Too high to reach

Chapter 411 Extra: Double-Sided Adhesive
At that very moment, Mrs. Zhang was visiting a close friend's house.

There weren't many guests, so everyone enjoyed tea, sampled the new pastries, and chatted about Beijing gossip—the atmosphere was wonderful.

Madam Zhang, in particular, was laughing so hard her eyes were almost closed as she looked at the woman talking to the hostess's daughter.

The Zhang family is not short of money. However, the title held by Lord Zhang is coming to an end, and when he passes away, it will be terminated.

Therefore, the best outcome for the Zhang family would be for Uncle Zhang to find a good job for his son. However, he had been in poor health since childhood, spending his entire life in sickness and never holding down a proper position. Given his own condition, how could he possibly plan for his son's future? It would be difficult.

The Zhang Debao of the past was just a playboy who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. His only redeeming quality was that he wasn't a bad person. He had no real skills. So, this position was even harder to obtain.

At this time, a good marriage becomes especially important. With the support and assistance of the wife's family, one can also see how the offspring will fare.

The Zhang family may have this need, but what does the woman's family want in return?

Therefore, Madam Zhang could only find him a woman from a respectable family background, someone capable and efficient, who could manage the household, discipline her husband, and raise her children well.

I went to great lengths to find someone... only to have my son reject it outright!
It makes me angry just thinking about it...

However, as the saying goes, times change!
The Zhang family now... is completely different from what it used to be!
Mrs. Zhang straightened her back smugly and raised her chin.

Not to mention his later diligence and ambition. The key point is: during the last palace coup, his son made a great contribution! He won the favor of Prince Qi and was given a good position.

She also told him: "Work hard, take it one step at a time, and when the Crown Prince returns, help His Highness the Crown Prince..."

My God, that's a future close advisor to the emperor!

If that's the case, then perhaps the Earl's title can be passed down for another three generations...

Their precious son is the ideal son-in-law in the eyes of mothers-in-law in Beijing!

These days have kept Madam Zhang very busy. However, she felt that she was capable, shrewd, and reliable in her work... She carefully and subtly observed all sides while maintaining a facade of compliance.

This time, she finally found one she liked.

That's Miss Wu over there... She just returned to Beijing with her father. Her grandfather is still alive, and the family is well-established.

My mother came from the Cheng family in Jiangnan, a family with a rich cultural heritage.

As for the girl's looks and demeanor... Thinking of this, Madam Zhang couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness; she actually bore a striking resemblance to that wretched girl from the Mo family...

When he speaks, he is soft-spoken, slow, and unhurried.

When she smiled, her eyes crinkled, gentle and charming... She was also wearing a green dress!
A fire ignited in Mrs. Zhang's heart again. This time, her son saw it... she guaranteed he'd be delighted!

She took a leisurely sip of tea, pondering her next steps.

But at this moment, Zhang Debao and Mo Yuan in the manor were getting closer and closer... The two of them could feel each other's body temperature and faint fragrance.

When they got close enough to hear each other's heartbeats... with a whoosh, dry tinder met a spark, and there was a slight breeze, and from that moment on, things spiraled out of control.

They disregarded everything else and threw themselves into it wholeheartedly...

It was so chaotic, like going from heaven to hell several times, that it took me ages to recover.

Then, Zhang Debao blushed and apologized repeatedly: "I was too impulsive... I'm sorry, but I really couldn't control myself... Yuanyuan, don't worry, I'll tell my mother when I get back that I want to marry you."

The blush on Mo Yuan's face faded, and she shook her head slightly: "How could I blame you? Don't you know Yuan Yuan? If she doesn't want to..."

She looked up at Zhang Debao again and said solemnly, "Yuanyuan is very happy with you as you are. As for marriage... Yuanyuan understands your feelings. But this will not happen."

"Now that things have come to this, you still don't want to marry me?" Zhang Debao asked anxiously, his mind racing.

"What?! You idiot... What is my status now? How could I possibly get married?" she said helplessly.

"No! His Highness Prince Qi has granted you permission to return home, and from now on, you have nothing to do with Li Huan. A woman without a husband can certainly remarry!"

“I’m not some ordinary divorced daughter… Even if I were, how could I be worthy of you? Mo Yi told me long ago not to even think about you… I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t mean to force myself on you…”

Zhang Debao shook his head: "What are you saying? My feelings have never changed. This isn't some other matter; marriage is a matter of family consent..."

"But... will your parents agree? Mrs. Zhang looked down on me before. Now? We'd say even more so!"

“I will persuade them. Yuanyuan, you don’t know, my parents really treat me like a treasure. If I’m determined to do something, they will always agree. Besides, this is for them to find a wife! I’ve been dragging this on for so long and I still haven’t gotten married… With my current situation… let alone marrying a gentle and beautiful girl like you! Even if I married a butcher’s daughter, an ugly monster, they would still be happy…” Zhang Debao said confidently.

Mo Yuan stared at him in utter surprise... thinking to herself: Isn't it incredibly bastard-like of him to say that?!
If my son does this in the future... I... I'll beat him to death!

But he's not my son, he's the husband I want to marry...

So, she composed herself and said gently, "Your father's health isn't good, and your mother has been struggling to keep the family business afloat... It's not easy for them. Under these circumstances, how could I let you make them angry or anxious? Would I even be human?! I'm just a little selfish and vain, but I'm not a bad person!"

“No…” Zhang Debao wanted to argue.

Mo Yuan pressed her slender fingers against his lips
"...If you're willing, we can plan it out slowly. If not..."

“I have it, I have it!” Zhang Debao interrupted her.

"Please listen to me!"

"you say……"

"I entered the Crown Prince's residence, and it seems like I only stayed for a year before leaving. In reality, I experienced several life-or-death situations. So... I've come to terms with it! What could be happier than living peacefully!"

So, I'm doing well now! Your love is a blessing from heaven. Even if we can't be husband and wife, as long as…” She buried her head in Zhang Debao's chest, drawing circles with her hands in front of her chest… “As long as you have me in your heart, that's enough!” Zhang Debao hugged her, his heart pounding. “Don't worry… I can definitely do it! I can't wait to welcome you into our home.”

So he dressed himself and happily went home to find his mother.

My parents were talking in the living room, both with smiles on their faces.

"My son's back?!"

Zhang Debao sat down. "What are you talking about? Why are you so happy?"

Mrs. Zhang was even more pleased to see her son smiling. "I just told your father some good news, and you're back. Let me tell you more."

"Alright! Now that Mother has finished speaking, son... also has some good news to tell you."

So, Madam Zhang told her about the girl, "That girl is exceptionally beautiful and talented. Unlike the young ladies of noble families in the capital, she's not so rigid and assertive; she's simply charming and alluring..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Debao's smile vanished, and he remained silent for a long time.

Seeing his son's appearance, Uncle Zhang gently nudged his wife, who was talking animatedly.

Mrs. Zhang looked at her husband, then at her son... "Son, there's something even more peculiar..." The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she felt that saying it was actually quite undignified.

But he seemed reluctant to keep quiet! He gritted his teeth, "Look, this girl actually resembles Mo Yuan... six or seven points!"

"Mother!" Zhang Debao stood up immediately upon hearing this. "Why are you talking like that?! How rude of you!?"

"Tsk! You scared your mother! I just wanted to find someone you liked!"

"My son has found someone he likes. It's Mo Yuan!"

Madam Zhang slammed her hand on the table and shouted, "Shut up!" in a harsh and stern manner.

“Madam…” Uncle Zhang quickly stopped her.

"Shut up too!" Mrs. Zhang yelled at her husband.

"Zhang Debao! Let me tell you! Forget about marrying Mo Yuan! Before, you were young and ignorant, and I would forgive you for any mistakes you made. But now, you're all grown up and hold an important position! You're responsible for the future of the Zhang family."

If you make the same mistake again, don't blame your mother for being ruthless! In my fury, I'll deal with Mo Yuan and personally take the blame for her!

"Mother..." Zhang Debao panicked upon hearing this. "Mother, why are you doing this..."

"Don't say anything more... No! I'll tell you the truth: if you want her to come into the family... only if your mother dies!"

Zhang Debao was dumbfounded, both anxious and angry...

I woke up around 4 a.m. and couldn't fall back asleep in bed.

He ran to the sofa and lay down.

I played rain sounds on my phone to calm my nerves and try to sleep a little longer.

I woke up around six o'clock. Logically, it was time to get up and start writing... I turned off the music.

I lay down again, and somehow, I closed my eyes again.

Although my eyes were closed, I was actually awake; I just couldn't open them.

The perception of the surroundings remains...

Suddenly, I had a feeling that I used to lie down and Xiaomei would jump onto the sofa with a splash.

Then, "she" walked step by step toward my face.

The sound of him jumping up, the frequency of his footsteps, and the slight trembling of the sofa were all accurate.

Then, on the left side of my face, it even meowed once.

I really, really heard it...

Then... I called her, "Xiao Mei! Xiao Mei..."

I felt her near the right side of my neck, gently snoring...

I tried to scream, but I probably couldn't make a sound. But I could feel my expression; it must have been contorted in rage.

After a while, I opened my eyes. I was awake, feeling a little disoriented...

I didn't want to close my eyes again, but I couldn't control myself... and suddenly my eyes closed again.

I tried desperately to wake up, but no sound came out, and I couldn't wake up...

I felt her gently lying on me... In the past, when it was cold and I was taking a nap on the sofa, she would also lie on me like this.

It's warm, it feels soft, you can hear it purring... but it doesn't have her weight.

Is it her soul?

She came back to see me?

(End of this chapter)