Chapter 37

It was Thursday evening, close to the end of the workday.

In Zhao Pingjin’s office at the Jingchuang Building, his female secretary came in to report: “Your father’s security guard called and said you need to go home after work.”

Zhao Pingjin took the documents and nodded, “Push tonight’s social gathering.”

Soon after, Shen Min came in to report on work, and Zhao Pingjin said, “Xiaomin, come with me to eat at my father’s place.”

Shen Min paused for a moment. “Has the news reached my father?”

Zhao Pingjin’s expression was calm. “Even if it has, it doesn’t matter. Don’t worry, he doesn’t interfere with my business.”

After work, Shen Min drove. The two of them headed to Guosheng Hutong, where several more security checkpoints had been set up at the entrance. A security officer from Nanjing checked Shen Min’s documents. Shen Min quietly complied, and Zhao Pingjin sat silently in the backseat, clearly indicating that his father had returned and the security level had been raised.

They entered the courtyard, and over the years, it had been rare for his parents to be home together.

As soon as they entered, Zhao Pingjin saw his father sitting with his grandfather in the living room, drinking tea. Zhao, the general, was in his fifties, with some gray at his temples and an authoritative expression. His epaulets glinted in the light. His father’s demeanor was inherited from his grandfather; with his position of power, there was a military aura around him.

Zhao Pingjin’s demeanor was somewhat like his father’s.

The two of them greeted their elders, and Zhao Pingjin said, “I’ll go see grandma.”

Shen Min followed him into the room.

Zhao Pingjin sat beside his grandmother. “Grandma.”

His grandmother, slow in her movements and unable to care for herself, was accompanied by a nurse. She smiled when she saw him. “Zhōu’er, why haven’t you come to see your grandma in so long?”

Zhao Pingjin held her hand. “I came back last week. Have you forgotten?”

His grandmother looked at Shen Min beside him. “Xiao Jiang, why don’t you come to the house anymore?”

Zhao Pingjin said, “Grandma, this is Xiaomin, not Xiaojiang.”

The old lady appeared confused.

Zhao Pingjin patiently explained, “Xiaomin, you remember Security Officer Shen, don’t you? This is his son.”

The old lady seemed to understand. “Oh, so Xiao Shen has a son now...”

The old lady grabbed some peanut candy and pulled Shen Min to sit beside her. “Child, how is your father?”

Shen Min lowered his head and answered quietly, “He’s fine, Grandma. He asked how you are.”

Zhao Pingjin gently asked, “Grandma, it’s getting cold. Are you sleeping well?”

Shen Min sat quietly to one side, listening to their family conversation. Every time they had such a chat, even Shen Min admired Zhao Pingjin’s patience. Zhao Pingjin had grown up with his grandparents, as his parents were often busy with work. He had a deep bond with the elderly, and this same conversation had been repeated for years. He always treated his elders with kindness and respect.

The nanny came in to urge them to eat.

At the dinner table, Teacher Zhou said, “Zhōu’er, the wedding date is set.”

Zhao Pingjin, holding his bowl, froze for a second. His expression remained calm as he nodded.

Teacher Zhou’s brows lifted with delight. “You’ll need to fly to Italy for the wedding dress fitting. Yingzi went last week, but you don’t see many grooms like you. The bride has to pick her own wedding dress!”

Zhao Pingjin remained silent.

Mrs. Zhou glanced at him. “Zhōu’er, what do you think about this?”

Zhao Pingjin casually replied, “Do you handle everything without asking me? What can I think?”

Mrs. Zhou nudged her husband’s arm. “Look at your son!”

His father had been stationed in the Nanjing Military District for the past few years, while Mrs. Zhou had remained in Nanjing. In his marriage matters, his father had always been rather silent. The family structure was traditionally male-dominated, with men managing affairs outside the home and women handling things inside. However, when it came to the only son’s marriage, his father had been too reserved.

The old man spoke up: “Marriage is a matter of parents’ will. Just follow through.”

Zhao Pingjin remained silent for a moment, then simply replied, “Okay.”

The old man glanced at Zhao Pingjin. “Zhōu’er, about the situation at your company...”

Zhao Pingjin looked up, smiling lightly, and replied to his grandfather, “Grandfather, it’s not a big deal.”

The old man nodded, not particularly concerned. This small issue posed no threat to the Zhao family. He turned to continue the conversation with someone else. “Xiaomin, you also need to hurry up. The matter of your lifetime should not be delayed.”

Shen Min, sitting at the end of the table, replied properly, “Okay.”

After dinner, Mrs. Zhou called Zhao Pingjin into another room.

Mrs. Zhou stood in the room. Well-preserved and in her fifties, her skin showed few wrinkles. Even at home, she wore a neat velvet suit. Zhao Pingjin felt for his mother. His grandmother had grown confused too early, and his father had long stepped away from the center of power. His uncle had been fully supporting him, so his aunt-in-law no longer took charge of things. Zhao Pingjin knew that the men in his family—his grandfather, father, and himself—had never been home much, leaving his mother to manage the entire family, which had taken a toll on her.

Mrs. Zhou didn’t beat around the bush with her son. “There have been some rumors outside lately.”

Zhao Pingjin’s expression remained calm as he waited for her to continue.

Mrs. Zhou, somewhat displeased, said, “Zhōu’er, listen to your mother. You should settle down and start your family. Stop messing around with those second-rate actresses.”

Zhao Pingjin raised an eyebrow. “Where did you hear that?”

Mrs. Zhou was a bit domineering but had always spoiled her son. Now that Zhao Pingjin had matured, she wouldn’t interfere too much with his decision to get married. She even avoided mentioning the name. “I’ve been hiding it from your grandfather. Zhōu’er, you need to be careful. The Yu family isn’t an ordinary family, and you can’t be so reckless.”

Zhao Pingjin’s expression softened, and he replied, “I know how to handle things appropriately.”

Mrs. Zhou called out, “Zhōu’er.”

Zhao Pingjin wrapped his arms around his mother. “Alright, alright, have I ever said I wouldn’t get married?”

Mrs. Zhou smiled, her expression softening. “Alright then, it’s settled. You can contact Yingzi, and you two can decide on your own guest list. Don’t worry about anything else. Your grandparents will come to Beijing next week, and the two families will discuss the details together.”

Zhao Pingjin stood there, somewhat dazed.

Mrs. Zhou said, “Zhōu’er?”

Zhao Pingjin replied, “Alright, alright, I have no objections.”

The mother and son walked out of the room together. The old nanny was coming upstairs from below. “Zhōu ge, why didn’t you eat more at dinner? You don’t look so good, and you’ve lost weight.”

Mrs. Zhou glanced back at her son in the hallway and reminded him, “Don’t let work keep you too busy. Go downstairs and sit with your grandfather for a while.”