Love and choices across time and space

After Li Yifeng left the coffee shop, Lin Wan'er, Li Ming and the children also prepared to get up and go home.

At the door, Lin Wan'er and Li Ming were helping the children tidy up their clothes when Li Yifeng suddenly turned back.

"I'm sorry, I left in a hurry just now and forgot to say that I wish you all the best." Li Yifeng had a slightly stiff smile on his face and tried to keep his tone calm.

Lin Wan'er was slightly stunned, then responded: "Thank you, you too." Her eyes were a little evasive, and she didn't dare to look at Li Yifeng for too long.

Li Ming nodded politely: "Thank you, take care of yourself in the future."

Li Yifeng glanced at the three of them and said, "This child looks smart and clever. He must be a lot less of a worry for you."

Lin Wan'er gently stroked the child's head and said, "Yes, he is very sensible."

The child looked at Li Yifeng curiously, hiding behind Lin Wan'er and poking his little head out.

Li Yifeng continued, "The weather is getting colder. Remember to put more clothes on your children to prevent them from catching a cold."

Lin Wan'er responded, "Yes, I will."

Li Ming looked at his watch and said, "It's getting late. We should go back."

Li Yifeng quickly said, "Okay, then take your time."

Lin Wan'er said calmly, "Goodbye."

Li Ming also waved: "Goodbye."

The family of three turned and left. Li Yifeng stood there, looking at their backs, feeling mixed emotions.

Lin Wan'er walked in silence. Li Ming noticed her mood and asked softly, "Are you still thinking about what happened just now?"

Lin Wan'er sighed softly, "After all, we've been through so much, how can I just completely forget about it all of a sudden?"

Li Ming comforted her, "It's all in the past. Don't think too much about it. What's important is our life now."

The child tugged at Lin Wan'er's clothes: "Mom, who is that uncle?"

Lin Wan'er squatted down and said gently, "Baby, that was someone Mom knew before, but that's all in the past."

The child nodded, not quite understanding.

After returning home, Lin Wan'er sat on the sofa, looking a little dazed.

Li Ming poured her a glass of water and handed it to her: "Drink some water and relax."

Lin Wan'er took the water cup and took a sip. "I know I should let it go, but when I saw him again today, those memories still came flooding back uncontrollably."

Li Ming sat down next to her and held her hand: "I understand how you feel, but the past cannot be changed. We must look forward."

Lin Wan'er leaned on Li Ming's shoulder: "Well, you are right."

On the other hand, Li Yifeng returned to his residence, but he couldn't calm down for a long time.

He paced back and forth in the room, muttering to himself: "Seeing how happy they are now, I should work hard for my own life."

In the next few days, Lin Wan'er would always unconsciously think of her encounter with Li Yifeng on the way to send her children to school.

Once, she was shopping in a supermarket and happened to meet Li Yifeng who was also picking out items.

The two looked at each other, and Li Yifeng spoke first: "What a coincidence, we meet here."

Lin Wan'er smiled politely: "Yes."

Li Yifeng pointed to the ingredients in the shopping basket and said, "I'm going to make a delicious meal for my family."

Lin Wan'er nodded: "Very good."

The atmosphere seemed a little subtle despite the simple conversation.

Li Yifeng seemed to want to say something, but didn't know how to start.

Lin Wan'er was also a little embarrassed and looked away.

At this time, Li Yifeng's cell phone rang. After he answered the call, he said, "I have something to do, so I'll leave first."

Lin Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, goodbye."

As the days passed, Lin Wan'er and Li Yifeng would occasionally meet on some occasions, and each time they would just exchange a few simple greetings out of politeness.

For example, in the community garden, when Li Yifeng saw Lin Wan'er playing with her child, he would walk over and say, "The child has grown taller again."

Lin Wan'er responded: "Children grow up quickly."

Or when they met in the elevator, Li Yifeng would say, "The weather has been nice lately."

Lin Wan'er replied, "Yes, it's suitable for a walk."

Although each exchange was brief, that subtle atmosphere was always present.

Lin Wan'er would mention these encounters to Li Ming after returning home, and Li Ming would always comfort her not to take it to heart.

Li Yifeng would also think about his relationship with Lin Wan'er when he was alone, wanting to break this awkwardness, but he didn't know where to start.

One day, Lin Wan'er attended a community event and Li Yifeng was also there.

After the event, everyone walked out together.

Li Yifeng walked over to Lin Wan'er and said, "Today's activities are quite meaningful."

Lin Wan'er smiled and said, "Yes, it will help the community development."

Li Yifeng hesitated for a moment and said, "Actually, I've always wanted to find an opportunity to have a good chat with you and resolve the misunderstandings of the past."

Lin Wan'er was silent for a moment and said, "What happened in the past is over. There's no need to mention it again."

Li Yifeng said hurriedly: "I know this may have caused you a lot of hurt, but I really hope we can no longer be so embarrassed."

Lin Wan'er looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "Then let it be."

Li Yifeng felt a little disappointed when Lin Wan'er said, "Let it be." But he also knew he couldn't rush things. He nodded slightly and said, "Okay then. I hope our communication will be more natural in the future."

Lin Wan'er didn't say anything else, but quickened her pace, putting some distance between her and Li Yifeng. Li Yifeng looked at her back and sighed helplessly.

For a period of time after that, every time Lin Wan'er went out, she would unconsciously keep an eye out for Li Yifeng, feeling both anticipation and dread of the awkwardness of their encounter. Similarly, every time Li Yifeng encountered Lin Wan'er, he would repeatedly ponder how to break the ice.

One afternoon, Lin Wan'er went to school to pick up her child. At the school gate, she saw Li Yifeng again. Li Yifeng seemed to be waiting for someone. After seeing Lin Wan'er, he hesitated for a moment, but still walked forward.

"Here to pick up the child again." Li Yifeng tried his best to make his voice sound natural.

Lin Wan'er hummed softly and looked inside the school.

Li Yifeng scratched his head awkwardly and said, "The child must be doing very well in school."

Lin Wan'er replied politely, "Not bad. The teacher said he's quite obedient."

At this time, the school bell rang, and the children walked out of the school gate one after another. Lin Wan'er's child saw her mother and ran over happily.

"Mom!" the child shouted and threw himself into Lin Wan'er's arms.

Lin Wan'er smiled and patted the child's head, then said to Li Yifeng, "I'm leaving first."

Li Yifeng nodded: "Okay, goodbye."

Looking at Lin Wan'er's back as she left with the child, Li Yifeng's heart was filled with emotion.

After returning home, Lin Wan'er cooked while thinking about her encounter with Li Yifeng today. Li Ming came home from get off work and saw that she looked absent-minded. He asked, "What's wrong? You seem to be worried today."

Lin Wan'er told Li Ming about her encounter with Li Yifeng. Li Ming comforted her, "Don't think too much about it. Just treat it as an ordinary meeting between neighbors. Just say hello."

Lin Wan'er sighed: "I want this too, but every time I see him, I still feel a little uncomfortable."

Li Ming held Lin Wan'er's hand and said, "Time will slowly heal everything. I believe everything will be fine."

A few days later, Lin Wan'er went to the vegetable market to buy vegetables. There, she ran into Li Yifeng again.

Li Yifeng saw Lin Wan'er and greeted her with a smile: "Come to buy some groceries."

Lin Wan'er nodded: "Yes, you are here too."

The two walked side by side in the narrow aisle, and Li Yifeng said, "I recently learned a few new dishes and thought about trying to cook them myself."

Lin Wan'er said, "That's good."

Li Yifeng continued, "I used to be so busy with work that I neglected these little pleasures in life."

Lin Wan'er said softly, "It's not too late to realize it now."

After buying the groceries, the two parted ways at the entrance of the vegetable market. Li Yifeng looked at the direction where Lin Wan'er left, and secretly made up his mind to restore their relationship to normal.

Lin Wan'er returned home, put the dishes in the kitchen, and sat on the sofa to rest. She thought about her conversation with Li Yifeng. Although it was still a little awkward, it seemed better than before.

One weekend not long after, the community organized a parent-child sports meet. Lin Wan'er's family and Li Yifeng all signed up to participate.

At the sports meet, the children competed in various interesting competitions, with parents cheering them on. Lin Wan'er and Li Ming accompanied their children to the competition, while Li Yifeng also worked hard for his team.

During a break in the game, Li Yifeng walked over to Lin Wan'er's family and said with a smile, "The kids are having a really good time."

Lin Wan'er responded: "Yes, this kind of activity is very good."

Li Ming also said: "Everyone's participation has enhanced the relationship between neighbors."

Li Yifeng nodded: "That's right, we should organize more activities like this in the future."

The atmosphere of this exchange was obviously much more relaxed than before.

After the sports meet, everyone took a group photo. Lin Wan'er and Li Yifeng stood in the crowd. Although they didn't talk much, they both had smiles on their faces.

As time went on, Lin Wan'er and Li Yifeng's encounters gradually became less awkward. When they bumped into each other in the neighborhood, they would chat about the weather and the changes in the neighborhood.

Once, Lin Wan'er's car had a flat tire in the community, and Li Yifeng happened to pass by.

Li Yifeng offered to help change the tire. Lin Wan'er said gratefully, "Thank you."

Li Yifeng said while busying himself: "It's just a small matter, don't be polite."

After changing the tire, Lin Wan'er said, "Why don't you come to my house for dinner tonight as a thank you."

Li Yifeng hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed.

That evening, Li Yifeng came to Lin Wan'er's house, and Li Ming warmly entertained him. Everyone ate together and chatted, and the atmosphere finally became harmonious.

Since then, the relationship between Lin Wan'er and Li Yifeng has gradually eased, and the grudges of the past seem to be slowly dissipating.