Chapter 43

The two ate their noodles in silence. The taste was not the best, in fact it was just average, but Fu Hengyi enjoyed it, as though it was the best bowl of noodles in the world. Occasionally, he would sneak a glance at Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan calmly ate her noodles, but did not dare to look up at Fu Hengyi.

“After this meal, we’re going to the main estate to pay our grandfathers a visit,” Fu Hengyi said.

Shen Qinglan nodded, “Alright.”

She originally planned to look for Shen Junyu at his company, but the task was abandoned because of Fu Hengyi’s sudden return.

“I’m taking a break for three days this time. Do you have anywhere you specifically want to go or things you want to do?” Fu Hengyi asked Shen Qinglan in a low voice.

Shen Qinglan considered it for a while and shook her head, “I have nothing at the moment.”

Fu Hengyi was not disappointed. He nodded frankly, “Then let me call the shots.”

Shen Qinglan thought about it and. It was probably a good idea too.

Fu Hengyi washed the cutlery while Shen Qinglan returned to the bedroom. She tossed his changed clothes into the washing machine, and then cleaned the bedroom.

After that, the two of them drove to the main estate.

Grandpa Fu was happy to see his grandson return. He requested Aunt Zhao to prepare a good meal for them.

“How long are you staying for this time?” He asked his grandson.

“Three days.”

“Then do spend some time with Qinglan. You’re always in the army and, now that you’re back, you should spend time with your wife. She’s been alone all this while,” Grandpa Fu said earnestly. He rarely said things like that.

“As long as you don’t think I’ve forgotten about you just because I have a wife now,” Fu Hengyi said calmly.

Grandpa Fu glared, “I’m not an unreasonable person!”

Fu Hengyi shook his head. Grandpa Fu felt satisfied. Stroking his grayish-white beard, he joyfully invited Shen Qinglan to a game of chess.

Halfway through the game, Grandpa Fu’s gaze closed up on Shen Qinglan’s neck. His eyes sparkled when he spotted the faint traces.

Baffled by the Grandpa Fu’s staring, Shen Qinglan asked, “What is it, Grandpa?”

Grandpa Fu smiled like an old fox, “Nothing. Nothing at all. I’m just happy.” He did not even say what he was happy for, keeping the joy to himself.

Shen Qinglan felt puzzled.

Grandpa Fu called off the chess game, “Let’s not continue. You don’t look so good. Have you not slept well last night?”

Shen Qinglan touched her own face. Was it that obvious? She had checked herself in the mirror before coming here. She did not think it was that bad.

Grandpa Fu presumed that the two had a rough night and, as a result, had not slept well. They had a short separation soon after getting married, and they were young after all. He could understand that.

Grandpa Fu assumed he had found out the truth and was overjoyed by the fact. He urged Shen Qinglan to take a rest.

“There’s still some time before lunch, why don’t you go ahead and take a nap first? I’ll get Fu Hengyi to wake you up when it’s lunchtime. If you can’t wake up on time in the morning, just rest at home. You don’t have to come here so early, alright?”

As Grandpa Fu said that, he kept stealing glances at Shen Qinglan’s stomach, beaming all the while. He believed he would get a little grandchild today.

Shen Qinglan did not quite understand it. She wanted to explain, but did not know where to start. So, with a stiff face, she entered Fu Hengyi’s room.

She tossed and turned as she lay on his bed, but no matter what she did she could not sleep. Her mind was flooded with images of whatever happened in the bedroom that morning.

Shen Qinglan covered her eyes and her face, which was heating up, with her hands. She smiled bitterly to herself. Her life seemed to be going backwards. What happened to willpower? How could she have succumbed to the attraction of the male body?

“Grandpa, have you finished the game so quick?” Downstairs, Fu Hengyi, who was reading the newspaper, asked Grandpa Fu when the old man came down alone.

Grandpa Fu was humming a tune, seemingly in a good mood even as he spoke to his grandson. “We called it off. She’s tired and needs rest. Hengyi, you have to take it easy, don’t over-exhaust her, do you understand? Let her rest when she’s tired. Don’t be like a rough man.”

Fu Hengyi thought, but I am a rough man to begin with.

“Xiao Zhao, brew some nourishing soup at noon. They need their supplement.”

Grandpa Fu shouted at the direction of the kitchen, then he mumbled softly to himself, “Ah, it’s nice to be young. They have stamina to spare. The more they use it, the better, otherwise when would I get to meet my great grandchild?”

Fu Hengyi smiled bitterly. He knew his grandfather must have misunderstood something, but he chose not to explain.

Knowing that Shen Qinglan was resting, Fu Hengyi did not disturb her. He went to visit the Shen household.

“Hengyi, you came.” Shen Xitong was about to head out when he arrived. She put down her bag and faced him begrudgingly.

Fu Hengyi simply nodded as a form of greeting and passed her by.

“Hengyi,” Shen Xitong called out to him. “Did you really mean to marry Qinglan?”

Fu Hengyi stopped in his tracks. He turned to her and said, “Do you think there’s anyone who could force me to do what I’m unwilling to?” In other words, he meant to take Shen Qinglan as his wife.

A pained expression emerged on her face. Even her eyes had swollen, “But you knew… y-you knew how I felt about you…”

Fu Hengyi frowned impatiently at the woman in front of him, who seemed to have something to say but seemed hesitant about it.

“Whatever you want to say, just say it.”

Shen Xitong looked at him but said nothing.

Fu Hengyi walked on.

“Fu Hengyi, don’t you know I love you? I fell in love with you at first sight. I’ve worked so hard to improve myself, to become better, just so that one day I can be your match. Can’t you see my hard work?”

“I don’t think I have ever given you inappropriate hints,” came his cold, distant voice. Shen Xitong’s face paled instantly.

“No. No, you do care about me. Have you forgotten? There was a time when we were young, a bunch of boys in the estate were bullying me. You passed by and gave them a good scolding. If you don’t like me, why would you help me? Is it because you’re married to Qinglan now, so you can’t admit it?”

Fu Hengyi had no recollection of the incident Shen Xitong mentioned. “That was an easy task. Nothing worth mentioning. If it were anyone else, I would have done the same.”

Shen Xitong looked at him in disbelief. She was about to say something when she met Grandpa Shen’s eagle eye. “What are you two arguing about?”

Shen Xitong instantly paled even more. She was not sure how much of their conversation had Grandpa Shen managed to hear. She lowered her head in a panic and kept silent.

“Grandpa.”

Fu Hengyi called out.

Grandpa Shen nodded. He looked at the girl, “Didn’t your mother say she has booked a date for you? Why are you still at home? Even for a girl, you can’t be late. It’s rude to keep people waiting.”

“I… I just happened to meet Fu Heng… I mean, my brother-in-law, so I thought I should stop and say hi. I’m leaving now.” As she said that, she quickly picked up her bag and rushed out of the door.