Chapter 405: Daughter-in-law (1)

The entire small room had fallen into a dead silence for a few seconds before Duan Yarong shrieked all of a sudden. She lunged at Han Yichen without caring much less of others. She hugged him very tightly and burst into tears.

While she was crying, she kept murmuring, “Good boy… Good boy…”

This time, Zhao Shunrong no longer held Duan Yarong back like he did last time. This was because he also could not help but have his eyes redden the moment Han Yichen called him his father.

Han Yichen’s calling them as his father and mother had been the couple’s only expectation over the past twenty years. Therefore, his calling had instantly made up their only blemish for the past twenty years.

Han Yichen had never expected that Duan Yarong would pounce onto him without caring much less of others. His entire body had turned stiff as Duan Yarong was hugging him.

However, he soon relaxed. His heart softened the moment Duan Yarong’s sobs rang out in his ears.

His hands were dangling on his side. He hesitated for a while before his hand slowly went behind Duan Yarong and returned her hug.

Zhao Youlin was standing at the side. As she watched the three people’s interactions, all sorts of emotions swelled up in her heart. However, she did not say anything.

The three had waited so long for this moment, it was so long that she could not bear to distract them even for a second.

Duan Yarong had been crying for a long time before she stopped. She got up from Han Yichen’s body and sat next to him. She held Han Yichen’s hand very tightly with both of her hands and was reluctant to let go of it.

When Han Yichen saw this, he just let her be. As he looked at his mother crying so miserably, the bittersweet feeling with a sense of helplessness sprouted in his heart.

He was delighted naturally because Duan Yarong cared so much about him. On the other hand, he felt bitter because his mother had endured so much sorrow and pain throughout the years over his loss.

While Han Yichen was trying hard to calm the emotions churning in his heart, suddenly, a piece of snow-white tissue appeared before him.

Han Yichen was stunned. He looked in the direction of the hand that was holding the tissue, only to be greeted by the sight of Zhao Youlin’s encouraging, smiling face.

Before this, Han Yichen treated Zhao Youlin well only because of An Yue. Now, he felt more sincere and grateful for his “younger sister” because she had been taking care of his parents on his behalf when he was not around. In the end, she was also the one who had reunited him with his family.

After he hesitated for a while, he nodded at Zhao Youlin. He took over the tissue with his other hand and tried to wipe away the tear marks that had streamed over Duan Yarong’s face.

Duan Yarong was in a daze as she looked at Han Yichen’s handsome face which resembled sixty percent of Zhao Shunrong’s. Her tears, which she had taken great pain to resist from pouring out, streamed down once again

Looking at the certain one whose tears kept dropping on the back of his hand at such a close range, Han Yichen felt a trace of warmth.

Even so, Duan Yarong’s eyes were wide open and glued to Han Yichen as if the person would disappear if she blinked even once.

Han Yichen’s hand that had been holding the tissue trembled slightly. He heaved a sigh and said, “Mother, it’s good that we could still acknowledge each other.”

Duan Yarong was still very excited when she heard Han Yichen call her his mother once again. However, she did not lose her composure like just now, she was calmer now.

She took the initiative to take the tissue from Han Yichen’s hand and wipe away her tears. She said in a m.u.f.fled voice, “You’re right. Chen, you’re right. It’s good that we finally could acknowledge each other. I was slightly… out of control just now.”

Han Yichen held Duan Yarong’s hand. A hint of gentleness unusually appeared on his hard, cold face as he said, “I understand.”

Duan Yarong nodded her head. She did not say anything further. Even though she was already holding Han Yichen’s hand, she gained ground by hugging his arm as if by doing so would make her feel more secure.

A trace of helplessness flashed across Han Yichen’s eyes. But more than that, it was forgiveness.

As Duan Yarong’s emotions stabilized, Han Yichen forcibly paid some attention to the person opposite him who was similar to him… To be precise, that person had actually looked more serious than him. He said, “Father…”

Zhao Shunrong had remained the same expression. However, Zhao Youlin, who had gotten along with him for almost a year, could still identify a faint nervousness beneath his calm demeanor.

Zhao Shunrong remained silent for a long time. His eyebrows inevitably twitched as if he was looking hard for a suitable topic for father and son. However, in the end…

“Okay.”

Han Yichen fell speechless.

Zhao Youlin was speechless.

Duan Yarong felt speechless.

It had not been easy for Duan Yarong and Han Yichen to gradually warm up the atmosphere. However, the heartwarming atmosphere froze once again upon hearing Zhao Shunrong’s “okay”, and everything was back to square one.

Zhao Youlin covered her face, feeling speechless. Sometimes, speaking was also a kind of art. If you spoke carelessly, it would only make things worse!

The family of three was looking at one another. None of them knew what they were supposed to say. Zhao Youlin could not bear to watch this anymore. She faked a cough and took the initiative to start a topic as she said, “Brother, did you start your own business after you attend university?”

Han Yichen nodded. The next moment, he looked like he had thought of something. He added, “It’s a joint venture.”

“A joint venture?” Zhao Youlin suddenly recalled the rumor about his partner who had joint ventured with Han Yichen but had ended up absconding with the money when something went wrong with Sheng s.h.i.+ Group.

At this point, Zhao Shunrong had the same thought as Zhao Youlin. He hesitated for a while before he asked, “Is it the same cla.s.smate who had joint ventured with you and absconded with the money?”

Upon hearing his words, the corners of Zhao Youlin and Duan Yarong’s lips unwittingly twitched. They could not help but make quips in their hearts at the same time. ‘Rong (Father), couldn’t you speak more politely? It’s okay to poke someone’s soft spot, but how could you even stab your own son’s?!’

Han Yichen did not react aggressively upon hearing his words. He quirked one of his eyebrows and said, “He’s only one of them. Apart from him, there’s still another one.”

“Is it Nie Yunfan?” When Zhao Youlin heard Han Yichen’s words, the image of Nie Yunfan, the young master of the Nie family who looked very close with Han Yichen, and was also Mu Tingfeng’s buddy with a bad influence, was the first to appear in her mind.

Han Yichen nodded his head. Zhao SHunrong did not find the name which Zhao Youlin had mentioned strange. “Nie Yunfan? The child from the Nie family?”

“Father, did you know the young master of the Nie family?” Zhao Youlin asked in puzzlement. Han Yichen also looked at him curiously. He looked like he was very surprised that his father was actually acquainted with his good buddy.

“His uncle, Nie Xingzhi, was a friend of the former master. The former master used to mention that Young Master Nie failed to inherit the huge business foundation from his family and had instead insisted on setting up another business with outsiders. As such, his father and uncle had a headache. They never thought…”