The First Girl Brought Home

Zhou Mo was momentarily speechless because Han Chen had hit a sore spot. Who knew just how indifferent she was towards relationships now, when back then, she had been so invested in her relationship with Han Chen? The design, the arguments, and the emotions were all real. It was the innocent feelings of a young girl, where everything was genuine and heartfelt. However, Zhou Mo was arrogant, and she refused to admit it verbally. But as one of the parties involved, Han Chen couldn’t possibly be unaware.

When they were dating, could Han Chen not know whether Zhou Mo had feelings for him? But that was then, and this is now.

“It’s been so long, I no longer feel anything,” Zhou Mo said.

“Because you have a new love affair?” Han Chen asked.

“Yes!” Zhou Mo glared at him.

“How many have you dated?” Han Chen asked in a stern voice.

“Do you count or not?” Zhou Mo asked.

“And how could I not count?” Han Chen coldly retorted.

“In that case, four,” Zhou Mo told the truth.

Han Chen’s face turned dark, extremely unsightly.

Zhou Mo reminded him, “You asked.”

With a soft snort, Han Chen got up and went to the living room.

Zhou Mo looked at his seemingly angry figure, feeling quite dissatisfied. “What’s the situation? We broke up, and you won’t allow me to have a new relationship? What kind of logic is that? Besides, I don’t believe that you haven’t dated anyone after we broke up.”

Han Chen raised his gaze and said solemnly, “I haven’t.”

Zhou Mo was stunned.

After a moment, she regained her composure and asked, “Not even during college?”

“No.”

Zhou Mo still found it hard to believe. She scrutinized Han Chen with suspicion, recalling the real reason for their breakup, as well as the rumors from their high school days...

“You can’t possibly...” She stopped halfway through her sentence.

Han Chen frowned. “Can’t possibly what?”

“Nothing,” Zhou Mo quickly changed the subject. “When is Auntie Liang coming?”

“I’ll ask,” Han Chen took out his phone and sent a message.

Liang Xinyun replied quickly, saying that she would be there soon.

“I’ll go downstairs to pick her up,” Han Chen got up.

“Do you need me to go with you?”

Han Chen glanced at Zhou Mo icily. “Don’t you want my mom to know about the marriage registration? Or do you want to make her suspicious and complicate things?”

Zhou Mo shook her head immediately. “I won’t go. You go by yourself.”

Han Chen left.

After a while, there was movement at the door, and Zhou Mo opened it voluntarily.

Liang Xinyun had a smile on her face. Without changing her shoes, she came up and excitedly held Zhou Mo’s hands. “Mo Mo, you’re really here. I thought Han Chen was fooling me.”

“Seems like Han Chen has been lying to you so much that you don’t believe him,” Zhou Mo glanced secretly at Han Chen, who hadn’t entered the house yet.

“But of course,” Liang Xinyun turned her head and glared at Han Chen. “Every year, he promises to find a partner, but every year, I don’t see any trace of a partner. After you graduated from high school, he never dated anyone again. For so many years, you’re the first girl he’s brought home.”

Zhou Mo blushed a little.

“You’re the first girl Han Chen has brought home...” That sentence was still fresh in Zhou Mo’s memory. At that time, Zhou Mo had just begun her revenge plan, so she deliberately approached Han Chen, who lived right across from her, to ask him difficult questions that even the teachers advised everyone to give up on.

The first time Zhou Mo went to Han Chen’s house, Liang Xinyun smiled meaningfully and chatted briefly with Zhou Mo. She poured water for Zhou Mo, brought out some snacks, and made a playful remark at the end.

At that time, Zhou Mo had just started pursuing Han Chen, and they weren’t even a couple yet. Her fondness for Han Chen probably began with her fondness for Liang Xinyun.

Han Chen carried the dishes and went to the kitchen.

Zhou Mo and Liang Xinyun were sitting in the living room, chatting. Zhou Mo poured a cup of tea for Liang Xinyun and said, “Han Chen brewed tea. Give it a try.”

“I’ve tried it before. He brewed it for me,” Liang Xinyun took the teacup. “Wasn’t it a pleasant surprise?”

“What do you mean?” Zhou Mo asked.

“Han Chen has changed,” Liang Xinyun said. “He has made significant progress.”

“But it’s still not enough,” Liang Xinyun continued. “He can handle household chores now, but he still can’t cook. If it weren’t for the hospital cafeteria, he would probably be ordering takeout every day.”

Han Chen came out of the kitchen. “Mom, don’t say nonsense. I can do more than just cook porridge.”

“Yes, you’re good at cooking porridge. But can you eat porridge every day?” Liang Xinyun asked.

Han Chen remained silent.

Liang Xinyun shook her head helplessly, stood up, and sighed. “I’ll take care of the cooking.”

“Auntie, let me help you,” Zhou Mo followed her into the kitchen.

Liang Xinyun didn’t refuse. With Zhou Mo here, it was just like it used to be at her house. She had always treated Zhou Mo like her goddaughter, not as an outsider. Liang Xinyun regretted not having a daughter in their lifetime. She couldn’t give birth at the time, and now her health and family wouldn’t allow it.

“Auntie, have you been staying at the recuperation center all these years? Didn’t you come back to Capital City with Han Chen for university?” Zhou Mo asked.

“Han Chen went abroad a few years after starting university. I was alone in the Capital, so I came back to Dongjiang. My old classmates and friends are all here,” Liang Xinyun replied.

Zhou Mo peeled a scallion and asked, “Why didn’t you come to live across the street from my house? If you had come, my parents could have taken care of you.”

Liang Xinyun forgot about Han Chen, who was standing at the kitchen door, and said, “Isn’t it all because of him?”

Zhou Mo looked in Han Chen’s direction. “Han Chen? What happened to him?”

“You two broke up, right? I was afraid that if I came back, it would make things awkward for both of you,” Liang Xinyun explained.

“What?” Zhou Mo couldn’t help but laugh and cry. “We’re not that immature. Our relationship is between the two of us and won’t affect our families. Besides, Auntie, you’re such a nice person. Our whole family doesn’t want to cut ties with you, our lovely neighbor. My parents always say that since your house hasn’t been rented out or sold, you’ll probably come back to live. We were hoping, and you actually came back.”

“It wasn’t my initiative to come back. It was Han Chen...” Liang Xinyun began.

“Mom,” Han Chen suddenly spoke up, “Hurry up, I’m hungry.”

Liang Xinyun smiled and remained silent.

After Han Chen turned away, Zhou Mo quietly asked Liang Xinyun, “Did Han Chen ask you to come back?”

“Yes,” Liang Xinyun also spoke softly. “He paid for the renovation of the house and found the construction team. He didn’t have time to supervise the project, so he asked me to check on it every few days.”

Ripples surged in Zhou Mo’s heart, and she couldn’t suppress the smile at the corner of her lips.

Liang Xinyun looked around vigilantly and leaned close to Zhou Mo’s ear. “I think Han Chen hasn’t forgotten about you.”

“I think so too,” Zhou Mo replied.

Liang Xinyun looked surprised. “Then, what about you two...”

Zhou Mo suddenly realized something and quickly explained, “Auntie, please don’t overthink it. I have been troubled lately and cannot spare any thoughts to consider matters of love.”

“Can’t Liang Dongyan help you?” Auntie asked.

Zhou Mo was surprised, “You know him?”

Afraid that Liang Dongyan might reveal the secret, she told Liang Xinyun about getting married.

“Dongyan told me that Han Chen asked him to help you with a lawsuit and asked if I knew you. I told him I did. He asked me to pay more attention to you and even mentioned that there might be something between you and Han Chen.”

Zhou Mo chuckled, unsure whether she feeling happy or sad.