Reborn in the 1980s: Recapture My Devoted Husband-Chapter 671 - 649: Different

Mei Lang Jun grabbed something upstairs, then hurried downstairs. "Mom, another day, another day. Send my regards to Aunt Li, I won’t be home for dinner tonight."

As he spoke, he ran towards the door. Liang Qian had just convinced Old Li to let her daughter meet him, and no matter what, she couldn’t let her son leave today.

Seeing that Mei Lang Jun had already dashed out the door, Liang Qian quickly chased after him. "Stop right there!"

But unexpectedly, there was another person at the gate.

"Aunt..." Tao Jia was now feeling slightly awkward in front of the Mei Family, unsure how to address the aunt accurately.

Liang Qian was slightly taken aback seeing Tao Jia. Back when Tao Jia was unmarried, she used to play well with her Junzi. After marriage, they avoided suspicion and didn’t talk much, and seeing them suddenly together today caught her off guard.

"Jia... Jiajia, you’ve come over. Why not come inside for a while? It’s so cold standing outside."

"Auntie, no need, I need Junzi’s help with something, we just came to get something and then we’ll go." "Oh, I see," Liang Qian couldn’t really refuse, pausing for a moment before smiling, "Then go on ahead. Be careful out there."

Tao Jia nodded shyly with a smile.

Perhaps feeling guilty, Mei Lang Jun seemed uneasy, watching his mom rush back inside. "We might come back very late, so you and Dad don’t need to wait for me."

After speaking, he got on his bicycle and took Tao Jia away quickly.

Standing at the door, Liang Qian watched them disappear into the distance, looking at their backs—the handsome young man and the gentle woman—and, seeing them riding a single bicycle, they looked so much like a young couple just starting out.

Suddenly, Liang Qian thought of something, Surprised, she hurried back into the house. "Old Mei, Old Mei."

"Why make a fuss? If our son wants to leave, let him go. Even waiting a couple of years is fine." Without even thinking, Mei Shuqing knew his wife hadn’t convinced their son.

"No, I just saw Jiajia with him. Together with our Junzi."

"Jiajia? What are they up to?"

"Said they had something to do, and left together. They even said they would be back very late. Riding a single bicycle. Old Mei, I feel there’s something strange between them."

"They’re just out on an errand, what’s so strange about that." Mei Shuqing was carefree, nowhere near as sensitive as his wife.

"They’re riding the same bicycle, and saying they’ll be out very late. Are you blind?" Liang Qian was annoyed seeing Mei Shuqing’s indifferent expression.

"I hear you, two kids going out for a chore, sharing a bike, easy. Whatever keeps them late must have held them up. If you’re not convinced, why not ask Junzi when they’re back?"

Liang Qian sighed angrily and said directly, "I mean, could they be in a relationship? If they are, it’s going to be troublesome."

Liang Qian’s words took Mei Shuqing by surprise, causing him to choke on his tea, coughing several times.

"What did you say?"

"I said, they look like they’re dating."

After confirming, Mei Shuqing furrowed his brows, and Liang Qian did the same.

Tao Jia was the child they watched grow up. She was a lovely young girl, but with Mei Lang’s relationship with her, it couldn’t possibly work out with Junzi.

Not to mention whether the Mei Family would agree, it’s likely the Tao Family would oppose it too.

After all, due to Langchi’s issues, her family already harbored resentment towards the Mei Family. This needed careful consideration. The couple decided to question their son upon his return to understand the situation.

Just because of Liang Qian’s suspicion, the couple was uneasy all afternoon.

Meanwhile, Mei Lang Jun took Tao Jia to squat at a corner of the hospital, feeling this was the most humiliating thing he’d ever done.

Because he was accompanying the woman he liked to spy on her ex-husband, who ironically was his cousin.

"That woman is pregnant. My grandma mentioned that they’d return today for a prenatal checkup," Mei Lang Jun said, lighting a cigarette for himself and frowning, "It’s just a woman, what’s there to see?"

Tao Jia said nothing, turned to glance at him, still observing his impatience, and smiled. "I just want to see the kind of woman he’s married."

"After all he did to you, you’re still hung up on him? Even after divorcing, you still wish to be behind the scenes for him?"

"I’m not?" Bringing up the divorce left a lump in Tao Jia’s heart, an unspeakable grievance lingering unsaid. She lowered her head and with teary eyes said, "Aside from focusing on work, I did my best. I cared for his parents wholeheartedly and was obedient to him too. I just don’t get it, where did I go wrong for him to divorce me?"

Seeing her teary-eyed, wanting to cry but not daring, his heart felt anxious and hurt. He wanted to hug her but feared it wouldn’t be appropriate given his status. He sighed softly and his tone softened significantly, "You did nothing wrong, you’re wonderful. The fault lies with him. Don’t be sad; you’ll find someone better than him in the future."

Tao Jia blinked away her tears, forced a smile at Mei Lang Jun, "Having you accompany me today, I’m sorry to put you through this. Considering our relationship, it’s not really suitable. But you know, I don’t have many friends generally. Besides you, I can’t think of anyone else who’d accompany me in such a ridiculous endeavor."

"What nonsense, remember how as kids I promised you, no matter what you encounter in the future, you could find me anytime, whether you’re right or wrong, I’ll always stand by your side." As Mei Lang Jun spoke, his eyes wandered aimlessly, appearing absent-minded.

But Tao Jia knew his little secret; whenever he felt shy, he’d act this way. She discovered this early on, though he thought he’d hidden it well, convinced she didn’t know.

Tao Jia understood his meaning, didn’t respond, and gazed into the distance, eventually exhaling with a self-mocking smile.

After he spoke, Mei Lang Jun’s ears turned red, wanting to touch them but afraid Tao Jia would notice. Seeing her focus on the hospital entrance, he felt agitated and inexplicably upset.

They stood there in the wind for an unknown amount of time, with no one appearing.

After fuming internally, Mei Lang Jun saw Tao Jia remained silent and compromised with a sigh. A gust of cold wind passed by, making them shiver. Seeing Tao Jia’s reddened cheeks from the cold, his heart couldn’t bear it, instinctively moving forward to adjust her scarf.

Tao Jia’s thoughts seemed distant, and the sudden appearance of a warm hand brought her back to reality.

Seeing their intimate gestures, Tao Jia awkwardly moved back, "I-I can do it myself." She smiled.

Her words left Mei Lang Jun’s hand suspended mid-air. He raised his eyes to meet her somewhat shy face, gazing for a long time.

"Jiajia, do you remember that summer when I accompanied you to raid birds’ nests?"

Tao Jia paused, unsure why Mei Lang Jun brought up the past, yet nodded.

"That night you got injured, and I carried you for quite a distance... Do you remember what you said then?"

How couldn’t she remember? She was fifteen then, playing with the boys from the courtyard daily. Mei Lang Jun lived in S City and didn’t often return, but he would every summer and winter, and that’s when she met him.

That day, a group of them went to collect bird eggs. She, the tomboy, tagged along. But later, the boys excitedly ran off to cook their eggs, leaving just the two of them. Mei Lang Jun back then wasn’t familiar, rarely living in the courtyard and hardly talking. Tao Jia would tease him endlessly, especially loving to bully him. That time, she was standing on his shoulders, trying to get a nest of eggs.

In the end, she didn’t get the eggs and fell from the tree, scraping a chunk of skin off her leg, yet still insisted on getting some eggs.

Eventually, Mei Lang Jun grumbled about her being troublesome but still helped her get the eggs.

They sat there roasting the eggs and eating them. By the time they decided to return, it was already late, and there was no transport.

Mei Lang Jun had to carry her for two kilometers home.

She even joked back then that Mei Lang Jun was very attentive, and dominantly ordered him to marry her when they grow up.

Unexpectedly, he readily agreed back then.

Time flies, and now things have changed. Some things can only be cherished in the heart. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Junzi, I understand your intentions, but... we’re not suitable. Our relationship is there, and no matter what we feel, both families wouldn’t agree."

"Why wouldn’t it be suitable? If we both remain committed, how would we know it won’t work without trying? I’ve already lost one chance; I don’t want future regrets with you. Can’t you see my feelings?"

Tao Jia smiled sadly with tears she could no longer hold back.