Chapter 1 Lu Yan Is Coming Back

"Hello, comrade. Could you please help me connect to Comrade Lu Yan from the Research Engineering Department? I’m his family member and it’s urgent." Shen Qingyi’s voice was polite, but there was a hint of urgency in it.

"Please hold," came the cold reply from the other end. About a minute later, "Engineer Lu is busy at the moment and cannot respond."

With that, the line went dead, the busy signal sounding in her ear.

Shen Qingyi froze for a moment and could only hang up the phone.

Four years ago, after a brief and fleeting spring with Lu Yan, he left for the research institute. Two months later, she found herself pregnant with An’an. Unable to reach Lu Yan and receive his acknowledgment, she was disowned by her in-laws and driven out, forced to return to her late father’s old house.

For four years, rumors and gossip had never ceased.

She could ignore the slander; after all, she had endured the hardest days of raising a child alone. But An’an’s schooling could not be delayed any longer. She had inquired before: schools would not accept children without household registration.

She hesitated, knowing another call would likely go unanswered. So she paid and prepared to go home.

She had barely taken a few steps when she heard two operators behind her whispering, "Every time she comes here, her man won’t take her calls. I heard it’s because the kid isn’t his. Tsk, how thick-skinned."

"Right? And I heard she’s the professor’s daughter too. Always dresses so seductively, men coming and going from her house, she probably doesn’t even know who the father is."

Shen Qingyi paused, turned slowly, and fixed those two women with a sharp, unwavering gaze. Startled, they shrank back and fell silent. Shen Qingyi shot them a fierce glare before leaving the post office.

Back at the dilapidated staff quarters, An’an had just woken from his nap, quietly daydreaming beneath the grape arbor. He was an obedient child; even if he woke to find his mother gone, he never wandered off. The weather was stifling, and sweat beaded on his fair little face.

The mung bean soup she had set out to cool was ready.

She ladled a bowl for herself, then gently asked, "An’an, would you like some mung bean soup to cool off?"

An’an had inherited the best from both parents: a beautiful child, with thick, long lashes framing large, clear eyes. He stared intently at the grape arbor, utterly absorbed, ignoring her altogether. Shen Qingyi said nothing more; if the child wanted something, he would say so himself.

When she finished her soup, she fetched a towel from the kitchen and wiped the sweat from his face.

Looking at her son’s gentle little face, Shen Qingyi’s eyes softened, her resolve firm. No matter what, she had to reach Lu Yan as soon as possible.

Just then, Cheng Youqing arrived, knocking on the door, her face alight with excitement. "Qingyi, I heard from the leaders at work that Lu Yan is coming back!"

Shen Qingyi was momentarily stunned, then gave a self-deprecating smile. Her own husband was unreachable; even word of his work transfer came from others. But perhaps this was for the best. She had just been preparing to take An’an to the institute to find him, and now she was spared the trouble.

Her expression calm, she said, "I know. Thank you for coming to tell me."

Cheng Youqing, agitated by her composure, pressed, "When he comes back, you have to demand an explanation. An’an is his child. People talk, but you and your son can’t go on being wronged like this. Just look at An’an—so withdrawn, not even a playmate."

At the mention of her son, Shen Qingyi finally smiled. "An’an isn’t withdrawn, he just likes to think."

She didn’t really blame Lu Yan for his absence. His job and status were both unusual. Besides, after her father was denounced and exiled, and knowing full well that Lu Yan had a childhood sweetheart, her father had leveraged their mentor-student bond to coerce his most talented pupil into marrying his daughter.

She couldn’t resent her father either. He had always done his utmost to give her the best.

Lu Yan had been the province’s top scholar when he entered her father’s tutelage. He was strikingly handsome, tall and cool, with a height of one eighty-eight, all long legs and elegance. Though from a rural background, he had a rare bearing, and every girl who saw him liked him.

He always turned down admirers, claiming he was already engaged, and devoted himself to his studies.

But as for An’an, Shen Qingyi could swallow her own grievances, but not those her son endured. He was still so small, so well-behaved, knowing nothing, yet every time they went out the neighbors looked at him with suspicion.

It was true that Lu Yan had been coerced into marriage with her, but he had entered into true marital relations of his own accord. When she was pregnant with An’an, she had called him several times, only hoping he would tell his parents that An’an was indeed his child.

Each time, it was the same cold operator’s reply: "Comrade Lu Yan says he has no time," and then the call would end.

Shen Qingyi didn’t believe it—surely he could spare a few minutes for a reply? Or call back when he was free? But he never did.

Her gaze dimmed. Perhaps Lu Yan truly had no affection for her. She’d heard that his family and his former fiancée, Chen Haixia, still kept close ties over the years, which showed his tacit consent.

So be it. As long as Lu Yan returned this time and helped register An’an’s birth, she would never trouble him again, and let him go free.

Cheng Youqing, anxious for her, said, "Qingyi, I heard he’s going to be back for quite a while this time. Try to work things out with him—don’t waste that beautiful face of yours."

They had been friends since childhood. Shen Qingyi was famously beautiful, pursued by countless admirers; only Lu Yan seemed oblivious.

Shen Qingyi knew her friend meant well, and smiled gently. "Thank you for always thinking of me. I only need him to acknowledge An’an, to clear our name. Then I’ll let him go."

Cheng Youqing’s eyes widened. "Are you mad?"

After what happened to Professor Shen, it was only because of her nominal marriage to Lu Yan that mother and son could live here in peace. No matter how others ostracized or targeted her, they could only do so in secret, because she was still Lu Yan’s wife in name.

Shen Qingyi was about to reply when An’an suddenly ran over, clutching her hand, his black eyes blinking solemnly. "Mom, I’ve been staring at those grapes for so long, why haven’t they changed at all? Do they only grow when we’re asleep?"

Shen Qingyi stroked his head and smiled tenderly. "That’s right. So, An’an, go play for a while, and after a few more nights, the little grapes will start to grow."

Cheng Youqing adored the child too. With his rosy lips, white teeth, thick brows and big eyes, and such a gentle temperament, how endearing he was! She pulled a bag of peach crisps from her purse and handed it to An’an. "Here, have some!"

An’an’s big eyes curved in delight. "Thank you, Auntie!"

He took the peach crisps, toddled over to the doorstep, pulled one from the bag, and took a gentle bite.

The fragrant, crispy treat made him squint with pleasure.

As he ate, the bag suddenly emptied. An’an stood up warily.

Wang Doudou was holding the bag, taunting, "Shen Ping’an, give me these peach crisps and I’ll play with you. I won’t call you a bastard anymore."

An’an’s little face flushed with anger. "I don’t want to play with you. Give them back!"

He lunged for the crisps.

But An’an was a year younger than Wang Doudou and not as strong, and was quickly pushed to the ground.

His eyes reddened with pain, but he gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet in silence. Looking around, he picked up a small stone and hurled it at Doudou’s hand, the one holding the crisps.

The peach crisps scattered onto the ground, and Doudou burst into tears.

An’an rushed over, stomped the scattered crisps to crumbs, snatched up the ones still in the bag, and ran home as fast as he could.

Seeing his red eyes and dust-streaked clothes, Shen Qingyi crouched down anxiously. "An’an, what happened?"

Head lowered, An’an replied in a small voice, "Wang Doudou took my peach crisps and pushed me. I hit him with a stone and made him cry."

He knew that Doudou’s mother would soon come to make trouble for his mom.

"He started it?" Shen Qingyi’s tone was gentle.

An’an nodded. "Mm! I didn’t go out to play!"

Shen Qingyi drew him into her arms for a hug. "Well done!"

Cheng Youqing shook her head, at a loss for words. "I’ll head back now. Think carefully about what I said. If you need anything, come find me."

After Cheng Youqing left, Shen Qingyi didn’t wish to dwell on the matter. She carried An’an over to the swing beneath the grape arbor. "Play here for a bit, darling. I’ll go make dinner. We’re having braised fish tonight!"

She took the peach crisps from his hands, pulled one out, and said, "Not too many—this one is for you."

An’an accepted it and sat on the swing, nibbling away.

...

In the dormitory at Licheng Research Base, Lu Yan was packing his bags. A colleague, also preparing to leave, glanced at his eager manner and teased, "What, missing your wife?"

Lu Yan pressed his lips together and gave a soft "Mm."

He wondered how she was these four years; none of his letters had been answered. Remembering his teacher’s dying instructions, guilt welled up within him.

"Come on, the car’s waiting!" The colleague clapped Lu Yan on the shoulder.

After a ten-hour journey, Lu Yan finally arrived at the military family compound of the research institute at nine in the evening. Most people were already asleep, and the road was nearly deserted. He wondered if she was already in bed, and felt a little nervous.

But his steps quickened. At his door, he straightened his blue uniform and knocked.

"So late—who is it?"

A man’s voice came from inside. Lu Yan’s raised hand froze, startled. After a moment, the voice seemed familiar, and he knocked again.

The lights inside flicked on. Lu Yan heard someone coming to answer the door.