Chapter 106: Do It With Me Once Part 1

Shen Wanqing ended up blushing to her ears, mostly because Yan Fanghua was right there listening.

She made an excuse to hang up first, then offered to drive Yan Fanghua home.

“No need.” As they headed downstairs, Yan Fanghua spotted a poster for the German Restaurant’s Mid-Autumn special event plastered inside the elevator. Tilting her head, she asked, “How are you spending Mid-Autumn?”

“I’d normally head home.” Shen Wanqing always went through the motions each year—it was Shen Yutang’s standing rule. Yan Fanghua fell silent.

A brief quiet settled in the elevator. Its mirror-bright walls reflected the exhaustion etched across Shen Wanqing’s face.

Shen Wanqing rubbed her temples, and Yan Fanghua asked softly, “Headache?”

“It’s nothing.” Turning to her, Shen Wanqing mustered a smile.

Yan Fanghua’s lips twitched. Lowering her gaze, she murmured, “Truth be told, I haven’t been a very good mother.”

Shen Wanqing looked at her in confusion. Yan Fanghua kept her eyes down. “I couldn’t even rein in my own daughter, and now here I am meddling in your affairs…”

“I get it.” Shen Wanqing smiled. “Believe me, Professor Yan, I really do. If I were in your shoes, I’d protect Lu Zhixia too. And right now, I’ve got way too many uncertainties hanging over me.”

The more sensible Shen Wanqing sounded, the worse Yan Fanghua felt. She’d promised Shen Tingyun she’d look after her back then. With a sigh, she said, “I’m glad you understand. I don’t doubt you. And I don’t doubt Little Xia either…”

She paused. “I don’t want to play the wicked stepmother. But I also don’t want Little Xia making too many enemies. The Shen Family wields enormous power, the Gu Family’s no slouch either, and you know full well what the Yan Family’s capable of. If you two end up together, the pressure you’ll face down the line…” Yan Fanghua had already distanced herself from the equation. If she didn’t stand in their way, someone else surely would.

“Professor Yan, I understand completely. Anything that’s on me to fix, I will.” Shen Wanqing’s smile was gentle. “I totally get where you’re coming from. With Little Xia as your only child, what’s between us is fragile enough as it is. The slightest pushback could shake your resolve. I’m truly grateful you called her over to keep me company last time. From the second I left the Shen Family, she was the one person I craved most. Without even trying, she’s become my rock.”

Shen Wanqing’s words rang with sincerity, stirring Yan Fanghua deeply. Firmly, Shen Wanqing vowed, “I promise you, I’ll handle it right. I know exactly what needs doing.”

They lingered in the doorway, talking for quite a while. Yan Fanghua gave Shen Wanqing’s shoulder a light pat. “Setting Little Xia aside for now, I want you to know I’m in your corner.”

Shen Wanqing knew as much—that was why she could open up to her like this. With a slight bow, she said, “Thank you for your support, and for looking out for Little Xia. She might not get it right away, but she will eventually.”

Yan Fanghua drove herself home, while bodyguards escorted Shen Wanqing back.

At home, she sank into a hot bath, a rare wave of ease washing over her.

Yan Fanghua’s shift in attitude had come easier than expected. Mothers’ hearts were all the same, it seemed.

From then on, Shen Wanqing had one more higher-up to report to.

That evening, Lu Zhixia got a text from Shen Wanqing asking if she had time this weekend.

Assuming it was a date, she rolled gleefully across her bed. Yan Fanghua walked in just as Lu Zhixia was ass-up, head buried in the sheets, tracing circles with her finger…

Lu Zhixia coughed twice, slid her feet down, flopped flat, and grinned up at her. “Mom, you’re still up?”

“You’re not a kid anymore—act like it.” Yan Fanghua snatched the blanket off the floor and tossed it onto the bed. Lu Zhixia wrapped herself up like a giant silkworm pupa, wriggling playfully. “Dear Worm Mommy, your lil’ worm’s here!”

Yan Fanghua couldn’t help but laugh. She swatted Lu Zhixia’s back and scolded, “What time is it? Bedtime!”

“Hehe.” Lu Zhixia beamed. “You finally smiled. Mom, you’re gorgeous when you do.”

“Keep buttering me up, and I’ll smile every day.” Yan Fanghua rolled her eyes and headed out.

Lu Zhixia scampered after her. Yan Fanghua glanced back, bemused by the grin plastered on her face.

“Out with it. That’s some awfully toady smile.”

“Toady? No way!” Lu Zhixia huffed playfully, wheedling, “Dear Mommy, how’re we doing Mid-Autumn?”

“Pass.”

“Come onnn.” She trailed Yan Fanghua into the bathroom.

Yan Fanghua washed her hands, her tone cool. “You were overseas before. I was alone. How do you think I spent it?”

“I’m back now—Mom can’t be alone anymore.” Lu Zhixia raised her hand like she was swearing an oath. “Company’s giving us the holiday off. I’ll whip up a huge Mid-Autumn feast, okay?”

Yan Fanghua rinsed the suds from her hands, drawling, “Oh, really?”

“And then, I was thinking…” Lu Zhixia’s intentions shone plain as day on her face, but Yan Fanghua didn’t call her out. “Thinking what?”

“I just thought it’d be more lively with a crowd, so I figured I’d invite Qin Zheng and Meng Lai over too.”

“Sounds good.”

“Then we can ask Lanxi if she wants to come as well.”

“She’s coming to your place even though she’s not celebrating herself?”

“Her parents are always busy, so they might not have time to spend with her.”

“My daughter’s such a softie.” Yan Fanghua began washing her face and removing her makeup. Lu Zhixia kicked at the floor with her toes, probing tentatively. “What about asking that someone if she wants to come?”

“That someone?” Yan Fanghua pretended not to know. “Who?”

Lu Zhixia tugged at her clothes, her tone wheedling. “Big Sister, I mean.” She mumbled on, laying out her reasoning. “Her dad’s not around, and she’s not that close with the Shen Family. It’d be better if she came over here—more fun with everyone together.”

Yan Fanghua had seen through her little scheme from the start. Normally, she’d snap at her for this, but now here she was, acting all cute for Shen Wanqing’s sake.

How could it grate on her so much? Yan Fanghua deliberately threw cold water on the idea. “I don’t think Wanqing’s the type who enjoys crowds. You’d be better off not inviting her. Besides, with her family’s status, they must have their own plans.”

“Come on, just ask her.” Lu Zhixia tugged at her clothes again.

Even an ungrateful wolf pup knew to ask for permission first. Yan Fanghua consoled herself that this was progress, at least.

Yan Fanghua rinsed the foam from her face, taking her sweet time. When she finally looked up, Lu Zhixia was staring at her eagerly. “So, can I go ask her?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Lu Zhixia’s face fell. She accused, “You’re so heartless. Weren’t you always nice to Shen Wanqing before? Now you’re acting all cold.”

“Don’t you know why I’m like this?” Yan Fanghua shot her a sideways glance. Lu Zhixia pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Yan Fanghua wiped down the bathroom counter. Lu Zhixia leaned against it, unwilling to let it go. “You promised Shen Tingyun you’d look after Shen Wanqing. Now you’re going back on your word.”

“I told you to keep your distance from Shen Wanqing, but I see you’ve been calling her nonstop and running over there plenty.” Yan Fanghua turned to face her. “Have you been keeping your word?”

Lu Zhixia stomped her foot and punched the doorframe before slinking away, deflated.

Yan Fanghua muttered under her breath, “Look at her, utterly shameless.”

Shen Wanqing might as well have lived there, since she rarely came to the company to work. Yan Menghui was the same. The massive twenty-second floor felt like a deserted palace with just Lu Zhixia there.

This was her first Mid-Autumn Festival reunion since returning to the country. Yan Fanghua wouldn’t let Shen Wanqing come over, and she couldn’t bear to go against her mother’s wishes. But she also couldn’t stand the thought of Shen Wanqing spending it alone.

All through her work, she racked her brains for a way to convince Yan Fanghua.

Her phone suddenly rang—the delivery guy had arrived.

The silk fabric and stuffing she’d ordered from Tongxiang had come. She ran into colleagues along the way, and quite a few greeted her warmly.

Everyone at the company knew about how she’d chewed out Yang Ge. People admired strength, so being able to chat with her felt like an honor to many.

She was usually aloof but never standoffish. She didn’t initiate conversations, but she always responded politely when others did.

Someone offered to help with the packages. She shook her head. “It’s not heavy.”

Back on the twenty-second floor, it was nearly lunchtime, so she unpacked everything.

The seller was thoughtful, including needles and thread as a gift. Lu Zhixia wasn’t in the best mood and had little appetite. She threaded a needle and started sketching a design for the wolf dog plushie on her pattern paper.

Over the ninety-minute lunch break, she browsed plushie ideas online and referenced the one at Shen Wanqing’s house, roughing out the look she wanted.

She set an alarm, checked her phone before clocking back in—nothing from Shen Wanqing.

She huffed, cursing her out for being heartless.

She focused on work all afternoon. That evening, she told Yan Fanghua she wouldn’t be home for dinner and was staying late at the office.

After eating, Lu Zhixia sat cross-legged on the sofa and began sewing the wolf dog.

For the best feel, she’d chosen silk blended with fluff—the texture was heavenly. She sewed and grinned to herself.

There was endless joy in making a gift for someone you liked. Like a little tailor, Lu Zhixia stitched away until the wee hours, her eyes burning until she yawned.

She’d silenced her phone. On a break, she picked it up.

Yan Fanghua had asked when she’d be back. Still nothing from Shen Wanqing.

Lu Zhixia rubbed her eyes and glanced at the calendar on the desk, counting down. To finish before Mid-Autumn, she’d have to pull a few all-nighters.

Emboldened, she replied: Pulling an all-nighter tonight. Not coming home.

Yan Fanghua was baffled but didn’t press.

Until Lu Zhixia had pulled three all-nighters in a row. Finally, Yan Fanghua couldn’t hold back and asked Shen Wanqing, “Do you know what Little Xia’s been up to at the company lately?”

That was when Shen Wanqing learned Lu Zhixia hadn’t been home for three nights, crashing at the office instead.

She pulled up the security footage and saw it all. A mix of moved and heartache washed over her.

After hesitating, she didn’t tell Yan Fanghua. Instead, she called Lu Zhixia.

Lu Zhixia’s phone rang, startling her so badly that the needle jabbed straight into her finger. She hurriedly wrapped up her bleeding fingertip.

She realized she’d forgotten to silence it that night. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Shen Wanqing and lit up with delight.

When asked where she was and what she was doing, Lu Zhixia actually wanted to hide the truth, but Shen Wanqing reminded her, “Think it over before you answer.”