In a military compound, a middle-aged couple stood silently behind an elderly man engaged in a game of strategy, exuding noble bearing, while the old man appeared remarkably simple and unpretentious.
“Could you really bear to use me as a shield? Xiao Fan already wants to come see you. How can you still hold back? Although you wronged that child, you still have a chance to make amends!”
Without turning his head, the old man, hesitating over his next move, spoke out. Though he was quite satisfied with his daughter and son-in-law, he remained discontented with one decision they had made long ago.
“Dad, it was indeed our mistake back then. Because of something so uncertain, this child has suffered so much!”
The beautiful woman gazed at the composed old man, a bitter smile creeping onto her lips. No matter how radiant her appearance was, there was always a forbidden zone deep in her heart, a place that ached faintly every time she thought of it…
“You might be overthinking it. I’ve heard from that old friend about Xiao Fan, and I even met him once. This child is not as you imagine…”
Shaking his head with a smile, the old man finally placed his piece down after a long pause. Thinking of Old Master Qiao’s words, he was really curious to see how Xiao Yufan, the young man who once stirred up the capital, had changed.
This middle-aged couple was naturally Xiao Yufan’s parents. Yet now, they had long since lost any air of authority, for before Xiao Yufan, they were simply unworthy.
“When did Dad meet Xiao Fan?”
The beautiful woman’s brows subtly furrowed. It seemed her father understood Xiao Fan better than they did, yet the two shouldn’t have had any connection. Could it be that they had actually met by some twist of fate?
“A long time ago. At that time, he probably didn’t even know he was a member of the Situ family…”
Recalling the chance encounter with Xiao Yufan on the train back then, the old man couldn’t help but smile. This young man really suited his taste. He could even see a bit of his younger self in Xiao Yufan. And indeed, Xiao Yufan had already done quite well!
“Jingyun, since Dad has already met Xiao Fan, that’s naturally a good thing. When Xiao Fan comes back this time, things shouldn’t be too awkward…”
The middle-aged man, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, pulling the beautiful woman into his arms. He didn’t seem overly emotional. Compared to their first meeting, this head of the Situ family appeared quite composed.
Looking at him, the old man’s expression was filled with amusement. There was no mediocrity in the Situ family, yet this man, as its leader, seemed disappointingly ordinary.
Situ Yonghui, once regarded by many as a good-for-nothing, had somehow become the head of the Situ family. His marriage to Su Jingyun of the military Su family had also become the subject of ridicule. But soon, many of those laughing mouths mysteriously shut up…
Among those were many influential families in the military and political circles, yet the matter was quietly dropped. Everyone knew this man wasn’t as simple as he appeared. Could someone without strong capability really become the head of the Situ family? The answer was obviously no.
“You don’t seem worried at all. It seems a father just isn’t as anxious as a mother…”
Old Master Su shot Situ Yonghui a disapproving glance but said nothing further. After all these years, this man had always been the same. He really didn’t know how he managed to remain so calm in the face of endless rumors and gossip.
“A man must go through trials before he can truly shoulder responsibility. Twenty years should be enough for him to understand many things…”
Faced with Old Master Su’s questioning, Situ Yonghui could only awkwardly smile. In front of this old man, he dared not act too freely. After all, the Su family held a pivotal position in the military, and the old man himself was a general in a certain military region, with students spread throughout the country.
“It’s actually good that you think this way. A man must carve out his own path in the world!”
Quite agreeing with his son-in-law’s words, Old Master Su stood up and walked towards the back, with the couple following closely behind.
Along the way, many people greeted Old Master Su warmly, showing how well-respected he was here. Few knew his true identity. Although it was a military compound, many of its residents were merely military families.
“Did Xiao Fan say when he would arrive? It’s been nearly two years since we last saw him. I wonder if he’ll even recognize me when we meet again!”
On the train, he had already known Xiao Yufan’s identity. The reason he had appeared before Xiao Yufan in that particular way was merely to test him. Born under the stars of Tianzun and Pojun, Xiao Yufan’s destiny was unlike any other…
Meanwhile, Xiao Yufan and the four from Tianxuan had already been on their way for quite some time. When he learned their destination was the military compound, Xiao Yufan was genuinely surprised. It seemed he still didn’t know much about his own parents.
“It’s all your fault! If you had told us a few days earlier, we could have made proper preparations. Going like this for the first meeting, isn’t it too unimpressive…”
For Qingluan, meeting Xiao Yufan’s parents for the first time naturally brought a mix of excitement and anxiety. More importantly, they hadn’t prepared anything, coming almost empty-handed. Wasn’t that too embarrassing?
“Your presence is the best gift. There’s really no need for any preparation…”
Xiao Yufan was speechless. It seemed Qingluan was blaming everything on him. However, as soon as he finished speaking, he realized it might have been slightly inappropriate—Lanyue was still beside him…
Sure enough, as his words faded, a delicate blush crept across Lanyue’s face. She turned her gaze toward the window, her charming and lovely appearance evoking a sense of tenderness in anyone who saw her. Such a woman seemed like the perfect creation of heaven itself…
Coughing dryly to cover his awkwardness, Xiao Yufan noticed Qingluan and Tianxuan didn’t seem to mind. In their eyes, Lanyue would eventually become Xiao Yufan’s woman anyway, for they knew this womanizer would never let go of any beautiful girl around him.
Soon, the four arrived at the military compound. Seeing the somewhat ancient atmosphere of the place, Xiao Yufan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the air here. Suddenly, he felt as if he had returned to Tianzu. This familiar sensation made him feel strangely comfortable…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage