Chapter 482 The Disappeared Tang Wenhao Returns

Chapter 482: The Missing Tang Wenhao Returns

"Alright, I'll go notify him to come take the call. Please hold on for a moment."

Su An tightened her grip on the phone. "Okay, thank you. Please hurry."

Before long, the same young voice returned. "Hello, ma'am. Are you a colleague of Ji Pojun's husband? What’s the matter? She’s on maternity leave—her coworkers said she just gave birth a few days ago and isn’t at work now. If it’s urgent, I can relay the message for you."

Su An was stunned. Ji Bojun gave birth?

"You’re saying Tang Wenhao is Ji Bojun’s husband?"

"Oh, actually, here’s what happened.

Tang Wenhao was transferred to work in our City A, and his term was almost up. A few days ago, he mentioned an urgent matter in City G and left early to handle the handover.

He left in such a hurry that he didn’t bring many things with him. He listed your factory’s Ji Bojun as his emergency contact, but he didn’t specify their relationship."

"Besides, the name *Ji Bojun* sounds masculine, so hearing you say she gave birth was quite a shock."

"By the way, since Ji Bojun is on leave, could you give me her home address? I’ll ship his things to her."

Leaving the post office, Su An stared at the note in her hand, her mind racing.

So, Ji Bojun was actually Ji Pojun—Tang Wenhao’s wife, who had gone home to give birth.

She’d gotten pregnant around last September, around when Liu Guojuan found out she was pregnant.

But Tang Wenhao claimed he was single—how could he have a wife at home?

And when Liu Guojuan got pregnant, he had immediately called his wife, sounding thrilled.

After thinking it through, Su An quickly figured out the truth.

This couple must have been unable to conceive, and with Tang Wenhao assigned to City A, he took the opportunity to travel far and wide, convincing women to have his child.

Su An had also heard snippets from Wang Xiaocui about how Tang Wenhao and Liu Guojuan had met.

She hadn’t paid much attention before, but now it seemed he had targeted Liu Guojuan after learning she was divorced with a child, living with her parents.

He might have even investigated her background, knowing she was meek and vulnerable—making her an easy target.

"Well, at least we found him," Su An muttered, folding the address note and tucking it into her pocket as she headed toward Fuqing Street.

Just as she entered the street, she overheard the lively chatter.

"Wait, he’s back?"

"He did! I saw him with my own eyes!"

"Everyone kept saying Juan Zi was kicked out after giving birth to another girl, but look—he’s loaded with bags! He’s always treated her well, bringing gifts over. Clearly a decent man."

"It’s just Xi Mei’s family—timid as rabbits. Maybe he was delayed by something important, and they went around shouting that he ran off."

"Oh, it wasn’t Juan Zi or Aunt Xi Mei who said it! It was Guo Mao’s fiancée who blabbed about it. Otherwise, who’d even know what happened?"

"Tsk tsk, if Guo Mao’s fiancée made a big deal and it turns out to be a misunderstanding, won’t she regret it? I’d be mortified to show my face!"

Su An listened to the aunties’ chatter, completely confused.

Is Tang Wenhao back?

Was I wrong?

But on the phone earlier, he didn’t sound like he was lying.

Meanwhile, at Huang Ximei’s home just moments ago.

Huang Ximei stepped out to pour water and happened to run into Tang Wenhao, who was carrying bags of gifts toward the house.

A flicker of anger flashed in her eyes but was quickly overtaken by joy.

"Wenhao?"

Tang Wenhao wore an apologetic expression. "Auntie, I’m so sorry. Something urgent came up at home—it held me up."

Since they hadn’t held the wedding banquet yet, he still hadn’t changed how he addressed her.

Huang Ximei scolded him, "What could possibly be more important than Juan Zi having your baby? Do you know how much she’s suffered these past few days? She almost died for you—she had your baby! How could you just disappear? How am I supposed to trust you with Juan Zi when you act like this?"

Tang Wenhao quickly changed the subject. "Auntie, how is Juan Zi now? And the baby?"

Seeing his concern for Juan Zi and the child, Huang Ximei’s expression softened. After all, he was back now, and all the problems could be resolved. This time, she was determined to make sure they got their marriage certificate as soon as possible.

"They’re in the house."

Tang Wenhao hurried into the house, set down the gifts he was carrying, and immediately headed toward Liu Guojuan’s room.

"Juan Zi, Juan Zi, I’m back."

Liu Guojuan had been anxiously listening to her mother and Tang Wenhao talking at the door. If she weren’t so weak from childbirth, she’d have run out to meet him.

Now, seeing Tang Wenhao, she couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears.

"Where were you? You just vanished without a word, leaving me and the kids here in A City. Do you have any conscience at all?"

"Sob… I went through hell having your baby, and this is how you treat me? Were all your promises just lies? Do you know what I’ve been through these past days? The neighbors’ gossip has been torture—it’s driving me crazy! You ruined my brother’s engagement—it’s all your fault! Sob…"

Tang Wenhao pulled over a stool and sat by the bed to comfort Liu Guojuan. "Okay, okay, it’s all my fault. Don’t cry—you’re still healing. Crying will just make things worse for you later."

"What about the baby? Show me the baby."

Liu Guojuan wiped her tears and handed the swaddled infant to Tang Wenhao.

Tang Wenhao cradled the baby like a fragile porcelain doll, gazing lovingly at the tiny face. A smile crept onto his lips.

"Aw, what a chubby little thing! So cute—just like me."

"So, is it a boy or a girl?" Tang Wenhao’s voice trembled with excitement as a first-time father.

Liu Guojuan’s heart raced nervously. Wenhao still didn’t know the baby’s gender—so his disappearance really must have been due to family matters, not because he resented her for having a daughter.

But if he found out it was a girl, would he...?

"It’s a girl," Liu Guojuan said, her voice shaky.

Tang Wenhao was taken aback for a moment, "A girl?"

Soon he added, "A girl is fine too—a parent's little joy. Look at this sweet little face. She’ll surely grow up to be a beautiful young lady."

His expression showed genuine fondness for the child.

Liu Guojuan, seeing that Tang Wenhao didn’t resent her for giving birth to a daughter, felt her heart finally settled.

"I thought you’d be upset that I had a girl."

Tang Wenhao said gently, "Whether it's a boy or a girl, they're both my children. All I want is for them to be healthy. A boy would be great, but I’d love a girl just the same."

Huang Ximei watched the scene unfold, happy for her daughter.

Now that couples were only allowed one child, she had worried Tang Wenhao might resent Juan Zi for having a daughter. But now it was clear—Tang Wenhao wasn’t that kind of man.

"Juan Zi, you can rest easy. I told you Wenhao is clearly an educated and kind-hearted man. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, it’s his own flesh and blood—how could he resent it?"

Then, Huang Ximei turned to Tang Wenhao. "Wenhao, don’t take it the wrong way. Juan Zi’s been affected by all the gossiping busybodies outside. There’s no end to the rumors—that you ran away, that she’s married but still living with her parents, that she means nothing to you. Some even said you didn’t show up because you resented her for having a daughter. My silly girl actually believed it."

"Earlier, you said your new post didn’t include housing, and you’d wait to celebrate the wedding until after the baby arrived. Now your assignment’s over, the baby’s here—it’s time to take care of everything that’s been put off."

As she spoke, Huang Ximei stared intently at Tang Wenhao, as if trying to read something from his face.

Tang Wenhao's eyes darted away, then he suddenly fell to his knees with a loud thud.

"Auntie, Juan Zi... I’m sorry. I’ve wronged Juan Zi. I can’t marry her!"