Those naive and tender years of Mrs. Tian who returned from overseas

  In the late afternoon, Tian Tian stood under the bus stop sign waiting for the hospital-bound bus. Next to her was a tall pagoda tree. She walked over to the tree and leaned against its trunk. For some reason, she had always been fond of those peculiarly shaped ancient trees, especially in summer when their broad outlines were covered with dark green leaves, full of vitality, refreshing and mysterious. Wearing headphones and listening to music, she watched as people came and went, suddenly feeling that the bustling city seemed unusually slow at this moment, like a replayed scene, stretching time endlessly. She was in that small but real interval, carefree and content. The sunset dyed everything with a warm, ancient tone, as if it were a fragment from a distant past. Everyone was without sorrow or joy, seemingly having left their feelings of warmth and coolness at the end of their memories.

  Today, she tied up her thick black hair, revealing a clean and delicate forehead. Her eyes lost focus as she stared ahead, her vision blurry. The corners of her mouth suddenly curved into an almost imperceptible smile, then she lightly stepped onto the bus that had just stopped beside her. She found a seat by the window and gazed out at the receding scenery, wondering what was on her mind. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone sitting down next to her, accompanied by the faint scent of laundry detergent. She turned her head in that direction, and saw Peng Sizhe's bright smile, like a peach blossom. He waved at her with a small gesture, "What a coincidence, heh."

  "Hmm," Tian Tian turned her head back to the window and said softly, "It's quite a coincidence." Just wait and see if you can still say that so lightly later, she thought.

  "Uh, is there a nice view outside the window?" Peng Sze looked out of the window for a few seconds, all he saw were trees and high-rise buildings behind them.

  "No." She replied briefly and then suddenly remembered something, turned her head and asked him, "Do you have a pen?"

  Tian Tian suddenly spoke up, leaving him surprised and delighted, "Here it is!" As he said that, he took his backpack off his shoulder, unzipped it, pulled out a pen, and handed it to Tian Tian. In those few short seconds, the bag in his hand was snatched away by several boys behind him. Before he could react, they had already thrown the bag out of the window onto the street, and then made faces at each other mischievously. Peng Sze was stunned, still unable to process what had just happened, staring blankly at the backpack that had been flung far away, for nearly ten seconds.

  Just in time, the bus arrived at the station half a minute later, and Peng Sizhe rushed off the bus like an arrow, running to his backpack, hastily picking up the scattered stationery and books on the floor. Everything was as tightly arranged as planned. At this moment, a motorcycle came speeding from behind, and Peng Sizhe's eyes widened again as he stared at the rapidly approaching motorcycle. His mind went blank, and he felt like the god of death was right behind him, pulling his collar towards the grave. He stopped moving, his eyes fixed on the motorcycle getting closer and closer to him. The loud roar of the engine made him feel like his brain was swelling, his pupils dilating, and he felt like his seven orifices were about to bleed. The asphalt road seemed to be burning hot. But the motorcycle did not crash into him; instead, it stopped just five centimeters away from his body. Peng Sizhe's entire body was drenched in cold sweat. He moved his index finger, feeling that he could still control his brain and was alive in this world. Suddenly, he realized how beautiful life was. The man on the motorcycle looked at him with a mocking gaze, started the engine again, and drove straight forward. Peng Sizhe's line of sight followed the man until it stopped at the petite figure standing under the bus stop sign. She seemed to be smiling at him faintly, and the motorcycle stopped in front of her, taking her away, leaving behind a cloud of dust.

  Peng Sze sat on the floor for a long time without regaining consciousness...

  In the hospital, as she pushed open the door to the ward, her fingertips touched the icy door handle. She looked at the figure sitting on the stool, and stood there stiffly for a long time, neither advancing nor retreating. She didn't know why, but tears welled up in her eyes, and the emotions that had been suppressed deep within her suddenly overflowed like a mighty wave crashing down, making her breathe rapidly.

  The woman turned around and met her gaze, smiling warmly like the March sun, with a hint of inexplicable estrangement. "Xiao Tian."

  A woman in her thirties, still so young and beautiful, with only a few fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, fair skin, well-maintained, with a layer of transparent lip gloss on her lips, light black eye shadow that looks fashionable and not common, hair casually tied back, held by a crystal hairpin that looks valuable, a black professional suit that showcases her capable and efficient work style, "You're still so young." Tian Tian said indifferently after sizing her up from head to toe.

  Mrs. Tian placed the back of her hand under her nose, lowered her head by thirty degrees, and smiled lightly with a lot of style. At this moment, she forgave her daughter's coldness and distance. This girl had been strong-willed since childhood, and she hadn't disciplined her much. Her daughter did everything she thought was right in silence, and naturally didn't do anything wrong either. She took good care of Xiao Cheng with great attention to detail, which also made her very satisfied. So, she brushed off her daughter's slightly sarcastic words and casually asked, "Has your studying been stressful lately?"

  "It's fine," Tian Tian replied absent-mindedly, seemingly not wanting to linger on this topic for too long. She walked up to Tian Cheng and rubbed his head, gently asking, "Were you good today? Does your tummy still hurt?"

  Tian Hengsong let out a sigh of relief as he held onto Tian Taotao's hand, feeling the spot on her belly, and said with great enthusiasm, "It doesn't hurt anymore." The sparkle in his eyes was like that of a little tadpole who had just found its mother, shaking its head and wagging its tail adorably. It seemed that the nourishment of maternal love could make him grow even more vigorously, like a sapling absorbing nutrients. That kind of love was not something she, as his sister, could provide, no matter how hard she tried. She felt a slight pang in her heart, and all she could say was, "That's good."

  "Alan," Tian Tian called out to Alan, who was standing beside her, waiting for instructions. "Take a photo of Xiaocheng and Mom, it's not easy to come back this time, we should leave some memories. If Mom is not around on certain days, we can look at the photos to ease our longing." As she said this, her voice became hoarse, especially when she called out "Mom", it was as if a lump of sugar was stuck in her throat, and she couldn't swallow or spit it out.

  "Huh...... Okay! But aren't you going to take a photo together with me, miss?"

  "I won't have to," Tian Tian smiled.

  "Uh-huh," Mrs. Tien replied, "Xiao Cheng should smile more brightly."

  At that moment, Tian Tian felt like a stranger, and this mother seemed to not treat herself as her daughter. If there was a word to describe it, it would be respect. That's all, so she smiled and gazed at the elegant Mrs. Tian and the lovely Xiao Cheng, who were leaning intimately against each other, smiling sweetly, just like a mother and son without any distance between them. The air was filled with a sweet fragrance, and she fantasized about herself also leaning on her mother's shoulder, sleeping soundly in that gentle arm curve. However, it was like an illusory dream, and she deeply knew that such happiness did not belong to her.

  "Xiao Tian, come with me to buy some things." Mrs. Tian said to Xiao Tian who was doing her homework after dinner.

  Tian Tian put down her pen and looked up at Mrs. Tian, "Okay."

  Neon lights flicker on the roadside, and the towering skyscrapers, adorned with various forms of lighting at night, take on a unique charm. The vehicles speeding along the asphalt roads show no signs of slowing down with the arrival of night, continuing to move swiftly forward. This city, in the early days of the new century, has demonstrated its immense development potential, not giving itself any chance to catch its breath, rapidly advancing through time, seizing opportunities, and finally welcoming a moment of prosperity, reliving its former glory. This city transforms its ancient and modern, its dim and bright, its joys and sorrows into a tangible, newly-born lifeblood that merges into people's hearts, burning and even boiling over.

  Mrs. Tian and Tian Tiantian walked slowly along the road, letting time slip away in their palms, patiently waiting for each other to speak up. Finally, Mrs. Tian spoke first, "You seem to have a lot of opinions about me, you know I'm busy with my career." There was a hint of helplessness in her tone.

  "What's wrong?" Tian Tian raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think that much, it doesn't matter to me," she paused, "I just felt sorry for Xiao Cheng."

  "Alas," said Madame Tian with a soft sigh, seemingly out of pity for the child's fate, and then casually said, "If so, I'll take him to France to raise him?"

  Tian Tian let out a soft laugh, as if self-mocking, "Your meaning is, to leave myself here?" After she said this sentence, she took a breath of cool air and suddenly felt that the summer night was so cold.

  Tiantai replaced the answer with silence, and the world began to feel empty again, as if there was nothing worth Tiansweet's feelings or love. Her eyes became clearer, three points colder than usual. She said, "Unless you step over my corpse, otherwise, it's impossible."

  Mrs. Tian clutched the plastic bag tightly, making a "rustling" sound, and let out a cold laugh as she looked down at her stubborn daughter with an air of ridicule. She was like a fierce little leopard that would counterattack twice as hard when attacked. It was really good. So, without any expression, she said, "I won't take him away, so you'd better take good care of Xiao Cheng."

  "I'll definitely do that!" Tian Tian's face turned red with anger, she still hadn't reached the point of being calm and composed. Fortunately, it was evening, so her mother wouldn't see her flustered state. She thought to herself, this way, at least she wouldn't lose face. It seemed that her mother really didn't love her after all, only caring about Xiaocheng. She couldn't even be bothered to pretend, and suddenly felt a decrease in her hopes for maternal love. Maybe it was better this way, so her heart wouldn't shatter into pieces. Look at how cruel her mother was! "When are you leaving?" she asked, just as a car sped by, blowing the loose hairs on her forehead, making her voice seem distant.

  "Tomorrow, there is a contract at the company that requires my signature." Mrs. Tian said formally.

  "Oh." Tian Tian responded with a sound, "Don't let Xiaocheng know about it, okay?"

  Digression

  Today, the city where I am has a light drizzle and the temperature drops sharply. Did you spend Double Ninth Festival with your family? Or like me, alone in a foreign land.

  This book is released by Xiaoxiang Bookyard, please don't re-post!