This atmosphere made Yurong even more reserved; she had never experienced such an occasion before. Li Yan's behavior surprised her even more. She vaguely saw another side of him—the guy who always seemed carefree was now shedding tears, being earnest and serious; in front of his parents, he's just a child!

This also made her more curious about Li Yan's past. Was he really just working odd jobs? Ashamed to come back because he hadn't made a name for himself? But he doesn't seem particularly successful now either. Yet, over the past year, she hadn't seen him fighting hard to succeed!

If it were just the three of them, perhaps the excitement of reunion would last a bit longer. But with Yurong present, even though they've been married for almost a year, she's still visiting for the first time as a new bride, so the in-laws have to be a bit mindful.

They each have their own sighs and feelings, all carrying a similar sense of guilt. Li Yan feels he's let his parents down, and Li Tang and his wife share the same sentiment!

Especially after seeing the situation of his former buddy Zhang Tianyi and all that's happening with the Zhang Family, Li Tang felt deeply ashamed. If he had achieved even a tenth of Zhang Tianyi's success, his son wouldn't have mysteriously run off to work after high school!

Overall, after the excitement, there's still happiness. Li Yan has returned now, and he has an excellent wife, their relationship seems good too. For parents, this is very satisfying.

Li Yan and his father drank liquor, while Wang Suzhen casually sipped a bit of wine with Yurong. It wasn't anything fancy, but in such an atmosphere, it tasted better than a costly vintage.

After dinner, Yurong helped tidy up the table, but Wang Suzhen rushed to do it herself. Everyone knew that with her upbringing, she probably hadn't done much housework until now; the thought counts more.

Yurong still felt somewhat like a guest here. The house is only so big, and she didn't want to intrude by wandering into a room alone. But she felt she should give Li Yan and his father some space to talk. So, even though her mother-in-law didn't let her wash dishes or anything, she went into the kitchen, unable to help much but joining in the chat, making Wang Suzhen very pleased.

Li Tang suffered a gunshot wound back in the day, and his health has not been the best. However, he lived a relatively leisurely life, unlike Zhang Tianyi who was overworked, and he started caring for his health early on. He does drink occasionally, but always in moderation. Tonight, feeling happy, he drank a little more than usual.

While Li Yan had long become a seasoned drinker, a bit of liquor was nothing to him.

The father and son sat in the living room, their gaze fixed on the TV in front of them, but couldn't really focus on the content; both remained silent, saying nothing.

Perhaps it's a traditional trait of Yun Country men: grown-up fathers and sons rarely communicate easily. Since the patriarchal era, men at home, in front of children, have to maintain a dignified image. 'A father's failure to teach', 'A mother's excessive indulgence ruins the child', 'Strict fathers and kind mothers'—such generational concepts make it difficult for fathers and sons to talk like friends.

Originally, Li Tang and Li Yan had things to talk about, but as Li Yan grew up and went to middle school, their communication diminished, especially after being apart for over a decade now. When Li Yan did call home, Li Tang usually only added a few words before letting them talk, merely listening on the side. Now returning home, it's a situation where father and son are alone together, both feeling they should say something but finding it difficult to start.

Li Yan took out a cigarette, handed one to his father, and helped him light it.

Li Tang silently accepted it and puffed away. In the past, when Li Yan was still studying, if he smoked, his father would naturally intervene, but now he's married, an adult, no need for concern over such things.

"Are you... okay?"

"Hmm?" Hearing his father's words, Li Yan turned to look at him.

Li Tang gestured towards the kitchen with his eyes, "You and Yurong... You don't blame me, do you?"

A year ago, Li Tang had forced Li Yan out of hiding, threatening to sever their father-son relationship if he didn't return and coerced him into marrying. Even in feudal times, leaving surface harmony and hidden resentment might happen, but in the twenty-first century, it's relatively rare.

Li Yan thought for a moment and said earnestly: "To say blame, I really don't blame you. I just felt it might merely be a temporary task, resolved after a while. Like pretending for someone briefly, it wasn't too hard to accept. But... sometimes misfortune is a blessing? Now Yurong and I have developed feelings for each other, I believe... barring surprises, our marriage will continue."

Li Tang silently took a few more puffs, then sighed softly, "As long as you both live well, that's good. Take good care of Yurong; she's a fine kid. At that time, accepting a girl who outshines you in every way is difficult for anyone, let alone someone marrying a vastly inferior stranger. Moreover, it affects a woman's reputation. Her pressure would only be greater than yours! Yet for her father's sake, she still resolutely agreed. A filial child!"

Li Yan was a bit sweaty; Dad, even though Yurong is exceptional, you don't have to belittle your son like this, right?