201 When You Told Me

"How was your day?" Takagi Ryuuji wrapped an arm around Midori's shoulders and gave her a kiss on her temple.

Midori kept silent but blinked as she stared at the darkness from their balcony.

"What's wrong?"

"He saw him." She closed her eyes.

Takagi Ryuuji was not sure if she was recalling something or trying to forget something with this gesture. After all, he is with her only for companionship. Even though they are married, their relationship is not even better than friends.

"It's okay whether you tell me or not...but if it can help ease your mind, I'm here to listen." He gave her a gentle smile even though her mind is somewhere else.

She heaved a deep sigh. "Verdan Zhou is back as CEO of ZFC. We had a business meeting this afternoon. When he was about to leave, Dmitri came and saw him. He...he reached out to that man...Dmitri does not even make that gesture towards me! I'm his mother! I had been with him all the time, yet...that man only showed himself after a long time and Dmitri looked really happy! Isn't this the time for him to develop stranger anxiety?! Why did he act like that?"

Takagi Ryuuji was first startled when Midori mentioned that she had a meeting with her ex. Then he listened intently to her emotions. He was trying to figure out if there was a trace of happiness in her voice and expressions as she went along with her story.

Alas, he was torn between letting her be happy with someone and making her happy by himself.

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There was a pair of lips slightly raised to a side, propping a cheek up, producing a whisker-like dimple just beneath the eyebags. The matching hazel eyes flickered with determination.

Verdan Zhou was sipping a cup of earl grey tea as he sat on the lounge chair at the veranda.

His smile widened as he recalled his interaction with the woman who was supposed to be his wife, as per what his sister told him .

"Did something good happen?" A pair of fair, long legs appeared to his line of sight as he returned the cup on the saucer.

His expressive eyes looked up to the woman as his lips curved to a somewhat proud smile.

"Oh...tell me! Tell me! How was your meeting?"

"She...she's amazing..." His smile became gentle as his eyes spaced out while recalling the events earlier that day. "When you told me how great she is, I thought you were just exaggerating. But now, I already understand how I built up an attraction towards that woman. Even though I still remember nothing about my past with her, I want to create new memories with her."

Vanessa Zhou pressed her lips as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

"Also, today I met my son..." he sighed. Then her used his hand to brush up his hair and then touched his nape.

"Oh?! Dmitri is so cute, isn't he?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, that woman looked mortified when he reached out for me to carry him..."

"You were able to hold him?! Wow...so, how was it, any memories?" Vanessa Zhou's eyes showed her great excitement as she had a wide grin.

To her disappointment, he shook his head.

"Still nothing, eh?" She pouted.

"But...I can feel it. It might be my instincts, but holding him seemed...very natural."

"That's great! You should never let anyone take your right as his father, especially not that Taka guy!"

He frowned. "Why did she marry him anyway?" It sounded like his musings instead of his question to his sister.

"Uhm...I don't know either..." She was taken aback and replied.

"Maybe because I hurt her too much...Van-jie, I saw it. I saw the hurt in her eyes, even when she tried to be professional in front of me."

Vanessa kept mum as she did not know what to say.

"Her smile looked stiff. I don't remember the past, but I feel that her smile could be genuine and sincere. I felt a longing to see that kind of smile. And, when she gets serious about work, there was a glow within her that made her more beautiful."

"Brother, I think you have a good grasp of the situation now. I'll let you take it from here." She gave him a pat on the shoulder before leaving.

Verdan Zhou took another sip from his cup as he planned ahead.