Chapter 1283: Mom's Best Friend

Xiao Linlang's eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately said, "I want you and Mom to take me to the zoo this weekend!"

The smile on Lin's father's face faded slightly, and he said with some difficulty, "Son, Dad has to work at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital this weekend and can't accompany you. How about we go next weekend?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Linlang immediately pouted, drooped his head, and said unhappily, "Fine."

Seeing his son's disappointed look, Lin's father quickly added, "Then how about your mother takes you and invites Jasmine along this weekend, and the three of you go to the zoo?"

"Dad will give you some pocket money so you and Jasmine can buy popsicles, okay?"

"Yay! Okay!" Lin Lang's face lit up instantly. He turned around, grabbed Jasmine's hand, and asked, "Jasmine, will you come to the zoo with me this weekend?"

Little Jasmine smiled sweetly and replied, "I would like to go with you, but I have to ask my mother if she agrees."

"Okay! Then go back tonight and ask Aunt Qiaoyun if she agrees!" Xiao Linlang said urgently.

"Okay." Little Jasmine smiled sweetly, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork and put it in her mouth, chewing it in small bites, her face full of satisfaction.

Seeing this heartwarming scene, Lin Lang felt a deep sense of warmth in his heart.

His childhood memories with Li Moli flashed clearly through his mind like a movie, warm and vivid.

A wave of guilt suddenly washed over him, and he felt that because he had been too promiscuous and had too many women, he had spent too little time with Li Moli.

He also felt he had neglected to spend time with Li Moli and their son, Lin Haoran.

Lin Lang silently made up his mind that from now on, he would make it up to Li Moli and never let her be lonely again.

It has to be said that at every crucial moment, it is always his childhood sweetheart, Li Moli, who shows that she is the most important woman in Lin Lang's life.

Li Moli, who was his childhood sweetheart, seems to be Lin Lang's true love.

If Lin Lang could only choose one woman to spend his life with, he might struggle with the decision, but choosing Li Moli without hesitation would definitely be the right thing to do!

Even while eating, Lin Lang was not behaving himself. He secretly reached out and tugged at Xiao Moli's pigtails, pulling them lightly before withdrawing his hand, his eyes full of mischief.

Little Jasmine wasn't annoyed. She puffed out her cheeks and glared at him, then secretly tickled Little Lin Lang's elbow with her fingertips.

The two little ones lowered their heads and chuckled quietly. The bowls and chopsticks clattered against each other, making several loud noises, and some rice grains were scattered on the tablecloth.

Shen Cuiping, holding her bowl, was both amused and exasperated. She gently patted the back of Lin Lang's head and said softly, "Son, stop fooling around. Eat your food properly, and you can play after you finish eating."

Xiao Linlang immediately stopped his fidgeting and obediently replied, "Oh."

As he turned his head, he winked at Little Jasmine, a sly smile on his face.

Little Jasmine's eyes crinkled with laughter as she pursed her lips, suppressing a smile. She picked up her small bowl and began to eat her rice carefully, taking small bites.

Looking at the obedient way the two children were doing, Lin's father smiled and shook his head, then put a piece of rib on Shen Cuiping's plate: "Look at these two children, they've been inseparable since they were little."

Shen Cuiping smiled and nodded, then served each of the two children a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup. "That's right, they're like little rice cakes, you can't even separate them."

Lin Lang watched this scene from the shadows, feeling an even greater warmth in his heart.

I used to take my closeness with Li Moli for granted, but now I realize how precious this childhood friendship is.

Just then, a series of light and urgent knocks came from outside the door.

Shen Cuiping put down her chopsticks and called out, "Who is it?"

A clear and cheerful female voice came from behind the door: "Sister Ping, it's me, Tingmei!"

Upon hearing that it was her best friend Guan Tingmei, Shen Cuiping immediately smiled, stood up, and quickly went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Guan Tingmei stood gracefully in the doorway.

At this time, Guan Tingmei was just a college graduate. Her fair skin was accentuated by a floral dress, and her eyes and brows were full of youthful vibrancy and charm.

In her left hand she carried a glistening braised duck with eight treasures, and in her right hand she carried two glass bottles of liquor, the very same brand that was popular in Shanghai back then.

"Come in, come in." Shen Cuiping said with a smile as she ushered her into the house, "Tingmei, you're here, why did you bring so many things? You're being too polite!"

Guan Tingmei followed her into the house, her gaze sweeping over the table full of food and dishes. She smiled and placed the braised duck and wine on the table, her tone sincere and polite: "Sister Ping, you can't come empty-handed."

“My dad sprained his back a while ago, and I had to trouble my brother-in-law to come over and massage him several times to reset his back before he was completely healed. I felt really bad about it.”

"This braised duck was made at home, and the wine was something my dad asked me to buy for my brother-in-law. It's not worth much, just a small token of my appreciation."

Seeing this, Lin's father quickly waved his hand and said with a smile, "Hey, it's no big deal!"

"You and Cuiping are good friends, like sisters. Helping you with this little thing is nothing. Please don't be shy!"

Shen Cuiping said cheerfully, "Tingmei, you've come at the right time! We just started eating not long ago. Come on, sit down and have some with us!"

Guan Tingmei didn't hesitate and smiled in agreement. Her gaze swept over Lin Lang and Xiao Moli sitting at the table. She reached out and ruffled Lin Lang's hair, saying softly, "Little Lang, you've grown taller again."

Xiao Linlang chuckled and said, "Hello, Aunt Mei!"

Little Jasmine timidly looked up at Guan Tingmei and whispered, "Hello, Auntie!"

"Hello!" Guan Tingmei smiled politely at Xiao Moli.

Lin Lang, who was standing in the corner, looked at the young version of Guan Tingmei in front of him, and his memories suddenly surged.

Who would have thought that this mother, who was only in her early twenties, would later become his concubine and give birth to his precious daughter, Lin Zhihan?

At this moment, Guan Tingmei still retained the charming and cheerful demeanor of a young girl.

Sitting next to her, engrossed in his rice and struggling with the braised pork, Lin Lang never dared to dream that he would become entangled in a complicated and ambiguous relationship with Aunt Mei after he grew up.

Lin Lang was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, a bittersweet mix of emotions.

He watched as Guan Tingmei skillfully rubbed Xiao Linlang's head and exchanged pleasantries with her mother. In a daze, he couldn't distinguish whether what he was seeing was a scene from his childhood or the tenderness of the present.

It turns out that fate had already laid the groundwork in these ordinary moments of life.

As they were eating, Mr. Lin put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said with a smile, "Wife, you two sisters and the children can enjoy your meal. I have a night shift at the hospital tonight, so I'll be leaving now."

"Okay, brother-in-law, be careful on the way!" Guan Tingmei replied with a gentle reminder.

Little Lin Lang immediately waved his little hand and shouted in a clear voice, "Goodbye, Daddy!"

Lin's father bent down and patted his son's chubby little head, his eyes full of doting affection.

Little Jasmine, standing nearby, sweetly chimed in, "Goodbye, Uncle Lin."

Mr. Lin smiled and agreed, then turned to the entrance to grab his coat and bicycle keys, hurrying to leave.

Seeing this, Shen Cuiping hurriedly got up and chased after him, carrying an old-fashioned thermos: "Honey, you forgot your thermos!"

"Hey, look at my memory." Lin's father smiled and turned around, took the thermos from Shen Cuiping and held it in his hand. Without lingering any longer, he pushed open the door and hurriedly disappeared from Lin Lang's sight.

Lin Lang, who was hiding to the side, watched his father's hurried departure. His heart clenched, and he felt a mix of emotions, a bitter taste stuck in his chest, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

This is the most ordinary image of my father in my memory: always busy with work and family, his hurried steps filled with responsibility for his family.

Lin Lang desperately wanted to rush up, hug his father tightly, and shout "Dad!" but his throat felt like it was blocked by a warm cotton ball, and he couldn't make a sound.

After listening, my eyes suddenly stung and burned, and hot tears rolled down my cheeks without warning, landing on my clothes.

At this moment, Lin Lang's heart was filled with a clenched pain and regret.

I never understood my father's hard work and struggles before, but now, seeing this scene again, I understand that the deepest love is hidden in his silent dedication.

Lin Lang walked silently to the window like a ghost, his gaze fixed on his father's figure outside the glass.

Lin's father skillfully bent down and, with a "click," unlocked the bicycle with his key.

Lin's father lifted his leg and mounted the slightly worn-out old bicycle. With a push of his foot on the pedal, the bike steadily drove off, his figure quickly disappearing into the twilight of the setting sun.

My father whistled a familiar tune that drifted in through the window; it was a cheerful melody, an old tune he often hummed.

What once seemed ordinary now sounded like a fine needle to Lin Lang, unexpectedly piercing the softest part of his heart.

He could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down his face, blurring the view outside the window.

The whistle, accompanied by the jingling of the bicycle, faded into the distance, but remained firmly etched in Lin Lang's mind.

I used to think my father was too quiet and too busy, but now I understand that the hurried wheels and cheerful whistles are the source of a sense of peace hidden in the everyday life.

It was my father who supported the whole family through his hard work.

His father's silent protection caused Lin Lang unbearable heartache, making even his breath feel bitter.

Yes, you don't know the gratitude you owe your parents until you raise a child yourself.

Now that Lin Lang has become a father himself and has children, he truly understands the love that comes from parents.

Lin Lang had always been conflicted, fearing that if he traveled back in time to before his parents' accidental death in a car accident and saved them, the time travel effect would change the future and leave him with nothing.

But this time, when he travels back twenty years to buy white sugar cakes that taste like his childhood for Mu Xueman, he unexpectedly encounters his mother and his younger self, which strengthens Lin Lang's determination to save his parents.

However, just as Lin Lang made up his mind to travel back in time to save his parents from their car accident, a system notification appeared in his mind.

"Ding! I'm sorry, host, you can only save one of your parents, and it's in another parallel universe where you have to choose between the two!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Lang trembled, tears streaming down his face. He cried out in his mind, "Why? Why do I only have to choose one of my parents to save?"

The system replied, "It is the will of Heaven!"

"If the host tries to forcefully revive both parents, it will only anger the heavens and backfire, triggering the Heavenly Punishment that will lock your parents in their inevitable death. At that time, you will no longer have the chance to choose between the two, and you will not be able to save either of your parents."

After hearing the system's explanation, Lin Lang felt a sudden weight lift from his chest, his emotions collapsed instantly, tears streamed down his face, and a sob almost escaped his throat.

He hurriedly covered his mouth tightly, his body trembling slightly. He could no longer stay in the house, so he immediately activated his wall-penetrating technique and staggered out of the house.

Lin Langman aimlessly walked to a secluded spot by a wall, her legs gave way and she slumped down, her back against the cold wall, finally letting go of her hand that was covering her mouth.

Suppressed sobs spread out softly, each whimper accompanied by a dull ache in the heart, tears streaming down her cheeks and quickly soaking her front.

He covered his face with his hands, his fingertips trembling slightly, his heart filled with indescribable sorrow.

On one side is his father who works hard for the family, and on the other side is his gentle and caring mother. Both are the most important people in his life, and choosing between them would be a heart-wrenching pain.

Now, Lin Lang is forced to make this cruel choice: he can only save one of his parents.

Lin Lang curled up, letting the bittersweet emotions spread through him. His low sobs were filled with helplessness and sorrow.

Whether he felt resentful or heartbroken, all he could do was choose one of the two extreme options.

If his girlfriend and mother fell into the water together, he might choose to save his mother without hesitation.

But only one parent can be saved. Will Lang choose to save his father?

Or should I save my mother?