RIRW – Chapter 178

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At this time, it was still very rare in the country to see people bringing their children to such occasions. When it came to children’s education, the focus was still primarily on academics and schooling. So for someone like Chen Zhisen to carry a small child with him—especially one dressed so adorably—naturally drew a lot of surprised looks.

Particularly since Chen Zhisen carried himself with such grace and poise, while Shen Youyou was so lively and cheerfully waved at everyone with a cute smile—it was enough to melt a crowd.

Zuo Dan walked alongside Shen Yiming, and like the other students, she couldn’t help glancing from time to time at her son putting on a cute act, thinking to herself that her son really had a big heart.

Shen Yiming watched for a while and said, “I think Dad’s way of educating is actually quite good. Shen Youyou is exposed to all this at such a young age—he’ll get used to it. For him, things like this will be no big deal in the future. Compared to that, we’re the ones being small-minded.”

“…We call this being pragmatic,” Zuo Dan firmly refused to admit that she was less capable than her son. Her son was clinging to a powerful leg, okay? That’s not the same!

Shen Yiming said, “Exactly. That’s why we get all excited for days whenever something like this happens. But you’re right, being practical is important. When Shen Youyou gets a bit older, let’s have him spend some time working back at Zuo Village every year. If he’s to be a capable person, he can’t lose touch with the grassroots.”

“…,” Zuo Dan glanced at her son and preemptively broke out in a cold sweat on his behalf—but she didn’t feel any pity at all. He’s a boy, after all. It’s good for him to be tossed around and toughened up.

In the crowd, Wang Sinan watched Chen Zhisen with red-rimmed eyes full of grievance. Seeing the child by his side made her feel even worse. She had always wanted to follow her father around, just like her second uncle often brought his children along for academic research trips to the lab. Every time they came back, they would brag to the others. But she never got the chance. Every time her father left, he wouldn’t bring her along. Even when she held on to him and begged to go, he’d only tell her to study hard with her teacher.

But now, he was bringing a child with him. A child so young they didn’t even understand anything yet.

Wang Sinan quietly followed the group from a distance, watching as they entered the cafeteria. She saw Chen Zhisen hold Shen Youyou’s hand as they climbed the stairs, saw him coaxing the child with a kind, fatherly smile, and then bending down to carry the child in his arms.

She couldn’t help but want to rush over, but just as she reached the stairs, someone stopped her.

The second floor of the cafeteria wasn’t open to the public today—it was reserved for the guests.

Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming didn’t go home for lunch either. There was a meeting in the afternoon and not much time to prepare. Since there was someone cooking at home and Grandma was also being taken care of, they didn’t need to worry.

Besides, their son was still here.

So the two of them went to the first floor of the cafeteria for lunch.

“Shen Youyou actually got into the second floor of the cafeteria, while we, his parents, are stuck down here on the first floor. Shen Yiming, where’s the justice in that? I’m his mom!”

Shen Yiming pushed the meat from his bowl to her, then swapped it out for some vegetables. “You could go up too. I’m sure my father-in-law would be happy to have his daughter eat and drink well with him.”

Zuo Dan chuckled. “Forget it. I’ve always been self-reliant. Besides, at my age, I’m long past mooching off my parents. Now I’m at the age of mooching off my husband.”

Shen Yiming nodded seriously. “Alright, then go home tonight, wash up, and I’ll let you mooch.”

“Get lost.” Zuo Dan took some vegetables from his bowl.

After lunch, they had some fruit for dessert, then went outside to find a place to read.

They had just left when Shen Youyou and Xiao Qiu came downstairs. After holding it in all morning, Shen Youyou couldn’t take it anymore—once he was full and refreshed, he insisted on going out to play.

So Chen Zhisen asked Xiao Qiu to take him around the campus to play, and maybe bump into Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming along the way.

They had just stepped out when they saw Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming laughing and joking as they walked along the path.

Shen Youyou, full and satisfied, spotted his parents and excitedly climbed down from Xiao Qiu’s back. He ran toward them joyfully, shouting, “Hello, Mommy and Daddy—!”

Zuo Dan was in the middle of goofing around with Shen Yiming when she suddenly heard her son’s voice. She turned around to see the little bean, dressed in his prince outfit, wobbling toward them with a big grin, showing off his few little teeth and wearing a bootlicking smile.

Worried he might fall, Zuo Dan quickly ran to meet him. “Oh my goodness, baby, slow down! Don’t fall!”

Shen Youyou threw himself into her arms, wrapping his arms tightly around her neck and planting a kiss on her cheek.

“Mommy, I love you!”

“…Speak proper Chinese.”

Shen Youyou didn’t understand what his mom meant. He just blinked his big round eyes at her, and seeing her serious expression, he giggled, “Mommy, mommy.”

Zuo Dan gave up, thinking to herself—how does he even communicate with his grandpa on a daily basis? Those two are practically glued together. She was beginning to admire her father.

Wang Sinan saw this scene and her eyes turned red with anger.

She had just seen Xiao Qiu coming out and had planned to go ask about Chen Zhisen—and find out who the child was. She hadn’t expected to see this scene instead.

No wonder Zuo Dan didn’t want to help her—turns out it was because she had stolen her father.

She wiped away her tears and ran out from behind the flower bed.

“Zuo Dan! So it was you who stole my dad! You’re shameless! Did you seduce him with your pretty face?!”

Shen Yiming walked over and stood by Zuo Dan’s side, ready to protect his wife and child. But Zuo Dan shoved the child into his arms and pushed him aside.

“What do you mean ‘your dad’? Don’t make it sound so nice. He already cut ties with you in the papers, and you’re still clinging on? How thick is your skin?”

“You must’ve seduced him!” Wang Sinan cried.

Shen Yiming’s face darkened. “Wang Sinan, watch your words!”

“I’m not wrong! Otherwise, why would he be bringing your child around?”

Xiao Qiu stepped forward. “Wang Sinan, please remember Mr. Chen’s warning. Stop disturbing Miss Dandan and her family. Otherwise, Mr. Chen will be very angry.”

“Why, Xiao Qiu? Why is my dad so heartless to me and so good to them? Why?!”

Zuo Dan said, “Obviously because you’re not likable.”

“You’re lying! Daddy would never hate me. Zuo Dan, it must be you! You used your face to trick my dad!” Wang Sinan looked at her agitatedly.

Everything that had belonged to her had been taken away and become someone else’s. Why should it be like that?

Xiao Qiu once again blocked Wang Sinan’s path. “If you keep pestering her, I’ll inform Mr. Chen. There’s no relationship between you anymore, so stop clinging on.”

Wang Sinan hesitated, still a bit fearful of Chen Zhisen. Her brother had told her not to go looking for Zuo Dan or their father again, otherwise their father would be very angry and might punish them severely, just like those people in the U.S. who had offended him.

Even though she didn’t quite believe it, she didn’t dare test it. She had seen the frightening side of her father before. Back then, she had felt proud, thinking that such a powerful man was her dad.

She stood in a daze for a long while before wiping her tears and turning to leave. After taking a few steps, her unwillingness resurfaced. She couldn’t hold back her thoughts and shouted, “Zuo Dan, just you wait!” Then she ran off.

Zuo Dan curled her lips and turned to Xiao Qiu. “Xiao Qiu, weren’t you looking for her parents? Any progress?”

Xiao Qiu felt a bit awkward, worried that Zuo Dan would be upset about what had just happened and might take it out on Mr. Chen. “Miss Dandan, Mr. Chen rarely interacted with her. He didn’t know she would act like this. I’ll definitely report this to Mr. Chen. He will make appropriate arrangements.”

“I’m not the type to cry to my parents when something goes wrong, and I’m not that petty either. Don’t worry. Even if Wang Sinan treated me unfairly, I’ll still treat her with principle.” Zuo Dan smiled. “Besides, the reason she turned out this way is largely because of you.”

Xiao Qiu’s eyes widened at that. Then he admitted honestly, “I do bear responsibility—I failed to stop her…”

Zuo Dan shook her head. “No, Comrade Qiu, do you know why Wang Sinan won’t stop pestering my dad? She’s clearly starved for familial love. Because you didn’t manage to find her parents in time, she’s clinging to my dad instead. If she had found her real family, would she still hang around him like this?”

“…There was very little information from back then, so it’ll still take some time…”

Xiao Qiu replied with difficulty.

Zuo Dan sighed. “Comrade Qiu, sometimes blood ties aren’t everything. As long as you treat someone like family, it’s the same. After all, didn’t my dad raise her for twenty years? I think if you put your heart into finding her parents, even if you make a mistake, it’ll still be understandable. She won’t blame you. Ideally, find her a big family—like with living grandparents and seven or eight siblings. Judging by Wang Sinan’s personality, I’d say it’s probably hereditary. Her family must have someone just like her—or even worse. If you find such a family, she’ll definitely love it.”

As Xiao Qiu listened, he was confused at first, but gradually he picked up on her meaning.

Then he looked at Zuo Dan with a more subtle expression. Miss Dandan, this might be hereditary in your family too.

“I understand. Not finding her family was a major oversight on my part. I’ll speed up the search. Miss Dandan, you don’t have to worry.”

Zuo Dan smiled and said, “Comrade Qiu, no wonder my dad relies on you so much. Your work is excellent!”

After Xiao Qiu took Shen Youyou back to find Chen Zhisen, Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming headed toward the assembly hall.

“Shen Yiming, don’t get involved in this. People like her aren’t worth our effort.”

Shen Yiming said, “I can tell—you’re planning to find a bunch of people to help, aren’t you?”

“Heh, you got it. I’ve always believed in one thing: let the wicked deal with the wicked.”

On the way back to the hall, Chen Zhisen received Xiao Qiu’s report. His expression turned dark.

“Cancel her academic exchange opportunities. Don’t let her step foot in the university again. Also, take back the house. Tell Nianjiang—whatever I gave them, I can also take back. This is just the beginning.”

Xiao Qiu asked, “Then… what about finding her family?”

“It’s been more than twenty years. I was injured back then—how could I possibly remember what someone I met once looked like? You take care of it. If you find them, tell them that my debt is repaid. No need for a reunion. She can just go reunite with her family.”

Xiao Qiu nodded quickly.

After finishing his instructions, Chen Zhisen added, “Xiao Qiu, you don’t need to report these things to me. Since Dandan cares about those siblings, that’s a good thing. You don’t have to give me updates. Otherwise, she might think you’re tattling behind her back. There’s no need for that between us.”

Xiao Qiu’s heart jumped, and he quickly replied, “Old habits die hard. I’ll remember that from now on.”

Chen Zhisen chuckled. “Speaking of which, Dandan is still too pure-hearted. Xiao Qiu, if Wang Sinan comes back again, just send her back to the U.S. If she wants to go, let her. I don’t want anyone constantly pestering my daughter and affecting her studies.”

Xiao Qiu nodded in understanding. The U.S. might be a paradise for the rich, but for some people, it was more like hell.

That afternoon, after the meeting ended, Chen Zhisen went home by car, while Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming rode bicycles.

When they arrived home, Chen Zhisen and Shen Youyou had already changed clothes and were having tea in the courtyard. Shen Youyou was drinking milk from a bottle.

Seeing his parents pushing their bikes home, he toddled over with the bottle in his hands to greet them.

Shen Yiming scooped him up and lifted him high.

Zuo Dan snatched the bottle from his hands and pretended to drink it.

Shen Youyou was immediately upset. “Mommy is so bad! I don’t like it!”

“Oh, you’re speaking so clearly now.” Zuo Dan laughed and handed the bottle back to him.

Shen Youyou quickly shoved it back in his mouth.

Zuo Dan ran over to sit beside Chen Zhisen and poured herself some tea. “Dad, this tea is good. Better than coffee.”

Chen Zhisen looked at her, not sure if she was angry or not, so he smiled gently. “Dandan, I heard about what happened today. I’ve asked Xiao Qiu to handle it.”

“What incident? Oh, you mean that thing? It’s fine, no big deal. I don’t mind at all.” Zuo Dan beamed brightly.

Chen Zhisen said, “You may not mind, but your father does.”