Chapter 39: Chapter Thirty-Nine: Drink Tea, Drink Tea

Wang Yan handled the backlog of affairs from the past period and gave instructions regarding the actions against the Liang family. He also had tea with two bosses and shot the breeze—before he knew it, the day was gone.

He felt like he hadn't done anything at all, and suddenly it was night.

In the evening, Gu Jia called and said she wanted to go pick up Xu Ziyan together with him.

Wang Yan drove to pick up Gu Jia and headed toward the kindergarten.

"Xu Huanshan will be coming over too," Gu Jia said in the car.

"Mm, I know."

After a moment of silence, Gu Jia continued: "My dad found out about us. He called me today and said he wants to meet you." She stole glances at Wang Yan's reaction.

A marriage of convenience is hard to handle, especially since they'd already met once at her birthday party. If her father were a powerful man who could help Wang Yan's career, that'd be one thing—but the truth was, he had no clout at all.

She worried Wang Yan might resent it; after all, who wouldn't be bothered by the sudden appearance of a live father-in-law?

Wang Yan, focused on driving, showed no reaction to this news—it was perfectly normal.

In an instant, he understood the whole story.

Gu Jia wouldn't tell her father about this; she was an adult, and her father had heart problems. She'd hide it as long as possible—it was cruel to make him worry.

Without a doubt, Xu Huanshan had discovered they were together, brooded over it, grew agitated, and directly called Gu Jia's father to scold her, blaming everything on her. What a grown man, acting like a nagging woman—his mouth was as loose as a cotton-padded pant waist.

"Let's have dinner at home tonight. I'll meet your dad—it'll put his mind at ease."

Hearing Wang Yan's reply, Gu Jia exhaled in relief.

She called her father and told him to wait while they came to pick him up.

Women always overthink things. Just as she relaxed, she immediately started worrying about how to handle meeting Xu Huanshan.

She wasn't worried about anything else—she knew Xu Huanshan's temperament—but she feared he'd cause a scene in public. She didn't care, but Xu Ziyan still went to school there. How could a child bear gossip? This wasn't like before, when nothing had happened.

It wasn't far—just two streets away—and they arrived quickly.

The kindergarten was extremely upscale; its parking lot looked like a car exhibition. If they had to queue, Wang Yan's A8 definitely wouldn't cut it.

Cars were parked haphazardly everywhere, and at dismissal time, traffic was jammed solid.

They slowly squeezed in, searching for a parking spot.

Xu Huanshan had sharp eyes—he spotted them the moment they got out and walked over, arm-in-arm with Lin Youyou.

"Old Wang, you're really my good brother," Xu Huanshan sneered.

He didn't act out—time had passed, and he'd calmed down. Even ignoring Wang Yan's status, shouting or fighting would do nothing but make Gu Jia look down on him, thinking he couldn't let her go. Besides, he knew Wang Yan was trained, taller than him, and had status too. He wasn't stupid—he knew his limits.

Gu Jia couldn't hold back; hearing Xu Huanshan's sarcasm, she wanted to argue back.

Wang Yan stopped her. No matter how much she said, it wouldn't matter—he'd only believe what he wanted to believe. Otherwise, how could he sleep peacefully?

He wrapped his arm around Gu Jia and said warmly: "Hey, Old Xu, what kind of talk is that? You're being too formal."

Male possessiveness is strange: for their own women, casual flings don't count—but once emotion is invested, whether ex-wife or ex-girlfriend, any intimate contact with another man triggers fury and pain. Is it about love—or just "what's mine, even if I discard it, you can't touch"?

Seeing Gu Jia, sweetly nestled in Wang Yan's arms, Xu Huanshan's face turned ashen—but he held back: "Let me introduce you—my wife, Lin Youyou. We got married last week." He shifted from arm-in-arm to an arm around her, glaring at the two of them like a warning.

But he was doomed to disappointment. Such childish behavior left Wang Yan and Gu Jia utterly expressionless—they simply stared back calmly.

Wang Yan almost said, "We got married the day after your divorce." But he didn't. Xu Huanshan was already quick-tempered, and with so many parents around, provoking him would cause trouble.

He also had to consider Xu Ziyan. The kid had been the center of attention all day, boasting nonstop. If he came back tomorrow and got mocked, he might even have to transfer schools—that would devastate him.

Getting no response, Xu Huanshan dared not anger Wang Yan—he could imagine the consequences. He awkwardly saved face: "I sold the house. When the payment clears in a couple days, I'll send you the money."

Gu Jia finally reacted—she nodded slightly, then ignored him completely. Their bond was long gone; she wouldn't even spare him a second glance.

Lin Youyou didn't cause any trouble—she had no right to speak here. Now that both of them were married, she understood why Xu Huanshan compared her to Gu Jia, even if it angered her. And the joy of achieving her goal, seeing Gu Jia's reaction, reached its peak—so she chose to be magnanimous.

Besides, Xu Huanshan had suddenly proposed marriage to her recently, and after they married, she'd asked him why. She knew exactly what had happened.

She'd even specifically asked Xu Huanshan about Wang Yan's identity. Though she resented that Gu Jia had hooked up with a wealthy man, Lin Youyou knew her place—she wasn't stupid. Even if nothing else, Xu Huanshan still had some sentiment toward the child; Wang Yan wouldn't go too far. Who was she? He certainly wouldn't indulge her. She wouldn't dare provoke Wang Yan.

Then everyone waited by the gate for the children to be let out, while Gu Jia chatted casually with familiar parents.

The strange atmosphere had already drawn attention—everyone was waiting for drama—but nothing happened, leaving them slightly disappointed.

"Miss Xu, it's been a while! What have you been up to lately?"

Familiar parents, gossiping old women, drifted over to Gu Jia, probing subtly.

Gu Jia, a social expert, effortlessly defused the storm brewing around Xu Ziyan with nothing but casual chatter.

Soon, the children were let out.

From afar, Xu Ziyan spotted them, his little legs pumping as he ran over.

Xu Huanshan thought he was coming for him—he opened his arms and crouched down, waiting for his son to leap into them.

But his son was truly impressive—he didn't even look at him, shouted "Dad!" and threw himself at Wang Yan's leg.

The kid was ecstatic.

The other children knew he'd been away traveling—they'd missed him and bombarded him with questions.

The teacher, seeing the kids couldn't focus in class, all curious about Xu Ziyan's adventures, organized a tea party right there, letting him stand up front and tell them everything he'd seen, answering questions as they came.

Xu Ziyan wasn't shy at all—he spoke confidently, clearly, articulately, using his childish words to turn the stories he'd heard from Wang Yan and Gu Jia, and learned from the tour guide, into captivating tales.

The listening children were filled with envy—though they'd traveled domestically and abroad, none had taken a twenty-day vacation to just play, like Xu Ziyan.

Xu Ziyan was the star of the day, over the moon, eager to share everything with his dad. He didn't even glance at Xu Huanshan, clinging to Wang Yan's leg, looking up: "Dad, I've got to tell you—today…"

Xu Huanshan remained crouched, arms still outstretched, frozen. The feeling of boundless hope crushed into emptiness was especially crushing—especially between father and son.

He awkwardly lowered his arms, rubbed his stiff face hard, and interrupted Xu Ziyan's boasting: "Ziyan, I see you've come."

Hearing this, Xu Ziyan turned to Xu Huanshan, surprised, then grinned and ran over to hug him: "Dad, why are you here?"

"What, are you surprised I came? Did you miss me?"

Xu Ziyan paused, then grinned: "Of course I missed you."

Xu Huanshan clearly felt that pause—his heart twisted with bitter, tangled emotions. This was his son—his own flesh and blood—and he had to think before saying he missed him?

He wondered if Wang Yan had brainwashed the child—or something like that.

Quickly pull Xu Ziyan aside and ask him about his time with Wang Yan and Gu Jia—what he's been doing lately, how they treat him, and so on.

Xu Ziyan perked up at the topic; after all, he hadn't gotten to brag properly earlier, so he immediately beamed and boasted to Xu Huanshan, spouting one thing after another, until Xu Huanshan understood: Wang Yan hadn't done a thing, and he himself, he admitted, had treated the child even better than Wang Yan had.

But to Xu Ziyan, he was already negligible—his earlier attitude, and now his constant talk of "my dad this" and "my mom that," never once included "my dad you this."

Absently listening to the child's childish chatter, memories rose in his heart, and sorrow welled up unbidden.

Xu Ziyan chattered on, but after a while he realized—his father wasn't even pretending to be impressed.

Instantly deflated, he sulked at Xu Huanshan: "Dad, are you even listening?"

That snapped Xu Huanshan out of his private anguish; he quickly gave a thumbs-up and forced a smile: "Of course I am! You're amazing—today was truly glorious."

They exchanged a few more quiet words, left with "Dad will come see you in a few days," and, while still sane, hurriedly pulled Lin Youyou away.

Though Xu Ziyan had been enthusiastic earlier, Xu Huanshan, having raised him since infancy, keenly sensed a faint thread of unfamiliarity in his words.

How could his heart feel any better? His ex-wife had left for another man, and now his own flesh and blood was about to take Wang's surname—and he was powerless to stop it. The feeling was unbearable.

In the car.

Lin Youyou had watched the whole thing from start to finish; she knew exactly what was going on with Xu Huanshan.

Not just women—men, too, need comfort when they're sad and vulnerable, and Lin Youyou was a professional.

She said to Xu Huanshan, who was driving slowly: "Huanshan, don't overthink it. If it comes to that, we can just have another child."

"Step on it. Let's go home and get to work."

Hearing this, Xu Huanshan perked up immediately.

One sentence was enough—he could comfort himself entirely through fantasy. Lin Youyou's words made perfect sense: if it fails, I'll just have another. Besides, no matter how great Wang Yan is, Xu Ziyan is still my blood.

At first, he'd never seriously considered having a child with Lin Youyou—after all, having a child is a two-person matter; if she refused, he couldn't force her. And the current social climate was such that late marriage and late childbearing were rampant—some even chose to be DINKs.

In his mind, he figured he'd have to wait a few years until she'd had her fill of freedom and decided she wanted a child. He could wait—he was thirty, still strong and capable, and could still strive harder to leave more behind for the child.

"If you have a child, you'll have your hands full. Are you really sure? No regrets?" He'd been a father before—he knew exactly what life with a child entailed.

At that moment, nothing was better than a direct reply; Lin Youyou spoke with emotion: "Huanshan, I love you. For you, I'm willing to do anything."

Xu Huanshan immediately pressed the accelerator and sped off—the mood was perfect, and he was already impatient; he'd make a child and vent at once, two birds with one stone.

With no interest in Xu Huanshan's state, the three of them happily set off in the car to pick up Gu Jia's father.

On the way, Xu Ziyan chattered nonstop about today's events—he'd seen through his biological father's indifference, and it had been so disappointing. His real dad, though? Now that was someone who knew how to cheer him on.

They laughed and chatted as they picked up Gu Jia's father, Gu Jinghong, from the nursing home.

Along the way, Gu Jia subtly guided the conversation, while Xu Ziyan played cute beside her to keep the atmosphere lively.

Overall, the mood was fairly harmonious; they bought dinner on the way and returned home to Tianyue Mansion.

As soon as they arrived, Gu Jia rushed to start cooking—Xu Ziyan had been complaining for ages. The nursing home where Gu Jinghong lived was far from their home, and the round trip had taken a long time.

Xu Ziyan sat in the living room watching cartoons, chattering away; now he was tired and hungry, slumped on the sofa waiting for food.

Only Wang Yan and Gu Jinghong, the father-in-law, remained.

Wang Yan brewed a pot of tea—this one brought back from Hengshan Village. According to the old village chief, the tea he'd given him was the absolute top-tier, incredibly rare, and could stand comparison with any famous tea.

Honestly, after drinking tea for so many years, Wang Yan still couldn't tell the difference. National scholars and Daoist masters all loved this stuff—they'd equip themselves with the most elaborate gear, and their tea was priceless and impossible to find. When they met someone impressive, even their water was transported by disciples from some distant place.

But Wang Yan still couldn't taste anything special—just like calligraphy. Even though he was the one paying, the old men didn't coddle him; they'd curse him for gulping down fine tea like an ox chewing orchids, wasting it entirely.

Wang Yan humbly asked for advice, but they wouldn't elaborate—just rattled off a barrage of obscure terms, then told him it was all about feeling—you had to awaken to it.

Wang Yan could only smile politely—he had no idea what they meant, and he knew they truly felt it, while he himself could never feel it. Later, he learned to play along; his cultural literacy wasn't bad. Everyone enjoyed pretending together—he'd throw in phrases like "fragrant as orchid and cassia," "taste like sweet dew," "lingering aroma on lips and teeth," "rich and fragrant," "pungent and intoxicating," and so on.

If you asked him what kind of tea it was? "This humble disciple is shallow and unworthy—could I humbly ask for your guidance?" That's when the master's urge to teach would kick in, spouting endlessly. Wang Yan would then wear the expression of a grateful disciple, deeply enlightened, thanking the elder for his wisdom. "Ruzike," the master would nod, and stop scolding him. Everyone was happy.

By drinking so much tea, he memorized the flavors and could now name the origin of famous teas with a single sip.

After so many years, he'd grown used to it—he'd just kept going this way.

When the tea was ready, he poured a cup for Gu Jinghong: "Uncle, try this. It's from Gu Jia's tea factory."

It wasn't Wang Yan putting on airs—he genuinely couldn't bring himself to call him "Dad." Gu Jia and her father understood, so they just let it be.

Gu Jinghong sipped and made a "tsk-tsk" sound: "Hmm, actually, it's better than what I buy at the supermarket."

Wang Yan was speechless—he understood. Both felt awkward; Gu Jinghong was just humoring him to save face.

There was no point in pretending anymore—better to speak plainly.

He knew Gu Jinghong was worried about his daughter, trying to use his life experience to judge whether Wang Yan was trustworthy. He understood—parents do this for their children.

Some might think parents meddling in their children's lives under the guise of "doing what's best" is wrong. But one should still show more understanding: apart from a few monstrous exceptions, parents truly do act out of love for their children. They just sometimes use the wrong methods—generational gaps are real. Between parent and child, how can you simply label it right or wrong?

"Uncle, I know what you're worried about. Didn't Gu Jia tell you?"

Gu Jinghong looked confused: "What did Gu Jia tell me?"

Seeing his expression, Wang Yan said: "Uncle, the house we're standing in is registered under Gu Jia's name. You know Junyue Mansion—previously they lived on the 12th floor, and I had a unit on the 18th floor, which I also transferred to her name."

"Ah!" Gu Jinghong gasped, nearly suffering a heart attack.

He knew how much Junyue Mansion cost. Though he hadn't examined this house closely upon entering, he'd taken in the general impression—refined renovation, prime location—he had a rough idea of its value. He'd thought to himself: his daughter really knew how to pick—clearly, she had good taste.

Wang Yan's generosity went beyond his wildest expectations. What more proof could he need? He drained his cup to calm himself, steadying his wildly pounding heart.

"Hah, what worry? Such a big thing—why didn't Gu Jia tell me? You two just got married; I came over just to see how you're doing." Gu Jinghong chuckled awkwardly.

As long as Gu Jia was happy, he didn't care how awkward he felt.

"Come, drink your tea—this tea really is excellent."

Seeing Gu Jinghong reach for the teapot to refill his cup, Wang Yan quickly grabbed it and refilled both their cups.

"I'll prepare some for you later—I've got plenty of different teas. Maybe you can help me spot any fakes. Oh, and I'll also give you a full set of tea ware—I have an extra one. Drink more often. Gu Jia said your heart isn't strong; I don't know if tea helps, but it's good for cultivating peace and health."