After being reborn, I raised my childhood sweetheart.

Chapter 37 I really wish she could be my mother (Please read on, please vote!)

Xu Qiuyun was also surprised to see Xu Yuan. "Yuanyuan, what are you doing here?"

“I came with my dad, and we’re having barbecue here.”

"This is my dad."

Xu Yuan introduced to Xu Jingguang, "Dad, this Aunt Xu is Xia Ke's mother."

Xu Qiuyun greeted Xu Jingguang with a smile, "Hello, hello... Haven't we met before?"

"Are you the owner of the flower shop over on Guta Road?"

Xu Jingguang said with a smile, "I have indeed seen you before. I even bought flowers from you last week."

"Oh...right, Lin Jing introduced you to my house, right?"

Xu Qiuyun asked Xu Jingguang curiously, "How are those flowers doing now? I really like that clivia; it's the prized possession of our store!"

Clivia is considered a luxury green plant in this era. Seedlings cost 50 yuan, while mature plants cost over 200 yuan, making it a symbol of a family's status and identity.

Although clivia does bloom, the flowering period is very short, and it is mostly cared for as a green plant.

Unlike ordinary green plants, clivia has very high requirements for care. This delicate potted plant can easily die if not properly cared for.

"They're all growing quite well. Actually, I'm not the one growing the flowers; Lin Jing is the one taking care of them."

Xu Qiuyun clapped her hands happily: "Then you've really struck gold! Lin Jing helped out at my shop for a while when she couldn't find a job before. She's really talented at taking care of flowers and plants."

As she spoke, she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was thinking that if she really couldn't find a job, she could continue working for me. But she felt that she was causing me trouble and didn't want to owe me too many favors."

Xu Jingguang listened with a helpless expression, "Yes, that's how Xiaolin is... She always resists when others are nice to her."

Xu Qiuyun and Xu Jingguang's conversation ranged from growing flowers to Lin Jing, and once they started talking, they couldn't stop.

Their conversation was warm and intimate, which made He Xiaona, who couldn't get a word in edgewise, feel a shadow of unease.

Although it was only a brief moment, this scene was immediately captured by Xu Yuan, who was monitoring He Xiaona.

He immediately cleared up his previous doubts.

Yes……

I understand.

He Xiaona's persistent clinging to her father and unwillingness to let go easily stems from a unique advantage she holds with him—

Dad has no competitors.

Since his wife's death, Xu Jingguang has kept his distance from women around him.

Men of his caliber, even those with wives at home, always have many mistresses and affairs.

He Xiaona couldn't control a man like that for long.

He might stay with you because of your beauty, but in his heart you're just a commodity. Once your beauty is severely devalued, he'll ruthlessly look for the next one.

If she were younger, He Xiaona might have been more confident.

But now that she's 30, aging and losing her looks are her biggest concerns.

Besides, she doesn't want to have a child with someone and rely on her son for status.

Therefore, in He Xiaona's eyes, her father was a wealthy man who "lived a decent life".

Moreover, she held a dominant emotional position with Xu Jingguang.

In that case, Dad has a huge advantage!
However, this advantage has now been weakened.

Because a formidable opponent has appeared beside my father.

Xu Qiuyun's everyday outfits are naturally not as stylish as He Xiaona's elaborate attire, but she exudes a natural and unpretentious fresh beauty.

She would suddenly clap her hands happily, or naturally make a gesture of tucking her hair in her hair, without the slightest hint of affectation.

She exuded an innate cuteness that was pleasing to Xu Yuan's eye.

I like Aunt Xu so much, of course my dad feels the same way as me!
Xu Qiuyun's gaze then fell upon the woman who had been staring at her:

"Um, who is this?"

"Um, I am—"

He Xiaona was about to introduce herself when Xu Yuan preemptively revealed his identity:

"This is Aunt He, my dad's classmate. Isn't she beautiful!"

"It is indeed beautiful!"

Although He Xiaona was unhappy with Xu Yuan's use of the term "classmate," she was also pleased with Xu Yuan's comment about her being "pretty," and greeted Xu Qiuyun with a smile.
"Thank you, you're quite pretty too."

"Yes, yes!"

When Xu Yuan mentioned Xu Qiuyun, he immediately showered her with compliments, saying, "Aunt Xu is the most beautiful and gentlest aunt I've ever met in my life!"

"Haha, I'm not as good as you say... How old are you?"

Xu Qiuyun pinched Xu Yuan's cheek, "How can you be so sweet-talking, Auntie is getting embarrassed!"

The so-called praise is actually a form of criticism. Xu Yuan's words seemed to be just praising Xu Qiuyun, but to He Xiaona, they were like a knife to her heart.

She's the prettiest auntie, so what about me?
Then I go?
He Xiaona just wanted Xu Jingguang and Xu Yuan to leave this woman as soon as possible.

"Well, shouldn't we head back now? Old Song and the others are probably still waiting for us, Yuan Yuan?"

"Wait a minute..."

Xu Yuan, holding Xu Qiuyun's hand, swayed back and forth, "Aunt Xu, Aunt Xu, what are you doing here?" Xu Qiuyun explained, "I came out for a walk with Ake and her dad. We went to buy something, and when we came back, we couldn't find them."

"Then, I'll help you find it!"

He Xiaona looked helpless. "Yuanyuan, aren't we going back to eat barbecue? Um—"

Xu Jingguang knew that Xu Yuan was worried that Xia Ke had gotten lost, so he asked in his place, "Where were you taking a walk before? Couldn't you get through to her on the phone?"

"I was in a rush to leave and forgot to bring my phone."

Xu Yuan sighed after hearing this, "Aunt Xu, you really are something, going out without your phone. How could you be so careless?"

"Hehehe..." Xu Qiuyun stuck out her tongue, her charming and cute appearance directly touched Xu Yuan's heart.

Xu Yuan turned to his father and asked, "Dad, could you lend Aunt Xu your phone so she can call Uncle Xia?"

"Sure, here you go..."

"Um, the phone number is..."

Xu Qiuyun dialed Xia Lei's phone number.

"Hello, honey? Where are you now? On the carousel? I'm at the convenience store by the pavilion. The phone... this phone is borrowed from Yuan Yuan's dad."

A clear and loud voice immediately came from the other end of the phone:

"Young Master! Young Master! Is the Young Master with Mother too? I need to see the Young Master, Father!"

After waiting for a while, everyone saw Xia Lei appear in the crowd holding his daughter Xia Ke's hand.

Xia Lei wore a long-sleeved shirt and big shorts, his thighs were covered with dense leg hair, and he scratched his leg hair halfway through the walk, showing a slovenly appearance like a wild beast.
Xia Ke, whom he was holding hands with, had her hair in a bun today and was wearing a beige hoodie, finally paying attention to keeping warm.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan, she immediately skipped and hopped up to him, grabbed his hand and shook it, "It's been so long, young master! I really missed you so much!"

"We met this morning... Ah, hello Uncle Xia."

Xu Yuan greeted Xia Lei, but Xia Lei's mind was not on Xu Yuan, the young man, but on Xu Jingguang, the old man.

Xia Lei originally thought that Yuan Yuan's father was the kind of burly, fat capitalist with a face full of fat, but he didn't expect him to be such a handsome man with a charming demeanor and successful career.

Seeing him standing with his wife from afar, with his wife smiling and waving at him, Xia Lei felt that they looked more like a couple.

Add to that Xu Jingguang's clean-shaven beard and neat attire, and then look at my own unkempt appearance.

Xia Lei subconsciously tidied his greasy hair that hadn't been washed for two days, then frowned and stared at Xu Jingguang with a scrutinizing gaze, "You're Yuanyuan's dad?"

"Hello, hello. Yuanyuan was taken care of by you at your house before."

Xu Jingguang wanted to shake hands with Xia Lei, but Xia Lei seemed reluctant. However, he still shook hands with him unwillingly, saying, "Well... my daughter has also received a lot of care from you."

Damn it, what the hell am I so nervous about!
"Honey, did you know that Yuan Yuan's dad is also patronizing my flower shop business!"

Xu Qiuyun, with her arm around her husband's, smiled and said to Xia Lei, "He bought a lot of potted plants from our store before, they were such a big help!"

"..."

"?!"

Although Xu Qiuyun was just sharing her happy moments, Xia Lei's sense of crisis suddenly increased at this moment.

Your son keeps trying to get my daughter to come to his house to play. I'll let it slide for now, since you're both kids. After all, this is the first boy Ake has ever made.

You old man, how dare you go to my wife's flower shop? That's just not right!
Seeing Xia Lei's unkempt and vulgar appearance, He Xiaona was also in a panic.

Although this woman has a husband, the difference between him and Jin Guang is far too great!
It looks like it was picked out of a trash can!

If this woman continues to be in contact with Jingguang and learns how good he is, she might just dump her husband and run into Jingguang's arms!

Seeing Xu Qiuyun still giving Xu Jingguang some pointers on flower care, Xia Lei felt uneasy and immediately called out to Xia Ke, who was whispering to Xu Yuan:
"Alright, Ake, we should go now."

Xia Ke seemed reluctant, clinging to Xu Yuan's arm and refusing to let go. "Yuan Yuan said they're having barbecue, and I want to go with him."

"Look at you, so pathetic! It's not like we can't afford to eat!"

At this moment, Xu Qiuyun also advised, "Ake, it's a gathering of friends. It's not appropriate for you to go. Go back with your parents!"

Xia Ke reluctantly said goodbye to Xu Yuan.

On the way back to the barbecue stall, He Xiaona couldn't contain her excitement and asked Xu Yuan with a smile:

"Yuanyuan, you seem to really like that auntie?"

Xu Yuan nodded vigorously, "Aunt Xu is so, so good to me. We got caught in the rain while playing outside, and she even helped me take a bath. Besides, her cooking is excellent, and she always smells wonderful. And also..."

Xu Yuan's words were full of praise for Xu Qiuyun, extolling her to the skies.

"Is she really that good?" Xu Jingguang asked.

"Dad, let me tell you, if she didn't have a husband, I really wish she could be my mom!"

"Don't talk nonsense, kid."

Xu Jingguang patted Xu Yuan on the forehead, and Xu Yuan looked somewhat unconvinced:
"Does Dad think she's not good enough?"

"I didn't say that..."

Xu Jingguang said with a smile, "You, Aunt Xu, chat with people like a young girl, you're quite energetic."

Seeing He Xiaona's uneasy expression, Xu Yuan immediately calmed down.

Clearly, she had lost her former elegance and composure.

She started to get anxious again.

　It's a new week, everyone please vote for me! Love you all~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)