Chapter 20: Knowing

Three days later, at Jiangyang International Airport.

Wen Lan Sheng brought Wen Ming Yue and Xie Cen to the airport to pick up the flight. When they saw Wen Jing emerge from the crowd, Xie Cen was so excited he didn’t know what to do, tightly hugging Wen Jing and fussing over her.

Wen Jing’s expression was indifferent, perhaps because she had been expelled from school and was returning home in disgrace. She looked very uncomfortable facing Xie Cen.

Although Wen Ming Yue was angry with Wen Jing, she was after all the only child of the family. What’s done is done, and scolding her further would be useless.

The family returned home, and Xie Cen prepared a big table of food to welcome Wen Jing back.

Wen Jing looked around the house: “Why aren’t we eating at our home, but at sister-in-law’s house instead?”

Xie Cen said: “Your mother fell and injured herself a while ago, so your brother and sister-in-law took us in to make it easier to take care of her.”

Wen Jing said: “This is my first time coming to my brother’s home. Although the house isn’t big, the location is good. The subway is just a few hundred meters from the neighborhood.”

“Yes, your sister-in-law is now an executive assistant at a large corporation. She’s no longer that poor girl from before. With just a little effort, she could get you into a respectable big company, but she’s not willing to,” Xie Cen said, giving Wen Lan Sheng a meaningful look.

Wen Lan Sheng lowered his head and ate, completely ignoring the barb in Xie Cen’s words. Ever since he refused to let Fan Xia help Wen Jing find a job, there had been a rift in the father-son relationship.

Wen Jing pursed her lips.

Xie Cen continued: “But your mother pulled some strings and found you a job teaching English at an institution. You’ve been abroad for so many years, and even though you didn’t get your degree, at least your spoken English should be good.”

Wen Jing’s expression changed slightly. Although she had been abroad for many years, her social circle was mostly limited to other international students. Her daily communication was fine, but it would be somewhat difficult for her to tutor others.

But for now, this was all she could do.

This family reunion dinner was suffocating. Xie Cen would take every opportunity to mock him, as if just because he wouldn’t help Wen Jing find a job, he was no longer his son but his enemy. His mother Wen Ming Yue also maintained an attitude of tacit approval throughout.

Wen Lan Sheng felt a deep depression in his chest. Suddenly, he received a message from Fan Xia: “Lan Sheng, I’ve been busy with work lately and don’t have time to look at houses. Go check out the new residential developments yourself. Whichever house you think is suitable for our marital home, we’ll buy it.”

The four words “our marital home” were like a gentle breeze soothing Wen Lan Sheng’s depressed mood, rescuing him from the suffocating environment. He couldn’t help but fantasize about their happy married life.

He would quit his job and be a full-time house husband, taking advantage of his youth to give Fan Xia several children. They would live in a big house that belonged to them as husband and wife. He would take care of his wife’s daily life, tutor the children, and in his free time, he would study cooking and flower arranging. This was the life he had always dreamed of.

Wen Lan Sheng was immersed in this dreamy joy. After dinner, he eagerly went out to look at houses at various sales offices.

However, before Wen Lan Sheng could find a suitable house, a week later, Wen Jing was fired from the tutoring institution due to insufficient expertise.

The family was once again dejected.

The tutoring institution was no longer an option. After several job applications, Wen Jing finally interviewed successfully for a manager position at a 24-hour convenience store.

But because this convenience store was located in the city center, and the old Wen family house was too far away with a commute of nearly two hours, Xie Cen felt sorry for his daughter and took it upon himself to bring Wen Jing to stay at Fan Xia’s house.

He even gave the secondary bedroom where the elderly couple was staying to Wen Jing, while he moved to the balcony, partitioning it off into a small single room to make do.

When Wen Lan Sheng returned from house hunting and saw this scene, he nearly fainted. He yelled at Wen Jing: “Wen Jing, do you have no conscience? You take the bedroom while letting Mom and Dad stay on the balcony. Don’t we have our own house?”

Xie Cen quickly shielded Wen Jing behind him: “What nonsense are you spouting? Jing Jing’s work is in the city center, a two-hour commute. If you don’t care about your sister, I still care about my daughter!”

Wen Lan Sheng clenched his fists: “Dad, it’s fine if you care about your daughter, but don’t forget, this is Xia Xia’s house, not ours!”

Xie Cen slapped the table: “We’re all family, why distinguish between yours and mine! Besides, didn’t Fan Xia say before that you two would move out in the future and give this house to your mother and me? I’m just letting Jing Jing move in early, what’s inappropriate about that!”

“Of course it’s inappropriate!” Wen Lan Sheng’s voice was urgent: “Xia Xia and I let you live here because we saw that you’re getting older and it’s inconvenient for you to climb stairs, not for you to treat this house as your own!”

Xie Cen pointed at Wen Lan Sheng’s nose and scolded: “Well! Well! This is the good son I raised! They say a married son is like spilled water, and it’s true. You haven’t even gotten your marriage certificate with Fan Xia yet, and you’re already siding with outsiders!”

Click—

The door lock turned, and Fan Xia opened the door and came in.

Everyone froze, looking at Fan Xia. Wen Lan Sheng was especially surprised: “Xia Xia, why are you home so early today?”

Fan Xia changed her shoes at the small stool by the entrance, her voice gentle: “There wasn’t much work at the company today, so I could leave on time.”

The group looked at each other, and Xie Cen felt especially uneasy. They had been arguing so fiercely just now, and he had spoken without thinking. He didn’t know if Fan Xia had heard.

Fan Xia changed into her home slippers and looked at Wen Jing, who was the main character of the incident but had remained outside the vortex. She smiled warmly: “Jing Jing is here too. Since you’re here, just stay. Your work is in the city center, so it’s not convenient to live at home, and renting a place outside is a waste of money.”

“Xia Xia.” Wen Lan Sheng tugged at Fan Xia’s sleeve.

Xie Cen was both surprised and delighted. He immediately said: “Yes, that’s what I thought too. Renting a whole apartment is so expensive nowadays. It’s better for the family to squeeze in together. It’s livelier too. Before, with just the two of you living in a two-bedroom apartment, it must have been so lonely.”

Fan Xia smiled without speaking and walked into the bedroom.