dognovel Chapter 258 Hoping to Stay with Him for Life
Chapter 258 Hoping to Stay with Him for Life
Li Yumei's gaze fell on Tan Xiangchen, her eyes filled with deep affection.
Recalling the scene when she first met Tan Xiangchen, her heart was still filled with excitement.
At that time, he was handsome and gentle, and she fell in love with him at first sight.
However, she also felt a complex mix of emotions.
She knew that Tan Xiangchen had a past with her sister, Li Yuzhu.
But now, Tan Xiangchen belongs to her; they are together every day, and neither of them can be separated.
Li Yumei sat to the side, also in a good mood.
She watched Tan Xiangchen's busy figure, her eyes filled with satisfaction.
Recently, Tan Xiangchen has started taking his medication on time, and his condition has improved significantly.
Today, for the first time, he took the initiative to leave his room and make breakfast for her.
She thought to herself that perhaps he was slowly accepting her love and gradually changing.
As Tan Xiangchen watched everyone enjoying their breakfast, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he felt exceptionally happy.
The recipe for this breakfast was specially developed by him many years ago for Tan Zhengchu's mother, Li Yuzhu. Although he hasn't made it for many years, his skills haven't diminished at all.
He felt a deep sense of satisfaction at being able to make breakfast for his two grandsons.
After breakfast, Tan Xiangchen took Liubao and Dabao to the study.
The study was filled with paintings, and the air was filled with the faint scent of ink.
Liu Bao was stunned by the sight before him as soon as he entered the door. "Wow, Grandpa, did Grandma draw all of these?"
Tan Xiangchen nodded, his gaze gently sweeping over the paintings. "Yes, these are all your grandmother's works."
Da Bao walked up to Tan Xiangchen, looked up and asked, "Grandpa, do you miss Grandma a lot?"
Tan Xiangchen paused for a moment, his paintbrush trembling slightly on the paper.
He lowered his head, his voice a little hoarse, "Yes, I miss her very much."
But he didn't continue speaking, a pang of sorrow welling up in his heart.
He dared not face Li Yuzhu in his current state, fearing she would hate him and that she would not be able to forgive the misunderstanding from back then.
Da Bao seemed to see through his thoughts and gently persuaded, "Grandpa, why don't you come back with us? Grandma makes the same breakfast as you every day, she must miss you very much."
Tan Xiangchen felt a dull ache in his chest, his brows furrowed, and his paintbrush drew an uncontrolled line on the paper.
Li Yuzhu was always his Achilles' heel; mentioning her caused him excruciating pain, as if his heart were being cut by a knife.
But he still drew her portrait every day, afraid that he would forget what she looked like.
Liu Bao noticed Tan Xiangchen's change in mood and quickly changed the subject, "Grandpa, please teach us to draw! We want to learn!"
Tan Xiangchen snapped out of his daze and forced a smile. "Okay, what do you want to draw?"
Liu Bao and Da Bao exchanged a glance and said in unison, "The starry sky! The starry sky last night was especially beautiful!"
Tan Xiangchen nodded, picked up a paintbrush, and began to teach them how to outline the starry sky.
While drawing, Liu Bao secretly observed Tan Xiangchen's expression.
He knew his grandfather was upset, but the adult world was too complicated, and he felt he couldn't help him, so he could only let them solve it themselves.
The study was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation all morning.
Liu Bao and Da Bao drew very carefully. Although their brushstrokes were immature, the beauty of the starry sky was vividly captured on paper.
The two were very satisfied with their painting and carefully put it away.
"When we get back, we must show it to the other seven treasures!" Liu Bao said excitedly.
Da Bao nodded, "Yes, they'll definitely like it!"
……
Li Yumei stood at the door of the study, clutching the corner of her apron in her hand, hesitant.
She raised her hand several times as if to knock on the door, but then lowered it again, afraid of disturbing Tan Xiangchen and displeasing him.
She only mustered the courage to gently knock on the door when she heard the sound of lunch being prepared in the kitchen.
"Xiang Chen, lunch is ready. Are you and the children hungry? You can eat now." Her voice was gentle but tinged with caution.
Inside the study, Tan Xiangchen was focused on drawing. Hearing the knock on the door, he didn't even look up, simply replying, "I know."
Li Yumei pushed open the door and entered the study, her eyes immediately drawn to the paintings on the table.
It was a portrait of Li Yuzhu, lifelike, especially the small mole under her right eye, which Tan Xiangchen painted with exceptional detail.
A hint of disappointment flashed across Li Yumei's eyes, and a pang of sorrow welled up in her heart.
She remembers that when she was little, her parents always used this mole to distinguish her from her sister.
The older sister, Li Yuzhu, is gentle and kind, while she is lively and cheerful.
But now, Tan Xiangchen's paintings only depict his sister's image.
Li Yumei knew that Tan Xiangchen had never regarded her as a substitute for Li Yuzhu, but she still chose to silently stay by his side, hoping only to spend her life with him.
Tan Xiangchen put down his paintbrush, looked up at Li Yumei, and his gaze was cold and distant.
He did not stop her from looking at the portrait, because his feelings had never been hidden.
In his heart, there was only Li Yuzhu.
Liu Bao and Da Bao stood aside, silently observing everything.
Da Bao opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but Liu Bao gently tugged at his sleeve.
Liu Bao lowered his voice and said, "Don't speak. This Li Yumei is not simple. She may be controlling Grandpa."
Da Bao nodded and whispered in response, "Brother is right. We have to be careful and not say anything carelessly."
Tan Xiangchen looked at the portrait on the table, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
He was glad that he hadn't forgotten what Li Yuzhu looked like; every time he drew her, he felt good.
He put away his paintbrush and paints, completely ignoring Li Yumei's presence, and turned to Liu Bao and Da Bao, saying, "Let's go downstairs for dinner."
The two children followed obediently behind Tan Xiangchen. As they left the study, Liu Bao glanced back at Li Yumei.
Her face was filled with disappointment and resentment, but Liu Bao felt a surge of joy in his heart.
He tugged at Da Bao's sleeve and whispered, "Look, she's unhappy."
Da Bao chuckled to himself, "Yeah, seeing her like that, I actually feel a little good."
The children knew in their hearts that their grandfather was here, but their grandmother was not by their side.
This feeling made them very uncomfortable.
Therefore, they were actually quite pleased to see that Li Yumei was unhappy.
At the lunch table, Li Yumei, Tan Xiangchen, Liubao, and Dabao were sitting together enjoying their lunch.
The atmosphere was somewhat somber, and everyone ate their own food.
Tan Xiangchen ate his meal by himself, occasionally putting food on Liubao and Dabao's plates, but never once did he look at Li Yumei.
Li Yumei lowered her head and ate her meal silently, but her heart felt as if a stone was pressing down on it, so heavy that she could hardly breathe.
Li Yumei ate her meal with her head down, occasionally glancing up at Tan Xiangchen, only to find that his gaze remained fixed on the view outside the window, as if he were distracted.
Liu Bao and Da Bao sat obediently to the side, eating their meals quietly, occasionally exchanging a glance.
Liu Bao and Da Bao exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves: Grandpa and Grandma's story is probably more complicated than they imagined.