Chapter 19

Wang Yunlian saw her daughter looking troubled and felt a pang of regret. No one really wanted to bring up old matters from the past, but hearing that Feng Yu, the troublemaker, was coming back, she couldn’t help but mention these things that upset her daughter. Mothers are always biased.
She didn’t care who was right or wrong in the past; she only cared about her child’s well-being. No matter what, Feng Chengze was now her son-in-law and the biological father of her granddaughter, making him half a family member. So today, she broke the rule and brought up old matters again, still favoring him in her words. But if she had to be objective, it was understandable that Feng Yu resented his elder brother. No matter what happened between Qingyu and Feng Yu, how could the elder brother quickly get together with his younger brother’s ex-girlfriend and even have a child and plan to marry her shortly after their breakup?

“It’s been years.”
Wang Yunlian softened her tone and comforted Ji Qingyu: “He should have matured and won’t be as reckless and impulsive as before. However, it’s best to avoid interacting with him too much when he returns this time. He will leave after Yisheng’s celebration.”

Ji Qingyu was on the verge of tears. She had no idea what had happened five years ago and was completely in the dark. Now, knowing that Feng Chengze and Feng Yu had a fierce conflict, even to the point of physical altercation and hospitalization, she felt very anxious. She followed her mother into the house, subconsciously looking for Feng Chengze’s figure.
He was sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone. Hearing the noise, he turned his head and looked over. Their eyes met, and he was clearly stunned.

“Old Ji, the soy sauce is back!”

Wang Yunlian called out, urging, “It’s getting late, hurry up and prepare lunch.”

Ji Mingzhi put down the chess box and cheerfully said to his beloved granddaughter, “Grandpa is going to cook, and today it’s all your favorite dishes, Yuan Bao.”

“Yay!”

Apart from Ji Mingzhi, no one in the family had much patience for playing chess with the child. Feng Jiayuan climbed onto the sofa and sat down. “Can I watch cartoons for a while now?”

Feng Chengze looked at Ji Qingyu, awaiting her response, as it was her house, and she had the final say. Who knew Ji Qingyu, with her head down and lost in thought, hadn’t heard her daughter’s words.

Feng Chengze looked helpless and nodded, “Don’t watch for too long.”

These past few days, he has been catching up on some parenting knowledge in his spare time. One thing that left a deep impression on him was that children should not watch electronic devices for more than twenty minutes at a time. He was somewhat concerned about wearing glasses himself. Fortunately, Ji Qingyu’s eyesight was good. Now, at twenty-seven, her eyes were still clear and bright. He hoped Yuan Bao could be more like her.

Feng Jiayuan became happy again. After getting her father’s nod, she quickly jumped off the sofa, found the remote control in the coffee table drawer, swiftly turned on the TV, and skillfully switched to the cartoon channel she wanted to watch. A pink pig appeared, introducing her family.
She followed Peppa Pig in reciting the opening lines: “This is Mummy Pig…”

“And this is Daddy Pig~”

Her family didn’t have a George, and her parents regretfully told her there wouldn’t be one, so she didn’t recite that part. But every time she introduced Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig, she would look at her own mom and dad. Yuan Bao had a great memory. She had watched this episode several times and could recite the dialogue without hesitation.

Ji Qingyu finally returned to her senses, amazed at Yuan Bao’s pronunciation. When she was Yuan Bao’s age, she could only count to a hundred, and her parents were so proud they announced she was a genius. After attending a top high school, she quickly realized she wasn’t a genius, just an ordinary person. There were too many top students in her grade, and she couldn’t compete with them. However, she still did well in the college entrance exam and got into Jing City University. She originally wanted to praise Yuanbaose, but seeing the child watching TV intently, she held back. Honestly, she now fully understood her decision to keep Yuan Bao. If she calculated the time correctly, she should have gotten pregnant around mid to late September, and Yuan Bao was born the following July… At that time, Feng Chengze was twenty-eight years old. Now, at thirty-three, he was still full of energy, let alone five years ago, when his physical and sperm quality were at their peak. He wasn’t just some spoiled rich kid; he was knowledgeable, highly disciplined, and had an exceptional appearance and demeanor. She still didn’t know whether he was suitable as a husband, but as the biological father of her child, his qualifications were definitely up to standard.

Feng Chengze could naturally sense Ji Qingyu’s scrutinizing gaze. He also had something to ask her, so while her parents were busy in the kitchen and Yuan Bao was engrossed in watching TV, he signaled her to find a place to talk. The two of them went to Ji Qingyu’s room one after the other. She hadn’t stayed at home for a long time, and the room that used to be as messy as a pigsty was now clean and tidy.

After closing the door, Feng Chengze asked in a low voice, “Is something wrong? You didn’t look well when you came back.”

Ji Qingyu hesitated, unsure whether to tell him. Besides them, no one knew that the current him and her knew nothing about what had happened in the past. They hadn’t participated in it or experienced it and naturally had no feelings about it. The previous Feng Chengze might have chosen love over family, but what about the one standing in front of her now? He still had brotherly feelings for Feng Yu. Decisions made with or without feelings are entirely different. If he now wanted to repair his relationship with Feng Yu, how should she handle it? Would they still be on the same side?

Ji Qingyu was not foolish. As a wife without a family background, she couldn’t help him in his career. She had a past with Feng Yu, and if they were on opposite sides of the scale now, she didn’t believe she would weigh more than Feng Yu.

“What’s wrong?” Feng Chengze saw her frowning and looking conflicted, asking, “What did your mom say to you?”

Ji Qingyu’s mind was a mess. She hadn’t sorted out her thoughts, wanting to tell him but also not wanting to.

People are selfish, and she was no exception. She accepted the current situation calmly, even contentedly, mainly because her partner was Feng Chengze. But if she had to hide it from him… could she?

He was already investigating, and he would find out sooner or later.

“Let’s talk about it tonight, okay?” Ji Qingyu looked at him, somewhat flustered. When she was indecisive, her fingers would unconsciously twist together.

Feng Chengze didn’t know what she was anxious about either. He looked down at her. The room wasn’t big, and his presence made it feel even smaller, filled with his scent. Suddenly, he made a sound, his tone calm, with a hint of reassurance, “You can tell me whenever you want. I don’t need to know right now. We’ve already been through the biggest change; everything else,” he paused for a few seconds, “is just minor.”

So, there’s no need to be uneasy and certainly no need to panic. Compared to her “let’s talk about it tonight,” what troubled him more was his uncontrollable urge to hold her. He seemed to have overestimated himself, mistakenly thinking he could fight his instincts and win. This body loved her, was infatuated with her; even if the soul trapped inside wanted to restrain itself, how long could it resist?

Ji Qingyu’s heart suddenly felt at ease. She also suddenly felt enlightened. The worst outcome would be divorce, which she could accept. Besides, given Feng Chengze’s character, even if it came to that, he wouldn’t make things difficult for her, especially since they had a child together.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.” She smiled, looking up at him. The initial nervousness from their first meeting was long gone. The change in their relationship made her unconsciously see him as a man, not the former boss of the company where she interned, nor her boyfriend’s older brother. Even she didn’t realize that she was looking at him with the same eyes she once looked at Feng Yu.

Trust, focus, seriousness.

Feng Chengze’s hand, which was casually hanging by his side, moved slightly. His eyes behind the glasses gradually deepened. But Ji Qingyu, who turned to walk towards the door, didn’t see this.
…

On days without school, Feng Jiayuan refused to take a nap. Ji Mingzhi and Wang Yunlian wanted their daughter and son-in-law to rest well, so after lunch, they took their beloved granddaughter to the nearby mall’s amusement park to pass the time.

Actually, Feng Jiayuan had her own exclusive amusement park, which wasn’t for profit. Whenever she wanted to go, the park would be cleared for her. However, she preferred playing with different children rather than wandering alone in the amusement park.

Ji Mingzhi and Wang Yunlian knew how much the Feng family valued their only grandchild. They themselves kept a close eye on her. Whenever they entered the amusement park, they stayed close to Yuan Bao, not to mention the bodyguards outside.

Feng Chengze hadn’t rested well all night. He lay on Ji Qingyu’s bed, leaning against the pillow. The air conditioner quietly blew. He took off his glasses and was flipping through emails on his phone. He might have been really tired because, after a while, he put down his phone, intending to rest his eyes, but ended up falling asleep on the 1.5-meter bed.

Ji Qingyu didn’t want to sleep. She was watching TV in the living room, but the old house got very sunny and hot in the afternoon. The air conditioner wasn’t very effective, so she quietly returned to her room. Seeing Feng Chengze sleeping soundly, she sat at the desk and found a well-reviewed movie from the past five years to pass the time.

When Feng Chengze opened his eyes, he first saw this scene: Ji Qingyu, wearing a white dress, was sitting on a chair with her back to him. She found the most comfortable sitting position, with her hands supporting her face and her body slightly leaning forward. Her silky long hair hung over her shoulders. Perhaps the air conditioner blew directly at her, carrying her sweet scent to his nose. Few people knew that Feng Chengze’s favorite color was white. Although he loved drinking espresso and strong liquor, he never touched sweets. However, he loved the “sweet” scent, which was related to a certain period in his childhood. As the first heir with high expectations, all his time, except for eating and sleeping, was spent studying. Occasionally, he would feel tired. He would pass several cake shops on the way to the Feng residence. Using the excuse of buying cakes for his grandmother, he would ask the driver to stop and let his mind wander in the cake shop for three to ten minutes.

The movie was over two hours long, and Ji Qingyu didn’t fast-forward through it. She stretched contentedly, forgetting someone else was sleeping in the room, and unconsciously let out a low hum. She stretched her neck and caught a glimpse of the long legs, almost reaching out of the bed when she turned her head. She quickly turned her head, thinking she had woken Feng Chengze. Seeing that he was still asleep, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had been sitting for over two hours, and her waist was sore. She stood quietly and was about to sneak out when she noticed the air conditioner blanket almost slipping to the floor. The room was a bit cool, so she hesitated for a moment, then walked barefoot to the bed, gently picked up the blanket, and covered him again. Worried he might get too hot, she quietly pulled it down a bit, covering only his stomach.

This way, he wouldn’t get too hot or too cold. She breathed a sigh of relief, lifted her skirt, and walked out of the room, closing the door gently.
With a very slight “click,” the man on the bed, with his eyes closed, smiled.
…

After catching up on sleep, Feng Chengze was full of energy. Ji Qingyu glanced at him, thinking he could easily pull another all-nighter. But perhaps all humans are like this: when well-rested, their mood improves. This was evident when Feng Jiayuan called him Daddy Pig, and he actually nodded in response and even sipped a small half-cup of Ji Mingzhi’s freshly squeezed watermelon juice. She remembered that he hadn’t touched the juice she poured for him yesterday at the restaurant.

Feng Jiayuan loved watermelon juice so much that she drank two cups in one go. When she wanted another cup, Ji Qingyu stopped her, not Feng Chengze, who was in such a good mood that he could even allow his daughter to have a third cup.

“…If Mommy doesn’t let me drink, I won’t drink.” Feng Jiayuan licked the watermelon juice from the corner of her mouth, holding her little belly that would make a sound with any movement, “I hope I don’t wet the bed tonight.” Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.

Ji Qingyu couldn’t help but laugh, “Do you want to sleep with Mommy and Daddy tonight?”

Without Sister Liu, it was still inconvenient. If Feng Jiayuan wanted to pee at night, she would either have to climb out of bed and go to the bathroom herself or hold it until she couldn’t anymore and wet the bed.

Feng Jiayuan looked conflicted, frowning. She looked like a miniature version of Feng Chengze.

“We’ll talk about it when we get back,” she said. “I need to think about it carefully.” Her tone was as serious as if it were a multi-billion-dollar project.

Even Feng Chengze was amused by her.

Actually, in other families, Ji Mingzhi, as the father-in-law, could appropriately give his son-in-law a hard time. He was so worried about Feng Yu’s imminent return that he couldn’t sleep, rehearsing what to say to Feng Chengze the whole night. But when he actually saw his son-in-law, he couldn’t get the words out. As he saw them off downstairs, he gently reminded, “Xiao Feng, do you remember what you said at home back then?”

Feng Chengze: “…” He nodded without changing his expression, “I remember.”

Ji Qingyu almost couldn’t hold back her laughter. This was clearly his first time meeting her parents.

Indeed, men can be quite the liars.

Ji Mingzhi nodded gently, “And you remember what Qingyu’s mother and I said, right?”

When their daughter decided to marry Feng Chengze, he and his wife had mentally prepared for the possibility that they might part ways one day.
But they still seriously told Feng Chengze that if Qingyu ever regretted it, got hurt, or were unhappy, they would support all her decisions as parents.

Feng Chengze agreed, “I remember.”

Ji Mingzhi’s shoulders relaxed. He looked at his daughter in the front passenger seat. For years, she had not been touched by the hardships of life, her every smile carefree. His gaze softened, “If anything happens, call home.”

“Got it!” Ji Qingyu laughed heartily, “Master Ji, go back quickly. It’s so hot. Look at the sweat on your face.”

Sitting in the back seat, Feng Jiayuan also waved her chubby arms, mimicking her mother’s tone, “Master Ji, go back quickly!”

Ji Mingzhi laughed, stepped back a few steps to make way, and waved his hand.

As Feng Chengze drove farther away, he saw through the rearview mirror that his father-in-law was still standing there. His mother-in-law had also come down, and the couple stood hand in hand, their eyes following the car carrying their daughter.

Ji Qingyu still remembered Feng Chengze’s two “I remember” responses. Seeing Feng Jiayuan looking sleepy and gazing out the window, completely unaware of her parents in the front seats, she dared to tease him, “I was completely useless today.”

President Feng’s psychological resilience was impressive. If Mrs. Feng or Chairman Feng asked her if she remembered what she had said before, she was confident she could handle it, but she would definitely be flustered.

However, Feng Chengze was not!

His natural demeanor made her wonder if the Feng Chengze from five years later had returned. Otherwise, how could he so calmly and confidently say “I remember” without a moment’s hesitation?

The roads in the old city were not wide, and it started to get congested shortly after merging into traffic. Feng Chengze kept a safe distance from the cars in front and behind. While waiting at a green light, he glanced at her, “Although I don’t remember, I can guess.”

“What?” she asked with a smile.

“You’re a mother, too,” he said. “It’s not hard to guess.”

What could parents say to their child’s partner? Nothing more than to treat them well and, if not, stay far away.

Ji Qingyu knew this well. She was her parent’s child, and no one understood this better than she did. Because of this, she decided to tell him what her mother had revealed to her that evening.

When they got home, Feng Jiayuan was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. She even tried to skip brushing her teeth and taking a bath, but Ji Qingyu wouldn’t allow it. She and Feng Chengze carried her to the bathtub together. Although it wasn’t as thorough as Sister Liu’s washing, she was a fragrant little piggy girl half an hour later.

Without a nap, Feng Jiayuan fell asleep as soon as she was put to bed.

“Do you want to go out?” Feng Chengze stood by the children’s bed, looking at his watch. “It’s still early. Let’s find a place with fewer cars and practice for two hours.”

Ji Qingyu nodded eagerly, afraid Coach Feng would change his mind, “Okay, okay!”

“Then let’s go.”

Sister Liu and Sister Sun wouldn’t take time off at the same time; they would stagger their schedules. With Sister Sun at home, they could go out without worry.

Feng Chengze studied the navigation map and didn’t let Ji Qingyu drive this part of the route. The garage had a long slope, and the outside area was bustling, unsuitable for a novice’s first drive. After passing the congested section, he found a roadside parking spot, switched places with Ji Qingyu, and taught her hands-on. As a novice, she struggled with the steering wheel, gas, and brake pedals, often crossing the lines. But Ji Qingyu was a quick learner. Initially, she was nervous, not daring to relax her back against the seat. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Feng Chengze said helplessly, “This isn’t an exam.”

“Relax, don’t be so tense,” he said. “You’re going to twist the steering wheel off.”

Ji Qingyu didn’t dare to multitask. She was even annoyed when people talked to her while she was driving, as it distracted her. But she didn’t have the courage to tell Feng Chengze to “shut up.”

After all, he was her instructor now.

After practicing on the road for an hour, she found some feel for it. After parking the car, she got out to see if she had parked correctly, and Feng Chengze followed her out.

“Not bad! She said proudly, “I passed the second test on the first try with full marks.” She thought no one would disagree if she called herself the “Drift King of Akina.”

Feng Chengze didn’t consider himself a harsh person, so he didn’t dampen her spirits. The place was deserted, with all the parking spaces empty. He thought that even if Yuan Bao drove her toy car here, she could park it well. No tall buildings were here, and the temperature was slightly lower than in the city. There wasn’t a soul around, not even a stray cat. It was a good place for… no, a good place for sharing secrets and whispering.

Ji Qingyu was no longer burdened. After taking two bottles of water from the trunk, she handed one to him and said softly, “My mom asked me to buy soy sauce today to find out about Feng Yu’s return. She told me that you and Feng Yu had a big falling out and are almost enemies.”

At this point, she looked up at him. His expression remained calm, without even a frown.

“It seems Feng Yu wanted to take me away before I married you.”

Such an awkward situation could only be understood by those involved. Ji Qingyu gripped the bottle tightly. If her mother hadn’t told her personally, she wouldn’t have believed such a dramatic event could happen to her.

“And then you… it seems, just seems, you broke Feng Yu’s leg.”

After saying this, she dared not look at Feng Chengze’s face. She stood sideways, avoiding his gaze, and took small sips of water to hide her embarrassment. She didn’t know how long it took, maybe half a minute, maybe a minute, but she heard him say in a low voice, “Hmm.”

“I know,” he said, his tone revealing nothing of his feelings.

After the awkwardness passed, she cleared her throat, “Are you… okay?”

The shock he received must have been greater than hers. She only lost a boyfriend. It was painful, but that’s how relationships are. They either end in marriage or break up. So, it was something she could accept. A breakup would only make her sad for a few days at most. But he lost his brother.

“I’m fine,” Feng Chengze said, looking calmly at the insects under the streetlight. “This was obvious from the start. It’s not surprising.”

“Then…” she asked softly, “what do you think?”

“Everything is as usual,” he said, almost coldly.

Ji Qingyu opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

Feng Chengze’s gaze finally fell on her face. “What exactly do you want to say?”

“I was just thinking, we don’t really know what happened in the past five years. At least, you haven’t made any choices yet.” Ji Qingyu didn’t speak too bluntly. What she meant was that in Feng Chengze’s mind, in his memory, it might have been just three days ago that he met Feng Yu, and the two brothers had a casual lunch together. Although he had crossed the river of five years, his pants were not wet.

“Really?” Feng Chengze said calmly, “You mean I’m still the Feng Chengze from five years ago, who had no emotional entanglement with you, so I have a choice?”

Ji Qingyu was momentarily confused. That was what she meant, but also not what she meant. She felt like she was being led into a maze by him, her thoughts becoming chaotic.

What Feng Chengze wanted to ask more was, do you think I have a choice? Do you think you have a choice again?

The streetlight illuminated his cold and composed profile. He stared at her lips, moist from drinking water, then casually took off his glasses and placed them on the car roof. A few seconds later, he lifted her chin without hesitation and kissed her.

A choice?
There was none.
And would never be.