DLRAS Chapter 94

Chapter 94: You can rest assured that I have always been very sensible.

The entire matter left Jiang Cai completely baffled: “Then what should I call you from now on?” She mulled it over, “Sister-in-law?”

“Don’t go shouting nonsense.” Chen Wengang felt a jolt pass through him at the title and let out a helpless laugh. “We’ll be returning very soon.”

Turning his head back, he saw Huo Niansheng reclining broadly on the daybed, cradling a throw pillow in his arms.

“Sister-in-law…” He rolled the phrase over his tongue a few times, smiling at Chen Wengang. “If we’re determining it by hierarchy, that’s not technically wrong.”

“It’s not as if you actually want to be a brother to her.” Chen Wengang sat down by his side, slipping his own hand next to his.

“Shh, keep it to yourself.” Huo Niansheng pressed him against his chest, acting with great solemnity. “I haven’t ever experienced the sensation of a harmonious family. Someone like Huo Zhenfei—I used to never envy him for having a wife and child, but now it’s my turn to experience a bit of it.”

As he experienced it, his hand began slipping beneath the clothes. The adult show they had just watched served as a catalyst, pouring oil onto the flames, catching fire at a single touch.

Spending four or five days on their honeymoon in this manner, they returned to the country. Stepping off the plane once more brought a sensation akin to waking up in a different lifetime.

Jincheng remained exactly as it had always been—prosperous on one side, ancient and unadorned on the other—and they still returned to Jiangchao Street to settle down.

Chen Wengang had brought back a whole suitcase of souvenirs. He had bought so many items that he had even stuffed his formal suit into Huo Niansheng’s luggage to free up space.

He delivered two massive boxes of candies, chocolates, and toys to the Lu family, and distributed the remainder to his colleagues at his workplace, ensuring everyone who crossed paths with him got a share.

The graduation thesis required the submission of a thesis proposal report. Some groups had started early, and the thesis advisor called for a meeting. Chen Wengang finally had to head to the university, where his classmates belatedly noticed the change on his hand, immediately creating a lively stir—

“We haven’t seen each other for just a few days, and you’re already taken?”

“With whom? When did this happen?”

“We agreed to break up upon graduation, yet you managed to exit singlehood all on your own…”

Coming out of the advisor’s office, Yu Ying also received a souvenir. She pinched the keychain shaped like a hot air balloon, which had the English text for Las Vegas printed on it, making it easy to guess where he had been: “You went to LV? Was it fun?”

Chen Wengang smiled, his tone light and cheerful: “It was fun, and a good place to get married. You can consider me a married man now.”

She froze, never expecting him to take such a massive leap out of nowhere: “How did this happen? An early marriage out of the blue?”

Chen Wengang smiled without offering an explanation.

The two walked to the back door of the classroom, where a few classmates were chatting inside while waiting for their turn to see the advisor. The sound of their voices drifted out faintly:

“…Probably not. When we met just now, I thought he looked very calm, and he’s even in the mood to date. Just think about it—living under the same roof, facing each other day and night, knowing someone beside you harbors such immense malice toward you. If it were me, it would definitely send chills down my spine…”

“Otherwise, what else can he do? The incident has already happened, and it’s all in the past. It wouldn’t do to wear a mourning face every single day.”

“You can know a person’s face but not their heart. To repeat that old saying—who would have thought that kind of person was right here in our university…”

“Exactly…”

“Forget it, let’s go.” Yu Ying let out a clicking sound. “Originally, almost no one was discussing this matter anymore, but the moment you came back, everyone remembered it again.”

Chen Wengang could tell they were discussing Mu Qing once more.

He suddenly asked, “What has everyone been saying?”

Yu Ying thought about it: “What can they say? Shock, condemnation, curiosity—every kind of reaction exists. But it’s all just behind-the-scenes gossip; who would actually run up to say things to his face?” She added tactfully, “Of course, being pointed at like that probably doesn’t feel good.”

Chen Wengang agreed.

Yu Ying let out a long sigh: “Speaking of which, did you know Qi Tongzhou used to be good friends with him before? Last time, I went to eat at the cafeteria with Tongzhou. Right in the middle of eating, he suddenly picked up his meal tray, made a turn, and went to sit at another table. Only then did I see clearly that you-know-who had also arrived, coming over all by himself wanting to share a table with us. He probably didn’t expect Tongzhou to be so ruthless, leaving his face turning red and white, exceptionally unable to save face. Fortunately, I had finished eating by then, so I made a swift escape immediately. I really don’t know how he still had the face to try and join in.”

Before Chen Wengang could speak, he received a phone call from Huo Niansheng: “I’ve arrived. Come on out; I’m at the university’s east gate.”

Yu Ying paused, teasing: “Is this how it feels to step into married life?”

Chen Wengang smiled, raising his hand to bid her goodbye.

To him, there didn’t seem to be a distinct boundary between married life and single life. Since returning from Las Vegas, he and Huo Niansheng continued to live on Jiangchao Street. Huo Niansheng would pick him up and drop him off whenever he had time, taking him out to eat, drink, and have fun during leisure hours, which could be considered enjoying life.

Naturally, Chen Wengang knew he had his busy moments. Huo Niansheng didn’t deliberately hide anything from him; various financial statements were casually piled up in the study, and when he found the paperwork tedious, he would even call Chen Wengang over to look through them together. When he wasn’t home, Chen Wengang would either eat at street stalls or hitch a meal at the Lu house from time to time.

Having a bowl of sweet soup every evening had become a habit. Unlike during their financially strapped childhood, they could buy as much as they pleased now. Grandma Zhou had long since returned, reopening her sweet soup shop. Yu Shanding had attempted to persuade her to enjoy her retirement at home, only to receive a thorough scolding, leaving him too intimidated to bring it up again.

The elderly woman couldn’t bear to stay idle; moreover, her social circle of half a lifetime and her familiar old friends were all concentrated in this area. Being shut inside her grandson’s massive house left her with no one to talk to besides the nanny, nearly suffocating her with boredom, which caused her to lose her temper every time she saw Yu Shanding.

In the courtyard’s flowerbed, Huo Niansheng had truly planted Chinese roses.

He loosened the soil and took cuttings, planting a variety that was reportedly called the Archangel Gabriel. Chen Wengang had also done a bit of homework, learning that any variety with “Angel” in its name was notoriously difficult to tend to, leading to a long bickering match between the two over the matter.

Chen Wengang did it intentionally; lately, he had even grown a bit fond of the feeling of bickering with Huo Niansheng. Huo Niansheng would look at him helplessly with a half-smile, yet his pupils would harbor a trace of warmth, ending either with him leaning in or Chen Wengang leaning over.

A single kiss landing on the cheek could resolve everything.

Such ordinary days created a bright, moving sense of happiness in his heart, like the lingering afterglow of fireworks on a summer beach.

Another two weeks passed, and Huo Kaishan’s milestone birthday was close at hand.

Amanda contacted Chen Wengang, stating that the birthday gift she had helped procure for him was ready—she had selected a jade statue of Guanyin, while Jiang Cai’s gift was arranged separately.

He gave his approval, expressed his thanks, and ended the call, only to receive a phone call from Huo Zhenfei immediately afterward.

Huo Zhenfei invited Chen Wengang to a teahouse for tea once again.

Once the two were seated, he poured tea for Chen Wengang: “In truth, given Grandfather’s current physical condition, he isn’t suited for this level of exertion. We still put a massive amount of effort into communicating with the doctors before successfully applying to bring him back home. Yushui Bay is, after all, the place where he lived his entire life; we hope to let him spend this birthday properly and completely. Even if it is a farewell, it needs to be done with solemnity.”

These were words that wouldn’t be spoken to outsiders. Speaking to Chen Wengang in this manner made it seem as though he truly regarded him as one of their own.

“You want to ensure that I won’t cause any trouble?” Chen Wengang took a sip. “You can rest assured; I have always been very sensible.”

“Yes, it goes without saying that Huo Niansheng will definitely bring you back to the old residence.” Huo Zhenfei seemed to have caught wind of his track record against He Jajun through certain channels, revealing a look that wasn’t entirely trusting, yet he still continued, “Furthermore, Grandfather and my father aren’t particularly progressive people. To tell you the truth, letting them accept a relationship like yours is something I wouldn’t have dared imagine ten years ago.”

Chen Wengang cast a sidelong glance at him: “How did they change their minds now?”

Huo Zhenfei said, “Rather than saying their mindset changed, it’s more out of compromise. Given Niansheng’s character, after all…”

“If a person truly has a notorious track record and you originally held no expectations for him, then it doesn’t matter much anymore, does it?” Chen Wengang understood. “Now that he can rein himself in slightly, it counts as a decent outcome. Even if he finds a man to live out his days with, it doesn’t seem entirely unacceptable?”

Huo Zhenfei spoke very politely: “Don’t misunderstand; I personally have no objections toward you. In certain aspects, you indeed show great awareness of the bigger picture—for instance, you handle your relationship with Jiang Cai very well. She only trusts you, and she has even grown much tamer at home now. This is to your credit.”

Chen Wengang gazed out the window; the traffic below the teahouse flowed in an endless stream.

He retracted his gaze.

Huo Zhenfei spoke with deep meaning: “But sometimes I can’t help but reflect that if you think carefully about certain matters, the direction seems strangely similar. That girl Jiang Cai was forced upon us by her mother; you witnessed the entire process with your own eyes. In the end, it turned out like this—her status in the household is very awkward. Can she truly live well in the future? Aren’t you worried that you might be walking down the exact same path?”

Chen Wengang smiled. “Thank you for your warning. But I am different from her.”

Huo Zhenfei raised his hand to lift the cup to his lips, his eyes remaining fixed on him.

Chen Wengang’s expression turned cold: “She is a minor; I am an adult. She is helpless and has seen little of the world; I possess a fair share of methods, having dealt with shrewd individuals like you from a young age. Most importantly, her mother, Ms. Jiang, was after your Huo family’s wealth and power—none of which I need. I am solely after Huo Niansheng the person. You might not believe we share true love, but I hope you won’t oppose it either.”

Huo Zhenfei remained completely unmoved, yet internally, he found the resemblance striking.

When subjected to this kind of offense, the aura of his speech shifted closer to Huo Niansheng’s—casual yet unsparing.

He was testing the waters while mentally sizing up the parameters of dealing with this cousin-in-law.

Huo Zhenfei proceeded to question the composition of his “true love”: “If you strip away the external conditions—if Huo Niansheng had neither wealth nor influence, couldn’t readily gift you luxury cars or fine horses, nor spend millions pursuing you, but his character remained just as playboy-esque as it is now—would you still fall in love with him?”

Chen Wengang countered sharply: “I fail to see any meaning in this kind of question. Do you normally wonder whether your wife would still marry you, or if your son would still idolize you the way he does now, if you possessed neither power nor influence and weren’t Huo Kaishan’s grandson?”

Huo Zhenfei was left entirely speechless by his rebuttal.

Chen Wengang suddenly smiled, sounding gentle and polite: “Alright, let’s not argue. You view Huo Niansheng as a playboy, but what I see might be different from what you see. Managing to coax him into willingly traveling abroad to marry me—have you seen anyone else achieve that over all these years?”

Huo Zhenfei offered a slight smile as well: “On this point, I am truly administrative of how you managed it. Share the secret with me sometime later so I can use it to please my wife.”

Chen Wengang lowered his head to drink his tea: “That is my own skill, which others cannot replicate. You had better figure out the way of marriage on your own.”

Huo Kaishan was discharged from the hospital on the eve of his eightieth birthday.

The reporters had caught wind of the news, gathering in small groups outside the Huo residence. When he was carried down, he was still hooked up to tubes and connected to monitoring equipment. The medical staff formed a grand, formidable presence, remaining on strict standby. The scale of the procession resembled an emperor’s outing, continuing until the patient was securely settled in his bedroom.

Chen Wengang stepped out of the car, and Huo Niansheng wrapped an arm around his waist: “Let’s go, inside.”

The appearance within this mansion was no different from his memory.

Dark solid wood flooring, deep gold jacquard curtains finished with long tassels at the bottom, and bronze carved railings fitted on the windows. A fireplace sat within the living room, with a massive oil painting hanging above it—intricate, heavy, and full of years, resembling a twilight elderly person.

The domestic helpers were also long-serving veteran employees who bore arrogant expressions on their faces. One stepped forward to help Huo Niansheng remove his overcoat and hang it on the coat hook.

Chen Wengang handed the wrapped birthday gift to Huo Niansheng. The helper cast a glance at him, reaching out to take it from Huo Niansheng’s hands.

Huo Niansheng, however, offered a superficial smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “Instead of helping him remove his coat, what are you doing snatching my things? Where are your manners?”

Support me on Ko-fi