm and turning to walk out.
Jin Jumo swore.
She had never, ever been forced into such a situation by anyone!
It was as if her airway was completely blocked, leaving her breathless.
Staring at his cold, decisive departing back, Jin Jumo clenched her palm tightly, coldly chuckling, "Is this what you meant by not forcing me?"
Rong Mochen’s legs continued towards the door without any pause.
Jin Jumo’s eyes were covered with a thin mist, and as the man disappeared entirely from the apartment, tears began to flow.