Chapter 11 What About My Wife and Child?

An'an's little face wrinkled in displeasure; she found him annoying and paid him no mind.

Receiving no response, Wang DouDou simply walked in. Seeing An'an sitting alone on the sofa watching television, his gaze shifted until he spotted the robot An'an had tossed aside. His eyes immediately brightened as he spoke, "An'an, since your dad isn't playing with you, I'll play with you."

Seeing him approach the robot, An'an hurried to snatch it up, her small gaze fiercely stubborn, "No need!"

Wang DouDou puffed up angrily, "Why are you so stingy? Your dad isn't here, what's wrong with letting me play with it for a bit?"

Mentioning her absent father, An'an's expression dimmed, and she fell silent.

Just then, a booming voice resounded, "DouDou! DouDou!"

DouDou replied loudly, "I'm here at An'an's house!"

Soon, a burly middle-aged man ran in. He greeted An'an, and she replied with a polite, "Hello, Uncle."

Wang Qingshan glanced at DouDou and spoke gently, "I've been calling you for ages, why didn't you answer?"

Wang DouDou didn't even look at Wang Qingshan, "Didn't I already answer you?"

"I've been searching for you for a while. Didn't we agree to go swimming together? So, do you still want to go with Dad?" Wang Qingshan said with a smile.

At the mention of swimming, Wang DouDou jumped up in delight, "Yes! Dad really keeps his word. You're really taking me swimming!"

Then he asked An'an, "An'an, do you want to go?"

An'an shook her head, "I don't like swimming!"

Wang DouDou took Wang Qingshan's hand and headed out.

As they reached the door, An'an secretly glanced at the father and son's retreating figures.

After walking some distance, Wang Qingshan finally asked, "Did An'an's dad not come today?"

Wang DouDou nodded, "But I didn't argue with An'an today. Was that the right thing to do?"

Wang Qingshan patted his son's head, "Very good. If you could become friends, that would be even better."

Wang DouDou pulled a face, "He's no fun at all. I don't want to play with him."

Wang Qingshan chuckled, "Then don't. Let's go swimming."

Lu Yan found the attitude of this mother and child quite intriguing, but after just a day or two, it was impossible to discern much. Wang Qingshan thought as much.

...

Two hours earlier.

Lu Yan had been summoned to the office by his supervisor, Wang Zhifang.

"Lu Yan, how could you raise your hand against your family? Have you thought it through—do you understand your current position?"

Lu Yan glanced at his watch, "Are you finished?"

Wang Zhifang admonished earnestly, "You're the exemplary model of our unit. You can't afford any slip-ups in conduct or morality. I've nominated you for this month's advanced role model, you know."

"What do you want me to do?" Lu Yan asked, a touch impatient.

Wang Zhifang advised, "Just admit fault to your parents and brother, and let the matter rest."

Lu Yan considered for a moment, "Then nominate someone else."

Infuriated, Wang Zhifang stood up abruptly from his chair, "You...!"

Lu Yan stood as well, "My son is waiting for me. Anything else, let's discuss tomorrow."

Wang Zhifang pinched the bridge of his nose; only Lu Yan dared to speak to him this way in the entire research institute. He would have liked to assert his authority, but he knew Lu Yan all too well.

He couldn't even find a stand-in to pressure or chastise.

Lu Yan made his work life easy, but when it came to personal matters, he made it a headache.

He dragged Lu Yan back into his seat, "Until this issue is resolved, neither of us is leaving work."

He resorted to stubbornness.

Lu Yan sighed, "Is there any solution besides apologizing?"

He wasn't unwilling to solve the problem, but he hadn't done anything wrong in this matter. He couldn't accept that way of resolving it.

Wang Zhifang said, "Can't you wait before sending your parents back home? This uproar will cause trouble; everyone is watching. The organization thinks highly of you."

"What about my wife and child?" Lu Yan felt his parents were at fault and insisted they should leave.

Wang Zhifang relaxed at hearing this. If there was a problem, there was room for negotiation. He smiled kindly, "Aren't your wife and child doing just fine now?"

"If they keep living at her parents' house, why did I marry her?"

Wang Zhifang was exasperated, "It's a new society now—there's no need for these old customs. If you really want to improve relations with your wife and son, why not just move in with them?"

Lu Yan furrowed his brow in thought, remembering his son bore the surname Shen. Moving in wasn't out of the question.

"I can move in, but my parents still have to return home."

"Fine, fine, we'll discuss it later. Until we find a proper solution, don't escalate things." Wang Zhifang had his own grievances with Lu Yan's parents.

Who would send their daughter-in-law away without even asking their son, especially when she was pregnant? But the public didn't see it that way. Everyone had long held prejudices against Shen Qingyi, and filial piety trumped all. He dared not challenge public opinion lightly.

"It's all your fault!" Wang Zhifang redirected his reproach to Lu Yan, "Had you told your parents about your marriage certificate sooner, she wouldn't have been wrongly accused. Asking her to answer your calls or reply to your letters now is a fool's errand."

Lu Yan fell silent.

After a pause, he checked his watch again, "I really must go, or I'll miss the bus."

"So you agree?"

Lu Yan packed up his things as he asked, "Agree to what?"

"You can't forcibly send your parents home now."

"Understood!"

Lu Yan finished packing and left. As soon as he reached the office building's ground floor, he saw Chen Haixia.

Chen Haixia, seeing the man rush downstairs, knew he was eager to get home.

"Lu Yan!" She stepped forward, her face adorned with a gentle smile.

Lu Yan nodded, offering a brief greeting, "Finished work."

But he didn't slow down.

The man was tall and long-legged, moving swiftly, his refined face full of urgency.

Chen Haixia hurried to catch up, "Lu Yan, could you help with something?"

"Not now!"

"You haven't even heard what it is yet," Chen Haixia was used to Lu Yan's manner.

He spoke to his superiors the same way, so she didn't mind.

"I don't have time for anything. If I can't do it, I don't care to hear about it!" Lu Yan continued without pause.

Chen Haixia was breathless from chasing him.

"Lu Fan was hospitalized—his rib's injured. Aunt Qian is beside herself, nearly fainted, and was sent to the infirmary. Lu Fan needs someone to sign for his transfer," she said in one breath.

Lu Yan finally halted, turned, and hurried toward the family residence.

Arriving at the infirmary, Lu Yan went straight in. He saw Lu Fan lying in bed with an IV drip, and Qian Guihua sitting weakly beside him.

As soon as Qian Guihua spotted Lu Yan, she wailed loudly and grabbed his arm.