Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 195: Keeping a Memento of Her Previous Life

Chapter 195: Keeping a Memento of Her Previous Life

Calix didn’t drive as usual. Logan sat behind the wheels while Mrs. An occupied the front passenger seat. The former sat in the back with Leslie.

The clock was pointing to a quarter past eleven. They should arrive in Phoenix Heights within fifteen minutes or more.

Throwing a glance at Leslie, Calix noticed how tense her expression was. She quietly fiddled with her dress, her eyes shifted from the outside to her hands.

Leslie had stopped wearing the customized sunglasses. But, she brought the spectacles along just in case she needed them.

"Nervous to meet Grandma?" Calix arched one of his brows, a smirk tugging on his lips, "I’m the one who should be skittish ah. Grandma will surely nag at me for not informing her about you sooner."

Blinking, Leslie moved her gaze from the passing scenery to Calix. His signature smirk was drawn on his lips, luring a chuckle out of her mouth.

"Tell her that it’s... my choice..." Leslie lightly shook her head, the light in her eyes softening, "We didn’t mean to hide... about my health... I’m sure your grandmother will... understand..."

Crossing both arms over his chest, Calix leaned relaxingly against the backrest, facing Leslie. He shrugged, answering casually, "You know that it doesn’t matter. Grandma just loves to nag at me. That’s how she is."

"Haha... how could you say that? She’ll be mad... if she ever heard that..."

Calix’s response lured laughter out of Leslie’s lips, eventually subsiding the tension pressuring her heart and mind. He arched his brows, putting on an innocent look.

The spouses’ conversation reached Logan and Mrs. An. None of them said anything, pretending as if they didn’t exist in the van. They kept their eyes on the road ahead of them.

Pursing her lips, Leslie inwardly sighed. Even though she knew how good Old Madam Xu’s personality was, she couldn’t help but feel nervous all over.

Thankfully, Calix’s silly words helped to alleviate some of her worries.

Leslie recalled the question brought up by Calix during breakfast.

"Can I call you Leslie when talking in front of Grandma later?"

Under Leslie’s baffled look, Calix quickly offered an explanation. He told her about Irene’s confusion when he did the same – addressing her as Leslie instead of Charlene[1].

"I called you Charlene when I talked to your parents. I thought Irene knew about it, that Leslie is your nickname. Did no one ever address you as Leslie?"

Calix was speaking the truth. Because Leslie and Irene had a good sisterly relationship, he assumed as such.

Leslie quickly calmed herself in front of Calix’s puzzlement. She couldn’t possibly tell the real reason behind the so-called nickname.

"You can call me Leslie... and introduce me with that nickname... to your grandmother... Well, I think I want to... start anew and... your family seems so welcoming, so... I’d like it if you... do that..."

Leslie still remembered what Charlene had told her during their last meeting. As if understanding how would she feel about living another person’s life, the latter brought up the subject.

"What I want to say is, please don’t be guilty. I know it’s hard to live as someone else but, I hope that you’ll enjoy your second chance at life. Introduce yourself as Leslie if you want. Don’t be chained down by my name."[2]

Leslie wouldn’t change her legal name – Charlene Li. But, she wished to keep a little memento that made up her identity in her previous life, her given name.

Calix was the very first person in this world who addressed her as Leslie. She planned to keep it private by only having close family members do the same.

Rowan, Bianca, Irene and the rest of the Li family known her as Charlene. Thus, Leslie decided to start with Calix and then, the Xu family’s main branch.

"Okay, I’ll do that. Leslie has a good meaning too. If I’m not mistaken, it means a holly garden. You know, the bright red berries?"

Calix’s willingness to follow her request soothed Leslie’s worries. It might be a selfish desire of hers but, she hoped to hear Old Madam Xu and everyone in his family call her real name.

How could she not when it was clear how loving his family was?

"Ah, we’re here."

Calix’s exclamation pulled Leslie out of her stupor. Regaining the clarity of her eyes, she saw the familiar scenery leading to Phoenix Heights. They were closely approaching the main gate of the community.

Towering trees embellished with green leaves lined both sides of the winding road leading to Phoenix Heights. The blooming spring flowers danced in the air, following the passing of the breeze.

Not long after, the sleek black van drove past the main gate of the community before it eventually reached the Xu family’s ancestral home. Two lines of people—including Old Madam Xu—waited on the front porch.

Leslie froze, never expecting to meet Old Madam Xu right after she stepped out of the van. Her reaction was caught by Calix.

"Seems like Grandma can’t wait to see you," whispered Calix, his voice tingeing with a chuckle, "Even I’ve never received this kind of welcome."

Leslie rolled her eyes, earning laughter from Calix. Logan pulled up the van on the porch.

"Get the wheelchair out," Calix told Logan while grabbing the interior door handle.

"Yes, Boss."

Leslie nervously watched outside the window. She sat on the side facing Old Madam Xu and the others. Once Calix opened the door, she would meet eyes with them.

"Grandma, are you that excited?" grinning widely, Calix stared at Old Madam Xu while rounding the van, "Don’t come on too strongly ah. You’ll scare my wife."

Old Madam Xu clenched her walking stick, glaring at her chatterbox of a second grandson. Her eyes moved to the wheelchair brought out of the van by Logan.

"Is Charlene okay? The ride wouldn’t be bad for her, en?"

Scoffing, Calix reached out for the door handle on Leslie’s side. Without looking at Old Madam Xu, he responded, "My wife isn’t that weak ah. She can stand this much of a ride."

Old Madam Xu took a couple of steps forward. Craning her neck, she focused on where Calix stood. Her grandson slowly pulled the door.

Unconsciously tightening her grasp on the cane, Old Madam Xu didn’t dare to move her eyes around. She couldn’t wait to see her new granddaughter-in-law who she hadn’t met yet.

"Logan, put the wheelchair at the entryway," said Calix while bending down, reaching out for Leslie.

Old Madam Xu blinked. She saw Calix draped the slender arm of a woman over his neck before he slowly stood up, revealing the young lady carried by her.

"Oh! Charlene, welcome to our abode."

Realizing who the lady was, Old Madam Xu smilingly greeted Leslie. She giggled at the sight of the young woman’s bashful look.

"Hello, Grandmother..."

Leslie’s voice almost stuck in her throat, barely audible but Old Madam Xu still caught those words. Her cheeks blushing, she looked at Calix who was still holding her like usual.

"What are you doing?" Leslie frowned, whispering, "Put me in the... wheelchair..."

"Hehe, yes, yes~"

Old Madam Xu blinked, recognizing the same teasing tone Calix used on the people he was close to. Even though the spouses’ interaction was subtle, she sensed intimacy in it.

When did they get comfortable with each other, en?

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1 - 179

2 - 140