The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 171. Solved, Aunt is back

Chapter 171: 171. Solved, Aunt is back

Zhao Yan took another look at him. The muscular man’s face flashed with hesitation but, clenching his teeth, he decided to tell the truth. "Brother Zhao’s younger brother had a conflict with these two people before and got taught a lesson. Brother Zhao was very angry after finding out and set a trap for this man, causing him to lose tens of millions. Then the man called the woman. After she arrived, Brother Zhao suggested a bet..." He rattled on, spilling the beans and clarifying the whole story, including some details even Shen Qinglan wasn’t aware of.

"Boss, that’s how it went down," the muscular man said. Feeling a murderous gaze from Zhao Yan on him, he instinctively moved a bit closer to Anan’s direction.

Shi Feng’s face showed no emotion, and he looked at Zhao Yan calmly. "Is everything he said true?"

Zhao Yan wanted to deny it, but such things couldn’t be dismissed with mere denial. His expression deflated as he lowered his head, "Yes."

Shi Feng lifted his foot and viciously kicked out, sending Zhao Yan crashing into the corner and slamming against the wall. Zhao Yan spat out blood from the impact.

Gu Yang watched with a mix of fear and awe. Boss Shi of the Shi Gang had a ruthless heart indeed, treating his own men with such severity.

Zhao Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, not daring to cry out in pain. He was no greenhorn; he had experienced Shi Feng’s methods before. Suffering in silence now was better than facing a worse reckoning later.

Without another glance at Zhao Yan, Shi Feng turned to Shen Qinglan. "For my sake, let’s consider the matter resolved. I’ll definitely arrange satisfactory compensation for Miss Shen. What do you say?"

Shen Qinglan offered a faint smile. "Boss Shi has spoken; I must give this face. But as for the compensation, forget it. I just hope that in the future, Boss Shi can keep his men in line. If there’s a third time, I won’t be so easy to talk to."

Shi Feng smiled warmly, "Of course. If they ever bother Miss Shen again and Miss Shen happened to beat them to death, I, Shi Feng, would have absolutely no objections."

"Not just me, but my friends as well," Shen Qinglan added.

"Of course."

"Then, can my friend and I leave now?"

Shi Feng stepped aside, gesturing for them to pass. Shen Qinglan, with Gu Yang in tow, walked out under the watchful eyes of everyone.

"Phew, we finally made it out," Gu Yang let out a deep sigh of relief. He was terrified just moments ago, afraid that Shi Feng would turn violent suddenly.

"Little sister-in-law, how do you know Shi Feng?" Gu Yang asked, curious about Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan looked at him. "Ever heard a saying?"

"What?"

"Curiosity killed the cat."

Gu Yang: ...

Seeing Shen Qinglan walking away, Gu Yang quickly followed, leaving his previous question behind. "Little sister-in-law, how are you so good with dice? Could you teach me?"

There weren’t any fancy moves, yet the outcome was unquestionably impressive.

Gu Yang found that Shen Qinglan was like a profound mountain; the deeper you ventured, the less clear it became. She seemed to harbor many secrets, always enigmatic.

"Gu Yang," Shen Qinglan paused, calling out.

Gu Yang subconsciously stopped, "What’s wrong, little sister-in-law?"

"I will tell Fu Hengyi about this matter truthfully," her tone serious, without a hint of jest.

Gu Yang’s face turned pale, "Please don’t, little sister-in-law, you really mustn’t tell Big Brother. Big Brother would kill me if he found out. Could you bear to watch me being beaten to death by him?"

"Your big brother would never kill you." But he will certainly discipline you thoroughly.

Gu Yang’s mother is a diplomat, often abroad and naturally not able to manage this son of hers. Although Gu Yang lives with the Gu Family, his nature is that of a typical wastrel.

He feared neither heaven nor earth and would cause any manner of trouble or disaster he pleased; last time it was underground street racing, this time it’s the underground casino. What will be next?

Since Gu Yang feared Fu Hengyi more than anyone else, it was best to leave him to Fu Hengyi.

Gu Yang followed behind Shen Qinglan, looking like a frostbitten eggplant, "Little sister-in-law, can you please not tell Big Brother? I know I’ve done wrong and will never make the same mistake again." He knew his actions were too impulsive, swayed by others at a moment’s provocation.

Shen Qinglan remained unmoved and walked to her car to get in. Gu Yang opened the passenger door and sat down.

"Where’s your car?" Shen Qinglan asked.

"I hitched a ride here," said Gu Yang. In reality, he had driven himself, but since he had yet to convince Shen Qinglan to change her mind, he couldn’t just leave like that.

Shen Qinglan didn’t bother with him any further, buckled her seatbelt, and drove off. Gu Yang, looking at the rapidly rising numbers on the speedometer, changed color and involuntarily recalled the "thrill" of racing that Shen Qinglan had exposed him to last time.

His face turned a bit pale, and his stomach seemed to churn, "Little, little sister-in-law, slow, slow down," Gu Yang finally couldn’t help saying.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan did not accelerate further but gradually pulled the car over to the side of the road, "Get out."

Without saying another word, Gu Yang got out immediately. He was certain that if he dared stay in the car, Shen Qinglan would definitely give him another experience of the "thrill of racing." One such experience was more than enough; he’d sooner die than go through it a second time.

**

Jile Casino.

Shi Feng looked at the man kneeling on the ground, his expression icy.

"Boss, I know I was wrong this time. I will absolutely not dare again, no, there won’t even be a next time. Please Boss, spare me this once." Zhao Yan knelt on the ground, nowhere near as arrogant as when facing Shen Qinglan, now in front of Shi Feng, he was like a groveling dog.

But that’s how the rules in this line of work are, the bigger fist makes the law. Shi Feng was tougher and more powerful, which is why he could sit in the position of Boss of the Shi Gang, undisputed by others. If Zhao Yan couldn’t beat Shi Feng, he could only submit to him, and even if Shi Feng ordered him killed, he’d have nothing to say.

Seeing that Zhao Yan’s forehead was bleeding from knocking it on the ground, Shi Feng finally spoke, "All right, get up."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan got up as if he had been granted amnesty, standing respectfully in front of Shi Feng.

"You’ve violated the rules; that’s a fact. I can forgive you, but the rules cannot be neglected, as without rules, there can be no standards. Hand over the management of this casino. Later, I will have Anan arrange a new assignment for you," Shi Feng said calmly.

Zhao Yan dared not utter a single word of objection. The Shi Gang was a major faction; while Shi Feng was the boss, there were several smaller groups within the gang. Zhao Yan was part of one of them.

He had followed a person who was also a high-ranking member of the Shi Gang and a figure with a reputation on the streets. Zhao Yan had basked in glory while following this person, but unfortunately, this person was ambitious and had his eyes set on the position right under Shi Feng’s rear.

The person had always been looking for an opportunity to take out Shi Feng and take his place but struggled to find a chance. Last time, they finally found an opportunity and collaborated with the Hu Gang, thinking they could eliminate Shi Feng. However, unexpectedly, Shi Feng managed to survive and returned alive.

Not only that, he crushed the Hu Gang with a thunderous approach and took over their territory. The collaborator who worked with the Hu Gang didn’t manage to escape either; Shi Feng captured and killed him in public.

If it weren’t for the fact that Zhao Yan truly had no knowledge of the incident, he would not have survived either. Shi Feng had kept him on ice for several months and had only just allowed him to return to Beijing to take over the Jile Casino, but before he could even settle in, he was pulled back.

It was impossible for Zhao Yan not to feel aggrieved, but he feared Shi Feng’s methods even more.

He waved his hand, signaling Zhao Yan to leave, leaving only Shi Feng and Anan in the room.

"Have things been made clear?" Shi Feng asked with a cigarette in his mouth.

"I’ve already interrogated the brothers at the casino, and it’s indeed just as it happened. The Gu Family’s Young Master was set up by Zhao Yan, likely because he didn’t have the money to pay his debts, so he called Shen Qinglan."

"Was it really a coincidence?"

"It should be," Anan wasn’t entirely sure.

Shi Feng kept a calm expression that revealed no emotions, "Be vigilant in the future, but do not act rashly."

Although Shen Qinglan had saved his life, she was after all a member of the Shen Family, and he hailed from the underworld. The divide between the righteous and the wicked had always been clear; even the debt of a saved life was trivial in comparison to the lives of his brothers in the gang.

If Shen Qinglan’s involvement was merely accidental, Shi Feng would not be vengeful but would find an opportunity to repay her kindness. However, if there were ulterior motives, Shi Feng’s gaze hardened, and he would be forced to repay kindness with enmity.

Shen Qinglan, of course, was unaware of Shi Feng’s mental deliberations and didn’t care to know. Even if she did find out, she wouldn’t take it to heart. When she got home, it was already evening, and after taking a bath, she went to bed, as she had to pick someone up from the airport the next day.

Today, when she sent Old Sir Fu back home, she heard him instructing the family security to pick up Fu Hengyi’s aunt, Fu Jingtong, from the airport tomorrow. That was how she found out that her aunt, who had been abroad for many years, was coming back.

This aunt was a notable figure in the compound back in the day, a real female hero among Shen Qinglan’s father’s generation, including Shen Qian. She was raised as a boy by Old Sir Fu and was outspoken and decisive, with combat skills not even the average special forces soldier could match. Indeed, she had spent several years training in the military with illustrious results.

Just when everyone thought she would continue her military career, she unexpectedly chose to retire, entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and later married Gu Family’s son, Gu Bowen.

This turn of events had certainly shocked everyone.

However, not long after giving birth to Gu Yang, she divorced Gu Bowen and then went abroad, serving as an ambassador in Country Y for many years, seldom staying in her homeland. She hadn’t even spent the New Year in her own country for several years, and this time she was returning for the New Year celebration.

Knowing that her aunt was coming back, Shen Qinglan took the initiative to undertake the task of picking her up.

She had met this aunt before; Fu Jingtong had returned once two years ago when Shen Qinglan was just at the Fu Family house.

The next morning, Shen Qinglan got up early for her routine morning run, then drove to the airport. She didn’t take her flashy sports car but chose one from Fu Hengyi’s garage instead.

When she arrived at the airport, the plane had not yet landed. Shen Qinglan parked the car and was about to go in when she noticed a large crowd ahead. Assuming it was some celebrity appearance, she approached and discovered that was not the case.

She saw a well-dressed woman berating an airport employee, making quite the scene. Shen Qinglan had no interest in such spectacles and was about to bypass the commotion when she overheard the spectators’ comments.

"This woman is outrageous, blaming the plane for being on time because she was late," one passerby said.

Another agreed, "Since the plane took off, she went to argue with the airport staff."

Passerby C: "It was just her bad luck. Domestic flights often get delayed, but why did she choose an international flight? Foreigners simply don’t care about her excuses of Beijing’s traffic being congested and getting stuck in jams."

Passerby D: "That woman is just being unreasonable and making a scene. She knew she would be late but didn’t leave early. Who does she think she is? Will the plane not take off without her? She acts as if she’s the moon that everyone should revolve around, but even the moon has to orbit the earth."

Passerby A nodded, "And the airport staff had offered to rebook her on the earliest next flight, but she just wouldn’t have it and started slapping the staff member. The employee couldn’t retaliate and had to take it. If others hadn’t intervened later, who knows how much longer the beating would’ve gone on."

"That kind of person should just be blacklisted and never allowed on a flight again. Let her show off then. She thinks she’s all that just because she has a bit of money? If she’s really that wealthy, she should just buy a private jet, then she definitely won’t have to worry about delays," Passerby C said bitterly.

Shen Qinglan glanced over at the woman in the midst of the dispute, still obstinately arguing with the staff, who were apologizing in hushed tones.

Shen Qinglan smirked. It was precisely this kind of attitude from the staff that fueled the woman’s arrogance. Just like someone had said earlier, they should have just blacklisted her and barred her from taking domestic flights—what could she do about that? Sometimes being assertive isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Shaking her head, she walked past the commotion. Having lived in Z Country for six years, she still found that, despite being known as a country of etiquette, the quality of Z Country’s citizens varied greatly.

By the time she arrived at the arrival gate, the plane had just landed. After waiting for a short while, Shen Qinglan saw Fu Jingtong, dressed sharply in a business suit and wearing a black wool coat, as poised and efficient as she remembered.

Fu Jingtong knew it was Shen Qinglan who would be picking her up today. As soon as she came out, she spotted Shen Qinglan’s figure in the crowd. This girl was dazzling, and even without saying a word in the midst of the throng, she immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

"Aunt," Shen Qinglan said, taking over the suitcase from Fu Jingtong’s hand without any contest, and Fu Jingtong let her have it. Besides a few changes of clothes, the suitcase was mostly filled with gifts for the family and wasn’t heavy.

By the time they went out, the disruptive woman was no longer in sight. Shen Qinglan lead the way to the car, stowed the luggage properly, and then opened the driver’s side door.

"It’s been two years since we last saw each other, hasn’t it?" Fu Jingtong opened the conversation.

Shen Qinglan nodded slightly, her expression still cool but her tone gentle, "Two years and three months."

Fu Jingtong smiled with a touch of sentimentality, "The first time I met you, I really liked you. I lamented that I wish you were my daughter. And who would have known, in the end, you became part of the Fu family." Fate is something you just can’t deny.

Shen Qinglan couldn’t quite respond to that. She just gently curled her lips, softening the coolness of her demeanor.

Fu Jingtong turned just in time to see the slight curl of her lips, and her eyes sparkled with admiration. Shen Qinglan was indeed the most beautiful girl she had ever seen; even a small action like curling her lips exuded countless charms.

Fu Jingtong remembered how, a few months ago, her father was complaining on the phone about Fu Hengyi always being away from home, how a man in his thirties still had no wife, and he praised the Shen family’s children for their intelligence and good behavior, including his satisfaction with Shen Qinglan.

She thought that her father’s fondness for Shen Qinglan might just be a passing thought, but to her surprise, a few months later, Shen Qinglan really became the Fu family’s granddaughter-in-law.

Fu Jingtong was unaware of the twists and turns involved, but since Fu Hengyi planned to marry Shen Qinglan, the two of them must have affection for each other. She had watched Fu Hengyi grow up; in a way, he was like her own son. Seeing her own child finding happiness made Fu Jingtong very content.

"Aunt, how long can you stay this time?" Shen Qinglan spoke up, aiming to keep the atmosphere from becoming too heavy.

"I’ll be here for half a month," Fu Jingtong said with a smile. "I haven’t spent New Year’s at home for many years. This time, I can finally spend more time with the family."

Upon hearing that his aunt would be coming back, Grandfather was very happy. He ordered Sister-in-law Zhao to buy some of Aunt’s favorite food early in the morning."

Speaking of her father at home, Fu Jingtong felt a deep sense of guilt. After the death of her brother and sister-in-law, she became the family’s only child. She should have stayed by her aging father’s side, but instead, she had left home for many years because of her own stubbornness.

"How is your grandfather’s health?" Fu Jingtong asked. Although they frequently spoke over the phone, not having seen him in person always left a weight in her heart, and her father was the type to share only good news, never the worries.

"Grandfather’s health is not bad, although he was diagnosed with a bit of hyperlipidemia recently, so we’ve been making sure he doesn’t eat too much meat. He even got quite upset over it." Shen Qinglan described Old Sir Fu’s daily life patiently. Although her tone was even, Fu Jingtong listened attentively.

Hearing that her father had thrown a tantrum like a child because there was no meat to eat, she couldn’t help but laugh. Fu Jingtong’s features were not at all delicate, but this smile added a touch of feminine gentleness, "Hengyi and I are always out of the house, so you’ve been a big help with Grandpa."

"Grandpa is doing well. Even before I married Hengyi, I often visited Grandpa to chat and have tea." Shen Qinglan’s lips curved into a faint smile, genuinely fond of Old Sir Fu, who, like her own grandfather, was a very kind elder.

Fu Jingtong laughed, having forgotten that her father had always been very fond of this junior from the Shen Family.

"Aunt, are you going to go back to the Fu Family compound first, or go see Gu Yang at the Gu Family?" At a traffic light intersection, Shen Qinglan asked Fu Jingtong.

Fu Jingtong looked momentarily dazed, "Let’s go back to the compound. I haven’t told Gu Yang about my return yet, I’ll call him later to have him come to the compound."

As if she didn’t notice Fu Jingtong’s brief moment of distraction, Shen Qinglan just said with a smile, "Grandpa is surely waiting at the gate already."

Fu Jingtong smiled as well and took out her phone to call Gu Yang, "...don’t tell your father I’m back." At the end of the call, Fu Jingtong didn’t forget to add.

On the other end of the phone, Gu Yang glanced at his father standing beside him, who, upon hearing the last sentence, showed a fleeting dimness in his eyes, and Gu Yang let out a slight sigh in his heart.

"Well, Dad, I’m going to Grandpa’s first," Gu Yang spoke up, unsure how to console his own father.

Since he was very young, Gu Yang knew his parents were divorced, he lived with his father, and his mother was abroad; for some reason, they never spoke on the phone.

When he was older, Gu Yang understood that the divorce was initiated by his mother. Initially, he thought there must have been a third person involved in their relationship, but after more than twenty years, both his father and mother remained single without even the shadow of a third person.

Seeing his father’s demeanor, he wasn’t without feelings for his mother; if so, why not be together?

This question, Gu Yang asked his father when he was a child, and Gu Bowen simply looked at him, silent, with an expression in his eyes that he couldn’t understand.

Later, he learned that expression was sadness.

The matters between his parents weren’t his to manage, and he shouldn’t; after so many years of separation, Gu Yang had also grown accustomed to it.

Gu Bowen’s face wore a gentle smile, "Go ahead, and don’t forget to take the gift for your grandfather."

Gu Yang waved his hand to show he understood and left.

Gu Bowen watched his son’s departing figure and looked at the empty room, heaving a deep sigh, "Jingting, after all, you still won’t forgive me."

The car stopped in front of the Fu Family’s house, and Fu Jingtong immediately saw Old Sir Fu pacing back and forth in the courtyard, occasionally looking outside.

Seeing a car approach, he instantly straightened up, with his hands behind his back, putting on an air of just taking a casual walk.

Fu Jingtong found it amusing but her eyes moistened; having not seen him for two years, her father’s white hair seemed to have increased, his wrinkles more pronounced.

Fu Jingtong approached and stopped in front of Old Sir Fu, "Dad, I’m back."

Old Sir Fu "hmm-ed" in response, looking his daughter up and down. Seeing that she was thinner but otherwise in good health, he was slightly reassured but looked reproachfully at Fu Jingtong, "Being back is being back; do you expect this old man to welcome you?"

Even though Old Sir Fu’s face was full of reproach, Fu Jingtong still smiled, stepped forward, and gave Old Sir Fu a hug, "Dad, I’ve missed you."

Fu Jingtong could distinctly feel her father go stiff before a pair of warm hands landed on her back, lightly patting it. Her heart clenched with pain, and she felt her nose sour.

"There, there, that’s enough," Old Sir Fu muttered, yet his hand didn’t withdraw and continued to gently pat his daughter’s back. Aside from the times before she turned five when she would playfully snuggle in his arms, he hadn’t embraced her even once after that.

Watching this scene, Shen Qinglan’s smile was warm and tender as she quietly took her suitcase and went inside, leaving the space for the father and daughter reunited after many years.

Fu Jingtong stepped back from Old Sir Fu’s embrace, and Old Sir Fu looked at her disapprovingly, "You’ve been abroad for so many years, learning all that foreign nonsense, and now hugging as soon as you get back."

Fu Jingtong listened to her father’s grumbling, her eyes brimming with a smile, as she linked her arm through her father’s.

Just as they were about to head inside, the sound of an engine approached, and then Gu Yang’s figure appeared at the courtyard gate.

"Grandpa, Mom, I’m here." Gu Yang arrived with a big, beaming smile and went straight in for a big hug with Fu Jingtong.

He was already an adult, tall and sturdy; Fu Jingtong could only reach his shoulder.

She patted her son’s shoulder, "You’ve grown again."

Gu Yang replied with self-assurance, "Of course, young master me is getting handsomer by the day."

"Whose young master are you?" Old Sir Fu asked darkly.

Gu Yang shuddered, quickly plastering a pleasing smile on his face, "Grandpa, your handsome and adorable grandson is here to see you, aren’t you happy?"

Old Sir Fu harrumphed, "Seeing you just hurts my eyes. Tell me, what’s with that blond mop?"

Gu Yang inwardly cursed his luck; he had recently gotten his hair dyed to a brown color and had forgotten how much Old Sir Fu detested seeing boys with messy hair colors. Hadn’t he just walked into trouble?

"Grandpa, well... it’s almost New Year’s, and people always say ’new year, new look.’ So, this is my new look."

Old Sir Fu had long been aware of this grandson’s character; neither his dad nor mom was like this, yet somehow they had raised such a son. As a child, he had the temperament of a tyrant, which Old Sir Fu had forcibly corrected. He seemed alright as he grew up, but the older he got, the more troublesome he became. Every time he saw his grandson, Old Sir Fu got irritable.

Today his daughter had returned, and Old Sir Fu couldn’t be bothered to argue, "Alright, alright, why are we all standing outside? Let’s go in." He led the way inside.

Gu Yang stuck out his tongue, relieved for the moment, while Fu Jingtong glared at her son, who responded with a brilliant smile.

Shen Qinglan’s room had already been tidied up. After placing the suitcase, she went downstairs.

"Little sister-in-law," Gu Yang respectfully called out upon seeing Shen Qinglan.

Old Sir Fu, upon hearing that, became displeased again, glaring, "Sister-in-law is sister-in-law, what’s with the ’little’? It’s disrespectful."

Gu Yang shrank his neck, "Hello, sister-in-law," he corrected himself.

He muttered under his breath, "She IS younger than me, so ’little sister-in-law’ isn’t wrong" and other such comments.

"What are you muttering?" Old Sir Fu eyed Gu Yang, especially his dyed hair, which simply pained his eyes.

Gu Yang instinctively straightened up, almost saluting, "I was saying... Grandpa is right."

Knowing he was a chatterbox, Old Sir Fu couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. "Get your hair fixed up tomorrow, and if I ever see this mess again, I’ll cut it all off myself."

Gu Yang’s face fell; he’d thought the old man had forgotten about it by now. Why did he still remember? Deflated, he said, "Got it, Grandpa." All that money spent in vain on his recent hairstyle.

Aunt Zhao had begun cooking early, and after Shen Qinglan and the others sat in the living room for a while, Aunt Zhao called them to eat.

"Aunt Zhao, after all these years, you still know exactly what I like to eat. All my favorites are here," Fu Jingtong said with a smile as she sat down at the table.

Aunt Zhao smiled back. "I watched you grow up, how could I not know your favorite foods?"

Aunt Zhao’s husband had been Old Sir Fu’s adjutant when he was young, but he had died on the battlefield. Aunt Zhao, childless and widowed, never remarried and stayed with the Fu Family, treating Fu Hengyi’s father and Fu Jingtong as her own children. She knew their tastes better than they did themselves.

"Aunt Zhao, you’re playing favorites. My mom came back, and so did I. Why haven’t you made any of my favorite dishes?" Gu Yang pouted playfully, his eyes twinkling with laughter, clearly joking.

"My little Young Master, I could forget anyone but you. Your favorites are still in the kitchen; I’ll bring them out right away."

Gu Yang finally laughed, sitting down next to Fu Jingtong.

Aunt Zhao quickly came out, carrying a large tray. Shen Qinglan stood up to help her serve the dishes onto the table.

Fu Jingtong raised her glass towards Old Sir Fu. "Daddy, it’s been many years since I’ve been home. Your daughter has been negligent."

"There’s no need to say such things," Old Sir Fu said, his eyes glistening as he lowered his gaze and drank the toast his daughter offered.

"Here, Gramps, have this big chicken leg." Gu Yang placed a juicy chicken leg into the old man’s bowl.

Dinner was enjoyed in a harmonious atmosphere.

After dinner, Gu Yang sprawled on the sofa with Fu Jingtong, leaning limply against her. Old Sir Fu needed a walk after his meal, so Shen Qinglan accompanied him.

"Mom, you’re not leaving so soon this time, are you?"

"Mm, I’ve taken half a month off. This year, I can really celebrate the new year at home."

"Then, Mom, why don’t you come celebrate the new year with me at the Gu Family’s place?" Gu Yang probed tentatively.

Fu Jingtong fell silent instantly. Gu Yang sighed silently. Dad, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, I just can’t do anything.

"Anyway, Mom, since you’ve been single all this time, have you ever thought about finding me a stepdad?" Gu Yang changed the subject, but no sooner had he finished speaking than he got a flick on the forehead.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Ow," Gu Yang winced, covering his forehead and looking at Fu Jingtong plaintively. "Am I still your dear son? You hit so hard. If you make me stupid, you won’t have such a smart and handsome son anymore."

"You were never smart to begin with; being dumber might be better. Save me from all your nonsense," Fu Jingtong said, unamused.

"What do you mean nonsense? I’m serious. Look, I’m already twenty-three, and you and Dad have been divorced for so many years. If you don’t like Dad, why not find someone else?"

Fu Jingtong gave him a cold look and pushed her son away. "Gu Yang, seems like you’re asking for a spanking, huh?"

Gu Yang huffed, "It’s always this trick. Every time you can’t win an argument with me, you play dirty."

"I think you’re just asking for a beating." Fu Jingtong made a motion as if to hit him, and Gu Yang leaped three feet high, keeping his distance from Fu Jingtong with a wary look on his face, "Mom, a gentleman uses his tongue, not his fists."

"I was never a gentleman to begin with."

Gu Yang: ... Indeed, all women are unreasonable, and my mother is no exception.

"What are you two doing?" Old Sir Fu walked in and saw the situation between the mother and son, he couldn’t help but ask.

"Grandpa, I haven’t seen my mom for a long time, and I was just playing with her," said Gu Yang with a grin.

"Gu Yang, you’re not getting any younger. You’ve had your fun for a year, it’s time to start thinking about your future," Old Sir Fu said, not entertained by Gu Yang’s joking demeanor, and posed another question. The smile on Gu Yang’s face stiffened; he knew that as soon as he arrived at the mansion, he couldn’t avoid this topic. Sure enough.

This was also the reason he didn’t like coming to the mansion. Old Sir Fu was a soldier, and he always hoped that Gu Yang would join the army, otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent Gu Yang to a military academy.

Though Gu Yang had graduated from the military academy a year ago, he had yet to join a unit for field experience. Old Sir Fu could only temporarily tolerate it but could not watch him continue like this indefinitely.

"Grandpa, I’m still young, no rush," Gu Yang attempted to bargain.

Old Sir Fu glared, and although he looked very kind, he had, after all, spent many years roughing it in the military, and his stern expression still carried a deterring power. "You’re twenty-three and still think you’re young? How long do you plan to drift aimlessly? Your older brother, Hengyi, had already joined the special forces when he was your age."

Gu Yang looked at Fu Jingtong, seeking her help. Fu Jingtong turned her face away, pretending not to see. Before heading back, she had already reached an agreement with Old Sir Fu on this matter, and of course, she wouldn’t undermine him now.

As for Shen Qinglan, there was no need to mention her. She had never been one to meddle in other’s affairs, and this matter was not something she could intervene in. Sitting on the couch, she leisurely sipped the tea made by Aunt Zhao, turning a blind eye to Gu Yang’s plea for help.

They are all a bunch of people who wouldn’t rescue one from death. Tears filled Gu Yang’s heart.

"Come New Year, you’re going to join a unit in the Military Region for field experience. I will notify them in advance, no one is allowed to give you special treatment. If you dare to try and escape halfway through, I will break your legs. Let’s see if your dad dares to help you then," Old Sir Fu said firmly.

He usually appeared easygoing and agreeable, but he was resolute when it came to decisions he had made. Knowing the matter was settled, Gu Yang could only squat in a corner and cry.

Gu Yang stayed until dinner was over before he headed back, while Shen Qinglan stayed at the Fu Family’s residence.

Lying on the bed without Fu Hengyi, Shen Qinglan felt an unusual longing for him. She couldn’t help but pick up her phone to call him, but to her surprise, the call didn’t go through, displaying that it was switched off.

Shen Qinglan didn’t think much of it, put down her phone, and forced herself to sleep.

Meanwhile, in the Military Region’s special forces, the light in Fu Hengyi’s dormitory was still on. He was rapidly typing on his computer, and the quiet of the night was pierced only by the sound of his fingers hitting the keyboard.

His expression was serious, his eyes fixed on the screen without moving. After typing the last period, he saved the document, then switched off the computer.

As he was about to check the time on his phone, he found it had turned off at some point. After plugging in the charger and powering it on, he saw the time; he had intended to call Shen Qinglan but now placed his phone back on the desk. It was already two in the morning, and Shen Qinglan must be asleep by now.

Fu Hengyi quickly took a shower and then went to bed. He had been writing a summary report for the past few days. Once all these documents were finalized, he could go home.

The last time, taking advantage of a break in a meeting, he had rushed home for a short visit and had not had the chance to talk properly with Shen Qinglan before hurrying back. His heart was full of longing for his little wife, and he also felt deeply apologetic.