Although Xu Jialu disliked her, he had treated her very well. However, later, her sadness was magnified, and she had even forgotten how well he had treated her in the past.
Cheng Ying smiled helplessly. “I really don’t know who he takes after. He clearly means well, but he has such a poisonous mouth. It’d be better if he doesn’t speak.”
Xu Youyou lowered her head and smiled. Then, she suddenly asked, ‘Mom, if I were to fall in love with a divorced man with a child, would you really object?”
“This…” Cheng Ying’s movements paused. For a moment, she did not know how to answer.
As a woman, she naturally knew there was nothing wrong with being divorced or having children out of wedlock. However, when she thought about her son raising another man’s child, she could not help but feel uneasy. Although she usually scolded her son, she felt like her son deserved better.
“Mom, between marrying a woman with a child and staying single forever, which one do you prefer?” Xu Youyou asked again.
Cheng Ying frowned. “Of course, I’d rather him be with that woman…”
After all, Cheng Ying was worried about her son being alone in his old age with no one to accompany him.
Xu Youyou laughed. “There you go. At least, he’s not single anymore. What are you worried about?”
Cheng Ying glared at her. “You child!”
…
Upstairs in the study.
Xu Jianshu put down his brush and let Mo Shenbai look at his handwriting. “How is it?”
“Excellent,” Mo Shenbai said curtly. He really did not know how to say words of flattery. After all, he was usually the one being flattered. However, faced with his father-in-law, he still needed to show some goodwill. For this reason, although he had seen the calligraphy of many famous masters and Xu Jianshu’s calligraphy was like that of a child in comparison, he still said it was excellent.
After wiping his hands, Xu Jianshu invited Mo Shenbai to take a seat and drink tea. Then, he said, “You don’t have to flatter me. I’m aware of my ability.”
Mo Shenbai picked up the teacup and took a sip. He did not say anything in response.
After taking a sip, Xu Jianshu put the teacup down before he looked at Mo Shenbai meaningfully and asked, “Recently, my business has been booming. There are a lot of orders. You have a hand in this, right?”
Although the companies that came to look for Xu Jianshu were not under the Mo Group, they more or less had cooperated with the Mo Group.
Mo Shenbai did not admit nor deny it. He only said, “Isn’t this the way business is?”
The Mo Group did not need to cooperate with the Xu family’s company, but the smaller companies were different.
“I know you have good intentions, but you don’t have to do this,” Xu Jianshu said. If it were someone else, perhaps, they would have long used their daughter to ride on their son-in-law’s coattails. However, he never had this thought. His only hope was for Xu Youyou to be happy.
“Youyou loves to paint and draw. I don’t expect her to inherit the family business. I don’t even have expectations for that rascal, Xu Jialu,” Xu Jianshu said with a sigh, “That rascal sets his sight very high so he won’t care about my small company. I don’t know what will happen after I retire…”
Mo Shenbai lowered his gaze and said, “It doesn’t matter. There’s still your grandson, after all. If you don’t mind, you can let your grandson help you.”
Xu Jianshu’s small company was nothing in Mo Shenbai’s eyes. However, Mo Shenbai respected Xu Jianshu from the bottom of his heart for Xu Jianshu’s lifetime of hard work.
These words hit Xu Jianshu’s heart, and he perked up immediately. “Grandson? I really can’t count on that brat, Xu Jialu. Are you really willing to let your son take over my company?”
“I have no objections if he’s willing.” Although Mo Shenbai had no children yet, he had already shown his enlightened attitude as a parent.
“Good, that’s good,” Xu Jianshu said, nodding in satisfaction. Then, he asked, “But what if it’s a girl?”
“It’s the same for both boys and girls,” Mo Shenbai replied. If it did not work out, at worst, he would help Xu Jianshu run his company. However, he was still very confident about his future children.
Xu Jianshu slapped his thigh happily. He was instantly energized. “With your words, I feel like I can still fight for another 20 years!”
Mo Shenbai smiled slightly and said, “I feel that Father-in-law can still fight for another 40 years.”
“Alright. We have a deal then!” Xu Jianshu said as he toasted his tea to Mo Shenbai as a substitute for wine.
…
Mo Shenbai and Xu Youyou did not stay for dinner. They left with the mooncakes Cheng Ying made.
Cheng Ying deliberately gave them two more boxes. Her intention was quite obvious.
After getting into the car, Xu Youyou waved to her parents through the window as the car slowly pulled away.
A loving smile appeared on Cheng Ying’s face as she held her husband’s arm and asked softly, “Do you notice that Youyou is a little different now?”
“Huh? How is she different?” Xu Jianshu was confused. He was a man so his perception regarding this was not as strong.
Cheng Ying glared at him. “Haven’t you noticed she’s much closer to us now? In the afternoon, when we were making mooncakes, she even took the initiative to comfort me. She even talked about what happened when she was young…”
Cheng Ying suddenly stopped talking. Her eyes were filled with shock as she looked in the direction where the car left. Then, tears suddenly rolled down her face.
Xu Jianshu was frightened by his wife’s sudden change. “W-what happened? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Cheng Ying did not say anything. She covered her mouth to stop herself from crying. She finally realized that the things Xu Youyou had spoken about earlier were things that Xu Youyou had supposedly forgotten!
Cheng Ying could no longer hold back her years.
Xu Jianshu was so anxious that his face and ears turned red. He was perplexed. “W-what happened?”
Cheng Ying shook her head and suppressed her emotions before she smiled happily, “It’s nothing. I just feel that our daughter has grown up.”
‘Our daughter has finally returned…’
…
Xu Youyou and Mo Shenbai did not return to Moon Pavilion. Instead, they delivered the mooncakes to Xu Jialu. They rang the doorbell, but no one opened the door. Then, they went downstairs to ring the doorbell.
Xu Youyou was not surprised when Xu Jialu opened the door to Yun Youwei’s house.
On the contrary, Xu Jialu was surprised. “Aren’t both of you spending time with Mom and Dad? Why are you here?”
Xu Youyou held onto Mo Shenbai’s arm as she said, “Mom made mooncakes, and she asked me to give them to you.”
Xu Jialu took the mooncakes. Just as he was about to chase them away, Xie Yumu ran out and hugged Mo Shenbai.
“Dad!”
“How many times have I told you? He’s not your dad! If you really lack fatherly love, you can call me ‘Dad’!” Xu Jialu said as he grabbed Xie Yumu’s collar and lifted him with one hand.
“I’m not calling you ‘Dad’!” Xie Yumu said arrogantly as he turned away.
“You little brat! You need to be taught a lesson again!” Xu Jialu said as he pinched Xie Yu Mu’s cheek.
Xie Yumu shouted, feeling aggrieved, “Mom!!! This wicked uncle is bullying me again!”
“Xu Jialu, can you…” Yun Youwei walked out and saw Xu Youyou and Mo Shenbai at the door. She asked, surprised, “Why are you here?”
“To deliver mooncakes to my brother,” Xu Youyou replied. She saw that Yun Youwei was even paler and more haggard than before. She asked, “You… How are you feeling?”
Although Xu Jialu disliked her, he had treated her very well. However, later, her sadness was magnified, and she had even forgotten how well he had treated her in the past.
Cheng Ying smiled helplessly. “I really don’t know who he takes after. He clearly means well, but he has such a poisonous mouth. It’d be better if he doesn’t speak.”
Xu Youyou lowered her head and smiled. Then, she suddenly asked, ‘Mom, if I were to fall in love with a divorced man with a child, would you really object?”
“This…” Cheng Ying’s movements paused. For a moment, she did not know how to answer.
As a woman, she naturally knew there was nothing wrong with being divorced or having children out of wedlock. However, when she thought about her son raising another man’s child, she could not help but feel uneasy. Although she usually scolded her son, she felt like her son deserved better.
“Mom, between marrying a woman with a child and staying single forever, which one do you prefer?” Xu Youyou asked again.
Cheng Ying frowned. “Of course, I’d rather him be with that woman…”
After all, Cheng Ying was worried about her son being alone in his old age with no one to accompany him.
Xu Youyou laughed. “There you go. At least, he’s not single anymore. What are you worried about?”
Cheng Ying glared at her. “You child!”
…
Upstairs in the study.
Xu Jianshu put down his brush and let Mo Shenbai look at his handwriting. “How is it?”
“Excellent,” Mo Shenbai said curtly. He really did not know how to say words of flattery. After all, he was usually the one being flattered. However, faced with his father-in-law, he still needed to show some goodwill. For this reason, although he had seen the calligraphy of many famous masters and Xu Jianshu’s calligraphy was like that of a child in comparison, he still said it was excellent.
After wiping his hands, Xu Jianshu invited Mo Shenbai to take a seat and drink tea. Then, he said, “You don’t have to flatter me. I’m aware of my ability.”
Mo Shenbai picked up the teacup and took a sip. He did not say anything in response.
After taking a sip, Xu Jianshu put the teacup down before he looked at Mo Shenbai meaningfully and asked, “Recently, my business has been booming. There are a lot of orders. You have a hand in this, right?”
Although the companies that came to look for Xu Jianshu were not under the Mo Group, they more or less had cooperated with the Mo Group.
Mo Shenbai did not admit nor deny it. He only said, “Isn’t this the way business is?”
The Mo Group did not need to cooperate with the Xu family’s company, but the smaller companies were different.
“I know you have good intentions, but you don’t have to do this,” Xu Jianshu said. If it were someone else, perhaps, they would have long used their daughter to ride on their son-in-law’s coattails. However, he never had this thought. His only hope was for Xu Youyou to be happy.
“Youyou loves to paint and draw. I don’t expect her to inherit the family business. I don’t even have expectations for that rascal, Xu Jialu,” Xu Jianshu said with a sigh, “That rascal sets his sight very high so he won’t care about my small company. I don’t know what will happen after I retire…”
Mo Shenbai lowered his gaze and said, “It doesn’t matter. There’s still your grandson, after all. If you don’t mind, you can let your grandson help you.”
Xu Jianshu’s small company was nothing in Mo Shenbai’s eyes. However, Mo Shenbai respected Xu Jianshu from the bottom of his heart for Xu Jianshu’s lifetime of hard work.
These words hit Xu Jianshu’s heart, and he perked up immediately. “Grandson? I really can’t count on that brat, Xu Jialu. Are you really willing to let your son take over my company?”
“I have no objections if he’s willing.” Although Mo Shenbai had no children yet, he had already shown his enlightened attitude as a parent.
“Good, that’s good,” Xu Jianshu said, nodding in satisfaction. Then, he asked, “But what if it’s a girl?”
“It’s the same for both boys and girls,” Mo Shenbai replied. If it did not work out, at worst, he would help Xu Jianshu run his company. However, he was still very confident about his future children.
Xu Jianshu slapped his thigh happily. He was instantly energized. “With your words, I feel like I can still fight for another 20 years!”
Mo Shenbai smiled slightly and said, “I feel that Father-in-law can still fight for another 40 years.”
“Alright. We have a deal then!” Xu Jianshu said as he toasted his tea to Mo Shenbai as a substitute for wine.
…
Mo Shenbai and Xu Youyou did not stay for dinner. They left with the mooncakes Cheng Ying made.
Cheng Ying deliberately gave them two more boxes. Her intention was quite obvious.
After getting into the car, Xu Youyou waved to her parents through the window as the car slowly pulled away.
A loving smile appeared on Cheng Ying’s face as she held her husband’s arm and asked softly, “Do you notice that Youyou is a little different now?”
“Huh? How is she different?” Xu Jianshu was confused. He was a man so his perception regarding this was not as strong.
Cheng Ying glared at him. “Haven’t you noticed she’s much closer to us now? In the afternoon, when we were making mooncakes, she even took the initiative to comfort me. She even talked about what happened when she was young…”
Cheng Ying suddenly stopped talking. Her eyes were filled with shock as she looked in the direction where the car left. Then, tears suddenly rolled down her face.
Xu Jianshu was frightened by his wife’s sudden change. “W-what happened? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Cheng Ying did not say anything. She covered her mouth to stop herself from crying. She finally realized that the things Xu Youyou had spoken about earlier were things that Xu Youyou had supposedly forgotten!
Cheng Ying could no longer hold back her years.
Xu Jianshu was so anxious that his face and ears turned red. He was perplexed. “W-what happened?”
Cheng Ying shook her head and suppressed her emotions before she smiled happily, “It’s nothing. I just feel that our daughter has grown up.”
‘Our daughter has finally returned…’
…
Xu Youyou and Mo Shenbai did not return to Moon Pavilion. Instead, they delivered the mooncakes to Xu Jialu. They rang the doorbell, but no one opened the door. Then, they went downstairs to ring the doorbell.
Xu Youyou was not surprised when Xu Jialu opened the door to Yun Youwei’s house.
On the contrary, Xu Jialu was surprised. “Aren’t both of you spending time with Mom and Dad? Why are you here?”
Xu Youyou held onto Mo Shenbai’s arm as she said, “Mom made mooncakes, and she asked me to give them to you.”
Xu Jialu took the mooncakes. Just as he was about to chase them away, Xie Yumu ran out and hugged Mo Shenbai.
“Dad!”
“How many times have I told you? He’s not your dad! If you really lack fatherly love, you can call me ‘Dad’!” Xu Jialu said as he grabbed Xie Yumu’s collar and lifted him with one hand.
“I’m not calling you ‘Dad’!” Xie Yumu said arrogantly as he turned away.
“You little brat! You need to be taught a lesson again!” Xu Jialu said as he pinched Xie Yu Mu’s cheek.
Xie Yumu shouted, feeling aggrieved, “Mom!!! This wicked uncle is bullying me again!”
“Xu Jialu, can you…” Yun Youwei walked out and saw Xu Youyou and Mo Shenbai at the door. She asked, surprised, “Why are you here?”
“To deliver mooncakes to my brother,” Xu Youyou replied. She saw that Yun Youwei was even paler and more haggard than before. She asked, “You… How are you feeling?”
