The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 178. Mr. Fu’s vinegar jar is overturned again (second update)

Chapter 178: 178. Mr. Fu’s vinegar jar is overturned again (second update)

"I have something to do, I’m leaving now," Yan Shengyu started, "Xiao Xi, do you want to come with me?"

Yan Xi had not seen Shen Qinglan for a long time, and since she finally had the chance, she naturally wanted to stay with her for a while longer. However, seeing her brother struggling to hide his sadness, she also wanted to stay with him, leaving her somewhat conflicted.

Understanding his sister, Yan Shengyu gave her a look and smiled at Shen Qinglan, "I have some matters to attend to next, and it might not be convenient to take my sister with me. Could you please help take care of her?"

Shen Qinglan did not refuse. Seeing her agreement, Yan Shengyu gave Yan Xi a few reminders and then left quickly, almost as if he was fleeing.

Fu Hengyi glanced over and then withdrew his gaze, placing his hand slightly more firmly around Shen Qinglan’s waist. Shen Qinglan looked up at him, seemingly understanding the meaning in his eyes, and felt speechless about his jealousy.

Though Yan Xi wished Shen Qinglan could be her sister-in-law, she knew that Shen Qinglan was already married, and it seemed like they were happily in love. Feeling regretful but not dwelling on it, she turned her attention to a painting on the wall.

Shen Qinglan noticed her focused gaze on the painting and thought she liked it, so she spoke up, "Do you like this painting?"

Hearing this, Yan Xi shook her head, her expression showing a bit of struggle, "No, it’s just that I feel like I’ve seen the person in this painting somewhere before."

Shen Qinglan’s expression changed, and she looked intently at Yan Xi, "Where have you seen her?"

Her emotions were somewhat intense; Fu Hengyi couldn’t help but glance sideways. Shen Qinglan usually had controlled emotions; rarely anything could stir her feelings. Could this person in the painting be very important to her?

He looked at the painting on the wall, a little girl, around eleven or twelve years old, sitting on a grassy field, smiling sweetly as she looked into the distance.

"Yan Xi, where have you seen her, where?" Shen Qinglan gripped Yan Xi’s shoulders, persisting in her question.

Yan Xi was startled by Shen Qinglan’s sudden action, "Big... big sister."

Shen Qinglan realized she had overreacted and let go of Yan Xi, "Sorry, are you alright?" She hadn’t controlled her strength well.

Yan Xi shook her head, her shoulder hurt a bit but it wasn’t too painful, "Big sister, is this person very important to you?"

Shen Qinglan hesitated, glancing at Fu Hengyi by her side, "Yes, she is very important to me."

Yan Xi seemed thoughtful, "I think I saw a photo of a girl who looks like her in my dad’s study a long time ago, but that girl was a bit younger."

"Is that photo still there?"

"It should be, but I’m not sure if dad placed it in the old spot. I was caught sneaking a look at the photo once, and dad was angry. But I can go back and look for it, and I’ll show it to big sister once I find it."

Shen Qinglan felt somewhat disappointed but still nodded, "Thank you."

"Big sister, you don’t need to be so formal," Yan Xi laughed heartily, "Anyway, big sister, you and this uncle... brother, go ahead first, I’ll go home in a bit."

Though Yan Xi wanted to stay longer with Shen Qinglan, Fu Hengyi’s occasional glances made her feel deeply unwanted; rather than continuing to be a third wheel, Yan Xi decisively chose to go home.

Sure enough, as soon as she said this, the gaze on her disappeared.

"We’ll drive you home," Shen Qinglan offered.

Yan Xi waved her hands repeatedly, "No need, big sister, I’ll just take a cab from the door; it’s very convenient here." As she spoke, she ran towards the entrance.

Shen Qinglan watched her leave and didn’t try to stop her; she simply stared at the painting on the wall, her expression distant. Sister Mumu, is the person she mentioned you?

Thinking carefully, Yan Xi’s appearance did share some resemblance to Qin Mu—could it be?

"Qinglan," Fu Hengyi called her softly, bringing Shen Qinglan back to reality.

"What were you thinking about just now?" Fu Hengyi asked, his tone tinged with sorrow and sharpness.

Shen Qinglan lightly shook her head. She didn’t want Fu Hengyi to know about her past; she was unsure how he would react, especially since she was once darkness, and he was light.

"Who is she?" Fu Hengyi looked at the painting on the wall.

Shen Qinglan stared steadily at Fu Hengyi, "Fu Hengyi, I don’t want to talk about it now, but when I’m ready to tell you one day, I will, okay?"

When she asked if it was okay, it was more of a plea. If Fu Hengyi shook his head even if it was hard, she might still choose to tell him.

Fu Hengyi knew Shen Qinglan had secrets, and he hoped she would one day tell him these secrets herself, but he didn’t want to force her, nor could he bear to press her. If her secrets were painful to her, then he would rather never know them.

"Okay," Fu Hengyi replied with a gentle and indulgent smile.

Qinglan felt warmth in her heart. This man always accommodated everything about her. She took the initiative to reach out and intertwine her fingers with Fu Hengyi’s.

They didn’t return to the main house but to Jiangxin Garden instead.

That night, Qinglan was exceptionally passionate, even willing to try several positions she had previously refused.

From the living room to the bedroom, then to the bathroom, and back to the bedroom, the two intertwined with each other, as if they had boundless passion and energy.

Eventually, it was Qinglan who fell asleep first.

Fu Hengyi went to the bathroom, grabbed a towel to clean her, and helped her change into her pajamas. Even then, Qinglan didn’t open her eyes, clearly exhausted.

Yet she seemed to have uneasy sleep, frowning and mumbling something. Fu Hengyi drew closer but couldn’t make it out clearly. He heard the word "Mu" — was it a name or a surname? Was it the girl from the painting earlier today?

Fu Hengyi went to clean himself in the bathroom and when he returned to bed, Qinglan was curled up at the edge, holding herself tightly, reminiscent of a baby in the womb.

Some say such a sleeping posture reflects a sense of insecurity.

His eyes slightly darkened, Fu Hengyi sat down at the edge of the bed, watching Qinglan’s troubled face with pity. He reached out to smooth the furrow in her brow but stopped mid-air.

He gazed at her steadily. "Qinglan, I couldn’t be a part of your past, but I accept your future wholeheartedly. No matter what happens, I will always be by your side, never leaving you."

He climbed into bed, held Qinglan in his arms, and she automatically found a comfortable position, her frown slowly easing, and a slight smile curving her lips.

Gently, Fu Hengyi planted a kiss on her forehead, closed his eyes, and fell asleep too, tired from the tumultuous night.

The next day, when Qinglan opened her eyes, Fu Hengyi was still sleeping.

She watched his resting face, not making any move to get up, even though it was time for her morning exercise.

Fu Hengyi’s lashes weren’t long, but they were dense. Each facial feature might not be considered strikingly handsome on its own, but together, they created a remarkably attractive face.

Yet, his kind of attractiveness was different from Han Yi’s. Perhaps due to years in the army, he had an additional... Qinglan searched for the right adjective in her mind. Ah, a manly essence.

"Like what you see?" Fu Hengyi asked softly.

Qinglan realized then that Fu Hengyi had woken up at some point and caught her staring outright. She wasn’t embarrassed; after all, this was her husband, her man, and she could look if she wanted to.

"Is there something uncomfortable on your body?" Fu Hengyi didn’t mind being looked at, especially by his wife, but seeing Qinglan not getting up, he worried if he had been too rough last night and hurt her.

Since their marriage, they had been intimate frequently, but last night had been unprecedentedly wild. While satisfied, Fu Hengyi was also concerned about Qinglan’s well-being.

Qinglan’s cheeks flushed. Although last night was a bit wild, her physical fitness was actually quite good. Having slept, most of the discomfort had faded. She shook her head lightly, "I’m fine."

Hearing this, Fu Hengyi relaxed and inwardly sighed with relief. Having a wife with good physical and recovery abilities was indeed a blessing. Moreover, Qinglan was quite flexible, many positions... Fu Hengyi quickly suppressed thoughts unfit for children.

Qinglan’s nightdress had been changed by Fu Hengyi, and probably because last night’s collar buttons hadn’t been fastened properly, it had opened, revealing her fair skin marked with ambiguous red and purple traces.

Fu Hengyi’s gaze darkened as he looked on, his body reacting swiftly.

Feeling the warmth on her lower abdomen, Qinglan’s body stiffened, her gaze shifting. This man, just last night, and now...

At this moment, Fu Hengyi’s gaze was like a starved wolf eyeing a tender rabbit.

"Fu Hengyi, we should get up. I’m hungry," Qinglan said, feeling a bit numb on her scalp from Fu Hengyi’s stamina, which she could barely handle.

Fu Hengyi smiled gently, "Perfect, I’m hungry too," he said, leaning down to kiss Qinglan’s lips.

Soon, the bedroom was filled with the mood of spring.

When Qinglan woke up again, it was already noon. Fu Hengyi had gotten up and was cooking in the kitchen. Still in her pajamas, Qinglan leaned against the kitchen door, yawning. She was a bit tired. After all the exertion last night and again this morning, even with her good physical fitness, it was overwhelming.

"Aren’t we going back to the main house today?" Qinglan asked.

Fu Hengyi turned to look at her, his brow furrowing. He didn’t answer her question but said, "Why aren’t you wearing a coat over your pajamas? What if you catch a cold?"

"It’s not that easy to catch a cold, especially with the heating on at home; it’s not cold at all."

But Fu Hengyi didn’t think so. If he hadn’t been cooking, he would have probably gone to get her clothes himself, "Go put on your coat first, dinner will be ready soon. After eating, we’re going to Grandma’s house this afternoon."

Grandma’s house? Qinglan was a bit confused and it took her a while to remember that Fu Hengyi was talking about the Chu Family, her grandmother’s house.

After changing her clothes and coming out, Fu Hengyi had already served all the dishes on the table, three dishes and one soup, all her favorites.

"Drink the warm water on the table first, then we can eat," Fu Hengyi pointed to the warm water he had poured especially for Qinglan, which she liked to drink every morning after getting up.

Qinglan sat down at the dinner table, drank the warm water, and watched as Fu Hengyi served the rice and brought it in front of her, Qinglan raised an eyebrow, "Is this you being extra sweet?"

Fu Hengyi sat down opposite her, and with a slight smile, he said, "Madam worked hard last night, I naturally have to take good care of her."

Qinglan: ... She found that his skin was getting thicker.

After eating, Fu Hengyi still did the dishes, while Qinglan sat on the couch watching him first clean the dishes, then tidy up the room, and even wash the clothes they had changed out of the night before.

"Leave that, I’ll wash it." Seeing Fu Hengyi about to wash her underwear, Qinglan’s old face blushed.

Fu Hengyi didn’t think it was anything embarrassings, nor did he think washing his wife’s underwear was anything to be ashamed of, "Sit and rest for a while, watch some TV if you’re really bored. I’ll be done soon, and then we can set off."

Qinglan didn’t stop him anymore, thankfully they were at home with no outsiders around, and she didn’t linger there any longer, heading to the living room.

Fu Hengyi came out quickly, changed into a new set of clothes, and also carried a down jacket, Qinglan’s.

"Let’s go."

**

When Qinglan and Fu Hengyi arrived at the Chu Family, they found that the other members of the Shen Family had already arrived, including Old Sir Shen and the Pei Family.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Grandfather," Qinglan greeted the elders first, with Fu Hengyi following behind, his hands filled with several gift bags.

"Aunt, Mom said you would come today, and you really did. Mom didn’t lie to me." Just as she spoke, a chubby little figure sprinted over, then hugged Qinglan’s legs, Qinglan squatting down to look at Little Douding.

"Did Mom tell you Auntie would come today?"

Little Douding nodded, burrowing into Qinglan’s arms, wrapping around her neck, "Yes, Mom said Auntie missed Haohao too, so she came to see Haohao today. Auntie, did you miss me?"

Qinglan nodded with a smile, "Yes, I missed you."

Little Douding was delighted, kissing Qinglan’s cheek and leaving a big wet mark, "I missed Auntie too."

Fu Hengyi, who had been dark-faced watching Little Douding take over his wife’s embrace, now saw this cheeky little guy blatantly taking advantage of his wife, which made his expression even grimmer, his gaze chilly as he looked at Little Douding.

Little Douding knew he was looking at his uncle and wasn’t afraid; he met his gaze. Fu Hengyi raised an eyebrow, a bold kid.

Qinglan picked him up, "Auntie, why do you have red marks on your neck? Were you bitten by a mosquito?" Little Douding suddenly remarked, also reaching out to touch, "Auntie, why are there so many? You must have a lot of mosquitoes at your house."

Qinglan’s face turned abruptly redder, especially seeing the other people in the living room who had overheard Little Douding and understood, casting playful glances her way, making her even more uncomfortable. She glared fiercely at the culprit.

She had said not to leave marks in such obvious places like her neck, but someone didn’t listen and went even further. Now look, they were being laughed at.

Fu Hengyi, thick-skinned, was unfazed by his wife’s glare or the teasing look from everyone else; they were legally married, so everything they did was reasonable.

"Auntie, does it hurt?" Little Douding asked concerningly, "Last time I was bitten by a mosquito, it hurt a lot, Auntie, being bitten so many times must hurt a lot, right?"

Qinglan, feeling for the first time that Little Douding wasn’t so cute, saw her husband about to get annoyed, quickly took Little Douding from him.

"Your Auntie was bitten by a big mosquito last night, she can’t hold you now, Uncle will hold you," Fu Hengyi soothed an unwilling Little Douding who wanted Qinglan to hold him.

Little Douding stopped struggling, "Uncle, does Auntie hurt a lot?"

"It doesn’t hurt anymore." To prevent Fu Hengyi from saying anything more astonishing, Qinglan spoke up first.

"Really?" Little Douding stared with wide eyes.

"You’re just a little kid, where do you get all these questions from, your aunt said it doesn’t hurt anymore, so it doesn’t," Pei Yinong, fearful that Little Douding might blurt out something shocking, cut off her son’s words.

"I’m not a little kid, I’m already three years old," Little Douding retorted, dissatisfied with his mom’s words, and even held up three little chubby fingers.

"At three years old, you’re still a little kid," Pei Yinong rolled her eyes and teased her son.

"Mommy’s mean," Little Douding couldn’t outtalk his mom and felt wronged.

Nevertheless, the topic finally shifted from Shen Qinglan who breathed a sigh of relief. Being continually teased with glances was making her want to find a hole to crawl into.

Fu Hengyi held Little Douding and sat down in the living room. Little Douding couldn’t sit still and slid off Fu Hengyi’s lap, running off to play by himself.

Shen Qinglan sat next to Fu Hengyi, who tried to reach for her hand but was avoided. Fu Hengyi silently smiled, aware that his wife was annoyed with him.

Mr. Fu felt rather innocent. Who could blame him when Shen Qinglan was so irresistible, making him want to devour her. Moreover, just yesterday, it was Shen Qinglan who had taken the initiative, wouldn’t he be letting down his wife’s rare enthusiasm if he hadn’t responded?

Knowing that Shen Qinglan was embarrassed easily and seeing everyone else avoiding looking at her now, Pei Yinong, however, stared at Shen Qinglan like she was looking at a rare treasure, making Shen Qinglan feel uncomfortable. "Cousin, what do you want to say?"

Pei Yinong clicked her tongue, "Qinglan, you really keep things hidden. Who would have thought?"

The news of yesterday’s art exhibition had gone viral online, and today the major newspapers in Beijing were competing to report it. Now everyone knew that the Second Miss Shen, Shen Qinglan, was not only stunningly beautiful but also a renowned painter, Leng Qingqiu.

If it weren’t still the winter break, reporters would probably have already swarmed the entrance of B University. Even so, the principal of B University and Shen Qinglan’s teacher had been bombarded with calls, all inquiring about Shen Qinglan’s performance at school. Learning that Shen Qinglan had excellent grades and had been a recipient of a national scholarship every year, praises flowed in like a tide for Shen Qinglan.

"It started off as just a hobby, but then I developed a passion for it," Shen Qinglan said lightly, telling the truth, but in the ears of some, like Shen Xitong, it sounded like boasting.

So Shen Qinglan becomes a famous painter with just a casual effort, while I, who have studied the piano since childhood, am not as good as you? Are you mocking me?

Luckily, Shen Qinglan was unaware of the thoughts in Shen Xitong’s mind, otherwise, she would definitely have rolled her eyes at her and said, "You’re overthinking it."

Today, Shen Xitong’s complexion looked a bit haggard, her makeup barely concealing the dark circles under her eyes. She hadn’t slept all night, especially after seeing the uniform praise for Shen Qinglan online, acclaiming her as the true scion of the Shen family, like father like daughter – it made her so mad she smashed things in her room.

The noise had been so loud that Chu Yunrong came to see what happened. Seeing her room in disarray, Chu Yunrong for the first time gave her a cold look and scolded her sharply, her words filled with disappointment.

Shen Xitong, with tearful eyes, begged for Chu Yunrong’s forgiveness.

She cried so pitifully that eventually Chu Yunrong softened, consoled her with a few words, and left.

But Shen Xitong had stayed up all night, jealous of Shen Qinglan and worried that Chu Yunrong’s affection for her might wane. Now if the love of the Shen family, particularly that from Chu Yunrong, faded, she truly wouldn’t be able to stay any longer.

Having tormented herself all night, it was no wonder she looked exhausted the next day.

Initially, Shen Qinglan just glanced at her once and hasn’t looked at her since. If she kept out of trouble, Shen Qinglan was happy to be left in peace.

"Lanlan, you really gave us all a big surprise," Grandma Qi Min smiled as she spoke, her face full of happiness.

Grandpa Chu Zhan nodded in agreement, his granddaughter was so outstanding, and he was naturally very pleased.

He sighed softly as he glanced at his daughter who had been quiet ever since Shen Qinglan arrived.

Chu Yunrong wasn’t being silent by choice, but she was considering Shen Xitong’s feelings, knowing she was not taking it well. She also didn’t dare to be too close to Shen Qinglan, fearing that her sensitively minded daughter might overthink and get hurt, but deep down, she indeed felt proud of Shen Qinglan’s excellence.

"Auntie, hug," Little Douding got bored playing by himself after a while and ran over to Shen Qinglan, stretching out his arms.

Shen Qinglan picked him up and let him nestle in her arms.

Fu Hengyi watched Little Douding monopolize his wife’s embrace again, his gaze deepening especially after seeing Little Douding kiss Shen Qinglan’s cheek.

"Auntie, you smell so nice," Little Douding praised after kissing her.

Shen Qinglan simply smiled, choosing to ignore the jealous look from the man beside her.

"Qinglan, since this kid loves you so much, why don’t you take him home and keep him as your son?" Seeing her son getting cozy with Shen Qinglan, Pei Yinong admitted she was getting jealous.

"Yes, yes, I’ll go home with Auntie," Little Douding clapped his hands even before Shen Qinglan could respond, shattering Pei Yinong’s heart instantly. Sure enough, sons were nothing but a financial loss, always siding with others.

The others laughed, especially Chu Yunjin who was bending over with laughter, thinking her daughter was owed, knowing that Haohao liked Qinglan yet still letting him choose between her and Qinglan every time.