Chapter 4

How many years have you two been married? Nothing came of it. Adopting a girl with a different surname is just an attempt to justify yourself to me?" He let out a heavy grunt, his already somber voice becoming even rougher: "You have never heard of my... sooner or later, you will regret it.

... ...

The implication is that one no longer wishes to see her

Do you still consider yourselves young? The profession is so dangerous; what if something goes wrong? Although I am an old bone, I can still support you! What did you say when you brought that child, Wenge, back? An adopted child is never as good as one's own!

Wen Shaoyuan clearly did not expect to see her here, and he took a step forward. In an instant, he moved from darkness into light, the shadows sweeping across his face before finally settling behind him

The old gentleman enjoys eating dumplings. Aunt Xin has steamed a basket, placed them in a bowl, and asked Wenge to take them up first. Since noon, the old gentleman has been keeping himself locked in the study without coming out.

Wen Ge turned back to look at him with some unease, seeing him casually leaning against the staircase railing, not leaving immediately, and then she proceeded to walk towards the kitchen

"Good girl." Wen Shaoyuan was evidently pleased with her obedient response. After putting her down, he playfully tapped her nose with his finger and gestured towards the kitchen, indicating that she should go there to report.

Having been married to Jiang Junyu for many years, both of them, as young individuals, prioritized their careers and had no thoughts of raising children. He is no longer as youthful as he once was; now, each day he lives is a countdown, uncertain of which day a mere headache or fever might lead him to the grave

Her gaze is gentle, illuminated by the warm light in the kitchen, as if coated with a soft glow. Such a spirited and decisive woman always unconsciously softens when it comes to herself

She felt Wen Shaoyuan grip her hand slightly tighter, the warmth of his fingers transmitting from their touching skin, warm yet dry. His voice was low, barely audible, as he said: "If you don't know what to do in the future, come find me"

Wen Ge stared at the steaming dumplings, suddenly feeling a bit at a loss.

But she did not; she merely smiled with her eyes narrowed and sweetly called him, "Uncle."

Do not stand there foolishly as you did just now

Upon hearing the song, I was startled awake. Turning my head, I noticed that everyone at the table was looking over. In particular, Wen Shaoyuan raised an eyebrow, and the subtle laughter in his eyes, along with the barely noticeable smile at the corners of his lips, was illuminated brilliantly by the crystal chandelier hanging above the dining table.

Wen Ge looked at his casual attire and suddenly found it hard to recall what he had been wearing just moments ago

The dimly lit staircase and the bright living room converge at the very spot where he stands. His features, illuminated by the interplay of light and shadow, are sharply defined and handsome

Wen Ge did not mention this conversation with the old gentleman to anyone

Jiang Junyu gazed deeply at Wen Shaoyuan before casually turning her head away

Wen Ge looked out at the heavy snow, and a chill rose in her heart. It felt as if she were outside, drenched by the snowfall, with not a trace of warmth.

The gaze directed upwards, akin to that of a lost elk, is both clear and ethereal. ... Yet, it is precisely this little creature of pity ... . ... The moment that look of confusion appears, it makes Wen Shaoyuan feel an overwhelming sense of guilt

She did not continue to listen; quietly, she returned to her own room

Jiang Junyu called out to Wen Ge several times without receiving a response. When she turned her head, she saw her intently staring at Wen Shaoyuan, which made her smile: "What’s wrong?"

Wen Ge looked at the nine-grid layout at the back of the publication and, quite inappropriately, felt a slight sense of joy at the old gentleman's misfortune with Wen Jing

The wall lamp at the stairway was not turned on, relying entirely on the light from the living room for illumination. Faintly, one could still hear Aunt Xin's voice, chatting casually with Jiang Junyu, which caused Wen Ge to feel a momentary sense of disorientation, as if caught in a trance.

Wen Jing wants to attend a military academy, to join the army, and to marry Jiang Junyu... The old man has never approved of this. The Wen family started from scratch with him, mostly engaging in business, yet the eldest grandson insists on taking a different path, wanting to go to those remote and desolate places to undertake dangerous work

What is the outcome? There is not a single one among the younger generation who brings him peace of mind

At just five o'clock, the sky had already begun to darken. The streetlights outside had lit up at some unknown time, casting a dim yet bright yellow light that illuminated a circle of the floor at the end of the corridor, shining brightly.

The elder expressed that he is indeed very angry

She was taken aback when she saw him inadvertently smiling at her, and immediately lowered her head, her ears turning crimson

As Wen Ge descended the stairs, Jiang Junyu was already wearing an apron, assisting Aunt Xin. Upon seeing her enter, she smiled gently and said, "Go watch some television in the living room; it will be ready to eat in a little while."

... ...

As I was listening to the song and was about to play it a second time, the old man's deep and hoarse voice finally spoke: "Just leave it at the door"

Meanwhile, the silence in the study was finally broken. The old man spoke in a deep voice, clearly displeased, and asked: "Work, work... using work as an excuse again. Wen Jing is being unreasonable, are you also indulging in this nonsense, Jun Yu?"

Wen Ge leaned against the wall for a while, unable to hear any sounds from the study, and was just about to quietly return to his room

His gaze was so serious that Wen Ge almost instinctively... just nodded.

Wen Jing's originally calm expression suddenly tightened: "Grandfather, please do not say such things again"

His pitch-black eyes were as if stained with ink, profoundly dark. In this somewhat dim corridor, they appeared even more unfathomable. Not too far, yet not too close, it was impossible to discern the emotions swirling in the depths of his eyes; they felt distant, like a faraway mountain shrouded in mist, only the outline visible amidst the clouds.

Place it at the door

Wen Ge looked up at him, momentarily dazed. It was as if the brilliance in his eyes, shining like stars, had burned her vision; for a fleeting moment, she felt the urge to escape

The dinner was abundant, laid out on a long table filled to the brim

The outcome of the negotiation seems to have ended on an unhappy note

The dinner for New Year's Eve is almost ready. Wen Ge tasted two dumplings that Jiang Junyu had fed him and recalled how Wen Shaoyuan had eaten the cold dumplings earlier, his expression not even wrinkling in the slightest. For some reason, he really wanted to ... laugh

As the conversation came to a close, he suddenly remembered something and called out to her: "Wen Ge, do not take to heart some unpleasant words."

He walked up to Wenge, slightly bent down, glanced at the cold dumplings in the bowl, then looked at the tightly closed study, and immediately understood

Wen Ge walked to the door and knocked: "Great-grandfather, Aunt Xin has just finished steaming the dumplings, I am bringing them to you"

He took the bowl and chopsticks from Wen Ge's hands, picked up a piece and took a bite. It seemed that he found the taste quite good, as he quickly finished the entire bowl. Without waiting for Wen Ge to react, he took her hand and walked downstairs.

The warmth of his fingers seemed to linger on her hand, a gentle heat that persisted for a long time

At this moment, Wen Shaoyuan, who had not spoken a word since taking his seat, suddenly asked: "What do you call me?"

The snow is falling heavier and heavier, making it difficult to distinguish whether it is snow or rain, as the descent is akin to a thunderous force, pouring down in torrents

Wen Jing and Jiang Junyu went out for a while in the afternoon and returned only in the evening

Behind him was a vast expanse of thin sunlight, and even without the lights on, the room remained very bright

Wen Jing seemed somewhat incredulous, but the old man’s direct admission had a significant impact on him. He frowned, and his expression instantly turned grim: "Grandfather"

Because there is something in the mouth, the voice is muffled, and even the tone is not very clear.

After lunch, Wen Ge returned to his room to read

Behind the door, it is quiet, with not a trace of response

With only a few steps of stairs left, Wen Shaoyuan simply carried her down. When he held her at eye level, he confirmed once again: "Do you remember what I just said?"

Very much like ... ... mother

Due to the angle, Wen Ge was unable to catch a glimpse of Wen Jing and Jiang Junyu in this hurried glance; instead, she felt a vague sense of unease sprouting from the soles of her feet, gradually extending its branches and vines upward, tightly entwining around her heart.

In City A, winter is always like this; once it starts snowing, it just won't stop. One has to wait until spring of the following year when the weather warms up... Aunt Xin chattered on, while Wen Ge kept looking outside the window, smiled, and lowered her head to continue knitting a sweater

When she turned to look in the direction of the sound, a tall man was already standing at the staircase entrance, a few steps away from her, quietly gazing over.

She pressed her lips together, just about to knock on the door one last time. Before her hand could even rise, she heard very faint footsteps approaching from a distance.

It was not until Aunt Xin knocked on the door and did not see Jiang Junyu that she curiously asked, "Wen Ge, have you seen Junyu?"

Yesterday, she took several volumes of short story magazines from Wen Shaoyuan's room. Although the publication dates of these magazines are somewhat dated, it does not hinder Wen Ge from reading them with great interest

Wen Ge sat at the back, directly opposite him was Wen Shaoyuan. He came down the latest, probably just after taking a shower, his hair still slightly damp, and he had already changed his clothes

Listening to the song against the wall, she finally felt the coldness creeping from her spine, thread by thread, gradually invading her body, leaving her feeling chilled all over

As noon approached, the sky grew increasingly overcast. The heavy snow fell continuously and persistently, as if it would never end. The snow outside had piled up even higher from ankle-deep, and there were few people moving about in the villa area. The white snow was crystal clear and endless, stretching all the way to the end of the road

Wen Ge looked at him with some astonishment

"Do not speak any further!" The old man snorted coldly, slamming the teacup heavily onto the desk, producing a loud noise. "Not only did I speak, but I also asked in front of that child!"

Wen Ge shook his head in confusion

"Oh, those two people have run out?" Aunt Xin furrowed her brow, hesitated for a moment as if wanting to say something, and then went downstairs

Looking into the study through the slightly ajar door at the stairway entrance, one can still faintly see the old gentleman with a grim expression, his demeanor serious and filled with anger