007 Clarification

It's hard to describe the feeling in that moment.

I saw my daughter-in-law pinch Qin Yue's arm, and I saw some regret on his face.

But still, I felt like this wasn't my home.

Suddenly, my life seemed like a failure.

I started packing my things, and after I finished, I couldn't help but feel even more defeated.

There were only a few clothes left.

Some of them I had worn for many years.

What was I thinking back then?

I'm getting older, and wearing something nice won't matter. It's better to buy for Qin Yue, buy for Jingjing.

I remembered my old friend, who's now gone, once said that Qin Yue had been spoiled by me.

What did I say?

"No, Qin Yue is my little cotton-padded jacket."

I touched a black cotton-padded jacket.

It was one Qin Yue had bought for me with his New Year's money when he was little.

I had never been able to wear it, leaving it aside, occasionally taking it out when I tidied up.

I could always recall that moment—young Qin Yue, sweating on his little nose, handing me the cotton-padded jacket.

He said, "Daughters are their father's little cotton-padded jackets."

He was my son, and he wanted to be my little cotton-padded jacket.

But now,

he had probably forgotten.

He had grown accustomed to his mother's sacrifice, accustomed to the busyness that overlooked the family.

He had grown used to a father who was easy-going and didn't nag, and a mother who never got angry no matter how he acted.

I stared at the jacket for a while.

In the end, I took it out of the suitcase.

The memories were lovely.

But they were all in the past.

I pulled my suitcase out the door, just as Qin Yue, who was about to push the door open, bumped into me.

He froze for a moment, then blocked my way.

"Mom, what are you doing? Where are you going?"

I didn't know.

I had once bought a small apartment, but later sold it to buy a house for Qin Yue.

I thought for a long time, and Qin Yue sighed.

"Mom, I was wrong. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

"Are you going back? Let me take you."

"You and Dad should talk. You're husband and wife, and no matter what, you'll spend your lives together."

"No need."

"Wherever I go from now on, it has nothing to do with you."