Revelation

The two continued staring at each other, an unspoken tension filling the air until Han Wei finally noticed his father at the door. With a bright smile, he ran toward Han Chen, throwing his arms around him in a tight hug. "Dad, why haven't you come in yet?" he asked, his voice filled with eagerness.

Snapping out of his trance, Han Chen smiled down at his son. "I was just thinking about something from work," he replied, his mind still partially elsewhere.

As he raised his head, his gaze landed on Yang Liu, and he remarked, "You look different today."

Yang Liu beamed at the compliment, her eyes sparkling with playfulness. "I decided to change up my style a bit. I thought I needed a look that matched my new identity." With a laugh, she twirled around before walking away, leaving Han Chen momentarily captivated. He watched her go, feeling a mix of admiration and unease as she moved through the room.

Once inside the house, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with everyone gathering around the dinner table to enjoy the meal together. Yang Liu made her way to Han Chen, placing some potatoes on his plate. Their eyes met, and a silent connection sparked between them. Without a word, she turned her attention to helping Han Wei with his food, creating a bubble of intimacy in the midst of the family gathering.

Yang Liu's parents exchanged knowing glances, observing the interactions between their daughter and her husband. Han Chen, feeling slightly confused by Yang Liu's behavior, surprised himself by not disliking it. The meal unfolded in a comfortable silence, each person lost in their own thoughts until they finished eating.

After dinner, Mr. Yan Jun invited Han Chen to speak in his study. The room was thick with unspoken words, and after a few moments of silence, Mr. Yan Jun cleared his throat, breaking the tension. Han Chen stood up, offering him a cup of tea as a gesture of respect.

After taking a sip, Mr. Yan Jun took a deep breath and met Han Chen's gaze. "Han Chen, I'm glad to see you're getting along with my daughter. Thank you for that."

Han Chen nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. "It's the least I could do for you."

Mr. Yan Jun studied him intently and sighed. "I know your marriage has a deadline and will be over in a year. But I hope, at the very least, you two can become good friends."

Han Chen was taken aback, his eyes narrowing as he waited for Mr. Yan Jun to elaborate. The older man chuckled at Han Chen's surprise. "Yang Liu mentioned a month before the wedding that you approached her, wanting to help me. You've always been my best student, Han Chen. I hope you find happiness. But above all, Yang Liu is my daughter. I understand your reasons for marrying her, but please don't hurt her. Don't let her develop feelings for you, and don't let yourself develop any for her. End it when the time comes."

Uncomfortable with the weight of the conversation, Han Chen managed to reply, "Yes, sir."

Mr. Yan Jun searched Han Chen's face for any sign of emotion but found none. After a moment, he dismissed him with a nod. Once Han Chen left, Mr. Yan Jun turned to the window, his voice barely above a whisper as he confided to himself, "I just want them both to be happy... I hope I wasn't too harsh on him, but it was necessary, especially after seeing how well Yang Liu is treating him."

With a heavy sigh, he felt the familiar worry settle in his chest.

Little did Yang Liu know that her efforts to treat father and son well were being misinterpreted by her own parents.