In front of Deng Yaomei, Wen Ying had never so openly expressed her emotions. She hugged Deng Yaomei tightly, and Deng Yaomei’s face turned red, her body stiffening, not daring to move an inch.
“Wen… Wen Ying? Chen Jie…”
Deng Yaomei looked to Chen Li for help. Chen Li, who was about to call Deng Shangwei, burst into laughter at Deng Yaomei’s reaction.
“Don’t mind her. Ever since she got sick this time, she’s become all smooth-talking. She’s like this with everyone she meets—probably went a bit daft being cooped up in the hospital. She’ll be back to normal in a few days.”
Was that it?
Feeling sorry for Wen Ying, Deng Yaomei raised her stiff arms and gently patted Wen Ying’s back.
Psychologically, Deng Yaomei idolised Wen Ying, but in daily life, she treated her like a little sister to look after.
Wen Ying had been pondering why fate had given her a chance to be reborn.
Aside from saving her auntie and uncle’s marriage and giving herself another shot at choosing her life’s path, perhaps her seemingly successful career and happy love life in others’ eyes still carried regrets like Deng Yaomei.
While Wen Ying teased Deng Yaomei until her face was beet red, Chen Li had already got through to Deng Shangwei on the phone. Wen Ying quickly pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.
“Where are you off to this late?”
“It’s fine. Wen Ying and I came back and just saw your car.”
“I know you’ve got a lot of business dinners, but even those should have a proper time!”
On the other end, Deng Shangwei explained why he’d gone out. Chen Li didn’t press him too hard. Before she hung up, Wen Ying snatched the phone from her hand.
“Uncle, don’t forget what you promised me—no drinking and driving, no driving after drinking! If you’re at a dinner and can’t avoid a drink, make sure someone else drives you back. If I catch you drinking and driving, we’re done!”
Wen Ying’s tone was stern. On the other end, Deng Shangwei chuckled, amused by her seriousness, but then felt a touch of warmth.
Threatening him with “calling it quits”—Wen Ying still had a child’s temper.
But with her repeated warnings against drinking and driving, Deng Shangwei guessed she’d heard some story about a drunk-driving accident. Either way, it showed she cared about him. After doting on Wen Ying for years, she was finally showing concern in return—how could Deng Shangwei not feel comforted?
Hearing his laughter, Wen Ying feigned anger. “Don’t laugh! I’m dead serious. If you lie to me, we’re definitely done—no amount of gifts will fix it!”
How could a teenager have such a fiery temper?
Realising Wen Ying wasn’t joking, Deng Shangwei didn’t dare brush her off. Over the phone, he promised her he’d come home early and avoid drinking if he could.
Chen Li grabbed the phone back. “Alright, you little madam, you’ve got hooked on bossing your uncle around lately. Only he puts up with you. Would you dare talk to your dad like that at home?”
Chen Li said it offhandedly but regretted it instantly.
It sounded like she was stirring trouble between Wen Ying and her father, Wen Dongrong.
And knowing her brother-in-law Wen Dongrong, Chen Li realised Wen Ying indeed wouldn’t dare speak to him like that… How upset must the girl feel hearing this?
Chen Li felt a pang of guilt and cautiously glanced at Wen Ying’s expression.
Wen Ying brushed it off. “How can my dad compare to my uncle? In my dad’s eyes, I’m good for nothing. But Uncle cares about me, so threatening him actually works!”
Chen Li hadn’t hung up yet, and Deng Shangwei heard every word clearly.
He’d just arrived at his dinner, not even parked yet. Hearing Wen Ying say this, he suddenly found the “dinner” ahead utterly unappealing.
If he’d known Chen Li and Wen Ying were coming back to Rongcheng, he wouldn’t have stepped out tonight, no matter what.
Before hanging up, Deng Shangwei solemnly assured Wen Ying he’d never drink and drive or lie to her.
Wen Ying hummed in approval. “Uncle, I trust you.”
Chen Li added a couple of reminders before hanging up. “Right, aren’t you going to wash your face and feet and get to bed? Who was it saying they were knackered earlier?”
By the time Wen Ying had washed up and climbed into bed, her two younger cousins still hadn’t stirred—kids’ sleep was so sound, Wen Ying was jealous. But she couldn’t sleep. Tossing and turning with a mind full of worries, she eventually slipped on her pyjamas and went to whisper secrets with Deng Yaomei.
The house Deng Shangwei bought had four rooms: a master bedroom for him and Chen Li, one for Deng Jie and Deng Hao, one for Deng Yaomei, and the last one for Wen Ying, even though she only came to Rongcheng during holidays.
The electric fan in Deng Yaomei’s room whirred noisily. She was thrilled to see Wen Ying, quickly making space for her.
Deng Yaomei cared for Wen Ying in every way. She’d already heard from Deng Shangwei that Wen Ying would be coming to Rongcheng for high school. “When you get here, we can hang out every day… Oh, I got that wrong—you’re aiming for uni! Why am I just thinking about dragging you out to have fun?”
As Wen Ying listened to Deng Yaomei ramble on, she subtly fished for info about Deng Shangwei’s recent whereabouts. “Has Uncle been sneaking out for drinks at night while Auntie’s away?”
Deng Yaomei shook her head. “Not often. This week, while Chen Jie was back at her hometown, Big Bro only went out twice at night.”
Wen Ying couldn’t help but laugh and cry.
Deng Yaomei’s father was a hopeless drunk—three meals a day, three rounds of booze. Even without a proper side dish, he’d down a couple of ounces with some broad beans or peanuts. To her, Deng Shangwei going out twice in a few days while Chen Li was away was nothing.
But Wen Ying thought it was too much—especially when she learned that one night, like tonight, Deng Shangwei had reached the building but turned back after a phone call. It left her with an even worse feeling.
Uncle was slipping fast!
In the past, he’d always dodged these late-night dinners if he could.
Maybe that’s how men were—one misstep, and they found excuses to fall further. One mistake or two, it’s all the same—if the wife caught them, they’d swear it was their first time and beg forgiveness.
…
As Wen Ying lay in bed, cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish, Deng Shangwei was already at a nightclub.
As a businessman, dinners and entertainment were unavoidable, but unless absolutely necessary, he hated these nightlife haunts.
Most businessmen there would call for girls to pour drinks. If Deng Shangwei didn’t, he’d stick out like a sore thumb. But if he did, the inevitable touching felt like a betrayal to his wife, Chen Li.
Chen Li and Deng Shangwei had been together since their student days, a love match. He adored his wife and refused to be like some small-time bosses who, once they made money, chased skirts and hurt their wives.
With Chen Li’s temper, if she caught him once, she’d divorce him on the spot!
Deng Shangwei had made a fortune in business. As his friends put it, without Chen Li, Boss Deng could easily snag a fresh young lass—why be so scared of his wife?
Deng Shangwei had nothing in common with these people. He wasn’t afraid of his wife—he loved her.
Tonight, with his mind on home, Deng Shangwei sat for barely half an hour. He sang a song for show and was ready to leave. When others offered him a drink, he claimed a sore throat and didn’t touch a drop.
“Little Deng, that’s not on, mate. Business doing well now, and you’re too good for Brother Wen?”
