"Momo, Mom wants to talk to you about something."
As dinner was winding down, Lin Yi put down her bowl and chopsticks, looking at Tang Mo a bit uneasily.
'Here it comes!' she thought. 'I remembered correctly, it's today.'
Tang Mo knew what Lin Yi was going to say. She set down her chopsticks and looked at her mother seriously.
"Well, while you were in college, Mom... Mom started seeing someone. I was afraid it would affect your studies, so I didn't tell you. Now that you're about to start your fourth-year internship, Mom was thinking maybe you could meet your Uncle Wen for a meal. If you don't object, your Uncle Wen and I will go get our marriage license. What do you think?"
After she finished speaking, Lin Yi looked nervously at her daughter. Momo's father had passed away over a decade ago. Even though Momo had been very young at the time, her feelings for her father ran deep. Lin Yi truly didn't know how her daughter would react.
But she and Wen Jianshu had been dating for two years already. If she still didn't agree to marry him, it would be truly unfair to Wen Jianshu...
Lin Yi had already made up her mind. Her daughter was about to start working, so it was time to bring this up.
But if Momo really disagreed, she would have no choice but to break up with Wen Jianshu. After all, she and Momo had depended on each other for over a decade. They were the closest people to each other in the world, bar none.
Seeing her mother's nervous expression, as if she'd done something wrong, Tang Mo suddenly burst into laughter.
"Mom, just go ahead and get married without any worries. I trust my mom's judgment when it comes to people." After speaking, Tang Mo even gave Lin Yi a mischievous wink.
"You child, you're so cheeky." Seeing Tang Mo's attitude, Lin Yi's heart finally settled. After dinner, she called Wen Jianshu to arrange a time for their meal.
That night before bed, a blushing Lin Yi pushed open Tang Mo's door to tell her that the dinner was set for tomorrow.
Tang Mo smiled and nodded. 'Such a rush,' she thought. 'Uncle Wen must have been anxious and pushed for it.'
It seemed the concern and affection he had shown for Lin Yi in her past life were real.
Tang Mo knew a bit about Wen Jianshu from her past life.
The Wen Family was a reclusive clan that only came to the forefront after the apocalypse began. They worked with several other major families to maintain order in the new world, making a huge contribution to the survival of humanity. Later, after the ruling powers collapsed, they joined with several other major forces to form the Alliance Government.
Wen Jianshu was the second son of the Wen Family's direct line. Already in his forties, he had yet to marry. His career, however, was built on his own merits rather than his family's influence, and it was so successful that no one could find any fault with it.
Tang Mo remembered that she had often seen reports about Wen Jianshu in the Alliance Star Newspaper later on. He was a man of great accomplishments. Tang Mo felt at ease entrusting her mother to him for the time being.
The next day, Wen Jianshu arrived early at Tang Mo's doorstep to wait for the mother and daughter. Once they got to the restaurant, he was even more eager to please, putting food on Tang Mo's plate and asking about her studies and life.
Tang Mo nodded to herself. 'This man looks much younger than the last time I saw him, with less of that world-weary look. Although I've never been in a relationship, I can tell he's probably sincere about my mom.'
After they got home, Tang Mo told Lin Yi, "Uncle Wen seems like a good person. If he proposes, you should say yes."
Tang Mo had just finished speaking with her mother when Wen Jianshu made his move—and it was even faster. The day after their meal, he showed up with his household registration book and took Lin Yi straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Although the Wen Family was a prestigious clan, Wen Jianshu wasn't some spoiled, rich second-generation brat in his twenties who relied on his family for everything. A man in his forties had some freedom when it came to marriage.
Besides, the Wen Family had long given up hope of their second son ever getting married. They had almost all tacitly assumed that his sexual orientation might be...
They never expected him to suddenly get married, and everyone was pleasantly surprised.
Although Lin Yi wasn't wealthy and it was her second marriage with a child, her family background was clean, and her looks and temperament were anything but common.
'Just getting a woman is good enough, we can't ask for too much. We're already very satisfied!' This was the most honest thought of everyone in the Wen Family.
When the two of them returned together, Tang Mo had just woken up and was still trying to process everything. 'My new stepdad sure is fast,' she thought, finding it a bit funny. 'It's as if he thought I'd change my mind if he waited even one more day.'
"Momo, this is just a small token from your uncle. I originally wanted to give your mom a grand wedding, but she refused no matter what, so I went along with her wishes. I also didn't give you a proper meeting gift yesterday, so I'll make up for it all today."
Wen Jianshu placed a bank card on the table. Lin Yi, standing beside him, said nothing. Apparently, Wen Jianshu had already convinced his new wife on the way back.
Even though he had married Lin Yi, Tang Mo was already grown. It would be a bit inappropriate for her to start calling him "Dad." This was something Tang Mo had already discussed with Lin Yi; she would just call him "Uncle," which was comfortable for everyone.
Tang Mo looked at the card but didn't reach out to take it.
Although she was young, she had a clearer understanding of the ways of the world than many adults.
The Wen Family was rich, and Wen Jianshu was rich. But because of this, she was even more worried that her mother would be looked down upon by the Wen Family. How could she possibly accept Wen Jianshu's money now?
"Uncle Wen, I can't accept this. I only hope that you'll be good to my mother, and that you'll do as you promised me yesterday—that no matter what happens in the future, you will love her, protect her, and never leave her. That's more than enough." Tang Mo pushed the card back.
"Even if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have done what I promised you." Wen Jianshu squeezed Lin Yi's hand.
"Don't overthink things with the money. Now that we're married, I plan to have your mother move in with me.
My home is a villa, so there's plenty of space. Of course, I've already prepared a room for you, too. From now on, the three of us will live together as a family. This card is just for you in case of emergencies. I was afraid you and your mom might feel insecure. Your uncle just wants to do his best to be good to you both."
It had to be said, Wen Jianshu was very thoughtful and considerate.
For the past two years, even while dating Wen Jianshu, Lin Yi had continued to work herself to the bone. No matter how Wen Jianshu tried to persuade her, she had never accepted a single cent from him.
Now that they were married, Wen Jianshu naturally couldn't bear to see his wife work so hard. The money was also meant to put Lin Yi's mind at ease.
Hearing the words "a family of three," Tang Mo's heart softened.
"Uncle, I still can't accept the money. If you insist on giving it, please give it to my mom. However, I do have two favors I'd like to ask of you."
Of course, Tang Mo knew exactly how important money was to her right now. She wasn't refusing the money to act all high-and-mighty; she simply had other plans.
Because of her mother, she and Wen Jianshu were destined to be in constant contact.
She couldn't be sure what kind of person he truly was. If she took his money now, what if he grew envious of the supplies she had after the apocalypse...
Right now, Tang Mo didn't want to have any financial ties with anyone. Although the man before her seemed decent enough, she had to be on her guard.