Chapter 728 487: Dazzling Youth (Part 2)

"Yuan, your driving has gotten really solid. Not bad," Mr. Chen said, glancing at Chen Yuan, whose skillful hands were steady on the wheel. He couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration.

"Still not quite at your level, Dad."

"Heh, I won't deny that. After all, I'm an old pro with a fifteen-year accident-free record," Mr. Chen said, puffing up with pride. "Looks like you've inherited your old man's talent perfectly."

"Inherited what? He's not your biological son," Liu He said, rolling her eyes.

The family never shied away from the fact that Chen Yuan was adopted. They often used it for lighthearted banter, so Mr. Chen wasn't offended in the slightest.

On the contrary, he retorted with self-assurance, "Inheritance isn't all about genetics. You can learn things by observation, you know."

"He only learned your bad habits, not the good ones. I suspect our son's cluelessness about giving gifts to girls comes straight from you," Liu He complained to the two sisters. "You girls have no idea. I didn't get my first bouquet of flowers until three or four years after we were married. And it wasn't for our anniversary, either. It was for some stupid Women's Day… The school was giving out free flowers, so he grabbed one and presented it to me like it was a priceless treasure. I was so happy at first, but then I got to my office and realized every single female teacher had one."

"Ahem… You're dredging that up again?"

"What's wrong with dredging it up? Men have to be trained. If you don't teach them, they'll never learn. Let's see if you get me anything for our anniversary this year."

"Well, Mr. Chen will definitely have to get you something now. You've made yourself very clear," Jiangg Yao said, suppressing a giggle.

"Fine, I'll give you something. I'll give it to you right now."

As Mr. Chen spoke, he actually sat up straight and began to rummage around in his breast pocket. He looked so serious about it that even Liu He's eyes widened slightly.

She couldn't hide her surprise. "Whoa, Chen, our anniversary is still a month away. Don't tell me you actually bought something ahead of time."

"Wow, Mr. Chen was prepared? How romantic," Jiangg Yao said, her eyes fixed on Mr. Chen's hand as it dug into his pocket. She couldn't help but clasp her own hands together in anticipation.

Even Jiangg Ning found herself looking on with anticipation.

'Who would have thought? Yaoyao's casual comment had accidentally sparked a romantic moment between the old couple.'

"Chen, don't, the kids are right here… I was just teasing. If you have something for me, wait until we're alone." Now it was Liu He's turn to get flustered, and she quickly waved her hands in dismissal.

She was genuinely worried Mr. Chen was about to pull out a gold ring or a pair of expensive earrings.

Doing that in front of the three "kids" would be terribly embarrassing.

But even as she said it, her eyes were glued to Mr. Chen's pocket. 'What could he possibly pull out of a breast pocket that small?'

But no one expected what came next.

Mr. Chen fumbled around for a good while, then cleared his throat.

He simply brought his thumb and index finger together to form a little heart and flashed it in front of Liu He.

His expression was dead serious.

And then.

The car was utterly silent.

The three women in the back seat stared at Mr. Chen's hand.

Jiangg Yao: "…"

Jiangg Ning: "…"

Liu He: "?"

After a few seconds, Ningning and Yaoyao turned away, looking out the window and using every ounce of their strength to keep the corners of their mouths from turning up. They were desperately trying not to laugh.

But it was getting… really hard to hold it in.

"Oh, get out of here!" Liu He's face went from pale to beet red before she finally managed to spit out the words.

At that, the two sisters in the back lost it completely. Chen Yuan was the first to break, and soon the entire car was filled with laughter. Jiangg Yao was clutching her stomach, doubled over and wheezing, tears welling up in her eyes.

No one had expected such a hilarious move from Mr. Chen.

Liu He had been genuinely angry at first, but after a moment, the corners of her mouth started to twitch upwards. She had been laughed right out of her own frustration.

"Honestly… a man your age, still playing such childish pranks. I don't know what to do with you…"

She pursed her lips, a look of complete exasperation on her face.

It was such a heartwarming scene.

The old couple hadn't felt this kind of warmth in a long time.

On a perfectly sunny day, the family set off for distant Kyoto. They chatted and laughed along the way, not just enjoying the moment, but also looking forward to the future.

Parents inevitably spend their lives worrying and working hard.

They raise their children to adulthood, watch them get married and have kids of their own, and then, in their old age, pour all their love and affection onto the next generation.

Now that all these wishes were coming true, the old couple was, of course, overjoyed.

The scenery outside the window flew past.

While the women chatted in the back, Chen Yuan was up front discussing with his dad when to get him a new car. After all, their old Jetta had been on the road for many years. It might not have been as old as Chen Yuan himself, but it was close.

He remembered how, when he was a kid, Mr. Chen had gone into a small business with a partner. The partner ended up making it big and bought out all of Mr. Chen's shares, giving them the money to buy the car.

Liu He always used this story as an example, saying that if he hadn't sold those shares to his partner out of kindness, they could have upgraded that Jetta to a decent luxury car by now.

Now that Chen Yuan was grown and had the means, he wanted to get his dad a gift, so he was asking for his opinion.

A car is less of a tool and more of a big toy for men.

Mr. Chen, at fifty years old, was no exception. He'd complained countless times about that old car that seemed to need a trip to the mechanic after every single drive.

"The country's infrastructure is so good now. At my age, I don't really need a car to get around. Aren't high-speed trains and all that much more comfortable than driving yourself? You can go anywhere you want." He wouldn't give in. In his heart, he didn't want Chen Yuan to spend money frivolously.

In his mind, his son had plenty of future expenses to worry about.

You can't just throw money around, even if you have it.

'As the saying goes, money is a man's courage. With money in your pocket, you can speak with confidence no matter where you are.' He had been a public school teacher his whole life. He wasn't fabulously wealthy, but his pension would be substantial. 'It's one thing not to add to my son's foundation,' he thought, 'but I can't be taking things from him.'

"That may be true, but I want to do something nice for you."

"The thought is what counts."

"Okay, Dad, I hear you. But let's say we weren't buying a car. If you could have anything you wanted, with money being no object, what would you pick?" Chen Yuan asked, trying a different angle.

"Well, since you put it that way, there is one."

"What is it?"

"A Lexus."

As soon as he said it, Chen Yuan slapped his forehead, a memory clicking into place.

One New Year, a distant relative of their neighbor had come to visit, and they drove a Lexus. All the friends and family were making their holiday rounds, and Mr. Chen had gathered with a few other men around that car, admiring it for the longest time.

Chen Yuan instantly knew what to do. He made a mental note.

The two of them were talking quietly.

Suddenly, Liu He's voice came from the back seat.

"Yuan, Ningning said Yaoyao is a singer, that she's been artistic since she was a little girl. Is that true?"

"She's right next to you. Why don't you just ask her?"

"Oh, please. Yaoyao won't tell me. She's afraid I'll make her sing for us."

Ningning glanced at Chen Yuan, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Everyone's in such a good mood today," she said lightly. "It wouldn't hurt for Yaoyao to sing a little."

"Sis, it's embarrassing…" Jiangg Yao's cheeks turned a faint pink. She was shy about singing in front of Mr. and Mrs. Chen.

"We're all family here, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Go on, Yaoyao. I have faith in you," Chen Yuan said encouragingly, his eyes meeting hers in the rearview mirror.

"Okay, fine. I'll sing a little. How about 'Cherry Blossom Grass'?"

She'd had a beautiful voice since she was a child, a fact well-known to those close to her.

Even the perpetually stern Jiangg Ruxue, on the rare afternoon she was home instead of out at meetings, would find herself listening when the vocal coach came to teach Jiangg Yao.

When the beautiful, lilting melody, accompanied by the piano, drifted out from the side room and filled the small villa…

…even Jiangg Ruxue would listen intently, tilting her head to catch the afternoon sun and lightly tapping her high-heeled foot to the rhythm.

Enjoying the tranquil moment.

「Inside the car.」

"Evening breeze sways the bamboo grove~

Moonlight stretches our shadows long~

Fireflies~ twinkling~ bright~"

…

"Cherry blossom grass in a lover's hand~~"

"A smile as we stroll through the colors of spring~~

Planting~ one by one~

The brilliant years of our dazzling youth…"

A gentle breeze rustled their hair. Chen Yuan kept his eyes on the straight road ahead, Jiangg Yao's sweet, lovely voice filling his ears. As her singing swelled, the old couple began to clap along to the beat, and Ningning hummed softly beside her.

The sky was endless.

For many, many years to come, he would remember this scene.

He would remember this fleeting moment from that morning, a memory he would cherish forever.

He had his family, his loved one, a destination ahead, and a brilliant youth that felt like he could reach out and grasp it…

…