Wen Dongrong’s solution was something even Wen Ying hadn’t anticipated.
He hung up the phone!
The caller, Wen Hongyan, was persistent. When Wen Dongrong hung up once, she called again—a second time, a third—until he yanked the battery out of his phone, and the ringing finally stopped.
The family of three fell into an eerie silence.
After a long pause, Chen Ru sneered, “Why not answer? Is it inconvenient to bond with your sister in front of me?”
Wen Dongrong sighed. “It’s late. I don’t want to argue with her. We all know what she’s going to say.”
Denials, accusations, and unreasonable tantrums—those were all things Wen Hongyan would do.
Everyone has flaws, but smart people hide them in social interactions, showing only their best side.
Wen Hongyan didn’t bother hiding hers.
Wen Dongrong had been working overtime for days, rushed to Rongcheng after a late call, and then ran around at the hospital. He genuinely didn’t have the energy to bicker with Wen Hongyan.
Seeing Chen Ru stay silent, Wen Dongrong lowered his voice. “We’ve been married for so many years. I knew from when we were dating that you’re kind, generous, and not petty. You’ve lived up to that since we got married. Framing Shu Lu because of conflicts with Hongyan and Shu Guobing? You wouldn’t do that, so I don’t want to hear Hongyan’s excuses!”
Chen Ru’s face suddenly flushed.
Was this man insane, talking about their dating days in front of their daughter?
But his words did bring her some comfort.
Wen Dongrong wasn’t without merits. When he was young, he was a poor lad but handsome. After getting assigned a job, the older women at his workplace were eager to play matchmaker. When someone introduced him to Chen Ru, they hit it off.
Sure, Wen Dongrong could be ambitious, but he didn’t date purely for family background. Back when they were together but not yet married, a unit leader’s daughter took a liking to him. Her family was even better off than Chen Ru’s, and the leader had several talks with Wen Dongrong, but he didn’t break up with Chen Ru.
Thinking back to those days felt like recalling another lifetime. Many of Chen Ru’s memories had blurred, but she vividly remembered that leader’s daughter who pursued Wen Dongrong. The girl had confronted her, boldly demanding she back off. When Wen Dongrong heard, he rushed over, gave the girl a tongue-lashing, and she left in tears.
Chen Ru asked him what to do, and Wen Dongrong said, “Get married, what else?”
If they weren’t married, the girl was just chasing love. But once they were, any further pursuit would be meddling in someone else’s family, and most girls wouldn’t be that shameless.
So Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong got their marriage certificate.
Later… well, Wen Dongrong got sidelined by that leader at work!
It wasn’t until Wen Ying graduated from kindergarten and the leader retired that Wen Dongrong got a chance to shine at his unit.
So this man had done things that touched Chen Ru’s heart.
Reflecting on the past, the resentment Chen Ru had been harbouring finally dissipated.
Wen Ying glanced at her dad, then at Chen Ru, sensing the shift in the tense atmosphere between them.
By not answering the phone, Old Wen had widened his path—something Wen Ying hadn’t expected.
Forgiven, just like that?
—She’d thought Comrade Old Wen would have to kneel on a washboard a few times!
But on second thought, the couple’s conflict wasn’t really about funding Shu Lu. It stemmed from Wen Dongrong not unconditionally siding with Chen Ru during their arguments over it.
Tonight, Shu Lu had pushed Chen Ru, causing her injury, and Wen Dongrong took a clear stance, believing Chen Ru and aligning with her. That was the key to defusing her anger.
Every couple has their own dynamic. Wen Ying still thought her dad was too cunning, knowing exactly how to hit her mum’s soft spots. But if she didn’t want to end up in a single-parent family, she’d better keep quiet now.
Besides, if Chen Ru was willing to forgive, Wen Ying stirring the pot would only unite the couple against her.
Not only did Wen Ying avoid stirring trouble, she eagerly showed her filial piety. “Mum, I won’t go out tomorrow. You rest at home, and I’ll cook for you!”
Wen Dongrong found her a nuisance and said her cooking wasn’t needed.
“How many times have you even been in the kitchen? Can you tell salt from MSG? Don’t make a mess. I’ll take care of your mum.”
At sixteen, Wen Ying really hadn’t spent much time in the kitchen.
Her limited cooking skills came from living alone and renting after university.
But from the sound of it, Old Wen was strongly against her being a third wheel. Wen Ying smirked.
The drive back from the hospital was probably the most harmonious moment for the family of three since Wen Ying’s rebirth. No arguments, no controlling behaviour—if the family vibe could stay like this, Wen Ying would have to be mad to rebel against her parents!
The next morning, thanks to Chen Ru, Wen Ying enjoyed the porridge Wen Dongrong had made.
It was perfectly thick, with the mung beans cooked until they bloomed… So Old Wen could cook! Why hadn’t he before? Chen Ru had spoiled him too much!
After breakfast, Wen Ying said goodbye to her parents and headed out.
Chen Ru nagged a bit, saying Wen Ying should study on the weekend instead of gallivanting. As Wen Ying stepped out the door, Chen Ru asked if she had enough money.
“I’ve got enough, Mum. Don’t worry.”
Wen Ying had brought all 640 yuan of her manuscript earnings. More than enough for a day out with Xie Qian. They were both students, and Xie Qian wasn’t into fancy restaurants, so the 640 yuan would go a long way.
Once Wen Ying was downstairs, Chen Ru frowned. “I still don’t want Wen Ying doing business. If she put that energy into studying, she’d improve so much.”
Though Chen Ru didn’t believe what Shu Lu had said last night, it was still a wake-up call.
Wen Ying was always hanging out with rich second-generation friends, exposed to a lifestyle far beyond ordinary people’s. Over time, would she start craving material pleasures and lose interest in studying?
The thought of Wen Ying becoming like Shu Lu—overly mature at a young age, chasing new dresses or luxury bags, going to hotels with strange men—made Chen Ru’s head wound throb.
Wen Dongrong finished his porridge. “If you don’t want her doing business, why make a deal with her? Haven’t you noticed how headstrong she is now? Without a good reason, neither your words nor mine will sway her.”
Chen Ru had agreed to let Wen Ying keep running “Shrimp King,” on the condition that her grades didn’t slip and even improved steadily.
But back then, Chen Ru was in a cold war with Wen Dongrong, supporting anything he opposed.
Now that he was turning her words against her, Chen Ru could only stew.
Seeing her reaction, Wen Dongrong quickly grabbed the bowls and made a show of washing them.
“What do you want for lunch? I’ll buy groceries!”
“…”
Too angry to eat!
…
Wen Ying had no idea her parents nearly argued again—because of her.
When she met Xie Qian, he asked what her plans were. Wen Ying counted on her fingers. “I thought about taking you to Caotang, the provincial museum, or maybe an amusement park, but I settled on—”
Xie Qian cut her off. “The amusement park?”
“Yeah, Rongcheng Amusement Park. But it felt a bit childish, so I ruled it out.”
Wen Ying explained.
To her surprise, Xie Qian thought it over and chose the amusement park!
Wen Ying’s face heated up.
Why would Xie Qian want to go to an amusement park?
It was a place for parents with young kids or young couples—not for her and Xie Qian… But Xie Qian looked completely at ease, and Wen Ying instantly scolded herself for overthinking!
“Let’s go. Don’t you want to know what’s up with Zhao Dong? I’ll tell you when we get to the amusement park.”
