Tonight, Fu Sinian read through all the information about Yu Manxi carefully. With a cigarette between his fingers, he tilted his head and took a puff. He let out a turbid breath and frowned deeply.
The information Fu Chen could find was limited, and it was mostly about her after she went overseas.
She had wandered through four different countries. When she had no money, she could only hide in the kitchen at the back of a restaurant to help wash dishes because she was underage and it was child labor.
He flipped to the last page. Fu Sinian raised his hand and extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray, which was already full of cigarette butts.
Yu Manxi had no idea that Fu Sinian was investigating her. After adjusting her mood, she cooked a bowl of spaghetti at home and hugged a snack while bingeing on an American drama all night. She only fell asleep with the little kitten in her arms when she couldnât stay awake anymore.
**
Lunar New Yearâs Eveâ¦
Yuncheng, Qiao residenceâ¦
Early in the morning, Qiao Aiyun was busy preparing for the Lunar New Yearâs Eve family dinner. Song Fengwan and Yan Wangchuan went to the bird and flower market to buy some memorable flower pots. She also bought a few small goldfish, put them in a beautiful fish tank, hugged them in her arms, and refused to let go.
In the afternoon, there were few people on the streets. Song Fengwan and Yan Shaochen were juniors, so the job of pasting the spring couplets was naturally handed over to them.
Then Fu Chen received some messages on his phone.
[Miss Song has gotten down to business with Yan Shaochen.]
[The two of them are talking and laughing.]
Fu Chen frowned slightly.?Is Yan Shaochen such an insensible person??Immediately afterward, he received another message.
[Yan Shaochen touched Miss Songâs hand. Do you need me to rush in and beat this brat up?]
Fu Chenâs lips twitched. Song Fengwan had sent him a message just now saying that they were putting up couplets and that she would contact him later. The two of them were helping each other, so it was inevitable that they would have some physical contact. Why did this kind of situation change into something strange when it came out of his mouth?
***
During the dinner, Old Madam Yan was overjoyed.
âIn the past, if Shaochen didnât come to accompany me, it was just me and Wangchuan having a meal together. Itâs really lively this year. I hope itâll be like this every year from now on.â While speaking, Old Madam Yan took out two red packets from her pocket. One of them was distinctly substantial, and she passed it to Song Fengwan.
âGrandma Yan.â Song Fengwan hurriedly put down her chopsticks.
âItâs Grandmaâs New Yearâs money. You canât reject this.â Old Madam Yan stuffed the red packet into Song Fengwanâs hands.
It was said that New Yearâs money could suppress and exorcise evil spirits. When juniors received New Yearâs money, they could pass the year peacefully.
âThis is Shaochenâs.â
âThank you, Grandma.â Yan Shaochen received it with both hands.
âAiyun, this is for you.â Old Madam Yan took out a box and handed it to Qiao Aiyun.
âAuntie, Iâm not a child anymore. I really donât need it.â
âJust take what I give you.â Old Madam Yanâs attitude was firm.
Qiao Aiyun could only thank her and accept it.
âOpen it and see if you like it.â
Qiao Aiyun opened the box. Inside was a small jade Buddha. The jade was warm and translucent. She could recognize jade since she was young, so she could tell at a glance that this jade was very expensive. âAuntie, this is too valuableâ¦â
âI asked for this in the temple. It can bless you to be safe and sound, and it can help you and Wangchuan achieve your goals as soon as possible. At the same time, may you both have a child soon.â
Have a child soon??Song Fengwan almost choked.
Qiao Aiyunâs face was slightly red. After all, there were juniors around, and it was inevitable that she would feel embarrassed about this kind of thing.
âAiyun, let me tell you something from the depths of my heart. When Wangchuan came to Yuncheng to look for you, I wasnât willing. You know the reason too. But as someone with one foot in the grave, Iâve long accepted many things. As long as the two of you can be well together, Iâm content with anything.
âIf you and Wangchuan can be together in the future, I will also dote on Wanwan like my biological granddaughter. Iâm also a woman. I know that itâs risky for you to have a child at your age, so you have your concerns. I wonât force you on this matter. You two can discuss it.
âI just hope the two of you will be fine. Nothing else matters.â
â¦
Qiao Aiyun lowered her head, her eyes slightly red.
Yan Wangchuan suddenly grabbed her hand and held it tightly.
After the Lunar New Yearâs Eve dinner, Qiao Aiyun simply cleaned up the dining table simply and made some meat stuffing in the kitchen, preparing to make dumplings tomorrow morning. Yan Wangchuan and Yan Shaochen sat on the sofa with Old Madam Yan and waited for the Spring Festival Galaâs broadcast.
Song Fengwan secretly went upstairs to call Fu Chen and, at the same time, took a look at the red packet Old Madam Yan gave her.
Aside from the 5,000 yuan in cash, there was also a bank card with her birthday set as the password stuck on it. It was obvious that there was a lot of money in this card.
There was too much New Yearâs money. There was even a card here. Song Fengwan didnât dare to take it and carried the red packet on her. She was about to ask Qiao Aiyun for her opinion, but the latter had already come out of the kitchen and kept accompanying Old Madam Yan, so she couldnât open her mouth.
During dinner just now, apart from Song Fengwan and Old Madam Yan, everyone had drunk a lot.
Too many things had happened in the past year. When Qiao Aiyun thought about it, she still felt as if she was dreaming. She was happy to be able to get rid of her former life from the bottom of her heart, so she had drunk quite a lot all at once. At this moment, the after-effect surged within her, and she leaned against the sofa in a drowsy daze.
âAiyun, if youâre sleepy, go upstairs and sleep.â Old Madam Yan was in a cheerful mood tonight, so she stayed close to Song Fengwan to prepare to usher in Lunar New Year.
âIâm fine.â Qiao Aiyunâs face unnaturally flushed again.
âWangchuan, help her to her room to rest.â Old Madam Yan kept winking at him.
Yan Wangchuan nodded and reached out to help her up. âIâll send you back to your room.â
Qiao Aiyun had drunk a lot, but she wasnât so drunk that she had lost consciousness. When the two of them went upstairs, Yan Wangchuan helped her to the bedside and laid her down. He stood at the head of the bed and didnât leave.
He stood there like a block of wood.
âWangchuanâ¦â Qiao Aiyun leaned against the head of the bed and tilted her head to look at him.
He wanted to say something, so he said, âRest well.â
He immediately left.
Qiao Aiyun was dumbfounded.
Itâs rare for me to take such initiative, yet he actually gave up and escaped?
Whatâs going on?
***
At this moment, the Spring Festival Gala program was putting on a skit performance. Old Madam Yan was overjoyed. Song Fengwan was holding a jar of candied plums and watching it with relish. Only Yan Shaochen was sitting by the side, playing with his phone the whole time, seeming to be snatching red packets in group chats.
Upon seeing Yan Wangchuan come downstairs, Old Madam Yan frowned. âWhy did you come down?â
âDidnât you keep signaling me to come down earlier?â Yan Wangchuan said earnestly.
Old Madam Yan was cracking melon seeds and wished she could spit the shell on him. âYou brat, not only are you inarticulate, but youâre also so dense! Your father didnât behave like you back then. Iâm creating an opportunity for you! Do you know that?!â
Yan Wangchuan didnât say anything.
âHurry up and get up there. Aiyun has drunk so much and needs someone to take care of her. Why did you come down?!â Old Madam Yan lambasted him and told him to get lost quickly.
When Yan Wangchuan went upstairs again, Qiao Aiyun had already turned off the lights and was lying under the blanket in bed. Because the door wasnât closed, he pushed it open easily and entered. Seeing that she was already asleep, he hesitated for a moment before turning around to leave.
âYan Wangchuan!â Qiao Aiyun suddenly called out to him.
Iâm already very proactive tonight. Why is this person still acting like a block of wood? Itâs simply infuriating.
âCome in here.â
Yan Wangchuan walked in stiffly. The two of them had only shared a bed in the old Fu residence once.
This timeâ¦
⦠was the second time.
Yan Wangchuanâs greatest wish in his life was fulfilled at last.
No matter how lively and noisy it was outside, it didnât seem to be able to disturb the two of them.
***
Beijing, old Fu residenceâ¦
Fu Chen was holding his phone, waiting for Song Fengwanâs reply.
The TV in the living room of the Fu residence was also broadcasting the Spring Festival Gala. Some people were playing mahjong, while others were playing chess.
Fu Sinian put on his clothes and said that he was going out for a while.
âWhy are you going out at this time? Itâs almost midnight.â Old Madam Fu was playing mahjong and squinted at the mahjong tiles.
âI have a little something to do.â
âIs there still someone in your company who hasnât returned home yet?â Fu Wan asked at the side. Fu Sinian didnât say anything.
His social circle was very small, and he usually only interacted with those few people in the studio.
âWhy didnât he go back during Lunar New Year? He probably didnât even eat much for the New Yearâs Eve dinner. Iâll get you something to eat. Bring it over.â The person speaking was Fu Sinianâs mother.
The Fu familyâs Lunar New Yearâs Eve meal was very sumptuous. Everyone didnât eat much, and almost no one touched the table of sharkâs fin soup with abalone, sea cucumber, and fish maw. She packed a few dishes and stuffed them into a bag for him.
âMom?â Fu Sinian frowned.
âWe didnât eat much of it. Tell your friend not to mind either. Just heat it up in the microwave, and itâs ready to eat.â
Fu Sinian hesitated for a moment before eventually taking the bag.
This was all thanks to Shen Jinye mentioning that they had gone to the police station when they were eating. He had also said that Fu Sinianâs neighbor was staying home alone for the new year.
Neighbor?
At that moment, all the Fu family members became interested.
Fu Chen had informed Fu Wan earlier, so all the Fu family members knew about it. Since Fu Sinian didnât mention this matter, no one pointed it out either, and they pretended not to know.
He was most likely rushing to go out to see that girl right now.
âIâll get you some dumplings. I wrapped them in the morning and froze them. Just put them in a pot to boil for a while.â His mother prepared another box of dumplings for him.
After he left, Shen Jinye finally asked, âEldest Aunt, youâve never seen that girl before. Why are you so concerned about her? Arenât you afraid that Big Bro will be deceived?â
âIâm just afraid that the young lady wonât deceive him and will run away in anger. It isnât easy for your brother to get into a relationship, so we canât be picky. There are so many men in the country who live as bachelors now. Itâs already good enough if he can get a wife. Iâll go to the temple on the first day of the new year tomorrow to grant my wish.â
Shen Jinye held back his laughter.?Grant her wish? Is there a need for this?