After hanging up the phone, the old man was stunned for a long moment before he finally processed the information.
Fu Huaizhou has someone he likes?
From which family?
The old man quickly paused the over-the-top anti-Japanese drama and waved to someone behind him.
The caregiver specifically assigned to him leaned forward and crouched down.
“Call Fu Qingsheng.”
The caregiver promptly picked up the old man’s phone and dialed Fu Huaizhou’s father.
Fu Qingsheng was still in a meeting, but he didn’t dare ignore a call from the old man.
As soon as the call connected, the old man took the phone and said, “Your son says he has someone he likes. He expects to win them over within a year and told us to prepare the betrothal gifts.”
Fu Qingsheng was shocked: “Marriage? From which family? How come I haven’t heard anything about this?”
The old man glared: “How should I know? He’s not my son.”
Fu Qingsheng: “…Dad, that messes up the generations.”
The old man seemed impatient with him and directly hung up.
Fu Qingsheng left the conference room, making the top executives at Wind Hua think something major had happened.
On his way back to the company, Fu Huaizhou received a call from his father.
“Huaizhou? Why did your grandfather say you’re getting married?”
Fu Huaizhou acknowledged: “…I just said I’m still… Never mind, let’s talk about it tonight when I get back.”
Fu Qingsheng: “With this bombshell, I won’t be able to focus on work this afternoon.”
Fu Huaizhou: “…We’ll talk tonight.”
“Alright, alright, we’ll talk tonight.”
Fu Huaizhou hung up. His relationship with Fu Qingsheng was somewhat complicated.
To put it bluntly, it was a melodramatic story.
His mother, Xu Wanru, and Fu Qingsheng had an arranged marriage. After marrying, Xu Wanru fell in love with Fu Qingsheng, but Fu Qingsheng had a woman on the side.
Two years after Fu Huaizhou was born, Fu Qingsheng’s illegitimate son, Fu Yiming, was born.
Xu Wanru was heartbroken, depressed, fell ill, and passed away.
It was only after her death that Fu Qingsheng realized he had loved his wife.
But the beauty was gone, and regret was useless.
From then on, Fu Qingsheng played both father and mother, indulging Fu Huaizhou endlessly.
Other family members also pitied him for losing his mother at a young age and showed him extra favoritism, to the extent that even his thirteen-year-old cousin would yield to Fu Huaizhou, who was nearly thirty.
Worried he would be spoiled, the old man had no choice but to play the strict role since Fu Huaizhou was young.
Fu Huaizhou once thought his grandfather didn’t like him, but as he grew older, he realized the old man’s love for him was no less, if not more.
He originally didn’t know the truth about Xu Wanru’s death and admired Fu Qingsheng, their relationship being quite good.
But when he was fifteen, a young boy blocked his path.
The boy said Fu Qingsheng was his father, and only then did Fu Huaizhou learn the full story of his parents.
Back then, still young, he struggled to accept that the father he idolized was the very reason he had no mother. He gave Fu Qingsheng the cold shoulder for three full years.
During those three years, he studied abroad.
Later, Fu Qingsheng fell ill, and only then did they start speaking again.
But the distance remained. Fu Huaizhou attended university abroad and only returned to the country after completing his studies a couple of years ago.
Years of lacking communication created a chasm between them that neither could cross.
Fu Residence.
Everyone who could come had arrived, except for Fu Huaizhou’s uncle and aunt.
Actually, it was just his aunt’s family of four.
Fu Shuyue’s parents were Fu Huaizhou’s uncle and aunt. The young girl sat cheerfully beside Fu Huaizhou and said:
“Brother, I heard you’re getting married. Is it Sister Pei?”
Fu Huaizhou put away his phone and glanced at her: “Were you at the amusement park that day?”
Fu Shuyue pulled out her phone, grinning widely: “Not only did I go, but I also took photos.”
Fu Huaizhou leaned over and saw that the two people in the photo were himself and Pei Yan.
Due to the camera angle, it looked like he was holding Pei Yan while grabbing a toy from a claw machine.
“Ahem…” Fu Huaizhou instinctively cleared his throat, “Your photography skills are quite good.”
Fu Shuyue giggled: “I’ll send you the photo, do you want it?”
Fu Huaizhou nodded reservedly: “Sure. Also, let’s keep this matter quiet for now. Things aren’t settled yet.”
Without asking for reasons, Fu Shuyue immediately gave him an “OK” gesture.
Fu Qingsheng returned home at 4 PM. After watching TV with the old master for a while, the two sat by the koi pond, racking their brains about which family’s daughter had caught Fu Huaizhou’s eye.
As they chatted, they developed serious disagreements about the criteria for selecting a daughter-in-law.
The old master believed that coming from a respectable family, having decent looks, and good character were sufficient.
But Fu Qingsheng shook his head and said, “Are those even conditions? They’re just basics. Huaizhou has a complex and changeable personality – gentle and soft-spoken with family, cold and perfunctory with outsiders, stern and serious with subordinates, casual and relaxed with friends. I hope he finds someone who can understand him.”
“We don’t require equal family status – after all, in Sui River, no one would dare provoke anyone surnamed Fu – but it shouldn’t be too different either. It’s not about snobbery, but when the gap is too wide, there’s a big difference in perspective and they won’t be able to connect.”
“Huaizhou is handsome and dashing, so the woman should at least be elegant and beautiful; Huaizhou is 189cm tall, she shouldn’t be shorter than 168cm, so they’ll look good together and their future children can have good genes.”
“Also, Huaizhou is usually quite busy, so she needs to be understanding and tolerant. She doesn’t need to work, but she should know how to manage household affairs. It would be even better if she knows how to make soup.”
“Furthermore, Huaizhou is skilled in equestrianism, piano, tennis, etc. The woman should at least have one or two matching hobbies she’s good at, which can help them bond outside of daily life.”
“Both her IQ and EQ shouldn’t be too low. She should be able to be Huaizhou’s gentle yet steadfast support, helping him balance career and family.”
After Fu Qingsheng elaborated at length, the old master looked utterly defeated.
Was this choosing a daughter-in-law? It sounded more like the Miss World pageant.
If he weren’t so old, he would have given him a good kick.
The old master said, “What’s the use of saying all this? Will Huaizhou listen to you? If he’s set on someone, you couldn’t stop him even if she were a beggar.”
Fu Qingsheng immediately protested: “I’m his father, can’t I offer a few suggestions?”
The old master snorted: “Don’t believe me? Try telling him during dinner then.”
Fu Qingsheng: “…”
He didn’t dare bring up these requirements. It would be whatever Fu Huaizhou said goes.
Seeing that his son was almost thirty, it was time for him to settle down.
If he could give him a grandchild, he would immediately retire and enjoy spoiling the grandkids.
When he saw Fu Huaizhou later, Fu Qingsheng seemed to want to say something but hesitated, holding back.
Fu Huaizhou’s aunt, Fu Xintong, nudged his arm: “Second Brother, why are you so timid around Huaizhou?”
Fu Qingsheng sighed: “You don’t understand.”
Fu Huaizhou seemed to sense something and glanced back, causing Fu Qingsheng to immediately avert his gaze.
It wasn’t until dinner time that he managed to exchange a few words with Fu Huaizhou.
The old master sat at the head of the dining table and asked: “Huaizhou, what did you mean by your phone call at noon? Since everyone’s here, tell us.”
Fu Huaizhou said: “If I succeed in pursuing her, I have plans to get married.”
Fu Qingsheng hurriedly asked, “Which family’s daughter is she? How did you meet her? What’s she like?”
Fu Huaizhou: “…”
Fu Xintong tugged at Fu Qingsheng’s sleeve: “Second brother, let Huaizhou speak.”
Fu Qingsheng looked anxious: “Go ahead, tell us.”
Fu Huaizhou suddenly chuckled, then dropped another bombshell:
“She just broke up with her boyfriend, the engagement hasn’t been officially called off yet, and I’m currently working on stealing someone’s partner.”