Chapter 150: Two Fathers

“Smack!” Qin Wanlan, who had been wearing a kindly smile just moments before, suddenly hardened her expression and slapped Xue Tian’ai sharply across the forehead.

Qin Mengxue was stunned on the spot, and even Cen An’an standing nearby froze. Neither of them had any idea what had just happened—why had Qin Wanlan suddenly struck him?

Moreover, both of them felt a strange sense of dissonance—as if this was the very first time they had ever seen Xue Tian’ai being hit by another man. Usually, it seemed, Xue Tian’ai was the one delivering the blows. Now that he was on the receiving end, they were a bit unsettled.

But none of that seemed important just now. What mattered was why Qin Wanlan had suddenly struck her son-in-law, Xue Tian’ai. Qin Mengxue and Cen An’an hurriedly stepped closer.

As soon as the two women approached, they heard Qin Wanlan’s booming reprimand: “You brat, what did you just call me?!”

The words left both women dumbfounded—what was going on? Why was this about what he called her?

Qin Mengxue quickly glanced at her mother, Lan Yingyan, with a questioning look.

Sensing the inquiry in her daughter’s eyes, Lan Yingyan simply smiled gently but helplessly, then advised Qin Wanlan softly, “Xiao Ai probably just isn’t used to it yet. Why don’t you save your energy for now...?”

Qin Mengxue was even more perplexed. She could only come to Xue Tian’ai’s side and tug on his sleeve. “Hey, how did you make my dad angry?”

Xue Tian’ai smiled awkwardly, shook his head, and then earnestly said to Qin Wanlan and Lan Yingyan, “Mom, Dad, I just spoke too quickly earlier... I didn’t mean anything by it...”

Hearing this, Qin Mengxue looked again at Qin Wanlan’s dark, angry face and nearly burst into tears. What on earth had that damn Tian’ai called her dad and mom just now?

“Uncle Qin, please calm down. What’s wrong with my brother-in-law?” Cen An’an felt it was time to play the peacemaker and tried to ease the tension.

“Hmph!” Qin Wanlan snorted heavily, clearly irritated. “That brat of a brother-in-law just called me Uncle Qin!”

As soon as Qin Wanlan said that, Qin Mengxue and Cen An’an instantly understood the situation. Their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, relaxed slightly. It seemed nothing serious had happened.

“You little punk, explain to me why you called me Uncle Qin just now! Don’t want to acknowledge me as your father-in-law, huh? If you don’t clear this up today, I’ll make sure to teach you a lesson!” Qin Wanlan glared fiercely at Xue Tian’ai.

Xue Tian’ai was sweating nervously. He really wasn’t cut out to handle an old fox like Qin Wanlan. Someone, please help him! Or at least teach him what to do in a moment like this!

“Alright, alright, stop giving Xiao Ai a hard time. Didn’t you say before you got on the plane that you wanted to see how much Xiao Ai has changed over the years? It’s just a title—why make such a fuss?” Lan Yingyan interceded again.

As Qin Wanlan’s wife, Lan Yingyan knew him well—he was just a proud old man who, despite loving Xue Tian’ai deeply, liked to play the ‘villain’ on the surface.

“Yeah, yeah, Uncle Qin, I’m sure my brother-in-law didn’t mean it...” Cen An’an chimed in.

“Honestly, Dad, it was just a slip of the tongue. Tian’ai even corrected himself, so why did you have to slap him?” Qin Mengxue gently touched Xue Tian’ai’s reddened forehead, her tone tinged with mild reproach.

“Enough, enough, stop defending that brat. I’m beginning to see something here—one has a son-in-law, another has a brother-in-law...” Qin Wanlan paused, then smirked mischievously at Qin Mengxue and teased, “Especially one particular brat who’s got a husband but has completely forgotten her own dad!”

Qin Mengxue’s face flushed deeply upon hearing her father’s words. Her eyes clearly avoided meeting his gaze as she deliberately put a little distance between herself and Xue Tian’ai.

“Dad, Mom, let’s not linger here. Let’s get in the car first. We’ll talk about the rest at home,” Xue Tian’ai said, realizing his father-in-law was just teasing him. He grabbed his luggage and headed toward the sleek black Phideon.

Blushing slightly, Qin Mengxue took the backpack off Lan Yingyan’s back and followed, helping with the luggage.

Watching Xue Tian’ai’s broad, upright figure walking away, Qin Wanlan’s lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes filled with deep satisfaction. Unconsciously, his eyes glistened with moisture. [Old man, Xiao Ai has truly grown up.]

But Qin Wanlan didn’t linger on the sentiment for long. After a brief pause, he took Lan Yingyan’s arm and headed toward the car.

Two minutes later, the black Phideon’s engine roared to life and it left the airport pickup area.

...

In a seemingly inconspicuous corner of the airport parking area, a black Audi A6L sat quietly.

Inside, three people were seated, each wearing large sunglasses. One of the men was particularly strange, having wrapped his face with two thick black scarves and wearing a black baseball cap.

“Ah...” Ye Hairuo sighed softly and removed her oversized sunglasses, revealing a flawless, beautiful face.

By now, Xue Tian’ai had driven the black Phideon out of sight, so Ye Hairuo withdrew her envious gaze and looked tenderly at the person sitting beside her in the back seat, fully wrapped up.

“Father Xue...”

Today at Beiyang City’s Lixian Airport, not only was Xue Tian’ai’s father-in-law present, but also Xue Tian’ai’s own father, Xue Xiwen—the very man swathed in scarves and sunglasses.

“Master, Young Master have already left. What do you want us to do now?” Huang Lao, sitting in the driver’s seat, gently pushed up his sunglasses, hesitating.

Those young folks’ sunglasses really didn’t suit him, an old man, but still, he vigilantly scanned the surroundings, fulfilling his duty.

Xue Xiwen said nothing. He quietly stared at the spot where Xue Tian’ai and the others had been. His face was hidden beneath the layers of scarf, sunglasses, and hat, making it impossible to discern his expression.

However, the dampness gradually seeping through the scarf told its own story.

Yes, that was right. The esteemed commander of the Northeast Military Region was now quietly shedding tears.

Ten years had passed. Though they had exchanged many phone calls during this time, and Xue Xiwen was aware of his son’s general whereabouts, they had never met face to face.

Ten years had gone by. His son, Xue Tian’ai, had truly grown up. And today, Xue Xiwen had finally seen the son he had longed for day and night.

In these ten years, how many hardships had Xiao Ai endured that Xue Xiwen had not witnessed?

In these ten years, how much blood had Xiao Ai shed that his father had not seen?

In these ten years, how many pains had he suffered unseen?

Had he lived happily? Had he been joyful? Or... did he even hate his father?

Xue Xiwen had thought he could control his emotions, thought he could manage his feelings. But when he saw that tall young man in a white suit...

All those assumptions shattered in an instant.

Inside, Xue Xiwen felt comfort, conflict, heartache, and unbearable pain.

How he longed to remove the disguises covering his face. How he wanted to open the car door, rush to his son, pat his shoulder, speak to him, ask him questions...

But the battle-hardened general feared.

He feared that Xue Tian’ai might greet him with a cold face, refusing to acknowledge him. He feared that his sudden appearance would shatter the warm atmosphere his son was enjoying.

Tears flowed uncontrollably from the eyes of this tough man. They traced paths down his weathered face, soaking through the last masks of his facade.

Though expressions can be hidden behind many things, the outpouring of emotion cannot be perfectly concealed.

Seeing Xue Xiwen like this, Ye Hairuo’s heart ached deeply. Her beautiful eyes grew moist as well, but she knew now was not the time for her to cry.

If she lost control, Xue Xiwen would only feel more guilty and pained.

Huang Lao glanced at the two in the back seat and sighed softly. The most complicated things in life truly are emotions—friendship, love, family.

Though tears streamed down Xue Xiwen’s face, he never let out a sob. This was the last bastion of strength and stubbornness from this man and father.

After a long while, Xue Xiwen removed his scarf, hat, and sunglasses. His hands clenched tightly, knuckles cracking.

“Huang Lao, let’s go. Take me back to the military district.”

“Father Xue... you...” Ye Hairuo looked at him worriedly.

“Damn Qin Wanlan...” Xue Xiwen’s face darkened with indignation. “How dare he slap my son on the forehead? If I get the chance, I will not let him off!”

Yet, the sorrow in his eyes was impossible to hide.