Chapter 34

Feng Yu sat directly opposite Feng Chengze. Both could clearly see each other’s expressions and even when their parents didn’t notice, they had already exchanged a silent confrontation.

While gnawing on corn, Feng Jiayuan secretly pricked up her ears to listen to the adults’ conversation. A few kernels of corn stuck to her lips and cheeks, but she didn’t care. She raised her hand and shouted, “I also love watching movies!”

The next second, she looked at Zheng Mingyue with bright eyes and volunteered, “Grandma, if Uncle doesn’t have time to accompany you, I do! I can go!”

She thought she could ask Teacher Zhou for a leave tomorrow!

Zheng Mingyue was amused, “You can’t. You have to go to school. Besides, you’re too young to go to the cinema now. It’s too noisy and dark, which is bad for your ears and eyes.”

“I won’t disturb others,” Feng Jiayuan argued for herself, “When Daddy and Mommy took me on a plane, I never made any noise or talked loudly. Daddy, right?”

“Yes.”

Feng Chengze rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows and said sternly, “But you have to go to school.”

This was non-negotiable for him. He had never missed a day of school, nor had he ever been late or left early. He believed that even Ji Qingyu wouldn’t agree to this.

Feng Jiayuan protested softly, “You can ask for leave…” She said this in a very small voice.

The topic of watching movies was quickly brushed aside. Even the doting grandparents, Chairman Feng and Zheng Mingyue, wouldn’t go too far in undermining their son and daughter-in-law’s education of their granddaughter.

Feng Yu ate in silence, only occasionally exchanging a playful smile with Feng Chengze.

After finishing his meal, Feng Chengze pushed his bone plate aside, crossed his hands on the table, and calmly listened to his parents’ chat.
Besides his watch, he wore a wedding ring on his left finger. Even when they reached their golden wedding anniversary, he believed it would still shine brightly.

“Finished eating?”

Ten minutes later, he turned to his daughter and wiped her greasy mouth with a napkin, “You have school tomorrow, so we’ll go home early.”

From when she was born, from drinking milk to adding complementary foods, Feng Jiayuan had never worried the adults. She loved to eat and never needed to be coaxed into taking a bite. Now, as a little “clean plate champion,” she scraped the rice off her plate clean, not leaving a single grain, then put down her spoon and patted her little belly, announcing, “I’m full.”

Chairman Feng said in a loving and exaggerated tone, “Grandpa didn’t know Yuan Bao would come today; otherwise, I would have caught a big fish for you to eat.”

Zheng Mingyue didn’t bother to expose him. He bought fishing gear in batches, but they rarely saw any fish. As young people say nowadays, “Poor students have lots of stationery.”

Feng Jiayuan showed her little white teeth and innocently comforted her grandpa, “It’s okay! Grandfather made me delicious fish soup noodles. He caught the fish himself!”

Chairman Feng’s smile became a bit forced, “Your grandfather learned from me. He’s my apprentice.”

Zheng Mingyue finally laughed out loud, “You have the nerve to say that. Yuan Bao’s grandfather is much more talented than you.”

Chairman Feng immediately corrected, “Old Ji isn’t picky. He’ll take any fish that bites. I only go for the big, good ones. Otherwise, what’s the fun?”

Zheng Mingyue didn’t want to argue with him. Feng Jinglin and Ji Mingzhi had no connection in the past—one was a company president, the other a taxi driver. Because of their children’s marriage, they became in-laws and unexpectedly hit it off. Of course, Ji Mingzhi, being a good-natured person, got along with everyone.

Feng Yu watched coldly.

Time is indeed a good thing. No wonder people say it’s a cure. In his youth, he would be angry and demand answers—why? On what grounds? He didn’t get the answers he wanted back then, so now he didn’t need to give anyone answers. He lowered his head, took the hand towel from the maid, and politely declined the sweet soup and fruit.

Feng Chengze had already stood up, easily lifting his daughter from the high chair. Before leaving, he gave Feng Yu a heavy look and said pointedly, “The driver and Sister Liu are paid to do their jobs. Don’t make things difficult for them again.”

Everyone in the dining room, except for the curious Feng Jiayuan, understood the meaning behind Feng Chengze’s words. This was the first and last time. Even though Feng Yu was his brother, he wouldn’t allow a second time. It wasn’t that he didn’t consider Feng Yu family anymore, but besides being a brother, he was also a husband and a father. He wouldn’t allow any uncertainties around his wife and child.

Feng Yu didn’t respond. It seemed that, as the rumors said, his brother had been very happy these past few years, as if he had forgotten their past conflicts. So now he could still maintain his elder brother’s demeanor and “warn” him gently.

“Mom, Dad, I’m taking Yuan Bao home now.”

“Alright, Yuan Bao, go to bed early,” Zheng Mingyue said with a forced smile.

“Chairman Feng—” Feng Jiayuan covered her mouth and blinked at Chairman Feng, correcting herself, “Grandpa, Grandma, I’m leaving!”

Feng Chengze looked at his parents, feeling a moment of disorientation.

The father who would never fall, the mother who always wore a gentle smile—they were no longer young. Their black hair was streaked with silver, and their faces were lined with the wrinkles of time.

He held his daughter’s hand and walked out of the dining room under his parents’ watchful eyes, moving farther and farther away.

Feng Yu went to the second-floor terrace, lazily leaning against the railing and playing with a lighter. The lighter looked old, with small words engraved on it: “Smokers don’t have wives.”

Zheng Mingyue followed the sound and sighed softly at the door before coming to his side and saying quietly, “Why did you go to pick up Yuan Bao today? Don’t tell me it was on a whim. You made your father and me very uneasy.”

“Mom.”

Feng Yu turned around, looking a bit tired and helpless, “It really was on a whim. If I could have finished watching that movie, I wouldn’t have been bored enough to go to the kindergarten. You and Dad don’t need to remind or warn me about anything. Even if I went crazy, I wouldn’t do anything to a child. What kind of person do you think I am? Don’t I know whose child it is?”

He paused for a moment and then smiled vaguely, “Mom, I’m tired. Even if you and Dad still want to lecture me, please give me a few days to rest first.”
…

Feng Jiayuan’s driver and Sister Liu left after dropping her off at the old house.

Fortunately, Feng Chengze’s Maybach also had a child safety seat. The driver was much quicker than Feng Chengze at installing it, and the back seat was still very spacious. This was a new experience for Feng Jiayuan. First, she rarely rode in her father’s car. Her mother said it was her father’s “baby bus,” and the driver would take her father to and from work every day, so she couldn’t catch up. Second, even if she did ride in it, her father rarely sat next to her. Her surprised little eyes made Feng Chengze’s previously gloomy mood much lighter.

“Daddy…” Feng Jiayuan tugged at his sleeve.

Feng Chengze looked down, and in the dim car, another hand flashed into his mind—a hand that had once grabbed his shirt.

In that moment, he changed his mind and told the driver, “Go to the South Shore Community.”

The current driver had been with him for a long time and naturally knew where the South Shore Community was. He didn’t even need a GPS; he knew the route by heart, having gone there many times before Mr. and Mrs. Feng got married.

Feng Jiayuan’s eyes widened in surprise, “Why are we going to Grandma’s house?”

“Because your mom is there.”

“Daddy, didn’t you say Mom was with Auntie Chu?” Feng Jiayuan was almost confused by him.

“…”

Feng Chengze was silent for a few seconds, “She’s done with her work.”

He turned his head to look out the car window. At this time of year, it gets dark late, and even though it is already past seven, the fading sunset is still visible. She was probably chatting with her parents now. He could tell that she was more relaxed in her own home, so she shouldn’t be feeling anxious.

Seeing her father silent, Feng Jiayuan knew he was thinking about work. Her mother had told her not to disturb him when he was deep in thought because it might be a business deal that could buy lots and lots of chocolate cakes. She pursed her lips and entertained herself by softly singing a song she learned from her teacher, mimicking playing the guitar—
“Bongbingboo… Bingbongbing… Bingbongbinglybonglyboo~”

Ji Qingyu, carrying a takeout bag and listening to the “Ping Pong Song” on her headphones, almost couldn’t resist singing along. Even though Yuan Bao wasn’t with her, she couldn’t forget that she was a mother now.

Her phone had several apps that Yuan Bao used. Not only that, but a third of the songs in her music app were children’s songs.

She got off the elevator, scanned her fingerprint to open the door, and saw that her parents’ shoes were still not on the entry mat. She hadn’t forgotten to call her mom while in the car, mainly to remind her dad to cook a little more rice for dinner. But before she could say, “I’m coming home for dinner,” she found out that her parents, uncle, and aunt had gone for a massage. Her parents’ post-work life was more colorful than hers!

After hanging up, Ji Qingyu didn’t change her destination and went home alone. When she entered, the sunset shone on the floor, but the house was empty. She couldn’t deny that she felt a bit lonely for a moment, but she quickly shook off the feeling.

The laundry basket in the bathroom was filled with her parents’ clothes.
They were busy every day, too. She put her bag and phone down, took the laundry basket to the balcony, and put the clothes in the washing machine. Imagining her parents’ surprised and delighted faces when they returned, she was full of energy!

She put the duck dishes her dad liked in the fridge and a cake she bought at the mall for her mom. The clothes were washed and hung up, still smelling faintly of detergent. Embracing the “since I’m here, might as well do it” mentality, she energetically changed the bed sheets and duvet cover in the master bedroom.

“So capable!” She suspected her dad would be moved to tears, and her mom would proudly announce in the family group chat how filial their little sweetheart was.

Forty minutes later.

As the washing machine beeped, Ji Qingyu sealed the chip bag, turned off the TV, and shuffled to the balcony in her slippers. She opened the washing machine and was contemplating how to hang the tangled sheets when the doorbell rang.

Outside.

Feng Jiayuan was puzzled, “Daddy, I know the password…”

Grandpa said her fingers were too short and small to successfully scan her fingerprint, but she knew the password.

“That’s not right.” She scratched her head in confusion and tried to press his finger on the fingerprint lock, “Daddy, you can unlock it.”

Fortunately, Ji Qingyu quickly came to the door, saving him from embarrassment. When she saw his well-defined face through the peephole, she was already surprised. After opening the door, she was just happy. She exclaimed, “Why are you here?”

Feng Chengze also felt a bit more relaxed seeing her barely concealed excitement. Just as he was about to answer calmly, a child’s voice interrupted him unceremoniously.

Feng Jiayuan opened her arms, rushed over, hugged her mother, and looked up, saying sweetly, “I came to pick up Princess Feather and bring her home~”

T/N: From now on, I’ll refer to Ju Qingyu’s father as Grandfather to avoid confusion with Feng Chengze’s father.