Wenwen lined up with other kids and followed the teacher out. When he caught sight of Qian Shengnan, he quickly looked around but did not see his mother. "Sister Shengnan, where's Mom?"
"Your mother can't make it in time and asked me to pick you back." Qian Shengnan said. After finishing the pick-up procedure with the teacher, she took Wenwen to the parked car.
Wenwen was suddenly gripped with worries. He raised his small head and asked Qian Shengnan, "Sister Shengnan, what happened to Mom?"
Wenwen knew that if not for a major matter, his mother would definitely not fail to pick him up in person.
Qian Shengnan thought for a moment. Once Wenwen was home, he would know about Fu Yunruo falling ill anyway, so she decided not to hide it any longer and answered truthfully, "Your Mom is sick and resting at home now…"
Hearing this, Wenwen became anxious and quickly climbed into the car, urging: "Let's go back. I want to see my mother!"
Seeing the boy's flustered look, Qian Shengnan also quickly got in the car and drove away after confirming that the seatbelt was properly fastened.
Although Wenwen kept urging her to hurry, Qian Shengnan still paid attention to the traffic rules and did not exceed the speed limit.
Wenwen felt very guilty. His mother must have been sick since this morning, but he didn't notice it…
She was sick for a whole day, and he was not by her side…
The kindergarten was close to the community, only ten minutes away by car, but these ten minutes felt so long for Wenwen today. He was so eager to get home quickly, and once the car finally stopped at the gate, he hurriedly got out and rushed into the house.
The door was unlocked, so Wenwen pushed it open and ran in. Si Yue saw that the little guy was running so quick — so hasty to run upstairs and see his mother — that he didn't even see him standing on the other side of the door.
When Wenwen passed by, Si Yue deftly caught him and picked his small body up.
Wenwen's short hands and feet flailed around in protest, "Uncle Yue, let me down. I want to see my Mom!"
Si Yue simply told him: "Your mother is sleeping. Do you want to wake her up?"
Hearing this, Wenwen stopped struggling in an instant. He looked up at Si Yue, his big eyes full of anxiety, "Uncle Yue, is Mom okay?"
Si Yue's voice softened, "She is okay. Your Mom is too tired, so she has a cold and a fever. Now she needs to rest more." He then told the boy, "You can go in quietly and have a look, but be careful not to wake her, okay?"
Wenwen nodded seriously. Si Yue carried him upstairs, gently opened the door to Fu Yunruo's room, walked in softly, and stopped a few steps away from the bed.
Eyes wide, Wenwen looked at his mother in distress. Fu Yunruo's complexion was already much better than in the morning, but she was still a little haggard. Having never seen her looking so weak, Wenwen burst into tears. Mom works so hard to bring him up…
After letting Wenwen in for a while, Si Yue quietly took him out and began a man-to-man conversation with the little guy. In Si Yue's view, raising a child required teaching them to be enlightened and understand the hardship their parents went through for them. Therefore, he told Wenwen the reason why Fu Yunruo fell ill. Then he said, "Although young, you are also the family's man, and your mother is a woman. We must protect your mother well, and together be sensible and considerate…"
"Your Mom is most concerned about you. So in order to not make her worry, you must take care of yourself, okay?"
"I will take care of myself!" Wenwen nodded seriously and clenched his tiny-sized fist, "I will take good care of Mom too!"
Si Yue rubbed Wenwen's head silently.
…
When Fu Yunruo woke up again, her head was still groggy. The lights in the room were turned on, and the sky outside the window was already darkened. Qian Shengnan and the others had been checking on her from time to time and soon knew that she had woken up.
"Mom…"
Fu Yunruo saw Wenwen come in with tears in his eyes, but Si Yue was holding his back collar, preventing the little guy from getting too close. "Wenwen," Fu Yunruo called with a smile, "Sorry for lying to you. Mom didn't send you to school not because of an urgent matter in the garden…"
Wenwen of course knew that his mother told him a lie because she didn't want him to worry, so he said, "No, it's okay…" But he used this chance to negotiate, "But I won't go to school tomorrow. I want to take care of Mom at home."
Fu Yunruo hesitated.
Wenwen said again: "I will ask Teacher Su to send me tomorrow's lesson and homework. I can still study at home."
Si Yue chimed in: "I will teach him."
Fu Yunruo had no choice but to agree. It was okay for Wenwen to stay home tomorrow, but he couldn't stay in her room for too long, lest he got infected by the cold.
After saying a few more words to his mother, Wenwen was taken out by Si Yue. Qian Shengnan came in a bit later, carrying a tray of a light meal. Fu Yunruo only ate a few bites earlier, so Qian Shengnan made her a more appetizing tomato and egg noodles, which she managed to eat more.
After a meal, it was time to take medicine. Fu Yunruo swallowed the pills in one gulp and returned to sleep.
Fu Yunruo's illness came suddenly but left slowly. She didn't hide the news, so everyone on her friend list knew about it. Those close, such as Tiantian, came to visit her in person, while those far away sent their well-wishes on WeChat.
Uncle Guo also ran back home. Seeing Fu Yunruo's haggard appearance, he felt distressed and angry at the same time, with the anger directed at himself. If not for him being too old and unable to help much, Ruoruo wouldn't be so tired!
Fu Yunruo did not fall sick often, but the illness this time was very serious, and she had a slow recovery. After three days of total bed rest, Fu Yunruo's fever did not return, but she developed a cough and stuffy nose, which lingered for days and made her hard to breathe at night.
Wenwen stopped going to school and stayed at home for four days including the weekend. When Monday came, under Fu Yunruo's insistence, he reluctantly packed his small schoolbag and went to kindergarten in full worry.
Because of his mother's illness, Wenwen was very listless at school and had no interest in playing around. Only when his close friends Kangkang and Lele make a fuss around would he be more lively. Day by day, he couldn't wait until school ended so that he could come home and accompany his mother!
Today, Wenwen and his classmates lined up and went to the school gate with Teacher Su as usual, but instead of seeing Sister Shengnan and Grandpa Guo, he saw a few old 'acquaintances.'
Seeing the enemies, Wenwen immediately made a serious look on his chubby face. If they hadn't appeared in front of him, Wenwen would have really forgotten these people. His days were happy and fulfilling, so how could he have spare time to think about these abominable people?
Fu Zonghong walked to Teacher Su and Wenwen and said in a cold tone, "I am Fu Wenwen's grandfather, and I will take him home."
On his side, a gentle and kind-looking woman smiled softly, "Hello, Wenwen's teacher." Then she looked at Wenwen with kind eyes.
"Wenwen, do you still remember… grandpa?"
Wenwen grasped Teacher Su's hand unconsciously. He was tense all over, but kept his small body straight as he stared at the couple.
He is not afraid of them!
Teacher Su looked suspiciously at the two wealthy-looking strangers. "I'm sorry, but since I have never been informed before, I cannot entrust the child to you."
The school policy was to hand over the children only to their parents. To avoid problems, parents had to inform the school of the identity of the person who would pick up the child on a daily basis. If that person couldn't make it, the parents had to confirm the replacement with the school in person.
This policy was necessary to protect their charges, mainly to prevent the children from being kidnapped by strangers impersonating relatives. Wenwen's mother had been ill recently, and it was her assistant and an old gentleman who came to pick him up every day. There was no way Teacher Su would hand Wenwen over to an unknown grandpa who came out of nowhere, not to mention Wenwen seemed to be wary of the couple. Who knew if they were truly what they claimed to be?
Fang Wanping said: "Wenwen, your Grandpa Guo's car broke down and he couldn't come to pick you up. We happened to meet him on the way, so we came on his behalf."
When Wenwen heard this, he immediately understood. This was a naked threat! Grandpa Guo and Sister Shengnan had fallen to their hands, and he had to follow this hateful couple obediently to ensure their safety!
Wenwen immediately let go of Teacher Su's hand, "I'll go with you!" Don't you dare touch Grandpa Guo and Sister Shengnan!
Teacher Su was worried, "Wenwen, is this person really your grandfather?"
Wenwen looked up at Fu Zonghong and reluctantly replied, "Yes."
A man dressed like an assistant next to Fu Zonghong handed Teacher Su a business card, "This is the business card of Chairman Fu. If you have any questions, you can contact us anytime."
Teacher Su took a few more glances before she recognized this person as a successful businessman who often appeared in finance and economics news. But this was not a reason to violate the school policy, "Let me check with Wenwen's mother first."
Wenwen disagreed. His mother was still sick and couldn't be disturbed. What if she got angry and her illness relapsed? Wenwen quickly grabbed Fu Zonghong's hand and dragged him away, "Teacher Su, it's alright. Mom must have known. We are going first. If you are still worried, please contact Uncle Yue."
Wenwen didn't believe that Fu Zonghong, a well-known public figure, would do anything bad after taking him away under so many eyes. Since this was the case, he should use this opportunity to scout on the enemy's lair on his mother's behalf!
Fu Zonghong was frowning with displeasure throughout the entire exchange, but when Wenwen's soft chubby hand suddenly grabbed his fingers, he trembled a bit, and allowed himself to be walked over.
Teacher Su watched Wenwen pull Fu Zonghong away, but didn't call to stop them. After thinking about it, she decided to give Mr. Yue a call. Teacher Su was not blind about the matter that went viral on the internet, and thus knew quite a bit about the Fu family scandal involving Fu Yunruo.
If Wenwen and his mother faced the people of the Fu family alone, they would definitely suffer. She could only hope that Mr. Yue, who showed a close relationship with the mother and son that day, could help them.
…
Wenwen followed Fu Zonghong to the car. His face tensed suddenly, and he said in a cold voice, "I'm going with you, so don't hurt Grandpa Guo and Sister Shengnan."
Fu Zonghong's face, which had just calmed down, turned black in an instant, and he immediately turned furious, "What nons—…"
However, facing a pair of small eyes exactly the same as those of Fu Yunruo's and a face that greatly reminded him of her childhood, Fu Zonghong couldn't bring himself to curse. Instead, he said with displeasure: "What nonsense did your mother tell you? Am I the kind of person who breaks the law?"
Fang Wanping said softly, "Your grandfather has always wanted to see you. He is a good person and would not do anything to hurt you or those close to you."
Wenwen was not convinced, "Didn't my car break down? That's your doing, no?"
Fang Wanping's face froze.
Fu Zonghong said directly: "I just had someone stop them a little bit." He wanted to take his grandson home and didn't want others to block him.
"Are Grandpa Guo and Sister Shengnan all right?"
Fang Wanping comforted again: "We will not hurt others."
Fu Zonghong snorted coldly, obviously dissatisfied with Wenwen being so close and caring about outsiders.
Wenwen was very annoyed. He blamed himself for overthinking and boarding an enemy ship on his own initiative. Making sure to let his displeasure show, he glared, "Then what are you trying to do by kidnapping me?" Looking out of the car window, he found the road outside unfamiliar. Clearly, they were not heading home.
Fu Zonghong was annoyed, "What kidnapping? I am your grandfather, is taking you home can be called kidnapping?"
When Fu Zonghong heard the news about Fu Yunruo bringing her son back to settle in Beijing, he waited impatiently for her to come back and make amend with him. After waiting so long, however, he received not even a single text from this daughter of his!
Fu Zonghong was naturally furious, and if not for Wanping's constant persuasion, he wouldn't have made this trip.
That girl really didn't know what was good for her!
Despite his fury, the anger burning within Fu Zonghong seemed to be poured by a basin of icy cold water when facing Wenwen's eyes.
Fu Zonghong snorted coldly, turned his head, and looked out the window.
Fang Wanping said warmly: "Wenwen, please don't misunderstand your grandpa. He may look fierce, but in fact, he cares a lot about you. Don't mind his scary face."
Wenwen hid his face with a pout and yelled furiously, "I want to go home!" Who would admit a 'grandpa' who broke his mother's heart!
"Don't worry, your mother will also come later."
They want to notify Mom? Wenwen's brows furrowed even deeper. Mom was ill recently and couldn't get out of bed! They claimed how much they cared about him and Mom, yet they never came to see her and even used this kidnapping method to force her to come over to them. These hateful guys must actually want to deepen the hostility with his mother!
He had indeed asked Teacher Su to contact Uncle Yue, but what if she contacted Mom instead? Wouldn't Mom become very anxious when she received the news?
Wenwen glanced at the kind-looking woman who smiled warmly at him, thinking: This must be her idea, right?
He was a child. Unless someone came to pick him up or send him home, he was completely at their mercy.
…
The car drove into a gated community and stopped in front of a luxurious villa. Fang Wanping stretched out her hand, wanting to carry Wenwen out of the car, but the boy avoided her like the plague and jumped down on his own.
Fang Wanping withdrew her hands. Her smile remained unchanged, and she said softly, "This is the Fu family's house."
Wenwen looked around. Was this the place where Mom grew up? He raised his head and asked, "Didn't you say this is my home?"
Fang Wanping's smile remained as warm as ever, "Our Fu family's house is naturally also your home."
Fu Zonghong snorted coldly and walked inside without waiting for them.
Wenwen trotted behind with his short legs when he suddenly heard the voice of the woman he hated the most.
"Uncle, have you and Mom brought him back?" The voice was full of joy, and Fang Xueruo's figure appeared the next moment.
"Wenwen, hello…" Fang Xueruo smiled, exuding kindness from top to bottom. She leaned slightly and stretched out her hand.
Wenwen stared at her hand, then bared his row of baby teeth.
Fang Xueruo suddenly recalled the pain of being bitten and subconsciously withdrew her hand.
Wenwen showed a cute smile. Fang Xueruo's smile froze slightly, and she silently cursed this little devil in her heart.
Fang Wanping patted her daughter, "Alright, stop scaring the child." Then she turned to Wenwen, smiling, "Wenwen…"
Wenwen was too disgusted seeing the hypocritical faces of this mother and daughter pair, so he turned his head and entered the villa without saying a word. He walked into the living room, climbed up the sofa, and sat down.
Fu Zonghong sat on the other side with his eyes on the little boy. At first, he was angry with this child. What Yunruo did was really humiliating, and the existence of this child reminded him of the stupid things that his unfilial daughter did all the time. But this child looked so much like the childhood version of his daughter, back when she was still a cute and obedient little girl.
Fu Zonghong thus made a plan. With Yunruo's temperament, she was unsuitable to take over the Fu Group. Fortunately, he was still healthy enough to work for another ten years or so, so it would be better to train this child well to take over the company in the future.
Since his surname was Fu, Wenwen was a child of the Fu family. Fu Zonghong vowed to raise this child well this time, never allowing him to grow up like Yunruo again, and made sure that he understood that family was still family regardless of blood relationship. After he was gone, Wanping would not be bullied.
Fu Zonghong hadn't been in contact with such a young child for a long time and didn't know how to communicate with Wenwen. He awkwardly opened a conversation, "Are you hungry? Have some snacks."
"Do you want to watch cartoons?"
Wenwen blinked and shook his head, "I want to go home. Send me home now, otherwise, my Mom will start to worry."
Fu Zonghong scowled, "This is your home."
"Yes, Wenwen, although your mother has many misunderstandings about us, we are a family." Fang Xueruo's voice was gentle.
Wenwen snorted inside. Who would like to be family with the likes of them? If he really lived under the same roof as this poisonous woman, he wouldn't even be able to sleep well at night.
Wenwen jumped off the sofa, ran to Fu Zonghong's side, and hid by the sofa next to him. He then looked at Fang Xueruo with fearful eyes, "You are a big baddy!" He turned to Fu Zonghong and said pitifully, "She brought people to bully Mom and me. Very scary!"
Fang Xueruo's expression was stiff for a moment, but she immediately turned into full grievances as she looked at Fu Zonghong, hesitating to speak.
Wenwen's eyes were full of tears, looking terrified and helpless.
"Nonsense, how could Xueruo bully you?" Fu Zonghong blurted out without thinking. With Fu Yunruo's temperament, it was good enough that she did not bully others.
Wenwen sniffled timidly, "Everyone knows this. Aren't there many videos on the internet?"
Fu Zonghong was too disdainful to pay attention to the messy gossip on the internet, so when Wanping told him that some gossip reporters were using their family affairs to gain traffic, he immediately ordered his subordinates to delete the news.
Hearing what Wenwen said, he immediately looked at Fang Xueruo.
Fang Xueruo's lips quivered, but before she could defend herself, Fang Wanping took the initiative to apologize, "This is indeed Xueruo's fault. She was so happy to have found her sister and rushed to see her without thinking. It happened that the boy from the Chang family was also there, so they went to look for Yunruo together. As a result…"
Fang Wanping spoke vaguely, so Fu Zonghong immediately thought of Yunruo's hostility towards Xueruo, which Wanping had also mentioned several times. It was originally a conflict between adults, but children tended to take sides with people they were close with regardless of truth, so it was normal for Wenwen to feel that his mother was being bullied.
"It's my fault." Fang Xueruo said hesitantly. She looked like she wanted to get close to Wenwen but didn't dare. She then said cautiously, "Wenwen, I will apologize to you again, so can you forgive me?"
Fu Zonghong felt that it was just a trivial matter. Since they now talked it well, everything should be over. This child was still young and could be taught slowly, so Fu Zonghong turned to Wenwen and said sternly, "A man should have a correct view of right and wrong. You must not learn—…" You must not learn your mother's prejudice.
Wenwen didn't wait for Fu Zonghong to finish speaking. He threw himself to the ground and started crying miserably. No wonder his mother was bullied so badly! In this 'grandfather' eyes, he and his mother couldn't even be compared with a single word of these hateful women.
No — Wenwen thought to himself. He couldn't allow himself to be defeated here. No matter what, he must never be like his previous life.
So he put his hands on his waist and said sternly, "You're right. As human beings, we must have a correct view of right and wrong. Since your butt is crooked, don't think you are qualified to lecture others!"
"As the saying goes, to live is to learn. As long as you have one breath left, you still have the chance to fix your broken brain. Fortunately, being blindly stupid is not a terminal illness, so I suggest you treat it as soon as possible!"
"You kid, where did you hear such messy nonsense?!" Being scolded by a little child made Fu Zonghong furious.
"I'm merely telling the truth." Wenwen snorted, "You want to scold me for telling you the truth?"
"Or you want to beat me?" Wenwen suddenly looked frightened.
"Fortunately, my mother is smart. Although she is innocent and easy to be bullied, at least she will not be fooled around by villains…" The boy rolled his eyes, "Unlike you!"
"You!"
"Old Fu, don't be angry. Wenwen is still young. He is just repeating what adults said without understanding the meaning…"
"Old grandma, you seem to be alluding to something. Are you trying to make him think my Mom has taught me bad?" Wenwen tilted his head innocently, "Do you prefer to be called white lotus or green tea?"
"Is this how you talk to elders?"
Looking at Fu Zonghong's angry face, Wenwen sighed inwardly.
Tsk, when will Uncle Yue come to pick him up? It's not easy to face these people alone!
…
Not long after, Si Yue arrived in front of the Fu family's house. Immediately after receiving Teacher Su's call, he called the bodyguards on standby nearby, got into the car, and promptly drove to the Fu family's house. On the way, he made another call and learned that Qian Shengnan's side was only involved in a minor car accident, but the other party made a fuss and refused to let them go.
Si Yue's eyes turned cold. This Fu family was too capable. He hadn't taken any actions yet, but they dared to set their minds on his son.
The road was smooth and unimpeded. Soon, Si Yue's car arrived in front of the Fu family's villa. Looking at the closed gate, he coolly ordered, "Break it open."
The villas in high-end communities had tight security and were generally equipped with a modern alarm system that rang upon intrusion or damage. Naturally, the Fu family's house was no exception. On top of that, their gate and fence were made of thick and solid steel, probably unbreakable even when rammed by a truck. Therefore, after receiving Si Yue's order, one of the bodyguards went to cut off the alarm system while two others climbed up the fence to open the gate from the other side.
"Who are you?" A panicked voice came from inside, "G-go away! Or we will call the police!"
Surrounded by a group of tall and imposing bodyguards, Si Yue walked directly into the villa, ignoring the few servants held back by the remaining bodyguards.
When the Fu family servants first saw a group of people suddenly appear and break in, they all shouted vigilantly, but they were immediately stunned when seeing the face of the uninvited guest. With Si Yue's fame, very few people in the country — regardless of gender or age — did not know his face. Because of their employers, the Fu family's servants paid close attention to the news on the internet and instantly knew that Si Yue was here for their new young master.
Who didn't know that the young master and Si Yue were very close?
The servants were blocked by a bunch of tall and burly bodyguards. Most became afraid and did not dare to stop Si Yue, but one managed to slip close to the house and quickly ran in to inform the family, "Sir, it's bad…!"
Fu Zonghong, whose mood was already bad to begin with, snarled, "What is it?!"
"A group of people broke into the house!" The servant replied in a panic.
Wenwen's eyes lit up. He quickly jumped off the sofa and ran out. It must be Uncle Yue!
When Wenwen saw the incoming person was indeed Si Yue, he immediately rushed over, "Uncle Yue, you are finally here!"
Finally finding a backbone, the boy climbed onto Si Yue's arms, complaining, "Uncle Yue, they bullied me!"
"You don't even know how scared I was! Three adults are bullying me, a four-year-old child!" With Si Yue as his backing, Wenwen was not afraid of anything.
Fu Zonghong's temple twitched. This little guy really knew how to speak. Who actually bullied whom?
Si Yue hugged Wenwen tight. Feeling the child's heavy, warm body hang on him like a small koala finally put him at ease. Fortunately, the little guy was fine.
"Brother Yue?" Fang Xueruo was shocked to see Si Yue suddenly appear, "Why are you here?"
Si Yue ignored Fang Xueruo and stared straight at Fu Zonghong, "Chairman Fu, isn't it rude for you to take a child away without the consent of his parents?"
Fu Zonghong narrowed his eyes slightly, and his tone turned cold, "This is a private matter of my Fu family. Mr. Si, aren't you poking your nose too deep?"
Fang Xueruo explained: "My sister refused to see Uncle, so we have no choice but to do this. We just want my sister to come back."
Wenwen rolled his eyes mockingly, "You are pushing Mom further, you know? I am Mom's beloved baby, and she will only hate you even more when she knows that you guys have kidnapped me." Wenwen then turned to Fu Zonghong, "Whoever made this idea must not want to see my Mom return."
"Even a four-year-old like me understand this, so why don't you?" Like a little adult, Wenwen nodded heavily and said, "You actually don't want Mom to come back and ruin the happy life of your family of three, do you?"
"Nonsense!" Fu Zonghong exploded, "Do I still have to beg her to come back?"
In Wenwen's eyes, Fu Zonghong's anger was out of the humiliation of being exposed. The boy quickly put on a frightened expression and clung to Si Yue, seeking protection. He cried coquettishly, "Uncle Yue, he is scary!"
"Nonsense!" Fu Zonghong exploded, "Do I still have to beg her to come back?"
In Wenwen's eyes, Fu Zonghong's anger was out of the humiliation of being exposed. The boy quickly put on a frightened expression and clung to Si Yue, seeking protection. He cried coquettishly, "Uncle Yue, he is scary!"
Si Yue patted Wenwen's fat butt, "Don't be afraid; I'm here." He then looked at Fu Zonghong, "If there is nothing else, we are taking our leave."
Si Yue looked down on Fu Zonghong's approach, but he didn't have time to argue with these people. It was already this hour; if they didn't go home soon, Yunruo would start to get worried.
"However, I hope there won't be the next time." When Si Yue said this, his voice was slightly cold, but his gaze fell on Fang Wanping.
"Chairman Fu, you are well-known for your acumen in the business world. I hope that you can also open your eyes when it comes to your family affairs. Don't let yourself be led by the nose forever."
"I think you should think carefully about why you got to this point."
Fu Zonghong shouted angrily: "Arrogant boy, who needs you to give me lectures! Put Wenwen down!"
"Why are you still standing there? Drive them away!" Seeing that the servants were just watching from the sidelines, Fu Zonghong became even angrier.
The servants looked at each other helplessly. Si Yue came prepared with a large number of trained bodyguards; each was tall and muscular. A group of domestic servants clearly were not their opponents. However, the big boss made the order, so they had no choice but to take action.
The result was obvious — Si Yue's bodyguards brought the servants down easily.
Wenwen hugged Si Yue's neck as he watched with relish. The difference between the two sides was too large to make the fight exciting, but Uncle Yue's bodyguards were amazing!
With a wide grin, Wenwen leaned forward to rub Si Yue's face with his cheek.
Si Yue enjoyed the soft touch and rubbed back in response, delighted with the boy's display of intimacy.
Fang Xueruo was watching Si Yue and Wenwen's interaction from the side. Very suddenly, she inexplicably felt the two profiles extremely similar, as if the man and the boy in his arms were connected by a deep blood bond.
For some unknown reason, Fang Xueruo's expression suddenly changed.
No, it's impossible…how could it be?
Fu Zonghong saw how Wenwen rejected his own grandfather but was so close to an outsider, which made him displease Si Yue even more. With a livid face, he said angrily, "Do you have the hobby of meddling in other people's business?"
"Of course not." Si Yue said, "Believe it or not, but once Ruoruo knows about today's matter, she surely will alienate you even more."
Fu Zonghong's face turned uglier, and he finally only watched as Si Yue turned around and left with Wenwen.
Fang Wanping called out worriedly: "Old Fu?"
Fu Zonghong turned around and went straight back to the house.
Fang Wanping followed in. Seeing Fu Zonghong's dark face, she said guiltily, "It's all my fault. I didn't think carefully and thought that if we brought Wenwen home, Yunruo would also come back…" She sighed, "Now, she must misunderstand us even more."
Seeing his wife blaming herself, Fu Zonghong's expression softened. "It's not your fault. I know you just mean well." Then he turned furious again, "I don't believe she won't come back for the rest of her life. Can she really let go of the Fu Group?!"
Fang Wanping lowered her head slightly, hiding a glimmer of light that flashed quickly in her eyes. She then said, "Don't worry; she will eventually figure it out. The Fu Group is hers – how can she let your hard work be ruined?"
"I really don't know how to get along well with her… if she still rejects Xueruo and me, maybe we should leave this house altogether…"
"What nonsense! You are an elder; why do you have to accommodate her? Don't be so soft!" Fu Zonghong became even more dissatisfied. There were many remarried families in the world. Many stepmothers abused their stepchildren, but Wanping was never like that. Maybe her love was different from a biological mother's, but she at least always treated the two daughters equally. What else did Yunruo still dissatisfy with!
Too ignorant!
…
Fang Xueruo chased after Si Yue, "Brother Yue!"
Si Yue put Wenwen into the car and closed the door. Only then did he turn around, looking extremely cold. "Miss Fang, please watch your manner. We are not familiar."
Fang Xueruo bit her lips, "Si Yue, I need to talk to you." She motioned for Si Yue to come over.
Si Yue was unmoved, "I don't think we have anything to talk about."
"This is about Wenwen. Are you sure…" Fang Xueruo glanced at the car.
Si Yue raised an eyebrow, then walked over. "What do you want to say?"
"Is Wenwen…" Before Fang Xueruo finished speaking, Si Yue interrupted, as if he had predicted what she wanted to say.
"Miss Fang, you are a smart person, so you should know what to say and what not to say, right?" Si Yue looked at Fang Xueruo with indifferent eyes, which gave her inexplicable pressure.
Fang Xueruo forced out a smile: "I don't quite understand what you mean."
"I see. That's the best."
…
Wenwen leaned on the door and peeped through the window, wondering what Si Yue was talking about with that hateful woman. Was she speaking ill of him and his mother again? Unfortunately, the care was so well insulated that he couldn't hear what they were saying.
When Wenwen was contemplating sneaking out to secretly listen to their conversation, Si Yue returned to the car.
After Si Yue opened the door and got in, the car quickly departed.
Wenwen glanced at Fang Xueruo, who was still standing on the side of the road. He then turned around and asked curiously: "Uncle Yue, what did she say to you?"
"Nothing." Si Yue patted the boy's head. "Have you thought about what to say after we returned home?"
"…" Wenwen was worried, "Mom knows?"
"Not yet, but—" Si Yue changed the subject, "If you don't reflect on yourself, it's just a matter of time."
Wenwen blinked a few times. He propped his chubby cheeks with both hands and said cutely, "Uncle Yue~ This is a secret between us, so don't tell mom, okay?"
"Then tell Uncle first, why did you go with them" Si Yue was unmoved, "Haven't you always been taught to never follow others casually? If something happens to you, how sad would your mom be? And also everyone who loves you…"
Wenwen hung his head down, "I was wrong." He mistakenly believed that Grandpa Guo and Sister Shengnan were taken away, so he thought he had no choice but to follow their demand.
But he indeed didn't think it through carefully. Even if he was taken away so openly, people with evil intentions could always find ways to harm him. As a child, he didn't have much ability to resist.
"Let us grown-ups take care of grown-up's affairs. You kid should not get involved."
Wenwen pouted, "I'm not a kid anymore." He is a man who can protect his mother.
"Uncle Yue, don't tell mom, okay?"
"Let's see your performance first. Will you be a good boy from now on?"
"Yes!" Wenwen answered vigorously.
Only then did Si Yue nod in satisfaction, then stretched out his hand to pinch the boy's slippery and chubby cheeks.
"…" Still having a guilty conscience, Wenwen didn't dare to resist, so he could only pout as he 'sold' his body to Si Yue.
He didn't have it easy, ah…
When Wenwen and Si Yue returned home, it was already dark, and Uncle Guo and Qian Shengnan were already home.
"Where have you guys been?" Seeing the two finally return, Fu Yunruo sighed in relief. When she saw that Wenwen hadn't come home after the sky turned dark, she was so worried that she forcibly got off the bed and waited in the living room downstairs. If Si Yue hadn't called, she would have gone out to find her son in person.
When Fu Yunruo learned that the car Uncle Guo and Shengnan rode had an accident, she was shocked. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but Si Yue, who replaced them to pick up Wenwen, took forever to return. She had even begun to worry that the two also had a car accident when they finally came home.
"Mom!" Wenwen ran over, "Mom, I miss you!"
Fu Yunruo caught the boy and pinched his rosy cheeks, "What a sweet tongue, huh? Did you do something bad today?"
"No way!" Wenwen said coquettishly, "It's been forever since I last saw you, Mom, so I miss you so much!"
"Cough!" Fu Yunruo was about to speak again, but her throat suddenly felt itchy and she coughed a few times. She was wearing a face mask for precaution, but when she coughed, she subconsciously turned her face away from her son.
Wenwen quickly stood on tiptoe and patted his mother's back in concern to make her feel better.
Si Yue went to pour a glass of water for Fu Yunruo. She took it with thanks, then turned her head sideways, pulled off her mask, and drank a few sips of water. The water moisturized her itchy throat and quickly subsided her cough.
Only then did Si Yue explain: "Wenwen begged to buy a cake and refused to listen, so we have to make a detour."
"…" In order not to expose the truth, Wenwen reluctantly accepted the false accusation, "The cake is delicious…"
"Huh?" Fu Yunruo immediately turned to her son and asked sharply, "How much did you eat?" Children didn't know how to restrain themselves, so Fu Yunruo always strictly controlled Wenwen's sugar intake to prevent tooth decay.
Occasionally, she could turn a blind eye when he ate a bit more once in a while, but she never allowed him to eat too much.
"Don't worry, he only ate half a slice." Si Yue said. He then pointed to the box on the table and said to Uncle Guo and Qian Shengnan, "We brought back some. Please help yourselves."
As for Fu Yunruo, she hadn't recovered yet and couldn't eat sweets, so Si Yue bought her a bowl of pear stewed in rock sugar to help with her cough.
Qian Shengnan might be quite a tomboy, but she actually had sweet teeth. After thanking Si Yue happily, she quickly reserved some of the cakes for an after-dinner dessert.
As for Uncle Guo, when he saw that everyone had come back, simply said, "Let's start dinner." It was already eight — way past their usual dinner time.
Since Uncle Guo knew that Fu Yunruo was sick, he had been staying at the villa, leaving early and returning early every day. During the night, the garden was entrusted to the live-in staff. Fortunately, two more employees had been hired before Fu Yunruo fell sick, so her absence did not affect the garden's day-to-day operation.
But trouble arose in another place. In the past few days, several people claiming to be Fu Yunruo's fans came to the garden and clamored to see her. Sick to their behavior, Uncle Guo simply avoided them. He also didn't believe these rude people to be Fu Yunruo's real fans. More likely, they were here to rub on her popularity. Thankfully, Wei Wuguo was good at his job and drove all the troublemakers out while simultaneously preventing non-authorized people from accessing the private area of the garden.
In order to prevent Fu Yunruo from worrying needlessly when she should be recuperating, everyone tacitly kept these small episodes hidden from her.
As expected, Fu Yunruo had no doubts. After a few more words, she put aside the matter of Wenwen returning late.
Wenwen was amazed. No wonder Uncle Yue stopped halfway and asked one of the uncle's bodyguards to buy a box of cakes. So it turned out to be a cover! Mom didn't doubt it at all; how amazing!
But what to do now? Uncle Yue said he had already eaten the cake, but he actually hadn't even had a single bite…
Why did Uncle Yue say that ah? He could say they just stopped by to buy the cakes instead of eating!
Those cakes looked so good. But now Mom thought that he had eaten it and definitely wouldn't let him take some. How sad!
…
During dinner, Si Yue told Fu Yunruo that he was free recently and could take Wenwen to and from school, saving Uncle Guo from the task.
Fu Yunruo was hesitant for a moment, but she indeed felt bad seeing the elderly Uncle Guo making such a trip every day, so she acquiesced.
With a common secret tying them together, Wenwen and Si Yue's relationship took a big step forward, becoming much closer than before, even making Fu Yunruo jealous sometimes.
While Fu Yunruo was recuperating at home, she was not totally idle. She started making more videos once she got better. The eleven orchids she raised had all bloomed, but she was too busy with the family and garden during that period of time and didn't have time to compile the photos into a video. Now, she finally had free time to do the delayed task.
The first three videos were received very well, far beyond initial expectations. The stunning time-lapse depicting the growth of each orchid not only mesmerized orchid lovers but also caught the general public's attention. Thanks to that, many people were looking forward to Fu Yunruo's other orchids, especially the mutated lotus petal orchid dubbed 'The Eldest Child' by the fans. Therefore
Fu Yunruo didn't want to make her fans wait for too long, but her stamina hadn't fully recovered, and she needed regular breaks. After facing the monitor for a while, she would either come downstairs to check on the orchids or take a short walk to refresh. It had been more than half a month since she was confined at home. Fu Yunruo believed that her illness was almost gone, save for the occasional heavy cough that often occurred suddenly at night. Nevertheless, compared to the days when she could hardly sleep all night, she was already much better.
But her family members were all very nervous. When Fu Yunruo mentioned her intention to return to the flower garden to resume livestreaming, Wenwen's eyes immediately filled with tears and even Uncle Guo gave her disapproving eyes. Helpless, she could only follow their request to stay home until she fully recovered.
But the days of doing nothing except for sleeping and eating truly had taken effect on her body. Fu Yunruo felt that all the weight she had lost from the illness had returned — with some extra.
Today, Fu Yunruo was editing as usual. After doing the final touches on the youngest child's video, she saved her work and got off the chair with a long stretch. She then put on a mask and went out for a walk.
The temperature outside had risen steadily. Down jackets were no longer needed, and the transition from winter to spring clothes should be completed in half a month.
Fu Yunruo put on a thin coat, then walked out of the villa and took a stroll on the sidewalk of the community.
It was daytime. Most people were either at school or work, so the pedestrian area was relatively quiet, but Fu Yunruo still met some people here and there. She was very popular in the community. Everyone she met greeted her and stopped for a light chat.
Walking aimlessly, Fu Yunruo eventually arrived at the gate of the community. As she approached, she heard some commotion from the gate, so she looked over curiously.
As Fu Yunruo got closer, she heard a security guard talking: "I've said it many times, but the person you are looking for is not here. Please don't disturb our work."
"How could it be? They live here; please check again…"
"Do you think we are unaware of our residents? You are coming to the wrong place."
"…"
Fu Yunruo stood for a while and listened. After learning the gist of the matter, she was about to leave when another voice sounded.
"We are sorry to disturb you, but can you please make an exception for us?"
The speaker sounded a bit familiar. Fu Yunruo felt she had heard this voice somewhere before, so she turned her head and looked again, just in time to see a young woman in a wide hat and sunglasses coming out of the car.
"My sister really lives here. Can you check again? I really want to see her."
Fu Yunruo squinted her eyes. Wasn't that Fang Xueruo? By this point, she finally recognized the other woman as Fang Xueruo's agent.
How did they come here? Fu Yunruo was surprised. If they hadn't appeared suddenly, she would have really forgotten the existence of these people. Still, here was Beijing. She was originally prepared to run into them somewhere, but didn't expect them to come to her so soon.
Fu Yunruo had no patience to deal with these annoying people. Since the security did not notify her, let's just pretend she had seen nothing.
Fu Yunruo quickly turned around and left. After seeing Fang Xueruo's face, she was no longer in the mood to continue her walk, so she decided to return home. As she walked back slowly, Fu Yun recalled the conversation she had just overheard at the gate. It seemed that someone had notified security to turn those people away if they came to her, and there was also no need to notify her. Although this matter was done without her authorization, Fu Yunruo was very grateful.
The security of this high-end community was very good. Even if a big star came to the door, as long as they were not a resident themselves or a guest confirmed by one of the residents, they absolutely wouldn't be allowed to enter, and the security guard also would never leak the privacy and identity of the residents.
If not for this, she probably wouldn't be this relaxed. It was so annoying to be disturbed every day by hateful people.
Fu Yunruo walked for a while and finally saw her villa in the distance. Before reaching her own home, she had to pass Si Yue's. Even though they were direct neighbors, the villas in this community were built with privacy in mind, so there was actually some distance between each building.
Fu Yunruo knew Si Yue lived here, but she had never been to his house. It was always him who came to her house practically every day.
She couldn't help but look curiously and found that the door of his house was ajar.
Is Mr. Yue home?
Fu Yunruo hesitated for a moment, then walked over slowly.
Should she swing by and talk to him?
Si Yue had taken so much care of her during her sickness. As dense as Fu Yunruo, she was now 100% sure that Si Yue liked her and wanted to chase her. Such an excellent man actually had a crush on her, and he also happened to be the dream lover of thousands of girls. Had to say, it really satisfied her vanity as a woman. But she had long passed the age of dreaming, and knew that she was not worthy of Si Yue.
Fu Yunruo always remembered. Back when Wenwen was still very young, he was already very repulsive with the idea of her finding a man. Even if Wenwen and Si Yue were getting along so well now, it would definitely change under a different relationship. She could tell that Wenwen really liked Si Yue, so she didn't want her son to lose such a good friend of his.
Moreover, the original 'Fu Yunruo' ended up so tragically because of her father's remarriage. Fu Yunruo couldn't imagine what it would be like if Wenwen experienced the same thing that the original 'Fu Yunruo' had experienced since childhood.
She knew Si Yue well, but that was only the surface. Who knew what he would be like in the future? She didn't dare to bet.
Even if Si Yue turned out to be a good guy through and thorough, a marriage was not just a matter of two people. Even if he didn't mind, what about his family? No matter how small, she couldn't accept any possibility of wronging Wenwen.
What's more, she had decided very early that she would only have one child, Wenwen, in this lifetime.
In other words, even if she got married in the future, she would not have another child, which was very unfair to the man.
Fu Yunruo decided that she couldn't wait for Si Yue to clarify. She would first tell him what she thought so that he could understand her position and reasoning, and then ask him to keep a proper distance. She shouldn't delay others and had to make it clear as soon as possible.
Deep in thought, Fu Yunruo had already walked to the door. She was about to knock when a voice came from the house.
"Si Yue, how long are you going to hide it?"
Fu Yunruo recognized Yuan Xin's voice. Afraid she might be overhearing a confidential matter, she quickly turned around and left.
She had just taken a step when the next sentence made her frozen in place.
"Wenwen is your son. When are you going to make it clear to Yunruo?"
In the yard, Yuan Xin looked at Si Yue with a complicated expression. Sensing the disappearance of the presence outside the door, Yuan Xin finally opened his mouth again: "Why do you suddenly want to let her know?"
"It's about time." Si Yue replied. If he told Fu Yunruo the truth face to face, he was worried that the shock would be too big for her to accept, so he finally decided to use this way to allow her to build a psychological preparation first.
He also had another consideration — instead of taking the risk of Fu Yunruo learning the truth from others, he might as well tell her himself. Although he had cut off the possibility of Fang Xueruo approaching Fu Yunruo, there was nothing absolute in this world, especially because this woman could never be trusted.
The same fact, coming from Fang Xueruo's mouth, could end up giving a totally different impression. He did not want Fu Yunruo to misunderstand him again.
When Yuan Xin first learned Si Yue's intention to finally stop concealing the truth, he was truly relieved. This matter had long been nagging his conscience. If he had nothing to do with Fu Yunruo and Wenwen, he would be able to help Si Yue without feeling any pressure. But the reality was different. Let alone Wenwen, he was getting along very well with Fu Yunruo and could now be considered her friend, making him feel extremely guilty for deceiving her. So when Si Yue came to him with a request to help stage the play, he quickly agreed.
Now, his task was considered to be completed. Before leaving, he turned to Si Yue and advised, "You still have to explain clearly in person. No matter what, you have to clear any misunderstanding."
From his observation, the situation was actually not bad. Si Yue fell in love with Fu Yunruo, and while Fu Yunruo obviously had some feelings for Si Yue, she was clearly holding back.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see Fu Yunruo's concern was Wenwen. But it was such a coincidence — Wenwen was not only Fu Yunruo's son, but also Si Yue's biological child, so her concerns were not actually a problem.
Even if Wenwen wasn't Si Yue's own, with this guy's personality, he would readily fulfill responsibilities as a father, and he was capable enough of making Fu Yunruo believe in his sincerity.
But the strong blood relationship could reassure Fu Yunruo even more.
Anyway, the rest depended on Si Yue's performance. As a friend, all he should do now was wait for their wedding invitation.
Yuan Xin suddenly remembered the other business that made him come today, "By the way, there is one more thing. Are you sure you will not quit being an actor for the time being?"
Si Yue's original plan was to announce his retirement after winning the Best Actor Award last year, yet he hadn't made any movement until now. After Yuan Xin confirmed once again, he said, "There is a good script. Do you want to try it?"
"It is a futuristic sci-fi movie funded by the government. But it is also a bit risky. As you know, our domestic sci-fi industry is still lagging internationally." In the worst-case scenario, the movie might tank and drag Si Yue's reputation with it.
"There is also a child character in it, so I plan to let Wenwen play a cameo role."
Si Yue originally wanted to refuse, but he immediately changed his mind: "Show me the script first. Tell the company to invest in the movie and try to give the child character as many roles as possible."
Yuan Xin responded, "This role is originally heavy enough. From screen time alone, it can be considered the fourth male lead. The director is ready to reduce the role if the child actor selected couldn't perform well, but I believe that Wenwen will definitely be alright."
Si Yue nodded in agreement. Of course, his son is amazing.
…
Fu Yunruo left in a trance and didn't hear Si Yue and Yuan Xin's subsequent conversation. Her mind was a mess; she didn't know how long she had been listening and didn't even know how she had left.
After she returned home, she sat still without reacting for a long time. The conversation she accidentally overheard kept repeating in her mind:
The incident of that night was an accident, and it was not your fault…
I have long been wanting to explain, but I don't know how to say it…
This kind of matter is indeed embarrassing, but you don't want to be absent from the duty of father forever, right?
Fu Yunruo knew the meaning of each word, but why did they become incomprehensible when strung together? It was as if she was daydreaming.
Si Yue? Wenwen's father? How is this possible?
Fu Yunruo tried to look for clues, but she couldn't think of any. Because she deliberately made herself forget, the memory of that night had long been blurred, and she couldn't associate Si Yue with that blur-faced man.
How could this be possible?
She couldn't believe it.
However, she also could not not believe it. At any rate, Si Yue, a big star, must be very busy every day, so how could he be so free to take care of Wenwen so meticulously?
No matter how much he liked children, it was impossible to reach this level for a child he was not related to, right?
Fu Yunruo was deep in thought for a long time. Her brain slowly disgested the shocking news, and she gradually sorted out her mess-up mind.
So did Si Yue approach her just to get close to Wenwen?
And he was always so nice to her only because of this relationship?
But it was not that strange. Si Yue, the great actor, must be surrounded by endless beauty, so how could he fall in love with someone like her, who was already a mother of a child?
Fortunately, nothing substantial had happened between them. Otherwise, if she really fell in love with him…
Fu Yunruo's current mood was extremely complicated.
No, wait, Si Yue is not going to snatch Wenwen from her, is he? He keeps brushing up on Wenwen's favorability. Is this in preparation for getting the child's custody from her?
Fu Yunruo suddenly startled awake. Absolutely not! Wenwen is her child!
Oh, yes, she has to go and pick Wenwen up.
During this period of time, Si Yue volunteered to send Wenwen to and off school. Now that she knew the truth, Fu Yunruo suddenly found that she was really out of her mind at the time. How could she let them cultivate their relationship? What if Si Yue played tricks and took Wenwen away?
Rationally, she knew that Si Yue would not do such a thing. After all, he had been picking up Wenwen for several days without incident. Yet she couldn't feel at ease. Whenever it came to Wenwen, she always easily lost her mind and couldn't help but think in the worst direction.
The reveal of the truth had a great impact on Fu Yunruo. She stood up in a hurry to pick up her son, but when she looked at the clock, she was shocked to find it was already past 4:30!
Has she been in a daze for so long?
At this time, Si Yue had long gone to pick up Wenwen, right?
Fu Yunruo was extremely uneasy. She paced back and forth in the living room, and finally couldn't hold back her panic.
As soon as she rushed out the gate, Fu Yunruo saw Wenwen jump out of Si Yue's car. The boy's face brightened upon seeing her, and he immediately ran in her direction.
"Mom!" Wenwen hugged Fu Yunruo's thigh, grinning from ear to ear. Mom comes out to pick him up! So happy!
Fu Yunruo leaned down and hugged the little boy. The soft, warm sensation and the solid weight in her arms finally calmed down her turmoil heart.
Wenwen hugged Fu Yunruo's neck, blushing. He has grown up! Too big to still be carried by his mother! But… but… once in a while should be okay, no?
From the day Mom got sick, she hasn't hugged him or given him a kiss…
Thinking like this, Wenwen couldn't help snuggling closer.
Fu Yunruo carried her son into the house. As soon as Wenwen entered the living room, he clamored to be put down. He then took out a notebook from his school back and opened it for Fu Yunruo to see.
"Mom, I got three red flowers today!"
"Wenwen is really amazing!" Fu Yunruo praised, "What reward was these flowers for?"
"My craft homework, first place!" Wenwen said proudly.
"…" Fu Yunruo suddenly fell silent. If she remembers correctly, Wenwen's recent homework was all done with Si Yue.
Wenwen's chubby finger pointed to the little red flower in the middle, "This one is the reward for my excellent performance in kindergarten!"
Wenwen was very happy. In his class, no other kids had more red flowers than him!
Fu Yunruo put aside her complicated emotions and continued showering her son with lavish praises.
Then, Si Yue entered the room.
The moment Fu Yunruo saw him, her mind suddenly exploded. He is Wenwen's biological father!