The Beautiful Stepmother from the Eighties: Marrying a Factory Director to Raise Kids Chapter 506

In the afternoon.

Fu Yang finally had so free ti.

Originally, he had planned to ask Uncle Liu to pick up Si Nian.

But the more he thought about it, the more he felt he had crossed a line by disrespecting her in front of everyone in the family compound.

Regardless of what their future held or whether they would end up together, they had grown up together after all. When he was younger and naive, he had treated her as his favorite girl.

Even though Si Nian hadn't grown up to be the person he imagined and had repeatedly disappointed him.

He still shouldn't have treated her like that.

He recalled that her hand seed to be bleeding that day.

The little girl who used to need coaxing just to take her dicine was now no longer afraid of pain.

He wondered if it was serious.

With these thoughts in mind, Fu Yang personally went to the school gates.

Knowing Si Nian's personality, he wouldn't even need to apologize. Just seeing him co to visit her in person would probably make her instantly forget her anger from that day.

Ultimately, it was his family pushing him too hard that made him so tense.

To think he had actually argued so seriously with a girl.

Fu Yang gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.

The car was parked at the school gate, and he watched waves of high school students pouring out.

From ti to ti, people cast curious glances his way.

He waited for an unknown amount of ti.

The relaxed expression on Fu Yang's face gradually tightened. His gaze unconsciously swept over the school gate as he asked Uncle Liu, Do you see her yet?

Uncle Liu shook his head, Not yet. I haven't seen the Si Nian girl.

He muttered a mont later, Almost everyone is gone. Why haven't we seen her?

Fu Yang frowned as well, but he still said, She might have been delayed by cleaning duties. Let's wait a bit longer.

He was uncharacteristically patient today.

Uncle Liu was sowhat surprised.

At that mont, Fu Qianqian walked out of the school. Seeing Fu Yang's car, she was pleasantly surprised.

Brother, why are you here? You actually ca to pick up from school? Has the sun risen in the west?

She was thrilled. After her initial joy, she said smugly, Ha, that wretched girl Si Nian is boarding at school now. I was wondering why she would choose to live at school, but this is great, she can't hitch a ride in your car anymore. If she knew you ca today but missed seeing you, she'd probably be furious.

She spoke with obvious schadenfreude.

Clearly, she had already planned to use this to mock Si Nian the next day.

Fu Yang's brow darkened, Si Nian is boarding at school?

Yeah, didn't she tell you? Fu Qianqian huffed out a breath. She always felt stifled knowing she couldn't compare to Si Nian in any aspect.

Fortunately, Si Nian was obsessed with her brother and stubbornly threw herself at him, otherwise, Qianqian really wouldn't have been able to find ntal balance.

Fu Yang couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.

She hadn't told him.

In ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‍the past, no matter what Si Nian did, big or small, she would always tell him first.

Although Fu Yang felt she lacked her own opinions and generally didn't pay much attention, if it was sothing important, he would still offer a few words of advice.

But he never expected Si Nian to suddenly move into the school dorms.

Why?

He had returned, yet she had moved out?

This wasn't like sothing she would do.

The person who used to chatter and cling to him had suddenly distanced herself.

Logically, Si Nian should be the one feeling unaccustod to this.

But at this mont, a sense of discomfort welled up in Fu Yang's heart.

He initially hadn't wanted to return to the family compound because he was tired of his family urging him to marry and her constant clinging.

He deeply regretted agreeing to this marriage when they were young just because she was pretty.

However, Fu Yang was never one to show weakness.

He had swallowed his pride this ti, and since she didn't cherish it, there wouldn't be a next ti.

Ignoring that empty feeling, he buried himself back in his work.

To him, making contributions in his career was the most important thing.

Being busy like this, another half a month passed.

By the ti he realized it, the students had already started preparing for the college entrance examination.

Because Fu Qianqian was also taking the exam, it was a major event for the Fu family.

So Fu Yang took so ti out to visit ho.

Yet he heard that Si Nian hadn't been back for over half a month.

Si's Father and Si's Mother were furious, even threatening to sever ties if she remained disobedient.

Given Si Nian's level of filial piety, she should have been the first to yield.

But not only did she not yield, she hadn't even t with her family.

The Si family had made up their minds not to let Si Nian take the college entrance examination.

Because they didn't want her to go to college, fearing that their golden ticket of a son-in-law, Fu Yang, would be snatched away by soone else.

But the usually obedient Si Nian seed determined to oppose them this ti.

Not only did she refuse to listen, but she also refused to even see them.

In a fit of rage, Si's Father and Si's Mother cut off her living expenses.

They were just waiting for Si Nian to co back and submit on her own.

Who knew that half a month would pass without her giving in at all.

Fu Yang was quite surprised when he heard this vivid account from Fu Qianqian.

He hadn't expected Si Nian to be this stubborn.

This was the first ti since he had known her that she had rebelled against her family.

But he didn't dislike it. Although he disliked her clinging, they had grown up together after all, and he also hoped Si Nian could get into a good university and have her own future.

Conversely, if she really listened to her parents and insisted on marrying him, Fu Yang would actually look down on her.

However, what concerned him more was that she was just a high school student; without her family's financial support, how could she survive?

To this, Fu Qianqian said unwillingly, She's quite smart. She's working as a tutor, helping others review for the college entrance exam, and making quite a bit of money.

Because Si Nian was already quite an excellent student at school, and her English was top-notch, which happened to be the subject most people struggled with.

When Si Nian suddenly extended an olive branch offering help, naturally, a bunch of people sought her out.

Hearing this, Fu Yang was stunned again.

So, she didn't need his worry.

As this thought popped into his mind, Fu Yang suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, feeling like he was losing his mind.

Why should he worry about her?

Father Fu and Mother Fu were also very surprised by Si Nian's behavior.

However, after she had studied for so many years, it was impossible for them to tell her to stop her education just to marry their son.

They couldn't do such a thing.

So they also respected Si Nian's decision.

Before the college entrance examination, Si Nian focused entirely on making preparations.

Preparing for the exam, in this life, she gave up on n, solely to achieve the best life for herself.

During this ti, she also made several friends, all of whom were excellent.

Unlike her, who had been completely infatuated with a man at such a young age.

Si Nian finally realized that in the pri of her youth, she had chosen romance and given up the youth she should have enjoyed.

The college entrance exam ca fiercely and went quickly.

Although Si's Father and Si's Mother disapproved, they cared about their reputation and couldn't bring themselves to cause trouble for her.

So Si Nian's exam process went quite smoothly.

But the problem she faced was that she had to return to the family compound.

Perhaps because the exam was already over and they felt there was no need to argue anymore, after giving her the cold shoulder for a few days, Si's Father and Si's Mother stopped blaming her.

After all, the Fu family hadn't ntioned breaking off the engagent.

However, whether she went to college or not, they hoped to set a wedding date.

As long as she got married, who cared what she did.

Besides, what if she didn't even pass?

They didn't really care.

So, a period of ti after the college entrance exam, the two families arranged a gathering to discuss this matter in passing.

In the past, Fu Yang would never attend this kind of family gathering. But this ti, upon hearing that he hadn't refused, Si's Father and Si's Mother were beaming with joy. They pulled Si Nian aside and urged her to seize the opportunity and get along well with Fu Yang.

Si Nian listened expressionlessly. In the past, under this prolonged verbal pressure, she had beco increasingly eager to please Fu Yang, acting more and more cautious around him.

She had been terrified that if she upset him even a little, she would co ho to her family's scolding.

At this mont, she felt a bit bewildered.

Did she really like him that much?

Or was it just because Fu Yang's existence allowed her to receive her parents' affection?

Si Nian could no longer tell.

Perhaps her youthful infatuation had faded long ago.

All she had left for Fu Yang was a fear of loss and a sense of dependency.

Because of him, she was no longer just the ordinary Si Nian.

That was probably why she had felt so desperate when she lost his protection and was abandoned by her parents.

For the evening gathering, she didn't even dress up carefully like she used to.

Gone was the impulse; all that remained was perfunctoriness and exhaustion.

Unexpectedly, she really did see him again at the gathering this ti.

Fu Yang was as cold and handso as ever. Wearing a white button-down shirt, with refined facial features, he possessed a mature steadiness that differed from the green youths at school. Although his eyes held a hint of indifference, the more aloof he appeared, the more captivating he was.

Si Nian felt her heart skip a few beats uncontrollably.

Sensing her gaze, Fu Yang shifted his eyes toward her.

Today, she was still wearing the school uniform from that day. The navy collar design gave her an added touch of tranquility and artistic flair, while reducing her usual flamboyant brightness.

She looked exceptionally well-behaved.

So petite.

Just as Fu Yang shifted his gaze, Si Nian had already looked away. She sat calmly beside Si's Father and Si's Mother, listening to them vigorously peddle her as if she were so exquisite commodity.

Because they were attending this gathering, no dinner was made at ho, leaving her starving right now.

Si Nian's eyes fell upon the exquisite food on the dining table.

Without drawing attention, she picked up her chopsticks and slowly began to eat.

In the past, Fu Qianqian was the one who grabbed the most food at the table.

Now, she was joining the ranks.

When they finished eating, Fu Qianqian saw that the pile of bones in front of Si Nian was bigger than her own and laughed out of sheer exasperation, Si Nian, were you a starved ghost in your past life?

This remark drew everyone's attention to Si Nian.

The corners of her mouth twitched imperceptibly, and she uttered a maddeningly infuriating remark, Ah, I forgot I'm trying to gain weight lately. I ate a bit too much, but it doesn't matter, I can't get fat anyway.

Fu Qianqian, who was currently on a diet: ??

Normally, Si Nian was very shy in front of outsiders and paid great attention to her image in front of Fu Yang, never eating much.

This ti, she was simply too bored.

Since she no longer had to worry about Fu Yang, she naturally let loose and ate her fill.

She accidentally ate too much.

However, she didn't feel embarrassed at all. Her candid remark almost angered Fu Qianqian to death.

Because her college entrance exam didn't go well, it was highly likely she wouldn't get in.

Therefore, she was already preparing to find a job, firmly refusing to listen to her family and use back channels.

She wanted to be a broadcaster; her educational background was sufficient, but they said her image wasn't quite right.

In short, she was too fat.

So Fu Qianqian had recently started dieting.

Si Nian's words were practically stabbing her right in the heart.

She glared in anger.

She imdiately threw down her chopsticks and declared she was done eating.

After finishing her al, Si Nian saw her parents still talking endlessly and felt nothing but annoyance.

Seeing soone else leave first, Si Nian quickly found an excuse to get up and head out, claiming she was going to play with Fu Qianqian, but in reality, she was making her escape.

Fu Qianqian: Hetui~

She planned to stroll around for a bit to digest her food.

Fu Yang had also lost interest. He got up, originally intending to co out and ask Si Nian about her college entrance exam.

It was a major event after all, and there was no harm in him checking in.

But he hadn't expected that while Si Nian said she was coming out to find Fu Qianqian, she was actually keeping her head down and hurrying ho...

Si Nian.

He called out subconsciously.

The figure from behind paused for a mont, then walked even faster.

Fu Yang: ?

Fu Yang returned ho with a gloomy expression. Seeing him, his parents asked about Si Nian.

Thinking of the woman who had run off without looking back, Fu Yang felt his teeth itch with irritation, but he casually replied, It's getting late, so I let her go back first.

Only then did the two stop asking questions.

Perhaps because Si Nian's recent changes were too drastic, Fu Yang actually had a dream that night.

In the dream, she turned and left as heartlessly as she did today, ultimately taking the arm of another man.

The look in her eyes as she gazed at him held no emotion, only coldness.

Fu Yang stared at her for a very, very long ti.

Finally, he ca to a conclusion.

No, you are not her.

She was not that Si Nian, not the Si Nian who only had eyes for him.

Who knew that when he uttered these words, a smile would actually appear on the other party's indifferent face.

Fu Yang shuddered and actually jolted awake from the dream.

In the blink of an eye, the exam scores were released.

Si Nian's score, reaching a height that left everyone else in the dust, instantly spread throughout the entire family compound.

She had shockingly achieved the highest score in the entire school.

Not only that, but she was also admitted to Jing University.

When Fu Yang heard this news, he was still training at the military base.

So much so that by the ti he returned, Si Nian was already preparing to head to school early to register.

For so unknown reason, this period had passed incredibly quickly, so fast that it didn't even feel real to him.

He couldn't rember anything that had happened.

Yet, he inexplicably had the feeling that Si Nian was slipping further and further away from him.

Even though it was just a dream, and that man hadn't appeared, she was simply becoming more and more like a stranger.

Because Si Nian had gotten into a prestigious university, the Si family had truly made a na for themselves.

Originally, the couple had hoped that Si Nian wouldn't get into college, but unexpectedly, not only did she get in, she got into the best one.

Now, let alone the relatives, the entire family compound ca to congratulate them, and even the military leaders showed up.

Si's Father felt a glow of pride on his face and was naturally delighted.

Previously, they had worried that Fu Yang would break off the engagent, always feeling that their family's background wasn't good enough for his. But now that their daughter was a student at Jing University, her status was rising steadily, and naturally, there was no longer any issue of being unworthy.

Si Nian's days had also beco much easier as a result.

But she didn't care.

Because she knew very well how her parents, in her past life, had ruthlessly abandoned and sched against her when their biological daughter returned.

She had long stopped longing for familial affection.

So, taking advantage of her family's good attitude toward her during this ti, she imdiately proposed going to school early.

Soon, very soon, their biological daughter would be arriving.

She didn't want to fight for anything; she just wanted to stay far away. When the ti ca, whatever they decided wouldn't matter to her.

Many people ca to see her off this ti. Not only the relatives from the family compound, but even the mbers of the Fu family showed up.

Not to ntion Fu Yang, even Fu Qianqian was there.

Her expression was sowhat complicated, yet carried a hint of admiration.

In any case, it was weird.

Everyone took turns pulling her aside to say a lot of things, and Si Nian listened earnestly.

Finally, Fu Yang was also called over by the Fu family.

They said they wanted to let the two of them have a good talk.

Fu Yang looked at her. Having not seen her for a while, her aura had settled significantly, and her facial features had changed, becoming more mature.

It gave him an unfamiliar feeling.

Very similar to the one in his dream.

But what was different was.

Fu Yang was very certain.

She was still her, the sa Si Nian he had grown up with.

Because no matter how hard she tried to hide it, he was still deep in her eyes.

He looked at her for a long while before speaking in a low voice: "Do you have nothing to say?"

Si Nian tugged at the corners of her lips and smiled. "No, nothing."

The words spoken that day had already put an end to their story.

His future belonged to soone else.

She turned around crisply, but Fu Yang suddenly grabbed her hand.

The surroundings fell silent for a long ti. Si Nian looked at him in surprise. Fu Yang remained expressionless, his gaze as heavy as a mountain. It lingered for a long mont before drifting down to their clasped hands.

After a mont, he slowly began to smile.

He said, "Si Nian, I never looked down on you. I just didn't want you to give up your own life because of ."

Si Nian paused.

Thinking of her past life, although he had been sowhat cold to her, he wasn't as heartless as he was during that final period.

Because she had given up a bright future just to marry him.

Was that why he had looked down on her so much?

That must be it. He had always admired independence and strength; how could he like soone who gave up everything just to cling to him?

So that was how it was.

Coming back to her senses, Si Nian raised her eyes, looked at him, and said.

"But Fu Yang, you can't have it both ways."

"I once chose you..."

"But I was wrong. So now, I am choosing myself."

Fu Yang froze.

eting Si Nian's eyes, he felt as though they were filled with a suffocating amount of pain and scars.

Si Nian gently pulled her hand free from his and quietly turned to board the train.

At that mont, Fu Yang felt as if soone had poured strong acid into his heart, lting a bottomless black hole.

Watching her back, panic set in. It felt just like in his dreams—once she left this ti, she would never look back.

Just as she boarded, Fu Yang rushed up after her. The entire carriage went quiet. A shadow fell over Si Nian's seat, and the look in her eyes as she stared at him was filled with astonishnt.

But eting the man's impulsive gaze, she stared blankly for a mont before smiling again. With a helpless tone, she asked, "What are you doing?"

Fu Yang answered her, "Does the marriage still count?"

She was a little surprised but still smiled. "Seeing that I got into a prestigious university and knowing I'm not useless, do you think highly of now?"

Fu Yang pursed his thin lips. "No."

Si Nian touched her chin, thought for a mont, and said, "If, in four years, I graduate from university and neither of us is married, then it counts."

Her gaze was deeply affectionate, a tenderness that left Fu Yang in a daze.

He even had the illusion that they had never ended, that after all the twists and turns, they would eventually co back together one day.

So Fu Yang said okay.

Si Nian left.

She left calmly and with a plan.

No one could make her stay.

Four years?

It was nothing.

She had waited for him for over a decade.

He only had to wait four years; it was nothing.

But why were his eyelids so heavy?

So tired. He suddenly felt so tired. The light in Fu Yang's eyes gradually dimd, yet his expression grew increasingly gentle.

He saw a ray of sunlight filtering through the trees, reflecting onto a boy and a girl playing around. The lively laughter made it seem as if he had returned to many years ago, when he secretly pulled Si Nian to climb over the school wall. She stood on the wall, opening her arms to him with a trusting voice: "I'm not afraid, because I know you will catch ."

He couldn't sleep; he still had to wait for her.

He would definitely wait for her to co back.

Back to the days when they were childhood sweethearts.

Back then, he wasn't picky and didn't have so many bad habits. He wholeheartedly liked her and only wanted her to be his future partner. Si Nian also only had him; her heart and eyes were full of him.

He didn't have any grand wishes back then; he only hoped she would be happy for the rest of her life.

But he was the one who changed first. He beca more and more critical of her. He was the one who demanded she rely on him, yet he was also the first to get annoyed at her clinginess.

Fu Yang opened his eyes.

The sun outside had set. The night air in the Northwest carried a biting chill. The wind howled past his ears, causing the dilapidated tent to flap noisily.

Awakening from a long dream.

As it turned out, his hand had never actually caught hers.