Chapter 33

That laugh was somewhat inexplicable.

After squeezing out of the crowd with the cake box, Ji Qingyu forgot to ask why he laughed. The call hadn’t ended, and neither of them spoke. When she reached a quiet and spacious place, she hesitated and asked, “But if I don’t go, won’t it be inappropriate?”

She really didn’t want to attend this family dinner. But she had to consider everything. For example, she was now Yuan Bao’s mother and Feng Chengze’s wife. Her husband’s brother had returned to the country after several years, and if she wasn’t present at the first meal, would it be inappropriate?

Feng Chengze was in a good mood, his tone much more relaxed than before, “I think, even for a family meal, you should call ahead to check if others are available. Don’t worry, my parents won’t mind. It’s a small matter.”

“Besides,” he paused, “aren’t you looking at office buildings?”

Hearing this, Ji Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he was helping her find an excuse, and immediately said, “Yes, yes! I’m really busy!”

If others made things difficult for her, she couldn’t help it. But if the choice was in her hands, she didn’t want to make things difficult for herself. She admitted to having an ostrich mentality. Knowing she might face an embarrassing situation, she wouldn’t force herself to confront it. That wasn’t something she would do.

She wasn’t brave, nor did she like taking risks.

“What are you planning to do next?” he asked.

Ji Qingyu stood in front of the information desk on the first floor. There were quite a few restaurants in the mall, but none of them appealed to her. She was also conflicted. Yuan Bao and Feng Chengze were going back to the old house, leaving her alone—no, not alone!

Her eyes lit up. She wasn’t alone; she had her parents. At this moment, nowhere would make her feel safer than her own home!

“I’m going to my parents’ place,” she said cheerfully. “Just send me a message when you’re ready to come home, and I’ll head back then.”

“Okay.” He asked, “Are you practicing driving today?”

“If you have time.”

“I shouldn’t be home too late.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for your message.”

After saying this, both of them were silent for a few seconds. Reflecting on the conversation, it seemed like they were a real couple. He was covering for her, and she was waiting for him at her parents’ house.

Ji Qingyu softly said, “Well… bye.”

Feng Chengze responded with a low “Mm” but waited for her to hang up first. With a destination in mind, Ji Qingyu didn’t want to waste time in the mall. She didn’t call the driver but instead operated her phone to book a ride. Someone quickly accepted the order. Fortunately, it wasn’t rush hour, and the order showed it would take about forty minutes to get from there to her home. She could use these forty minutes to calm down and think carefully about what she should do to make the right decision, one that was best for her.
…

After hanging up the call, Feng Chengze returned to his desk and continued working. He believed his family would call him, as Yuan Bao was still at the old house. Sure enough, ten minutes later, his personal phone vibrated again. It was a call from home.

He calmly answered the call, and his mother’s tense voice came through, “Chengze, A Yu is back in the country. He went to pick up Yuan Bao,” she added, “It’s nothing. Maybe he was just passing by…”

Zheng Mingyue’s words sounded very guilty. How could he just happen to pass by the kindergarten and pick up Yuan Bao?

“Mm.” He responded, his tone revealing neither happiness nor displeasure.

“If you don’t have any social engagements tonight, why don’t you come back for dinner and pick up Yuan Bao?” Zheng Mingyue’s tone was cautious, afraid her eldest son would refuse. As parents, they still hoped their children could mend their relationship and would seize any opportunity.

Feng Chengze wasn’t so unreasonable as to not understand his parents’ intentions. He agreed, “Okay, I’ll come back early from work.”

Zheng Mingyue beamed, “Good, good, I’ll have the kitchen prepare a few more dishes.”

In the study at the Feng residence.

Having hurried back from fishing, Chairman Feng’s sharp gaze bore into his younger son. The atmosphere was tense, and neither father nor son spoke. Feng Yu stood there silently, just like in the past. The once carefree man had gradually become more like his father and brother, shedding his youthful immaturity and becoming more composed.

“Yuan Bao is your brother and sister-in-law’s child.” Chairman Feng sternly warned, “Even as her uncle, you can’t pick her up without their consent, understand?”

Feng Yu used to be unable to hear the words “sister-in-law,” but now he concealed his sarcasm and looked at his father calmly, “Understood.”

Chairman Feng hadn’t yet calmed his complex emotions when he heard his troublesome younger son ask with a smile, “Should I call Qingyu and get her consent?”

“…”

Chairman Feng almost lost his breath, grabbing the inkstone to throw at him in anger, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Fortunately, he retained a bit of rationality, put down the inkstone with a trembling hand, and shouted, “She is your sister-in-law!”

“Is that so.” Feng Yu just pulled the corners of his mouth coldly.

Chairman Feng, angry, walked up to him but knew that he had resentment and hatred in his heart. Back then, he had scolded and beaten him, but he wouldn’t listen or admit his mistakes. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been forced to go abroad. The heartfelt advice didn’t work in the past and wouldn’t work now either. But what else could he do?

When they found out, it was already too late. One son was destined to have an imperfect life. Should they also disturb the peace of the other son?

Zheng Mingyue was also absent-minded downstairs.

Feng Jiayuan was taken to the lawn outside by Butler Yang to play ball with the two dogs. Her clear and happy laughter occasionally broke through Zheng Mingyue’s worries. Still uneasy, she got up and went upstairs, knocking on the study door. Without waiting for a response, she pushed the door open and saw her husband’s restrained expression. She walked to Feng Yu’s side, pretended to be annoyed, and patted his arm, jokingly scolding, “You just got back and already made your father unhappy? Leave the work matters for a few days later. Let’s go downstairs first.”

Chairman Feng’s face was pale, and he waved his hand casually, which was considered permission.

The mother and son left the study first. Chairman Feng took a blood pressure pill before following them.

Feng Jiayuan was sweating from playing. Zheng Mingyue called her “my little darling” and quickly wiped her sweat, making sure she had a sweatpad in her clothes. “Go wash your hands and drink some warm water.”

“Xiaobai and Xiaohei can’t run faster than me now!” Feng Jiayuan sighed.

Uncle Yang smiled at her, “Maybe it’s because they don’t have Miss’s supervision?”

Actually, the two dogs were very smart. They knew who their real owner was. When racing with their owner, they would naturally let her win sometimes.

Feng Yu casually glanced around the living room and saw cartoon stickers on an antique vase. His expression froze, and then he understood. Having a child at home eased the atmosphere a lot. Chairman Feng’s face returned to normal. As the clock struck, Feng Chengze, dressed in a suit, walked in with steady steps.

“Daddy!!”

Feng Jiayuan was the first to see him. She broke free from her grandmother’s embrace, jumped off the sofa, and happily ran towards Feng Chengze like a little bird.

Zheng Mingyue and Chairman Feng turned around. Feng Yu’s body stiffened, his hand clenched at his side. He lowered his eyes, hiding his emotions, and turned his head, only to be stunned.

“Daddy, where’s Mommy?”

Feng Chengze slightly bent down to pick up his daughter. Hearing her question, he smiled and said, “She went to look at office buildings with your Aunt Chu. She’s exhausted and hasn’t finished yet. So, do you want to go with Daddy to pick Mommy up after dinner?”

“Yes!!” Feng Jiayuan hugged his neck. “Will you and Mommy go out to play tonight?”

Feng Chengze was speechless, “Daddy and Mommy are not going out to play.”

“Oh!” Feng Jiayuan responded, but her face showed an expression of “I don’t believe you.” Going out to play was one thing, but lying to a child, hmph.

Feng Chengze then looked at the others and casually greeted Feng Yu, “A Yu is back.”

Before Feng Yu could respond, he calmly explained to his parents, “Qingyu has been out looking at office buildings all day. I think she’s tired. Coming over for a meal would be too much trouble. For a family dinner, we can schedule it for another convenient time.”

Zheng Mingyue nodded, “It was too sudden. How is the office building search going?”

“Not sure yet. She said she’ll tell me when she gets home.”

“You should help her check it out,” Chairman Feng said. “I know about her project. It’s a good idea. The previous ‘Yundan Shuiqing’ seemed to be doing well?”

Zheng Mingyue added, “More than well. No place in Jing City can compare to it. She said she was doing it for fun, but she put more effort into it than anyone.”

Feng Yu seemed uninterested in their conversation, his expression distant.

No one knew that when Feng Chengze walked in from outside, from the garage to the main hall, his mind was like a slideshow, playing scenes of brotherly love—

His brother didn’t do well on an exam, so he sneaked into his room to forge their parents’ signatures. When he came back from studying abroad, he left gifts on his brother’s desk. Everyone has a naive side, and he was no exception. So, he had fantasized about “what if” and “maybe.” But when he keenly noticed A Yu subconsciously looking for someone behind him as he entered, he quickly regained his composure.
…

The kitchen was ready, and everyone went into the dining room. Feng Chengze washed his hands and brushed past Feng Yu. He wasn’t as calm as he appeared. When he took the hand towel from Butler Yang, he stared at the wedding ring on his ring finger. After wearing it for a while, he had gotten used to its presence.

The size was just right, neither tight nor loose.

Without force, it wouldn’t come off, just like marriage. He had never thought about taking it off, had he? He knew long ago that gains come with losses. Since he made a choice, he shouldn’t try to measure whether the gains and losses were balanced or worth it. It would only make him seem incompetent and weak.

He believed he had gone through all the emotions he was experiencing now one by one a few years ago and had ultimately made his choice. He thought Ji Qingyu didn’t really understand his brother, Feng Yu.

Repairing their relationship was absolutely impossible. Unless he could use some legal means to make A Yu lose this memory… but even if A Yu lost his memory, it wouldn’t matter because as long as he saw Ji Qingyu, he would definitely fall in love with her. But she was already his wife.

Back then, A Yu described his feelings to him like this: “She’s so cute. Before getting off work, the supervisor said a few words to her, and her face turned red. She was clearly very aggrieved. When I drove out, big brother, guess what she was doing? She was happily taking photos and videos in front of the mirrored building exterior. It was only for about ten minutes. She’s a girl who knows how to make herself happy.”

What was he doing at that time?

He was signing a document, not paying attention to such things that didn’t concern him. “Many people know how to make themselves happy.”

But Feng Yu shook his head, “She’s different… You’ll know when you see her.”

At that time, he didn’t comment.

Feng Chengze collected his thoughts and sat down at the dining table.
Things could never go back to the way they were. In the past, the seat next to him was A Yu’s, but now, on his right was his daughter’s high chair, and on his left was an empty seat, which was Ji Qingyu’s place.

Feng Yu didn’t sit in his old seat either; he sat opposite him.

“When did you come back?” In the afternoon, Zheng Mingyue saw her son but didn’t ask this question. Her husband came back with a dark face, and now she finally had the chance to ask about her son’s life.

“A few days ago.”

Zheng Mingyue was stunned, “Then why didn’t you call your father and me?”

She thought her son had arrived in Jing City today.

Feng Yu said casually, “I’ve been away for a few years, had some things to deal with, and wanted to see some friends. Today was the first chance I had. Don’t be mad at me. How about I accompany you tomorrow?”

“What can you do with me?” Zheng Mingyue saw that although the brothers weren’t chatting, they weren’t at each other’s throats like before. She felt relieved and joked about the past, “Your brother accompanied me to an auction, but he left before it even started. You too, you agreed to attend a dinner party with me, but when the time came, you were nowhere to be found. How can I count on you to accompany me?”

Feng Yu casually picked up some food and didn’t respond to this, “How about I accompany you shopping and to a movie tomorrow? I watched a movie today, and it was quite good.”

Feng Chengze nonchalantly unbuttoned his cuffs. Hearing this, he paused, his eyes darkening slightly behind his glasses as he quietly observed him.