Daddy, Mommy Ran Away

The wardrobe was packed with clothes. The dressing table was stocked with every imaginable item. The luxurious Persian carpet stretched across the floor. A flicker of astonishment crept onto An Ruoxi’s face. Had Ouyang Pei already prepared a room for her?

Her senses caught the faint scent of Chinese Viburnum lingering in the air. Turning toward the open window, she was pleasantly surprised to see an entire grove of Viburnum trees outside. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the delicate petals, soft and smooth like the skin of a newborn.

Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to be enveloped by the tranquil moment, surrounded by the floral fragrance.

“Ruoxi.” Leng Haoyin entered the room, spotting her standing by the window, her eyes closed, lost in the moment. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips as he walked over and embraced her from behind. The scent of Viburnum mingled with the faint musk from his body, creating a richer, soothing aroma that surrounded them both. A sense of comfort spread across her lips as An Ruoxi leaned her head against his chest.

“Do you like Viburnum?” His voice was soft, as gentle as the petals drifting outside.

“Mm. We used to have many Viburnum trees at home. They were my mom’s favorite flowers.” Her quiet voice reached his ears, and suddenly, her words struck a chord deep within her.

Here, a grove of her mom’s favorite Viburnum trees had been planted?

“Father-in-law must love Viburnum too. Ruoxi, forgive him. He’s just a lonely old man.”

As they descended the stairs, two new faces appeared in the living room.

“Get inside already! Stop dithering. You begged me to come and plead on your behalf, and now that we’re here, you don’t want to go in? Might as well head back!” Ouyang Chuan barked at Han Yunqiu, who hesitated at the doorway. “You’re driving me crazy! If you’re not tired of this, I sure am!”

With an angry grunt, he strode inside. Han Yunqiu bit her lip and reluctantly followed.

From a distance, she spotted the man sitting on the sofa, his face devoid of expression. Ouyang Chuan, visibly irritated, walked over and flopped onto the sofa. “Old man, it’s been ages. Surely you’ve cooled off by now? Even if you haven’t, can you at least handle your woman? She’s been pestering me nonstop, and I swear my ears are growing calluses from it!”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Ouyang Pei’s initially good mood vanished the moment he heard Han Yunqiu’s voice. His smile disappeared entirely when he saw Ouyang Chuan’s insolent demeanor. His anger flared-how had he ended up with such a troublesome son, seemingly born just to provoke him?

“I’m talking to you, of course.” Ouyang Chuan stood abruptly, his impatience evident. “If you won’t reinstate her position, then make her clean toilets or something, okay? Just deal with your own woman and stop letting her bother me all the time.”

He turned to leave, his irritation palpable.

“Stop right there! Where do you think you’re going?” Ouyang Pei’s commanding voice rang out, his temper rising with Ouyang Chuan’s attitude.

“Where else? Do you think I can sprout wings and fly over the heads of your guards stationed outside the door?” With a mocking grin, he turned and headed toward the stairs.

“Ouyang Pei-” Han Yunqiu’s voice was soft, barely audible, as she timidly called out his name. Though her tone was meek, her heart was brimming with affection. Just seeing him was enough to make her heart bloom with joy.

“Considering Ouyang Chuan’s sake, you may return to work tomorrow. Just this once. If there’s a next time, you know what will happen,” Ouyang Pei said with a detached tone, not even sparing her a glance before rising and walking away.

At the staircase, Ouyang Chuan happened to bump into An Ruoxi. His eyes lit up, and he rubbed them as if to confirm what he was seeing.

Ouyang Chuan let out a sharp scream and, like an excited puppy, lunged forward to embrace her. “Angel! You missed me so much, didn’t you? That’s why you came all the way here to find me, right? Boohoo, I’m so happy, so touched! Honestly, I miss Angel too. I think about you during the day, at night, while eating, drinking water, even when I’m in the bathroom, and when-ouch!”

Before he could finish pouring out his endless stream of longing, a strong force yanked him away. He spun around, nearly losing his balance.

“Ow! Who’s pulling me?” Dizzy and disoriented, Ouyang Chuan shouted in protest. He raised his head and saw a cold, stern face. It seemed vaguely familiar. The tightly pressed lips hinted at the man’s aloofness. His gaze dropped lower, and he noticed the man’s possessive grip around An Ruoxi’s slender waist. Ouyang Chuan frowned. “Who are you?”

“Your brother-in-law,” the man replied, his thin lips curling in displeasure.

“What?!” Ouyang Chuan exclaimed in shock. “I don’t have a sister. Where did this brother-in-law come from?”

“Chuan, Xi’er is your biological sister,” Ouyang Pei said as he approached from behind. Seeing his two children getting along so well, his mood instantly brightened. He thought about how he had a daughter, a son, and a whole bunch of grandchildren. Life couldn’t get any better.

The only frustrating thing was that no one called him “Dad,” nor did anyone call him “Grandfather.” It was as if his role as the head of the family was completely overlooked…

“Ahhh!” Ouyang Chuan let out another scream, his eyes nearly popping out of his head from excitement. He dashed forward and hugged An Ruoxi tightly again. “I finally have family! Sister, you have to take care of me from now on. I want to live with you!”

“Sure,” An Ruoxi replied, her smile playful and indulgent as she looked at his exaggerated expression.

“No way,” Leng Haoyin interjected, his face dark and brooding. Seeing Ouyang Chuan clinging to An Ruoxi with all four limbs, jealousy surged through him like a tidal wave. He reached out to pull him away again. “She’s my wife. Stop getting so close to her.”

“Leng Haoyin…” An Ruoxi shot him an angry glare. “Chuan is still a kid.”

“I’m not! I just turned eighteen. I’m officially an adult now,” Ouyang Chuan protested, puffing out his cheeks in defiance. Why did his sister always treat him like a child? [Come on, your behavior is totally childish, okay?]

“Exactly. What kind of grown man clings to his sister like that?”

“I love clinging to my sister! Deal with it! If you pull me away again, I won’t let her marry you. Right, Sister? You’ll side with me, won’t you? I’m your beloved, handsome, one-of-a-kind younger brother…”

“Of course. Haha.”

“Ouyang Chuan-”

“Babe, you can’t abandon your husband for your brother!”

“Brothers are like limbs; men are like old clothes. Limbs can’t be severed, but clothes can be replaced at any time…”

“Ouyang Chuan, you’re asking for it!”

“Haha-”

An Ruoxi was just about to call out to the children and Leng Chuyan to come inside for dinner when suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out.

“Ruoxi.” The unexpected sound stopped her in her tracks. She turned to look.

It was her-the woman who bore a striking resemblance to her mother.

An Ruoxi’s gaze lingered on the woman’s face with a hint of greed, watching her step closer, one deliberate step at a time. “Miss Han, are you calling me?”

“Ruoxi, I’m sorry,” Han Yunqiu’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her face betraying a trace of inner turmoil.

An Ruoxi frowned in confusion, her eyes taking in Han Yunqiu’s fair, oval-shaped face. A woman in her forties, yet still graceful and charming. If her mom were still alive, would she look just as youthful and beautiful? “Miss Han, you…”

Han Yunqiu reached out and clasped her hand with a sorrowful expression. “About the time Yan Runi kidnapped you… I was involved too. But please, believe me, I only wanted to send you abroad. I didn’t want you to reunite with Ouyang Pei. I was afraid that if he acknowledged you, he would abandon me and my son. I never expected Yan Runi to be so ruthless. And I certainly didn’t foresee that it would lead to you losing your child…”

“What?” The barely healed wound was torn open once more. An Ruoxi’s eyes widened to an impossible degree, reflecting Han Yunqiu’s grief-stricken face. Her chest heaved as her breath seemed to falter.

“I’m sorry, Ruoxi. Please, for Chuan’s sake, forgive me. I truly didn’t mean for this to happen. Ouyang Pei won’t even speak to me now. I’m in so much pain.” Han Yunqiu’s tears streamed uncontrollably. “What do I have to do for you to forgive me? I’ll kneel if I must. Just tell me what you want-I’ll do anything.”

“No, no, please don’t…” An Ruoxi quickly pulled her up, her heart aching as though struck by a sharp blade. Yet, seeing the tear-streaked face so reminiscent of her mother’s, she couldn’t bear to be harsh. “Please, don’t do anything foolish like this again. And rest assured, I won’t fight Chuan for any inheritance. As for Ouyang Pei ignoring you, there’s really nothing I can do.”

At this point, she simply wanted to put an end to the matter. She had no desire to pursue it further.

“Thank you. Thank you for forgiving me.” Watching An Ruoxi’s retreating figure, Han Yunqiu’s tears fell anew. Thankfully, the worst had been avoided.

Lunch was consumed amidst a cacophony of noise and chatter. As soon as the meal was over, Leng Chuyan scooped up the three children and whisked them away in his car.

Back at the office, An Ruoxi logged onto the internet, only to be bombarded by a flood of news reports about Zuo Corporation’s projected stock decline. Worry gnawed at her, prompting her to make several calls to Zuo Junchen, all of which went unanswered. Just as her anxiety reached its peak, Shen Jun appeared and dragged her into the president’s office.

The moment they stepped inside, a pen flew straight toward his handsome face.

Shen Jun, anticipating the move, dodged effortlessly. Grinning, he approached with a playful air. “Haoyin, seriously? You’re resorting to live ammunition now?”

“Drop dead.” Another pen sailed through the air.

“Wow, Haoyin, are you so rich that you can afford to waste expensive pens like this?” Shen Jun caught the pen mid-flight and, after confirming there were no more projectiles, swaggered into the room. “You ungrateful, petty man. I helped you find your wife, and instead of thanking me, you ambush me? Boohoo, Ruoxi, am I not the most pitiful person alive? Your man is way too savage.”

He reached out and pulled An Ruoxi close, resting his head on her shoulder in a mock display of misery.

An Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth as she was amused by his roguish antics, momentarily forgetting to push him away.

One could only imagine the intensity of the jealousy emanating from the executive chair.

“Get lost.” The tall figure behind the chair, radiating fury, grabbed Shen Jun and yanked him aside. His brows knitted tightly as he glared, his voice cold enough to freeze the room. “Stop messing around with my wife. Or else, you know what will happen.”

“You keep calling her ‘wife’ when you’re not even engaged yet. Are you just rubbing it in because I don’t have a wife?” Shen Jun planted his hands on his hips and shouted with exaggerated indignation, his tone brimming with defiance. “Well, guess what? I’m getting married!”