Song Fengwan was dumbfounded by Fu Chen’s sudden confession and walked out of the bathroom in a daze.

“Wanwan, why were you so slow? Quick, come and sit down.” Old Madam Fu called her over to sit down. At this moment, at the six-person rectangular table, the only remaining seat was beside Fu Chen, so she could only sit beside him.

He told me not to feel burdened, but how can I remain indifferent?

“Wanwan, your face is very red…” Qiao Xiyan furrowed his brows.

“I’m fine.” Song Fengwan lowered her head and ate.

“You’ll be traveling in a car later. Eat more.” Old Madam Fu kept putting food into her bowl.

“Thank you, Grandma Fu.”

“Third Son, how’s Huai Sheng’s school enrollment coming along?”

“He’ll be able to attend school in two days. He’ll study with a class in school first, and then I’ll find him a tutor later.” Huai Sheng had missed his preschool education and definitely had to make up for it.

The six of them were sitting around the table and eating. Seeing so many people around her, Old Madam Fu was happy and talkative. When they almost finished eating, she even continued talking to Qiao Xiyan…

Song Fengwan had something on her mind and didn’t have much of an appetite. After eating a few mouthfuls, she secretly took out her phone and played with it.

“Wanwan, when you go back, take your exams properly and strive for good results.” Old Madam Fu smiled.

Song Fengwan looked up and smiled at Old Madam Fu before hurriedly stuffing her phone back into her pocket. But your son keeps harassing me. How am I supposed to take the exams properly?

Suddenly, just as she pulled out her hand from her pocket, she felt a warm palm wrapping it. The hand was exerting a bit of force and holding her hand tightly.

Song Fengwan was shocked, and her heart was in her throat. Her breathing stopped, and she couldn’t even hear Old Madam Fu’s reminders to her clearly.

She was embarrassed and in distress, but she couldn’t do anything about it.

Fu Chen’s fingers gently slid through the gaps between her fingers, rubbing against her palm, making her heart so ticklish that it was becoming numb.

He then held her hand tightly.

“Yes, we’ll be waiting for your good results,” Fu Chen said with a straight face, following Old Madam Fu’s words.

Song Fengwan was a little exasperated, but she couldn’t do anything about Fu Chen.

“Third Son, don’t just talk about Wanwan. What about you? Don’t forget what you promised me.”

“I didn’t forget.” Fu Chen smiled.

“It’s an extremely important part of your life. You have to put more care into it. Don’t always keep a stern and expressionless face toward young ladies. How are you going to get a wife like this?”

Fu Chen’s marriage was Old Madam Fu’s sore spot. Every time she mentioned this matter, she would definitely sigh.

“Alright, let’s eat.” Old Master Fu put some food on her plate. “Don’t always mention this every time you meet him. He’ll get annoyed.”

“Who do you think he resembles? You weren’t like this when you were young. He’s just so taciturn when it comes to relationships.” Old Madam Fu slightly disliked this side of him.

“He didn’t learn the good things and just had to learn to be like his eldest brother. But Eldest Son got married at twenty-four. He’s not as worrisome as him.

“You believe in Buddhism and eat vegetarian all the time. Many people think that you’re going to become a monk.”

Fu Chen’s expression remained unchanged. “If you want to rush someone into marriage, isn’t there someone older than me in our family?”

“You mean your eldest brother’s son, that brat?” Once Old Madam Fu mentioned him, she was furious but had nowhere to vent her anger. “That bastard said he was going overseas to discuss business. It’s already been a few months, but he’s still not back yet.

“It’s almost the new year. He knows that it’s the peak season for blind dates, so he went overseas to hide,” Fu Chen said slowly.

“If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have let him go. He only knows how to fool me.”

Song Fengwan was impressed with Third Master’s ability to change the topic.

In the Fu family, the only one still unmarried and older than him was the eldest grandson.

I’ve never seen anyone scheme against their own nephew like this. Is he really his biological uncle?

Old Master Fu reached out to pour a glass of water for his wife and glanced at Fu Chen from the corner of his eye. Did that kid offend him again?

Suddenly using him as a shield?

“That kid is too much. He’s not at home all day and only knows how to work. Why does he even need to make so much money? He’s even more rigid than Third Son. These two were together all day since they were young. They didn’t learn anything good, but their nasty tempers are exactly the same. They’re both blockheads!”

When Old Madam Fu thought of these fellows, she was extremely angry.

Song Fengwan moved her fingers slightly, but Fu Chen tightened his grip even more.

If Old Madam Fu knew that this son of hers she just called a blockhead was actually teasing a young lady in front of her, her jaw would probably drop.

Song Fengwan felt aggrieved. How does your son not know how to date? How is he a blockhead? He’s clearly an expert at flirting!

Just as she was scolding him in her mind, he rubbed his fingers gently against her palm. His touch was light one moment and heavy the next. Every inch of his fingers was moving toward her softest and most sensitive places, making her feel as though there were a hundred claws scratching at her heart.

It was ambiguous and ticklish.

Song Fengwan was exasperated. He’s old and shameless.

Even if he confessed just now, I didn’t agree to it. How can he just touch me like this?

I’ve really never seen anyone like this before.

Song Fengwan decided to turn it around and scratched his palm as hard as she could, wishing that she could scratch him to death.

Fu Chen laughed softly. When no one was paying attention, he leaned over. “Wanwan, don’t be mischievous. If you want to scratch, do it later when there’s no one around.”

His voice was doting and warm and had a hint of heat, making Song Fengwan feel embarrassed instead.

When was I being mischievous? Who wants to be alone with you? This person is really…

Blushing, she pulled her hand back and lowered her head to take a few more bites of food to hide her embarrassment and helplessness.

Fu Chen chuckled softly. His palm was slightly red from her scratches.

The others naturally didn’t notice what the two of them had done.

Meanwhile, Huai Sheng was secretly observing them while gnawing on a chicken drumstick.

He felt that their relationship seemed to be different ever since they kissed in the kitchen last night, but he couldn’t tell what was different.

Forget it. I better eat more meat. This way, I’ll have the strength to confess my sins to Buddha when I get home.

***

In Yuncheng…

Qiao Aiyun was having lunch at a restaurant outside, and the person sitting opposite her was—

Yan Wangchuan.

Actually, when he appeared at the Song family residence that day, Qiao Aiyun already knew what he meant. She wasn’t a fifteen-year-old girl, and she wasn’t naive and ignorant of the world.

But she had yet to break off her relationship with Song Jingren completely. She was also hurting in her heart, so how could she accept someone else so easily?

Even if she promised Yan Wangchuan something now, it would be unfair to him.

Thankfully, other than helping her settle some things, Yan Wangchuan didn’t mention anything else. After the filiation banquet, he had only stayed in Yuncheng for four days before leaving.

The two of them would occasionally contact each other. Knowing that he was coming over to discuss business, Qiao Aiyun naturally had to treat him to a meal.

“Song Jingren still isn’t willing to stop?” Yan Wangchuan was interested in her. His feelings for her had lasted for more than twenty years, and he had been silently watching over her for more than twenty years, so he wasn’t in a hurry at all.

“Yes. A few days ago, he even said that he wanted to compete for custody with me.” At the mention of this, Qiao Aiyun’s eyes turned red from anger. “He’s simply shameless. He still has the nerve to mention Wanwan to me?”

She usually had no one to confide in, so she had been suppressing these matters in her heart. But seeing Yan Wangchuan, she just couldn’t hold them in.

“I’ve already compromised and given in, and I just want to end this matter as soon as possible. Yet he keeps pushing his luck. He thinks I’m easy to bully. It’s not that I care about that bit of assets. I just don’t want to see their scheme succeed and let this bastard get away with it for nothing!”

“Okay.” Yan Wangchuan handed her a handkerchief.

“Wanwan will be back soon. I’m afraid this shameless thing is going to start acting up again. If he dares to affect Wanwan’s exam, I will fight it out with him with my life.”

“When is Wanwan’s exam?”

“In four days.”

“Then I’ll leave four days later.” Yan Wangchuan held the cup in front of him. “I’ll take care of Wanwan’s side for you.”

“Senior Brother…” Qiao Aiyun was grateful.

“Since you call me Senior Brother, then don’t say anything else. If you need any help, my phone will be on around the clock. You can look for me anytime.”

Yan Wangchuan wanted to intervene and help, but Qiao Aiyun was a strong-minded and independent person. Divorce was a private sore spot for any woman. If she hadn’t requested it, he wouldn’t have taken the initiative to interfere.

Moreover, if he interfered too much, Song Jingren might take advantage of it to falsely accuse her and say that she had cheated on him first. While she was still settling her divorce, he would maintain a distance from her.

But if Song Jingren went overboard, he naturally wouldn’t sit back and do nothing.

Qiao Aiyun nodded. “It’s all thanks to you and Fu Chen for helping us during this time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do if it was just me and Wanwan alone.

“My brother hasn’t stepped out of the house recently, so he doesn’t know that such a big thing happened to me. Otherwise, with his temper…” Qiao Aiyun sighed.

“I’m planning to let Wanwan take the exam for the art school in Suzhou later. After the college entrance exam is over, I’ll bring her out of here for good.”

Yan Wangchuan took a sip of water. “Aiyun…”

“Yeah?”

“Actually, Fu Chen…” Yan Wangchuan thought about his first encounter with Fu Chen. The experienced, slick, calm, and reserved self that Fu Chen had shown somehow always made him feel uneasy.

Furthermore, Song Fengwan was still young. If she got together with him, in terms of wisdom and experience, she probably wouldn’t be a match for Fu Chen.

He was worried that Song Fengwan would be at a disadvantage.

“What’s the matter?” Qiao Aiyun was puzzled.

“He’s not simple, and he’s a businessman. He wouldn’t help you without gaining any benefits, so you have to be more careful about him.”

***

On the other side…

Fu Chen watched as Shi Fang helped Song Fengwan carry her luggage. Uncle Nian even prepared some snacks for her to eat along the way. Seeing this, he felt uncomfortable and upset.

All of a sudden, he sneezed.

“Third Master, it’s cold outside. Why don’t you go in first?” Shi Fang thought he had caught a cold.

“I’m fine.” Fu Chen waved his hand. He had no idea that his ally, who was originally on the same side as him, had secretly stabbed him in the back.