Marry by Relying on Favor: Chapter 94 - He Called Him “Dad”
Chapter 94: He Called Him “Dad”
The white gauze curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows were open, and outside everything was covered in a layer of snow.
He Qingchi’s cheek rested softly on the pillow, her black, silk-like hair slightly scattered across her shoulders as she slept soundly.
The bedroom door was gently pushed open with a soft creak, but it didn’t wake her.
After a moment, He Li lifted her skirt slightly and walked quietly to the bedside. She gazed at He Qingchi’s long, thick lashes with a smiling expression, then reached out with fair fingertips to lightly touch them twice.
“Cousin?”
At her soft call, He Qingchi opened her eyes. Still half-drowsy, the first thing she saw was He Li leaning over the edge of the bed, her lips curved in a warm, gentle smile. “Your husband’s here. I saw him downstairs just now, sitting in the living room with Uncle… Cousin, are you awake enough? Your husband came to visit our house.”
He Qingchi let the delicate, gentle voice seep into her ears until she finally caught hold of some clarity. She picked up on the keywords and, stretching lazily under the blankets, said, “What time is it? He came so early?”
“Seven-thirty.”
After speaking, He Li picked out a turtleneck cashmere dress and matching outerwear from the closet and placed them neatly by the bed.
He Qingchi had been waking early these days—this was the one rare morning she wanted to sleep in.
She didn’t want to get up, but He Li urged, “Your husband is downstairs.”
“…Did he slip you a red envelope before coming in?”
Why was she helping him so much?
He Li’s voice remained soft as she shook her head. “No, he didn’t even see me… I was hiding on the stairs when I saw him enter the living room. He didn’t give me any red envelope.”
After chatting with her a bit, He Qingchi fully woke up and sat up, lifting the blanket.
Last night Wen Shuchen had already told her he would visit the He residence today. Before sleeping, she had even reminded her father to leave the house later in the morning—so that he wouldn’t miss the son-in-law he had been waiting the entire Spring Festival to see, and lose the chance to show off his authority.
She got out of bed, washed up in the bathroom, and changed out of her pajamas.
By the time she came out, He Li was gone—who knew where she’d run off to.
Half an hour later.
He Qingchi finished dressing and taking her time with her makeup, then opened the bedroom door and headed downstairs.
The moment her slender figure appeared at the staircase landing, she saw the lively bustle in the living room. Wen Shuchen sat calmly on the sofa, personally pouring tea for her father and the younger cousins of the He family.
His composed, unhurried presence made it feel as though he were the true master of the villa.
Father He found nothing odd about it. He had even learned the trend of video group calls from young people—
Who knew which female secretary had taught him.
He invited his siblings into a group video chat, and then, with a trembling hand, accidentally let his son-in-law appear on camera. Faced with their surprised questions, he beamed proudly and admitted that Wen Shuchen was visiting his father-in-law today.
Then he began showing off his son-in-law—trying to act modest while flaunting him at the same time.
He just wouldn’t be satisfied unless he grabbed every possible bit of face and swagger.
After finishing the calls with his own relatives, Father He even invited the elder of the Qu family into the video chat.
But the moment he once again—“accidentally”—let Wen Shuchen appear on screen, Father Qu, who had lost a son-in-law this year, immediately darkened and hung up the call.
Everyone knew he no longer had a son-in-law to visit him this year.
Father He’s behavior could only be described as ostentatious and infuriatingly smug.
He Qingchi leaned leisurely on the staircase, watching the show for over twenty minutes without going down to interrupt her father’s performance.
In the end, it was Wen Shuchen who noticed her. One glance, and he couldn’t look away.
Perhaps because they hadn’t seen each other in over ten days, when their eyes met, He Qingchi suddenly felt he seemed more mature than before. Dressed in a deep-blue formal suit—expensive fabric, perfectly pressed—he sat upright in the living room, exuding a restrained, powerful air.
His handsome face still carried that gentle, understated smile.
He Qingchi watched him for a while, then descended the stairs. Her younger girl cousins all winked at her.
Father He stiffened his face on purpose, eyeing her to see whether she would sit beside her husband or beside her father.
Of course He Qingchi chose Wen Shuchen.
She sat boldly next to her man, smoothing the hem of her skirt with pale fingers and smiling. “Did you give them red envelopes?”
Wen Shuchen had brought carefully chosen gifts for every member of the He family, but he hadn’t given red envelopes yet.
He was very thoughtful about such matters. After hearing her reminder, he reached into his pocket and took out his phone.
If nothing else, Cousin-in-law was very generous with red envelopes.
He pulled up the payment QR code and handed the screen to the younger cousins with elegant, gentlemanly grace.
They could fill in whatever amount they wanted.
The little cousins called him “Cousin-in-law” with enthusiasm—especially with He Qingchi present—so none of them held back.
But not everyone in the room was so pleased.
Father He rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, “Scheming pretty-boy.”
He Qingchi heard him and looked over.
——He still had the nerve to call someone else scheming?
Father He felt a sting of grievance when his daughter looked at him. He had just begun to find Wen Shuchen pleasing to the eye, but now his good impression had vanished. He was about to put on his father-in-law airs to make things difficult when—
He Qingchi, long familiar with her father’s temperament, pulled Wen Shuchen upstairs. “You were working until late last night and didn’t rest properly. Go lie down in my room for an hour—there’ll be plenty of He family relatives to face this afternoon.”
Her excuse was perfect. She openly whisked Wen Shuchen away.
On the second floor, inside He Qingchi’s room.
Wen Shuchen followed her in without resistance. The moment the door closed, he suddenly turned around, pulled her straight into his arms, and lowered his head so his handsome face nestled into her hair, breathing her in deeply—her scent everywhere.
A smile lifted He Qingchi’s lips. She raised her fair hands to wrap around his broad back.
Without the distance required in the lively living room, they simply clung to each other, easing the ache of days spent apart.
A few minutes later, He Qingchi lifted her cool fingertips to cup his face and examined him carefully. “You’ve lost weight.”
As long as she hadn’t grown thinner at the He residence, Wen Shuchen was content. He rubbed the bridge of his nose gently against hers, their breaths mingling. “Are you happy at home?”
She had been busy keeping her family company—always lively—but she still had moments where she missed him.
She nodded while pushing him from the doorway toward the bed. Considerate as ever, she said, “Rest for a bit. With the way my dad is… he’ll definitely call all his relatives over later. You’ll be running around all afternoon and evening.”
Wen Shuchen kept an arm around her waist as he shrugged off his suit jacket, unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt, and relaxed lazily under her blankets.
He Qingchi rested her head on his arm, her smooth black hair spilling down, making her face appear even paler. Her lashes lowered as she quietly lay with him.
Ten minutes later, seeing his eyes half-closed but not asleep.
She lifted her head and asked: “Now that Shen Fu is helping Wen Yue go against you at the company… can you still handle it?”
Wen Yue now held Wen Jingchun’s hidden trump cards and had teamed up with an old shareholder to openly challenge Wen Shuchen for control of the Wen Corporation. The two brothers were fighting to the death—neither willing to leave the other a scrap of ground.
Many inside the Wen family business were watching, some taking sides, waiting to see who would win.
Even at the He residence, she had overheard her father mention pieces of the situation.
In the end, the He family also cared about what would happen to the Wen family.
Wen Shuchen clearly didn’t want these troubles weighing on her. He brushed past the topic and instead said something else: “This time, I’m only staying to visit your father. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
He Qingchi asked softly, “So we aren’t visiting your grandaunt’s house?”
Wen Shuchen replied slowly, “You can go often. She took good care of me—she’ll definitely like you.”
His words sounded normal on the surface, but He Qingchi immediately sensed something. She sat up with a blank expression, looking at the man lying on her bed. “What do you mean I go?”
Wen Shuchen’s calm, steady gaze rested on her face as he said in an even tone, as if they had already agreed: “You should stay at the He house for the next few months. When things on my side are finished, I’ll come pick you up.”
He Qingchi prided herself on never causing trouble for him. Being suddenly sent home for no reason was bound to stir some emotion. “What’s wrong with staying at the villa with you?”
Wen Shuchen lifted a hand, intending to touch her chin.
She dodged slightly, looking at him with a quiet sharpness. “Or have you already found a woman to keep you company?”
“What woman would I possibly find?” Wen Shuchen couldn’t help but laugh at her tiny bit of jealousy.
He Qingchi’s face stayed stern. “You never know. Shen Fu can hide a woman from Qu Bixin—if you hid ten, I wouldn’t be surprised. Sending your wife back to her parents’ house—no one to check up on you—you could play however you want.”
She wasn’t actually worried about infidelity. She just didn’t want to be absent now of all times—
Relaxing at the He residence while he fought alone in the old Wen residence.
Wen Shuchen understood this as well. He didn’t take the joking accusation seriously.
He Qingchi tugged at his tie with her fingers, making her position clear: “I’m returning to Jiangcheng with you tomorrow. If you dare run off without me, don’t bother coming back to my house again.”
Wen Shuchen saw she was serious. His gaze deepened, and he remained silent for a long time.
Seeing he was thinking too hard, she got off the bed to find her shoes, leaving behind: “Think about it yourself.”
Wen Shuchen’s plan had, of course, received Father He’s full support.
When He Qingchi walked out of the room, she found the old man sneaking around at the doorway—clearly eavesdropping.
They ran directly into each other.
Father He had never been this embarrassed in his life; he practically wanted to claim he was sleepwalking.
He Qingchi glanced at him once and walked to the study.
Father He snapped out of it and hurried after her. Only when they were alone did he close the door and speak: “Baby, why do you still want to go back to the Wen house in Jiangcheng? Isn’t it better to stay home and enjoy good food and fun for a few months?”
He Qingchi sat on the sofa and, without lifting her lashes, reached for a glass of cold water on the table to calm herself.
“Dad, if something happened to the He family… and Wen Shuchen hid in Jiangcheng and refused to show his face, how do you think I’d feel?”
You couldn’t just assume that because Wen Shuchen was a man, he didn’t need emotional support.
Just because he was extraordinarily capable—an untouchable figure in the eyes of outsiders—didn’t mean he wasn’t human. Beneath that powerful exterior, he also needed companionship, warmth, and understanding.
Otherwise, what was the point of him marrying her?
Was she supposed to sit pretty at home like a flower vase for him to admire?
He Qingchi had no way to harden her heart and stay in the He house without asking questions, then wait for Wen Shuchen to regain his footing in the Wen family, and finally return to Jiangcheng acting like nothing had happened—while she resumed her life beside him as a carefree, wealthy lady.
“Dad…” She spoke very clearly about her stance, with not a trace of hesitation in her eyes. “I know that when Wen Shuchen married me, he must have promised you he’d never involve me in the Wen family’s infighting. That’s why he wants to leave me here now. But I don’t want that. Whether he wins or loses… even if he ends up a stray dog, I won’t abandon him.”
Father He’s expression grew heavy, and for a long moment he didn’t respond.
He Qingchi had always had her own mind since she was young—rarely could anyone change it.
The stubbornness in her bones was something she inherited from her mother.
Once she set her mind on something, she would charge forward even if it meant cracking her head open, even if it cost her life—she would never regret it.
Father He finally let out a deep sigh. “Everything is fated in its own way. When your mother passed away, I thought about it more than once—if I hadn’t brought her into the family back then, she wouldn’t have died so young in that car accident. And now, with you…”
If he hadn’t let the two Wen boys get close to his daughter back then, none of this would be happening now.
He Qingchi smiled faintly. “Maybe it was destined.”
No matter what, she was not going to stay in the He house for months. Her attitude was firm.
Later that night, many relatives came to the He family home, and everyone gathered around the dinner table drinking cheerfully.
As the son-in-law, Wen Shuchen naturally had to entertain the guests. All night, he was surrounded by enthusiastic people, drinking, chatting about various fields. He could keep up with any topic and could even coax a three-year-old.
Because of their little daytime quarrel, He Qingchi simply ignored him completely.
She just told He Li to cook a bowl of sobering soup and bring it upstairs for her cousin-in-law, then she went upstairs herself.
The banquet went on until very late. Father He’s face was flushed red from drinking, though surprisingly, his tolerance was good.
Once the guests gradually left one by one, he and Wen Shuchen were still drinking together, arms slung over each other’s shoulders.
Both men had put their suit jackets on the backs of their chairs, feeling too warm, and even their shirt collars were unbuttoned, giving them a lazy, casual air.
Wen Shuchen’s cheeks were slightly red, though his eyes were still clear. Father He, however, was thoroughly flushed, burping and muttering nonstop: “Kid… if it weren’t for the fact that you risked your life for my precious daughter more than ten years ago, even the Heavenly King himself wouldn’t get you through the He family’s door.”
Wen Shuchen continued pouring drinks for his father-in-law, handling every word with steady composure.
Father He took a small sip, then sighed emotionally. “Raised her so big… only for her to fall into your hands.”
“Uncle, I’ll use everything I have to protect Qingchi. I did so back then, and I still will now.”
The words that flowed from Wen Shuchen’s thin lips were clear and calm, each syllable steady.
No matter how Father He treated him, the two men shared the same starting point:
They both wanted He Qingchi to live well, under their protection.
Father He narrowed his eyes and stared at his composed, handsome face for a long moment, then suddenly asked a question: “With a face like yours, it must be pretty popular. Back in my day, I had a crowd of girls chasing me, too. Why is it that you insist on my daughter?”
Feelings were something no one could explain clearly.
Before meeting He Qingchi, Wen Shuchen had also briefly interacted with various kinds of women.
Smart ones, young and beautiful ones, women whose careers surpassed those of men. But none of them moved him—not enough to make him want to pursue anyone.
The moment He Qingchi appeared, she imprinted herself in his eyes.
Wen Shuchen silently drank another glass. A long moment later, his voice was extremely soft: “If I had a choice of any other woman, I’d rather it not be her.”
That way, He Qingchi could have stayed safely out of all this.
Maybe many years later, they would meet once at some fancy event.
He might glance from afar and remember the little sister from the He family.
He might do something for her without leaving his name.
He would keep the name Wen Shuchen from ever being tied to hers.
But once fate had already taken its course—once he met He Qingchi again, once they became entangled—he knew he could no longer let go. The urge to be with her was too strong.
Father He’s drinking only made him more melancholic.
By nearly midnight, another drink would have required an ambulance. He got up to return to his room, and before leaving, he patted Wen Shuchen on the shoulder and left him with a sentence only men would understand: “Don’t tire my daughter out tonight.”
Wen Shuchen remained seated, long fingers holding the glass, and simply laughed at that.
A handsome, clean-cut man—when he smiled unintentionally, it carried a faint charm.
In the quiet yard, the darkness seeped silently across the surroundings.
Wen Shuchen sat still under the warm yellow light, head slightly lowered, not planning to go upstairs for a long while.
A housekeeper brought him another bowl of sobering soup, then went to rest.
The silence was complete this time.
Not until half an hour later did a soft set of footsteps sound.
Wen Shuchen lifted his eyelids and saw He Qingchi standing quietly in the doorway, bathed in soft light, wearing a light sleep dress, her face showing no anger and no emotion—just looking at him.
After a while, Wen Shuchen stared at her for a long moment, then slowly stood up.
He took his suit jacket from the chair, his steps steady and unhurried as he walked toward her.
Once he was close, He Qingchi pursed her lips and scolded him: “If I hadn’t come downstairs to get you, were you planning to sleep down here tonight?”
Wen Shuchen reached out and took her wrist, speaking in a low and unhurried tone: “You couldn’t bear to leave me down here.”
Listen to that—he really had her personality all figured out.
He Qingchi shot him an annoyed glare. “I was afraid you’d drink my dad into the hospital.”
“Dad cares a lot about his health. He already went upstairs to rest.”
After just one night of drinking together, Wen Shuchen had already changed how he addressed him—from the polite and respectful Uncle to Dad.
And when he said it, it didn’t sound the least bit out of place. His voice was low and pleasant.
He Qingchi froze for a second before reacting, looking up at him. “What did you just call my dad?”
Wen Shuchen led her back to the room the same way they came. He closed the door—and locked it.
His body was still heavy with the smell of alcohol. Instead of answering her question, he pulled her into his arms, wanting to get close.
As if that “Dad” had been nothing but an illusion.
“Shh… We have to head back to Jiangcheng at eight in the morning. Go to sleep early.”
His thin lips brushed against her ear as he spoke softly. Without giving her a chance to refuse, he pushed her down into the blankets.
……
He Qingchi’s mind drifted in and out. One pale wrist clung to his firm shoulder. Several times she tried to speak, only to be stopped halfway. After biting her lip for a long moment, she finally got the chance to confirm again: “Tomorrow I’m going back to Jiangcheng too?”
Wen Shuchen pressed his handsome face against the smooth skin of her neck, his thin lips brushing lightly again and again—as if he really enjoyed doing that. His voice was lazy and low: “I thought it over carefully. Without you at night, I really can’t sleep alone…”
The line was clearly meant to coax her.
He Qingchi’s lips curved in a smile—only for her to forcibly suppress it. “Good. At least you know!”
Wen Shuchen seemed amused, letting out a low laugh. Then he lovingly rubbed her lip corner with his own. “I’ll get a towel to wipe you.”
He lifted the blanket and got up, then tucked the covers around her securely.
It was already past midnight.
He Qingchi had no intention of getting up. She watched with damp, sleepy eyes as Wen Shuchen picked up his black trousers from the floor, put them on, and walked barefoot into the bathroom.
About ten minutes later, he came out freshly cleaned.
His alcohol tolerance really was good—he’d drunk so much tonight, yet barely seemed drunk at all.
Even his emotions were more controlled than before.
He Qingchi changed into a clean nightdress and lay back under the blankets. Her limbs still felt drained. Resting her head on his arm, her eyelashes half-lowered, she clearly was exhausted—yet not quite ready to fall asleep.
“Tonight you and my dad… what did you talk about? You even changed how you address him.”
Wen Shuchen thought for a few seconds, as if choosing his words. “Actually, your father probably likes me quite a lot.”
“……”
He Qingchi closed her eyes. Forget it—sleeping was better.
The next morning, at seven, their alarms woke them.
The bodyguards downstairs already had the car ready. A few minutes later, the housekeeper knocked on the door to remind them.
Wen Shuchen clearly had a packed schedule, so he didn’t waste time. The moment he woke, he got up, left the warm blankets, washed up, and within minutes came out dressed impeccably in a suit.
She was still curled up under the warm covers, only half of her delicate but tired-looking face visible.
Wen Shuchen saw how sleepy she was, her eyes barely open. He walked to the edge of the bed and kindly suggested, “Why don’t you stay at the He house until the Lantern Festival? I can come pick you up then…”
The moment he finished speaking, He Qingchi’s eyes snapped open. She glared at him quietly: “Don’t even think about it!”
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