0033 Wedding Events (4)
Since they were not guests and there were no outsiders, the three of them, grandfather, grandmother, and grandson, sat around a small round mahogany dining table for their meal.
Sun Lianping came in to bring fish soup, and Wanqi Fuze invited her to sit down and eat with him, but she declined, using the excuse that there were still dishes in the kitchen. Servants don't sit at the main table, and even though the master and she were as close as family, these rules still had to be observed.
Sophie had lived in New York for nearly ten years, rarely returning to China, and even during the Lunar New Year. This was her first trip back to her ancestral home since deciding to settle there, so she went out of her way to please her grandfather at the dinner table.
The old man sat in the head seat, his posture upright and sturdy despite his advanced age. He looked quite robust. Half of his right ear was missing; when he was young, a shrapnel grazed his head. If it had been just a little more to the left, it wouldn't have been half an ear, but half a head.
He let his granddaughter fawn over him, his expression remaining unchanged, unmoved. He wasn't conservative; sending his children abroad for further studies wasn't a big deal. Back then, they even learned from the Soviet Union in scientific research and warfare. But if someone lacked national identity and, wearing the skin of a foreign country, became a foreigner to their mother—that was utterly rebellious!
Sophie winked at Wanqi Fuze, but Wanqi Fuze didn't even look at her. He was still angry with her because of what happened with Bai Tijiang earlier!
Hey, all those men in the Wanqi family, young and old, are bullying her. Sophie slammed her chopsticks on the table with a crisp "smack".
She crossed her arms and said, "I'm not eating anymore."
Wanqi Shouque finally spoke up, shouting, "No manners!"
Wan Qiqi snuggled up to him coquettishly, saying, "Grandpa, you've finally spoken to me."
"Don't use that foreign name of yours, Fei, at home anymore."
Wanqiqi, like a lackey, said, "Whatever you say goes!"
Wanqi Fuze, standing to the side, gently curled the corners of his lips.
My sister works in art auctions in New York, and no one in the family back home calls her Sophie. Grandpa even knows exactly what she's called abroad, so how could he be so indifferent to her as he claimed when he was angry? He must miss her terribly.
As he got older, his appetite wasn't very good. Wan Qiqi coaxed the old man into drinking some soup, and then he yelled at those two brats to get out of there so he could have some peace and quiet.
Wan Qiqi's studio has been busy with an art exhibition lately, so he really didn't have time. He said, "I'll have a proper look at your work at the family dinner in a couple of days," and then left.
The grandmother and grandson remained in the room.
Wanqi Fuze brought the brewed tea to his grandfather to cleanse his mouth, and the old man closed his eyes and accepted it.
He knew that nothing he did could escape his grandfather's watchful eye, and this was a lecture he was bound to face sooner or later.
Sure enough, the old man spoke up: "There have been quite a few personnel changes in the company recently." It was a statement, and Wan Qishouque took a sip of tea.
Wanqi Fuze nodded and said, "Yes."
He had already prepared his answer in his mind; even if he couldn't keep it a secret for long, he would be satisfied if he could at least stall for some time. But he didn't expect that his grandfather wouldn't ask any further questions. Instead, he picked up the eyes of the carp on the table and put them in the bowl in front of him.
Wanqi Fuze felt somewhat dazed.
"A clear mind and sharp eyes bring peace and safety." The old man put down his bamboo chopsticks.
“I’ve always been the most indulgent towards you in this family. Back then, when your father wanted you to join the army, you said you didn’t want to go, and I didn’t say anything.” Wan Qishouque looked out the window as he spoke. Worried about his health, Sun Lianping had already drawn the heavy purple velvet curtains, and the room was filled with the scent of sandalwood.
“I often wonder if I’ve pushed these people too hard. They’re all strong-willed, regardless of gender, and the more I push them, the more rebellious they become. But I ask myself, none of the children I’ve raised are good-for-nothings. But when they get old, they’ll see a different picture. You’re the youngest of this generation, so I’ll just give you all the blessings they didn’t get to enjoy back then.”
Wanqi Fuze was somewhat moved, and the old man continued, "I only have one request."
Wanqi Fuze listened carefully.
Take good care of yourself.
Wanqi Shouque was always serious and dignified, but his words at this moment were completely unlike his usual style, which made Wanqi Fuze startled almost instantly, feeling that his grandfather knew something. However, after reviewing his recent actions in his mind, he quickly dismissed the idea.
He recalled his grandfather picking up fish eyes from the dining table and putting them into his bowl when he was a child—almost the exact same scene, accompanied by those eight words—
With a clear mind and sharp eyes, one can live a peaceful and safe life.
Only after hearing his grandfather's words today did he understand his grandfather's good intentions. He had once thought that the key to those words lay in the first four characters: "Only with a clear mind and sharp eyes can one achieve success."
But today, Grandpa told him personally that peace and safety are what he hopes for.
“There is indeed one person in your family who genuinely wants to join the army.” Wan Qishouque put down his teacup, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said, “I’ll go see your mother and your brother another day.”
Wanqi Fuze's eyes deepened, and he nodded silently.
As autumn drew to a close, he got up and pulled the velvet curtains tighter to prevent drafts.
It was getting late, and Sun Lianping invited him to stay the night, but he smiled and said he was busy with work at the company. This refusal brought tears to Sun's mother's eyes.
Wanqi Fuze was both amused and exasperated. "Is it that you can't see me anymore, or what?"
Sun Lianping angrily retorted, "Nonsense!" As she spoke, she reached out and tied his scarf even tighter, and he bent over to let the woman do as she pleased.
"How did you get so thin?" Wanqi Fuze was someone she had watched grow up, and she felt sorry for him.
Wanqi Fuze pounded his chest with his fist: "You've got some strength in you."
Sun Lianping laughed when she saw him being cheeky again.
Wanqi Fuze knew that Sun Lianping was also getting on in years and was emotionally sensitive. He smiled and comforted her, telling her to rest well and not worry too much.
Then they left their home and drove westward into the city.
The little warmth that had just been built up dissipated.
It was already 1 a.m. when we arrived at Songhan Residence.
I shouldn't have come back at this time; there's so much to do at home lately—sending out wedding invitations and meeting with the media. But I just can't bear this longing for her, and I can't wait to see her.
He never considered himself a willful person. Born into such a family, he had to face and endure much more than others.
But with her, he was always like an addict, lacking any sense of propriety, like a child with an unsettled mind.
Upon entering, the surroundings were pitch black and rather empty, as the house was too large.
He secretly thought he would have children with her, so he asked the designer to make the design bigger so that it would be easier to raise a bunch of mischievous kids.
The servants were already asleep, so he quietly went upstairs to the second floor.
He felt at ease the moment he stepped inside.
After Xu Yi passed away, home is only where she is.
In the darkness, the blanket on the huge bed arched slightly, and he waited until he was warm enough before crawling inside.
He reached out and pulled her, still warm from her body, into his arms.
She was like a tiny, fluffy kitten, and he felt his heart pounding. A thousand times, ten thousand times, being with her felt like the first time.
He knew this was like drinking poison to quench his thirst, and perhaps if he did it a few more times, he wouldn't be able to bear it.
I can't bear to let go, I can't bear to leave.
But he remained unrepentant and hugged her even tighter, enveloping her with his tall body.
His fingertips suddenly touched a cool liquid, and he quickly turned on the light.
"He Lingling, why are you crying?"
P.S.: Me (watching the drama unfold + hinting): Your wife is crying, quickly comfort her with your body.
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