"I'm afraid you couldn't afford this even if you sold yourself!" Nan Yin retorted.
Feng Qingci glanced at Qin Yuchuan, who was sitting next to Feng Qingyi, and asked, "Brother-in-law, what exactly does your family do?"
"Didn't we already say they're in the antique business? Why are you still asking?" Feng Qingyi replied.
Feng Qingci felt something was off. "Even if your family really sells antiques, that doesn't justify giving you a chest full of gold!"
"...I like it, do you have a problem with that?" Feng Qingyi shot back.
Qin Yuchuan spoke up, "My family does indeed run an antique company. If there's a chance, I can take you to Sea City to see it."
Feng Qingyi glanced at Qin Yuchuan, wondering if there really was an antique company.
Qin Yuchuan gave her a reassuring look.
Feng Qingci turned to Qin Yuchuan, "Well, I'll look forward to that. Now that you two are officially married, shouldn't you start addressing me properly? Let me hear you call me 'brother'!"
"He's older than you, he can just call you by name," Feng Qingyi glared at him.
Feng Qingci persisted, "I'm still your biological brother. Now that you're married, it's not too much to ask him to call me 'brother', is it?"
"Brother, please take care of me in the future," Qin Yuchuan said to Feng Qingci.
Feng Qingci laughed and patted his shoulder, "We're family now. I've got your back. If you two ever have a fight, I'll definitely be on your side."
"Qingci, watch your words. Why are you talking about them fighting?" Nan Yin lightly scolded.
"Dinner's ready!" Feng Zhixing called from the kitchen.
Nan Yin stood up, "The food's done. Let's all go to the dining room."
The large round dining table seemed particularly empty with just five people seated around it.
Feng Zhixing asked, "Qingci, why didn't you bring your girlfriend?"
"Luckily, she had to work overtime today. If she had come and seen all those betrothal gifts in the house, it would have made it much harder for me to marry her in the future," Feng Qingci said.
Nan Yin: "You silly boy, how can you talk like that!"
"Since you're going to marry into her family anyway, why bother with betrothal gifts?" Feng Qingyi teased.
Feng Zhixing: "If you could marry into her family, that wouldn't be bad at all."
"I think so too!" Nan Yin agreed.
Feng Qingci wanted to change the subject, "Stop joking about me, all of you. Let's eat."
Feng Zhixing opened the red wine on the table, "Yuchuan, have some."
Qin Yuchuan accepted the wine glass, "Thank you, Dad."
Feng Zhixing raised his glass, "We're all family now, no need to be formal. In the past, we were busy with work and didn't have time to take good care of these two."
"From now on, Qingyi is in your care. She's been sensible since she was little, though she can be a bit willful at times. If you talk to her properly, she knows her limits."
"If one day you no longer love her, please don't hurt her. Just bring her back to us."
Feng Qingyi looked up at Feng Zhixing. It had been a long time since she had looked at her father so seriously.
Although he still looked energetic, he had visibly aged.
She had indeed harbored resentment in her heart before, blaming them for missing many important moments in her life.
But it was also because of their efforts that she could have whatever she wanted since childhood, and could learn anything without worry.
She could wear enviable princess dresses and play the piano on stage, or put on dance shoes and twirl gracefully.
Even when she wasn't outstanding in the past, they never criticized her harshly.
Now that she had formed a new family with someone else, it seemed like everything had changed.
Qin Yuchuan solemnly promised, "That day will never come. Marrying Qingyi is the luckiest thing in my life. I will love her for the rest of my days."
"Don't make promises lightly. No one can be certain about a lifetime. Now that you're married, just live your life well together. Leave the future to time," Feng Zhixing said.
After dinner, Feng Qingyi was called into the study by Feng Zhixing.
"Dad, why did you suddenly call me in here?"
Feng Zhixing took out several documents from the drawer, "These are the dowry I've prepared for you."
"...Dad, you really don't need to give me so much."
Feng Zhixing: "Although our family might not be on par with the Qin family at the moment, we can't let you be wronged. Take these. I've also left you several houses and cars. You're a girl, and if you ever face hardships in the future, you'll have your own safe haven."
"Dad, thank you!" Feng Qingyi suddenly hugged Feng Zhixing.
Feng Zhixing gently patted her head, "If you ever face any difficulties in the future, just call me. I'll come and get you. Your dad can still support you for a lifetime."
"Mm." Feng Qingyi suddenly felt like crying.
"Yuchuan is still waiting for you downstairs. It's getting late, you should head back soon. Don't be late for work tomorrow morning," Feng Zhixing said.
Feng Qingyi nodded, "Okay, but Dad, how do you know where I work?"
"Since you didn't want to work at my company, of course I had to check out where you're working now. What if you got scammed?" Feng Zhixing said.
Feng Qingyi: "I'm a grown-up now, how could I get scammed?"
"I know you're clever. Take these things, let's go downstairs together." Feng Zhixing gathered the items on the desk and handed them to Feng Qingyi.
Back in the living room, they chatted casually for a while before Feng Qingyi and Qin Yuchuan prepared to leave.
Feng Zhixing suddenly asked, "Qingyi, Qingci, have you seen the copy of 'The Art of War' that I used to keep in the study?"
"I've never even been in your study, how would I know?" Feng Qingci said.
Qin Yuchuan glanced discreetly at Feng Qingyi, who also said, "I haven't seen it either."
Feng Zhixing: "That book was a collector's edition I bought before. It's out of print now. I remember putting it on the bookshelf, but when I looked for it the other day, I couldn't find it. It's quite strange."
Feng Qingci suddenly remembered something, "I recall there was a time when our family's cutlery went missing. Later, after Feng Qingyi bought some new ones, the missing ones mysteriously reappeared. Thinking about it now, we never figured out what happened. I suspect the security in our neighborhood might not be very good."
"You must have misplaced them and couldn't find them. We've lived in this neighborhood for so long and never heard of anyone losing things. Besides, with so many valuable items in the house, why would someone steal bowls and a book? And then return them? That doesn't make any sense," Nan Yin said.
Feng Qingyi pulled Qin Yuchuan, "Mom, Dad, we'll be heading back now."
Nan Yin: "Alright, bring Yuchuan back to visit more often. When you decide on the wedding date, remember to let us know in advance so we can help."
"Mom, Dad, goodbye. I'll take Qingyi home now," Qin Yuchuan said.
Feng Qingci suddenly sat up from the sofa, "Wait for me, I'll go back with you."
