Marry by Relying on Favor: Chapter 130 - Father-in-law Arc — Dad Dotes on You!
This time, Wen Shuchen stayed at the He family home for a full three days. Early the next morning, his biological clock woke him promptly at six. He put on his shirt and trousers neatly, even deliberately keeping the noise low while washing up in the bathroom. When he went downstairs, he saw that his father-in-law was already up, wearing pajamas and doing push-ups in the living room.
The night before, Father He had overheard the housekeeper mention privately that Wen Shuchen had the self-discipline of waking up early to exercise. He immediately felt his status threatened and had purposely gotten up even earlier than Wen Shuchen today.
By the time Wen Shuchen came downstairs, Father He had already switched to lifting dumbbells, putting on quite a performance.
Wen Shuchen brewed a cup of tea, took a slow stroll around the house, then sat on the sofa. Watching his father-in-law nearly exhausted, he said in a slow, pleasant tone, “Dad, would you like some tea?”
That single “Dad” almost made Father He drop the dumbbell on his foot.
Although it wasn’t the first time Wen Shuchen had called him that, he still wasn’t used to it.
In contrast, Wen Shuchen remained calm and composed, cooling the tea before setting it down.
Because of the card-hiding incident from the previous days, Father He felt guilty and couldn’t quite act tough toward Wen Shuchen. He had just about regained some of his dramatic airs when that “Dad” wiped them out again. After lifting weights for a while, he noticed the housekeeper’s gaze still drifting toward the son-in-law sitting serenely on the sofa drinking tea, and his desire to show off vanished instantly.
He sat down on the sofa. Wen Shuchen handed him a clean white towel and placed the teacup in front of him.
Father He looked at this level of service and felt fairly satisfied.
After drinking some tea, he put on an air of authority. “Come out with me this morning…”
Wen Shuchen responded properly and agreed.
At nine-thirty.
When He Qingchi woke up, Wen Shuchen was nowhere to be seen in the He household. Their relationship had grown increasingly affectionate—everyone could see that. Before she could even ask, the housekeeper volunteered, “Sir took the young master out.”
He Qingchi took a sip of milk, calm on the surface.
She trusted that with Wen Shuchen’s abilities, he could handle any occasion, so she wasn’t worried.
What she hadn’t expected was that her father had taken his son-in-law out to show him off.
First, they went to the He Corporation. Employees were caught off guard seeing the boss walking in with a handsome, gentle-looking man behind him. The two passed through the elevator under countless curious eyes and entered the office. Even though there was no formal introduction, everyone recognized Wen Shuchen.
Even the senior executives were stirred. Some joked privately, “Old He’s one son-in-law is better than us having ten sons!”
Father He was very pleased to hear that. At noon, he personally hosted a banquet.
He booked a private room at the most expensive private club in the city center, inviting company executives, shareholders, and old business friends—people he’d known for half a lifetime. When he learned that Old Man Qu was next door discussing business, he personally went to invite him over.
If nothing else, Wen Shuchen was definitely a son-in-law worth showing off.
At the banquet, Father He beamed with pride. Wen Shuchen half-rose from his seat, respectfully pouring tea for everyone. He handled the conversations with grace and tact, never letting an awkward silence occur.
As a result, Wen Shuchen received high praise and became quite popular among the older men present.
When his phone rang, he politely excused himself to take He Qingchi’s call. After he left, Father He took a sip of baijiu and turned to Father Qu, who was drinking gloomily. “Old Qu, what do you think of my son-in-law?”
The tone was unmistakably that of an elderly man barely able to suppress his urge to show off.
Father Qu’s former son-in-law was notorious for using the Qu family to climb up the ladder, then abandoning his daughter once he became successful.
Now someone had the nerve to flaunt a son-in-law in front of him—naturally, he had nothing nice to say. “Old He, I don’t think this son-in-law is good.”
Father He widened his eyes. Who dared say his son-in-law wasn’t good?
Father Qu spoke with apparent reason. “His temper only looks easygoing. He doesn’t show his feelings when dealing with people—that’s the truly hard type to handle. As his father-in-law, you won’t get any advantage over him.”
For a moment, Father He couldn’t find a rebuttal.
Father Qu took another drink and deliberately sighed. “It won’t be easy for you to control him.”
“…”
“Old He, we’ve been brothers for so many years. I feel sorry for you.”
He patted Father He’s shoulder earnestly and poured him another drink. With good feelings comes a bottom-up drink. After finishing, he put down the glass and left first.
Left behind, Father He’s mood grew heavy.
When Wen Shuchen returned to the private room after his call, his expression was as gentle and composed as ever, his attitude toward others unchanged.
Father He stared at him for a long time with complicated eyes. He stopped showing off his son-in-law after that. When the banquet was nearly over, it suddenly dawned on him—why would he, as a father-in-law, need to control Wen Shuchen? As long as his daughter could, that was enough!
He nearly cursed the Qu family patriarch on the spot for almost leading him astray.
Wen Shuchen had no idea about the emotional turmoil in his father-in-law’s heart. He arranged the cars, instructed his secretary to send one tipsy uncle home, and personally helped his equally flushed father-in-law into another car.
They sat together in the back seat, speaking quietly about business. Father He leaned against the seat, eyelids heavy, looking ready to fall asleep. Wen Shuchen covered him with a thin blanket.
Such attentive care came naturally to him.
It was impossible for Father He not to feel moved. He cracked one eye open and secretly observed Wen Shuchen. He truly was impeccable—not pretending to be filial, nor showing the slightest disgust at the old man’s smell of alcohol.
Such a fine young man—Father He couldn’t understand why Wen Shuchen’s own father didn’t appreciate him.
If he had a son that outstanding, he’d tie him to his belt and parade him around every day.
Father He had heard from He Qingchi about Wen Shuchen’s situation in the Wen family and suddenly felt paternal affection rise. He lifted a hand and patted Wen Shuchen’s shoulder.
This time the force wasn’t deliberate or heavy. Wen Shuchen thought his father-in-law was uncomfortable from drinking too much and gently asked, “There’s a hospital not far ahead. Should I take you there?”
Instead, Father He said with unusual emotional intensity, “You don’t call me ‘Dad’ for nothing. From now on, I’ll treat you like my own son!”
Though Wen Shuchen had no idea which emotional nerve he had accidentally triggered, he showed no surprise and accepted it gracefully.
Father He felt rather heroic, as though crowned with glory for saving this poor child who had lacked fatherly love growing up. Relaxing further, he said, “If you ever have difficulties, tell your dad.”
Back at the He residence.
He Qingchi was on the open balcony holding the child when she saw her father drunkenly helped out of the car. The housekeeper quickly prepared sobering tea.
She put the little one in the master bedroom to play, went downstairs, and saw her father clinging to Wen Shuchen as if they were sworn brothers.
After Wen Shuchen soothed the old man, he looked up and saw He Qingchi standing at the staircase. The couple exchanged a glance. Soon after extricating himself, he went upstairs to her.
He Qingchi stood by the hallway wall. Outside, the sky was dimming, their shadows blurred on the floor.
Wen Shuchen naturally pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead, then slowly downward, finally landing at the corner of her lips. In a warm voice he asked, “Did you miss me?”
She tilted her head up and lightly brushed his thin lips again and again. “It’s only been half a day.”
“I did,” Wen Shuchen said, fingers cupping her soft cheek, rubbing it absently.
Her heart sweetened at his words, and her lips curved unconsciously. “Didn’t I call you at noon?”
“Still missed you.” Wen Shuchen still said the same thing,
His lips slowly pressed against hers, as if they were in the throes of new love, unable to kiss enough.
She looped her arms around his neck. In the quiet hallway, they deepened the kiss…
After staying at the He residence for a week, Wen Shuchen finally returned to Jiang City with He Qingchi and their child.
Their relationship grew even more inseparable—anyone could see it.
Especially Qu Bixin. Whenever she chatted with He Qingchi, the woman mentioned “my husband” every three sentences—her own son didn’t get that kind of treatment.
So, trying to invite He Qingchi out for afternoon tea had become nearly impossible.
Recently, He Qingchi had no free time. She moved her cheongsam shop from Wushan Town to Jiang City and still took a few orders. She had previously asked Yao Jing—if she wished to stay by her side, the treatment would remain the same.
If she wanted to return to the He family, He Qingchi wouldn’t force her.
After thinking for a day, Yao Jing chose to stay in Jiang City.
She was a smart woman who understood the situation clearly. She told He Qingchi frankly, “I’ve stayed by President He’s side for years. I’ve seen women who wanted to climb higher, and women like me who kept to our place. Without exception, even if we grow old waiting, we’ll never become President He’s lawful wife. Miss, I want to stay and work with you.”
No one wants to be someone’s mistress for life. Even though Yao Jing knew that staying in the He family would mean good life—no worse than any young secretary around President He—she still wanted a different way of living.
With a single sentence, He Qingchi transferred Yao Jing from the He family.
The cheongsam business required Yao Jing to maintain contact with customers; they had grown accustomed to working together over the years.
Nowadays, Wen Shuchen occasionally returned to the Wen family’s old house, but more often he lived with He Qingchi in a private villa. She never felt entirely comfortable in the old house, especially knowing that Qiu Jin had poisoned herself in the living room years ago.
One night, the sound of rain outside the window woke He Qingchi. She opened her eyes and looked at the cool, empty space beside her. Perhaps Wen Shuchen was still out at a business engagement. She picked up her phone to check the time.
She had thought it was past midnight, but it wasn’t even eleven.
Setting the phone aside, she pressed her cheek into the soft white pillow and closed her eyes again. After a while, she vaguely heard movement downstairs in the old house.
Normally, the old house was very quiet unless someone came looking for Wen Shuchen.
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