The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 26. Follow-up (second update, seek collection)

Chapter 26: 26. Follow-up (second update, seek collection)

Editor: Larbre Studio

A deep, magnetic voice sounded in the darkness, reaching Qinglan’s ears, and her eyes moved slightly.

A foreign scent surrounded the tip of her nose, and for the first time, Qinglan felt that this embrace was so warm. She leaned quietly against Fu Hengyi’s arms, not struggling for the first time.

"Thank you." After a long while, Qinglan spoke softly; her voice was hoarse from a long absence of words.

"Granny may be gone, but you still have me. I will always stay by your side, protect you; as long as you don’t leave me, I will never leave you." His magnetic voice was uniquely gentle, and the softly spoken "always" was the heaviest promise of his life, and he was always someone who kept his promises.

Watching the person appear at the door, Old Sir Shen finally exhaled. His old wife had just passed, and if something had happened to his granddaughter, he would truly have no face to meet his deceased wife.

"Grandpa, I’m sorry, for worrying you." Qinglan looked at the deep, dark circles under the elderly man’s eyes with guilt.

Old Sir Shen smiled kindly, "Are you hungry? How about having some porridge first?"

Qinglan originally wanted to say she couldn’t eat, but meeting the old man’s concerned gaze, she finally nodded her head.

Shen Qian’s eyes lit up, and a rare smile appeared on his usually serious face.

Qinglan took the bowl from Shen Qian’s hands, "Thank you, Daddy."

Granny Shen’s funeral was solemn, after all, the Shen Family was a prominent family. These days, Fu Hengyi was busy back and forth at the Shen Family residence. Linking it to the rumors spreading in Beijing recently, everyone began to speculate about the matter between the Shen and Fu families.

Regardless of whether it was because of the Shen Family’s influence or the Fu Family’s power, many people came to Granny Shen’s funeral, both those who knew her and those who did not.

Qinglan, clad in black, knelt in the mourning hall, her head bowed, expression wooden, mechanically bowing to the visitors along with Jun Yu, while Shen Xitong’s sobbing came softly to her ears.

It was only after watching Granny Shen’s ashes buried in the cemetery that Qinglan reluctantly returned to the Shen Family home.

Not long after Granny Shen’s funeral, Qinglan moved out of the Shen Family home. She did not move back to school but to a city apartment owned by Fu Hengyi, not far from her school.

After all, the two were lawfully married, though the wedding wasn’t held yet due to Granny Shen’s death and Qinglan’s remaining school time. But living apart wasn’t appropriate either. After discussions between the two families, it was decided that the wedding would take place after Qinglan graduated.

Fu Hengyi had returned on short notice, so once the funeral was over, he handed the apartment keys to Qinglan and hurried back.

Qinglan didn’t ask much about his work affairs.

She surveyed the unfamiliar house, its cool-toned design fitting Fu Hengyi’s usual image perfectly.

It was a two-bedroom apartment, with only one master bedroom and a study room, not large but just enough for Qinglan.

The bedroom had floor-to-ceiling windows through which she could see the empty balcony outside.

Before leaving, Fu Hengyi not only left Qinglan the keys but also a card, saying it was for household expenses.

After exploring the house, Qinglan looked at the empty balcony, her brow furrowed slightly.

**

"Lanlan, isn’t living at home better?" Jun Yu, carrying a large box, puffed breathlessly.

"I’m already married," Qinglan gently reminded him.

Jun Yu was stuck, too busy with Granny Shen’s matters before to settle accounts with Fu Hengyi, only to find that the rascal had already left when he came to his senses.

Ever since learning that Qinglan and Fu Hengyi were officially married, Jun Yu had been suppressing a frustration, feeling that Fu Hengyi, the rascal, had whisked his precious little sister away without his consent. He was so angry he could bite.

"Lanlan, have you really decided to spend your whole life with Fu Hengyi?" Jun Yu asked, unwilling to give up.

Qinglan looked at him, her eyebrows quietly serene, "I’ve already got the certificate; legally, we’re husband and wife."

"But do you love him?" Jun Yu was somewhat anxious. Anyone could tell that Qinglan didn’t have any love for Fu Hengyi.

"I will fall in love with him."

She spoke of the future, not the present.

Jun Yu looked at his sister’s serene eyebrows. Since Granny’s passing, he hadn’t seen her smile, nor had he seen sorrow on her face. She was always so composed, neither happy nor sad, as if all emotions had vanished with Granny’s passing.

Jun Yu reached out and ruffled Qinglan’s hair. "Lanlan, you don’t have to do this. If Granny sees..."

"Brother." Qinglan interrupted him, looking at him quietly, without further words.

Jun Yu shut his mouth.

"If Fu Hengyi dares to bully you in the future, come back and tell your brother. I’ll help you teach him a lesson."

"Can you handle him?"

With Jun Yu’s skills, thinking of taking on Fu Hengyi was mere wishful thinking.

"Uh." Jun Yu was awkward, "For my sister, even if I can’t, I’ll try."

Qinglan transformed the house, adding many small items, and the home instantly had a cozy feel, especially the balcony.

The once empty balcony now had a lounge chair, a small round table, a little floor-standing bookshelf, and in the corner, a flower stand with several pots of plants, including a gardenia.

Seeing his sister finally take an interest in something, Jun Yu left a pile of urgent business at the office to help at his sister’s new home.

"For such a dignified CEO, you’re here every day. Isn’t your company on the brink of collapse?" Qinglan looked at her brother drenched in sweat, her voice light.

"You ungrateful girl, who am I doing this for?" Jun Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, lacking any awareness of a big company’s CEO. "Don’t worry, even if all the companies in the world collapse, your brother’s company won’t, and I won’t let your dowry depreciate."

Qinglan also had shares in Jun Yu’s company. When he first started the business, Old Sir Shen and Shen Qian disapproved, even cutting off his funding. But Jun Yu was determined, making his own money, and grew a small company into the large enterprise it was now. It must be acknowledged, this was due to Jun Yu’s capabilities.

And Qinglan was indispensable in this, as she had provided the majority of the startup funds. Although Jun Yu hadn’t figured out how Qinglan managed to have so much money back then, she remained an enigma.

Qinglan wasn’t interested in running a company, so Jun Yu gave her a dry share, with a portion of the dividends paid into her account annually.

"By the way, Lanlan, I have to attend a charity auction next weekend. Be my date." Jun Yu remembered his purpose today and said.

"They say there’ll be a Leng Qingqiu piece up for auction. Dad’s birthday is coming up, and I’d like to buy it for him."

Qinglan’s gaze flickered slightly, "No."