The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife-Chapter 539 - 542. He is the love of my life (end of text)

Chapter 539: 542. He is the love of my life (end of text)

Allen was willing to undergo the surgery, and the happiest person about it was Peter. Since he learned that Allen was willing to undergo the surgery, he had started preparing everything related to it, striving to ensure the smooth running of the operation.

He knew that this matter still required Shen Qinglan’s involvement, to say whose words Allen would absolutely not refuse, that person would definitely be Shen Qinglan.

The risk involved in this surgery was high. In addition to preparing the necessary materials for the operation, it was also essential to ensure that Allen’s body was in the best possible condition. Therefore, Peter had conducted a thorough check-up on Allen in the past few days. Fortunately, Allen’s health had not continued to deteriorate. The surgery was scheduled for three days later.

The next day, Shen Qinglan had to attend an award ceremony, while Anan stayed in the hospital to accompany Allen.

When Shen Qinglan returned, she saw Allen holding a Rubik’s Cube, with Anan instructing him on how to play. "Uncle Allen, no, turn it this way, right, only by turning it like that will it work." And Allen was operating the cube as Anan had instructed. "Like this? Really, you are so smart."

"It’s you who are too silly, Uncle Allen, not knowing such a simple thing," Anan said with a look of disdain but his face was full of smiles.

Shen Qinglan stood at the door watching the two inside interact harmoniously. It must be said, the ways of fate are mysterious; she never imagined that Anan would come to like Allen so much.

Allen had noticed Shen Qinglan the moment she appeared at the doorway, turning his head to look at her, prompting Anan to realize his mother had returned.

"Mommy, did you get your trophy?"

Shen Qinglan nodded and handed him the trophy she was holding.

"Mommy, is this trophy really made of gold?" Anan asked curiously, playing with Shen Qinglan’s trophy.

"It’s not gold, it’s gold-plated," Shen Qinglan said offhandedly, not caring at all about the trophy, nor worried that Anan might accidentally damage it.

Shen Qinglan looked at Allen, "No issues with your health today?"

Allen shook his head, his eyes conveying a smile, "I’m doing well."

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan nodded and didn’t say much else. She didn’t stay long in the ward and soon left the hospital, Anan leaving with her.

On the way back, Anan looked at Shen Qinglan with a lost expression on his face, and his demeanor was a bit sad, "Mommy, will Uncle Allen’s surgery be successful tomorrow?"

"Of course it will," Shen Qinglan answered without hesitation.

"But, isn’t Uncle Allen’s surgery very dangerous?"

Shen Qinglan looked at him sideways, "How do you know about that?"

"Last night, I overheard your conversation with Uncle Peter. Mommy, does Uncle Allen really have something growing inside his brain? If he doesn’t have the surgery, will he die?"

Taking advantage of a red light, Shen Qinglan explained to Anan, "Yes, there’s a tumor growing in your Uncle Allen’s brain, a very serious illness. If we do not operate to remove it, the tumor will continue to grow, and eventually, it could very likely kill your Uncle Allen."

"And the surgery tomorrow is so risky, what if it fails, will Uncle Allen die?" Tears started to form in his eyes, the thought of his dearly beloved uncle leaving him filled his heart with unbearable sorrow.

Shen Qinglan looked at her son, "Anan, trust Mommy, tomorrow’s surgery will definitely be successful."

"Mommy, I don’t want Uncle Allen to die." Anan was unaware of the past conflicts among the older generation. In his memory, ever since meeting Allen, this uncle in a wheelchair had always been kind to him. Over the years, he had come to love him as if he were his own child. Despite his young age, he could still sense whether someone truly cared about him.

"Uncle Allen won’t die, don’t worry. Uncle Peter’s medical skills are very good; he will definitely succeed. Remember to tell Uncle Allen to keep his spirits up tomorrow!"

"I will, Mommy. I will definitely pray for Uncle Allen’s safety." Anan’s tears swirled in his eyes but did not fall. He was worried that if he cried, Uncle Allen would notice it tomorrow.

The next morning, Anan woke up even earlier than Shen Qinglan and rushed her to the hospital without having breakfast.

Peter had already gone to make the final preparations for the surgery, while Allen looked serene—a calmness he had maintained since the day he had accepted the surgery.

When he saw Anan, a smile appeared on his calm face as he waved to Anan, who snuggled beside Allen, "Uncle Allen, you will be alright today, won’t you?"

Allen smiled, nodding solemnly, "Yes, I will be."

"Uncle Allen, once you’re better, I would like to go to Disney with you; can I?"

Last year when Anan visited, he wanted to go to Disney with Allen but couldn’t go because something came up unexpectedly.

"Alright, once I’m better, I will take you to Disney."

"Uncle Allen, I’ll be here waiting for you to come out; you have to keep your spirits up!"

"Okay."

Allen patted Anan’s head and gave Shen Qinglan a deep look but said nothing.

At the entrance of the operating room, Anan held Allen’s hand, "Uncle Allen, you have to keep your spirits up!"

"Okay." Allen’s eyes were warm. He had never experienced the feeling of being cared for, and Anan was probably the first and the last one to do so.

Shen Qinglan stood aside with a cool expression. Allen wanted to say something to her but ultimately, he didn’t.

When Allen was pushed into the operating room, Anan hugged Shen Qinglan’s legs, and his tears finally fell. Shen Qinglan gently patted her son’s head, remaining silent.

The light in the operating room lit up, and Shen Qinglan stayed with her son outside, waiting—a wait that lasted for more than ten hours.

"Anan, how about we eat something?" Shen Qinglan offered bread and milk. Anan hadn’t had breakfast and only had eaten an apple for lunch; she was somewhat worried about Anan’s health.

Anan shook his head, "Mommy, why hasn’t Uncle Allen come out yet?" He had waited for a very long time, but the door of the operating room was still closed.

"Don’t worry, he will come out."

"Mommy." He called out but didn’t know what else to say. Shen Qinglan patted her son’s head and pulled him into her arms, "Mommy’s here."

After another half an hour, the tightly shut door of the operating room finally opened, and Peter came out, looking exhausted.

Shen Qinglan looked at him, Peter smiled, "It was a success."

A hint of warmth appeared in Shen Qinglan’s cool eyes, and Anan slid down from her arms, "That’s great, where is Uncle Allen?"

"He’s very tired, still sleeping. He might need to sleep for a few days."

Anan heard this and looked at Shen Qinglan, "Mommy, can we stay a few more days?" He wanted to wait until Uncle Allen woke up before going home.

Shen Qinglan nodded with a smile, "Yes." She had already called Fu Hengyi and explained the situation. Although Fu Hengyi was displeased that his wife and child wanted to stay at Allen’s house for a while, Allen had helped Qinglan a lot before, and ultimately, he didn’t say anything to refuse.

Allen had been in a coma for three days. Every day when Anan visited the hospital, he would ask Shen Qinglan the same question, "Mommy, how much longer will Uncle Allen sleep?"

"Mommy doesn’t know either. He’ll wake up when he’s had enough sleep. Don’t worry, Uncle Peter said that the surgery was very successful. Uncle Allen will wake up."

Anan leaned next to Allen’s bed and whispered softly, "Uncle Allen, you’ve been asleep for three days now, the sun is already warming our backs, why aren’t you getting up?" His soft, tender voice carried a touch of sadness.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Qinglan saw Peter outside the door, and she walked out. The two of them walked to the end of the corridor, "Peter, tell me the truth, was Allen’s surgery really a success?"

"It was truly successful, but it’s normal to be unconscious for a few days since the surgery was on his brain," Peter explained.

Shen Qinglan believed Peter’s words; his demeanor had been relaxed these past few days. Given his relationship with Allen, if there had been something seriously wrong with Allen, Peter wouldn’t have been in such a relaxed state.

"When do you think he will wake up?" Shen Qinglan asked. Anan had been very sad these past few days, and even his sleep at night was restless.

"He should wake up within the next couple of days. When I checked his physical condition this morning, his body was constantly in a state of recovery, and his consciousness was gradually resurfacing. He should wake up soon."

In the hospital room, Anan was still talking to Allen, recounting everyday amusing incidents.

"Tangtang ate some ice cream last time, and when Mommy noticed the ice cream was gone, she asked who took it. Tangtang ended up blaming Chenchen, and Chenchen, being naive, straightforwardly admitted it was him. Mommy spanked his hand, and later that night, Tangtang ended up with a stomachache from eating too much ice cream and Mommy had to take her to the hospital at midnight."

"And then what happened?" A hoarse, unpleasant voice emerged in the hospital room, laden with weakness.

"Then after Tangtang got better, Mommy punished her to face the wall and think things over, and even Daddy’s plea didn’t help," Anan replied distractedly, and only after finishing did he realize something was amiss. Surprised, he looked at the person on the bed, "Uncle Allen, you’re awake!"

Allen tried to smile, "With you talking by my ear all the time, how could I possibly sleep?"

Anan paused, visibly uncomfortable, "Uncle Allen, did I disturb your rest?"

Allen wanted to reach out and touch Anan’s head but realized his hand was connected to an IV, so he simply smiled warmly to reassure him, "No, Uncle Allen has slept for too long and can’t sleep anymore. Anan, I’d like a drink of water. Could you get me a cup?"

Anan nodded. There was a water jug and cup on the bedside table, filled with warm water. Anan carefully poured half a cup and even made sure to blow on it a bit, "Uncle Allen, it’s not hot."

He wanted to help Allen drink, but found it difficult as Allen was lying in bed. He was momentarily at a loss, then suddenly his eyes brightened. "Uncle Allen, just wait."

He set down the cup and pulled out a box of milk with a straw from his little backpack, "Uncle Allen, now you can drink." He placed the straw near Allen’s mouth.

Allen chuckled lightly, "What a clever child," and took a few sips, "Thank you, Anan."

Anan looked at the bandage on his head, "Uncle Allen, does your head still hurt?"

"It doesn’t hurt."

"You’re lying to me, it must hurt a lot. Last time during PE class, I fell and bumped my head. It hurt for several days. You had surgery on your head, how could it not hurt?" An expression of "I’m not a child anymore, don’t comfort me" was clear on Anan’s face.

Allen hesitated momentarily, "Who told you I had surgery on my head?" As just a seven- or eight-year-old child, he shouldn’t be discussing such matters. At this moment, Allen completely forgot that in his military base, children of seven or eight had already become machines conditioned only for killing.

"Uncle Peter told me," Anan said without hesitation, betraying Peter.

Uncle Allen silently noted this in his mind.

Just as he reached the door, Peter heard the words... He suddenly didn’t want to go in anymore. Could he turn around and leave? But clearly, that was not an option, as Uncle Allen’s chilling gaze had already fallen upon him.

Peter braced himself and walked in, greeting Uncle Allen with a smile, "Oh, you’re awake, not bad, not bad, a bit earlier than I expected, seems like you are recovering quite well."

Uncle Allen looked at him with a cool gaze, evidently displeased with Peter for instilling such bloody knowledge in Anan. After so many years with him, how could Peter not understand his thoughts? He really wanted to retort, "This is medical knowledge, okay? I’m teaching the kid knowledge." He didn’t think Anan would be scared of these things at all. Despite Anan’s young age, he was quite brave, not to think who his parents were.

Uncle Allen ignored Peter’s words, but when he turned to Shen Qinglan, who had just entered, his eyes softened, "You’re here."

Shen Qinglan looked at him, her expression calm, "Feeling better?"

"Very well, no discomfort at all."

Neglected Peter: ...Why is there such a big difference in treatment? I am the one who has always been by his side, unswervingly loyal to him!

But no matter what he thought inside, he dared not show it on his face. Uncle Allen was a bit petty, and if he offended him, he would certainly be dealt with later.

Although the surgery was successful, Uncle Allen still needed some time to recover. Peter, wanting Uncle Allen to cooperate with the subsequent treatment, specifically sought out Shen Qinglan, hoping she could let Anan stay here to accompany Uncle Allen for a while. Once Anan started school, he promised to personally take Anan back to Beijing.

Shen Qinglan didn’t immediately agree, nor did she refuse. She only said that she needed to seek Anan’s opinion.

Anan was a very sensible and decisive child, so no matter what the issue was, Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi always respected Anan’s choices, allowing him as much as possible to decide for himself.

Shen Qinglan conveyed Peter’s request to Anan asking him, "What do you think?"

After listening to his mother’s words, Anan thought seriously for a moment before saying, "Mom, I’d like to stay and keep Uncle Allen company until he gets better and then go home, is that okay? Uncle Allen only has Uncle Peter as a friend, not even a relative to visit or take care of him when he is ill. He is really pitiful."

"Are you sure?"

Anan nodded, "I’ve decided, mom, do you agree?"

"I agree, but you have to call your dad about this yourself, and it can only happen if your dad agrees too."

"Okay, I will call dad now," Anan readily agreed. It’s unknown what he told Fu Hengyi, but Fu Hengyi agreed.

After hanging up the phone, Anan looked at Shen Qinglan, "Mom, dad agreed, but dad said you should come back as soon as possible."

"Can you manage by yourself here?" Shen Qinglan was somewhat apprehensive. Although Anan had stayed with Uncle Allen for a few days before, this time it might be longer, and she worried Anan might not adjust well.

Patting his little chest, Anan reassured, "Don’t worry, mom, I can do it. I’ve grown up."

The family still had two other children, and Shen Qinglan indeed couldn’t stay here too long. The next day, after taking Anan to see Andre and Cissily, she returned to her country alone. Originally she wanted to meet some other people too, but these people were not in Country Y.

Eden had left again, this time it was unknown where he went. They hadn’t been in contact for a long time. Over these years, most of his time was still spent in the lab, studying the medical sciences he loved, especially complex and complicated diseases which were his favorites. This led him to meet many medical experts and talents, often following them around, and sometimes participating in some medical relief actions.

As for Jin Enxi, it was said that she had gone traveling with Daniel. The two of them made frequent trips, living a sweet and delightful life.

Shen Qinglan returned to the country but didn’t ask Fu Hengyi to pick her up; instead, she took a taxi home herself. As soon as she reached the doorway, a small figure darted toward her like a little cannonball, "Mommy." The tender and soft childlike voice belonged to Tangtang.

Shen Qinglan hugged her, "Walk slowly, don’t run."

"Mommy, you’re a big liar, you said you’d be back in three days, but this time it’s been so many threes of days." As soon as she reached her mother’s arms, Tangtang complained with grievance, having waited endlessly for her mom to return.

Shen Qinglan kissed her daughter’s little face, "Mommy was wrong, there was some delay this time. Did my baby Tangtang miss Mommy?"

Tangtang nodded vigorously, leaving slobber prints all over Shen Qinglan’s face, "I missed Mommy, missed you so much, this much." She gestured with her hands, describing how deeply she missed her mom.

"Mommy, look, I’ve gotten so thin from missing you." She tugged at her belly attire, trying to prove she had gotten so thin from missing her mom that her clothes were getting loose.

Shen Qinglan glanced at her daughter’s round little belly and spoke gently, "How come it looks like you’ve gotten a bit chubbier than before, have you been sneaking candies and ice cream?"

Tangtang lifted her chubby hand to swear, "I haven’t." Meeting Shen Qinglan’s gaze, she pursed her lips, "Alright, just a little, really just a tiny bit, Daddy wouldn’t let me eat."

Tangtang glanced behind Shen Qinglan, "Mommy, where is brother?" She still hadn’t seen her brother.

"Brother is still in Country Y, your Uncle Allen is sick, and brother is there comforting him. He’ll return once he’s better."

Hearing this, Tangtang frowned, "Is Uncle Allen sick? Is it a terrible illness?"

"Not terrible, he’s almost well."

"Oh, then I’ll give Uncle Allen a call." In Tangtang’s heart, Uncle Allen was like Santa Claus, always bringing her various gifts, not just toys, but beautiful clothes and all kinds of tasty treats, he was a really good uncle, well, even though his voice sounded quite unpleasant.

Shen Qinglan carried her daughter inside, with Fu Hengyi naturally bringing in the luggage for her.

Shen Qinglan was arranging the gifts she brought for the two children, when Fu Hengyi came in holding a postcard, "Su Qing sent this to you, it arrived a couple of days ago."

Shen Qinglan took it. Three years ago, Su Qing started travelling around the world, and as she said, she would send a postcard to Shen Qinglan from every destination she reached, occasionally sending parcels with local specialties or gifts for the kids.

Over the three years, Su Qing had never called Shen Qinglan, their only contact being through postcards and gifts.

This postcard was different from the usual ones. Previously, Su Qing had mostly sent local scenery photos, but this one was a wedding photo of Su Qing.

She was dressed in a bridal gown, standing on a broad grassland with continuous snow-capped mountains in the background, a man embracing her with loving eyes full of affection.

On the back of the postcard was Su Qing’s bold handwriting.

[Qinglan, I’ve found my happiness, wish me well.]

Shen Qinglan stared at the photo for a long time, a slight smile curving her lips, "Su Qing, congratulations on finally finding your love."

"Fu Hengyi, let’s have a drink tonight to celebrate," Shen Qinglan suddenly said to Fu Hengyi. Since she couldn’t personally deliver her blessings to Su Qing, let this be her way of sending them.

Fu Hengyi smiled and nodded, "Okay."

They sat on the balcony, with Shen Qinglan leaning against Fu Hengyi, a glass of red wine in her hand. She took a gentle sip, the night sky unusually star-filled tonight, reminding her of that summer night filled with fireflies when they went to Jiangnan years ago.

"Fu Hengyi, I feel very fortunate." Her friends were happy, and her own life was satisfactory; it seemed there were no regrets left in her life.

The only regret was probably that Eden still hadn’t found his love.

Fu Hengyi’s eyes were tender as he asked, "Is there anything you wish to do?"

Shen Qinglan shook her head, "I think this is the best life for me now, having children and having you." Although the many children often left them exhausted and occasionally she would be enraged by Tangtang or Chenchen’s pranks, such a vibrant life made her feel very fulfilled.

"Are you sure? Make a wish, and I’ll make it come true," softly said Fu Hengyi. The children were asleep, and it was time for just the two of them.

Shen Qinglan tilted her head, looking at him, "Anything?"

"Yes, except for plucking stars or the moon from the sky for you."

"What if I wanted a star from the sky?"

"What can I do then? I could only climb a ladder and try to fetch one down for you."

Shen Qinglan chuckled, took another sip of her drink, and with slightly squinted eyes, suddenly said, "Fu Hengyi, I’ve thought of it. I want you to carry me on your back." She tilted her head at him, her lips slightly pouting, showing a childlike demeanor very much like Tangtang’s when she whined.

Soft-hearted, Fu Hengyi amiably replied, "Okay." He stood up and crouched down in front of Shen Qinglan, "Climb on."

Shen Qinglan climbed onto his back; it was still so broad and his posture so straight. She rested her head against his back.

Fu Hengyi, carrying her, was about to descend the stairs. "No need, just carrying me like this for a bit is fine."

Fu Hengyi smiled and said nothing as he opened the door, carrying Shen Qinglan downstairs.

"What’s wrong with Qinglan?" Aunt Zhao was preparing to go to her room to sleep when she saw Fu Hengyi carrying Shen Qinglan down. Thinking Shen Qinglan was ill, she immediately asked with concern.

Shen Qinglan hadn’t expected Aunt Zhao to still be awake at such a late hour, and unfortunately, she witnessed this scene. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she tried to climb down from Fu Hengyi’s back.

Fu Hengyi tightened his grip on the bend of her legs, preventing her from moving, and told Aunt Zhao, "Qinglan is fine, we’re just playing around."

Realizing the situation, Aunt Zhao smiled and glanced at Shen Qinglan, who buried her face like an ostrich, "Then you two continue playing; I’m off to sleep."

"It’s all your fault; Aunt Zhao saw us. She’s going to tease me about it tomorrow," whispered Shen Qinglan, her voice playful and coquettish.

Fu Hengyi grinned, "She won’t tease you; she’ll just think we’re very affectionate." He carried Shen Qinglan out the door, originally planning to stroll around the courtyard. But Shen Qinglan, worried about bumping into others, adamantly refused, so Fu Hengyi instead carried her around their own garden several times.

**

Due to winning an international award, Shen Qinglan once again became the focal point of media attention, and many TV programs invited her for interviews, all of which she declined except for one media invitation.

It was a live talk show, well-regarded for its authenticity, which garnered a large audience. The show was scheduled for eight o’clock in the evening and lasted an hour.

This was the first time Shen Qinglan, as an artist, had agreed to appear on a show, and naturally, the television station treated it with great importance.

However, Shen Qinglan did not let her family attend; she only asked them to watch the program at home.

Backstage, the makeup artist was applying makeup on Shen Qinglan as the host approached, "Miss Shen, these are some of the questions I will ask tonight. You can take a look."

Shen Qinglan picked up the script and glanced at it, then said, "Can I make some changes?"

The host was surprised, and also felt somewhat uneasy. This privilege was exclusive to Shen Qinglan; other guests didn’t even get to see the script in advance.

The reason for treating Shen Qinglan specially was that this was her first time on the show, and they were worried that she wouldn’t cope well. After all, with her unique identity, wouldn’t it embarrass both the Fu Family and the Shen Family if anything humorous happened on the live broadcast?

"Miss Shen, is there something inappropriate with these questions?" the host asked. These questions had been discussed repeatedly, designed to reveal what the audience wanted to know without probing too deeply into Shen Qinglan’s privacy. If even this level of questioning was unacceptable, the program would turn into pure artistic discussion and would lose its appeal.

"No, I would like to modify a few of these questions here; could you see if this works?" She indicated the questions concerning her family.

A chill ran down the host’s spine. The rumors were true—Shen Qinglan avoided shows because she highly valued her privacy, especially regarding her family; she didn’t reveal anything at all.

Ah, it seemed destined to be a sorrowful evening.

"Miss Shen, if you think there are problems, we can make suitable modifications," the host said, leaving room for discussion. However, after hearing Shen Qinglan’s modifications, the host’s eyes lit up.

"Miss Shen, are you sure you want to change it like this?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, then hesitated before speaking, "Would these changes make it difficult for you?" After all, this was a talk show, not a reality show.

"No, no, not at all; it’s not difficult. We’ll go with your suggestions," the host was secretly thrilled. This was truly an incredible surprise.

He glanced at the time, "Miss Shen, it’s almost time. Are you ready?"

Shen Qinglan nodded.

The studio was already full. As soon as Shen Qinglan appeared, some people in the audience began shouting her name. They were fans of Shen Qinglan, mostly art students, although a fair number were there for her beauty. After all, Shen Qinglan’s beauty could easily outshine any so-called "Goddess" in the entertainment industry.

However, these were well-behaved fans; after shouting twice, they quieted down. Shen Qinglan glanced over the audience—faces unknown to her.

She slightly smiled and sat down.

After the host’s usual opening remarks, the question and answer session started, focusing on topics about painting. Her questions were standard, and Shen Qinglan responded in kind.

Midway through the program, the doors to the studio opened, and several people walked in silently and sat in a corner of the audience. Shen Qinglan’s gaze suddenly drifted there, and she was momentarily startled.

The man gave her a slight smile, while several children desperately waved at her. If Fu Hengyi hadn’t stopped them, they would have probably rushed onto the stage.

It was unclear if a prior notice had been given, but the spotlight did not follow Shen Qinglan’s gaze toward the audience. Shen Qinglan also quickly withdrew her eyes.

"Mama," Tangtang called out softly to Shen Qinglan on the stage.

"Hush. Mama is recording, be a good girl, Tangtang; don’t call out," Anan whispered, placing a finger to his lips, soothing his little sister. Although mischievous, Tangtang liked this brother and naturally listened to him, sitting obediently in Daddy’s lap.

Chenchen, meanwhile, stared unblinkingly at Shen Qinglan, holding Anan’s hand and whispered, "Brother, mama looks really beautiful today."

Fu Hengyi, hearing his younger son’s words, looked approvingly at him, then turned his gaze back to the stage.

The audience seated next to them had already noticed this group, a remarkable-looking dad with a few exquisitely crafted children—they always attracted attention, but it didn’t cause much of a stir since most in the audience had their attention fixed on Shen Qinglan on stage.

"Mommy isn’t looking at me," Tangtang said to her dad, feeling a little upset. She had come especially with her dad to see her mom; how could her mom ignore her?

Fu Hengyi touched his daughter’s hair, which he had braided into a ponytail today. After having a daughter, Fu Hengyi had become more versatile. In order to give Tangtang a pretty hairstyle, he had even gone to a hair salon to learn how to braid girls’ hair, which made Shen Qinglan feel a bit jealous.

"Mommy is working right now, but later we’ll go home with Mommy, and she can hold you, okay?" Fu Hengyi gently consoled his daughter.

Tangtang immediately smiled. She was definitely an easy child to comfort. "Okay."

On stage, the host had finished asking about the drawing-related questions, "Miss Shen, we all know that you got married quite early. People often say marriage is the graveyard of love, and many are actually reluctant to tie themselves down to married life so early, especially young women. Everyone is quite curious, why did you choose to get married so early?"

Shen Qinglan smiled, "Marriage isn’t about timing; when you meet the right person, you just do it."

"Oh? You seldom talk about your husband. Can you tell us what kind of person he is?"

"He is a soldier. Actually, in recent years, he hasn’t spent much time at home. It’s common for us to go several months without seeing each other, but he is very family-oriented. Whenever he has time, he calls home, and when he’s on leave, he definitely stays at home to spend time with me and the kids. He seems cold but is actually very tender." Shen Qinglan’s eyes softened as she spoke, and she glanced at Fu Hengyi sitting in the audience.

Curious, the host commented, "I once had the privilege to meet your husband, and he doesn’t seem as tender as you describe. But hearing you say this, I really feel like he must love you very much." It must be love that made such a man step down from his pedestal, willingly dirtying his hands with the mundane world for the woman before him.

Shen Qinglan’s eyes filled with tenderness; she never doubted his love for her.

"Miss Shen, I’m actually very curious about how you met your husband?"

"Our families have known each other for generations. Because of some unexpected circumstances, I left home for ten years. When I came back, he was already in the army. In the initial years, we never even crossed paths. Then, by chance, we met in a restaurant, and a month later, we got married."

"Oh, so it was a whirlwind marriage? Love at first sight?"

"It wasn’t love at first sight. That year, my grandmother was seriously ill and about to pass away. To ease her mind, I married him."

The host was taken aback by this revelation and momentarily lost for words, "Oh, so there actually wasn’t love between you?"

"No, what I want to say is, I am very glad I made that decision back then. What seemed a hasty decision let me meet a man who deeply loves me, and he is also the love of my life. Actually, today is his birthday. These past few years, because of the kids and work, I haven’t really celebrated his birthday properly. Today, through this program, I want to say to my husband, ’Mr. Fu, happy birthday, and I love you!’"

Wow, a chorus of shouts and applause erupted from the audience, but Shen Qinglan only looked at the man sitting below her, her eyes flecked with a fine scatter of starlight.

Fu Hengyi looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness.

On the way home, Shen Qinglan turned her head to look at the man next to her, her smile faint, "Didn’t I tell you not to come?"

Fu Hengyi smiled, holding her hand, "If I hadn’t come, how could I have heard my wife’s heartfelt confession?"

Shen Qinglan’s cheeks turned slightly red, thinking about confessing to him in front of the whole nation was, although instinctive at the moment, quite embarrassing now.

"Shen Qinglan, I love you," Fu Hengyi said earnestly.

Shen Qinglan looked at the man beside her, then at their three children who were asleep in the back, and smiled.