After being reborn, I raised my childhood sweetheart.

Chapter 51 You Can Cry in Our Arms Too (Third Update, Please Vote!)

As the hotel staff gradually arrived, the annual meeting officially began.

"Next, please welcome Mr. Xu from Jinxiu Jiangnan to the stage to speak."

The owner, Xu Jingguang, thanked every employee for their contributions to the hotel throughout the year, followed by a long and tedious speech.

Xu Yuan observed He Xiaona's movements for a while and found that she was chatting and laughing with several colleagues from the finance department, and that the one named Lin Feng was particularly attentive to her.

Xia Ke then patted his arm.

"Young master, look, Wang Qiang is here too."

Wang Qiang was sitting at the next table, enjoying his meal while Xu Jingguang was talking.

After showing off the chicken leg on his table, Wang Qiang went to another table to find something to eat.

As he touched things, he ended up touching Xu Yuan's desk.

He had just reached for the chicken leg when someone pressed his hand down with chopsticks.

Let me see which blind fool dares to block my path to a feast!
The person holding down Wang Qiang's hand was Xu Yuan, who had a cold expression. Xia Ke and Lin Yueyao, who were standing to the side, were also staring at him with serious expressions.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan's face, Wang Qiang suddenly felt a terrible psychological shadow.

It's Young Master!
Wang Qiang felt a phantom pain in his lower body, then quietly withdrew his hand and slunk away.

As the dishes were served one by one, the women became engrossed in gossip and chatter, while the men became absorbed in the toasting culture.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the raucous drinking, everyone was feasting.

"Mr. Xu, let me toast you again."

"President Xu, come on, let me also toast to all the leaders!"

"Old Xu, you have no choice but to drink this cup. If you don't, you're not giving me face."

Lin Yueyao asked Xu Yuan in a low voice, "Brother Yuan, is Uncle Xu alright after drinking so much?"

"He can hold his liquor well, don't worry too much about him."

After all, it's the annual party, and as the boss, it wouldn't be right for me not to drink with everyone.

After participating in various games together, the lucky draw ended. Everyone received money and prizes, and they were all very happy, with smiles on their faces.

The annual meeting signifies the end of a year of hard work, and it's always a joyful occasion.

Although Xu Yuan didn't sit at the main table, his previous achievements at the wedding speak for themselves. He was called around to toast people and say auspicious words, making him practically a representative of a father figure.

Of course, when chatting with his uncles and aunts, Xu Yuan also tried his best to create a very good image for Lin Jing when they asked about her background.

After the elders finished offering their respects, Xu Yuan went to catch Xia Ke, who was running around everywhere, and glanced back at the main table, noticing that his father's seat was still empty.

Dad went to the bathroom just now, why hasn't he come back yet?
……

Xu Yuan subconsciously looked towards He Xiaona's position.

He Xiaona's seat was also empty.

Oh my god! This is awful!
Xu Yuan returned to his seat and explained his whereabouts to Lin Jing:

"My dad hasn't come back yet, I need to go find him."

"Hey, Yuanyuan, don't run around!"

Before Lin Jing could even say anything, Xu Yuan dashed out.

There is always a loophole!
I should have thought of it earlier...

Although Dad has a high alcohol tolerance, as the host today, he will inevitably be pressured to drink. Even the best drinker will get drunk eventually.

So, if He Xiaona seizes this opportunity and takes advantage of her father's drunken state to grope him, forcing him into a relationship and demanding that he take responsibility for her, then I will truly have been forced to have another mother!
Xu Yuan searched everywhere in the hotel, asking people about his father's whereabouts.

"Your dad is Mr. Xu, right? He just took He Xiaona outside the hotel, but he seems to have had quite a bit to drink; he was a little unsteady on his feet."

Did they go outside?

Why, why did Dad bring it on his own initiative?

Logically, this shouldn't be the case...

Xu Yuan rushed out, and just a few steps from the hotel entrance, he saw a scene that shocked him:

"Marry me, Xiaona!"

The man, kneeling on one knee, showed He Xiaona a small box he had carefully prepared. When the box was opened, there was a tiny diamond ring inside.

"I...I will be good to you for the rest of my life!"

"Xu Jingguang, what do you mean by this?"

"You called me here..."

He Xiaona pursed her lips, pointed at the man kneeling on one knee, her body trembling with anger:
"Make him propose to me?"

Standing to the side, Xu Jingguang explained, "I've noticed that Lin Feng has always been quite attentive to you, and you also have feelings for him, so I wanted to help you two get together."

He smiled and said, "Lin Feng is a very good person. Although he is a few years younger than you, he is indeed a devoted and family-oriented man."

"Most importantly, I think he's the right person for you."

Upon hearing these words that Xu Jingguang had once said, He Xiaona finally realized that Xu Jingguang had been planning this all along.

"Do you know...do you know...who used to be pursuing me?"

She pointed at Lin Feng and yelled, "A low-class man like him doesn't even deserve to be my backup option!"

"Do you take me for some cheap, worthless slut?!"

He Xiaona strode forward aggressively and launched into a tirade of insults at Xu Jingguang:
"Let me tell you, I'm quitting! I never want to see you again! Get the hell out of here!"

"But... this seems to be my hotel."

"Fine, I'm leaving! Who wants to work in this lousy place!"

He Xiaona ran off aggressively, and Lin Feng quickly stood up from his kneeling position and jogged after her.

He kept muttering, "Xiaona, Xiaona! Wait a minute... You're wearing a cheongsam, don't fall!"

Seeing this farce unfold so suddenly, Xu Yuan didn't know whether to be happy or aggrieved.

She had meticulously planned and schemed for so long, trying to find a way to make her father give up on He Xiaona.

As it turned out, Dad had already come up with a plan and got rid of He Xiaona in one fell swoop.
Let's hear why Dad did this...

When exactly did he give up on He Xiaona?

"Dad, what are you doing here?"

"Dad drank too much and wanted to get some fresh air."

Xu Jingguang sat on the steps outside the hotel, hugging his knees and feeling the winter evening breeze.

"I just saw Aunt He hit you. Why did she do that? Aren't you two on good terms?"

"Well... at your age, there are some things you don't quite understand."

Xu Yuan said, "Dad, you can explain it to me. I don't understand now, but maybe I will when I grow up."

"Hmm...you should be able to tell that Aunt He wants to marry Dad and be your mother, right?" Xu Yuan nodded. "And what does Dad think?"

"Actually, when Mom was alive, she often told Dad that if he ever encountered something he couldn't solve, he should ask the children."

"Children are innocent and naive, and don't have many thoughts, so the opinions they blurt out are actually the most accurate and practical answers."

"As it turns out, Dad is a coward and never had the guts to ask you directly if you would like Aunt He to be your mother."

"It wasn't until Aunt Lin mentioned this to Dad and expressed your true feelings that Dad finally understood—"

"You still can't forget your mother."

"Actually... Dad can't forget either."

"But Dad thinks this is very unfair to you."

"Dad always felt that you should have a complete family and a wonderful childhood."

"But looking at it now, you are very happy and have close friends. Aunt Lin is very good to you, and you like her very much."

"Whether you have a mother or not, it doesn't seem to matter anymore, does it?"

Xu Yuan suddenly realized something and immediately asked:
"So, if I act like I really like Aunt He, will Dad really marry her?"

"Well, maybe not that soon, but it's highly likely..."

It turns out that He Xiaona wasn't her father's ideal woman.

She's very good to me, and she doesn't plan to have any more children with my dad. Maybe... it's because I look a bit like my mom?
In short, she perfectly fits the role of a "mom" substitute.

I was the culprit who made my father decide to remarry in my past life.

Xu Jingguang let out a burp, then looked up at the dazzling night sky in the distance.

The winter night sky over the small town in 04 was a deep, dark black.

But if you look closely, there are still many twinkling stars.

"However, no matter what, one must always look forward."

"What is lost is lost forever."

Even if I miss you now.

"No matter how hard you work, you can't escape that feeling."

"That's all, that's all..."

Fueled by alcohol, Xu Jingguang spoke as if he were having a heart-to-heart talk with his son, Xu Yuan.

It's more like trying to convince myself to move on.

But his eyes were already glistening with tears.

As Xu Jingguang poured out more of his heart, Xu Yuan gradually began to understand his father's truest thoughts—

My father probably doesn't care who his wife is.

Whether someone is good-looking or not, or whether they have a good personality or not, I no longer care much.

He only cared whether that person could take good care of Xu Yuan and fill the void in Xu Yuan's heart as a "mother".

As for himself—

The "mother" who accompanied him through so many evenings in the breeze is no longer here.

Mom and Dad have been through a lot together.

They were together in college.

Mom gave up a lot to be with Dad.

Her father also worked hard, wanting to give her the best life.

Later, they had a child, and all their love was poured into the child.

However, just when everything was becoming happy and wonderful, misfortune struck the mother.

Perhaps, in his past life, the father never truly escaped the pain and sorrow of losing the mother.

So even after marrying He Xiaona, he did not become happier or more joyful.

This involves many more elements, and if you think about it carefully, you can still uncover a lot of information.

But Xu Yuan, who was still a child at the time, could not understand his father's emotions.

However, none of that matters now.

People, always have to look forward.

Xu Yuan listened quietly to his father's story, his mind filled with many thoughts.

Unbeknownst to him, Xu Jingguang's head rested on Xu Yuan's shoulder.

He was so drunk he was completely unconscious.

Just as Xu Yuan was trying to help his father up, someone behind him lent him a hand.

It's Aunt Lin Jing.

His good friends Xia Ke and Lin Yueyao also came with him.

The two children were blinking their eyes, watching Xu Yuan with curiosity.

Lin Jing draped her coat over Xu Jingguang, and together they helped lift the unconscious Xu Jingguang up.

Xu Yuan helped support Xu Jingguang as Lin Jing carried him on her back.

At this moment, Xia Ke and Lin Yueyao both reached out and wiped Xu Yuan's eyes.

Xu Yuan tried to run away with some disgust, but the children grabbed his hand.

He was faced with the children's concerned, smiling faces.

"It's okay, I didn't cry."

“Brother Yuan clearly cried.”

"Young master, don't be reckless."

Xia Ke touched Xu Yuan's face, "You can cry in our arms too."

Hey Hey hey……

It’s Tiangang, right?

All along, I've been the one raising you all...

The eldest son, who should be relied upon, has now become the one being taken care of.

Xu Yuan's feelings were now somewhat complicated.

but……

Why can't I be taken care of by others?
Back then, I was actually a little kid who always drew the sun in the corner of paper...

　This chapter was originally going to be posted tomorrow, but I felt that the earlier interruption might have made everyone uncomfortable, so I'm posting it all together. Since I'm being so nice, is there any reward for monthly tickets? Love you all!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)