"Since you’re here, take a seat," Fu Hengyi said stiffly.

Bai Junnan sat down, and Fu Hengyi’s gaze landed directly on him, cool and indifferent but carrying immense pressure.

"How did you get to know my daughter Shuyi?" Fu Hengyi asked.

"Daddy, didn’t I already tell you about this?" Fu Shuyi spoke up discontentedly.

What was her father doing asking questions he already knew the answers to?

Fu Hengyi glanced at his daughter, "I wasn’t asking you."

Fu Shuyi sat next to her father, with no intention to leave. She had already made up her mind that if her father were to give Brother Jun Nan a hard time, she would step in to support him promptly.

Of course, Fu Hengyi could see her little tactics and felt even more bitter in his heart. He thought, what’s the use of raising a daughter who’s heart is so biased?

Fu Hengyi deeply felt that ever since he found out his daughter had a boyfriend, his old heart had been pierced into a sieve. From this, his glance at Bai Junnan grew increasingly unfriendly, moving Bai Junnan’s heart to flutter unexpectedly - his future father-in-law seemed not to like him very much.

After asking a few questions about his age, interests, and who else was in his family, Bai Junnan answered each one humbly.

Shen Qinglan was quietly observing Bai Junnan all along. Bai Junnan noticed, yet showed no dissatisfaction, and even politely smiled at Shen Qinglan occasionally.

Shen Qinglan judged people by the details and their eyes, and at least from the time they met to now, Bai Junnan hadn’t done anything to make her dissatisfied.

"It’s about time, let’s start eating." Seeing that Fu Hengyi was about to continue questioning, Shen Qinglan interrupted him, and Fu Hengyi looked dissatisfiedly at his wife; he hadn’t finished asking his questions.

Shen Qinglan met his gaze indifferently, and after three seconds, Fu Hengyi looked away and said, "Let’s eat first."

After speaking, he gave Bai Junnan another look, as if to say, don’t think it’s over just because of this - he was worried his wife was hungry.

Bai Junnan gave a resigned smile.

At the dining table, Fu Hengyi dominated the conversation, talking about everything from military affairs to politics and social news. No matter the topic, it always seemed to come back to Bai Junnan.

Fu Chenxuan silently served food to Gu Qingzhu, realizing for the first time that his usually reticent father could actually be quite talkative.

Fu Shuyi saw that Bai Junnan hadn’t eaten much and tried to interject several times, only to be interrupted by her mom.

She silently looked at her mother, met Shen Qinglan’s gentle yet commanding gaze, paused, and could only give Bai Junnan a look that said "good luck" - it wasn’t that she didn’t want to help, it was just that she too was afraid of her mom.

Fu Chenxuan certainly had no intention to help Bai Junnan as he actually hoped his father would make things difficult for Bai Junnan.

Fortunately, Bai Junnan was a man of his own mind, and in response to Fu Hengyi’s questions, he always managed to say a few words, avoiding appearing ignorant.

Bai Junnan did not have the habit of eating and speaking at the same time, so he hadn’t eaten much by the end of lunch. Of course, neither had Fu Hengyi, who had been busy talking to him the whole time.

"Auntie, it’s so lively at home," came the cheerful voice of Pei Hao from the doorway. In the blink of an eye, he was already in the living room.

Seeing Pei Hao and Guoguo following behind him, Shen Qinglan immediately smiled, "Haohao, Guoguo, come sit down."

Guoguo smiled radiantly, directly sitting next to Fu Shuyi, while Pei Hao settled down beside Fu Chenxuan. His gaze circled Brother Jun Nan, "And who might this be?"

"This is Shuyi’s boyfriend who came over to visit the family today," Gu Qingzhu said with a smile.

Pei Hao instantly understood why Fu Shuyi had sent Guoguo a message asking for help.

Pei Hao had made a full recovery and had already returned to work in the country. Recently, he had been busy handling backlogged matters in the company. Today, he had just managed to find some time to go out for a meal with Guoguo when she received Fu Shuyi’s urgent text, asking them to come home quickly to put out a fire.

They had thought something serious had happened, rushing over in a hurry, but now they somewhat understood the situation.

"Jun Nan, this is my cousin, Pei Hao. You can call him Brother Hao. This is my godmother’s daughter and Brother Hao’s fiancée, Han Nanyan," Fu Chenxuan introduced the newcomers to Bai Junnan.

"His name is Bai Junnan."

Pei Hao nodded to Bai Junnan as a greeting, then turned to Fu Hengyi, "Uncle, Jun Nan seems decent."

Fu Hengyi snorted coldly, "You just glanced at him and you think he’s good? Do you think you’re the Monkey King?"

Pei Hao and Guoguo exchanged a look, their eyes brimming with smiles. His little uncle’s behavior reminded him of the time he had been discharged from the hospital and formally went to the Han Family to ask for Han Yi’s hand in marriage. Back then, Han Yi had the same look, with a nose that wasn’t a nose and eyes that weren’t eyes, scrutinizing him in every possible way. Probably every father with a daughter looked at their potential son-in-law in much the same way.

With Pei Hao, who was skilled at lightening the mood, joining them—even though Fu Chenxuan still chose to observe coldly—the conversation atmosphere remained very relaxed and joyful.

Fu Shuyi’s eyes curved joyfully. Indeed, at crucial times, her own brother was also unreliable. She had blinked until her eyes were about to cramp that morning, but her brother had simply turned a blind eye, letting Daddy test Jun Nan over and over, as if questioning him on five thousand years of history and civilization.

"Shuyi’s father just can’t bear to part with his daughter; don’t take it to heart." During the afternoon tea break, Shen Qinglan spoke gently to Bai Junnan. Her husband had indeed gone a bit overboard today. It wasn’t right to give the youngster such a hard time.

Bai Junnan’s handsome face still wore a gentle smile, "Auntie, please don’t say that. I understand. If I had a daughter as lovely as Shuyi, I would probably take a broom and chase out the rascal who tried to steal away my girl." His self-deprecating humor easily conveyed his indifference.

Shen Qinglan’s lips curled slightly in a light smile. The young man’s temperament was indeed not bad, unexpectedly so.

Bai Junnan stayed until after dinner before leaving. Fu Shuyi wanted to see him off, but catching a glimpse of Fu Hengyi’s stern profile, she blinked and waved to Bai Junnan, "Brother Jun Nan, drive safely tonight."

Bai Junnan nodded with a smile, "Okay. Uncle, Auntie, I’ll take my leave first. Thank you for your hospitality today."

Shen Qinglan personally escorted him to the door, which was her way of showing that she agreed with their dating. As for the matter of marriage, Fu Shuyi was still young. They could talk about it in a few years.

Back at home, Zhang Suxin was waiting for her son. Seeing him return, she immediately stood up from the sofa, "How was your visit to the Fu Family today? Are Shuyi’s parents easy to get along with?"

She had seen Fu Hengyi on television and had also glimpsed Shen Qinglan from a distance at some functions. They didn’t seem like very approachable people, both appearing rather aloof and reserved.

Bai Junnan’s face bore a gentle smile, "Quite nice. Shuyi’s parents are learned and rational." Even though Fu Hengyi had dragged him through wide-ranging conversations throughout the day, he hadn’t come away empty-handed. Whether it was life experience or knowledge, Fu Hengyi had an edge over him, and he had learned a lot from the day’s conversations, which he could describe as immensely beneficial.

"Did they agree to the marriage?" Zhang Suxin’s eyes sparkled.

Bai Junnan glanced at his mother, his smile fading slightly, "Mom, Shuyi and I aren’t planning to get married yet." Today, Fu Hengyi also made his stance clear to him: They can date, but marriage is too early; he wants to keep Fu Shuyi around for two more years.

"Why? You’re already twenty-five, not young anymore. Since you’ve already met the parents, the wedding should be on the agenda," Zhang Suxin said, puzzled. After finally connecting with the influential Fu Family, why not hurry to marry into the family? The duck in hand shouldn’t be allowed to fly away.

"Shuyi is still studying; it’s too early for marriage," Bai Junnan was in no rush.

"Then let’s get engaged first," regardless of anything else, it was essential to first secure the status. Even though marriages could end in divorce, declaring the relationship between the two families to the world would prevent others from belittling the Bai Family in the future, especially those ambitious younger uncles of hers who would certainly not dare to act rashly anymore.

"Mom, Shuyi and I aren’t in a hurry, so why are you?"

"Do you really not understand, or are you pretending not to get it?" Zhang Suxin’s frustration was palpable, lamenting the naivety of her foolish son. As she laid out the pros and cons for him, the smile on Bai Junnan’s face faded until it vanished.

He gazed steadily at his mother. He had always known her personality, but never realized that she was more cunning and calculating than he had thought. Could it be that his father’s early death had brought about such a dramatic change in her?

"Mom, my marriage and love are not a transaction. My feelings for Shuyi are pure, and I like it this way. I do not want our relationship to be tainted with too many interests," Bai Junnan made his stance clear.

Zhang Suxin was somewhat displeased, "Junnan, I’m not asking you to do anything, just urging you to define your relationship sooner. Is that so wrong?" She couldn’t understand her own son. I’m not pushing for a marriage of convenience here—it’s the girl you like, and I’m not against you two being together; isn’t that enough?

"Mom, I can handle the company’s affairs on my own. Instead of thinking about how to leverage the Fu Family’s and Shen Family’s influence to bolster my position, you’d be better off transferring your shares to me sooner. Once I become the chairman, I’ll be able to snuff out my uncles’ ambitions in the cradle and keep a firm grip on the company."

He had his own plans for the company’s development, and he was confident that with absolute authority, he could rely on his abilities to further expand the company’s success.

Zhang Suxin awkwardly responded, "Didn’t mom say that? Once this project is complete and you have an impressive achievement under your belt, I’ll transfer the company shares to you—everything of mine is yours."

Bai Junnan’s expression was distant as he smiled and shifted the topic, "Mom, ever since dad passed away, you’ve thrown yourself into work and haven’t had a good vacation in over a decade. I saw that Aunt Wang and the others are planning a trip to Europe soon, why don’t you go with them? It’s been a long time since you and your friends have had a get-together."

Zhang Suxin refused, "How does mom have time to play? There’s so much waiting for me at the company." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"The company has me, or is it that you don’t trust leaving it all in my hands?" Bai Junnan’s smile was teasing.

"Do others not understand your abilities, and would I not? I am absolutely confident entrusting the company matters to you; I’m just thinking I’m old now, not as energetic as before, and touring all over Europe would be too exhausting for me."

Bai Junnan put his arm around his mother’s shoulder, "Mom, you should think like this: while dad was here, your life revolved around him without spare time for leisure. After dad left, you were committed to preserving dad’s legacy and had even less time. Now that I can finally take over, you deserve a break. You can’t truly wait until you’re too old and immobile, lying in a lounge chair filled with regret."

Zhang Suxin naturally knew that her son was urging her to relinquish control. She did not want to leave, but she also did not want to have an open confrontation with her son—the one she’s relying on for the second half of her life. After considering, "Alright, I have worked hard for over a decade; it’s indeed time to relax and also a chance to assess your recent efforts."

"Shall I give Aunt Wang and the others a heads up?"

"No need, I will speak to them myself. Junnan, when will you invite Shuyi over to our house?"

Bai Junnan laughed, "Mom, there’s no rush on that. I just got back from the Fu Family; give me a couple of days to breathe. Let’s wait until you’re back from Europe to talk about it."

Zhang Suxin, not pleased with her son’s evasive attitude, but always a loving mother in his presence, did not press the issue and just smiled and nodded, "Fine, as long as you have a plan, I won’t pry further."

Bai Junnan went upstairs to the study and looked at the proposal on his computer, his eyes reflecting a deep contemplation. The biggest obstacle in the company wasn’t those ambitious uncles but his own mother.

He had realized that his mother was obsessed with power and unwilling to let go. To avoid straining their relationship, he had initially decided to leave the company voluntarily. Now that he was back for Shuyi, his first task was to convince his mother.

Bai Junnan understood that his mother loved him, but she loved power even more. He could comprehend her viewpoint, but he didn’t appreciate being manipulated by her. He had ways to force her to surrender the shares, but doing so would inevitably damage their bond as mother and son, an action he wished to avoid unless absolutely necessary.

**

At Pei Hao’s apartment.

Guoguo was lying on Pei Hao’s legs, looking up at his chin, "Brother Pei Hao, I still feel like I’m dreaming."

Pei Hao slightly lowered his head, looking at her, "Why do you say that?"

Guoguo blinked, "It just feels magical. I once thought I would never be able to be with you in this lifetime, but unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, we got engaged."

She raised her hand, showing off a delicate diamond ring on her ring finger.

Indeed, after Pei Hao was discharged from the hospital, they had gotten engaged at the fastest pace possible. According to Guoguo, it was because she didn’t want to give Pei Hao a chance to regret.

Pei Hao chuckled and kissed her hand, "Do you believe it now?"

Guoguo shook her head, "It still feels rather unbelievable. Brother Pei Hao, I want to ask you a question. Why did you resign that year?" He had been a great teacher, why resign so suddenly?

"To take over my real father’s company. My dad fell seriously ill at that time and was close to dying. Since he brought it up, I couldn’t just refuse, right? Don’t you know this?"

Of course, Guoguo knew, but she felt there was more to the story than that simple reason, "Does it really have nothing to do with me?" She had thought Pei Hao resigned because he had realized she liked him.

Pei Hao smiled, "What’s on your mind all day?"

"Thinking of you," Guoguo answered matter-of-factly.

Pei Hao looked at her indulgently and didn’t mention that indeed one of the reasons he resigned that year was because of Guoguo.

With his intelligence, how could he not feel Guoguo’s affection for him? However, at that time, Guoguo was still young, her understanding of love not yet mature. He wasn’t sure if her feelings were just a novelty or mere adoration of a young girl. Plus, they were in a student-teacher relationship at the time. If he had accepted her feelings, it wouldn’t have been good for either of them.

After resigning, his contact with Guoguo did not cease; in fact, it even became more frequent. He had thought it through—if Guoguo still liked him after her graduation, he would confess. But unexpectedly, his illness hit before he could make his move. He couldn’t even be sure how long he could live, so how could he bear to hurt a girl he deeply loved? Therefore, he buried his feelings deep in his heart.

He was prepared to conceal them for a lifetime. Fortunately, heaven was merciful, allowing him to survive, and he was grateful that Guoguo still liked him.

Guoguo sat up and nestled directly into Pei Hao’s arms, holding the remote control and incessantly switching TV channels, "TV programs nowadays are so boring. I can’t even find anything to pass the time."

What she wanted was to watch variety shows, but although there were many, few were actually good to watch. They were mostly reality shows trying too hard to be funny, with no substance.

"What do you want to watch?"

"Just a deep, time-killing program."

Pei Hao barely watched television. To him, the TV at home was merely decoration; he was even less familiar with variety shows and thus unable to provide any valuable suggestions.

Guoguo snuggled in his arms, constantly fidgeting. Pei Hao was a normal man; how could he withstand such teasing? His body quickly reacted, his gaze deepened as he looked at Guoguo’s glistening earlobe and softly lowered his head to take it between his lips.

The sudden warmth and moisture made Guoguo’s body stiffen sharply. Only belatedly did she realize the change in his body, and her entire face instantly turned as red as blood.

Pei Hao’s hand clasped her waist, turning her to sit astride his lap.

Guoguo’s hands rested on his shoulders, their lips met, and sparks flew in the most intense way possible. She felt an unfamiliar sensation wreaking havoc within her, and her eyes gradually became misty.

In the quiet night, only the sounds of TV programs from the television could be heard, interspersed with the occasional ambiguous smacking noise. The breath of both Pei Hao and Guoguo was unstable. He let go of her, looked at her flushed cheeks, and asked softly, "Is it okay?"