Meeting Fu Hengyi the second time, Shen Qinglan was amazed.
He came in from outside, dressed in a casual gray suit, tall and straight. With the sunlight shining on his back, his whole figure seemed to be tinged with a layer of gold.
He was handsome, and in such circumstances there was an added sacredness to his figure that even made Shen Qinglan dizzy.
Fu Hengyi went into the living room, meeting Shen Qinglan's eyes at once, and greeted her with a nod and a smile.
Shen Qinglan suddenly looked away, like a child caught peeping. She felt slightly uncomfortable, the tip of her ear covered by long hair secretly turning red.
"Grandpa, I'm back. Grandpa Shen, haven't seen much of you recently." Fu Hengyi greeted gently. Although he had been in the army for many years, he was not serious and rigid. Instead, without his military uniform, he was more like a gentleman—the well-educated son of a rich family.
Seeing his grandson back, Grandpa Fu waved his hand and suddenly threw the chessboard into a mess, "No more! No more chess!"
Grandpa Shen glanced at him helplessly, "You old man, your attitude toward chess is so poor. Every time you are about to lose, you cheat."
Grandpa Fu pretended not to hear, "Who's playing tricks? Didn't you see my grandson coming back? It's lunchtime."
Saying so, he ignored Grandpa Shen and pointed at Shen Qinglan, beaming, "Hengyi, this is your Grandpa Shen's granddaughter, your sister Qinglan. You had fun together when you were little, remember that?"
Shen Qinglan was kind of speechless at Grandpa Fu's introduction.
Fu Hengyi nodded with a smile and reached his hand out to Shen Qinglan. "Fu Hengyi, nice to meet you for the first time."
Shen Qinglan looked at the big hand in front of her, reached out her own and held it. His hand was large and rough, with calluses all over his fingertips that did not hurt hers but itched a little.
"Shen Qianglan." Some simple words, she said no more.
Grandpa Fu seemed to be very dissatisfied with the estrangement between the two. "Qinglan is not your subordinate, then why do you act so seriously? You haven't seen each other simply for a little more than ten years, how could you act so strange around each other? When you were a child, you held her and told me that she was the most beautiful little sister you had ever seen."
At his words, two of the four people present were stunned. Fu Hengyi looked at his grandfather, full of helplessness. Shen Qinglan's ears, which had just cooled down, were slowly warming up again.
Grandpa Fu, however, didn't care how Fu Hengyi felt. It was not easy for his grandson to spend vacation at home. If he didn't take time to cultivate their relationship, how could he have a great grandson?
"Your sister Qinglan is quiet and has a few friends here in Jing City. Besides, it doesn't happen often that you are on holiday. Since you haven't seen each other for more than ten years, now that you have time, take your sister Qinglan out to have fun. There are many interesting places to visit and have fun here," Grandpa Fu suggested.
Grandpa Shen, who had not yet uttered a word, finally realized what was wrong: the old man indeed had other intentions. He was curious as to why he had wanted them to come over to see him—he was clearly interested in his granddaughter.
Realizing that, Grandpa Shen turned blue, staring at Grandpa Fu with fire in his eyes, but he didn't want to burst out and become angry with the youngsters around.
"Lan Lan, it's late now. We should go." Grandpa Shen didn't want to stay. If they had stayed there any longer, his down-to-earth and pure granddaughter would be taken away by those two evil wolves of the Fu family.
In the eyes of Grandpa Shen, both old, naughty Mr. Fu and gentle Fu Hengyi were evil masters of plots and schemes. Knowing old Fu's plan, Grandpa Shen looked at Fu Hengyi—no longer with appreciation, but as if he were looking at a strange guy instead.
"Don't go, it's lunchtime already! Let's have lunch first. I'll get Hengyi to send you back after the meal." Grandpa Fu was trying his best to keep them here. Actually, he didn't care if old Shen left or not; but if Shen Qinglan had left as well, who would his grandson fall in love with then?
Grandpa Shen, who was aware of his intentions, definitely did not want to give him his chance. He immediately took Shen Qinglan's hand, motioning to leave.
"Stupid boy, hurry to see your Grandpa Shen off!" Seeing Shen and his granddaughter leaving quickly, Grandpa Fu felt quite disappointed at his grandson who was still rooted in place.
Fu Hengyi had not understood his grandfather's intentions. Seeing how he had reacted, however, he was afraid that Grandpa Shen had already figured that out.
"Grandpa!" Fu Hengyi called out helplessly.
Old Fu snorted, "What's the use of calling grandpa! Hurry over!"
"Grandpa, she's only twenty-one."
His grandson was already thirty-one. Wasn't he afraid that people would say he was robbing the cradle?
Grandpa Fu was actually not afraid at all. In fact, he probably would have been proud. He replied, "My grandson can rob the cradle, that's my grandson's ability. If you can, try."
Old Fu glared at his grandson and said with impatience, "What's the matter with being twenty-one? Twenty-one—she is already an adult. If you didn't want to get married and have children, would I be so anxious? Don't talk nonsense. Hurry and see your Grandpa Shen off."
Fu Hengyi had no choice but to chase them out.
Fortunately, the courtyard was large enough that the Fu household was not quite close to the Shen's. Besides, Grandpa Shen was old and did not walk fast.
He soon caught up with them.
"Grandpa Shen—" Fu Hengyi ran up, "My grandfather—that's just how he is. Don't get angry."
Grandpa Shen was indeed dissatisfied with old Fu's intention of pairing their grandchildren blindly; but as for Fu Hengyi, who had grown up before his eyes, he was clear about his nature. Besides, he couldn't really be angry with his old friend. At Fu Hengyi's words, the only remaining trace of anger in his heart dissipated.
"We've known each other for many years and I am aware of the old man's temper. Okay, it's fine. You go back."
"I'll walk you home first."
Grandpa Shen shook his hand, "No need, it's not far. Nothing can happen within the courtyard."
But Fu Hengyi still walked Grandpa Shen and Shen Qinglan back home.
"Don't take my grandfather's words to heart," Fu Hengyi whispered in Shen Qinglan's ear before leaving.
His deep and pleasant male voice vibrated into her eardrum like a cello solo. Shen Qinglan was even caught off guard for a moment, and Yu Xiaoxuan's words suddenly occurred to her, "The voice will get your ears pregnant."
Shen Qinglan looked at the tall and straight back of the man who was walking away. She herself didn't even notice that a ripple had formed deep in her eyes where there were always calmness and peace.
When Shen Xitong heard from Aunt Song that it had been Fu Hengyi who had walked Grandpa Shen back, she hurried out without even taking time to tidy herself up. To her disappointment, however, she did not see the figure that had long occupied her mind.
Shen Xitong looked at the empty tree-lined track, eyes full of obvious loss.
She had not seen him in three years.