The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 160. Li Bomming (first watch of the night)

Chapter 160: 160. Li Bomming (first watch of the night)

"Come on in, don’t just stand at the door," Fang Chengzhi called to the guests as they entered the house.

Fang Tong then realized that although Uncle Li’s family was supposed to come, she did not see Li Bomming,

Seeming to understand her confusion, Li Wei spoke first, "Bomming left something in the car, he’ll be up soon."

Everyone took their seats, and Fang Tong got up to make tea for the guests. Having just experienced the exquisite art of tea making yesterday, Fang Tong felt a bit embarrassed seeing the tea in the glass cup.

Fu Fanghua came out to greet everyone when they entered and then went back into the kitchen.

The doorbell rang again, Fang Tong went to open the door, expecting to see Xiao Pang, Li Bomming, but instead, she saw a tall, slim, refined man with a handsome face and spectacles perched on his nose. "May I ask whom you’re looking for?"

The man saw Fang Tong and smiled, then said, "Tongtong, don’t you recognize me after all these years?"

Fang Tong’s eyes widened in disbelief, "Are you Pang Ming?" Pang Ming was the nickname Fang Tong had given to Li Bomming.

Li Bomming laughed, "I’m surprised you still remember that nickname, but I’m not chubby anymore." He twirled around in front of Fang Tong.

Fang Tong gave an awkward smile; the man had now become quite tall and handsome, inheriting good looks from his father—a truly eligible bachelor.

"Aren’t you going to invite me in to sit?" Li Bomming asked with a gentle smile.

Fang Tong, taken aback, quickly stepped aside to let Li Bomming in.

"Bomming, seeing Tongtong, didn’t you recognize her?" Li Wei laughed heartily as he asked his son.

Li Bomming took a seat on the sofa and glanced at Fang Tong, who was sitting across from him, "She’s just as beautiful as when she was a child, I recognized her immediately."

Fang Tong’s face turned red, feeling embarrassed; she found an excuse and slipped into the kitchen. Everyone else just smiled kindly, assuming she was being shy.

"Tongtong, why did you come in?" Fu Fanghua saw Fang Tong and looked towards the door, "Do you need something?"

"Mom, I came to help you out."

"You don’t need to help; you can’t cook. Coming in here is just making a mess, go on out." Fu Fanghua refused; she didn’t have much left to do in the kitchen and didn’t need any help.

Fang Tong insisted, "Then let me help you pick vegetables at least."

Seeing her stubbornness, Fu Fanghua did not force her to leave anymore.

In the living room, after Fang Tong left, Fang Chengzhi smiled and explained, "Tongtong is a bit shy."

Li Wei didn’t mind at all, "It’s typical for a girl. But Tongtong really has grown more and more beautiful. Old Fang, you’ve raised a fine daughter." There was a clear tone of envy in his voice.

He had always wanted a daughter when he was young, but after his wife gave birth to his son, Li Bomming, and suffered a severe postpartum hemorrhage, hurting her body and leaving her unable to bear more children, she fell ill again a few years later and passed away.

His current wife, despite them not intentionally using contraception, hadn’t gotten pregnant unexpectedly, and as time passed, Li Wei stopped insisting.

"Bo Ming has graduated with his PhD now, hasn’t he?" Fang Chengzhi steered the conversation toward Li Bo Ming.

Speaking of his son, Li Wei’s smile grew wider, his son being his greatest pride. "Yes, he finished his credits early, so he returned home. He said it has been years since he spent New Year’s at home, and this year he can finally come back and spend it with me."

"If I remember correctly, Bo Ming is only twenty-five this year, right, and he graduated with a PhD at twenty-five, Old Li, you’ve raised a fine son indeed."

Li Wei’s smile broadened, his own son being praised by others was absolutely the most delightful thing for him. "Oh, not at all. He’s not as outstanding as your Tongtong."

As for the praised Li Bo Ming, he maintained a gentle smile on his face. Even when publicly complimented, there was no arrogance in his eyes—Fang Chengzhi found himself increasingly satisfied, viewing Li Bo Ming as the perfect son-in-law candidate.

"You all can come to eat now." Fu Fanghua, carrying the dishes, walked into the dining room and called out to the living room.

When Li Bo Ming walked over, he saw Fang Tong helping her mother with the dishes, it seemed the bowl was very hot. After placing the bowl on the table, she involuntarily touched her earlobes. He smiled faintly, she was still like she was when she was little.

"Brother’s wife, your cooking is still so delicious." Li Wei commented after tasting the dish.

Fu Fanghua smiled, "If you like it, eat more," she beckoned Li Bo Ming, "Bo Ming, you should eat more too. It’s been years and I don’t know if your tastes have changed. I cooked based on what you liked when you were little, but if there’s anything specific you want to eat, just tell auntie and I’ll make it for you."

Li Bo Ming smiled warmly, "My tastes haven’t really changed, it’s just that I’ve been eating bread and milk overseas these years. Now, it’s especially nice to eat home-cooked dishes."

Fu Fanghua felt a pang of sympathy upon hearing this—Li Bo Ming had gone abroad for his studies the same year his mother died, only seventeen then, still a child. And being abroad, he hadn’t even seen his mother for the last time.

She too had attended the funeral that year, seeing that child crying as though he had lost the whole world, Fu Fanghua just felt very sympathetic.

In the blink of an eye, eight years had passed, and Old Li had remarried. Fu Fanghua glanced at Ji Ning, who she had only seen once at the wedding two years ago. Seeing her now, they weren’t very familiar.

"Sister-in-law, your skills are truly good, could you teach me someday? I would like to cook for Old Li too." Ji Ning initiated conversation sincerely, her face full of smiles.

One doesn’t slap a smiling face, with the friendly attitude from Ji Ning, Fu Fanghua couldn’t be rude and smiled back, "Of course. Come over when you have time."

Looking at Bo Ming, "Bo Ming too, treat this place like your own home. Come and visit whenever you have time. I heard from your dad that you plan to work in Beijing?"

Li Bo Ming nodded, "Yes, I’ve already made contact. It’s a company owned by a senior from my university. I plan to spend a couple of years there gaining experience."

"Why not go directly to your dad’s company?" Fu Fanghua asked, originally thinking he would work at Li Wei’s branch in Beijing.

Li Wei spoke up, "This cheeky kid says he won’t get real experience in his own family’s company. He’d rather go out and train for a couple of years before coming back to help me. If I don’t disclose that he’s my son, who in the company would know?"

"Young people have their own thoughts, their own plans, we as elders just follow their lead. Besides, Bo Ming is a steady kid, he won’t go wrong." Fang Chengzhi spoke, his words filled with praise for Li Bo Ming.

Li Bo Ming just smiled and didn’t explain; he had his own reasons for doing so.

"However," Li Wei changed his tone, "it’s good he’s in Beijing. He and Tongtong got along so well as children, and now that they’re in the same city, they can stay in touch more. They’re young, after all; it’s good for them to go out on the weekends and have company."

Fu Fanghua continued smiling, "Exactly. Our Tongtong is just too shy, still doesn’t have a boyfriend, which really worries her dad and me."