Chapter 1058 - 1047: The Unkind Stepmother
"Is Mrs. Liu feeling better?"
"Yes, her spirits are much higher. She even insisted on cooking for me today, like surgery never happened." Ye Qiu was very happy, the problem that had been bothering her was resolved, and even her smile towards Fang Bingwen became more genuine.
Perhaps sensing her inner excitement, Fang Bingwen also smiled.
"By the way, are you free tomorrow?"
"Is there something important?"
"Cancan misses me, so Second Sister-in-law invited me to dinner at Second Brother’s house. Let’s go together."
"But I have to supervise two students’ projects in the morning." Fang Bingwen frowned, feeling a bit troubled. Projects can be done anytime, there’s no rush, but he doesn’t really like Ye Qiu’s family, always feeling they look down on him.
"Then let’s go in the afternoon. Anyway, Cancan has piano lessons in the morning. We’ll go in the afternoon, have dinner there, and come back." She then turned to Fang Xu, "Xiao Xu, there’s a girl cousin at your uncle’s house, do you want to go play with her tomorrow?"
"I don’t have an uncle. I don’t want to go." Fang Xu, still young, expressed his dislikes directly.
Seeing Ye Qiu’s hurt and awkward expression, Fang Bingwen frowned, "Xiao Xu, don’t be impolite to your Aunt Ye. If you don’t want to go somewhere in the future, just say it directly. Don’t speak so rudely, it’s impolite, understand?"
Fang Xu listened to his father, bowed his head, and said reluctantly, "Understood."
Perhaps to comfort Ye Qiu, or perhaps to apologize, Fang Bingwen knelt down to his son and said, "Didn’t Cancan give you a toy last time? Let’s go to Cancan’s house and give her a toy tomorrow, okay? Remember what Daddy taught you? Don’t accept things from others casually, but if you do, you must give something back, right?"
"Yes." Fang Xu nodded heavily, "When I see Cancan tomorrow, I’ll give her a gift too."
"Good boy." Fang Bingwen patted his son’s head with a satisfied smile.
He then turned to Ye Qiu, receiving a grateful and admiring look from her, he slightly curled his lips.
However, at this moment, Ye Qiu, who was showing an admiring gaze, just wanted to laugh. Don’t accept things easily from others? If you do, you must return it?
Back in the day, did Fang Bingwen use her money less? Now he’s pretending to be noble, but once he’s used to it, isn’t it the same? How did he handle it then? He used up her money for his reputation and career, then kicked her aside to bring in his ex-wife to enjoy the good life. How could his face be so big back then? Why couldn’t he remember to return it then?
Thinking of these things, Ye Qiu couldn’t help but reveal a deep hatred in her eyes, barely managing to collect herself in time to avoid Fang Bingwen noticing something was off.
"Since you and Xiao Xu have decided to go, I’ll go inform Second Sister-in-law. Then tomorrow, Xiao Xu and I will meet you at your school for lunch, how about that?"
"Xiao Xu still can’t really accept you. Let’s do this: tomorrow, Xiao Xu will go with me to school, and after I’m done, we’ll go home and head over together."
"Alright." Ye Qiu looked at him, somewhat dejectedly, then turned to Fang Xu, "Xiao Xu, is there something Auntie did wrong? Tell me, and Auntie will change, okay?"
"Get away, I don’t want you living in my house." Fang Xu said emotionally.
"Xiao Xu." Fang Bingwen lightly reprimanded, "Didn’t I tell you before not to talk to Auntie like that? It’s impolite, apologize."
"Boohoo... Daddy, you don’t want me anymore, they all say that you don’t like me after marrying a stepmother. So it’s true." Fang Xu started crying loudly, and Fang Bingwen’s expression immediately softened.
Ye Qiu didn’t wait for him to comfort but instead hugged Fang Xu and said, "Why are you being so harsh to a kid? Xiao Xu is still young, it’s normal for him not to quickly accept me. Let’s talk it out properly, okay? And from what he said, it seems someone has been saying things to him. You didn’t know?"
"I... I wasn’t aware, I’m sorry." Fang Bingwen stood there awkwardly, his heart aching at his son’s loud crying, but he also felt it inappropriate to pull his son from Ye Qiu by force.
He knew Ye Qiu hadn’t done anything wrong. It’s just that since he’s remarried, it’s normal for the son to be resistant. Maybe he shouldn’t have hesitated back then, or things wouldn’t be this way now.
"Xiao Xu, let’s not listen to your daddy. Those people are just jealous of you having such a harmonious family, that’s why they said such things. See, your daddy has loved you the same since Auntie married him, hasn’t he? Auntie hasn’t hit or scolded you, right?" Ye Qiu gently asked.
"Yes." Fang Xu nodded, half-understanding.
"So we shouldn’t pay attention to those bad people’s words. Auntie bought a lot of delicious things today, let’s see which one you like, okay?"
"Okay."
"It’s already evening, you shouldn’t eat those..."
"Oh, come on." Ye Qiu pinched Fang Bingwen, "Do you want me to get along with Xiao Xu or not?"
Seeing her say this, Fang Bingwen didn’t say anything more. However, after that day, Ye Qiu realized that no matter what snacks she used to please Fang Xu, it didn’t work anymore.
A kid only five or six years old, how could he have such strong self-control? Wasn’t it because his dad had said something to him?
In the end, Fang Bingwen probably most didn’t want to see her get along well with Fang Xu!
What’s he afraid of? Afraid she might shake the position of his ex-wife in his son’s heart?
Fortunately, she hadn’t planned to truly befriend Fang Xu. She knew well that in her previous life, half of her disreputable reputation was intentionally caused by Fang Xu, and in this life, she ought to give him a taste of that.
The university where Fang Bingwen worked, University A, was a century-old school and a national key institution. It had a large campus and beautiful scenery. Seeing the young, energetic students coming and going, Ye Qiu herself felt much younger.
"Ye Qiu?" Walking along the main road, she suddenly heard someone calling her.
She turned around and saw a man wearing glasses waving at her, "It’s really you. Are you here to see Bingwen?"
"Are you Bingwen’s colleague, Fu Lei?" Ye Qiu remembered. She recalled seeing him at the wedding banquet.
"You have a good memory; we’ve only met once before, and you still remember." Fu Lei seemed very friendly, "Bingwen is probably in the lab building at this time, need me to take you there?"
"I’d appreciate that." Ye Qiu thanked him, "Only a few of Bingwen’s colleagues came that day. I couldn’t remember textbooks when I was studying, but I still remember a few people."
"You’re interesting, not quite what I expected."
"Why’s that?"
"Because in my impression, a rich second generation isn’t like you."
"Then you’d better get to know us better in the future. Not all of us rich second generations have poor qualities."
"You’re right; I used to be prejudiced."
