Extra Chapter: Building a Snowman
Shen Zhenan finally returned just before Chinese New Year's Eve this year.
Lu Zhenyu and Shen Jinchuan went to pick them up at the airport.
The father and daughter met a few times during those seven years.
Looking at her father, who had aged considerably, Lu Zhenyu's eyes reddened.
"There are still some things to do abroad, and Xiao Si will probably have to catch the next flight back after get off work. He asked me to pass on a message to you not to worry."
Lu Zhenyu nodded, "Godmother is waiting for you at the hospital. The new treatment plan developed by the medical team is working well, but she's suffered a bit. Go see her quickly."
The father and daughter arrived at the hospital by car.
The arms factory case remained deadlocked for half a year. When Mr. Shen, who had not seen his wife for nearly a year, opened the door and saw Mrs. Shen on the hospital bed, his aged eyes instantly turned red.
Now, Shen's mother has shaved her head and wears a woolen rabbit hat knitted by her granddaughters and grandsons.
She's kind of cute, even though she's so thin she's practically skin and bones.
She subconsciously raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, only to realize it was gone. She lowered her head and gave an embarrassed smile.
"You're back."
The man's spine, which had remained upright even after being imprisoned for six months, finally bent upon seeing his wife's appearance.
Shen Zhen shuffled over, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.
After six months of battling illness, Chen Jie has undergone a complete transformation.
Although the body is still suffering, the soul has been freed.
Her smile was as warm and gentle as when she first met Shen Zhenan. She reached out and gently helped her husband to her side, wiping away his tears.
"Fool, you're a grandfather now, what's there to cry about?"
Shen Zhen'an was well aware of the debts he had owed his wife over the years.
Back then, driven by a strong will, he returned to Texas and implemented sweeping reforms and innovations, transforming Shenzhou Arms into an international leader in just six years.
He has returned to China too infrequently over the years.
I've spent several Spring Festivals leading a group of subordinates in the conference room.
His wife had complained, of course, but he didn't explain or make any verbal promises to appease her.
But he silently prayed to himself, "It'll be soon, it'll be soon. Once Shenzhou Arms is fully on track, I can relinquish my responsibilities and go home to be with my wife."
From then on, just as their daughter had said, their family would never be separated again.
Little did they expect that such a thing would happen on the eve of their departure.
The saying "a tall tree catches the wind" perfectly describes Shenzhou and Shen Zhen'an six months ago.
For the past six months, he has been locked in an interrogation room of less than 15 square meters every day and interrogated in turn.
Those people didn't want anything from him; they wanted the outside world of Shenzhou and Shen Jingsi to submit, so that various forces would be incorporated into Shenzhou.
Fortunately, the father and son worked together to overcome this tough challenge.
No amount of explanation could change anything. Shen Zhen'an knew that he owed his wife far too much in his life.
He pulled the person into his arms and said, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."
Chen Jie's eyes welled with tears, but she gently patted her husband's trembling back.
"Everything's fine now, it's good that you're back. The children said you won't leave again, is that true?"
Shen Zhenan nodded, "I won't leave anymore, I'll never leave again. From now on, I'll stay with you."
Seeing this scene in the ward, Lu Zhenyu's eyes welled up with tears.
"very nice."
Shen Jinchuan, who was standing next to him, nodded, "Yes, that's great."
He looked at Lu Zhenyu and smiled, "Sister, I'll look after things here. You can go back first."
The children at home were already asleep, so Lu Zhenyu wasn't in a hurry. "Why don't you go back? Didn't you say you had a fight with Manman these past few days? Go back and coax her."
He can appease his wife anytime he wants.
Some people haven't seen their wives for more than half a year.
“If you don’t go back, my brother will call and yell at me again.”
Lu Zhenyu was taken aback. "He... isn't he still abroad?"
Shen Jinchuan laughed, "I said I wanted to give you a surprise, but don't tell him it was me who said it."
-
The capital city is especially lively at the end of the year.
Although it was late at night, the roadside was still illuminated by dazzling lights, creating a vibrant and colorful scene.
The snowfall was getting heavier, and cars on the road were moving at a snail's pace.
With less than a kilometer left to her home, Lu Zhenyu couldn't sit still any longer and got out of the car to run back on foot.
She and Shen Jingsi hadn't seen each other for half a year.
There was no other way; they couldn't leave their overseas locations without personnel, and various factions needed Chen Jingsi to navigate the situation.
Domestically, Lu Zhenyu has two large families, seven children, and a foundation to support, leaving her with no spare time.
Therefore, it wasn't just Shen Jingsi who was eager to see his wife; Lu Zhenyu was equally impatient and wanted to see her husband immediately.
She ran back to the manor in just five minutes, while the car was still crawling along the hillside.
Snow clung to her eyelashes, and the girl, with her rosy cheeks, pushed open the small gate of the manor.
The night was exceptionally bright because of the snow falling all around.
Before Lu Zhenyu even entered, she could already hear the cheerful laughter coming from the courtyard.
The children, who should have been asleep by now, are gathered in the middle of the yard, rolling snowballs, having snowball fights, and having a great time.
Lu Xuchong was the first to see Lu Zhenyu return, and hurriedly called out, "Mom's back!"
The children around looked over, waving despite their snotty faces, "Mom, you're finally back!"
The little ones were wearing only fluffy pajamas, and their little hands, which were pinching snow, were red from the cold.
Lu Zhenyu couldn't help but frown.
Just as I was about to call them back inside to get dressed, my gaze slipped past their heads and landed on their backs in front of the steps.
The nearly two-meter-tall snowman had its last sharp corner smoothed out, and Shen Jingsi, who was squatting in front of it, turned around.
Among the group of children, he was the most warmly dressed, with a scarf that Lu Zhenyu had knitted for him before the New Year around his neck and wearing a matching brown coat.
Seeing his wife standing frozen three meters away, he opened his arms, his slightly stubbled lips curving upwards.
"Happy New Year, my wife."
Realizing this wasn't a dream, Lu Zhenyu walked forward step by step, a little dazed, gradually increasing her speed until she was running, carrying the chill of the wind and snow as she crashed into the burning chest.
Shen Jingsi hugged her tightly, burying his face in his wife's cool neck, greedily savoring the taste he had longed for.
"I miss you so much."
Lu Zhenyu's voice trembled, "Me too."
"I've piled up 30.0 pearls for you."
“I saw it.”
"There will be 100.0, right?"
"certainly."
Shen Jingsi said, "From now on, I will never go on long business trips again."
Lu Zhenyu, who was buried in his arms, looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
Shen Jingsi's eyes reddened, "Because I can't hold my wife."
"puff!"
This sound wasn't just heard from Lu Zhenyu.
And then there are the little ones watching the show with bated breath.
Lu Xinsen, the most daring of them all, laughed the wildest.
"Dad, you're so old and you still can't be separated from Mommy. I'm ashamed of you."
Shen Jingsi raised an eyebrow. "Then let go of Shinichi's hand before you say that."
Lu Xinsen, who had just used Shen Xinyi as a shield during the snowball fight, immediately let go of her hand and turned to switch with Lu Xuchong on the other side.
"I can stop pulling Shinichi, but Daddy, please let go of Mommy too."
Shen Jingsi chuckled and hugged Lu Zhenyu tighter in his arms. "You love to relax, but I won't relax. This is my wife."
As he spoke, he looked at Lu Zhenyu, who was suppressing a smile, and said, "Wife, give me a kiss."
Lu Zhenyu looked disgusted and helpless, but having no other choice, she kissed Shen Jingsi's pouting lips.
That kiss backfired spectacularly, as Shen Jingsi grabbed his head and wouldn't let go.
In front of a group of children, the two adults kissed shamelessly.
Just as she was about to become emotional, Lu Zhenyu suddenly jolted and punched Jing Si hard in the chest.
"Oh dear! You're the one who ruined things!"
Shen Jingsi looked completely bewildered. "What's wrong?"
Lu Zhenyu pointed to the children who had already covered their faces and turned away, giggling, "If you kiss them again, your daughter and son will freeze to death!"
Then, for the next half hour, Ms. Lu launched into a relentless tirade against Mr. Shen.
"He's almost thirty-eight and still doesn't act like a father."
"The kids were asleep, but you dragged them out of bed to build a snowman. Why didn't you bury yourself in it?"
"The father is all bundled up, but his son and daughter aren't even given a down jacket. Are you their father, or are they your father?"
"Get out. You can sleep in this tonight, or the child will catch a cold tomorrow, and you'll be sorry."
"..."
(End of article)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com