Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Have a child? Qiao Aiyun choked on the tea and coughed nonstop while covering her mouth, her face completely red.

Yan Wangchuan raised his hand and patted her back. He rarely cared about others, so his movements were stiff, and he couldn’t control his strength well. He could only try to be gentle.

“I only said if you want to have a child. Why are you so excited?” Old Madam Yan let go of Song Fengwan’s hand and passed Qiao Aiyun a piece of tissue.

Qiao Aiyun reached out to take it and wiped the corners of her lips awkwardly.

Song Fengwan lowered her head. She had been scared out of her wits, but when she saw her mother’s expression, the latter was obviously more shocked than her.

She looked so embarrassed that Song Fengwan nearly laughed out loud. Which eye did Grandma Yan use to see that Mom is excited? She’s obviously unnerved.

“Aiyun, how old are you this year? Thirty-nine? Or Forty?”

“Forty after the new year,” Yan Wangchuan replied.

Qiao Aiyun had gotten married early. She had been with Song Jingren since she was 19 and had only given birth to Song Fengwan a few years later. She had only been 22 then.

Old Madam Yan smiled. “It’s a little dangerous at your age. If you two want a child, I’ll find a traditional Chinese medicine doctor later to nurse your health.”

“You mean Old Master Wei?” Yan Wangchuan asked again.

“Yes, he was the one who helped me treat my poor health in the past. He’s really brilliant.”

“He’ll do.”

…

The mother and son chimed in with each other in harmony. It seemed as if Qiao Aiyun was about to have a child immediately, but the person involved couldn’t interrupt at all.

Thankfully, the waiter got in the way by serving the food, so the two stopped talking.

Song Fengwan could now understand why her mother had said that she had been tricked into agreeing to the proposal.

“Aiyun, I’ll find someone to prepare your marriage for you when I get back. We have a house near Nanjiang River. I bought it previously as an investment. What do you think about it being your marriage house?

“By the way, that area is in a school district.

“If you really have a child in the future, you don’t even have to worry about their school.”

Qiao Aiyun’s hand, holding the chopsticks, trembled slightly. “Auntie, please eat.”

“But if you want a child, you should do it as early as possible. You’re not young anymore.”

Her fingers shook, and the food she had picked up in midair nearly fell on the table.

“You two still have to discuss having a child. I’m fine either way anyway.”

Old Madam Yan was an easy-going person. She had long been prepared for her son to live as a bachelor for life, and she was already very happy to have a beautiful granddaughter appear out of nowhere. She would also feel at ease when she passed away if her son had a companion in the future.

In this era, many people acknowledged money as their close relative. Many people had an abundance of children and grandchildren, but they remained lonely even when they were old.

It did not mean that someone related to you by blood and surname would really treat you well.

Old Madam Yan had long gotten over it. She wanted to leave a legacy for the Yan family as well, but this kind of thing couldn’t be forced. If she really had a biological grandson, it would naturally be the icing on the cake and couldn’t be better.

“To have Wanwan be my granddaughter, our Yan family finally has a descendant now. I have no regrets.”

“Yes, we’ll discuss it,” Yan Wangchuan added.

Qiao Aiyun coughed twice. Her hand under the table tugged at Yan Wangchuan’s clothes. Can’t he say a few words less? Why does he have to say everything?

“Wanwan, do you like a younger brother or sister?” Old Madam Yan suddenly asked Song Fengwan.

Song Fengwan was currently drinking beef soup with her head lowered. Hearing this, she subconsciously looked at Qiao Aiyun. “This… I haven’t thought about it.”

She was already 17 years old. If she had a younger brother or sister now, how big would their age gap be?

“You can think about it now.”

“Heh heh…” Song Fengwan laughed dryly. She really didn’t dare think about it.

***

Song Fengwan ate quickly and returned to the atelier. The three of them had chatted while eating, which naturally took up a lot of time.

On the way back, she passed by a bubble tea shop and ordered a double shot. She took out her phone and called Fu Chen.

Fu Chen was eating when he received the call and walked out of the restaurant with his phone.

Sun Qionghua only heard the word ‘hello’, and his tone was exceptionally gentle.

When she married into the Fu family, Fu Chen had only been a half-grown child. Old Master Fu had personally educated him, so his grace and bearing were naturally different from ordinary people. At that time, he had already learned to control his emotions.

Since she had just entered the Fu family, she naturally had to please everyone. This brother-in-law of hers was young, so she had thought that a child would be easy to handle. But no matter how she tried to express her goodwill to him, his attitude toward her always remained indifferent.

“Yuxiu, is something up with your third uncle?”

Fu Yuxiu was full of grievances at this moment. He didn’t want to go overseas, but he couldn’t resist and wasn’t in the mood to care about others. “I’m not sure.”

“I keep feeling that something is a little strange.” Sun Qionghua was definitely more acute.

“A few days ago, your grandma even asked me if I knew any good young ladies to introduce to him. Later, she said that there was no need and he would bring his girlfriend home this year. I wonder if that’s true?”

Fu Yuxiu lowered his head and fiddled with the rice, his mouth full of bitterness. “I don’t think so. Who would be so unlucky as to be chosen by him?”

He couldn’t imagine how his kind on the outside but ruthless on the inside third uncle would look like dating someone.

“Don’t spout nonsense. If your grandparents heard this, they would break your legs.” Sun Qionghua frowned. He’s talking irresponsibly! He really dares to say anything.

“I’m just saying.”

“I initially wanted to introduce your older cousin from your maternal grandmother’s side to him, but I was afraid your third uncle wouldn’t take a fancy to her.”

“He definitely wouldn’t.” His maternal cousin was a pampered eldest young lady. Her looks were average, and she was terribly unsightly without makeup. All her photos had to rely on photoshop. His third uncle wasn’t blind.

“Eat properly and don’t speak!” Sun Qionghua was annoyed.

Fu Chen had already walked outside with his phone.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes, I’m on my way back to the atelier after buying a cup of bubble tea.”

“Rest before drawing again. Don’t be too tired.”

“I know. It’s just that the meal was too scary.”

Fu Chen chuckled. “Did Old Madam Yan make things difficult for you?”

He hadn’t seen this old madam before, but he had heard his parents mention her.

The old master of the Yan family had passed away relatively early. Back then, Yan Wangchuan had probably only been in his teens. An orphan and a widow with such a big family business, countless people had coveted it. But she had still managed to hold down the fort alone. Thinking about it carefully now, it probably hadn’t been easy.

“No, she didn’t. Grandma Yan is very nice. She just mentioned that she wanted my mom and Uncle Yan to give me a younger sibling. I’m going to be eighteen soon, but they’re going to give me a younger sibling?”

“I was also conceived when my parents were old. When I was born, my eldest nephew could already run and talk.” Fu Chen raised his eyebrows. What does this girl have against children born to parents late in life?

“I wasn’t talking about you.” Song Fengwan bit her lips. Why is he getting himself involved? “If my mom and Uncle Yan are really together, I don’t care if they have children or not. I just find it weird.”

“Weird?” Fu Chen suddenly realized that if the two of them really had a child, wouldn’t this kid be of the same generation as him?

Wouldn’t this kid call him older brother-in-law?

Perhaps this kid wouldn’t be much older than his own child. At this moment, he suddenly understood why his eldest brother’s face was always dark and gloomy every time he called him Big Brother.

This feeling was indeed a little sour.

“The main reason is that I’ve never thought about it before. I wasn’t prepared at all, and it really scared me. But Grandma Yan is really nice. She even gave me a gift. I just took a look at it. It’s a jade pendant. It’s probably quite expensive, but I couldn’t reject it…”

When Fu Chen heard that the Yan family was treating her well, he felt relieved. After all, Qiao Aiyun was a divorcee and also had a child with her. Yan Wangchuan possessed high qualifications. Even among young ladies in their early twenties, many were willing to marry him. It would naturally be best if the Yan family accepted them without a hitch.

Holding the bubble tea, Song Fengwan stood outside the atelier for a long time in order to talk on the phone with Fu Chen.

When Fu Chen heard that she was standing outside, he urged her to hang up.

Song Jingren had been standing not far away. He didn’t know who Song Fengwan was talking to on the phone, but the bright and sunny smile seemed able to dispel the chill and instantly make the severe winter look more colorful.

She was all smiles even toward the shop assistant at the bubble tea shop. Why did she treat him, her biological father, so coldly?

Could it be that she had successfully curried favor with the Yan family?

Even at its peak, the Song Group couldn’t compare to such a wealthy and powerful family.

When the whole family ate together, the feeling of intimacy among them made it seem as though they were really three generations of one family. This infuriated him. He had only seen Song Fengwan talking to Yan Wangchuan from time to time.

Yan Wangchuan didn’t speak much, but he had often picked up food for her and even peeled prawns for her.

When Song Fengwan came out, Qiao Aiyun wanted to see her off. But in the end, it was Yan Wangchuan who walked her to the door. The two of them even stood there and exchanged a few words.

He seemed to have heard Song Fengwan call him ‘Dad’.

His whole body was trembling as rage spread in his heart. He wanted to rush up and punch Yan Wangchuan.

She was his daughter. What did she have to do with him?

Qiao Aiyun had been chatting and laughing with him the whole time too. Was she really getting married?

It was all thanks to them that he had become like this. He was about to go bankrupt and fall into desolate poverty. What right did they have to talk so jovially?

Immense hatred drowned him. He wished that he could kill this adulterous couple, and he no longer cared that he had come this time to ask a favor.

***

At this moment, the original Song family villa had been officially renamed the Qiao family villa.

Qiao Wangbei received a call from the Fu family, asking if there was anyone at home. They would be coming to pick up Huai Sheng later, and Sun Qionghua would also come over to offer an apology.

Fu Chen was the one who called. He had helped Song Fengwan before, so Qiao Wangbei naturally wouldn’t give him the cold shoulder. He even planned to entertain him at night.

When he heard that Sun Qionghua would accompany him, his expression changed.

He took out his carving knives from his room, lined them up in a row, and examined them one by one under the sunlight.

“Uncle Qiao, what are you doing?” Huai Sheng was practicing writing on the table. He would officially start primary school after autumn.

“Sharpening knives to kill someone.”

“Buddha said: One can’t kill living beings. Compassion is the principle of life. The karma of killing a living creature is very heavy, and you will go to hell,” Huai Sheng said very gravely. This was the Five Precepts of Buddhism. Not killing living beings was the first one.

“Anyone who is regarded to be human mustn’t be killed.”

Qiao Wangbei raised his eyebrows. Is this brat lecturing me? “What if this person is a beast and doesn’t deserve to be a human?”

Huai Sheng’s delicate brows pinched together. Last night, Big Sister also said that the word moron wasn’t profanity. Now, he’s calling this person a beast and not a human?

He couldn’t turn his mind around this for a moment.

He directly walked over and put away all of Qiao Wangbei’s carving knives, hiding them behind his back. “I don’t care. Killing is a serious crime and generates bad karma. You will fall to the underworld or go to hell. I’m a monk. I can’t watch you make a mistake.”

Qiao Wangbei was caught between laughter and tears.

He would at most threaten the Fu family. How could he really do it? Why was this young monk so serious?

“Give me the knives.” Qiao Wangbei’s face darkened.

“No.” Huai Sheng’s tone was firm.

“You brat, are you giving them to me or not? Do you believe me when I say I’ll smack you?” Qiao Wangbei was born with a scowl and looked skinny and fierce. When he didn’t speak, he was already very frightening. But now, he was even intimidating him.

Huai Sheng blinked, and there seemed to be tears in his eyes. He seemed scared by him, but he still held the knives tightly. “No.”

“You brat, are you looking for a beating? My patience is limited. I’ve really tolerated you for a long time.” When he woke up early in the morning to the sound of knocking on the wooden fish, Qiao Wangbei had nearly collapsed mentally. He enjoyed peace and quiet.

He kept a stern face and looked ferocious. Huai Sheng pursed his lips.

After a few seconds…

Tears streamed down his face…

Qiao Wangbei was dumbfounded.

His son wouldn’t get red-eyed even if he was beaten to an inch of his life. Why was he crying? He hadn’t done anything. He didn’t know how to coax a child either, so he was at a loss.

“I don’t want the knives anymore. Don’t cry.”

Huai Sheng nodded with red eyes. “I’m helping you. You have to say thank you.”

At this exact moment, Qiao Wangbei really wanted to beat him.

***

Qiao Aiyun’s side…

She accompanied Yan Wangchuan and sent Old Madam Yan back to the hotel. Old Madam Yan had the habit of taking an afternoon nap, so her eyelids couldn’t hold on anymore at two o’clock.

She had received a call from Qiao Wangbei and knew that Fu Chen would be coming over later. Naturally, she had to rush home and help Huai Sheng pack.

She had wanted to go home alone, but Old Madam Yan had insisted, so she could only let Yan Wangchuan take her home.

As soon as the two got into the car, Yan Wangchuan suddenly asked, “Do you want a child?”

He liked Qiao Aiyun and naturally hoped to have a child belonging to the two of them. He didn’t deny this.

“Huh?” Qiao Aiyun lowered her head and fastened her seatbelt.

“Do you want a child belonging to the two of us?”

“I think at our age…” Qiao Aiyun hadn’t even thought about how her relationship with Yan Wangchuan would progress from here. Naturally, she hadn’t thought of having a child yet. This kind of thing couldn’t be rushed either.

Before she could finish speaking, she was flabbergasted by Yan Wangchuan’s following words.

“I’m in good health and can still have children.”

Qiao Aiyun wanted to slap him to death. Is this what you think I mean?

If you can have children, go ahead and have children yourself!