Chapter 55: Father and Son Have a Heart-to-Heart Talk

  As noon approached, Chenchen walked into the kitchen and began to conquer Wu Tian's parents with her culinary skills, proving that she was a virtuous wife and mother who could take care of the elderly and children. Wu Tian's mother, Zhou Lan, was also in the kitchen, helping out while chatting with Chenchen about various things, including Wu Tian, the company, life, and the future. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, who had been considered the greatest enemies affecting family harmony throughout history, were now standing together harmoniously, working together to complete this family dinner.

  Wu Tian's father, Wu Guanzhi, saw this scene and felt a little better. He took a sip of Tieguanyin tea, looked at Wu Tian, got up and walked into the study room. Wu Tian knew that his dad had something to say to him. Unlike his mother's outgoing personality, his dad was always calm and didn't talk much. He looked very dignified but also cared about him deeply. Maybe all dads are not good at expressing their love for their children.

  Wu Tian closed the door and sat down in front of his old man.

  "How was it?" Wu Guanzhi took out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer, lit one for himself, and then placed the cigarette pack on the desk, pushing it towards Wu Tian.

  Wu Tian picked up the cigarette box, lit one for himself, and casually stuffed the remaining half-box into his own pocket. His father's cigarettes were not something that could be bought outside; the mellow and smooth taste was unmatched by ordinary cigarettes. He took a deep drag, feeling his entire being elevated, then looked at his father and said, "What can you do with a strange woman?" Earlier, he had been very affectionate with Chen Chen outside, but once they entered the study, Wu Tian didn't need to pretend anymore, because this was not only a conversation between father and son, but also between men. So, he didn't hide the helplessness and discontent in his words.

  "That kid looks good."

  "It's just an illusion. Just like this cigarette, it looks good and tastes good when you smoke it, but you never know whether what's inside is tobacco or leaves. You always say that things are not as simple as they seem on the surface."

  "You have complaints because you've always been resistant and never tried to accept. Wu Guanzhi took a drag on his cigarette, tapped the ash into the crystal ashtray, and continued, 'Your mom and I met for the first time one day, got our marriage certificate the next, and aren't we living well now?'"

  "That's because the era you're in is different from now, different eras have different ideas, and different ideas create different people. I really don't know why my mom would do this." Wu Tian complained again, before this, he had said this sentence, but the response was always silence.

  Just like before, Wu Tian didn't expect to get an answer from his dad, just as he said earlier, different eras, different ideas, different people, so he didn't know what his parents were thinking. He endured not only because he was afraid of making his mom cry, but more importantly, his parents were successful, far more than him. And everything they did should have their own intentions. Wu Tian just hoped that one day in the future, they would take the initiative to speak up.

  "Do you think we're wrong in doing this?" Wu Guanzhi asked his son.

  Wu Tian didn't say a word, but the depressed expression on his face also gave an answer.

  "I thought once you were married, you would understand what your mother and I meant, but now it seems..."

  Hearing his father seemed to have the intention of speaking, Wu Tian hastily said, "The son is foolish and can't guess, please father enlighten me." He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

  Wu Guanzhi smiled, foolish? He never thought his son was foolish, otherwise how could he have gone to study pharmacology and chemistry? Wu Guanzhi first thought for a while, then looked at his son and said, "We've always avoided talking about it, afraid of stirring up your memories. The reason is actually very simple, you should be able to think of it yourself."

  "What?"

  "Your mom and I don't want you to spend your whole life being a loser because of that girl from the Gu family!"

  “……！”

  Wu Tian fell silent, his fingers holding the cigarette trembling non-stop, and the frequency of his smoking also became faster and faster, one after another, the cigarette was smoked to the bottom, even the long ash dropped on his pants, he didn't notice, still sucking hard on the filter.

  His father's words brought back his painful memories. In fact, he had been escaping all these years. He always thought that his parents knew nothing, but now it seems... probably only he thinks that his parents don't know now.

  "You think that just because you don't say anything, and Zhou Hao Ran's kids don't say anything, your mom and I wouldn't know anything?" Wu Guan Zhi said, "Ever since Gu Yu married abroad, you've been hiding in the lab day and night. We see it with our own eyes, but we don't say anything, yet we're worried sick about it. Especially your mom, she's been searching everywhere for a suitable partner for you. To be honest, she has all the information of 80% of the eligible young women in Beijing, enough to start her own matchmaking agency! But you, you haven't even taken a serious look at one of them. Your mom is worried that you'll continue to sink into depression, so she's forcing you to get married. This Chen Chen, is the result of your mom's careful selection. We hope that through her, we can change you."

  The cigarette butt burned his hand, Wu Tian pressed the cigarette head dead in the ashtray and lit another one. He had always yearned for answers from his parents, but when his dad finally gave him an answer, his mind was confused again.

  "Actually, I shouldn't be telling you these things today. If your mom finds out, I'll definitely be sleeping on the couch tonight. But seeing that you don't understand, and not understanding your mom, I have to tell you this. Your mom loves you, she just wants you to be happy. So do I."

  "Dad...!"

  "Do you really think we treat Chenchen better than you? Which parents don't love their own daughter? We're good to her because we feel guilty. If you and she can live together forever, that's fine. Suppose someday in the future, you find your true love, even if you divorce Chenchen, your mom and I won't be too ashamed."

  Wu Tian discovered that he had been misunderstanding his mother all along. If it wasn't for his father telling him this today, perhaps he would never have thought of it.

  "Me? Really can divorce her?" Wu Tian asked.

  "As long as you're being true to yourself and feeling happy, your mom and I will always be on your side." Wu Guanzhi said seriously, then suddenly burst out laughing, "Of course, before finding the one, if you want a divorce, your mom won't agree."

  "......!" Wu Tian was speechless again.

  "Actually, transferring you from the R&D department to the marketing department wasn't entirely Chen Chen's decision, your mom and I were also involved in this!" Wu Guanzhi dropped another bombshell.

  "What?" Wu Tian was stunned. He had always thought it was Chen Chen's doing, letting him lose face in the company. Unexpectedly, it was his parents' decision.

  "What's surprising? Did you think I and your mom would just watch you spend the rest of your life in a lab with mice?" Wu Guanzhi said, "The marketing department has more free time, more human interaction, and is more avant-garde than the R&D department. It's more suitable for healing. If you want to forget the pain and end everything from before, the best way is to start anew. The marketing department is a good place for that. So, don't take this matter to heart with Chenchen again."

  "Dad, are you telling the truth or lying?" Wu Tian furrowed his brow and asked, "That woman Chen Chen doesn't seem to be under someone's control!"

  "That's because I and your mom used a little trick, and Chenchen fell for it, resulting in the current situation." Wu Guanzhi said with a smile, although he had schemed against two younger people, but looked so pleased, and added another sentence, "Actually, Chenchen is not bad."

  “……！”

  Wu Tian remained silent, only constantly smoking. Today's conversation with his old man brought him too much information, making it difficult for him to digest at the moment.

  Especially when it comes to one's own emotions, after having a heart-wrenching failure, how easy is it to fall in love with another woman again? If Chen Chen hadn't transferred him from the R&D department to the marketing department, he might have really spent the rest of his life in the lab with the white mice, and wouldn't have had any involvement with Jingyun, Fanghua or other women.

  How many years has it been?

  One year? Two years? Or three years?

  Wu Tian can't remember it clearly anymore.

  Time makes people forget everything, it seems this sentence is correct.

  Maybe we should try to accept and love.

  Not just for myself, but also for my family, for the parents I love.

  To hell with those painful memories!

  ..........................