「On the other side.」

Zhao Lizhen and Zhang Fuyong were in the middle of a discussion. They were trying to decide what gift to give the baby for his half-birthday.

Zhao Lizhen was chattering animatedly, while Zhang Fuyong wore a dark expression and remained silent. Seeing this, Zhao Lizhen immediately became annoyed.

"Aren't you going to say something?" she prodded. "You're not so quiet when someone else calls, are you?"

Hearing this, Zhang Fuyong's expression soured even more. "Yu Xi didn't invite me to the birthday party. Why am I even bothering?"

Zhao Lizhen laughed in exasperation. "So, that's what you're upset about. There are still a few days until the baby's party. I'll call Yu Xi tomorrow and talk some sense into her."

Zhang Fuyong kept a straight face, pretending not to care. "Don't bother talking to her! If she doesn't invite me, then so be it. I couldn't care less about going!"

Zhao Lizhen raised an eyebrow. "You're really not going? You don't want to hold your grandson?"

Zhang Fuyong's mouth twitched, but out of pride, he said nothing.

"Fine then," she said. "If that's what you want, I won't call her. After all, you don't want to go."

Seeing her reaction, Zhang Fuyong suddenly grew anxious.

"Hey... wait, don't do that!" he backpedaled. "You should still talk to her. Yu Xi is a good kid. On such an important day, she'll understand the big picture. She'll know this old man has to be there."

Zhao Lizhen snorted, teasing him, "Oh? I thought you couldn't care less about going?"

Zhang Fuyong coughed, feigning memory loss. "Uh... that is, did I say that? You must have misheard."

Zhao Lizhen couldn't help but laugh at his antics.

"You! A man pushing sixty!" she exclaimed. "Still acting like a child!"

Zhang Fuyong glared and quickly defended himself. "Who's sixty? I'm only... only fifty-eight and a half, thank you very much!"

"Okay, okay, not sixty!"

While the couple was bickering, a phone suddenly rang. It was Zhang Fuyong's.

He picked it up, complaining, "Who could be calling so late?"

He checked the screen and saw it was a call from a phone number from Yangcheng. Seeing the name 'Yangcheng,' Zhang Fuyong's brows furrowed instantly.

"Honey, come look! Isn't this Yu Xi's number?"

Zhao Lizhen leaned over, her voice filled with excitement. "Yes! It's Yu Xi! Quick, answer it!"

Zhang Fuyong was suddenly flustered, handling the phone as if it were a hot potato.

"I, I... What should I say?"

Zhao Lizhen was so anxious she started pacing. "Just answer it, before Yu Xi hangs up!"

Hearing that, Zhang Fuyong knew he couldn't delay. He gritted his teeth and pressed the answer button.

"Hello, who is this?"

Hearing Zhang Fuyong's cold tone, Zhao Lizhen immediately rolled her eyes. Just keep pretending, why don't you!

Her look made Zhang Fuyong extremely awkward.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Zhang Yuxi's voice came through.

"Dad, it's me. How... have you been?"

Zhang Fuyong feigned anger, his voice low. "So you do remember to call me? I thought you'd disowned me as your dad!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Zhao Lizhen kicked him. She then grabbed his ear and shot him a look that warned him not to be dramatic.

Zhang Fuyong tilted his head, enduring the pain, and hurriedly changed his tone. "Oh, my girl, I'm doing very well! And you?"

"I'm good, too!"

"That's good to hear!"

Zhang Fuyong gestured for Zhao Lizhen to let go. He could finally relax, rubbing his reddening ear.

Zhang Yuxi hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Dad, in a few days, it'll be the baby's half-birthday. Can you and Mom come?"

Hearing this, Zhang Fuyong thought he had misheard. He was completely stunned.

Zhao Lizhen frantically gestured with her eyes for him to agree quickly. Yuxi took the initiative to call and invite you to the baby's half-birthday, and you're still playing the profound, distant father? Just agree already!

When there was no response from his end, Zhang Yuxi sighed. "Dad, if you're busy, you can just have Mom come by herself."

At this, Zhang Fuyong became anxious. "Who... who said I was busy! I have plenty of time! I'll bring your mom with me!"

"Okay, well, you get some rest."

"Mm-hmm."

After he hung up the phone, Zhang Fuyong jumped up excitedly.

"Hahaha, I knew it! My daughter definitely wouldn't forget about me! Now I can go with you to my grandson's birthday party!"

Seeing this, Zhao Lizhen rolled her eyes at him and said tauntingly, "Go where? Aren't you Mr. Tough Guy? Keep up the act!"

Zhang Fuyong ignored her. Whistling a little tune, he went off to take a shower.

「The next day.」

Zhang Fuyong woke up early. He was rummaging through his closets, trying to decide what to wear for the occasion.

Meanwhile, Zhao Lizhen was on her phone, openly messaging An Lan.

"Lan Lan, about the baby Yu Xi had... is it a boy or a girl? Your auntie wants to buy some clothes for her grandchild."

An Lan saw the message from her and quickly replied with a smirking emoji.

"Auntie, it's boys and girls, plural! I suggest you buy several sets of clothes. Buy as many as you can!"

After reading these two messages, Zhao Lizhen immediately shouted towards the bedroom. "Old man, get out here, quick!"

Startled, Zhang Fuyong grabbed a suit and hurried out of the bedroom. "What is it? What are you shouting for?"

Zhao Lizhen handed him the phone. "Help me with this. What on earth does Lan Lan mean?"

Zhang Fuyong took the phone and squinted at the screen. Boys and girls, plural?

"Could it be... fraternal twins?!"

Zhao Lizhen shook her head. "I don't think that's all. Look at her next message—she told me to buy lots of clothes."

Hearing this, Zhang Fuyong's heart began to race. "Could... could it be triplets?"

Zhao Lizhen also found it difficult to contain her excitement. "If that's the case, we need to hurry and get the gifts ready!"

"Right, right! For triplets, we have to buy even more gifts! And we'll need to prepare a huge red envelope, too!"

As they spoke, the couple prepared to leave the house. Just then, however, Lu Boyu arrived at their door.

Lu Boyu was the blind date prospect Zhang Fuyong and Zhao Lizhen had meticulously chosen for their daughter, and the two of them had even dated for a while. The couple thought very highly of Lu Boyu and had hoped he would become their son-in-law. They were unaware that he had cheated on Zhang Yuxi with her close friend, Du Qian, while she was studying abroad.

"Uncle, are you two heading out?"

Zhang Fuyong smiled. "Yes, we are."

"Uncle, you seem to be in a great mood. Did something good happen?"

"Yes, it's because Yu Xi..." Zhang Fuyong began, but Zhao Lizhen cut him off.

"Bo Yu, come in and sit down!"

Lu Boyu nodded politely. "Thank you, Auntie."

Zhao Lizhen shot Zhang Fuyong a meaningful look. "Didn't you have something to do?"

Zhang Fuyong paused for a second before getting up and heading toward the bedroom. "Right, right, I need to choose my clothes."

After Zhang Fuyong left, Zhao Lizhen asked with a smile, "So, Bo Yu, what brings you here today?"

"Oh, nothing special. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by to see you both," Lu Boyu said with a smile.

Zhao Lizhen nodded and let out a sigh. "It's been more than half a year since we last saw each other, hasn't it? How are your parents?"

"They're doing well."

"I heard you and Du Qian are dating now?"

Lu Boyu quickly denied it. "No, no! That's not true! Du Qian is the one pursuing me. I've never said yes to her!"

Zhao Lizhen smiled but didn't pursue the topic. Instead, it was Lu Boyu who brought up Zhang Yuxi.

"Bo Yu, perhaps you and Yu Xi just weren't meant to be," she said softly. "After what happened, it's even more impossible for you two."

Lu Boyu still wouldn't give up. "Auntie, have you gotten in touch with Yu Xi? I want to see her!"

Zhao Lizhen hesitated.

"Even if we can't be together, I'm still her friend, aren't I?"

In the end, Zhao Lizhen shook her head and gently refused. "Yuxi has her own life now. It's best if you don't disturb her anymore."

Hearing this, Lu Boyu left, his disappointment palpable.

Zhao Lizhen sighed. Of course, I had hoped Zhang Yuxi would end up with Lu Boyu. His family is wealthy, he's handsome, and our families have known each other for ages. But fate played cruel tricks, and that was that. I wonder what my son-in-law is like? Still, the man Yu Xi chose can't be all that bad.

Zhang Fuyong emerged. "Is he gone?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go! I need to buy presents for my grandchildren!"

When Zhao Lizhen saw Zhang Fuyong's giddy expression, she grew instantly irritated and shot him a glare.

Zhang Fuyong rubbed his head, confused. "I didn't do anything to set you off, did I?"

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