Chapter 2: This World Is Far Too Unkind

"Tiantian, what do you think of my car?" Chen Bo lowered the volume of the tape player and turned to glance at Li Tiantian. His eyes shone like stars in the night sky, sparkling brightly.

Even if one had not fully figured out the relationship between Chen Bo and Li Tiantian, just from his gaze and the tone of his voice, it was clear his feelings for her were anything but ordinary—certainly not those of mere relatives, friends, or colleagues.

"Why aren't you saying anything? You don't like my car?" he pressed.

It was an old model, low-end; apart from the BMW emblem, Li Tian'er really couldn't bring herself to offer any praise.

"It's nice," she replied, perfunctorily, at least acknowledging his effort in coming to pick her up so late at night.

"I knew you'd like it," Chen Bo said, and his right hand reached over to rest on the back of her hand.

Li Tian'er was holding the chubby baby in her arms, and with Chen Bo's hand placed over hers, she found herself unable to shake him off. Though the body was not hers, the sensation was, and having a strange man she’d just met cross boundaries and show such intimacy made her deeply uncomfortable.

"Kaikai is asleep..." She twisted her body, taking the opportunity to evade Chen Bo's large hand.

"This boy has been greedy for sleep since birth," Chen Bo withdrew his hand, showing no displeasure, and began to hum along with the tape player, the tune of “Love’s Web.”

Chen Bo hummed with great enjoyment.

Li Tian'er, however, found it torturous; the melody was too mournful, making her feel increasingly melancholic the more she listened. Yet she couldn’t stop Chen Bo from singing—after all, she was riding for free and couldn’t afford to complain. Listening to the song was preferable to talking with Chen Bo and risking exposing herself.

Chen Bo stole glances at the woman beside him, noticing her luminous eyes and sorrowful expression, as if moved by his singing.

Music is the voice of the heart, and he wanted her to hear his feelings—after two years of enduring hardships, at last he could soar.

The tape switched to the next song, but Chen Bo pressed rewind, and “Love’s Web” began again...

I opened the window to love
But saw only the long night and desolation
I ask you, will you bear to let my heart ache?

Chen Bo sang along passionately, finally ending as he slammed on the brakes.

The BMW stopped in front of a six-story Western-style building.

Chen Bo got out and helped Li Tian'er open the car door, then leaned in to take the chubby baby from her arms.

Li Tian'er waited beside him for guidance. Being hopeless with directions, she reckoned that if she ever returned, she still wouldn’t recognize Li Tiantian’s family home.

Li Tiantian’s family lived on the ground floor, so there was no need to enter the building or use the main entrance—they could go straight in through the courtyard gate.

Chen Bo deftly unlatched the small iron gate and strode into the yard. He climbed two steps, knocked twice on the green-painted door, then twisted the spring lock and stood aside, waiting for Li Tian'er to enter.

"Li Ma, Tiantian and I are here."

"Ah, finally! I was getting anxious. Hurry up, I’ve packed everything."

The voice was crisp and assertive, just as brash as it had sounded on the phone.

Seeing Li Tiantian’s mother, Li Tian'er found herself unable to utter “Mom.” The woman was too young—she looked about the same age as An Chen’s mother. Her brows and lips had been tattooed, and she appeared heavily made up.

"Where’s Li Dad?" Chen Bo turned toward the bedroom.

"He’s sleeping," Li Ma replied, then reached for a bulging yellow travel bag, closed the door tightly, and prepared to leave.

"Leave the money—I still need to buy groceries and cook," Li Dad emerged from the side bedroom, his voice suppressed and gruff. He leaned on an old vine cane, his thick brows furrowed nearly into an inverted V.

"Always asking for money!"

"If I don’t, do you want me to starve? Don’t you know needing money is what will make Tiantian marry Fu Xiao..."

"Shut up!"

Li Ma fumbled at her waistband, pulled out a handful of change, and tossed it onto the glass tea table. Not wanting to argue further, she hurriedly opened the door and rushed out.

Chen Bo glanced at the change on the table, then at Li Dad, smiling as he pulled a bright red hundred-yuan note from his pocket and handed it to him.

Li Dad hesitated, embarrassed to take it.

Chen Bo simply stuffed the note into Li Dad’s shorts pocket.

Li Ma, seeing the headlights flash and the car unlock, didn’t wait for Chen Bo—she quickly opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.

Once Chen Bo joined her, Li Ma couldn’t stop praising the BMW, marveling at its upscale appearance. The front was so sturdy and luxurious, the genuine leather seats and interior were things only big bosses could enjoy...

Li Ma’s flattery flowed endlessly, as if she’d forgotten entirely about her daughter and grandson in the backseat. Her affectionate manner with Chen Bo was warmer than between mother and son, making Li Tian'er feel that Li Tiantian’s mother and Chen Bo were truly a family, and she, as Li Tiantian, was an outsider.

Chen Bo took care of Li Ma’s hospital admission, then bought towels, soap, toilet paper, and a pile of snacks from the shop at the hospital entrance.

"Use these for now. If you need anything else, I’ll buy it."

"It’s plenty, plenty. I always trouble you."

"It’s no trouble at all. Your medical expenses are reimbursed, so there’s not much I can do... There’s no fruit for sale outside right now. I’ll bring a fruit basket tomorrow morning."

"That would be wonderful!"

Li Ma grinned from ear to ear, only then remembering her daughter and little grandson following behind her. She toned down her smile and kept signaling to Li Tian'er with her lips, urging her to become closer to Chen Bo.

Li Tian'er understood, but she had no desire to comply.

Having arrived in this world as a widow, she should stick to the widow’s path, not invite gossip by letting people wag their tongues. If someone’s words got her involved, it would be disastrous.

If Li Tiantian and Chen Bo truly had feelings for each other, it would have to wait until she left this world for them to be together.

"Tiantian, the apartment you live in will soon be taken back by Fu Xiao’s workplace. You really need to think about where you’ll live. There’s no room for you at home—your father and I each have our own rooms, so don’t even think about moving back."

"..."

About to be homeless?

Li Tian'er’s heart sank, and even the chubby baby in her arms seemed to grow heavier.

Li Ma changed into her hospital gown and lay down under the covers.

"You know Chen Bo likes you—why are you still playing coy? Move in with him early, and live comfortably."

"What do you mean, live comfortably? Does Tiantian want to move to a bigger place?" At that moment, Chen Bo entered with two thermos flasks, catching the latter half of Li Ma’s words. He chuckled, then noticed Li Tian'er’s off mood, set down the flasks, and looked closely at her face.

Li Tian'er shifted her stance, avoiding Chen Bo’s scrutinizing gaze.

"Tiantian doesn’t have the fortune to live in a big house! The little place she’s in now is being taken back, and she’s worried about having nowhere to stay."

"Is that so... If Tiantian doesn’t mind, she could move into my place. My house is empty anyway, and she could help take care of it."

"That would be great! That big villa of yours is bound to deteriorate if nobody lives in it."

Chen Bo’s words struck a chord with Li Ma. The two chuckled together.

Is this mother really planning to give her widowed daughter to someone as a concubine?

This world is far too unkind...