The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 454 - 456. Reunion after five years

Chapter 454: 456. Reunion after five years

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

"Miss Shen, I never expected to meet you here. Our fate must be quite deep," Duan Ling said with a smile.

"Eh, uncle, you know my little aunt?" Haohao was surprised to see the two knew each other.

"So Miss Shen is your little aunt," Duan Ling repeated, then realized something was amiss after he spoke. Shen Qinglan only had an elder brother; he hadn’t heard about any sister.

Shen Qinglan saw Haohao with Duan Ling, a glint of deep light flashed through her eyes, "Mr. Duan." She took Haohao by the hand and asked softly, "Can we go now?"

Haohao nodded and waved to Duan Ling, "Uncle, I’m leaving now, goodbye."

Duan Ling also smiled and waved back at Haohao, "Alright, goodbye." Seeing that Shen Qinglan hadn’t paid any attention to him from the beginning to the end, he laughed to himself. What a strange woman.

"Godfather, you remembered my class wrong again." Cui Baicheng saw Duan Ling standing at the door of the intermediate class and complained in a mutter.

Duan Ling patted his head, and Cui Baicheng looked up, "Godfather, where has my dad gone again?"

"Your dad has work to keep him busy. Is it not good that I came to pick you up?" Duan Ling countered.

Cui Baicheng shook his head, "It’s not that it’s bad, I just think my dad is too unreliable, always pushing me onto you." He seemed like a little adult, as if he was really worried about his father’s irresponsibility.

Duan Ling smiled helplessly, "You sure are a clever little thing. Tell me, what do you want to eat tonight? I’ll take you out. Your dad probably won’t be back until late."

Cui Baicheng’s eyes lit up, "Anything?"

"Mm, anything," Duan Ling agreed.

"Then I want to eat fried chicken, and it has to be from that place on Yan’an Road, they have the most authentic taste. With a Coke, it tastes so good."

"Okay, we’ll go there," Duan Ling said indulgently as he looked at Cui Baicheng.

Meanwhile, Shen Qinglan and Haohao were also discussing what to eat for dinner, "Little Aunt, I want to eat ice cream."

"No, have you forgotten about being hospitalized a few days ago because you ate too much ice cream?"

Haohao tugged at Shen Qinglan’s sleeve, pleading, "Little aunt, this time I promise I won’t eat a lot, just two bites, really just two bites." He said with a pitiful look, but Shen Qinglan shook her head firmly, "No, ice cream is out of the question."

If it were any other time, she might have softened, but just a few days ago, Haohao had been hospitalized for eating ice cream. Even though it wasn’t serious, he couldn’t just eat anything carelessly.

"Okay then." Haohao’s mood seemed a bit down. Children love sweet things after all, and it was no surprise Haohao was no exception.

Shen Qinglan loved the child but wouldn’t spoil him; she would stick to her principles where necessary, "When we get home, I’ll ask Grandma Song to make you a teddy bear cake."

Chu Yunjin had fallen ill and was hospitalized these past few days, and Pei Yinong had to take care of the patient in the hospital, so they left Haohao with Shen Qinglan to help look after him for a couple of days.

"Really?" Haohao perked up immediately.

"Really."

Seeing Haohao cheer up, Shen Qinglan asked as if it were an afterthought, "What did that uncle say to you just now?"

"There’s nothing much, he just asked if I was also taking classes here, Auntie, I feel like I have some sort of..." Haohao couldn’t think of the word "fate" for a moment, but Shen Qinglan understood his meaning.

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly. Indeed, to encounter each other twice in just a few days was quite fateful, she just didn’t know whether it was a coincidence or something more intentional.

Duan Ling picked up his godson and took the little guy out to eat. "Mmm, this is yummy, why aren’t you eating, godfather?" The little guy’s mouth was stuffed full of food, and he was still holding onto a chicken wing.

Duan Ling wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth, "Don’t choke, have some juice first."

Cui Baicheng drank a few sips of juice following Duan Ling’s guidance and continued his battle with the food on the table until he really couldn’t eat anymore. Only then did he leave the restaurant, rubbing his belly with satisfaction.

However, a problem arose once they got home, the child’s stomach began to hurt. Seeing the child’s face pale with pain, Duan Ling panicked too, and immediately took the child to the hospital, where the doctor said he had eaten something bad and needed an IV.

Duan Ling called Cui Zeyu, but for some reason, the guy’s phone was turned off.

"Baicheng, you lie down here first, your godfather will go buy you something. I’ll be right back, okay?" Duan Ling looked at the child’s pale face, feeling both guilt and distress. This child was, in a way, raised with his care since he was little, and now because of him, the child was lying here, how could he not feel pained?

Cui Baicheng might usually enjoy making trouble, but he was very understanding when it really mattered. He nodded his head, "Godfather, you have to come back quickly."

"Alright, I’ll be back in ten minutes."

Duan Ling went to a nearby mall and bought some children’s books, as the little guy would be on an IV for several hours, he planned to pass the time by telling him stories.

"Sorry, I bumped into you. I’m really sorry." Pei Yinong went out to buy food for her parents, hurried back, and accidentally ran into the person in front of her.

"Yinong?" A voice full of hesitation sounded above her head, too familiar for Pei Yinong to ever forget in this lifetime. She stiffened on the spot, unable to lift her head for a long time.

Duan Ling didn’t expect to bump into Pei Yinong here either; before he returned to the country, he had imagined that he might run into her after coming back, but he never thought it would be in Beijing.

"Yinong, it really is you." Duan Ling smiled, but his smile was complicated.

Pei Yinong slowly raised her head, still seeing the familiar face, a face that had once left a deep imprint in her life, but now carried a sense of strangeness.

They hadn’t seen each other for five years, and compared to five years ago, his features were more defined, matured, but also carried an added sense of world-weariness.

Heh, world-weariness, this word on this man seemed utterly laughable.

"I am Duan Ling." Seeing Pei Yinong remained silent, Duan Ling felt somewhat awkward.

"I know you’re Duan Ling." Pei Yinong’s tone was indifferent, as if she was talking to a stranger.

"How have you been all these years?" Duan Ling asked hesitantly, though he really had no right to ask such a question.

"Whether I’m well or not, what does it have to do with you? Mr. Duan, you’re in my way." Pei Yinong remained calm from start to finish, only her hand gripping the thermos tightened.

Duan Ling stepped aside slightly, "Sorry."

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Pei Yinong’s eyes as she passed him and left.

Footsteps came from behind, and Duan Ling followed her, "Yinong, I have something to say to you."

Far from stopping, Pei Yinong quickened her pace, until Duan Ling grabbed her hand, "Yinong, wait, just give me five minutes. I have something to say to you."

Pei Yinong looked at him, "What is there to talk about between us?"

Duan Ling’s tongue felt dry, "Yinong, about what happened that year, I..."

"If you want to say sorry to me, save it, it’s been so many years and I’ve long forgotten it, I’m doing very well now," Pei Yinong spoke the words he intended to say.

Duan Ling was taken aback, "Yinong." He indeed wanted to apologize; his sudden departure without a word back then, without any explanation, caused immeasurable harm to the girl before him, and a simple sorry couldn’t make up for it, but that sorry was a debt he owed her.

"Yinong, I’m sorry."

Sure enough, "sorry," haha, what a cheap trio of words.

Pei Yinong’s gaze gently fell as the wedding ring on Duan Ling’s left hand glared conspicuously, "You’re married?"

Duan Ling’s remaining words choked at the entrance of his throat, his mouth dry, "Yes, for five years now."

Pei Yinong’s heart gave a fierce jolt, couldn’t help but sneer, indeed she was the biggest fool in the world, five years, "So the reason you left without saying goodbye that year was that you were going to marry another woman?"

Duan Ling met Pei Yinong’s icy eyes, the word "yes" stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

"I understand." She took a breath, her voice faint, "Duan Ling, you don’t have to say sorry to me either, after all, once I left, I came back, and over these years I’ve dated a few boyfriends, you, have long become the past."

Duan Ling kept looking into her eyes, seeing the stillness in them like an ancient well, his heart felt an even deeper sourness, but his lips curled up with a warm smile, "That’s good, I’m relieved that you’re doing well."

Pei Yinong didn’t say anything, simply turned around and left, and this time Duan Ling didn’t hold her back.

Rounding the corner, Pei Yinong stopped, leaned weakly against the wall, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, her body trembling gently, her complexion pale.

It was a while before she gradually calmed down, and only when her mood stabilized did she enter the ward.

"Yinong, why have you been gone for so long, I was just about to go look for you." Pei Zhen saw Pei Yinong, his voice filled with concern, Pei Yinong smiled, "There was a traffic jam on the way, and it took a little longer."

"Actually, the hospital cafeteria’s food is quite alright, you don’t need to go so far." Chu Yunjin worried about her daughter; these few days, Pei Yinong spent the day at work and the night in the hospital, running back and forth without a moment’s rest.

Pei Yinong smiled faintly, "Mom, you’re in need of nourishment now, the hospital food is so hard to eat, it’s not to your taste, it’s just a drive for me, nothing much. The food is still warm, hurry up and eat."

Pei Yinong took out the food one by one and arranged it.

"Have you eaten?" Chu Yunjin asked.

Pei Yinong nodded, "I have already eaten, mom and dad, go ahead, don’t mind me."

"I don’t know if Haohao has eaten yet." Chu Yunjin fretted; these past few days in the hospital without seeing Haohao, she really missed him.

"I’ll have Qinglan bring Haohao over tomorrow."

"No need, no need, I’ll be discharged in a couple of days, what’s so good about a hospital that you would bring a child here for no reason, I was just saying," Chu Yunjin quickly refused.

Pei Yinong was somewhat distracted tonight, Chu Yunjin and her husband were eating, but they didn’t notice.

"Yinong, you go and ask the doctor later when I can be discharged. Being in the hospital all day, I feel like my body reeks of disinfectant," Chu Yunjin said to Pei Yinong midway through the meal.

"Yining, Yining," Chu Yunjin called out several times when Pei Yinong didn’t respond.

"Ah, are you finished eating? I’ll clean up once you’re done." Pei Yinong stood up, and Chu Yunjin watched her speechlessly, "Yining, what were you just thinking about?"

Pei Yinong felt embarrassed, "It’s nothing, just some work matters. Mom, what did you just say to me?"

"I said that you should go and ask the doctor when I can be discharged from the hospital. I’m feeling better and don’t want to stay here any longer."

"Okay, I’ll go now." Pei Yinong left the ward, and Chu Yunjin looked at her retreating figure, saying to her spouse, "Why do I feel like Yining is preoccupied with something today?"

Pei Zhen sighed, "It must be because she’s worried about Chenxi again."

At the mention of this, Chu Yunjin got angry, "What on earth is with the Jiang Family? In what way is my daughter not good enough? She has a good family background, she’s attractive, has a great personality, and is capable. What makes her unworthy of Jiang Chenxi? If they don’t want it, I don’t want it either."

Seeing his wife getting angry, Pei Zhen comforted her, "Come on now, don’t be upset. Children have their own blessings, let’s leave these matters for them to sort out themselves."

"How can we solve it though? We can’t just ask Yining to abandon Haohao, even if Yining agrees, I won’t."

Chu Yunjin felt distressed about it and instantly lost her appetite, putting down her chopsticks.

"Not eating anymore?"

Chu Yunjin, feeling irritable, replied, "No, I can’t eat. If it weren’t for the fact that Chenxi really is a good kid, has treated Yining and Haohao well, and knowing that Yining truly likes him, I would never agree to their relationship. They treat my daughter like nothing, and it hurts my heart."

"Do you think I don’t feel the pain?" Pei Zhen harbored grievances against the Jiang parents since he learned of their attitude. Pei Yinong was his precious pearl and was mistreated by Mrs. Jiang, he even felt like confronting them in person.

"But what can we do? Look at how many years it’s been, Yining only just found someone she likes. If we stop them, won’t we be the ones regretting if she ends up lonely for life?"

"Ah, what kind of fate does our Yining have? Why is her love life so troubled?" Chu Yunjin’s face was full of worry.

Pei Zhen patted his wife’s hand, "Let’s be open-minded, believe there will be a solution eventually. If all fails, I’ll personally go talk to them. We can take care of Haohao ourselves, and let the young couple live their lives. They can’t have any objections to that, right?"

"The most despicable is that bastard. If I ever find out who he is, I won’t hesitate to fight him. Without him, would my daughter have to suffer like this?" Chu Yunjin was heartbroken.

Pei Yinong naturally didn’t know her parent’s distress. After finding Chu Yunjin’s attending doctor and learning about the discharge time, Pei Yinong didn’t immediately return to the ward, but went downstairs to the hospital, found a quiet corner, and sat down.

It had been five years since she had seen Duan Ling, and those memories were drifting away, sometimes she couldn’t even recall Duan Ling’s face. But the encounter just then made that once blurry face start to become clear again.

She leaned back in her chair, quietly watching the dark night sky for a long while, before picking up her phone and calling Jiang Chenxi, "Yining."

"Chenxi, are you asleep?" Pei Yinong asked softly.

Jiang Chenxi put down her pen, "Not yet, I’m writing the outline for tomorrow’s lecture. Is aunt doing better now?"

"She’s already fine, and she can be discharged in a couple of days."

"Yining, I’m sorry. When you needed me the most these past days, I couldn’t be there for you." At the time of Chu Yunjin’s hospitalization, Jiang Chenxi had already left to attend an important overseas lecture representing A university, and even had to speak as a representative of outstanding teachers.

"It doesn’t matter, it’s just a minor illness, and I can take care of it myself. If you really feel sorry, then take care of yourself and don’t make me worry."

"I will, take good care of yourself too. I can come back tomorrow after I finish speaking, and then I’ll pick up aunt from the hospital."

"Okay. I’ll wait for you to come back," Pei Yinong said. She hesitated for a long time, but still didn’t tell Jiang Chenxi about her encounter with Duan Ling.

After hanging up the phone, Pei Yinong’s gaze became distant. The events of the past unfolded before her like scenes from a film, becoming clearer and then gradually fading.

She had thought that this man would never appear in her life again, but now he had reemerged in her life so suddenly and unexpectedly, just like the first time. What was more laughable was that he had already been married for five years. So what was she, then? A pastime for when he was bored?

Pei Yinong felt pitiful. Her life seemed like a joke, a cold one at that.

The night breeze blew against her, bringing a chill. Pei Yinong hugged her arms tight, feeling a coldness all over her body. She did not know how long it had been before she slowly got up and went to the ward, with a calm look in her eyes.

Jiang Chenxi came back on the third morning, and the first thing she did was to visit the hospital to see Chu Yunjin.

Although Chu Yunjin had grievances against the Jiang family elders, her attitude was warm towards Jiang Chenxi. "Chenxi, you must be tired from your business trip, right?"

"Auntie, I’m not tired. I’m sorry I haven’t been much help these days." This was something Jiang Chenxi truly regretted. If it were a more temperamental girl, she would probably have gotten upset with her boyfriend over this, but Pei Yinong did not say a single word.

"Hey, it’s alright. It’s not a serious illness. I’ll be discharged this afternoon. Yining has already gone to handle the discharge procedures."

When Pei Yinong came back, Jiang Chenxi was already packing up. Pei Yinong just quietly watched Jiang Chenxi busy herself, her gaze tender. The tumult that had been churning in her heart for days suddenly settled down.

On the other hand, Duan Ling was not having an easy time either. He had imagined a million scenarios for their meeting, none of them like this; yet, damn it, it made sense. Yining just had that kind of decisive nature, didn’t she?

But why couldn’t he be happy when he heard she was doing well? He gently caressed the wedding ring on his finger. For the first time in five years, he took off his wedding ring, examined it closely in his hand, then slipped it back on. Some debts, once owed, might never be repaid in this lifetime.

"Duan Ling, you’ve been off these past couple of days," Cui Zeyu said, noticing his friend zoning out again and nudging him. Duan Ling looked at him puzzledly. Cui Zeyu knew about his son eating something bad and being taken to the hospital for an IV. Though he also felt bad, he did not scold Duan Ling. After all, his friend had good intentions.

"What’s off about me?"

"You’re off in every way. You look like you’ve lost your soul." Saying this, Cui Zeyu’s gaze turned suggestive. "Did you run into some little fairy who captivated our handsome Mr. Duan?"

Duan Ling laughed, "What are you imagining now? I’m going back tomorrow, just letting you know."

"Oh, that’s so soon. Will you come back to Beijing before returning to D country?"

"Mm, I’ll come back one more time. I have some matters to take care of."

Cui Zeyu was surprised. The guy had said a few days ago that he wouldn’t come back, but today he suddenly changed his mind. While thinking this, he also asked, but Duan Ling refused to say.

Unless Duan Ling was willing, no one could pry his mouth open.

Life returned to calmness. Except for seeing Duan Ling that day in the hospital, Pei Yinong never saw him again. He was like a traceless breeze that blew by and then dissipated, and she gradually forgot all about it.

**

Anan had a fever. Since birth, Anan had been taken care of meticulously and had never been sick, but this fever was ferocious, with her temperature soaring to 39 degrees.

Shen Qinglan went to the children’s room to see Anan after waking up in the morning. Only when she saw Anan’s red cheeks did she realize something was wrong. When she touched her, she found Anan’s whole body was burning up. Shen Qinglan panicked on the spot, standing frozen in indecision.

It was Chu Yunrong who came to see her granddaughter and noticed Shen Qinglan standing there in a daze, before she snapped to her senses and took Anan to the hospital.

Anan’s fever naturally alarmed the whole family. Old Sir Shen and Old Sir Fu stayed in the hospital, refusing to leave Anan’s side.

Shen Junyu and Wen Xiyao ran around tirelessly.

And Shen Qinglan could only stay with Anan—after all, Anan wanted only her mother right now.

"Mummy, it hurts." Anan tugged at Shen Qinglan’s sleeve, her smiling face crumpled into a bunch, and Shen Qinglan cradled him in her arms with a heartache, "Anan is a good boy, the pain will go away soon." The doctor had just come over to give Anan an injection, and Anan was crying heartbreakingly, his eyes still wet with tears.

This child isn’t afraid of taking medicine, but he’s terrified of injections, has been since he was little.

Shen Qinglan kissed Anan gently, "It won’t hurt soon, Anan is very brave."

Anan’s fever hadn’t subsided yet, and Shen Qinglan stayed up all night by her son’s side, wiping his body on time for physical cooling, not daring even to blink her eyes.

"Old Sirs, it’s fine with me here at the hospital, you should go back first." Worried about the old gentlemen’s health, Shen Qinglan persuaded the two elders to go home.

Both elderly gentlemen also knew that staying would only add to Shen Qinglan’s troubles, and despite their concern for Anan’s health, they cooperated and left. Even Chu Yunrong was persuaded by Shen Qinglan to go home.

Ever since Anan fell ill, he had been very clingy to Shen Qinglan, needing to see her at all times, "Mummy, Anan feels bad."

Anan’s little face was flushed red, the antipyretic injection didn’t seem effective, and despite half a night passing, Anan’s fever showed no sign of subsiding. Shen Qinglan remained calm on the surface, but inside she was frantic, and she wanted to call Fu Hengyi but remembered he was in closed training and couldn’t be reached.

"Mummy." Anan’s voice was filled with a crying tone, this child hadn’t cried except when he got the injection; for a one-year-old, he was distressingly considerate.

"Mummy is here." Shen Qinglan’s voice was gentle, softly coaxing Anan.

Anan’s cold was caused by a viral infection, and it was tough to bring down the fever. The doctor had tried various methods and finally managed to lower Anan’s temperature temporarily on the second night.

Shen Qinglan took care of her son without rest, not having closed her eyes for two days.

"Qinglan, you should go rest for a bit, I’ll take care of Anan here," Shen Qinglan was distressed for her son, and Chu Yunrong was equally distressed for her daughter, seeing the dark circles and exhaustion on Shen Qinglan’s face broke her heart even more.

Shen Qinglan looked at her son’s peaceful sleeping face and shook her head, "Mum, I’m fine, I can keep going, you should go back."

"Qinglan, it’s normal for children to get sick, don’t be so nervous, your emotions will affect Anan. Children are very sensitive, they can feel your emotional changes. Relax a bit, the doctor said it’s just a common cold, he’ll be fine once his temperature goes down."

Shen Qinglan, being a first-time mother and lacking experience, was naturally scared by Anan’s first illness. Chu Yunrong understood this mindset perfectly well, having been through it herself.

Shen Junyu also stood by, and after hearing what Chu Yunrong had said, he also advised his sister, "Lanlan, be good and take a break, mum and brother are here, nothing will go wrong, I’ll wake you up as soon as Anan does."

Shen Qinglan pursed her lips, holding her son’s little hand without blinking, "I really can keep going, brother, you both should go back." She felt a bit guilty, having been busy with her painting recently, she had neglected Anan. If she had spent more time with him, could this have been avoided?

Now she understood even more what Chu Yunrong must have felt back then; watching Anan being sick was worrisome enough, she could only imagine how Chu Yunrong must have felt falling apart after losing a child.

"Qinglan, you need to rest."

Shen Qinglan’s eyes were bloodshot, how could Chu Yunrong bear to let her stay up any longer.

Seeing her family worried about her like this, Shen Qinglan gave in, "Then I’ll rest on the sofa outside for a while, call me as soon as Anan wakes up."

"Alright, go ahead." Shen Junyu patted his sister’s shoulder.

Shen Qinglan’s rest was troubled, as Anan’s cries echoed in her ears. She opened her eyes to find the ward silent, sat up abruptly, and then saw Chu Yunrong walking around the room, holding and comforting Anan.

Anan nestled in his grandmother’s arms, looking listless. Upon seeing Shen Qinglan, he immediately stretched out his arms towards her. Shen Qinglan moved forward and took her son into her arms.

Anan lay in Shen Qinglan’s arms, not speaking, just clinging tightly to her neck, the posture full of dependency.

Yu Xiaoxuan learned that Anan was sick and rushed over from the set without stopping. Seeing Anan pale and lacking energy, she felt pained, "What happened, how did he suddenly get sick?"

He reached out to touch Anan’s forehead, but Anan dodged away, as he didn’t like people touching him now.

"It’s a viral cold, not sure where he caught it from," Shen Qinglan said.

Yu Xiaoxuan saw Anan clinging onto Shen Qinglan and didn’t try to hold him anymore. "Did you ask the doctor?"

"The fever has gone down, but he still needs to be observed for another couple of days."

Then Fang Tong and Pei Yinong arrived, almost alarming everyone.

Haohao, knowing his little brother was sick, insisted on coming to see him and stayed with Anan the whole day in the hospital. Anan had been in low spirits these past few days in the hospital, but seeing Haohao, he finally showed a smile.

"Daddy?" Anan’s mood improved, and he finally remembered his dad.

"Daddy is working. How about we call daddy later?" Shen Qinglan patiently said to her son.

Anan obediently nodded. Shen Qinglan, guessing the time was right, called Fu Hengyi, and it happened to be his lunch break, so the call was quickly connected.

"Daddy," Anan called out to Fu Hengyi on the other end of the phone, his voice revealing weakness, which Fu Hengyi immediately detected, and he frowned, "What happened to Anan?"

"Daddy, I had a shot," Anan said with a pout.

The call was on speakerphone, so Shen Qinglan heard it as well and explained, "Anan got sick so I brought him to the hospital for a check-up." She described it as if it was no big deal.

Fu Hengyi immediately got anxious, "What’s wrong with him, and is it serious?"

"It’s not serious, just a common cold. He’ll be fine after a shot and some medicine." She tried to play down Anan’s condition to keep him from worrying.

But Fu Hengyi still worried and rushed back that very night. Shen Qinglan was surprised to see Fu Hengyi show up in the hospital room, "Why did you come back? Didn’t I tell you there’s no need?"

Fu Hengyi quickly walked up to the bed, saw that Anan was sleeping peacefully without any signs of a fever, and finally gradually relaxed. "I was worried about you guys."

"Is it really okay for you to leave like this?"

"It’s fine, I’ll head back early tomorrow morning." Fu Hengyi noticed Shen Qinglan’s weary face and felt distressed, "Why didn’t you call me earlier?"

"It’s not a serious illness, and he got better quite quickly." Shen Qinglan smiled faintly, her face calm, hiding her anxiety from the previous days.

Seeing her downplay the situation, Fu Hengyi understood her intention was just not to worry him and held her tightly, "Qinglan, it seems I owe you more and more."

Shen Qinglan chuckled softly, "There’s no debt between husband and wife." Having overcome the initial anxiety, she had relaxed.

Fu Hengyi didn’t say anything more and told Shen Qinglan to rest while he took care of their son.

Anan liked to kick off his blankets while sleeping at night, and Fu Hengyi had to keep rearranging the covers and was on alert in case his high fever recurred. Only when the predawn light began to show did he hurriedly return to the military.

Anan naturally didn’t know his dad had already visited, and waking up to see his mom, he didn’t think of his dad anymore and pestered Shen Qinglan to tell him a story.

Anan stayed in the hospital for a week until he completely recovered. Back at home, Anan, who had been confined for a week, suddenly became lively again, scampering all over the house.

"Anan, look what this is?" Shen Qinglan walked in from outside, holding a small cage in her hand.

Anan turned around and saw it, his eyes lighting up, "Puppy."

Shen Qinglan was holding a small cage in her hand, and inside the cage, a little milk dog was making soft whining noises at Anan.

During his hospital stay, Anan had once seen someone else’s little dog and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Shen Qinglan told Fu Hengyi about this, who unexpectedly remembered and had someone send Shen Qinglan a little dog, saying it was a gift for Anan.

"This is a gift from Daddy to Anan, do you like it?" Shen Qinglan took the puppy out of the cage and put it on the ground.

Anan squatted in front of the puppy, beaming with a smile, clearly liking it very much. He wanted to touch the puppy but hesitated, and the little dog, probably frightened by the new environment, stayed huddled without moving and trembled slightly.

"Mummy." Anan looked up at Shen Qinglan, his eyes pleading for help. Shen Qinglan’s gaze was encouraging, "It’s okay, the puppy won’t bite."

Heeding these words, Anan looked down at the puppy again, then placed his hand on the puppy’s head. The puppy shrank back and let out a soft, helpless whine.

"From now on, it will be Anan’s little friend. You have to be nice to it, okay?" Shen Qinglan said to her son in a soft voice.

Anan nodded, "Daddy, gift."

"Yes, this is a gift from Daddy, and also your friend from now on. You can’t bully it."

"Okay." Anan smiled, his eyes sparkling with joy.

The Fu family welcomed a new member, a chubby little Erha with fluffy fur, Anan’s new favorite. Entering the Fu family home, you could often see a delicate and pretty child on the lawn followed by a black and white little dog, the pair sweating from play on the grass.

Shen Qinglan went inside to fetch a towel for her son. When she returned, she saw Anan already rolling around with the Erha. Upon seeing Shen Qinglan, he hurriedly scrambled up from the ground, his body already spotted with grass.

"Mummy, Fatty is fun." Anan told Shen Qinglan, having named the Erha Fatty.

"You, oh you," Shen Qinglan said with a doting smile, squatting down to wipe her son’s face, slipping a dry towel behind his back to soak up the sweat, as his shirt was already wet from play.

When Fu Hengyi came home, he saw such a scene: two humans and a dog sitting on the lawn, talking about something, Anan laughing from time to time.

Fu Hengyi smiled slightly and walked over, "Anan."

Hearing his name, Anan looked up to find it was Daddy and immediately his eyes gleamed. He stood up and ran towards Fu Hengyi, but in his hurry, he tripped and took a nosedive.

Fu Hengyi couldn’t help but laugh, seeing Anan’s aggrieved face. He stepped forward and picked up his son, "Silly boy."

"Daddy, silly." Anan certainly wouldn’t admit he was clumsy.

Fu Hengyi gave a doting smile, "Did Anan miss Daddy?"

Anan honestly nodded, "Missed Daddy." Then he planted a kiss on Fu Hengyi’s cheek.

Fu Hengyi patted his son’s head, suddenly feeling something moving at his feet. Looking down, he saw a chubby little dog, "Fatty." Anan called out, gesturing for the dog to come. Hearing his little master’s voice, Fatty wagged its tail at Anan.

Fu Hengyi frowned, why did he feel that this little dog had gotten much fatter than when he had sent it?

Shen Qinglan came over and took the luggage from Fu Hengyi’s hands, "Has the training ended?"

"Uh-huh, it’s over now, this time I can stay home for a few more days," Fu Hengyi said softly, having not been home for three months, which previously was a common occurrence for him, but now he found the days to be unbearable. Could it be because he was getting old?