I Want a Lifetime with You novel Chapter 118

Shi Nuan had known the answer before he nodded. After observing Mr. Qin’s reaction towards her, the woman raised her eyebrows and said, “So, the House of Chigu is yours?”

Fu Chengyan laughed before dismissing Zhou Zheng and Mr. Qin with a wave. After the two men left the room, Fu Chengyan unveiled the calligraphy scroll. “Are you surprised?” he asked.

Shi Nuan pursed her lips and glanced sideways at Fu Chengyan. “So, did you intentionally trick me the previous time when we got grandpa his present?” Although she was not angry, the woman had difficulty describing her current feelings.

As he did not deny it, she was unable to get mad at him. “Why are you not answering?” She asked.

Fu Chengyan gave Shi Nuan a meaningful look as he brushed the scroll with his fingers. Tapping on the paper, he explained, “It was your own idea. I was originally thinking of something else when you suggested the House of Chigu,” the man laughed and continued, “I have never bothered with the means, I only care about the outcome.”

Fu Chengyan looked at Shi Nuan with twinkling eyes and a blush spread across the woman’s cheeks. She lowered her head and continued eating as she had nothing else to say.

The next day, Shi Nuan woke up early. As they were going to visit Jiang Shizheng, she wanted to bring her grandpa something else other than antiques, calligraphies or paintings. Needless to say, at the woman’s insistence, Fu Chengyan had started stewing soup at sunrise.

Over at the Jiang family, Jiang Shizheng had already informed Aunt Fei earlier that Shi Nuan would be back today, together with her newlywed husband. Aunt Fei had been working for Jiang Shizheng all this while, but never knew that Shi Nuan had gotten married. As such, she got a shock when she first heard the news but recovered from it quickly. The woman went to the market at the crack of dawn and had been busying in the kitchen preparing food.

Aunt Fei had watched Shi Nuan grow up. Although there were two kids in the Shi family, Aunt Fei was never fond of Shi Wei. When Jiang Yu and Shi Wei came back to visit each year, she could tell that their concern for Jiang Shizheng was just superficial.

Although Aunt Fei was only a servant, she was rather respected in the Jiang family. She had also watched Jiang Yu grow up, but had never taken a liking to the young mistress. However, Aunt Fei always had a soft spot for Shi Nuan.

When Aunt Fei stepped out of the kitchen, she saw Jiang Shizheng reading the papers in the living room. However, he looked distracted as he was taking intermittent glances towards the door.

Jiang Shizheng quickly retracted his gaze when he noticed Aunt Fei looking at him. He glared at the servant as he heard her chuckle. “Go back to the kitchen!”

“Right away!” Aunt Fei answered as she wiped her hands on her apron. Just then, the doorbell rang. Jiang Shizheng stood up halfway, but immediately sat back down again. “Why aren’t you opening the door?” He shouted towards Aunt Fei.

Aunt Fei went and opened the door at once. She was well aware that the old master had been feeling unsettled since morning.

“Missy, Sir.” Aunt Fei opened the door and greeted Shi Nuan and Fu Chengyan, who stood at the doorway with their fingers interlocked. Aunt Fei was surprised only for a moment before opening up a path for them to walk past. “Please come in, Missy and Sir!”

“Aunt Fei!” Shi Nuan beamed. “Where’s grandpa?”

“He’s in the living room. The old master has been waiting for Missy and Sir since morning!” Aunt Fei chuckled as she reached out to take the present from Fu Chengyan’s hands. However, Fu Chengyan said with a smile, “Aunt Fei, I’ll hold it myself!”

“Sure!” Aunt Fei couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Fu Chengyan.

It was not the first time she met this fine young man but she had always known him as the old master’s student. Even though words had it that he was a powerful figure, Fu Chengyan was always polite towards her and had never put up any airs. As such, Aunt Fei held a good impression of him.

“Come in now, Missy and Sir!”

Shi Nuan was secretly delighted when she saw the look of approval in Aunt Fei’s eyes. However, she suddenly remembered that her grandpa did not seem to be very happy with their marriage. She took a glance at Fu Chengyan and wanted to let go of his hand. But Fu Chengyan tightened his hold instead.

Aunt Fei was feeling ecstatic as she took in the scene. “Missy, you and Sir should go and have a chat with the old master. He kept nagging when you were not around. I shall go back to the kitchen and continue cooking. I’m preparing your favorite dish ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’.”

“There’s gonna be ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’?” Shi Nuan had an excited glint in her eyes as she said, “Thank you Aunt Fei!”

Fu Chengyan changed into a pair of slippers after getting a pair for Shi Nuan. Then, he held her hand as they entered the living room together.

Jiang Shizheng had been listening to their conversation and was eagerly waiting for them to join him in the living room. But when they finally appeared in sight, the old man immediately adjusted his posture and pretended to be reading the newspaper.

Shi Nuan saw that although her grandpa was holding the newspapers, his eyes were, in fact, looking towards their direction. She tried hard not to laugh at the old man’s ridiculous behavior.

Jiang Shizheng narrowed his eyes and let out a snort when he saw that Shi Nuan was trying to suppress her laughter. The woman let go of her husband’s hand and said, “Grandpa, I’m back!”

“Hmph, I thought you have already forgotten your way home.” As Jiang Shizheng spoke, he lifted his head to look at Fu Chengyan. Even when Fu Chengyan was just standing naturally with a gift box in his hands, his imposing presence could still be felt. Although Jiang Shizheng was quite happy to have him as a grandson-in-law, he still displayed a look of dissatisfaction. “Well done, young man!” he said in a sarcastic voice.

“Grandpa!” Fu Chengyan greeted Jiang Shizheng, who let out a cold harrumph. “I’m afraid I can’t afford that honor.”

Fu Chengyan picked up at once that his teacher was still upset with him for stealing away his beloved granddaughter without telling him. “Of course you can.”

Jiang Shizheng turned his face towards the side, which caused Shi Nuan to start panicking. She stared at Fu Chengyan before moving forward to pacify the old man. “Grandpa, don’t be angry, it’s all my fault. N-not telling you that Yan and I got married was my idea!”

“Huh?” Jiang Shizheng was not convinced. “Stop finding excuses for this fella. I know him too well.”

“It’s true!” Shi Nuan felt bad as she tugged on Jiang Shizheng’s arm. “It’s really my fault. Yan wanted to inform everyone before we registered our marriage, but I did not allow him to.”

Shi Nuan looked at Fu Chengyan after finishing her sentence. However, Fu Chengyan said, “Grandpa, it has got nothing to do with Nuan. It’s my bad.”

“Hmph! You think I don’t already know that? I only have one darling granddaughter. How could you have kidnapped my darling girl without saying anything to me!” Jiang Shizheng was not really angry, but he was still slightly mad at them for keeping it from him. He needed to put up this act in order to make a stand.

Shi Nuan’s head was throbbing. She bit her lips and said, “We did not keep it from you deliberately. Yan and I got married in a rush and I wasn’t mentally prepared for it yet. We were intending to tell you after some time, but you suddenly found out about it first… “

Before Shi Nuan finished talking, Fu Chengyan grabbed her hand and gave it a light pat. “Haven’t we brought some soup for grandpa?” he said. “Go bring it into the kitchen to Aunt Fei!”

Shi Nuan looked like she still had something to say, but she downcast her eyes once she met Fu Chengyan’s gaze. As he nodded his head briefly, Shi Nuan got the hint right away that he wanted to talk to her grandpa in private.

After Shi Nuan left with the soup container, Fu Chengyan turned his gaze back to face Jiang Shizheng, and found himself staring into the old man’s penetrating stern eyes. Fu Chengyan raised the corners of his lips and seemed unruffled. “Sir, why don’t we play a game of chess?” He proposed.

Jiang Shizheng let out a cold snort before getting up. “Alright, let’s go to the study!”

A faint smile appeared on Fu Chengyan’s face again as he got up and walked behind Jiang Shizheng.

Although Jiang Shizheng had aged, he was still extremely fit and took brisk steps. When the two men entered the study, Fu Chengyan’s sharp eyes found the chess set. He laid it out and waited for Jiang Shizheng.

Jiang Shizheng glanced at Fu Chengyan and said, “Don’t think I’ll forgive you so easily just because of what Nuan said. Nuan’s my granddaughter and I know her character very well!”

“Sir, you’re right!” Fu Chengyan went along while arranging the chess pieces. “Sir, you have been good at chess since my schooling days. Why don’t you let me have a head start?”

“Fat hope!” Jiang Shizheng took a side glance at Fu Chengyan and continued, “Don’t think you can hide your true intentions from me. When I first introduced Nuan to you, even though you did not express anything, I could tell that she was not the only one for you. Your relationship foundation can’t be that strong.”

The old man made the first move while keeping his shrewd gaze on Fu Chengyan.

Fu Chengyan had a black chess piece in between his fingers and he was looking very much relaxed. The man twitched his lips and picked up another black chess piece. “Sir, that’s not entirely correct. Feelings sometimes catch us by surprise. But of course, they may also be developed over a period of time,” he said.

While Fu Chengyan spoke, Jiang Shizheng placed another piece on the chessboard. The younger man paused for a moment before continuing, “My feelings for May have indeed caught me by surprise, while May grew to like me over time.”

Jiang Shizheng was momentarily stunned. He had not expected such honesty from Fu Chengyan.

In his impression, this student of his had all along been very mature and had a stable personality, even from a young age. Jiang Shizheng already knew it back then, that Fu Chengyan had a bright future ahead, and was meant to accomplish great things.

Fu Chengyan never publicized his intentions, but once he set a goal, he would make sure he achieved it.

It was also because of these traits which he possessed, that Jiang Shizheng had introduced him to his granddaughter.

Nuan had a mild temperament and lacked resolution. Jiang Shizheng was exactly the type of man she needed to shield her from the brutalities of life.

As Shi Nuan was still reeling from her breakup with Fu Xicheng at that time, she was not receptive to her grandpa’s arrangement. Jiang Shizheng was not one who would force his wishes on others. Seeing that Shi Nuan wasn’t interested, he did not insist upon it.

But he had never expected that those two would actually get married, and only after such a short period of time. If the old man had not discovered it accidentally, he would probably still be kept in the dark.

Jiang Shizheng couldn’t help being upset, even though one was his precious granddaughter and the other was his favorite student. The anger which he had felt last night was indeed genuine.

After Fu Chengyan made another move, he saw the expression on Jiang Shizheng’s face. In a soft voice, he said, “Sir, are you worried about the relationship between May and I? Or are you worried that I won’t treat her well?”

Jiang Shizheng lifted up his head and asked, “Are you really serious about Nuan?”

Fu Chengyan paused and kept quiet. After a seemingly long while, he looked into the old man’s eyes and said, “I’ll be honest with you, Sir. I am not entirely proud of the manner in which May and I got married. But please be rest assured that May is the woman I am going to spend the rest of my life with!”