I Became the Mother of His Child-Chapter 517: Not Saying Much

"..." Faced with the excitement of the little girl, as if she had won the lottery, Song Chengguang felt somewhat at a loss for how to respond. He was used to being cool and aloof, and the last thing he could handle was the enthusiastic treatment from others. The girl was also a very familiar type, which simply gave Song Chengguang a headache. However, there was no malice in the little girl's behavior; she was simply happy and excited. He didn't quite know what to say.

It was just that the wrinkled corner of his shirt twisted by her seemed to reflect his mood, complicated and heavy.

If a girl remembered a boy who she hadn't seen for a decade or two, painting his image from childhood memories, even to the extent that her family knew there had once been such a person in her life, that sense of heaviness surprised Song Chengguang. He thought his nature would make him just a passerby in many people's lives, whether it was a chance encounter on a train or sitting next to someone on an airplane.

"Your name is Hao Yueliang?" Song Chengguang asked, his thin lips parting slightly. He suddenly found the parents' choice of names for their daughters amusing; the elder sister was named Hao Xingxing and the younger sister, Hao Yueliang -- both celestial objects. One was countless in number, and the other, unique. He wondered if it was intentional.

"Yes!" The little girl nodded her head, smiling with her eyes slightly squinted: "My dad named me Yueliang not because I am unique, you know! He said my sister is named Xingxing because on the night she was born, the sky was full of stars, stunning, but there was no moon. He felt that the night sky only counts when the stars and the moon appear together, so I am named Yueliang to complement my sister. Even if it's just to complement my sister, I'm still very happy!" Hao Yueliang expressed her happiness openly.

What could she do, she had always liked her sister since she was a child! And it was that unconditional kind of affection, almost an instinct, which is why even being a complement made her happy.

"Where are you headed?" Hao Yueliang's happiness was plain to see, and Song Chengguang could easily tell. Naturally, he didn't plan to inquire further about the name and smoothly shifted the topic. After all, the train was on its way from M Province to Imperial City, passing through many stations and cities along the way. Song Chengguang was on his way back to Imperial City after completing a task, but where the little girl intended to go was unknown, hence he asked.

"I'm going to Imperial City. My sister is in Imperial City, so I'm going to find her. She's already in her thirties this year and still not married, which worries me! My greatest wish is for my sister to be happy and well." Hao Yueliang divulged her intention to run off to Imperial City, which was to help her sister find a partner.

In reality, when she said she wanted to go to Imperial City to find Hao Xingxing, her mother had tried to stop her. Nevertheless, she had stealthily packed her bags and snuck out. Her sister Hao Xingxing wasn't particularly kind to her, but she had a heart of gold beneath her sharp tongue. Even though she seemed to loathe her, she would mock her when her academic performance fell short, saying cruel things like they weren't born of the same mother, given the gap in their intelligence, and so on.

Yet, every time Hao Yueliang was truly upset and nagged her sister, her sister could never really bring herself to be cruel to her.

"..." Hao Yueliang's outpouring left Song Chengguang at a loss for words.

"Brother Song Chengguang, where are you going?" Hao Yueliang spoke up suddenly, looking at Song Chengguang with bright, shining eyes.

"Back to Imperial City."

"Really?" Hao Yueliang felt as though fortune was favoring her, her spirits lifting: "Do you know how much longer until we reach Imperial City?" Hao Yueliang asked while turning to view the rapidly moving scenery outside the train window, feeling both anticipation and nervousness.

"Three hours." Song Chengguang had become familiar with trains since his childhood and frequently traveled back and forth, so he had a fairly good sense of the time required for each stop. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Then I'll be able to see my sister very soon." Hao Yueliang said joyfully, though her words seemed somewhat uncertain.

Perhaps due to nearing Imperial City, Hao Yueliang suddenly felt shyness creeping in; therefore, she remained quiet for the rest of the trip. From time to time, she would glance at him and then, as they approached Imperial City, she slipped out to the restroom and also pulled out her phone to call Hao Xingxing.

"Sis, it's me, Yueliang. Guess where I am?" Hao Yueliang stood in the train's corridor, admiring the outside scenery while speaking to the person on the other end of the line, smiling all the while.

From the other end of the call, a busy rustling sound was followed by a rather stern voice: "Hao Yueliang, I've told you I'm busy. Can you not call me every other day?" The tone was one of disdain.

"I know! I've controlled myself, not calling you for two days now." Hao Yueliang replied, her voice bearing the strain of restraint.

"What is it this time?" Hao Xingxing's tone was getting impatient, seemingly ready to hang up the moment Hao Yueliang said there was nothing serious.

"Sis, guess what? I'm on a train to Imperial City right now, and I'll be there soon. Will you come to meet me?" Hao Yueliang, after all, had never been to Imperial City. Despite being in her twenties, she felt timid facing a foreign international metropolis.

Moreover, she had to get her sister to pick her up! This way, she could also bring along the handsome guy sitting next to her, and they could meet her sister. Maybe she could even determine if he was the classmate her sister had longed for over the years. If he was, her sister might finally have a chance at love, which was an exhilarating thought.

"Imperial City? Hao Yueliang, did you sneak off to find me behind Mom's back again? Haven't I told you? I'm really annoyed by you. Can't you stop coming to find me so persistently? Besides, every time you come looking for me, Mom gets all passive-aggressive, saying I'm a bad influence on you." Hao Xingxing took to reprimanding Hao Yueliang in a very displeased tone, seemingly bothered by Hao Yueliang's willful behavior.

To be honest, Hao Xingxing did not understand this stepsister of hers at all. Despite treating her terribly, Hao Yueliang persisted year after year, putting up with her foul temper.

That might have been fine, but the girl was also clingy. As a child, she would follow Hao Xingxing everywhere, scraping a knee or taking a tumble. Hao Xingxing initially didn't care for her, indifferent to the idea; she thought that with enough falls and scrapes the girl would stop wanting to tag along. Yet, every time, Hao Xingxing's mother would give her complicated looks, as if she was deliberately tormenting her.

But Hao Xingxing's tone and attitude didn't make Hao Yueliang feel down at all; on the contrary, she started being coy on the phone: "Sis, come and pick me up, please? Pretty please? I have a super, super big surprise for you; come and get me! Pretty please with sugar on top! I'm begging you." Hao Yueliang was whining, pleading; in short, she kept up her teasing relentlessly.