Chapter 21 Is Dad Amazing?

An'an quickly lifted her little face, revealing her small canine teeth, and said happily, "Got it!"

"What dishes do you want to eat?"

An'an thought for a moment. "Let's buy a watermelon, and then get a fish."

Shen Qingyi turned her gaze to Lu Yan. "And you?"

"Anything is fine!" Lu Yan had never been picky about food.

Shen Qingyi nodded and went to the kitchen to fetch the vegetable basket.

As she passed the sofa with the basket in hand, she stole a glance at the father and son.

On the sofa lay several odd items, looking somewhat like electrical appliances but not quite, the only recognizable thing among them being copper wire.

She wanted to ask, but felt a bit embarrassed. She decided to ask An'an after Lu Yan left.

Carrying the basket, she first went to Cheng Youqing's house. Cheng Youqing had just gotten up. Hearing Shen Qingyi invite her to go grocery shopping, she hurriedly changed her clothes, grabbed her basket, explained to her mother, and then followed Shen Qingyi out the door.

"Why didn't you bring An'an?"

Shen Qingyi replied absentmindedly, "Lu Yan is with him."

"Did Lu Yan move in?" There was barely concealed gossip and delight in Cheng Youqing’s eyes.

"No, he just comes over after work and on weekends to keep An'an company."

Cheng Youqing excitedly patted her shoulder. "This is a good thing! Take the chance to keep him here. If you two keep living apart, what if someone else comes along?"

Shen Qingyi shook her head. "Let it be. A man whose heart isn’t with you can’t be kept, no matter what you do."

"What’s wrong with you? So discouraged. After coming so many times, he hasn’t shown any sign of interest?" Cheng Youqing couldn’t believe it.

"The other day he brought me a tape recorder and two cassettes. Does that count as a sign?"

Cheng Youqing burst out laughing. "Is Lu Yan even a man? His beautiful wife is right before his eyes every day, and he doesn’t act at all?"

"That’s why, forced love is never sweet." After sighing, Shen Qingyi continued, "But there’s one thing I misunderstood about him. When I called him back then, it wasn’t that he deliberately didn’t come—it was the operator who never passed on my message. And he actually wrote me many letters."

Cheng Youqing was furious. "Who was that operator? That’s outrageous! You and An'an suffered so much because of her. You must file a complaint."

When Shen Qingyi said nothing, Cheng Youqing spoke again, "Maybe Lu Yan changed his story after seeing An'an, trying to make it seem like an accident. After all, who wouldn’t love such a cute child, especially his own son?"

Shen Qingyi shook her head. "It was Wang Xuemei!"

"Her?" Cheng Youqing’s heart skipped a beat, then she seemed to understand. "No wonder. You should have guessed the moment you knew it was her."

"I never thought even after my father died, she wouldn’t let it go. I heard she’s now transferred to a government office in the capital, and her husband’s position isn’t low either. So even now that I know the truth, I have no power to confront her."

Cheng Youqing was livid. "That’s just too much. It was her son’s lack of ability that made Professor Shen reject him, so how could she blame you for her son’s setback and him dropping out? Does Lu Yan know about this?"

"I haven't told Lu Yan. He already has enough on his plate. Besides, given our current relationship, it hasn’t reached that point. After all, this started because of my father." Shen Qingyi had her own concerns.

Cheng Youqing didn’t know what to say. "So you’re just going to let it go?"

"What else can I do?"

Cheng Youqing sighed, offering no answer.

After a while, Shen Qingyi finally spoke. "That’s why I have to clear my father’s name. Otherwise, if something like this happens again, I’ll have to suffer in silence. Even if I go to the leadership, no one would take my father’s side. As for Wang Xuemei, I’ll remember this."

Cheng Youqing was silent for a moment. "So after all this, you wanted to tell me you’re going to Pengcheng?"

Shen Qingyi smiled. "You really can’t hide anything from you."

Cheng Youqing looked a bit worried. "Are you sure you’ll manage in Pengcheng?"

Shen Qingyi nodded. "Everything is already arranged with Xia Xiyue."

"Alright, then I’ll go ask my father for help."

With her friend’s promise, Shen Qingyi finally felt at ease. They bought groceries and went their separate ways, with Shen Qingyi stopping to buy a watermelon on the way home.

When she got home with the watermelon, she set it on the table. Neither father nor son glanced at it, being too absorbed in their work to notice anything else. Shen Qingyi didn’t disturb them; after all, An'an often acted this way, and she was used to it.

It wasn’t until she finished cooking and called them loudly from the table that the two finally snapped out of it.

Upon hearing her, An'an quickly hid his things, then turned and asked, "Mom, when did you get back?"

"I’ve finished cooking, what do you think? Now go wash your hands."

An'an winked at Lu Yan. "I’ll go wash my hands first, then you can go after me."

Lu Yan understood and nodded. "Go ahead."

Shen Qingyi watched their secretive little exchange but, with Lu Yan still sitting there, didn’t dare to go over.

When it was Lu Yan’s turn to wash his hands, Shen Qingyi couldn’t help walking over for a look, only to be stopped by An'an. "Not yet! Wait until after we eat."

Shen Qingyi straightened up. "Alright."

Lu Yan finished washing his hands and sat down at the table, Shen Qingyi and An'an joining him.

After the meal, An'an said to Shen Qingyi, "Mom, you wash the dishes today. Dad and I have something to do."

Obediently, Shen Qingyi went to wash the dishes.

When she came back out, father and son were standing side by side by the sofa, as if waiting especially for her.

An'an rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Mom, Dad and I made something for you."

"A present?" Shen Qingyi was full of curiosity.

Lu Yan lifted the red cloth on the table, revealing a lump of iron wound with copper wire, mounted in a small iron box—delicate and compact.

An'an handed her a pair of headphones. "Mom, listen!"

Obediently, Shen Qingyi put on the headphones, and soon, the sound of a radio broadcast came through.

She was astonished. "Is this a radio?"

An'an nodded proudly. "Yes! It doesn’t need a power supply or batteries. Dad says it’s a crystal radio. Do you like it?"

Shen Qingyi looked at Lu Yan in surprise, but he seemed perfectly composed, as if he hadn’t the slightest intention of showing off.

No wonder An'an always praised his father. Shen Qingyi nodded. "Yes, I love it!"

An'an was immediately delighted. "Dad said he’ll teach me to make a semiconductor radio next time. But that needs a semiconductor chip, and those are a bit expensive, so you’ll have to wait. Isn’t Dad amazing?"

Shen Qingyi glanced at the man before her. His refined features relaxed, quietly handsome, and, hearing his son’s praise, he wore a faint, gentle smile.

She nodded again. "He is."

"Then Mom, you won’t be upset about the broken radio anymore, will you?" An'an’s big, grape-like eyes looked up at her.

Shen Qingyi laughed. "I stopped being upset long ago."

An'an pressed the gift into her hands. "Here, take it!"

As soon as she took the gift to her room, she heard An'an’s cheerful voice ring out from the living room: "Uncle Xia is here!"