You who walk against the light

"Come in and sit." Zhong Dingheng was wearing a camel-colored round-neck sweater. He looked good, with soothing brows and eyes, with his hands scissored behind his back, and he walked steadily towards the restaurant.

The dishes were all served one after another, and the round table used in the early years was still kept at home. Zhong Kaifan sat opposite to his father, and Zhong Ziming sat on Zhong Dingheng's left.When the last lotus root pork rib soup was served, Chen Li also took her seat, and called to Amei who was busy in the kitchen: "Sister, come and sit!"

Amei hesitated and said: "I, I won't sit down, I can just eat next to me."

Zhong Kaifan noticed that Zhong Ziming's expression was slightly restrained, and his chopsticks were unconsciously clenched.Speaking of which, Amei brought Zhong Ziming to Beijing more than ten years ago, and went directly to Chen Li, a younger sister, and quickly settled the child's household registration problem, even changing the surname.

Kaifan remembered that Amei complained to her father at that time, saying that her man was a heartless man who left her and the child and ran away. She was alone as a woman, with only a younger sister like Chen Li. You can't suffer children.

Zhong Dingheng also talked about friendship, and with his grand occasion back then, it wasn't too difficult to do this kind of thing.

This Amei is also a strange person.Don't look at her simple appearance, her appearance is very different from that of her younger sister, but her thoughts are very meticulous.Ever since Amei came to Zhong's house, she has worked diligently and kept the house in order, and because she is from the south, she is good at cooking.

Zhong Dingheng is so down-to-earth, humble, and agile in his work that Zhong Dingheng can't find any mistakes, and he got used to Amei's existence over time.

After Kaifan went to high school, he only came home on weekends, and Amei cooked for Kaifan, Zhong Can, and Ziming. Such a peaceful day, time flies, and it has passed.

Speaking of which, even though Kaifan doesn't like to see his stepmother Chen Li, Amei is a hardworking person who has taken care of him for many years, which is worth half of the family.

"Yes, the children are all back, let's have a reunion dinner together." Zhong Dingheng crossed his fingers, and there was a faint smile on his nose, his temples were already white, unable to hide the traces of the years.

Zhong Kaifan only felt that the word "reunion" was extremely harsh, and there was still a vacant seat on his right hand, which was where Zhong Can sat in previous years.

Just as he was talking, Zhong Ziming got up and brought a chair over, put it beside him, invited his mother, Amei, and said softly, "Mom, my uncle told you to come and sit."

Ah Mei quickly waved her hand and said, "This is so inappropriate!" Then she pouted towards the dining table, "Hurry up and leave me alone."

For some reason, Zhong Kaifan was stung by the tender scene in front of him. Although he never wanted to see Zhong Ziming, he felt that Zhong Ziming had no choice but to be filial, respectful and hard-working towards his mother A Mei.

Zhong Ziming's eyes turned red quietly, and he persuaded in a low voice: "Go quickly, don't ask everyone to wait."

Only then did Amei reluctantly agree, and followed Zhong Ziming's footsteps.

The lighting in the restaurant was warm and soft. Chen Li woke up the red wine in advance and was about to pour it for everyone one by one. Zhong Kaifan covered the mouth of the glass with a gentle smile: "I'm driving today."

Chen Li withdrew her hand, her smile was dry, "That's right, I forgot."

She turned around and took a bottle of fruit drink, and poured it for Kai Fan, "Your father is not in good health, so he can only drink some soup. You young people should hold up the cup and have a good time."

Zhong Ziming was very good at cheering, and immediately picked up his cup, "Thank you, auntie."

"You're welcome—" Chen Li also poured a glass of fruit drink for her nephew, but her eyes were shining brightly, and her tone carried the concern of an elder: "Just treat it as your own home, don't look out!"

"Hey." Zhong Ziming responded.

With the help of the soft light, Zhong Kaifan saw his stepmother clearly. In his impression, he always thought that Chen Li was a beautiful woman.Needless to say, she has been pampered by the Zhong family for many years, she is very good at beauty care, why look at it today, there are a few dry lines stuck in the corners of the eyes, dark circles have also appeared, the whole face looks dry, and suddenly looks like More than ten years older.

Zhong Dingheng scrutinized his son's expression carefully, and couldn't help humming: "Why, you don't recognize the inside and outside of this house? Look at it with such wide eyes, you have been silent since you entered the door, have you seen any tricks?"

It was obviously a very common sentence, but the slight warmth in the air was gone.Zhong Kaifan came back to his senses, he didn't want to argue with his father at this time

, just lowered his eyebrows and said: "It's nothing, it's just that I haven't been back for a long time."

Zhong Dingheng glanced at Kaifan meaningfully, and softened his tone: "Let's eat."

The TV in the living room was playing loud music, and Zhong Kaifan was absent-minded, answering his father's questions from time to time during the dinner.It is said that it is a New Year's Eve dinner, but it is just a different way to hold a meeting.

However, Zhong Kaifan felt a little puzzled. His father knew Zhong Ziming's series of actions in the company, but he could still put him by his side for appointment, and even many key projects still needed Zhong Ziming's approval.

Sensing that the atmosphere was a bit deserted, Amei quickly picked up a lotus root clip for Kaifan, with a simple and flattering smile on her face: "Kaifan, eat—" As she spoke, her chopsticks were still poking in the air.

Zhong Kaifan seemed to be scalded, and his heart was mixed with hot and complicated enthusiasm. Thinking of Amei's care for him, he felt like a stick in his throat, and when the words came to his mouth, he just said thank you in a low voice.

However, Zhong Ziming noticed that Zhong Kaifan didn't touch the lotus root clip until the end of dinner.

After the meal, the old man asked Kai Fan to come in and make a facial mask.

Zhong Ziming followed his mother into the kitchen, saw her methodically put the dishes and chopsticks into the sink and turned on the faucet, he couldn't help but frowned and asked, "Isn't there a dishwasher?"

Zhong Ziming was wearing a suit, immediately took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves and washed it with his mother, "I'll do it."

Ah Mui yelled at him: "What are you doing? Your hands are used to do big things, not around the kitchen, get out!"

Zhong Ziming's eyes turned hot: "Mom!"

Amei stared at him, "Don't call me," she said, pointing to the direction above her head, "There are still people at home."

Zhong Ziming's eyes were sore, remembering that when he was very young, his mother relied on these hardworking hands to do odd jobs for others.At that time, their mother and son hadn't come to Beijing yet, so they didn't have the slightest understanding of this flashy city.After staying in Beijing for more than ten years, Amei can now also use a smartphone to take the subway and bus by herself.

Seeing that his mother was unwilling to help himself, Zhong Ziming had no choice but to stand aside and said softly: "We won't do it after a while."

Amei wore an apron, her back was slightly hunched, and she was wearing a gray down vest, which Ziming wore in high school.She said angrily: "What do you eat if you don't cook? I think you are used to living a good life."

"I raise you!"

Ah Mei washed her hands, and shook her son's face, splashing water all over his face, "Are you more capable?!"

"Mom!" Zhong Ziming had a severe headache, and there was nothing he could do about his mother. He wiped his face indiscriminately, without getting angry at all, and said with a frown, "What's so good about this place? I look at people's faces all day long, and I'll see next week." Just leave."

"I won't go!" Amei turned her head, her eyes filled with kindness and anxiety, "We have learned that we will repay you."

Zhong Ziming's eyes were red, and he couldn't help raising his voice: "When do you have to report? I don't think it's enough for me to take what I deserve, and even to take the blame for so many years?!"

"Don't say a few words, they are at least..." As the words came to her lips, Amei was stung by her son's warning eyes, and she swallowed the words immediately.

Seeing her son love her so much, Ah Mei couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, the corners of her eyes were bent downward, "Zi Ming, be obedient."