The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 357 - 359. New Year 1 (9 updates)

Chapter 357: 359. New Year 1 (9 updates)

Although Yan Shengyu didn’t explicitly say it, as the child he had raised with his own hands, Zhao Jiaqing could see through what he was thinking in a glance. But how could Zhao Jiaqing tell him that his father, in order to take revenge on his mother, actually sent his own biological daughter into a living hell?

At first, she even blamed Qinglan, thinking that it was because of Qinglan that Ya Xi had suffered such a tragic fate. Who would have thought that the person who planned it all was Yan Anbang?

Zhao Jiaqing herself didn’t want to believe this harsh reality, but the results of the investigation shone brightly before her eyes, leaving her no room for doubt.

At the Yan Family, Qin Yan made Yan Anbang a bowl of noodles. Her phone’s screen flickered. Pretending not to notice, she waited until Yan Anbang went upstairs before locking herself in the first-floor bathroom to make the call.

"Madam, the plan is progressing smoothly. Zhao Jiaqing is completely convinced about the incident. What should we do next?"

Qin Yan smiled, her eyes shining, "Let Yan Anbang and Zhao Jiaqing tear each other apart. The Shen Family has been quiet for too long; it’s time to stir up some trouble. Our Madam Shen has always thought that her daughter’s loss was her fault, making herself mentally unstable. How pitiful. We must tell her the truth of the matter."

"Understood, I’ll arrange it right away."

"Wait, I’ll take care of this matter personally. You just make sure everything afterwards is handled well."

"Yes, Madam."

After hanging up, Qin Yan’s smile was enchanting, "Qinglan, don’t say I never loved you. Giving you one last peaceful year is the greatest mercy I could offer. My daughter loved you so much that she was willing to die for you. What a fool."

**

In Beijing, this year’s Chinese New Year’s Eve, early in the morning, Qinglan was woken by the noise outside, the sound of other families’ children playing in the courtyard. She got up from bed and discovered Fu Hengyi had already squeezed the toothpaste for her.

Qinglan smiled slightly. In the past two days, Hengyi’s leg strength had improved quite a bit, allowing him to switch between wheelchair and bed on his own. Usually, as soon as Hengyi woke up, she did too. But today, she hadn’t heard any movement at all. It was all because they’d made a ruckus until it was too late last night and slept in.

Annoyed at herself, she quickly finished washing up.

"Qinglan, come have breakfast. Aunt Zhao made lu zhu today; it tastes very good," Aunt Zhao called out when she saw Qinglan.

Qinglan smiled, "The lu zhu that Aunt Zhao makes always tastes good."

Aunt Zhao put a steaming bowl of lu zhu in front of Qinglan, "Eat more if you like it. There’s still more in the pot. Mr. Fu and Hengyi don’t like it; I made them noodles. If you want some, I’ll bring you a bowl."

"No need, I’ve got enough with this. I can’t eat noodles; where are Grandpa and Hengyi?"

"The two of them disappeared early in the morning, and I don’t know where they went. Don’t worry, Xiao Liu is with them," Aunt Zhao said. Xiao Liu was the maid that Hengyi had hired before. Because of a small issue at home, she had taken a leave of absence and had just come back a couple of days ago.

Hengyi had seen her working diligently and caring for Qinglan attentively, so he decided not to replace her.

"Qinglan, start eating. Just leave the bowl on the table when you’re done; I’ll come and collect it later. I need to go prepare the dough," Aunt Zhao said.

Qinglan nodded.

Just after Qinglan finished eating, Shen Junyu came over. Seeing snowflakes on his shoulder, she asked, "Is it snowing outside?"

Shen Junyu nodded, "And it’s coming down heavily. I came over to pick you guys up." Hengyi might have been fine, but Qinglan was not in a condition to fall.

Noticing what Qinglan was eating, Shen Junyu’s eyes lit up as he headed towards the kitchen, "Aunt Zhao, did you make lu zhu? Is there any left?"

Aunt Zhao chuckled, "Yes, there’s plenty in the pot. Serve yourself."

Shen Junyu didn’t stand on ceremony, filled a bowl for himself, and while eating, gave a thumbs-up, "Aunt Zhao, your lu zhu is the most authentic. Even the chefs of five-star hotels can’t match your cooking skills."

Aunt Zhao’s eyes crinkled with her broad smile, "You’re really sweet-talking. Could chefs at a five-star hotel make such a homey dish? Among the kids of both families, only you and Qinglan like it. Hengyi and Xiaoyang don’t."

"That’s because they don’t appreciate it."

After he finished the bowl of hot lu zhu, Shen Junyu felt warmly rejuvenated and then realized that Grandpa Fu and Fu Hengyi were nowhere to be seen.

"Grandpa and Fu Hengyi have been missing since early this morning; I haven’t seen them since I woke up," said Qinglan.

And the two people they were thinking about were now at the cemetery. Old Sir Fu had a dream last night in which he saw his son and daughter-in-law, both of whom had passed away many years ago. He woke up early this morning and decided to visit them, coincidentally running into Fu Hengyi who had just gotten out of bed, so the two of them went together.

Fu Hengyi, rarely at home, seldom even saw his own grandfather, let alone visited his parents’ graves.

Old Sir Fu, looking at the tombstone with photos of his son and daughter-in-law, spoke softly, "I haven’t dreamt about your parents for a long time. The last time was a year ago. Time flies so quickly. It’s only been a year, and you’re already married, even about to become a daddy."

Fu Hengyi was carried up by the old man’s guards. He looked at the tombstone, listening to the old man’s words, and smiled faintly, "Grandpa, the past is past. Your great-grandchild is about to be born, why should you dwell on past sorrows? If my dad and mom knew that you’ve been unable to let go for so many years, they would probably be sad."

Old Sir Fu sighed, "Grandpa came to terms with those things a long time ago. I too have come off the battlefield. Is my understanding of life and death so shallow?"

Fu Hengyi chuckled, "Then what is Grandpa feeling sad about?"

Old Sir Fu glared, "Am I not allowed to feel the sorrow of spring and melancholy of fall occasionally?"

"That doesn’t suit you."

Old Sir Fu, puffing out his beard in anger, "You’re just trying to upset me. Luckily, I still have Qinglan. She’s the most caring. Marrying her is the fortune of eight lifetimes for you."

Seeing the old man regain his vitality, Fu Hengyi smiled and did not speak. He was genuinely worried about his grandfather being upset, as the old man had not been in good health for the past six months. The doctor said it was best to keep his emotions from fluctuating too much.

Distracted by Fu Hengyi’s interruption, Old Sir Fu’s rising sorrow dissipated. After looking at the tombstone for a while, he waved his hand, "That’s enough, your parents have seen you now. Let’s not stay here any longer. Qinglan doesn’t even know we’re out. Let’s head back early, so she won’t worry."

Fu Hengyi was speechless. He had mentioned saying goodbye to Shen Qinglan this morning, but the old man insisted it wasn’t necessary, not wanting to disturb the rest of a pregnant woman. Now he was suddenly concerned.

On the way back, Fu Hengyi called Shen Qinglan directly.

"Fu Hengyi and Grandpa Fu are coming back?" Shen Junyu asked when he saw Shen Qinglan hang up the phone.

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Yes, they said to go straight to the house and that we should head over first."

"Then let’s go. Grandpa has been talking about you all morning," Shen Junyu said. Seeing Shen Qinglan ready to go out just wearing a down jacket, Shen Junyu gave her a disapproving look, "It’s so cold outside, how can you wear so little?"

As he spoke, he took off his own scarf and wrapped it around Shen Qinglan’s neck, making sure she was well bundled up before he stopped.

Shen Qinglan, looking at herself wrapped up like a ball, was speechless, "Brother, I’m hot." Pregnant women’s body temperature tends to be high, and she was actually wearing quite a lot underneath. Even without the scarf, she wouldn’t feel cold.

"You being hot is better than falling ill. You’re precious now. Be good, keep the scarf on, and we’ll take it off when we get home," Shen Junyu said in a tone like he was coaxing a child, which made Shen Qinglan roll her eyes.

"Brother, I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ll be twenty-three from tomorrow."

Shen Junyu nodded, "Mm-hmm, brother knows. You’re going to be a mom soon. You’re an adult, but..." He paused slightly, "Lanlan, how I wish you were only five years old this year."

Shen Qinglan’s gaze flickered, and she spoke softly, "Brother, are you getting old?"

Hearing her tease, Shen Junyu laughed self-deprecatingly, "Maybe I really am old. Lanlan, watching your child grow day by day truly makes me feel old."

"Then hurry up and marry Sister Xiyao and have a child, so you won’t have time to lament getting old," Shen Qinglan said lightly.

Shen Junyu laughed and walked toward the Shen Family home with Shen Qinglan.

But just as they reached the Shen Family’s doorstep, they saw Shen Junze standing in the snow, not knowing how long he had been outside, his body covered with snowflakes.

Seeing them approach, his expression was awkward, "I... I just wanted to stop by today to wish Grandpa a happy New Year and give him some New Year’s gifts." He held several boxes of gift bags in his hands.

"You..." Shen Junyu was about to speak when Shen Junze put the things down on the ground, "I won’t go in. Please give these to Grandpa for me, wish him a happy New Year and good health." With that, he ran off.

Shen Junyu looked at the gifts thrown on the ground and frowned, while Shen Qinglan lightly said, "Let’s take them in; after all, they’re for Grandpa."

Shen Junyu had never paid attention to Shen Junze’s affairs and naturally did not know what led to such a change. Even if Shen Qinglan knew, she would not necessarily say anything.