The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 183. Acknowledging Relatives

Chapter 183: 183. Acknowledging Relatives

Old Sir Shen turned to Li Datou, "Xitong was indeed adopted by our family, but when she was adopted, the director of the orphanage also said that she was an orphan, sent there because her parents had both passed away and there was no one to care for her. Now you suddenly come forward claiming to be her biological parents; how should this be explained? Are you lying, or was the director of the orphanage at that time lying?"

Li Datou rubbed his hands, his face clearly embarrassed, but it was Tian Cuifang who spoke, "Actually, this is all my fault. If it weren’t for my uselessness, my inability, we wouldn’t have abandoned Sanya."

Her eyes reddened as she continued, "Our hometown is in Xiangnan, just a backward little mountain village. The people there live off farming, and life is tough. In our village, not having a son is seen as cutting off the family line. I was married to her dad for five years, and we had three girls. We have little land, and barely enough food to feed two adults, let alone three children. At that time, I was pregnant again, and they said the one in my belly was a boy, so her dad and I discussed it and thought about giving Sanya to someone else to raise."

She paused there, glanced at Shen Xitong with a difficult expression, "But Sanya was a girl, considered a financial burden, and nobody wanted her, especially since she was already five years old and knew better. Even if someone was willing, they didn’t want a child like her, so..."

"So you sent her to the orphanage?" Chu Yunrong interjected, her voice slightly cold. After all, it was her own daughter she raised, and hearing about her experiences, the heartache was still there.

Tian Cuifang was embarrassed, yet more than that, there was a sense of desperate struggle, "Madam, you haven’t lived such a life, you don’t know what it’s like to go hungry, unable to feed even yourself and your children. If I were like you, Madam, I would never throw away my own child even if it killed me."

It was unclear if Tian Cuifang had said something wrong, but suddenly Chu Yunrong’s face turned ghostly pale, frightening everyone. Shen Qian, however, understood what his wife must be thinking. He glanced at Shen Qinglan, who had no reaction, and silently took his wife’s hand, gently squeezing it with a bit of strength.

Chu Yunrong composed herself, her heart still aching, making her face look still pallid.

Tian Cuifang was startled, standing there at a loss.

How could she know that a single word "throw away" would make Chu Yunrong think of the time she lost her own biological daughter?

"Now that you’ve abandoned her, why are you looking for her again?" Chu Yunrong asked hoarsely.

Tian Cuifang became even more embarrassed, her expression filled with boundless sorrow and helplessness, "It’s not that we didn’t want to find Sanya sooner. It’s just that by the time we regretted it and wanted to bring Sanya back, she had already been taken away. The director said she was adopted by a wealthy family. We asked for the address, but she said she didn’t know. Over the years, we never gave up searching. Her dad and I even left our hometown to work in various cities, all to find news of Sanya, but so many years have passed, and we never found her."

As she spoke, Tian Cuifang began to cry. Watching her tearful performance, Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but give her an internal nod of approval.

This family never looked for their daughter. They had roamed through various cities for years simply because their hometown was too poor to feed their children. To avoid starvation, they had no choice but to find work elsewhere. According to the investigation, if it weren’t for the fact that their two older daughters were bigger than Shen Xitong was then and could do work—unwanted when given away and regrettable if abandoned—it’s possible that Shen Xitong wouldn’t have been the only one left behind.

Later on, the fate of those two daughters wasn’t much better either. One was married off to an old bachelor in the village as soon as she turned fifteen. The younger was married at eighteen to a factory worker they met while working, with a bride price of twenty thousand yuan.

Then they left the city with their only son, leaving their second daughter behind. It was as if they had sold their daughter for 2000 yuan.

This time, had it not been for the person Shen Qinglan found who located them and told them that the daughter they had abandoned was adopted by a wealthy family and was now very rich, they wouldn’t have hurried over before even the year was through.

What they were saying now had also been prepped by Shen Qinglan’s people.

They didn’t believe it at first, until those people showed them a photo of Shen Xitong now, as well as photos of her frequenting various high-end places.

Don’t ask them why they believed that she was the daughter they had abandoned. Even if she weren’t, as long as they insistently claimed it, then Shen Xitong would be their daughter.

Chu Yunrong felt a pang in her heart, having experienced the despair of not finding a child. Looking at Tian Cuifang crying her heart out, Chu Yunrong’s heart softened as well.

"Now that you couldn’t find her before, how did you find her now?" This time, Shen Qian was the one asking.

This problem clearly had a "standard answer" as well, those who came to them had already told them about the potential questions they might be asked and the situations they might encounter, and all they had to do was follow what that person had said.

"It was my second daughter who happened to see Sanya’s performance, then she told us this girl looked similar to my eldest daughter, so we thought it could be our Sanya and came looking for her."

"Since that’s the case, you’re not actually certain whether Shen Xitong is your daughter or not, so why did you jump to the conclusion that she is?" Shen Qian frowned, obviously not expecting the couple’s claim to be so haphazard.

"We weren’t sure initially, we just wanted to come over and take a look, but the moment I saw her I was certain, she is the flesh I carried for ten months, how could I not recognize my own daughter?" Tian Cuifang was heartfelt and sincere, her gaze toward Shen Xitong filled with deep affection.

However, Shen Xitong did not find that gaze warm but felt a chill all over her instead, gripping Chu Yunrong’s arm with one hand, panic in her eyes, afraid that the Shen Family would let the couple take her away.

Seeing Shen Xitong’s pitiful state, Chu Yunrong felt a surge of pity and said to the couple, "Xitong is already an adult, regardless of whether or not you are her biological parents, she has the right to choose her own life."

The couple did not fully understand her words, as they were uneducated people who hadn’t even finished middle school, let alone high school.

"What do you mean by that, ma’am?" Tian Cuifang glanced at Li Datou and asked Chu Yunrong.

"Since you’re convinced that Xitong is your daughter, then you shouldn’t mind going to the hospital for a paternity test, should you? If the results come back confirming Xitong is indeed your daughter, you can ask her whether she is willing to go back with you. If she is unwilling, you cannot force her. How does that sound?" Old Sir Shen proposed.

Li Datou and his wife had already known they’d be asked to do a paternity test, and were not at all afraid; the person who had contacted them had said that Shen Xitong was their daughter, and even if a hundred tests were carried out, the result would be the same. With that in mind, they had nothing to fear.

"Okay, okay, what do we need to do?" Li Datou eagerly agreed, afraid they might suddenly change their mind about letting them recognize their daughter.

"No, I don’t want to do any paternity test, and I don’t want to go back with them, they are not my mommy and daddy, they aren’t." Shen Xitong screamed, clinging to Chu Yunrong’s arm, tearful, "Mommy, I’m not their daughter, I’m your child, please don’t abandon me."

As she spoke, she began to cry. This was a situation she had never anticipated; since coming to the Shen Family, she had never considered looking for her biological parents. Whether they were alive or dead, she had always thought of them as dead.

Chu Yunrong, seeing her like this, was also very heartbroken and hugged her, "Mommy will never abandon you, you are mommy’s daughter, and will be for life."

"Mommy." Shen Xitong cried even louder.

"Shen Xitong." Old Sir Shen sternly scolded, and Shen Xitong’s cries stopped abruptly.

But her gaze toward Old Sir Shen was full of grievance, voice choked, "Grandpa, they are not my parents, I don’t want to do any paternity test, I don’t want to leave you all, I don’t want to."

Old Sir Shen’s face was solemn and brooked no argument, "This matter is settled, tomorrow you will go with them to the hospital for a paternity test, we will discuss further once the results are out."

Once Old Sir Shen had decided something, even Shen Qian had to listen, and Shen Xitong was no exception.

"Shen Qian, book them a hotel room, and personally take them to the hospital tomorrow."

"What’s going on at home, why is it so busy?" Shen Junyu entered from outside, seeing everyone gathered in the living room and two strangers at home, especially noticing Shen Xitong’s red-rimmed eyes from crying, and couldn’t help asking.

"You’ve arrived just in time, book a hotel for these two, and make arrangements for their stay." No one answered his question; Shen Qian simply gave the order.

Shen Junyu agreed and gave Li Datou and his wife a look. The Shen Family had excellent family education, never looking down on people without reason. Even though Li Datou and his wife’s clothes were plainly shabby, there was not the slightest change in Shen Junyu’s expression, not even a furrow of his eyebrows.

Shen Qinglan watched the scene before her, interest brimming in her eyes, but she hid it well, no one but Fu Hengyi realized it.

Fu Hengyi took Shen Qinglan to bid farewell, "Grandpa, I have to return to the military base tomorrow, so we’ll head back today, and I’ll visit you another day."

Old Sir Shen nodded, without uttering any words of persuasion to stay; considering both families lived in the same large courtyard, there wasn’t much need for it.

After leaving Shen Family’s place, Fu Hengyi asked Shen Qinglan in a low voice, his tone gentle and lacking any trace of an interrogation, "Did you bring this couple here?"

Shen Qinglan glanced at him and spoke lightly, "You’re overthinking it."

Fu Hengyi chuckled and didn’t press further, thinking if you believe it’s not them, then it’s not them.

A dark glint passed through Shen Qinglan’s eyes, Shen Xitong, this is the first gift I’ve given you, I hope you like it.

**

Shen Junyu booked a five-star room with a large bed for the Li Family, but the decor still dazzled the couple.

After Shen Junyu had left, Tian Cuifang surveyed the room, even specifically went to check out the bathroom, "Daddy, come over here, this bathroom is bigger than any room we’ve ever stayed in, and there’s a huge mirror inside and a big bathtub that you can lie down in to bathe."

Tian Cuifang was thrilled, looking around and even touching the toiletries placed on the sink, or holding the bathrobe next to her up against her body to measure it.

She had never stayed in such a nice place.

"That man wasn’t lying to us, these people are rich," said Li Datou as he smoked, a heavy addict; he didn’t dare to smoke at Shen Family’s home, but now that they were away, he couldn’t resist. However, the cigarettes he smoked weren’t good, with a pungent taste.

Tian Cuifang, long used to the smoke, didn’t mind at all. Coming out of the bathroom with an irrepressible smile on her face, she said, "Exactly, and look at the house they live in—it’s so big, even bigger than the village chief’s house in our village, and everything inside is so nicely arranged. Plus, our daughter has grown up to be so beautiful."

Her face expressed sheer excitement, but then she frowned, "Just that the child seems not to want to acknowledge us. Can we really succeed?"

Li Datou exhaled a ring of smoke, his eyebrows raising sharply at her words, "She wouldn’t dare not to recognize us. Tomorrow, we’ll do that paternity test. If she wants to deny us, she won’t be able to, and it doesn’t matter if we abandoned her before—we are still her parents. If she dares to deny us, I’ll sue her and put her in jail."

Tian Cuifang wasn’t reassured, "But I don’t think that family is easy to mess with. Look at where they live, with soldiers guarding the entrance, and they even have guns. If they don’t let us acknowledge her, we can’t do anything."

"It shouldn’t be a problem, didn’t that man say—Sanya is our daughter, and that family is not unreasonable. They won’t make it difficult for us, and besides, they booked us in this nice hotel today, didn’t they?"

Upon hearing her husband, Tian Cuifang thought there was some logic to what he said and nodded in agreement, "Daddy, you’re smart. Once we recognize our daughter, we’ll have money for our son to get married. Then we’ll find a pretty wife for him, maybe we’ll live in a big house just like them, and have servants to wait on us."

Li Datou also laughed, but his face was wrinkled, probably from years of labor; his back was a bit hunched, "Then we won’t go back. We’ll have Sanya buy us a house here, bring our son over, and we’ll be Beijing people too."

Tian Cuifang smiled until her mouth could not close, "Then we can bring over Dajia and Erjia as well, and the whole family can live together."

"Why bother bringing those two loss-making goods over, just sinking money into them," Li Datou suddenly lost his temper.

Tian Cuifang immediately dared not say another word, "Well, the child’s daddy, I’m going to take a shower first."

While the couple had their pleasant thoughts, Shen Xitong was close to turning into a tearful mess.

She lay on the bed, crying her heart out, while Chu Yunrong sat by her side comforting her, "Xitong, stop crying. If you keep it up, do you still want your eyes?"

Hearing this, Shen Xitong cried even more bitterly, "Mommy, do you think Grandpa doesn’t want me anymore? Is that why he’s making me do the DNA test with them?"

"That’s not true. Grandpa would never abandon you. It’s just a test. If the results come back and they are not related, we’ll have a reason to explain ourselves," Chu Yunrong consoled her.

"But what if it turns out they are? Mommy, would you then let me go with them?"

"Silly child, even though you’re not born from me, I raised you with my own hands. How could I bear to let you go with them?"

Xitong embraced Chu Yunrong’s waist, burying her head in her embrace, "Mommy, I’ve been without a mother since I could remember. I grew up in an orphanage. They didn’t want me before, but now they want to recognize me. Why should I acknowledge them?"

Xitong’s words were filled with resentment toward the Li Datou couple, sending a shudder through Chu Yunrong’s heart.

Chu Yunrong did not know how to respond to such a sentiment. She wasn’t a good mother herself, having lost her own daughter for ten years. Even after finding her, Shen Qinglan was not close to her. Could it be that in Shen Qinglan’s mind, she too was resented?

Chu Yunrong had heard her husband say that Shen Qinglan had once been adopted by a couple, but that couple abandoned her at the orphanage doorstep after having their own child. Shen Qinglan grew up in the orphanage.

As for Shen Xitong, although abandoned by her biological parents, since being adopted by the Shen family, she had lived without worry, and she herself had never mistreated her.

Thinking this way, Chu Yunrong’s guilt deepened, and her desire to comfort Xitong waned.

"Alright, let’s not talk about this any more. We’ll discuss it after the test results come back." Chu Yunrong patted Xitong’s shoulder as she spoke.

A shock went through Xitong’s heart as if her reluctance to acknowledge her biological parents had upset Chu Yunrong. She looked up, anxiety flashing in her eyes, "Mommy, it’s not that I don’t want to acknowledge them. It’s just that they abandoned me before, and now they’ve come back for me. I just can’t accept it so quickly."

Chu Yunrong gave a smile, "Mommy understands. I raised you, how could I not know you? You have a kind heart, Xiao Zhao knows all this. Don’t think too much, just have a good sleep. When you wake up, it’ll all be fine."

After Chu Yunrong left, Shen Xitong pulled out a tissue to wipe the tears from her face, where there was not a trace of sadness or distress, only a cold mask remained. Thinking of the Li couple, a flash of disdain crossed the bottom of her eyes.

Even without the DNA test, Xitong knew that the Li couple were her biological parents. If she hadn’t recognized them at first, by the time they took out that photo, everything came flooding back.

She only had memories of up to five years old, but Xitong still remembered the environment she once lived in—an old straw hut; a lazy and bad-tempered father who smoked, drank, and gambled. If he lost bets or got drunk, he’d beat them; a mother who never dared to fight back or intervene when her husband beat their children, only silently crying on the sidelines. Knowing they could not support them, yet still desperately trying to have a son.

They left her at the orphanage doorstep because they couldn’t support three children and also because her mother was pregnant, possibly with a son, and didn’t even leave her a warm piece of clothing. If she hadn’t been found in time, she might have died at the age of five.

She had finally gained a life with loving parents and a promising future. What did that couple have? If they clung to her, her life would be ruined.

Because of Shen Qinglan, Old Sir Shen wasn’t very fond of her, and now if they acknowledged that couple, wouldn’t it be a legitimate reason for her to leave the Shen family?

This was a result Xitong absolutely didn’t want to see, nor would she let them destroy her life.

Her pupils were very dark, it was impossible to discern her emotions.

When Shen Junyu returned, he ran into Shen Qian at the door. It looked as though he had been waiting there especially for him, "Daddy?"

"Did you get them settled in?"

Shen Junyu nodded, "They’re all arranged, Daddy, who exactly are they?"

This time, Shen Qian told him, "They claim to be Xitong’s birth parents. They suddenly showed up today, wanting to recognize Xitong and take her away."

Shen Junyu responded with an "Oh," "Well, she is their daughter. It’s only natural they would want to take her back. But what are you worried about, Daddy?"

Shen Qian furrowed his brow, "I just wonder why, after so many years without looking for her, they suddenly want to take their daughter back, and how they found our family so precisely."

"Didn’t you just say that they’re not certain until the paternity test tomorrow? What are you suspecting now?" Shen Junyu’s gaze was cool.

"I just think it’s all too coincidental."

"What’s coincidental? You said they’ve been looking for their daughter for many years and only now found her. How can that be sudden? They’re just lucky to have found her. It’s like when our family expended so much effort and manpower to finally find Lanlan," Shen Junyu said with a hint of mocking in his tone, even his eyes were scornful.

This father was good in all aspects, except he was overly suspicious, he valued the Shen Family too highly. He had treated Lanlan in such a manner in the past, and now it was the same.

But this time it involved Shen Xitong, which to Shen Junyu didn’t matter much.

"Jun Yu is right; Shen Qian, you’re overthinking it," Old Sir Shen’s voice came from behind, and both Shen Qian and Shen Junyu turned around.

"Daddy."

"Grandpa."

"Daddy, I really feel like there are too many coincidences in this matter." Could someone be deliberately targeting the Shen Family?

Old Sir Shen’s face was stern, "No matter whether this is a coincidence or something engineered, all we can do now is wait. If you’re concerned, take them to the paternity test yourself tomorrow. If the test results come back and they are indeed Xitong’s birth parents, then we have no right to prevent them from taking their daughter. Do you understand?"

Shen Qian nodded, he hadn’t planned on stopping them. It was purely that the situation seemed too coincidental, he was probably just overthinking.

Shen Qian sighed slightly at his son’s disapproving look.

The next day, Shen Xitong was woken up early and reluctantly left the house with Shen Junyu and Shen Qian. Chu Yunrong didn’t go with them and stayed home instead.

As soon as Shen Junyu stepped out, he split up from Shen Qian to pick up the Li Family. When he arrived at the hospital, someone was already waiting at the entrance. Shen Junyu greeted them, but Shen Qian stayed in the car.

"Get out of the car, I’ve arranged everything in the hospital," Shen Qian said to Shen Xitong in the back seat.

Shen Xitong’s face was full of reluctance, "Daddy."

Shen Qian smiled gently, "It’s just a test, don’t worry, there’s nothing to fear."

Seeing no signs of him changing his mind, Shen Xitong got out of the car with no choice, only to see the Li couple again, smiling at her just as they had the day before. Yet, to Xitong, those smiles appeared hideous.

Without greeting them, Shen Xitong turned and walked away.

"Let’s go," a person who looked like a doctor said, and the Li couple followed behind with Shen Junyu, hands in his pockets, trailing at the back.

After the blood was drawn, Shen Xitong left immediately, not even saying a word to Shen Junyu, who didn’t mind.

The Li couple followed Shen Junyu outside where Shen Qian’s car was already gone. Shen Junyu opened the back door of his car, "Get in, I’ll take you back. The DNA test results will take a few days."

The Li couple obediently got in, and when they arrived at the hotel entrance, they lingered without getting out. Shen Junyu looked in the rear-view mirror and noticed Tian Cuifang’s hesitant expression, thinking they might be worried about the hotel room fees.

"I’ve paid for a week’s stay at the hotel. Just stay there and be at ease."

Tian Cuifang nodded repeatedly, her face full of gratitude, "Thank you, thank you. It’s just... " She seemed troubled.

"Is there anything else?" Shen Junyu asked.

Hesitating, Tian Cuifang said, "It’s just, we’ve spent all our money searching for Sanya..."

Shen Junyu understood immediately, without saying a word, he took out some paper money from his wallet and handed it to them, "This should be enough for the two of you to live on for a few days."

Tian Cuifang took the money with much gratitude, thanking him profusely before she and Li Datou got out of the car.

After Shen Junyu’s car had left, Li Datou asked Tian Cuifang impatiently, "How much did he give?"

Tian Cuifang counted, "One thousand yuan."

Li Datou sneered, "The richer they are, the stingier they get, only giving 1000 yuan, like they’re dismissing beggars." He complained but snatched the money from Tian Cuifang’s hand and stuffed it into his jacket pocket.

"Let’s go, let’s go, hurry inside, it’s freezing," he said.

"But we haven’t eaten yet, shouldn’t we buy something to eat?" Tian Cuifang called from behind, but Li Datou ignored her and went straight up.

Tian Cuifang had no money in hand, and even though her stomach grumbled with hunger, she could only go upstairs, thankful there was still some dry food in her bag.

**

Fu Hengyi was awake early but didn’t get up as usual. Instead, he propped his hand under his head and just watched Shen Qinglan.

Feeling someone’s gaze during her sleep, Shen Qinglan opened her eyes and met Fu Hengyi’s tender look.

"Morning," Shen Qinglan began, her lips curving into a light smile.

Fu Hengyi looked down and kissed her lips, his smile gentle, "Morning."

"Should we get up?"

Fu Hengyi shook his head, and seemingly nonchalantly said, "How about I apply for a transfer to the Beijing Military Region?"

The smile at the corners of Shen Qinglan’s mouth vanished as she gauged his expression, seeing he wasn’t joking, she too turned serious. Sitting up, she was quickly pulled into Fu Hengyi’s embrace. Shen Qinglan let him do as he wished, "Why the sudden thought of transferring to the Beijing Military Region?"

"Nowadays, I’m slowly getting older, my physical strength isn’t what it used to be, staying there is like occupying a squat toilet without using it."

He spoke coarsely, but Shen Qinglan didn’t believe his reason. Recalling their conversations before the New Year and this Spring Festival, when Grandpa Fu had talked to him alone, she asked, "Did someone talk to you about this?"

Fu Hengyi had to inwardly marvel at her sharp senses, "No, you’re overthinking it, it’s purely my own thought."

Shen Qinglan sat up from his embrace, facing him seriously, "Fu Hengyi, you’re a soldier, I know you love the army, love the brothers you’ve fought shoulder to shoulder with, you’re born for the army. You just need to follow your heart, and I’ll silently support you from behind."

Fu Hengyi chuckled lightly, his gaze on Shen Qinglan growing even more tender, "Where did your thoughts wander off to? I have no plans to leave the service, I just want to transfer back to the Beijing Military Region. It’s closer to home that way, and in case something happens, I can take care of it."

"Fu Hengyi, I’m here to take care of the home, you don’t need to worry. And as for me, you definitely don’t need to worry. I’m not as fragile as you think, you don’t need to make such a sacrifice for me. I know you have responsibilities on your shoulders, I’ve met those brothers of yours, I can see how deeply they care for you, they won’t want to let you go, and neither would you want to leave them."

"But I can’t bear to leave you either."

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly, a warm light in her eyes, "Fu Hengyi, remember, I’m your wife. Whatever you do, I will support you, and even for your sake, I’ll take good care of myself, so you don’t have to worry. I have only one request of you."

Fu Hengyi looked at her, and Shen Qinglan slowly said, "Don’t let yourself get hurt, it will pain me, sadden me."

Fu Hengyi felt a warm current flow through his heart, scalding it.

He held Shen Qinglan in his arms as though embracing a rare treasure, thinking, what good deeds did I do in my past life to be able to marry you in this one?

Shen Qinglan hugged him back, burying her head in his chest, taking a deep breath of the familiar, yearning scent, the tip of her nose feeling slightly sour. He had been with her the whole of this past half-month, she had grown accustomed to it, and now that he was suddenly leaving, her heart was filled with reluctance.

But the man she looked up to was an eagle, a majestic eagle soaring in the sky, not meant to be trapped within this small piece of the world.

No one knew who initiated it, but in the end, the two slept until noon before getting up.

Seeing the pair come downstairs, Old Sir Fu was not displeased but instead smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum, casting an approving glance at his grandson, alright, he had raised a good grandson, heh, good.

"That, Xiao Zhao, Qinglan girl has gotten up, she hasn’t had breakfast and must be hungry by now, serve her a bowl of soup to fill her stomach," Grandpa Fu told Aunt Zhao.

"Alright," Aunt Zhao replied with a smile.

Fu Jingtong looked at the young couple ambiguously but didn’t tease them.

Already used to being the butt of the elder’s jokes, Fu Hengyi remained completely calm, while Shen Qinglan still felt somewhat embarrassed.

Especially under Fu Jingtong’s teasing gaze, the tips of her ears turned red.

Old Sir Fu glared at his daughter fiercely, If you scare my granddaughter-in-law away, I’ll never be done with you.

Fu Jingtong, having received her father’s glare, shrugged helplessly, Some people marry and forget their mothers, but look at you, you don’t even care about your daughter now that you have a granddaughter-in-law.

"Grandpa, Aunt, I’m sorry, I overslept," Shen Qinglan apologized. The elders had woken up so early, yet she didn’t get up until noon; this didn’t look good for a daughter-in-law.

"Not late at all, young people need a little extra sleep to build up their bodies," Old Sir Fu waved his hand with a smile that showed all his teeth, Waking up later is better. Even if you slept for three days and three nights, Old Sir Fu wouldn’t say a word.

"At lunch, I’ll have Xiao Zhao prepare a pot of soup for you two to drink. Young people need to take care of their bodies," Old Sir Fu said cheerfully.

Aunt Zhao happened to hear this as she came out and promptly added, "Okay, I’ll start stewing it now; it’ll be ready to drink in a couple of hours, just in time before Hengyi heads back to the Military Region this afternoon." Having said that, she put what she was carrying on the table and hurried into the kitchen.

A faint blush colored Shen Qinglan’s face, making her look extremely beautiful.

Fu Jingtong, seeing this, had a smile in her eyes, but she didn’t make fun anymore.

There was still some time before lunch, and Old Sir Fu, seeing Fu Hengyi finish his breakfast in just a few bites, called him to the study. Shen Qinglan glanced at the backs of the two men as they left, her eyes briefly glinted before she looked away and continued eating her porridge.

In the study, Old Sir Fu looked at his grandson with a face that no longer held a trace of a smile, just looking at Fu Hengyi.

"Have you considered what I mentioned before the new year?"

Fu Hengyi knew what he was referring to and didn’t pretend to be confused, speaking calmly, "Grandpa, I still want to stay in the Military Region," afraid of being misunderstood, he quickly added, "In my current unit."

Old Sir Fu showed no sign of disappointment upon hearing this, as if he had expected his grandson’s response, "Have you discussed this with Qinglan?"

Fu Hengyi’s eyes were filled with a warm smile, softening his usually stern expression, "Yes, I’ve talked to her about it, and she said she supports my decision."

"Does she understand the dangers of your job? What if..." Old Sir Fu couldn’t finish his sentence; this was his only grandson, the only bloodline left of his son in this world, and the mere thought, even as a hypothetical, was unbearable.

"Grandpa, Qinglan is stronger than we thought and knows more than we assume," Fu Hengyi said softly.

Old Sir Fu paused for a moment, then sighed softly, "Hengyi, you’ve married a good wife. You must treat Qinglan well. If you dare let her down, it’s not just your Grandpa Shen who won’t stand for it, it’s me as well."

Looking seriously and firmly at Old Sir Fu, Fu Hengyi assured, "Grandpa, there won’t be such a time. Moreover, I’ve promised her that I will never let myself get hurt. I understand the responsibilities I carry, so you don’t need to worry about me."

Old Sir Fu didn’t say anything but looked deeply at his grandson and patted him on the shoulder.