Old Chen touched his beard and gestured for them to sit.
He sat opposite the two of them. Li Fu'an immediately handed him a cup of hot tea. "Teacher, have some tea."
Old Chen took the tea calmly and took a sip, sighing, "Alas, it was fortunate you called me in time that day. Otherwise, if it had been a little later, who knows what would have happened."
Li Fu'an glanced at Zhao Ruolan, who was sitting beside him, and also sighed, "This matter was quite dangerous. It was also thanks to Lan'er accidentally overhearing Yun'er's phone call that day that she found out."
Bang—
Old Chen heavily placed the cup on the table, the sound startling the couple.
They sat up stiffly, nervously awaiting Old Chen's reprimand.
"Look at the two of you, what's going on? Li Yun'er was right under your noses, and you still let her do such a thing! Have you forgotten your identities? That girl Jingwei has been stubborn and proud since she was young. If Xiao Cheng bullies her, and she decides to take her own life, I'd like to see how you explain yourselves to those above."
Old Chen was somewhat angry.
He happened to be in Lancheng that day, but he hadn't expected such a thing to happen suddenly.
Given his status, he shouldn't have intervened to save Meng Jingwei that day. However, time was of the essence, and he was forced to save Meng Jingwei.
Fortunately, he arrived in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Zhao Ruolan nodded repeatedly, "Teacher, you are right. It is Fu'an and I who have not raised Yun'er properly."
Old Chen looked at Zhao Ruolan and Li Fu'an's expressions. He couldn't help but stroke his white beard, frowning, "What, you truly regard Li Yun'er as your own daughter?"
"Teacher, I... I..."
He had hit the nail on the head.
Panic flashed across Zhao Ruolan's face. She quickly shook her head and waved her hands, but she didn't know what to say.
Li Fu'an, however, took a deep breath and sighed, "Yun'er has been with us for so many years, how can we not have feelings for her?"
"Nonsense!"
Old Chen snorted coldly, lowered his head, and leisurely picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Li Yun'er's appearance was originally meant as a substitute. You are well aware of her fate. I advise you to discard any inappropriate thoughts, otherwise, only you yourselves will be left heartbroken and sad."
Some things were beyond their control.
Zhao Ruolan pursed her lips, "We understand what you say, Teacher. But Teacher, shouldn't you also know what 'love grows over time' means?"
"Yes, Teacher is right. But Lan'er and I are flesh and blood people, how can we be so heartless?"
"Silence!"
As soon as Li Fu'an finished speaking, Old Chen was furious. "Remember, the only person you must protect from beginning to end is one. Don't mistake the target."
With his reprimand, Li Fu'an and his wife immediately lowered their heads, looking like children who had done something wrong.
Seeing them in that state, Old Chen's heart softened a little.
He leaned back in the booth, raised his hand, and scratched his head of silver hair. "While people naturally have emotions, since you know some things have no outcome, you shouldn't dwell on them. If you had the ability to turn the tide, perhaps Li Yun'er would be there to care for you in your old age."
The couple looked at each other, their expressions serious. Finally, they lowered their heads in tacit understanding, remaining silent.
"What about Li Zirui? How is that child lately?" Seeing that they were somewhat sad, Old Chen added, "Zirui is a good child, not as ostentatious as Li Yun'er. You should focus your attention on Zirui."
"Yes, Teacher. We know what to do."
Li Fu'an nodded, saying with a serious expression.
"Although I will be in Lancheng from now on, try to avoid meeting. Last time, in the central square of Feinan Street, that girl Jingwei almost recognized me."
Old Chen had not expected that he, coming out late at night for business, would encounter Meng Jingwei on the streets of Feinan.
It had truly startled him.
"Jingwei is smart and wise, indeed we must be cautious. However, recently there have been whispers that someone from Country C is coming, and their target is... Yun'er."
Li Fu'an got to the point and conveyed the important matters.
"Follow the clues and find out who they are," Old Chen said casually. "The most important thing now is Qing Muye and Jingwei. If the two of them get involved, I fear it will cause great trouble."
"What? Impossible. Qing Muye likes men. It was just exposed a couple of days ago."
"Yes, it caused quite a stir then."
The couple thought Old Chen was out of touch with the news.
"What are you two looking at? Can't you recognize the person in the photo?" Old Chen said with a hint of disdain.
Then, the three of them sat and chatted for quite a while before Old Chen left.
What they discussed afterward remained unknown.
...
Meng Jingwei was accompanying Madam Qing at the Qing family's old residence when Shi Ran's call came through.
She got up and walked outside the living room to answer the phone, "Shi Ran?"
"Wei Jie, where is Grandpa Chen? I bought some crispy cakes for Grandpa Chen, but I can't find him after returning!"
These days, Shi Ran had been at the wedding company, occasionally overseeing renovations, organizing past client resources, or attending to other matters.
Because Shi Ran had always said she wanted to follow Meng Jingwei, Meng Jingwei had given her paid leave.
Shi Ran had seen Old Chen that morning, then left for a temporary matter after informing Old Chen. However, shortly after she left, the other party notified Shi Ran that she didn't need to go anymore, saying the matter was resolved.
Shi Ran had to return to the wedding company, worried that Old Chen would be bored there alone.
On the way, she saw someone selling crispy cakes and specially bought some for Old Chen. To her surprise, when she returned, she couldn't find him anywhere on any floor.
Shi Ran became a little worried.
"What? Grandpa Chen isn't here?"
"Yes, I've looked from floor to floor, and I'm in your office now, but I still haven't seen him," Shi Ran said anxiously.
Meng Jingwei immediately said, "Don't worry, I'll call him."
After hanging up, Meng Jingwei immediately called Old Chen, "Old Chen, where are you?"
"Where else would I be? Of course, I'm at the company."
"Oh."
Meng Jingwei thought that perhaps the company had several rooms, and Shi Ran and Old Chen had just missed each other, which was why they hadn't met.
She then said, "What do you want to eat for lunch?"
"Anything is fine, I'm an old man, I can't be picky."
"Alright then, I'll bring you food after I eat."
"Mm, I'm just lying in the office watching TV." Old Chen, who was sitting in a taxi, didn't expect Meng Jingwei to call suddenly, so he told a lie.
Although the wedding company was under renovation, the office was newly decorated and had not been used yet.
To prevent Meng Jingwei from becoming suspicious, Old Chen said he was in the office.
"Got it."
Meng Jingwei hung up the phone and was about to call Shi Ran, but as she opened Shi Ran's contact information, she suddenly realized...
Something was wrong!
Shi Ran said she was in the office, and Old Chen was also in the office?
But she had clearly heard car horns just now.
The office was very soundproof, so how could there be car horns and noise?