Chapter 48: Fu Yining and Her Son

Chapter 48: Fu Yining and Her Son

"An Ran, I can't go out for dinner with you tomorrow night."

"Why?"

Zheng Anran was a bit upset upon hearing this, as Yu Mingze had promised in the morning to take her to a restaurant she had been wanting to visit. Why was he backing out now?

Yu Mingze explained, "I made a promise with Mom that I would go home for a visit tomorrow, so how about I take you out for dinner after I come back?"

Zheng Anran's mood lifted at the thought.

"Okay, Mingze, go ahead and return. I'll wait for you."

As usual, Yu Mingze dropped Zheng Anran off at home, feeling pretty happy, humming on the way back.

When Zheng Anran got home, she saw Fang Fei inserting flowers with her back turned. She tiptoed over to her.

Just as she was about to surprise her mom with a playful hug, Fang Fei had already sensed the movement behind her.

"Baby, you're back?"

"Mom, I was so quiet, yet you still noticed me!"

"Even if I couldn't hear you, I saw the car that dropped you off."

"Mom, you're always teasing me!"

Zheng Anran shyly stuck out her tongue and, seeing Fang Fei reaching for the scissors on the table, handed them over to her.

Fang Fei trimmed the extra branches from the flowers and asked with a smile, "So, how have things been between you and Mingze recently?"

"We're good."

"That's good to hear."

Fang Fei had already come up with a plan to help her daughter avoid trouble, but she had been unable to reach Fu Yining no matter how many times she tried.

She didn't know why.

Since she couldn't contact Fu Yining, Fang Fei had to make sure her daughter held onto Yu Mingze, this lifeline, tightly for now, so they could figure out what to do next.

Zheng Anran hugged Fang Fei's waist and whispered, "Mom, have you still not seen Aunt Fu?"

Fang Fei stroked her daughter's hair and said indifferently, "It doesn't matter if I don't get to see her, as long as you get to meet Mingze."

"But Mom, I actually saw Aunt Fu outside when I was with Mingze earlier. She was with her stylist, and they were being bullied by the Sun sisters. Those two sisters are really dumb."

Zheng Anran quickly filled her in on what had happened, and Fang Fei joined in laughing at the Sun sisters.

After laughing with her mom, Zheng Anran’s smile faded.

"Mom, Aunt Fu ignored me again. It's like she really thinks I'm a bad person. What should I do?"

"Don't worry, sweetie. I’ll help you figure this out."

"Okay, I trust you, Mom."

Zheng Anran suddenly changed the subject excitedly, "Mom, I have good news to tell you! By the way, where's Dad?"

"Your dad has gone out for business again. Just tell me, what's the good news?" Fang Fei smiled.

She knew that the only thing that could make her daughter so happy must be related to Yu Mingze.

Sure enough, Zheng Anran let go of Fang Fei and said coyly, "Mingze said he would go back tomorrow. He promised me that he would divorce Song Qingyu as soon as possible. I guess he's going back to handle this matter tomorrow."

Fang Fei's eyes widened in surprise.

"Really? Baby, you're going to become the mistress of the Yu family!"

"Not yet, Mom. We'll have to wait until Mingze comes back to know the result!"

"That's almost certain!"

The mother and daughter sat together eagerly discussing when the wedding would be and which wedding dress would look best.

"Mom, do you think I should lose some weight? I've been eating too much lately and I'm starting to get a bit of a tummy. It won't look good in a wedding dress!"

"Those are minor issues. The wedding doesn't have to be so soon. The most important thing is for you and Mingze to get the marriage certificate first. Once you have the license, you'll be officially married, and no one can separate you!"

"Yes, I know. After Mingze's divorce is finalized, I'll go and get the certificate with him."

"That's the right idea!" Fang Fei touched Zheng Anran's hair, unable to contain her happiness.

She was no longer worried about Fu Yining. As long as her daughter married Yu Mingze and the two families became in-laws, Fu Yining would have to come and meet her, wouldn't he?

Fang Fei couldn't wait to let everyone know the good news that her daughter was going to become the mistress of the Yu family. "Why isn't your dad back yet? Should we ask Aunt Li to call him?"

"Mom, let Dad be busy outside. I can tell him the good news after I meet with Mingze the day after tomorrow."

"Alright, alright! My baby is right. Mom will listen to you!"

The mother and daughter never considered that Yu Mingze hadn't mentioned what he was going home for. All their excited chatter was based on assumptions and might turn out to be for nothing.

The next morning, after finishing his work early, Yu Mingze drove back home, feeling a mix of anticipation and unease. He hadn't been home for over half a month. If he hadn't run into Fu Yining last night, he might have stayed out longer.

==========

After parking the car, Yu Mingze walked into the house as usual, and everyone who saw him was surprised.

"Young master, why are you back?"

Seeing Wang Yue appear, Yu Mingze asked in surprise, "I told Mom last night. Didn't she tell you?"

"Oh, right! Sorry, Young Master, I must have missed that. I'll make sure the kitchen prepares something extra for you."

Yu Mingze: "..."

Did they really not know he was coming back? Did his mom really not tell them?

A wave of loneliness washed over him, as if he had been forgotten by everyone. He looked up at the ceiling with a dramatic sigh, as if the sky itself was mocking him.

Before he could dwell on it for long, footsteps echoed from upstairs, followed by a familiar voice. "Mom, can you check if this angle is better for the photo?"

Yu Mingze could tell that it was Song Qingyu speaking, and the only person in the house who she would call "Mom" was Fu Yining.

Then, he heard Fu Yining's response, "It will be a bit better."

"Alright, I'll give this angle a shot!"

"Go ahead."

Yu Mingze couldn't help but wonder when they had gotten so close. A moment later, Fu Yining appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Mom, I'm back!" Yu Mingze, fearing that she might not notice him, quickly spoke first.

Fu Yining, holding the handrail, walked down the stairs and said calmly, "Oh, I totally forgot you were coming home today."

Yu Mingze blinked in confusion.

Mom, am I really that unimportant to you now?

Fu Yining ignored her silly son's pouting, but she was curious about why he had come home.

If you're here just to pick on Song Qingyu, I won't let you off easily!

Seeing Fu Yining's "kind" smile, Yu Mingze got the chills.

"Mom, I—"

"What is it?"

"Sir, welcome back!"