Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

"Cough! When did I scream? I just told you to be careful." Sheng Ruming glanced at his hand.

"Let's talk later. I will have to work."

"Hmm." 

When Sheng Ruming raised his hands to  take out earplugs from his ears, her voice was heard again.

"Don't drink coffee at this hour. Order something. Bye."

"Bye."

Both of them waited for the other person to cut the call but neither did. She took out the Bluetooth headphone and placed it on her desk, not bothering with it anymore. While Sheng Ruming removed his earplugs and went inside the room.

The two of them didn't know the call was still ongoing and thought the other person had cancelled the call.

… …

In the Ming city.

Wang Haixiao and Ji Yanli were in a private room of a famous restaurant. It was a business appointment. Both of them were waiting for people to arrive.

Suddenly, Wang Haixiao's phone rang out. He glanced at it and frowned in confusion. From the side, Ji Yanli bent over and peeked at it.

"Hey, why is aunty calling you?!" 

"I don't know either. It's been years since she last called me." 

"Talk later. Answer it now."

The man nodded his head and placed the phone beside his ear. Ji Yanli shifted her seat and sat very near to Wang Haixiao. When her soft hand touched his arm, the man flinched at that.

But Ji Yanli didn't bother and placed her left ear on the other side of the phone while gripping his hand.

The man felt speechless but he could only bear with it. In the meantime, Ji Yanli waited for Wei Airan to say something.

"Haixiao."

"Yes. Aunt. It's me." 

"Child, tell me honestly. Has Ming come back?"

Both of them paused. Wang Haixiao asked in confusion. "No. He is still there. Why are you asking this?"

Wei Airan glanced at the two women who were sitting before her. Earlier this morning, they came to the mansion without notifying her.

While talking, Yan Ruomin 'accidentally' said that she had met with Sheng Ruming while he was abroad. But she was taken aback when she heard that her son had already returned to the country.

"I understand." Wei Airan said that and broke the line. Then, she turned towards Yan Ruomin and said, "He has other matters. So he must have gone to another city."

Wei Airan just told them. She didn't want to talk about his son's matters with anyone nor did she want other people to interface in his matters.

Su Mengsi sensed that Wei Airan was displeased. She placed her hand on top of Yan Ruomin's. Then she chuckled gently and said, "A child like Ruming ought to be the most busy man. Of course he will have to go to other places for other matters." 

Then, she glanced at Wei Airan and chuckled, "Sons don't remember their mother when they become big. Look at my Luhan, he won't even bother to notify me if he doesn't return home."

Wei Airan didn't say anything. After a while, she sighed and muttered, "Yes. They really become so occupied with their work that they don't keep family life in their mind."

Wei Airan sighed heavily and muttered, "I want to hold a chubby baby in my arms. Life is too boring. Everyone is so busy."

Su Mengsi stepped on Yan Ruomin's shoe. The latter was busy chatting with her friends. She was flustered when her precious heel was stepped on by Su Mengsi.

"Ma! You are stepping on my shoe!" Yan Ruomin moved her foot away. Su Mengsi stifled the urge to hit her on the head. 

Wei Airan just looked at their little interaction in silence. This little yet ordinary thing appeared very precious before her eyes. 'Back then, I should have pressed Haotin for a daughter… sigh!' 

When the mother-daughter duo was talking among each other, she put a hand under her chin and thought deeply, 'A granddaughter won't be too bad either. I will ask Sheng Ruming to give me some grandchildren…'

But then, her sight fell on Yan Ruomin. Ji Yanli's face got intertwined with her. Yan Ruomin stopped bickering when she saw Wei Airan was looking at her. She nodded slightly in awkwardness.

When Wei Airan smiled at her, she blushed in embarrassment out of nowhere. From the side, 

Su Mengsi was puzzled when she saw this. 'These two, what is the meaning of this?!'

Yan Ruomin got up and went to pour Wei Airan a cup of rose scented green tea. She took the cup and raised it before Wei Airan, "Aunt, please have some."

Wei Airan got out from her fantasise. She looked at Yan Ruomin and hurriedly took the cup. 

"Good child."

Su Mengsi alternated her sight from her daughter and Wei Airan. She was pleased that finally Yan Ruomin got her message. 

When Wei Airan was sipping her tea, she eyed her. 'It's the right time to breach the matter…"

As Yan Ruomin sat down on her seat, Su Mengsi took the opportunity and said slowly, "Airan, what do you think about my daughter being your daughter-in-law?"

"COUGH!!!" 

When Yan Ruomin heard her mother saying this matter, she looked over at Wei Airan in expectation. Bit upon seeing Wei Airan's flustered state, her eyes dimmed.

"Cough! Cough! My throat… why is it itching so badly?!" She hurriedly put down the teacup and took out a tissue to wipe her lips gently.

"Be careful, Airan. Minmin, go and help your aunt."

As Yan Ruomin went up to help Wei Airan stopping her coughing, Wei Airan hurriedly  raised her hand and signalled her to sit down.

"No need." She patted her chest and forced the urge to cough more. 'The hot tea nearly went to my brain! Such shocking things she told…'

The woman hurriedly composed herself. 'I can't reject her outright either.' She glanced at Yan Ruomin and saw her waiting for a response.

"Cough! The idea isn't bad…"