Chapter 258: WHAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER

Rather than circling back to grandchildren, Fu Wanqing shifted the conversation instead, something warmer settling into her expression.

"I have to say, Guiying, you’re nothing like your parents." She studied him over the rim of her teacup. "I’ve met Xue Deyong and that wife of his. Insufferable, both of them. I don’t understand how someone as genuine as you came from that household."

Guiying raised a hand slightly, seeking permission to clarify.

"There’s actually been a misunderstanding about that for most of my life." He kept his tone even, practiced by now at explaining this without letting old bitterness creep in. "I grew up believing my uncle’s family was mine entirely, only recently learning that Xue Deyong isn’t the father I was raised to think he was in every sense. My biological father is actually his younger brother, Xue ShangYan. I don’t have all the details worked out myself yet, but I wanted you to know the truth rather than continue thinking poorly of a man who doesn’t deserve your energy either way."

Fu Wanqing’s brow lifted, something calculating flickering behind her eyes as she absorbed that.

"I see." She set her teacup down, turning the new information over carefully before speaking again. "Thank you for telling us. That certainly explains a great deal I’ve been curious about since we spoke last time. In that case, we’ll have to invite your actual father and mother for dinner soon instead."

Hanchen leaned forward slightly, curiosity written plainly across his face. "Xue ShangYan. That name sounds familiar. Your father’s no small man."

"Something like that." Guiying kept his answer deliberately vague, unwilling to unpack the rest of that particular complication at the dinner table tonight.

Guiying nodded, a small smile tugging at his mouth. There was no version of the future where he’d allow Xue Deyong to keep leeching off the Liu family’s goodwill, not when the man had spent decades treating him like an afterthought.

Dinner wound down soon after, the evening settling into the comfortable exhaustion of a school night. Tiantian moved around the table gathering coats and small shoes, Wen Haoran scooping up a nearly-asleep Xiao Bao before she could protest too loudly about leaving. Yaoyao insisted on one more round of goodbyes to everyone individually, taking her time with each hug as though the evening might slip away faster if she rushed it.

Reluctant goodbyes followed, Yaoyao and Mingming both hugging Hanchen tightly before he pressed thick envelopes of cash into each of their small hands, Fu Wanqing wrapping each grandchild in a warm embrace before letting Tiantian herd them toward the door.

"Bye, Uncle Guiying!" Lele waved enthusiastically from his father’s arms, already half asleep.

Guiying and Liuxian waved them off from the doorway, watching the car pull away down the long driveway.

Moying lingered a moment longer, crossing the room to collect his own hug and a kiss on the cheek from his mother.

"Momma’s boy." Liuxian muttered it under his breath, earning himself an elbow to the ribs from Guiying.

Hanchen pressed a folded bill into Moying’s palm as well, along with a firm pat on the shoulder. "Don’t do anything foolish tonight."

"No promises." Moying grinned, pocketing the money before heading out himself, leaving only Liuxian and Guiying standing in the entryway.

"I have something for you." Fu Wanqing’s voice carried down the hall.

"You don’t need to give me anything." Guiying shook his head quickly. "I’m supposed to be the one giving you something tonight, not the other way around."

"Nonsense." She waved off the protest entirely. "You gave me something priceless already. Let me give you something in return."

She disappeared upstairs before he could argue further, leaving Hanchen chuckling beside them.

"She likes you a little too much." Hanchen settled into a nearby armchair, stretching his legs out comfortably. "Wanqing’s stingy with her treasures, more than most people realize. And don’t worry about the grandchildren business. You’re both still young. There’s time enough for one, or two, whenever it makes sense for you."

Guiying’s throat tightened slightly at that, grateful for the ease with which Hanchen let the topic go, no pressure buried underneath the reassurance. It was such a small thing, being told he had time, that he hadn’t realized how much he needed to hear exactly that until the words actually landed.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs a few minutes later, Fu Wanqing descending carefully, a single gold bar cradled in both hands.

"I wanted to give you some of my jewels." She held it out toward Guiying once she reached the bottom. "But those were given to me by Hanchen over the years, each one tied to a different memory, a different season of our marriage. I couldn’t bear to part with any of them."

Hanchen pressed a hand lightly over his own chest, something quietly touched crossing his face at her words.

"This, however." Fu Wanqing placed the gold bar carefully into Guiying’s hands. "This is the gold that brought the two of us together, many years ago. I hope it brings the same kind of luck to you and Liuxian as it brought to us."

Guiying stared down at the weight resting in his palms, throat tight with something he hadn’t expected to feel this strongly tonight.

"Thank you." His voice came out quieter than intended. "I’ll treasure it."

Liuxian’s arm slid around his waist, pulling him gently against his side, watching his mother with an expression far softer than the exasperation he’d worn through most of dinner.

"Take care of each other." Fu Wanqing’s own eyes glistened faintly, though she blinked it away quickly, reaching up to pat Liuxian’s cheek the way she likely had since he was a child. "That’s all I really want. Grandchildren or not."

Hanchen rose from his chair, joining them at the door, resting a hand briefly on Guiying’s shoulder. "Come back soon. Preferably before she decides gold bars aren’t enough and starts handing over the deed to the house next."

"I heard that." Fu Wanqing shot him a look, though the corner of her mouth had already curved upward.

Guiying laughed, the sound loosening something in his chest that had been wound tight since the moment he’d stepped through the front door hours earlier.

Whatever he’d expected walking in tonight, it certainly hadn’t been this.