Chapter 141

After they both finished smoking, and discussions about antiques were done, Li Yan, although just casually mentioned it, didn’t want to say much more, so he suggested going out as there were still guests outside.

"By the way, Dad, the person outside... who is it?" Li Yan asked a bit embarrassed.

Just now, he had learned from Jiang Xueyin that it was Zhang Yurong’s former classmate and also a past suitor. He worked in Lan Country and is now a manager at a hedge fund in Yus. But that was just some background; it was too little. Seeing him visit the Zhang Family and not leaving even when no one was home to wait, especially on the special day of Zhang Yurong’s birthday, it was clear Liu Yuyang had been here more than once and was relatively familiar.

Moreover, if it were Zhang Yurong’s former classmate and suitor, Jiang Xueyin, who was only a little girl back then, probably heard about it rather than knowing in detail.

Zhang Tianyi, however, was different. The old man must know clearly. And Li Yan also knew that in this family, his father-in-law was undoubtedly the one who supported him the most—though he owed some to his dad. So, without anyone else around, he asked directly.

Hearing his question, Zhang Tianyi smiled and whispered, "What? Jealous?"

"Not really... it’s just from the little contact I had, you all seem to know him quite well. If I know a bit more, I won’t say the wrong thing when I go out there." Li Yan offered another cigarette over.

Zhang Yurong let him light up the cigarette, then said, "Liu Yuyang’s father is an old friend of mine in the business field. Because of this connection, they’ve known each other early on, Liu Yuyang is a few years older than Yurong, but because Yurong was a quick learner, they were college classmates later... You can probably tell; he’s been pursuing Yurong. Actually, he started in college, but Yurong has always focused on her studies, and you know why..."

"Because of me?" Li Yan smiled wryly.

"Not entirely, after all, in the beginning, I hadn’t found your dad, didn’t even know about you..."

As Zhang Tianyi spoke, he took a deep drag of his cigarette, then coughed a few times and quickly covered his mouth. Li Yan rushed over to pat him on the back, "Maybe you should stop smoking?"

"I’m okay..." Zhang Tianyi waved it off, then took a light puff again, and slowly said, "Actually... I used to have some feudal, or say traditional thinking. Always wanted to have a son, but unfortunately, whether it was my problem, your mom’s problem, or a compatibility issue, in the end, just one child..."

Li Yan could understand; the wealthy certainly want a son to inherit the family business! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Actually, it’s quite good like this..." Li Yan comforted with a sentence, "Many wealthy people only blame women, if the wife can’t have a son, they find more women, sowing seeds everywhere in different fields, hoping for some return..."

"You cheeky brat... being so disrespectful!" Zhang Tianyi laughed and scolded.

"Hehe, I’m praising your character, aren’t I?"

Li Yan’s words lightened Zhang Tianyi’s mood a bit. With only the two of them there, sharing secrets like this, Zhang Tianyi also regarded Li Yan as a true son, without much embarrassment, he sighed, "Actually, I think it’s my fault..."

Seeing Li Yan’s knowing yet odd expression, Zhang Tianyi laughed and scolded again, "What are you thinking? It’s not that your father-in-law has some capability issue! I’ve told you before about what happened between me and your dad, I spent more time in Kenyia, encountered drugs. After returning, I was busy starting a business, and by the time things stabilized, I was already over thirty, then dating and getting married, after having Yurong, it was during a booming business period, my ambition was spiraling, fueled by youth, practically throwing myself into work, with poor health condition, maybe the sperm wasn’t that viable... never checked, that’s my later guess. I’m quite lucky, if Yurong hadn’t come first, focusing solely on business, delaying having children until after forty, maybe..."

Li Yan silently smoked, listening to his father-in-law telling his secret past. Initially finding it a bit amusing, he slowly felt a bit chilling. Although his experience was different from Zhang Tianyi’s, he also had several grueling years, his body surely grew stronger, but who knows if there were any hidden ailments left? And... he had countless partners before, could these have an impact?

Zhang Tianyi was an old and refined character, even when speaking about his secrets, he could notice Li Yan’s reactions. Although not knowing exactly what he was thinking, he could guess what concerns Li Yan had.

The old man deliberately said, "There are many reasons for infertility..."

"Hm?" Li Yan, not having much research on this, personally doesn’t care much about having children. But parents, in-laws, surely wouldn’t agree on having none. Out of filial piety, he must be concerned with this matter.

"Uh..." Li Yan actually had some insight here, and since it was a purely ’academic discussion’, he didn’t mind sharing his view: "Just because it’s more stimulating, naturally one would exert more, becoming more tired; also because it’s illegal, or not in line with the moral values ingrained in us since childhood, afraid of being caught, etc., leading to guilt, shame, creating psychological burdens."

"Experts generally explain it that way. But now science rules, striving for evidence. And in science, subdivisions occur, some quirky scientists research the problem with sperm."

Li Yan felt a bit uncomfortable, feeling that his father-in-law discussing this with him was inherently awkward!

Perhaps people of age are all like this?

He really wanted to bring the conversation back to that Liu Yuyang, but thinking about going out with them seemed boring. It was better to stay here and chat with the father-in-law anyway. After all, he had confidence in Yurong; they’ve been friends for many years and haven’t seen each other for long, so they should have some space to catch up without appearing petty.

"Have you read any profound theories?"

"I read a book where some eccentric scientist analyzed from the animal side of humanity that people have the natural instinct to reproduce..."

Li Yan was speechless. Isn’t this common knowledge? Even unsophisticated scientists agree on this. Has humanity ever abandoned the animal instinct to reproduce?

"To support their data and prove their point, they conducted numerous experiments. The results showed that the human reproductive system is powerful, with the number of sperm produced and emitted sometimes being fixed, sometimes variable. When a man has a steady partner, the production and emission stabilize. The body learns and summarizes patterns and data from frequency and automatically adjusts to the best state;

When you switch to a new partner, even though modern people fear pregnancy, that reproductive instinct doesn’t understand and still instinctively aims at possession and reproduction," Zhang Tianyi said seriously.

Seeing him like this, really like an old professor, Li Yan didn’t laugh but asked seriously, "And then?"

"The consequence is that with a long-term stable partner and regular sexual frequency and timing, the body system adjusts to its best state without frequent changes, improving sperm quality and bodily functions. On the contrary, excessive overexertion. If there is neither regularity nor continuous overexertion, the body will not withstand it.

It’s like those who do fixed aerobic exercise twice a week; the body achieves the health benefits of exercise. While usually not exercising and then doing intense over-exercise or continuous irregular over-exercise, it not only lacks workout effectiveness but also puts a huge burden on the body."

Li Yan laughed, "I kind of get it, but is self-indulgence more over-exerting than doing it once?"

"This..." Discussing this topic made Zhang Tianyi feel a bit embarrassed too, but since they were already there, he continued:

"Your consciousness knows it’s not with a woman, but actually, you’re still thinking about women in your mind. The fantasy objects are often unrealistic people; many even watch certain images or videos, which are of course unrealistic. This sense of novelty gives men strong stimulation, but it’s the same as when the reproductive system is deceived. To the reproductive system, it seems as if facing a new female reproductive body, and it will naturally treat it with possession and reproduction, achieving the same result."

Li Yan saw that the cigarette was almost finished, coughed dryly: "Dad, your theory is quite constructive. For the sake of future generations, I’ll definitely keep it in mind!"

Hearing him say this, Zhang Tianyi realized that the topic had returned to the previous one.

"Yurong is a very well-behaved and smart child. She knew her parents wanted another brother, but they didn’t get one. So we didn’t raise her as a boy, yet she was very determined. From a young age, she made sure she wouldn’t be inferior to boys in any aspect. She’s very obedient and filial, especially diligent in studies and work, managing to take on even my heavy responsibilities despite not being a man!"

"So, she has never fallen in love like other girls..." Li Yan sighed to himself. He initially wanted to say that Yurong lived solely for her parents due to filial piety! But he had discussed this topic with Zhang Tianyi before, and now it seemed he understood too. So, he didn’t say anything further.

"Actually, I’ve come to accept it later on, haha, the times were different in the past. Now whether getting married at thirty or forty, having or not having children is quite normal, and my views have changed long ago."

"Alas, my views changed, but Yurong’s views formed... She didn’t date even in college. Later I found out about your father, knowing he has a son who dropped out of school to work, so I told her mother and daughter about my decision. It seems I had mentioned this to you before?"

"Yes." Li Yan nodded. [See Chapter 426 for details]

"Basically, it’s like this, Liu Yuyang has known Yurong for over ten years since university, pursuing her, but Yurong never accepted and just maintained a family friend relationship, at most feeling like an older brother. Don’t be mistaken or let Liu Yuyang provoke you into thinking he was her first love or old flame. That would truly hurt Yurong!" Zhang Tianyi said seriously.

He gave Li Yan this long lecture, especially on the hard-to-voice part just now, simply because he saw their relationship was not solidly grounded and hoped they could have a child soon for peace of mind. To be honest, comparing conditions, Li Yan was obviously not a match for Liu Yuyang!

Li Yan also replied seriously, "Rest assured, I won’t."

"But don’t forget, Yurong never considered romantic relationships in the past, now that she’s already twenty-five, the succession is basically stable, and she married you first then fell in love. Her heart is open now. If you aren’t good to her, maybe she will start noticing other good men around, you can’t be so relaxed anymore, have some crisis awareness! Don’t think having a marriage certificate means all is well, Yurong is a very independent adult!" Zhang Tianyi warned.

Li Yan nodded, knowing he made sense. Yurong used to be closed off, now that she’s accepted his pursuit, that doesn’t mean she won’t accept anyone else’s. The marriage primarily happened due to Zhang Tianyi’s illness, which has now stabilized and improved, and their marriage is not public, splitting up wouldn’t be difficult. Even if the father-in-law approved of me, it’s still up to Yurong.

At this moment, Liu Yuyang has indeed become a rival!

(Thanks for the rewards yesterday: Li Fanshow, Reader101114142049712, zjun971210, Cavalry, harve10, Ruoxue Qingshuang, dongmin8061, kipagod, Black Starry Sky, Depressed Man, Rain’s Destiny, Cp Pampas) (To be continued, if you’re curious about what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com for more Chapters. Support the author, support legitimate reading!)