CH 88

Wen Xingyi remained silent for a while.

The elderly man in his seventies, with white hair on both sides, had a previously sharp and spirited appearance that now appeared somewhat casual due to various minor ailments. One didn't know what he was thinking until he suddenly said, "Our Wen family only has one girl."

Therefore, the whole family cherished her -- even though their way of showing affection was simply indulging her materially, arranging everything in her life, including her career and marriage, so she wouldn't have to worry about a thing.

However, their granddaughter was rebellious. Regardless of whether it was her career or marriage, she disliked everything that the elders deemed good.

Just like her mother and grandmother.

The women of their Wen family were stubborn and unyielding, no one could do anything about it.

As he remembered his late wife and daughter, Wen Xingyi's gaze softened, and his tone involuntarily became gentler.

"Although I am not responsible for the bankruptcy of your parents back then, in terms of human feelings, I did indeed behave inappropriately."

Wen Xingyi had to admit this. After all, he had been on good terms with Song Yan's parents and even agreed to a marriage between their children.

He had truly hurt Song Yan's parents.

However, that was only a past matter between him and Song Yan's parents and had nothing to do with Wen Li.

"Whether you married my granddaughter for the sake of your parents' situation or not, Young Master Song, I still don't trust you. But this is just my opinion. I can't control my granddaughter. I know her personality very well. In the past, she made a lot of noise to cancel the engagement with Bai Sen, but two years ago, without saying a word or informing our family, she quietly married you. If she wasn't deceived by some means you used, then she must truly like you."

Wen Xingyi's words took a turn, his gaze sharp, and a touch of pride passed between his eyebrows, "The latter would be best."

Song Yan's expression was indifferent as if he was contemplating something, but he remained silent.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Wen Xingyi asked, "Who is it?"

"Dad," Along with the sound of the door opening, Wen Yan's voice came with a hint of helplessness in his tone, "Have you finished talking with Song Yan?"

"What's the matter? Do you need something?"

"I can't handle Wen Li. That girl is too noisy," Wen Yan rubbed his temples with some helplessness, "Let her husband deal with her."

Wen Xingyi chuckled, "What? You can't even handle your own niece?"

"..."

It wasn't that she was noisy, but she kept berating him about not having a girlfriend. When he tried to clarify that he was busy with work, she would counter by asking who wasn't busy with work, asking whether he liked men but didn't dare to come out, which was why he remained single.

Wen Yan was truly annoyed. If it were Xu Li, he would have probably been beaten by now, but Wen Li was already a grown-up girl, and the age difference between them was not significant. He couldn't really lay a hand on her.

Wen Xingyi didn't know the details, but seeing his son looking annoyed and helpless, he waved his hand at Song Yan and said, "Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. You can go."

Song Yan nodded and left the room.

After Song Yan left, Wen Yan asked his father, "What did you just say to Song Yan?"

"Nothing, just about his parents' matter," Wen Xingyi paused and said, "It's strange. Song Yan... when he had the chance to be with Li Li before, he didn't like her. I don't know how he ended up falling in love with her."

Wen Xingyi still remembered twenty years ago when Song Yan came with his parents to visit the Wen family.

The little boy was delicate and beautiful, with facial features that, although still young and tender, hinted at how handsome he would become in the future.

At that time, Wen Xingyi took out a photo of his granddaughter and pointed to the little girl in the picture, asking Song Yan.

"How about I marry my granddaughter to you in the future?"

The young Song Yan glanced at the photo, and directly refused, "No."

Whenever Wen Xingyi thought of this incident, he felt both angry and amused.

"If he has other intentions," Wen Yan paused, his gaze cold and stern, "I wouldn't mind intervening again."

"What if your niece blames you again?"

Wen Yan didn't care at all and said indifferently, "Let her. Blaming me is better than being deceived by the man she trusted."

Wen Xingyi nodded and turned to talk to him about his younger son.

"I heard that Wen Zheng has a girlfriend. Go and check the background of that girl."

"Alright."

Wen Xingyi then shifted his gaze to Wen Yan and suddenly asked, "What about you? Why didn't you go on those blind dates I arranged for you before?"

"Me?" Wen Yan frowned, remembering the words Wen Li had criticized him with just now. He sneered, "Women are too noisy and affect my work."

Wen Xingyi didn't say anything, but he wondered in his heart.

Would it be the case that even after he, the father, was buried, his descendants would send him off to his final resting place, and yet his eldest son would still remain a bachelor?

——

Song Yan returned to the living room but couldn't find Wen Li's figure anywhere. The housekeeper cleaning the living room informed him that Wen Li had already gone back to the bedroom. He thanked the housekeeper and headed back upstairs.

Wen Li was on the phone when she saw him and waved at him. Song Yan walked over and sat beside her.

While still talking on the phone, Wen Li smiled at him and continued speaking, "En, let's reschedule everything after the final episode of 'In This World With You'. We'll go straight into shooting the next project."

It seemed like she was talking to her manager.

"Let's also reschedule the events before and after the shooting days in Aocheng," Wen Li glanced at Song Yan and coughed, "I'll probably stay in Aocheng for a few extra days... not doing much, just going to visit my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Her manager must have made some teasing remarks on the phone because Wen Li suddenly pursed her lips and confidently said, "From now on, this will be a regular schedule, and we'll have it in the future as well."

Just as she finished speaking, her cheek was suddenly warmed by a gentle touch.

Song Yan lightly kissed Wen Li's cheek.

Wen Li was taken aback. There was a momentary pause before she regained her senses and said awkwardly, "It's nothing. I'm hanging up now."

After ending the call, Wen Li immediately covered the side of her face that was just kissed.

"What mischief are you up to?" she said.

"I'm happy," Song Yan replied.

"You cause trouble when you're happy? Are you a mischievous child?" Wen Li pretended to be displeased, pursing her lips, "Anyway, I won't argue with you."

Then she stood up, took the clean clothes she brought from home today, and prepared to take a shower.

Usually, either Wen Li returned late in the night due to work or Song Yan did. Today, they both had rare time off. By the time they finished showering and went to bed, it was not even 10 o'clock in the evening.

Wen Li wasn't sleepy yet and comfortably lay on the bed, playing with her phone while facing away from Song Yan.

After playing for a while, she felt the bed move. She turned her head and saw Song Yan saying he was going to make a phone call.

She didn't pay much attention and said, "Go ahead," before continuing to play with her phone.

The guests from the program [In This World With You] had created a private chat group. As the program reached its final episode, they had become friends. In the group chat, some of them were discussing visiting Aocheng for the program shooting and also for some sightseeing.

Aocheng was not a big city and they had already visited the usual tourist spots several times due to work. Therefore, they wanted to explore some lesser-known places during their upcoming visit.

Qiu Hong:「Any recommendations from the locals, @Song Yan?」

Qi Sihan:「Teacher Song, please recommend some places, @Song Yan.」

Wen Li:「He's on the phone right now and doesn't have time to check WeChat. He'll reply later.」

Everyone understood and quickly started discussing other topics.

After waiting for about ten minutes, Qiu Hong asked in the group chat:「Still on the phone?」

Wen Li replied:「Yes.」

Qiu Hong:「Who is he talking to for so long? Having a long phone conversation?」

It was just a casual question, but Wen Li started to pay attention.

Besides her, who else would Song Yan have a long phone conversation with?

Wen Li looked towards the figure on the balcony.

Who was he talking to and why did he deliberately avoid her by going to the balcony?

——

Song Yan at this time had no idea that Wen Li was silently observing him from behind.

"If you come back, your dad will definitely be thrilled," the woman on the other end of the phone chuckled, "Yanzi, are you bringing your wife with you this time?"

"Yes, because we're going back to record the variety show, so she will come too."

The woman sighed, "After watching her for so many years in TV dramas, I wonder how it feels to meet face to face?" After a pause, she switched to Mandarin and continued, "Has she learned the local dialect?"

"She should understand some."

But the main reason Song Yan was making a phone call to his mother right now was not about that.

When they initially decided to get married, they didn't think too much about it. But now, to live a good life, they had to consider many things.

"The elders in Wen's family don't really like me. To be honest, it doesn't feel good," Song Yan smiled and said, "So I hope when I bring my wife home, both you and Dad can talk to her more and show that you like her a little more."

The usually proud Wen Li had made so many preparations in advance for this trip to Aocheng to meet his parents. She had picked out clothes and adjusted her work schedule, showing just how important it was to her.

Song Yan's tone was casual, but his mother on the other end of the phone sensed his emotions.

She laughed and said, "Isn't your wife likable?"

Song Yan paused and whispered, "Likable."

"Yes, you've liked her for so many years. It shows just how likable she is," his mother said, "So have some confidence in her."

Song Yan replied, "Okay."

"Will they be interviewing me and your dad when you come to record the show this time? I saw in the previous episodes that they even went to your high school to interview your homeroom teacher."

"It depends. If you both are willing, we can arrange it."

The mother and son chatted for nearly half an hour.

Wen Li had been waiting in the bedroom for a long time, but Song Yan hadn't finished his phone call. Finally, unable to resist her curiosity, she slipped out to the balcony.

She happened to hear Song Yan chuckling softly into the phone.

She felt something was amiss and without a second thought, pushed open the glass door. The evening breeze instantly replaced the coolness of the air-conditioned room, and before she could speak, Song Yan noticed her, placing his index finger against his lips, silently signaling her to be quiet.

Wen Li stood there, listening to him on the phone, recalling how he had surprised her earlier while she was on the phone. It had left her feeling bewildered and embarrassed. She felt the need to give him a taste of his own medicine, to retaliate and get some satisfaction.

Unaware of Wen Li's mischievous thoughts, Song Yan continued to listen carefully to his mother's instructions on the other end of the call.

Then, the person who had been standing quietly beside him suddenly reached out and hugged his waist. Song Yan didn't react immediately and looked down at her, puzzled.

Wen Li smirked mischievously, scratching his waist.

Instinctively, he flinched and lightly patted her hand with his hand, mouthing the words, "Stop it."

She didn't listen and went to tickle his ribs.

Song Yan couldn't resist and let out a low "En".

Then, Wen Li keenly heard a voice leaking from his phone, a woman's voice.

"Yanzi?"

Wen Li tiptoed, cupped his face in her hands, and pressed her lips against his, silencing him.

This was called giving him a taste of his own medicine.

Song Yan raised an eyebrow, pushed her away, and lightly tapped her cheek with his palm.

Wen Li glared at him, silently threatening, "Do you dare to hit me?"

He still smiled and said to the person on the phone, "It's Wen Li."

"En? She brought supper for me."

Wen Li, who had nothing n her hands, felt that Song Yan was daydreaming.

"Then I'll eat supper. Goodnight, Mom."

Mom?

Wen Li pondered for a few seconds and realized she had foolishly misunderstood something.

Song Yan hung up the phone and Wen Li's mischievous thoughts vanished. With a forced smile, she asked, trying to please him, "Do you want to have supper? Should I make you a bowl of noodles?"

Song Yan looked at her with a half-smile, curious to know what she would say to change the subject.

Wen Li kindly advised, "But eating supper at night will make you gain weight, so you better not eat it."

Song Yan chuckled slightly. His tone was calm and serious, "It's fine, eating you won't make me gain weight."