Chapter 555: She is my obsession (second update)

At noon, Fu Chenxuan remembered what his father looked like when he came out of the study in the morning and, after some thought, gave him a call.

"Daddy."

Fu Hengyi sounded indifferent, "Is there something?"

"Daddy, what did you do to make Mom angry?" Fu Chenxuan was very curious. Throughout his life, his mother had hardly ever been angry, let alone at his dad. This time she even kicked him out to sleep in the study, Fu Chenxuan felt he, as a son, must really care about his parents.

It was better not to mention it, but as soon as it was brought up, Fu Hengyi couldn’t help but scowl. The culprit dared to ask him about it, he snorted coldly and said nothing.

Even through the phone, Fu Chenxuan could feel the intense chill from his dad and ventured tentatively, "Daddy, do you have someone else outside?" After he spoke, he wanted to slap himself. How could such a thoughtless comment come from him?

The chill in Fu Hengyi’s voice grew denser, "Fu Chenxuan, you should be grateful you’re not in front of me right now." Otherwise, he definitely needed to straighten out this brat thoroughly. It was indeed true that not being disciplined for three days led to trouble.

Fu Chenxuan awkwardly smiled and cleverly changed the topic, "Daddy, actually Mom is easy to pacify. I can give you some tips."

Fu Hengyi was about to hang up, but hearing this, he moved the phone back to his ear, "If it’s useless, you can just get lost." It would spare him the pain of seeing him.

Fu Chenxuan didn’t mind his dad’s harsh words at all and gave Fu Hengyi a few suggestions.

"Daddy, I’m going out to dine with friends tonight and will be back late. If it’s too late, I will not return home. You and Mom should enjoy some couple time. Don’t worry, I will ensure that Shuyi stays at school. I’ll call Mom later to arrange to have tea with her in the afternoon." Fu Chenxuan spoke cheerfully, truly feeling like a considerate son. Looking at all the arrangements he had made, he just didn’t believe his mom would still be angry tomorrow.

Fu Hengyi barely expressed satisfaction, deciding to let bygones be bygones for the morning’s ordeal, advised him a few words, then hung up the phone and started thinking about heading home early in the evening to prepare.

Thus, the very diligent Mr. Fu snuck out of work in the afternoon, leaving the military base early and heading home. When he arrived, the house was empty, even the housekeeper had been sent away. Fu Hengyi, rarely satisfied with his son, first arranged the house, and then went to the kitchen to start cooking.

**

In the café, Shen Qinglan looked at her son, "Is there something you want to talk about?"

Fu Chenxuan smiled broadly throughout, "No, I was just thinking it’s been a long time since we’ve gone out for a coffee together. Mom, the coffee here is excellent. I’ve been here before."

Shen Qinglan looked steadfastly at her son, Fu Chenxuan let her scrutinize him, and after a while, Shen Qinglan withdrew her gaze and sipped her coffee, "Hmm, it tastes good."

"Mom, have you and dad been married for over twenty years now?"

"What are you trying to say?" Shen Qinglan vaguely sensed what her son was implying.

"I saw dad walking out of the study this morning, did he upset you?" He had wanted to say they’d argued, but thinking of his father’s doting nature, arguing was absolutely impossible.

"I guess so." Shen Qinglan wanted to hear what her son had to say, so she followed along his topic.

"Mom, although dad is stern and rigid and not romantic, but he’s truly devoted to you. He’s the best husband I’ve ever seen." Even his godmother Yu Xiaoxuan and godfather Han Yi argued.

Shen Qinglan leaned back slightly, calmly watching her son, "So, you’ve come to plead for your dad?" That silly son of hers.

"Mom, it’s not about pleading. Between Dad and you, I definitely stand by your side, but I think, no matter what Dad did, you should give him a chance to make it up to you."

Shen Qinglan raised her eyebrows, still sounding like a mediator, "I understand. Are you taking me out just for this? Because if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving."

"Don’t go, Mom. We haven’t chatted together in a long time. Let’s sit down and talk." It was still early, and his dad certainly wasn’t ready yet. He needed to buy more time for his dad.

Shen Qinglan sat down again, "Alright, then let’s talk about Gu Qingzhu."

Fu Chenxuan looked stiffly at his mother, "Mom, how do you know about her?"

"You told me, Chenxuan, is she the reason you insisted on leaving the military academy?" This was the first time in many years she had asked him for a reason.

Back then when he wanted to dropout, Shen Qinglan had asked him why, but he didn’t want to say, and for many years afterwards, Shen Qinglan truly hadn’t asked again. Now, this unexpected mention of Gu Qingzhu put Fu Chenxuan at a loss.

"Mom..." Fu Chenxuan felt his mouth was very dry, so he picked up the coffee in front of him and took a sip.

"Chenxuan, you’ve always been a person with your own ideas and very smart. You’ve always known what you wanted, so when you were very young, Mom rarely made decisions for you, letting you choose your own path in life. I always thought I was doing the right thing, but that night when I saw you drunk and crying in my arms, I suddenly had some regrets. Maybe I should have advised you more, could it have been better?"

Fu Chenxuan’s eyes dimmed, "Mom, it was my own choice, it has nothing to do with you. I’ve never regretted any decision I made, Mom. I don’t regret leaving the military academy. Although being a soldier like Dad was my childhood dream, I really don’t regret it."

"What about Qingzhu?"

The topic returned to Gu Qingzhu, and a flicker of pain flashed through Fu Chenxuan’s eyes. "Mom, she is my obsession." This was the first time Fu Chenxuan had brought up Gu Qingzhu to Shen Qinglan.

"She and I were from the same military academy, in the same batch. We met during military training..."

Shen Qinglan quietly listened, and as Fu Chenxuan narrated, some things gradually took shape in her heart.

"Mom, I saw her half a month ago. She had changed her name and identity, but I knew it was her. I don’t know what she is doing now; I wanted to ask her, but she disappeared again, and I didn’t even dare to search for her openly." Fu Chenxuan’s eyes were filled with urgency and pain. In front of his own mother, he no longer wanted to hide his true feelings.

If he were to devote all his efforts, he was confident he could find Gu Qingzhu, but he was worried that such a big commotion would bring her danger, so he could only have someone investigate secretly.

"Chenxuan, do you love her so much that it has to be her?" Shen Qinglan asked seriously.

Fu Chenxuan paused, and then replied in an even more serious tone, "Yes."

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Then trust your intuition and wait for her. I believe the person who can make my son love so deeply must be an exceptional individual."

For some reason, when Fu Chenxuan heard Shen Qinglan say this, his heart suddenly settled down. His mother had this magical power to soothe his heart with just a few words.

"Mom, thank you." Originally, he had wanted to cheer his dad up to comfort his mom, but it ended up with his mom comforting him. Thinking about his age, Fu Chenxuan felt a bit embarrassed.

Shen Qinglan smiled softly, "No matter how old you get, in my eyes, you are always my son, a child, so no need to say thank you."

Mother and son exchanged smiles. Suddenly, the corners of Shen Qinglan’s mouth lifted in a playful smile. "Can I go home now?"

Fu Chenxuan glanced at the time and seriously replied, "Yes, you can go now, Mom. I hope you have a pleasant evening."

Shen Qinglan laughed at his words, not saying anything further, and stood up to leave the café.

When she got home, it was already dark, but the house was pitch-black, which made Shen Qinglan frown. Based on Fu Chenxuan’s behavior, Hengyi should have been at home.

Taking out her keys to open the door, she noticed a faint light in the direction of the dining room. She was about to turn on the light when a figure emerged from the darkness, Hengyi’s voice came through, "Don’t turn on the lights."

Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow and followed his direction, walking into the dining room where candles were lit on the table. The light she had seen was actually from the candles.

With the help of the candlelight, Shen Qinglan looked towards the table adorned with red wine, steak—typical of a candlelit dinner’s setup.

Hengyi walked over to her, presenting a bouquet of flowers, "Wife, won’t you stop being mad at me?"

Shen Qinglan looked at him expressionlessly, but a smile flickered in her eyes. She was just upset for her son, not actually angry with this man.

Hengyi misunderstood her expression as continued anger and said softly, "You are the most beautiful scenery in my eyes, whether in your prime or with white hair and a wrinkled face, I love you." Hengyi was long past the age of casually declaring love, especially since he hadn’t told her he loved her in years. Tonight, however, seemed like a throwback to their younger days.

Shen Qinglan suddenly laughed, taking the flowers and sniffing them, "They smell nice."

Hengyi’s lips curved up slightly, knowing she was no longer mad, he pulled out a chair for her, "Please, have dinner, my lady."

The two of them finished their dinner by candlelight, which counted as the first time Hengyi had had a candlelit dinner with her.

"Chenxuan taught you this, didn’t he?" After dinner, Shen Qinglan looked towards Hengyi, who was clearing the table.

Hengyi wasn’t the least bit embarrassed, "Since it was him that made you angry, naturally he had to do his part."

Shen Qinglan laughed softly. This man! "Gu Qingzhu’s matter involves you, doesn’t it?"

Hengyi paused slightly, looking innocently at her. Shen Qinglan was certain, "I know about the military’s confidentiality agreements, and there are some things you can’t tell me. Let me guess, and you can just listen."

Hengyi looked at her interestedly, clearly curious about her analysis. He tossed the dishes into the kitchen and then cut a plate of fruit. They sat on the sofa, each occupying a corner.

"You talk, I’ll listen."

With only the two of them at home, Shen Qinglan felt secure enough to speak freely. But the more she talked, the stranger Hengyi’s expression became. Indeed, if a wife was too smart, some things just couldn’t be hidden.