The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 405 - 407. Mr. Fu is a strict father.

Chapter 405: 407. Mr. Fu is a strict father.

For a time, all sorts of distasteful words reached Wen Xi Yao’s ears.

Wen Xi Yao’s complexion looked terrible as she looked at Mrs. Du, realizing that she intended to use the pressure of public opinion to force her to act on her behalf.

"Xi Yao, my son’s plight is his own fault. Please consider my face as a pitiful old mother and let me see my son at least. I’ve always been quite good to you since you were little, Xi Yao."

Mrs. Du begged pitifully, while Wen Xi Yao stood there with a cold expression, making it seem even more to others that she was an adulteress, a flirtatious woman who abandoned a lower-status lover to climb higher.

Wen Xi Yao ignored the glances from everyone, her gaze fixed steadily on Mrs. Du with a coldness in her eyes, "You only say your son is insane and in hospital, but why don’t you say why he went mad?"

Mrs. Du’s eyes flickered, "What else could it be? You fell in love with someone else and want to marry someone else. He couldn’t take the blow, and that’s why he went mad."

Wen Xi Yao laughed. People really have no shame; how can such twisted and malicious words come out of her mouth without a prick of conscience?

"Xi Yao never loved your son; it was your son who never gave up harassing her relentlessly!" A cold male voice came from behind her. Wen Xi Yao turned around sharply and saw Shen Jun Yu approaching, the words clearly his.

Shen Jun Yu’s face was stern. When he looked at Wen Xi Yao, his eyes softened, giving her a reassuring glance. In an instant, Wen Xi Yao felt her heart hit the ground; this man always appeared beside her when she needed him most, protecting her.

Shen Jun Yu looked down at Mrs. Du, the height advantage, coupled with an unhidden aura, causing a bad premonition to rise in Mrs. Du’s heart.

Some people had already recognized Shen Jun Yu, especially those from Xinhe International.

"Ah, every time I see President Junlan, I go crazy over him. I mean, how can there be such a handsome man in the world? Rich, good-looking, and affectionate. He’s just perfect. You didn’t see the warm look he had when he looked at President Wen. If he looked at me like that, how great that would be."

"That must be President Wen’s husband; he sure is good-looking. For a face like that, I’d give him my love, too. Waking up to that face every day, the world would seem so much more beautiful."

"That woman’s son definitely can’t be as handsome as President Shen. Isn’t it normal to be dumped?"

"The male lead has arrived; now there’s a drama to watch."

The spectators murmured among themselves, thinking they were whispering, but every word clearly reached Wen Xi Yao’s ears; she snorted coldly, too lazy to bother with these boring people.

Shen Jun Yu looked at Mrs. Du, his voice deep, "Xi Yao has rejected your son from the beginning. She never gave your son any hope emotionally. It’s your son who refused to believe, and over the years, he drove away so many of Xi Yao’s suitors. What he did to those people—you as a mother must be aware, right?"

The ambiguous words, only Mrs. Du could say.

Upon hearing this, the stance of the onlookers changed, their eyes now scrutinizing Mrs. Du.

"So it wasn’t mutual love but unrequited. I thought so; how could someone like President Wen be fickle in matters of the heart?"

"Hey, did you catch what President Shen said just now? That guy probably used dirty tricks on President Wen’s suitors before. Probably President Shen encountered it too, only because he’s a big shot, they couldn’t deal with him."

"I hate those men who pester endlessly. If you like someone, it’s simple, and if you don’t, you don’t. Is bothering someone like that really going to work? It’s ridiculous."

The change in the crowd’s mentality was instantaneous. Just as Mrs. Du had set a trap for Wen Xi Yao earlier, now Shen Jun Yu had turned it all back on her with just one sentence.

"You’re talking nonsense," Mrs. Du argued, the underlying message being that Wen Xiyao was at fault.

Shen Junyu couldn’t help but laugh, no wonder such a mother raised a son like Du Nan.

"Then let’s have a good talk about the great deeds your son has done," Shen Junyu said evenly.

A flicker of panic crossed Mrs. Du’s eyes, "What great deeds? I don’t understand what you mean."

"Xi Yao rejected your son the very first time he confessed his feelings. To avoid him, she even went as far as Beijing to study and later moved abroad. But your son refused to give up, pestering Xi Yao from Hai City to Beijing, and then internationally, to the point of being unbearably annoying. And on the day of Xi Yao’s and my wedding, he kidnapped her and attempted to jump off a building—an incident you witnessed yourself. What’s the point of spreading these lies here now? Are you trying to manipulate public opinion to coerce Xi Yao?"

Jun Yu’s words once again caused a stir among the onlookers.

"Oh my God, I never expected that man to be so insane. It’s one thing to pester relentlessly, but to try jumping off a building with her... it’s the classic psychology of ’if I can’t have you, no one can.’ It’s terrifying; how can such terrible men exist in this world?"

"Poor President Wen, to have such a terrifying suitor. If President Shen hadn’t shown up, would Xi Yao have been tormented by that man for a lifetime?"

"So the truth is like this. We were almost deceived, misunderstanding President Wen. Luckily, President Shen arrived in time and clarified everything."

"This woman is no good either, trying to deceive us all here. Does she think we’re all fools?"

"I reckon her son might just be feigning madness."

The various murmurs reached Mrs. Du’s ears, turning her face pale. The tide of public opinion, which had initially been in her favor, swiftly turned, thwarting her plans to have Xi Yao help her.

Xi Yao certainly wouldn’t help her—Du Nan had hurt her, and Xi Yao would have to be very big-hearted to assist him knowing he was feigning madness.

Jun Yu wrapped an arm around Xi Yao’s shoulders, "Let’s go, didn’t we say we have things to do this afternoon?"

Mrs. Du suddenly grabbed onto Xi Yao’s legs, "Xi Yao, I’m begging you, help Du Nan. He’s already paid the price for his mistakes. Even if he deserves punishment, he has suffered enough by now. For the sake of your childhood friendship, please help him. I beg of you."

Xi Yao frowned, looking down at the persistent Mrs. Du with icy eyes. She bent down to pull Mrs. Du up from the ground, but couldn’t move her. Jun Yu walked over, and together, they pulled Mrs. Du up.

Mrs. Du didn’t want to stand, but she was no match for the strength of two people and was forcibly lifted from the ground by Jun Yu and Xi Yao.

"Auntie, if you want to visit your son, you should discuss it with the hospital. Even if the hospital doesn’t allow visits, you should understand. Du Nan is currently not in a good mental state. Since the hospital has said he poses a strong risk of aggression and won’t allow visits, it’s for your own safety."

Mrs. Du was seething with anger, wanting to burst out in curses. But she had just fashioned an image of the underdog; to curse now would negate all her previous efforts and could backfire.

So, Mrs. Du was not foolish; she knew well how public sentiment favored the underdog. It was just Xi Yao’s ordinarily impeccable image and a few ambiguous remarks from Jun Yu that misled everyone and changed the direction of public opinion.

Xi Yao kindly reached out to smooth Mrs. Du’s disheveled hair, "Auntie, please be patient. Once Du Nan’s condition stabilizes, the hospital will certainly let you see your son. I don’t know anyone at the hospital and really can’t help you. I’m sorry."

"Let’s go," Jun Yu said, leading Xi Yao away.

The onlookers, seeing the drama conclude, naturally dispersed. But before they left, their glances made Mrs. Du feel uncomfortably prickly.

She stood alone under the scorching sun, sweating all over, yet feeling cold. Casting one deep glance at the building behind her, she turned and left. If Wen Xiyao’s route was a dead end, there were always other methods.

Returning home, she found the house empty and silent, Du Honghai was not at home. Mrs. Du’s face changed drastically, and she rushed into the bedroom to open the wardrobe, only to discover that all of Du Honghai’s clothes were gone; he had truly abandoned his son and left.

Mrs. Du collapsed to the floor, "Du Honghai, you heartless bastard, that’s your only son! How could you truly have the heart to abandon him, you bastard!"

But no matter how much she cried and shouted, Du Honghai had already left.

No matter how reluctant he was to part with his son, he had done so. The family business was ruined by his son, and in his hands; he couldn’t face his ancestors even in death. As for Du Nan, his son, he might as well have never had him.

"Still upset about what happened just now?" Shen Junyu offered Wen Xiyao a piece of food with his chopsticks, speaking gently.

Wen Xiyao shook her head, "It’s not because of that, but seeing her reminded me of the wedding day. It’s ultimately a regret."

This was the first time in months that Shen Junyu had heard Wen Xiyao say such words. Seeing her mood seemed a bit low, he thought for a moment before comforting her, "If it’s in the past, then don’t think about it anymore. Think about the present; we are still together and living happily. That’s enough."

Wen Xiyao smiled, "You’re right; one should look forward, not always dwell on the past. It’s just that I refused her request just now, and I worry she might do something drastic."

She felt a bit anxious, as Mrs. Du was the kind of person who wouldn’t relent until she got her way.

Shen Junyu’s eyes grew cold, "Don’t worry, if she really dares to do anything, I have ways to deal with her. Now let’s eat, you said there are two important meetings this afternoon, right? After we eat, I’ll take you back."

Wen Xiyao focused on eating, but after just a few bites, she suddenly burst into laughter. Shen Junyu looked at her curiously, "Why are you laughing to yourself?"

Wen Xiyao’s eyes curved, "I’m surprised. I never expected you to spout nonsense with such a straight face. I went to study in Beijing and abroad not to avoid anyone."

Shen Junyu smiled faintly, "It’s just a little speaking tactic. I can’t just let her twist the truth."

Wen Xiyao smiled without responding.

By the time Shen Junyu and Wen Xiyao returned, Mrs. Du was no longer there. Wen Xiyao breathed a sigh of relief. Although she wasn’t afraid of Mrs. Du, having an old woman plead so desperately with her was not only despicable but also inevitably stirred up a sense of pity in her heart.

"Alright, I’ll go in first. Drive slowly on the way back, and remember to have dinner with Grandpa tonight," Wen Xiyao reminded Shen Junyu before entering the building.

Shen Junyu nodded. Once Wen Xiyao entered the elevator, he turned and left.

**

At the Fu Family residence, after meeting with Mrs. Du, Shen Qinglan finally remembered Du Nan, whom she had left forgotten in the psychiatric hospital. She wondered how Du Nan was doing now and wanted to see for herself, but Anan simply couldn’t bear to be apart from her. These past few days, Anan had become especially clingy, always wanting Shen Qinglan within his sight whenever he was awake.

Fu Hengyi watched as his son clung to his wife, unwilling to part with her for even a moment, his gaze profound. After watching Anan for a long time, Fu Hengyi picked up his son and wandered with him around the living room or the garden. Anan was initially reluctant, reaching out for his mother.

Shen Qinglan actually wanted to hold her son, but Fu Hengyi dodged her, "You rest for a while. I’ve got this." He was determined not to give in to his son’s clinginess.

Shen Qinglan had been taking care of Anan for several days straight. Aside from the times Anan slept, when she could spend some time with others, she spent the rest playing with Anan. This little guy seemed to be purposefully full of energy these past days. Despite her good physical stamina, her energy was flagging.

Although Anan was unwilling to be held by Daddy, she could still see Mommy smiling at her. She smiled back, her little mouth wide with joy, as she obediently stayed in her father’s arms, gazing unblinkingly at Shen Qinglan.

Fu Hengyi picked up a rattle and gently shook it near Anan’s ear to catch her attention. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Anan’s gaze fixed on Daddy’s hand.

He watched Fu Hengyi’s hand intently, or more precisely, the rattle in Fu Hengyi’s hand. Anan reached out to grab it, and when Fu Hengyi moved it a little further away, Anan leaned forward in pursuit.

Fu Hengyi held Anan securely and wasn’t worried about the child falling. As he teased his son, he covertly signaled Shen Qinglan to leave. Shen Qinglan went into the bedroom. She was content to be at home and wasn’t concerned about Anan crying; if Fu Hengyi couldn’t manage, she would come to soothe their son.

Anan didn’t notice Mommy’s departure, as he was now completely engrossed by the rattle.

Fu Hengyi smiled with satisfaction but didn’t give the rattle to Anan. Instead, he held it just out of reach, occasionally giving it a shake.

And as soon as Anan lost interest in the rattle and remembered to look for Mommy, Fu Hengyi produced a different toy to distract him. In this way, Anan fell asleep without once recalling Mommy.

Fu Hengyi carried his son into the bedroom, where Shen Qinglan lay asleep on the daybed. He placed Anan in the crib without disturbing their rest and gently closed the bedroom door.

"Where is my grandson?" Old Sir Fu had just returned home and was eager to see Anan.

Fu Hengyi said, "He just fell asleep. Grandfather, how were your health check-up results?" Today, Old Sir Fu had gone to the hospital for a check-up. Fu Hengyi had wanted to accompany him, but the old man had refused and Fu Jingtong had gone instead.

Fu Jingtong entered from outside and cheerfully said, "All’s well. Your grandfather is in good shape, it’s only that his blood lipids are a tad high, so the doctor recommended being more careful with his diet, particularly with eating less meat."

Old Sir Fu’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Those doctors love to exaggerate. They said the same thing about my blood lipids last year, and I’ve continued to eat meat. I’m still bouncing around just fine, so don’t listen to them."

Hearing this, Fu Hengyi merely commented, "Grandfather, both Qinglan and I hope to see you at Anan’s wedding."

Old Sir Fu fell silent for a long while, then smiled gently and said, "If I am to wait for Anan’s wedding, I’ll be over a hundred. I don’t have that kind of luck. I’m content just seeing Anan now, watching him go to elementary school."

"Father, why would you say something like that?" Fu Jingtong disliked hearing the old man speak such words.

"Everyone has to die; there’s nothing we can’t talk about. Besides, I’m quite healthy and could still take Anan to preschool without any issues."

"Alright, you can take Anan to school from now on. However, Father, for your health, you really should be more careful with your diet."

"I got it, I got it. So, I should eat less meat; remember that. Having daughters is such a hassle, always nagging, just like your mother." Old Sir Fu said with a look of disgust.

Fu Jingtong just smiled and recounted all of the dietary precautions the doctor advised to Fu Hengyi, making sure he understood before she left.

Once Fu Jingtong was gone, Old Sir Fu began to grumble again, "See, what’s the point of having a daughter? Once she marries, she belongs to someone else’s family and doesn’t even think to stay and have a meal with her dad."

Fu Hengyi chuckled, "Aren’t Qinglan and I enough company for you?"

"That’s fine and all, but when you return to the military, Qinglan will go with you, and I’ll still end up alone at home."

Fu Hengyi’s expression darkened as he apologized, "Grandfather, I’m sorry for leaving you alone all the time." Before he was married, his heart had been fully committed to the army, rarely returning home. To make matters worse, due to the nature of his job, he often had to undertake dangerous missions, leaving Old Sir Fu worried each time for fear that one goodbye might be the last.

Before he became a father, he might have understood, but it was only after assuming that role himself that he truly began to grasp the depths of Old Sir Fu’s inner turmoil.

Old Sir Fu waved his hand. "What’s there to apologize for? I agreed to let you join the military. To achieve what you have at your age makes me proud. You don’t need to worry about me. I just happened to see an old man pass away at the hospital today, and it made me reflect."

Today, while Old Sir Fu was undergoing tests at the hospital, an elderly man was rushed into the emergency room. Appearantly, he was a senior living alone, and for some unfathomable reason, a fire had broken out in his home. His slow reactions trapped him inside as the fire raged. If it weren’t for a neighbor’s timely discovery, he might not have survived until help arrived. In the end, though, it was too late. Despite the hospital’s resuscitation attempts, the man could not be saved.

And what Old Sir Fu witnessed was the heart-wrenching scene of the man’s children arriving and weeping over their father’s body. From their conversation, it was gathered that other family members lived out of town and were still en route.

"Grandfather, I’ll leave Qinglan and Anan at home to keep you company. I’ll come back this weekend," Fu Hengyi said earnestly.

Old Sir Fu dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand. "There’s no need. Go about your lives. Just come to see me when you have the time. Besides, Xiao Zhao is here at home with me. I’m not alone, so don’t worry." He felt a twinge of regret deep inside—why did he even bring this up?

Fu Hengyi remained silent, his eyes deep, his thoughts unreadable.

Shen Qinglan didn’t sleep long, only two hours before awakening. Anan was still deeply asleep, and the child was restless in slumber, his blanket slipping to one side, exposing his little belly. Gently, she pulled the blanket back over him, touched his forehead, and noticing a sweat, turned the air conditioning down a degree.

"Why not sleep a bit longer?" Fu Hengyi, who was engaged in a game of chess with Old Sir Fu, looked up and asked when he saw Shen Qinglan.

"I can’t fall back asleep," she casually replied, glancing at the chessboard. "Grandfather, you’re about to lose."

Old Sir Fu glared at her. "Where?"

Shen Qinglan smiled and remained quiet.

"Qinglan girl, you better tell me—where?" he insisted.

Shen Qinglan chuckled lightly. "Grandfather, a true gentleman never comments while observing a game of chess—those are your own words."

"You’re always siding with this rascal," grumbled Old Sir Fu, visibly annoyed.

"Grandfather, let me tell you." As Fu Hengyi spoke, he placed another piece on the board.

Old Sir Fu looked on with anticipation, then widened his eyes in disbelief. "How could you play such a move? Ah, how did it suddenly turn into a losing position? This doesn’t count. We’re not counting this game. Let’s start over."

"Grandfather, you’ve already lost three games," Fu Hengyi stated, cool and collected.

"So what? Can’t I lose? Forget it, I’m not playing with you anymore. Qinglan girl, you play with me. This boy has no patience. Besides, he’s not as good a player as you are. You play."

"Okay," Shen Qinglan agreed with a smile, and Fu Hengyi gave up his seat for her. After observing for a few minutes, Fu Hengyi could tell Shen Qinglan was deliberately losing to Old Sir Fu in a subtle way, but Old Sir Fu hadn’t noticed.

"I’m going to check if Anan is awake," Fu Hengyi said, his interest in watching the game diminished now that he’d foreseen the outcome. He then turned and walked into the bedroom.

By the time Fu Hengyi came back carrying a freshly awakened Anan, Shen Qinglan and Old Sir Fu had wrapped up their game in a tie.

"Grandfather, your chess skills are improving tremendously. I almost lost," Shen Qinglan said sweetly, eliciting a burst of laughter from Old Sir Fu. "You, girl, have such a delightful way. You are much better than some stinky boy."

Old Sir Fu certainly knew that Shen Qinglan was going easy on him in the game; he simply accepted the filial piety of his child quietly.

"Ah!" Anan protested aloud when Mommy ignored him.

Shen Qinglan stood up and picked up the child. Anan lay in Mommy’s arms and immediately became happy, kicking his little legs and waving his small arms like lotus roots, as if he were greeting Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan smiled at her son and squeezed his little hand. "Grandpa, are you still playing?"

Old Sir Fu’s attention was all on his great-grandson, with no mood left for chess. "No more for me, our Anan is awake. Why would I keep playing chess, right, Anan?"

Anan smiled at Old Sir Fu; he was a child who loved to smile. When he was happy, he could crack a smile even just lying in his crib, unlike his mommy and daddy.

However, Chu Yunrong felt that Anan’s disposition was actually just like Shen Qinglan’s when she was little—a child who loved to smile, like a little sun. Seeing her was like seeing sunshine that inevitably lifted one’s spirits.

Seeing Anan, Old Sir Fu smiled until his eyes were no longer visible and reached out to carry Anan. But as soon as the little guy got into Grandpa’s arms, he wet himself.

Fu Hengyi had just changed his diapers a moment ago, but because the weather was hot, he didn’t put a new one on. He was planning to do it later, but who knew that this would happen?!

Old Sir Fu’s chest was drenched, with droplets still dribbling down. Anan was grinning joyfully. Suddenly, the living room fell into silence; you could hear a pin drop.

Shen Qinglan looked embarrassed and quickly took her son, "Grandpa, are you okay?"

"Hahaha, good, what a good boy," Old Sir Fu suddenly laughed out loud, waving his hand, "It’s fine, it’s fine. Children’s urine is the cleanest. Our Anan just likes his great-grandpa, doesn’t he?"

Shen Qinglan had a face full of black lines while Fu Hengyi gazed at his innocent-faced son, somehow reminded of the messy incident at the full moon celebration.

"Grandpa, you should go change your clothes right away," Shen Qinglan said.

Old Sir Fu nodded with a chuckle, "Great-grandpa will go change."

Anan’s clothes also had some on them, and Fu Hengyi was about to take the child to change when Shen Qinglan gave him a look, "I’ll do it."

In the bedroom, after changing her son’s clothes, Shen Qinglan looked at his innocent little face and laughed helplessly, patting his small butt, "Last time it was Daddy, this time it’s great-grandpa. Are you doing this on purpose, hmm?"

Little Anan just smiled.

"You just know how to smile, don’t think you can avoid punishment by smiling. No story for you tonight; you’ll have to sleep by yourself."

Anan kept smiling, revealing his rosy gums, and making baby noises, unintelligibly babbling about something.

**

To free Shen Qinglan from the daily trouble of breastfeeding, Fu Hengyi suggested she express the milk into bottles for the baby to drink.

The first time, Anan absolutely refused to drink it, just looking at Shen Qinglan. When she ignored him, he immediately started to tear up, with a look that said, "If you don’t feed me, I’ll cry for you to see."

Qinglan’s heart ached for her child, who was not even three months old yet. "Maybe we can talk about this some other time then."

"No." Fu Hengyi stood firm. "His dependency on you is too strong now, and he is extremely picky. This is not a good habit and must be corrected."

Qinglan understood that what Fu Hengyi said made sense, but seeing her son’s pitiful eyes, her heart immediately softened. "Fu Hengyi."

Fu Hengyi let out a soft sigh. "Qinglan, I don’t want you to lose your freedom because of a child. You are a mother, but you are also your own person. You can’t always be tied down by the child and do nothing else. Besides, Anan is a boy; we can’t raise him to be so delicate."

Qinglan was silent and averted her gaze, refusing to look at the child in Fu Hengyi’s arms. This was her tacit agreement.

Fu Hengyi moved further away from Qinglan with the child in his arms and brought the bottle to Anan’s lips. Anan closed his mouth and still looked in Qinglan’s direction.

Fu Hengyi turned away, preventing the boy from seeing Qinglan. Unable to see his mother, Anan stared blankly at his father, his mouth puckering up before he began to wail. Qinglan was about to stand up, but Fu Hengyi picked up the child and walked away first.

"Stay here," Fu Hengyi said sternly.

Qinglan’s footsteps halted. She stood there, her heart clenching as she listened to her son’s cries from the living room, struggling greatly to suppress the urge to take the child back into her arms.

She knew Fu Hengyi was right. She couldn’t be without responsibilities, and if one day she had to leave for a while, Anan would suffer just like last time. As a result, it would not only be a concern for them, the adults, but harder for Anan. It was better to break this bad habit now rather than let it continue.

In the living room, Fu Hengyi looked emotionlessly at his crying son and did not comfort him.

Hearing the noise, Old Sir Fu came downstairs from the upper floor. "What’s wrong with Anan? Why is he crying so fiercely?"

"Grandpa, it’s nothing. Please go back upstairs," Fu Hengyi replied.

"You see your son crying like this, at least try to comfort him," Old Sir Fu grew anxious, especially when he saw Anan crying his heart out.

"This child is too reliant on Qinglan and too fussy. We need to break this habit," Fu Hengyi explained.

That’s when Old Sir Fu noticed the bottle in Fu Hengyi’s hand and instantly understood. "He’s still so young. It’s normal for such a small child to be attached to his mother," Old Sir Fu became angry.

If Anan were three or four years old, Old Sir Fu wouldn’t say anything to Fu Hengyi’s approach, but the child wasn’t even three months old yet. Even if you did want to educate the child, it needn’t start so soon.

Displeased with his grandson, Old Sir Fu demanded, "This is ridiculous. Give the child to me."

"Grandpa, please don’t interfere in this matter."

"How can I not interfere? You’re mistreating my great-grandson. If you don’t care about your son, I do. Fu Hengyi, give the child to me."

Fu Hengyi refused to hand over the child, determined to correct his son’s behavior. Through some time spent together, he had realized that, despite Anan’s young age, the boy was quite stubborn. Just like a couple of days ago, when he refused to eat and cried for half an hour straight, his throat going hoarse but still refusing to stop.

Did Fu Hengyi not feel pained seeing his son cry? No, he was pained. This child was Qinglan’s life in exchange, and he was not only his first child but also the one who had been with him through tough times. He loved him more than anyone else. If he were an ordinary man who could stay at home every day and help share Qinglan’s load, he wouldn’t be in such a rush.

But in just over a month, his leave would be over. Upon his return to the Beijing Military Region, he would undoubtedly be swamped with work, and it would be inevitable that the family might be neglected. Qinglan would have to shoulder the family’s responsibilities. Given the degree of Anan’s dependency on Qinglan, the duty of caring for the child would fall solely on her, and it would be difficult for anyone else to intervene, even if they wanted to.

Fu Hengyi felt pained for his child, but he was also concerned for his wife. With so many people in the house now, Shen Qinglan hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep for several days, and the dark circles under her eyes were almost becoming as distinctive as those of a national treasure. She might not notice herself, but it hurt him to see.

It was the main reason he wanted to correct this issue with his son—to lighten the boy’s dependency on her, so others could help take care of him, allowing Shen Qinglan a chance to breathe.

Shen Qinglan understood Fu Hengyi’s well-meaning intentions and cherished his consideration for her, which was why she had been holding back and not going out.

"Fu Hengyi, how long do you intend to let your son cry?" Old Sir Fu grew angry.

"Until he decides to drink his milk," replied Fu Hengyi with an indifferent expression, though a hint of hidden distress flickered in his eyes.

Anan continued to cry, not even touching the bottle Daddy handed to him. When Fu Hengyi put the bottle in his mouth, he just spat it out.

"Where’s Qinglan?" Old Sir Fu asked Aunt Zhao.

Aunt Zhao’s face was a picture of difficulty.

"Don’t bother looking for her. I’ve already told her that if she dares to interfere with this, I’m heading straight for the military base."

"You—Fu Hengyi, are you trying to anger me to death?"

"Grandpa, it’s okay for a child to cry a bit. You should go upstairs; he’ll stop when he’s tired of crying."

Old Sir Fu’s face turned livid, and with a cold huff, he said, "He’s your son, it seems I no longer have a say in this, right? Fine, I will not interfere. Out of sight, out of mind." Old Sir Fu stormed back to his room angrily.

"Hengyi," Aunt Zhao tried to reason, the child was really too young, this wasn’t the time for discipline.

"Aunt Zhao, Qinglan hasn’t eaten today. Please make her a bowl of noodles."

Aunt Zhao sighed and walked into the kitchen.

Now, only father and son remained in the living room. Fu Hengyi looked sternly at his son, "Fu Chenxuan, no one is coming to help you now. If you drink this milk, Daddy will take you to Mommy. If you don’t, you will just go hungry today."

Anan kept wailing regardless of what he said, crying so hard that his tears fell like pearls, not caring for their cost, dropping one after another.

Half an hour later, the crying eventually subsided, leaving only sniffles and hiccups behind. Fu Hengyi’s face was expressionless, while his mind was filled only with the sound of Anan’s crying, like a demon’s chant that relentlessly echoed in his mind.

The milk had long gone cold. Fu Hengyi instructed Aunt Zhao to have Shen Qinglan prepare another bottle and then picked up his son, gently patting his back.

Anan was still hiccuping, with his cheeks and eyes red from crying, looking pitiful. Fu Hengyi reached out to wipe his tears, "What are you doing crying like this, making a spectacle as a boy? I really should have recorded it, to show you when you grow up."

Anan sniffled occasionally, still hiccuping. Aunt Zhao quickly brought over the bottle, and Fu Hengyi placed it near Anan’s mouth, but Anan refused to drink.

"If you don’t drink, you won’t have anything else to eat today," Fu Hengyi said, not caring if he understood or not.

Anan stubbornly refused to open his mouth, and Fu Hengyi remained firm with his son. Eventually, Anan was the one to compromise, opening his mouth and beginning to drink the milk. Seeing this, Fu Hengyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. If he hadn’t started drinking, even Fu Hengyi felt he wouldn’t have been able to hold on much longer.