The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 453 - 455. Are you married already?

Chapter 453: 455. Are you married already?

"Manager Xiang, I still want to give you a serious apology for what happened last time. The two managers got stuck in traffic on their way here and failed to arrive on time. It was her fault, and I apologize to you on their behalf."

"Ah, CEO Fang, to speak like that is to slap me in the face. I was also late today because of the traffic, which is an unforeseen event, an uncontrollable factor, and it’s all in the past now, so let’s not bring it up again."

Fang Tong smiled, "Then Manager Xiang, about the cooperation..."

Xiang Kai’s face fell instantly, "CEO Fang, not to hide it from you, I wasn’t really upset about last time. After all, it was just a few hours of waiting. But my boss was very angry. Our two companies have always had a good collaboration, and there have never been such issues with contract negotiation before. This time it was like this, which makes it hard for us to believe in your sincerity."

"Manager Xiang, rest assured, our sincerity is definitely ample. This time we’ve brought the contract with us so we can sign it right away," Fang Tong said earnestly.

"CEO Fang, we’re not in a hurry to sign this contract. There has been a new development," Xiang Kai said.

Fang Tong’s heart sank, and she had an inkling of what was to come. As she looked at Xiang Kai, he continued, "After your delay last time, our CEO thought you were looking for a new partner and was furious. But as a large company, we’ve got so many people to support, we can’t just sit around and wait to die, can we? So, we had to find a new cooperation partner."

Hearing this, what more was there for Fang Tong to misunderstand? The other party was obviously looking to raise their prices. Soon enough, Fang Tong’s guess was confirmed as she heard Xiang Kai say with a troubled face, "We’ve found a cooperative unit. Although they’re not as large as Junlan Group, they offered a higher price than Junlan Group. Our CEO is quite tempted. If I hadn’t stopped him to see if Junlan Group was sincere, we might have already signed the contract by now."

Xiang Kai gave Fang Tong a look that said "you understand what I mean, right?"

Fang Tong naturally understood his meaning. Was this not hiking up the price? It seemed they were confident that Junlan Group couldn’t find a reliable partner in the short term and were looking to take advantage of that.

First of all, whether their alleged finding of a new partner was true or false, what if Junlan Group didn’t fall for this and they had to wrap things up? Or what if Junlan Group took the loss this time, found a new partner early the next year, and completely severed ties with them? What then? Hadn’t they considered this?

The other party wasn’t foolish; they had certainly thought this through. The project they were collaborating with Junlan Group on involved huge sums of money. Even a one-percent increase was a significant profit. Greed often overcomes people when faced with financial gain.

The smile on Fang Tong’s face gradually faded, "It seems that your CEO Wu is quite anxious." They had found a new cooperation partner in just two or three days.

Xiang Kai, thick-skinned, shrugged, "No choice, we have to support thousands of people. My boss means that we’ve been cooperating with Junlan Group for so many years, and naturally we’re more inclined towards you. But the other party did offer a price significantly higher than Junlan Group’s. If Junlan Group is willing to make some concessions, then our cooperation will have absolutely no issues."

He patted his chest as a guarantee.

A touch of irony swiftly crossed Fang Tong’s eyes, fleeting, "So, what price did the other party offer?"

"Five percent higher than yours."

Five percent, ha, they really are greedy, aren’t they? Not afraid of choking themselves.

"I’m sorry, Manager Xiang, this isn’t something I can decide on my own. I need to go back and consult with my boss, President Shen.

Xiang Kai’s expression stiffened, "Haha, of course, that’s only natural. But I do hope CEO Fang can give me a reply as soon as possible, because the other party is quite in a hurry too."

Fang Tong smiled, "Naturally, we’ll schedule another meeting next time."

"Okay."

On the way back, Shen Junze was furious, "These guys really have no shame. Five percent, and they have the nerve to ask for that."

Fang Tong was quite calm, "There’s nothing surprising about it. They feel that Junlan Group was at fault last time, so they want some compensation."

"Well, Sister Tong, what should we do?"

"In two steps," Fang Tong said with a calm demeanor that made Shen Junze’s eyes light up, "first, have someone check whether there really are companies in contact with the other party, and second, search for other manufacturers. Even if the price is a bit higher, it doesn’t matter as long as the quality meets our requirements. As for them, let’s hang them out to dry for a few days before we say anything."

"That’s a good idea, attacking from both fronts," Shen Junze responded, "but Sister Tong, it’s very hard to find a manufacturer of comparable quality in such a short time." That was the hardest part; otherwise, they wouldn’t be in such a passive position.

"Let’s try anyway, who knows, we might just luck out," Fang Tong suggested. If they could find a substitute manufacturer, then all their problems would be solved.

"Alright, I’ll start looking as soon as I get back."

Fang Tong and Shen Junze returned to the company, where Manager Feng and Manager Shan were naturally aware of the situation.

"Judging by her expression, there’s a good chance she didn’t manage to seal the deal," Manager Feng said with a disdainful look, "Considering it, Wu, the CEO, and Xiang Kai are cunning individuals, polished to perfection. How could a young girl barely in her twenties like Fang Tong compete with them?"

Manager Shan listened to her words, glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, and quickly grabbed her hand, "Keep it down, will you? What if someone hears you and it gets back to Fang Tong? Do you want to be packing up and leaving?"

Manager Feng curled her lip and looked toward Fang Tong’s office, with a face full of schadenfreude.

Manager Shan shook his head, his face crinkling with worry. If this issue wasn’t resolved, both he and Manager Feng would undoubtedly be in trouble. If Fang Tong pushed them out to take the blame, they wouldn’t even have a chance to argue their case.

**************

After returning from the Military Region, Shen Qinglan was called back by Old Sir Shen, as the leaders of the Beijing Military Region had personally phoned him to express their strong desire for Shen Qinglan to join the military.

"Lanlan, what do you think about this?" Old Sir Shen looked at his granddaughter with a face full of affection.

"Grandfather, my stance is clear, I won’t join the military," Shen Qinglan said undisturbed, leaving no room for discussion on the matter.

"Just as Grandfather thought," Old Sir Shen had anticipated his granddaughter’s reluctance, "Grandfather will take care of it. If you don’t want to join, then you won’t, it’s not a big deal."

"Grandfather."

"Enough, enough, Grandfather doesn’t want you to join the military either. It’s nice to have you by Grandfather’s side."

Shen Qinglan pursed her lips, "Grandfather, thank you."

Old Sir Shen patted his granddaughter’s shoulder, "Lanlan, do whatever you want. As long as Grandfather is alive, you can be as capricious as you wish."

Shen Qinglan knelt on the ground and hugged Old Sir Shen’s legs, "Grandfather, aren’t you afraid you’ll spoil me by being so nice to me?"

Old Sir Shen smiled, "As the granddaughter of Shen Yuanyi, you should have the privilege to be willful." But this child is ultimately of a restrained nature; even if he wanted to spoil her, it wouldn’t be an easy task.

Shen Qinglan, like a child, rested her head on Old Sir Shen’s leg, "Grandfather, I’m so grateful I could become your granddaughter, and thank you for sheltering me from the storms." She believed that when the Military Region’s leader called Old Sir Shen, they would have inquired in detail about her marksmanship. The fact that her grandfather had covered for her so well indicated that he was fully aware of the situation. This thank you was for his tolerance and protection of her.

Old Sir Shen stroked his granddaughter’s head, "Still being a spoiled child even though you’re a mother, aren’t you ashamed?" Though he said this, his eyes were brimming with indulgence.

"Grandfather, tomorrow I’ll accompany you to visit Granny, okay?" Shen Qinglan said, knowing that tomorrow was her grandparents’ wedding anniversary.

Old Sir Shen’s hand, which was stroking Shen Qinglan’s hair, paused slightly, and a hint of reminiscence filled his eyes, "Okay." He hadn’t expected anyone in the household to remember that tomorrow was a special day.

The next morning, after handing Anan over to Chu Yunrong, Shen Qinglan set out with Old Sir Shen.

It wasn’t a grave-sweeping day, so the cemetery was very quiet. Shen Qinglan bowed several times to Granny Shen and then waited further away, giving Old Sir Shen some space.

"Sister Mumu, I’m here to see you," Shen Qinglan stood in front of Qin Mu’s tombstone and spoke softly. She had buried Qin Mu here but seldom visited, as some people are better off living quietly in memory.

Shen Qinglan reached out and touched Qin Mu’s tombstone, paused, and glanced at her own clean hands. A trace of doubt flashed in her eyes. She looked in the direction of Old Sir Shen, saw him sitting in front of Granny Shen’s tombstone talking to her, and turned to head down to the public fundraising management office at the foot of the hill.

"May I ask if anyone has visited Qin Mu’s grave recently?" This cemetery had strict management, and registration was required at the foot of the hill to visit graves.

The staff member flipped through the registration book and shook his head. "Miss Shen, no one has come to see Qin Mu during this period."

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan said thanks and returned halfway up the hill. Qin Mu’s tombstone was very clean, clearly having been wiped by someone recently. She was sure that someone had visited Qin Mu, but who could it be?

It couldn’t be Yan Anbang, the only ones who knew Qin Mu was buried here were herself and Fu Hengyi, but Fu Hengyi wouldn’t visit Qin Mu either.

Unable to figure it out, Shen Qinglan didn’t dwell on it any longer. She sat down, leaning against the tombstone, and spoke softly with distant eyes, "Sister Mumu, I miss you." Just one sentence, and then silence returned.

Shen Qinglan waited until the time was right to go find Old Sir Shen. She saw moisture in his eyes, understood in her heart, but could only pretend not to see it, carefully helping Old Sir Shen back home.

On the way back, Old Sir Shen seemed down. Despite his spouse having passed away three years ago, the feeling of loneliness only grew stronger by the day. Shen Qinglan glanced at Old Sir Shen through the rearview mirror, pursed her lips, "Granny, let’s go on vacation together with both our families next time Fu Hengyi comes back. My brother invested in a piece of land a couple of years back, an eco-friendly resort only a little over an hour’s drive from Beijing; the environment is quite nice."

"Okay, you can arrange these things; Grandpa has no objections," Old Sir Shen would never refuse the filial piety of the younger generation.

Shen Qinglan then started talking about Anan with Old Sir Shen. It was obvious that Old Sir Shen’s spirits were lifted, and a smile also appeared on his face. Shen Qinglan breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

That afternoon, Shen Qinglan unexpectedly received a distress call from Shen Junyu, "You want me to be your companion? This is something you should ask your wife."

Shen Junyu explained, "Your sister-in-law is on a business trip, she’s not home these days, and you certainly wouldn’t want your brother to attend the banquet alone, would you? That’d be so pitiful."

Shen Junyu’s tone was pitiable. Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow. "There are so many beautiful women in your secretarial office, just pick one. My sister-in-law is generous and wouldn’t get upset about such a trivial matter."

"That won’t do, there are too many witches out there eyeing your brother. I have to protect myself for your sister-in-law. As my sister, it’s your duty to protect me," Shen Junyu said with conviction.

Shen Qinglan was speechless, "Is it absolutely necessary to go?" She had the least patience for such business banquets.

"Yes, it’s absolutely necessary."

"Fine, have someone pick me up at three in the afternoon." Since it was a formal business banquet, proper attire was required, and just getting ready would take several hours.

Anan didn’t need her to worry; there were plenty of people at home to look after him. Plus, Anan had already weaned, and he wouldn’t cry even if she left for half a day.

Shen Qinglan played with her son for a while, saw that Anan was growing sleepy, then soothed him to sleep before leaving.

"Lanlan, how did you end up marrying Fu Hengyi?" Shen Junyu looked at the radiant Shen Qinglan after she was dressed and sounded so regretful.

Shen Qinglan hooked her arm through Shen Junyu’s, ignoring his comment.

Only after entering the venue did Shen Qinglan realize this dinner was a charity gala, which essentially meant extracting money from the pockets of these entrepreneurs. Shen Qinglan even saw some familiar faces, all of them wives of officials she had met at Anan’s birthday party.

"They attend such events?" Shen Qinglan asked Shen Junyu in a low voice.

Shen Junyu chuckled and replied quietly, "The higher people stand, the more they need a good reputation. They may not be very generous, but their intentions are definitely sincere."

These banquets were never short of official’s wives. Due to their positions, the money they ended up donating wasn’t substantial, but to others, it would seem like they were benevolent and solely devoted to public welfare. Moreover, this particular event was initiated by a high-ranking official’s wife.

The wife of this high-ranking official is also a well-known entrepreneur. Her husband is in politics, and her family is in business, but since she was the only child, she inherited the family business after her parents passed away and became the captain of the company.

Having wealth in the family and a husband in politics naturally made her eager to cultivate a good reputation for him, hence her keen interest in such banquets. The other ladies of officials who showed up here did so mainly because of her clout; otherwise, they wouldn’t have attended a charity dinner hosted by an entrepreneur.

Many people attended this time, but the companions they brought were either their other halves or publicly acknowledged girlfriends/boyfriends.

"Mrs. Fu, I’m so thrilled that you could come. It’s truly an honor." A finely dressed woman spoke to Shen Qinglan. She was the host of tonight’s dinner, Gao Wenli, whose husband is the politician Jin Haisheng.

"President Gao, it seems you only noticed my sister and treated me as if I were invisible," Shen Junyu joked.

Gao Wenli covered her mouth and giggled. "What are you saying, President Shen? How could I overlook you? I haven’t even thanked you for last time. Your advice helped me avoid a significant loss. We should meet up for a meal when you’re free."

"President Gao, you’re too kind. After all, you’re the senior here; I was merely showing off my limited skills," Shen Junyu replied humbly.

"Haha, President Shen, you’re too modest. Tonight’s party is very relaxed; have a good time. I’m going to go over there and say hello to some others," Gao Wenli said as someone signaled her from a distance.

"Sure, President Gao, please go ahead."

After she left, others approached Shen Junyu to greet him. Meanwhile, Shen Qinglan maintained a proper smile, occasionally engaging in brief conversations.

"If you make me attend such a boring banquet again, I will sever our sibling relationship," Shen Qinglan said under her breath, gritting her teeth after another person departed.

Shen Junyu grinned sheepishly. "Lanlan, thanks for your hard work. I’ll be at your service when we return."

Shen Qinglan snorted coldly. "You’ve said that countless times. If we actually counted, you’d have to be at my service in your next life too."

"Then it’ll be the life after that. Your brother will always be at your service," Shen Junyu quipped.

Although Shen Junyu maintained the demeanor of a refined gentleman in public, he could be quite shameless with his jokes when with family.

Shen Qinglan gave him a silent look and spoke softly, "Remember, this is a public place, so mind your public image."

Shen Junyu casually glanced around, shrugged his shoulders upon noticing that no one was paying attention to them, and resumed their conversation.

"President Shen, it really is you! I didn’t expect to see you here," a pleasant male voice said from the side, prompting Shen Qinglan and Shen Junyu to turn around.

"It turns out to be Mr. Duan." Shen Junyu promptly returned to his gentlemanly manners.

Duan Ling’s gaze lingered on Shen Qinglan before turning to Shen Junyu. "And who is this?"

"This is my sister, Shen Qinglan. Lanlan, this is Mr. Duan, CEO of Tianling International, Duan Ling," Shen Junyu made the introductions.

"I never guessed that she is the young artist Leng Qingqiu. No wonder she looked familiar the last time I saw Miss Shen," Duan Ling said with a smile.

"You’ve met before?" Shen Junyu was surprised; he remembered that Duan Ling had just returned from abroad.

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly. "We’ve had a half-acquaintance." Last time at the amusement park, it was just a brief glimpse and not a proper meeting.

Duan Ling’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Indeed, but now we are acquainted, aren’t we, Miss Shen?"

Shen Qinglan looked at the outstretched hand, her eyes flashing as she gently shook it, then quickly let go. "Mr. Duan, you seem very young. I never would have guessed you were married already."

Duan Ling glanced at the wedding ring on his hand and chuckled, "Miss Shen isn’t much younger, I’ve heard she’s already a mother."

"That’s true, there’s nothing wrong with getting married early if you’ve met the right person. Is your wife not with you today?" Shen Qinglan asked curiously.

Shen Junyu gave his sister a sidelong glance. Normally, Shen Qinglan wasn’t one to pry into others’ affairs, especially strangers she had just met. Her behavior today was quite out of the ordinary.

Duan Ling didn’t seem to mind and replied in a good-natured tone, "She didn’t come back to the country with me."

"The woman who could make Mr. Duan so willingly enter the ’tomb of marriage’ at such an early age must be an extraordinary person," Shen Qinglan spoke with gentle eyes and brows, appearing very approachable, making it hard for anyone to guard against her.

Duan Ling smiled warmly, as if a breeze in spring had just brushed by, "She is indeed a lovely woman. It seems Miss Shen is quite interested in my wife?"

"Gossip is in a woman’s nature; I hope Mr. Duan doesn’t mind."

Duan Ling shook his head, and Shen Qinglan didn’t ask further, "Brother, I think I saw Fang Tong. I’m going to go say hello."

Shen Junyu nodded, "Go ahead, I’ll come find you in a bit."

Shen Qinglan raised her glass to signal Duan Ling, and went to find Fang Tong.

"Qinglan, you’re here too." Fang Tong was pleased to see Shen Qinglan; she attended the event as Li Bo Ming’s wife. She rarely attended such gatherings and felt somewhat uncomfortable in this setting. She had been bored until she saw Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly, taking Fang Tong to a quiet corner to rest, "I came with my brother today; my sister-in-law is on a business trip."

Fang Tong relaxed instantly with Shen Qinglan, massaging her own face, "I’ve been smiling so much my face is stiff."

"I haven’t heard from you recently; have you been busy?" After Fang Tong moved back to China, she had been busy with work ever since their initial meal together.

Fang Tong sighed, "I got promoted, but I ran into a pile of troubles at work right after I arrived. I didn’t even want to come today; it took Bo Ming a long time to persuade me."

"What happened?"

Fang Tong briefly explained her company’s situation, "I’ve been busy with this recently. It’s challenging to find a replacement manufacturer. Either the quality isn’t up to standard or they can’t meet the demand. I’ve been running around so much these past few days; my legs are swollen."

"If it doesn’t work out, tell my brother about it."

"I’d rather not. If I can’t handle the first task well, I might as well quit. Don’t worry, Qinglan; I’m just venting a bit. I can handle it, and soon you’ll hear some good news from me."

"Have you already found a target?"

"Not yet, but I’ve found out that nobody has actually contacted the other company. It’s all their own doing, aiming to raise prices. If I hold firm, they’ll be the anxious ones in the end." When the other party became anxious, the initiative would return to her hands. Now it was about who had more patience.

Seeing Fang Tong’s confident expression, Shen Qinglan felt reassured.

"Qinglan, you’ve been staring at that man since earlier. Who is he?" Fang Tong followed Shen Qinglan’s gaze, seeing a man in a sharp suit from their perspective, revealing just a good-looking profile.

Shen Qinglan withdrew her gaze, "Someone I just met today."

Fang Tong took another look at the man and then said seriously to Shen Qinglan, "Qinglan, I don’t think he’s as handsome as Mr. Fu. By my estimate, his figure is not as good as Mr. Fu’s, either. You should stay committed to Mr. Fu." Her eyes twinkled with teasing.

Shen Qinglan wanted to roll her eyes, "You’re overthinking it." She just felt like she had seen the man somewhere before—not their previous encounter at the amusement park, but elsewhere. There was something familiar about him, yet she was certain she had never met him before.

"Perhaps there’s something about him that resembles someone you know, which is why he seems familiar," Fang Tong said casually after hearing Shen Qinglan’s words.

Shocked into realization, Shen Qinglan finally understood where that sense of familiarity she felt around Duan Ling came from.

As she was thinking, her phone rang from her purse. Seeing that it was Fu Hengyi calling, she excused herself, "I’m going to take a call." It was too noisy inside, so Shen Qinglan stepped into the garden to answer.

"Qinglan," Fu Hengyi’s familiar voice came through the phone, and Shen Qinglan’s expression softened instantly.

"Yes, I’m here."

"Has Anan gone to sleep?"

"I’m not at home. My brother asked me to accompany him to a cocktail party."

"How much have you had to drink?"

"A single glass of champagne," Shen Qinglan smiled lightly.

"When will the party be over?"

"I’m not sure, it should be a while longer. I’ll give you a call after I get back," Shen Qinglan said.

"Okay. Don’t drive home after drinking, remember to call a designated driver later."

"Yes, I know," she said with a smile.

"Qinglan, starting next week, I’ll be conducting three months of closed training with a batch of new recruits, and I probably won’t be able to return home for the next three months."

Shen Qinglan paused, then spoke gently after a moment, "Is it just training?"

Fu Hengyi knew what she was concerned about and chuckled lightly, "Yes, just training."

"Alright, I’ll wait for you to come back." As long as Shen Qinglan knew Fu Hengyi was not in danger, she would not pry into his work.

After a few more words, Shen Qinglan ended the call and turned to go back inside, only to see Duan Ling standing not far behind. As their eyes met, Shen Qinglan arched an eyebrow, "Mr. Duan, did you want to speak with me?"

Duan Ling offered a slight smile and spoke warmly, "I thought Miss Shen might want to chat with me alone. Did I misunderstand?" He had noticed Shen Qinglan’s gaze on him before.

Shen Qinglan looked at his left hand where the wedding ring still rested and laughed, "I think Mr. Duan has misunderstood something. I had no intention of seeking you out." Now that she knew, Shen Qinglan’s curiosity was no more; some things were better left uncovered.

"Well then, it seems I misunderstood. My apologies, Miss Shen," Duan Ling said earnestly.

Shen Qinglan nodded, her expression indifferent, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving."

Duan Ling stepped aside, making a gesture of invitation, and Shen Qinglan walked past him, heading inside. Duan Ling raised his eyebrows—had he really misunderstood?

Back in the room, Shen Qinglan found Shen Junyu, "Brother, it’s getting late. I should go home, or Anan will start fussing."

Shen Junyu checked the time, "I’ll leave with you. Just a moment, I’ll go say goodbye to the host." The fundraising part was over, and what remained was just socializing. Whether they left early or late didn’t really matter anymore.

On the way back, Shen Qinglan asked Shen Junyu, "Are you well-acquainted with Duan Ling?"

"No, I just met him recently. A few business acquaintances and I had dinner together, and he was there, so we got to know each other. I haven’t asked you yet, why so many questions today? You seem rather curious about him."

"You said it yourself, it’s curiosity," Shen Qinglan answered indifferently.

"That’s not right, this isn’t normal for you, Lanlan. It’s not like you to be curious."

Shen Qinglan glanced at him sideways, "What kind of person am I supposed to be? Can’t I be curious?"

Shen Junyu gave her a knowing look, "Lanlan, if you want to know something, you can ask me. If I don’t know, I can find out for you."

Shen Qinglan chuckled lightly, "I’m not curious anymore." With that, she closed her eyes to rest, refusing to continue the conversation with Shen Junyu, who touched his nose and thought, well, he just wanted to know what Shen Qinglan was curious about.

*********

"Aling, how was tonight’s reception?" Gao Wenli, after seeing off the guests, asked Duan Ling.

"Not bad, Auntie, you know quite a few people."

Gao Wenli smiled warmly, "They weren’t here for me, but for your uncle. I saw you drank quite a bit tonight, why don’t you stay over at our house?"

Duan Ling didn’t refuse, "Okay, thank you, Auntie." Duan Ling was Gao Wenli’s nephew, which was a fact almost unknown to outsiders. Duan Ling’s mother had lost contact with her family when she was young, and the family had assumed she was dead until they found her just a few years ago.

"Aling, have you given any thought to what I mentioned last time? I’ve been keeping a position for you at the company," Gao Wenli said seriously.

"Auntie, let’s forget about that. I have my own company now. Although it isn’t as big as Smile, it’s still my hard work, and I don’t want to give it up."

"It’s not a conflict. You can continue running your company, and taking over a part of the family business that rightfully belonged to your mother makes sense." Gao Wenli was delighted by the reunion with her sister, her only relative in the world, and naturally she also liked her sister’s only child, Duan Ling.

"Auntie, really, there’s no need. You built up that company, and I’m not familiar with its operations, so I would rather not cause you trouble. Plus, I’m going back in a few days."

"Going back? You don’t plan to stay in Beijing?" Gao Wenli was somewhat surprised.

"No, I haven’t been back to see my parents for several years. I plan to go home first to visit them, stay with them for a while. I came to Beijing to see you too, Auntie. Now that I’ve seen you’re healthy, I can rest assured."

Gao Wenli saw that Duan Ling truly had no intention of staying, her face showing regret, "That’s a real pity. But if you change your mind, come back to see Auntie anytime."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Gao Wenli patted his shoulder, "Alright, you’ve been tired all day, better rest early."

Duan Ling nodded, "You rest first, Auntie, I’m going to bed soon."

"Okay."

The next day, Duan Ling arranged to play ball with Cui Zeyu, "When are you going back?" Cui Zeyu, wiping the sweat from his face, asked Duan Ling.

"Next Monday."

"Going to see your parents and then back to Country D?"

"Probably. My career foundation is all overseas."

"What’s the fun in being alone abroad? It’s better to develop back home. Now the situation in the country is so good, there are still many opportunities." Cui Zeyu didn’t really agree with his friend’s choice.

Duan Ling smiled and sat beside Cui Zeyu, "There’s no one in the country that I would miss, so what’s the point in staying?"

"As if you have someone abroad," Cui Zeyu muttered under his breath, then looked down and saw the ring on Duan Ling’s finger, "How long do you plan to wear that ring? Other girls will think you’re married when they see it, and then no decent girl will dare to fancy you."

"I am married, that’s a fact," Duan Ling said with a light smile.

"But she... Forget it, you know the reasons better than I. Anyway, I have something to do this afternoon, can you take care of my son for me?"

"Just say you want to slack off," Duan Ling ruthlessly exposed his friend’s true intentions.

Cui Zeyu grinned awkwardly, "That kid is really too much trouble, gives me a headache. And there’s never a moment of peace; I don’t know where he gets all that energy from, he’s wearing me out."

Talking about his son, Cui Zeyu had an endless list of complaints.

"Now you know how hard it was for your wife? When she comes back, you better treat her well. You’ve only been taking care of the child for a few days and you’re already tired. She’s been raising him since he was born and never complained once."

"I already called her today, I promise I’ll love my wife even more from now on. She’s really amazing. I wonder how she manages such a little rascal, it’s unbelievable." Cui Zeyu’s son was a little demon that could really give adults a headache.

"Look, just help me out today. Take care of him for half a day, he’ll be out of class soon, you help me pick him up, and I’ll be back in the evening," Cui Zeyu begged pitifully, looking at Duan Ling.

Duan Ling shook his head and laughed without refusing. His friend was childlike; despite nearing thirty, he hadn’t matured at all, especially in being a father, which was incredibly unreliable. The character of Cui’s little boy was partly influenced by his erratic friend.

Cui Zeyu thanked him profusely and left, revived as soon as he was out of sight of his exasperating child.

Cui Baicheng was seven years old this year, and because he was too rowdy, his mother enrolled him in a piano class to calm him down a bit, hoping to change his temperament. The piano class was three times a week.

Duan Ling arrived at the entrance of the training class, waiting for Cui Baicheng to finish.

"Uncle, it’s you." Haohao had just come out of the classroom and immediately recognized Duan Ling waiting at the door.

Duan Ling was lost in thought when he heard someone calling him. Looking down, he saw Haohao, surprised, "You’re taking classes here?"

"Yeah, I take piano lessons. Uncle, is your child also taking classes here?"

Duan Ling smiled and nodded, "Yes, he’s in the beginners’ class."

"Then you’re in the wrong place, Uncle. This is the intermediate class; the beginners’ class is next door." Haohao pointed with his little hand to the adjacent classroom.

Duan Ling looked at Haohao with amazement, "You’re so young and already studying at an intermediate level?"

Haohao blushed a little, "Yeah."

"You’re amazing," Duan Ling praised generously, making Haohao blush even more, which amused Duan Ling. "Where are your parents?"

Haohao pointed behind Duan Ling, grinning, "Over there."

Duan Ling turned around and saw a familiar figure walking towards him.