The husband and wife chatted until the middle of the night before finally falling asleep.
Two days later, Zhuang Shurong’s application was finally approved. Su Chen received the news and specially came to visit. Of course, Ji Zitong also came along.
Ji Zitong’s pregnancy is a few months in now and she was showing. Su Chen was very nervous and waited on her carefully. Zhuang Shurong could not help but tease him—
“Su Chen, you’re quite a warm-hearted father-to-be. You’re doing a better job than Ah Chen.”
“He’s just making a mountain out of a molehill. Aunty Zhuang, please don’t laugh at him.”
Ji Zitong was also a little shy. She rolled her eyes at Su Chen and sat down opposite Zhuang Shurong.
“She’s a treasure now. The old man gave a strict order to take care of her. I don’t dare to neglect her.”
Su Chen sat down next to her.
“It’s naturally best to take care of your wife. Your father treated your mother the same way, so you should be like him. This is a good thing. Just drink some flower tea. Xiaye asked them to bring it back. The weather is a little cold, so this one is warming.”
Zhuang Shurong poured tea for Su Chen, Ji Zitong, and the others as she spoke.
“Thank you, Aunty Zhuang.”
“Why did Aunty Zhuang think of retiring? I heard from my father that Aunty Zhuang is very likely to be promoted another level up, especially now that Uncle Mu is also…”
Su Chen asked with some doubt.
Hearing this, Zhuang Shurong sighed softly, “I’m not someone who views politics as a lifelong pursuit. After decades of ups and downs in politics, it should be enough. I’m didn’t let myself down in this life of mine. Now, it’s time for me to stop and live a new life. All these years, I haven’t taken good care of my family. I’m not like your mother, who can take good care of her family and take good care of your father.”
“No, Aunty Zhuang and Uncle Mu have always been a model couple. We often envy you. My parents, they don’t have such a tacit understanding with each other. It’s just that Aunty Zhuang’s decision is admirable. Not everyone can think like you.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it. With Grandfather Mu and Grandmother Mu gone, the family will need someone to take care of them. The children are still so young. I can’t be at ease if I don’t look after them. Ah Chen and Xiaye are also so busy.”
“Actually, it’s good for you to retire earlier. You’ve worked hard for so many years. You should get some rest. My mother is the same. If it weren’t for Zitong being pregnant, she would probably need to take over my mother’s company now.”
“Aunty Zhuang, you don’t have to worry. Xiaye and Chairman Mu will understand, even if you insisted.” Ji Zitong thought about it and replied.
“I’m good right now. I’m quite happy to be with the children. Also, your Uncle Mu needs someone to take care of him. He’s been working too hard these past few years, and his health isn’t very good. I have to give him some guidance.”
“Su Chen, you and Ah Chen are so close. I’m very grateful to you both for taking care of him all these years. I’m afraid your Uncle Mu and I aren’t qualified parents either…”
“Aunty Zhuang, please don’t say that. Ah Chen has always been very grateful to you both.”
“We can all feel the distance between him and us. But it’s still okay. His father and I are also proud of him to have turned out the way that he is today.”
Zhuang Shurong still felt a little guilty towards her son. Su Chen and Ji Zitong also felt a little heavy when they talked about this topic. The couple exchanged a look before Ji Zitong asked—
“Aunty Zhuang, where are Xiao Rui and Xiao Cheng?”
Zhuang Shurong quickly calmed down when her grandson was mentioned.
“Xiao Rui and Wei’er are already in school, but Xiao Cheng is still asleep…”
“Grandmother…”
Just as Zhuang Shurong finished speaking, a tender voice suddenly entered their ears. They quickly looked towards the source of the voice and realized that the little guy was climbing down the stairs.
“Oh my, my little devil!”
Zhuang Shurong cried out in surprise and quickly stood up to rush over—
Su Chen also exchanged glances with Ji Zitong and they smiled at each other.
…
Knowing that Dongfang Liuyun was going to bring Qi Lei back today, Dongfang Shurong got Ah Cai to give Song Siting a call early in the morning, asking her to make a trip back to the old mansion.
Since Dongfang Shurong had given the order, Song Siting naturally did not dare to disobey and rushed back quite early.
Before Qi Lei and Dongfang Liuyun returned to the Dongfang old mansion, Song Siting had already rushed back. She was sitting on the sofa in the living room watching TV while Dongfang Shurong was reading the newspaper at the side.
Dongfang Shuman instructed the kitchen to prepare some of Dongfang Liuyun and Qi Lei’s favorite dishes.
“I heard that Fujiwara went to look for you?”
Dongfang Shuman asked faintly.
“Other than that one time, we haven’t contacted each other since then,” Song Siting replied.
“Do you know why I called you over?”
Song Siting naturally did not know that Dongfang Liuyun and Qi Lei would be back today. Now that she had come over to see Dongfang Shuman’s serious expression, she thought that it was because they did not have a good conversation the last time and had asked her to come over again.
“I’m not in the mood to repeat the same old things to you. I’ve already said what I should say. What you want to think and do are your own matters. It’s your own choice. I asked you to come back today because of Liuyun and Qi lei. They’ll be back later. Since being married for so long, this is their first time visiting.”
As Dongfang Shuman spoke, she looked up from the newspaper to look at Song Siting.
At this moment, Song Siting looked at Dongfang Shuman in surprise
“Liuyun and Qi Lei? They’re coming back?” Song Siting was naturally surprised.
“What do you think? They’ve been married for so long. I thought that as a mother, you should understand some basic etiquette.”
Dongfang Shuman’s tone was very impolite.
“Mother, I…”
“It’s not that I, Dongfang Shuman, want to make things difficult for you. You have to be a good and holy person, but you’d better not forget your duty. They’ve been married for so long. Even if they’re not sensible, shouldn’t you know better?”
Dongfang Shuman’s tone was filled with reproach.
“Have you ever thought about what kind of impact this matter will have if it gets out? If Qi Lei didn’t come forward to admit it, do you plan to keep it a secret?”
“We didn’t mean that. Her father had already decided to bring them back, but something unexpected happened at the last minute, so…”
Song Siting explained, “Besides, hasn’t Mother always been loyal to Fujiwara…”
“You’re quite good at reading my thoughts.”
“I don’t dare.” Song Siting replied softly.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble in this matter. It’s best for you to fix your attitude.”
“I don’t understand what Mother means.”
Song Siting raised her eyes and looked at Dongfang Shuman.
