Deng Shangwei rubbed his hands nervously.
Years of habit made him wary of Chen Ru.
Back when he and Chen Li were secretly dating during school, Chen Ru caught them and never warmed to him, convinced he’d ruined Chen Li’s chance at university—honestly, getting into college was tough back then, and neither he nor Chen Li were top students. In today’s terms, they were just two slackers paired up.
But Chen Ru wouldn’t hear it.
Her logic was, if she could get into a junior college, shouldn’t Chen Li at least aim for a bachelor’s degree?
Chen Li didn’t get into any college, all because of dating!
Now with two sons, Deng Shangwei couldn’t prove whether he’d have made it to university without dating, but after over a decade of Chen Ru’s disapproval, he was used to it and couldn’t confront her head-on.
It wasn’t about how much money he made. To Chen Li, Chen Ru was like a mother, the last close family from her side, and by extension, Deng Shangwei’s family too.
Especially after last year’s Pan Li incident.
Chen Li believed he was framed, Wen Ying believed him, but whether Chen Ru did, Deng Shangwei wasn’t sure.
“Stubborn” defined Chen Ru. Once she formed an opinion, changing it was near impossible.
But ignoring the situation felt wrong. Deng Shangwei genuinely felt for Wen Ying. Learning the cold war’s cause from Wen Dongrong, he sighed, “Little Ying’s had it tough!”
The mother-daughter rift stemmed from Wen Ying’s trip to Hunan.
Wen Ying was wrong not to tell Chen Ru upfront, which could’ve avoided the cold war.
—But it was such a simple truth, Wen Ying couldn’t have missed it. Yet she chose to tell Wen Dongrong, not Chen Ru.
Deng Shangwei figured Wen Ying was scared to tell Chen Ru.
She’d have been refused, Chen Ru wouldn’t have let her go!
Or they’d have fought before the trip, and Wen Ying would’ve gone to Hunan in a foul mood, unable to “work” well.
Having built a small business himself, Deng Shangwei understood the grind better than Chen Ru or Wen Dongrong. Wen Ying and her friends’ temporary night market stall had grown into a franchise, a testament to her hard work, “Look at how things were and how they are now. You can see it. To say she’s bad to her parents is nonsense. If she were, she wouldn’t have bought a car with her first earnings. Though her dad drives it, it’s for the whole family!”
Without the car, Wen Dongrong’s trips to the city would’ve been a hassle.
Long-distance marriages strain relationships, and Wen Ying bought the car to keep the family harmonious.
For that alone, whether Wen Dongrong was a minor official or just a farmer or laborer, Deng Shangwei envied him!
Chen Li also thought Wen Ying was in great shape.
Her grades weren’t stellar, but they were passable.
In the provincial key school’s experimental class, college wasn’t a worry. Why pressure Wen Ying too much?
Life’s purpose isn’t just “top universities.”
Elite schools admit only so many. Those who don’t get in still thrive.
Sure, top schools offer a head start and job security, but admission isn’t guaranteed by effort alone.
Chen Li had lower expectations for her sons. As long as they could study, she’d provide the means. They’d take the same prep classes as others, and if Deng Jie or Deng Hao wanted to study abroad, she’d pay without hesitation—provided they were capable and driven. Parents could cover living costs, tutors, and tuition, but couldn’t sit in class or take exams for them!
“Little Ying’s grades are fine, and her overall vibe is great, cheerful, confident, sharp. You think she won’t make it in life?” Chen Li counted Wen Ying’s prospects on her fingers.
She could be a writer.
She could run a business.
A nine-to-five job, stable for most, didn’t suit Wen Ying, Chen Li thought. Some kids thrive on stability, others on hustling, and Wen Ying was clearly the latter.
Wen Ying could shine brighter.
Chen Li always saw Wen Ying through rose-tinted glasses, flawless.
Her praise wasn’t baseless. When Wen Ying suspected Deng Shangwei’s “affair,” she didn’t rush to expose it but hired a private investigator discreetly, a move beyond most young girls.
With such initiative and patience, Wen Ying surely planned her time well.
She knew when to study and when to handle “miscellaneous” tasks.
The couple stared at each other.
Their opinions didn’t matter, Chen Ru’s did.
Chen Ru wanted Wen Ying to focus less on “random” things and more on studies!
Their differing views naturally sparked conflict!
“Wife, get me some drinks,” Deng Shangwei steeled himself to take on the burden.
Chen Li was confused, “Why are you drinking?”
“Before Wu Song fought the tiger on Jingyang Hill, he drank eighteen bowls… Ouch, why pinch me?”
Chen Li twisted his arm.
Was this a time for jokes?
Absolutely not!
But as a mediator, Deng Shangwei couldn’t just barge in. If he bluntly tried to reconcile Chen Ru, her temper would ensure no compromise.
He could start with Wen Ying.
Or find the right moment.
Deng Shangwei muttered, “Little Ying’s so clever, if she wanted to sweet-talk her mom, how could she fail?”
Her bond with her dad was once so strained, yet she bought him a car. Deng Shangwei thought Wen Dongrong’s stubbornness was mostly bravado, nearly won over by Wen Ying.
Wen Dongrong used to be the undisputed head of the Wen family!
If Wen Ying could win him over, she could win Chen Ru. Yet their rift persisted, suggesting Wen Ying didn’t want to reconcile.
—That’s odd.
What was Wen Ying thinking?
Deng Shangwei tried to talk to her, but Wen Ying shut him down, “Uncle, you’re right, I could sweet-talk her, but I don’t want to.”
