Chapter 21: 21. Unable to Put It Down

During dinner, Sicheng noticed his son sticking to Zhang Ran more and more, and even Susu sat by Zhang Ran's side unconsciously.

"Siyan, what kind of work do you do now?" Zhang Ran asked while putting food on the plates for Taotao and Susu.

Siyan was silent for a moment before saying, "I opened a cosmetics shop with my friend."

Zhang Ran said, "The cosmetics business is actually quite good. If you want to know whose money is the easiest to earn in this world, it's women and children. Cosmetics are also an indispensable thing for modern women; as long as you manage it well, you don't have to worry about not having customers."

"Nowadays, what women care about most is this face. With better living conditions and more financial leeway, they naturally hope to maintain a good appearance and figure."

Hearing these words from Zhang Ran, Siyan's expression was a bit strange. Although she had long known that her father was quite capable, she hadn't expected him to be able to understand the current market in such a short time.

However, she was somewhat mentally prepared, having heard about him since she was a child; but Liu Lu looked at Zhang Ran in surprise.

In fact, she had been a bit surprised when Zhang Ran was playing games, but she could accept it by thinking that men might have a natural talent for games. But this discourse on cosmetics was certainly not something a person from twenty-eight years ago could say.

"By the way, what is the brand you represent called? Is it domestic or foreign?" Zhang Ran was just making conversation.

Siyan said, "It should be considered domestic. Although the place of origin is abroad, the brand was originally an old British cosmetics brand, but it was acquired a long time ago. The name is Kangshilan."

Upon hearing this name, a strange look flashed in Zhang Ran's eyes. He was quite familiar with this name, but he did not show it.

Zhang Ran did not ask about Siyan's husband either. He could see that Siyan did not want to talk about that aspect. Now that they had just reunited, it was better not to bring up topics that would make people uncomfortable.

The atmosphere of the first meal of the Zhang Family gathering was quite good, with Zhang Ran making an effort to find common topics for everyone.

And Liu Lu was a bit numb at this moment; she discovered that Zhang Ran was not at all like a person from twenty-eight years ago.

At first, she was cautious and did not talk too much about topics related to modern society, so as not to cause embarrassment if Zhang Ran didn't know them, but soon, Liu Lu discovered that no matter what they talked about, Zhang Ran could integrate into it without the slightest awkwardness.

At this moment, she suddenly remembered what Sicheng had said to her a month ago. At that time, Sicheng had said that he was not worried about his father being unable to integrate into modern society.

At that time, she didn't believe it at all, but now, she believed it a little.

Her father-in-law truly had a formidable ability to accept things and an extraordinary capacity for learning.

When it was time to sleep at night, Zhang Ran slept in the living room, while Siyan went back to stay with Qian Li, though Susu stayed behind.

Originally, Sicheng had thought that he and his wife would sleep with Taotao and Zhang Ran would stay in the small room, but Zhang Ran refused.

In the master bedroom, Sicheng lay on the bed, lost in thought. Although nothing much had happened that day, and the meeting with his father seemed very plain and everything seemed fine, he always felt that something was going to happen.

However, what put his mind at ease was that his father was just as his mother had described to them: gentle, refined, and showing no signs of discomfort in other aspects, which saved him a lot of effort.

Suddenly, Sicheng heard his wife's suppressed exclamation. He immediately looked up and saw that Liu Lu was covering her mouth, her eyes full of radiance and surprise.

And what she was holding in her hand was the gift Zhang Ran had given his daughter-in-law when they first met.

"Wife, what's wrong?" Sicheng couldn't help but ask.

"Husband, you... look." Although Liu Lu lowered her voice, Sicheng could still hear the joy and surprise in it.

Sicheng looked over and was also stunned. He saw that the necklace inside the box was incredibly bright under the light, flashing with brilliant radiance, and its shape was unique and the design exquisite; one liked it at first glance.

Sicheng didn't know much about these women's accessories, but even so, he could tell that this necklace was probably worth a lot.

Liu Lu was surprised at first, then she became a bit hesitant. She didn't know if she should accept such a valuable item, but she couldn't bear to return it.

It was just that this necklace was too beautiful; it struck right at the hearts of women.

Sicheng naturally saw his wife's hesitation and also saw the love in her eyes. After thinking for a while, he finally said, "Accept it. After all, it's a gift from him, and logically speaking, it's something you deserve."

Sicheng was only slightly surprised that Zhang Ran could have such a necklace, thinking that it was something Zhang Ran had bought back then.

He knew that Zhang Ran must have been quite wealthy back then; after all, how could someone who could afford to fly to Europe and America and return on a luxury cruise ship be a poor person?

However, he estimated that Zhang Ran only had a few million back then. At that time, a few million meant being super rich, but placed in the present, especially in Shanghai, it could only be called average.

Zhang Ran's vision back then was indeed very unique, but unfortunately, Zhang Ran disappeared during the period he had predicted, so Sicheng did not think Zhang Ran had much money.

Furthermore, it was another matter whether this money still existed. Anyway, in Sicheng's eyes, his father probably didn't have much money now, and he hadn't heard of any company compensating the people on that cruise ship.

And in his view, this necklace was only worth a little over a hundred thousand now. This was what he thought, as Sicheng had never seen any luxury goods.

Hearing Sicheng's words, Liu Lu's eyes lit up immediately. She really couldn't bear to return it; this necklace was truly too beautiful.

"Thank you, husband," Liu Lu said in a sweet voice.

Immediately, Liu Lu put on the necklace and began to admire it in front of the mirror, having no sleepiness at all, clearly unable to put it down.

Seeing her like this, Sicheng couldn't help but smile bitterly, but at the same time, a trace of guilt arose in his heart.

Liu Lu had been with him for so many years and had suffered grievances, even almost falling out with her family back then.

And he hadn't bought Liu Lu a decent thing in all these years.

Zhang Ran, sleeping in the living room, had no sleepiness at all. Although he had appeared very calm all day except for the beginning, he knew himself that it was not like that.

Suddenly having a son, a daughter, and also a grandson and a granddaughter—these were all things he had never experienced before.

He also didn't know how to get along with them, but he couldn't avoid it either. After all, they were his own flesh and blood, and at the same time, they were the longing and sustenance left to him by Yu Qingwan.

Now he could only try his best to adapt and try his best to get along with them harmoniously; these were all things he owed them as a father.

As for why he didn't give them money right away to let them live a good life, Zhang Ran also had his own considerations.

Although Zhang Ran felt some guilt toward Sicheng and Siyan, and although it wasn't his fault, he had never fulfilled the responsibilities a father should bear for so many years.

Zhang Ran did indeed want to try his best to compensate them, but Zhang Ran understood one thing even more: that people who get rich overnight find it difficult to maintain their mindset, and this was not what Zhang Ran wanted to see.

PS1: Thanks to the big boss 'Hao Xiao Jiu' for the tip! Many thanks!

PS2: Because this account is a newly created small account and hasn't been bound to a mobile phone, I cannot reply to everyone in the comment section for the time being. The author will get it fixed as soon as possible, please forgive me.