Chapter 310: Learning From Hyson

Zhai Yanjun spent a good amount of time staring at his father's face when he heard that remark from him. He couldn't help pondering over those words. Indeed, he also never figured out why his mother actually married her father?

For status, wealth, and power?

But the Zhai family was actually behind the Yue family when it came to all of those whether it was status, wealth, or power. There were only a few clans in the whole country who could contend with the Yue family when it came to those three things. So, it was obvious that Yue Lan didn't choose Zhai Kuijun for any of it.

And if one said she did it for love, Zhai Yanjun would only snort in contempt! 

It was true that his father loved his mother but saying that love was reciprocated was difficult. Especially for him, who had seen the relationship between his parents. In fact, at times, he also felt like his mother actually looked down on his father. But he had nothing to prove that point.

"Stop looking at me and tell me honestly how did you suddenly remember Yue?" asked Zhai Kuijun.

Zhai Yanjun looked around trying to avoid this question. He didn't want to lie to his father but he didn't want to tell him the truth for now either. After all, he was smart enough to understand that Yue Yue didn't wish for others to know about her whereabouts. And if he let it slip... What if she hid again? Where would he find her?

Tapping his thigh, he asked, "Dad, have I been really close to Aunt Yue?"

Zhai Kuijun nodded his head. "Yes, you were. In fact, your mother had some complications during the delivery and couldn't take care of you later on. During that time, Yue always took care of you. There were even people who assumed she was your real mother, that's how clingy you were to her. You wouldn't eat anything unless you heard her voice."

Zhai Yanjun couldn't really recall any of that since he was too young but he happily accepted it. In his heart, he thought if his Aunt Yue was sweet as now, he definitely would have been clingy to her. Even now, he wanted to act clingy around her. 

"Wait!" Zhai Kuijun suddenly realized something. "Why do I feel like you're avoiding my question by asking your own question?"

"What?" Zhai Yanjun cleared his throat. "No way. How can I do that, dad?"

Zhai Kuijun narrowed his eyes at his son, "But I think I'm on the right track here. You are trying to avoid my question. What are you hiding?" He took a brief pause and added, "Did you by any chance... meet her? Or saw her somewhere?" Zhai Yanjun was surprised how his father caught on so soon. "Where did you see her?"

"Dad, stop overthinking," said Zhai Yanjun. Seeing his grandma, he called out, "Grandma, look your son is here. See, how unfilial he is. Right after coming, he has started interrogating me but didn't even bother to go to you to offer his greetings."

Grandma Zhai's brows knitted up when she heard her grandson talking like this as if he was inciting her to be angry with her own son. Then she looked at her son whom she hadn't seen in months and felt like since her grandson wanted her to play, why not?

Being the refined and elegant lady she had been, she didn't yell at her son but said, "Oh, looks like my son also knows his old parents are still alive." 

"Mother, it's nothing like that," said Zhai Kuijun as he stood up to hug his mother. 

"I think it is like that," argued Grandma Zhai as she put on airs making Zhai Yanjun amused to see it. "And how dare you try to interrogate my grandson? Who are you to dictate his life?"

"Who said I want to dictate his life?" asked Zhai Kuijun and then he looked at his son. "And you little brat, stop trying to pit my mother against me."

"Grandma, look at him!" said Zhai Yanjun. "He is even threatening me now."

Grandma Zhai was taken aback for a minute when she saw her grandson acting like this. She knew her grandson well. And she had never seen Zhai Yanjun acting like this. Although there was nothing wrong here, she couldn't tell what exactly changed here.

As for Zhai Yanjun, he actually didn't even realize that what he learned from Hyson, he was using it now on his grandmother to get her favor. And when he realized this truth, he was also surprised. When did he start following people?

Just for her grandson's sake, Grandma Zhai pulled Zhai Kuijun's ear, "You, listen well! My precious grandson isn't afraid of you. I'm still alive and always here for him. Let me see what you can do to him!"

"I really lost favor," said Zhai Kuijun. "But mother, don't you think I'm quite old now? Can you stop pulling my ear at this age? What will my son think about me?"

Grandma Zhai looked at Zhai Yanjun and said, "Junjun, you think whatever you want to think. Don't be scared of him. I'll handle him well for you."

Zhai Yanjun chuckled happily and nodded his head. And his grandmother was content to see her grandson smiling like this. 

"Mother, that's unfair," Zhai Kuijun complained. "I just asked him where he was going early in the morning. When he said he is visiting his maternal grandparents, I got curious about what he wanted to do there."

"Oh..." Grandma Zhai was also surprised to hear that. She didn't think her grandson was planning to visit his maternal grandparents. She remembered how Zhai Yanjun's last meeting with his mother ended, so he brought it up, "Are you going to apologize to your mother there?"

"Why would I apologize to her?" asked Zhai Yanjun.

"For how you spoke to her when she came to meet you the other day," said Grandma Zhai.

"Grandma, I already made it clear to you. She didn't come to meet me. She came to use to me again for her own purposes. I have no reason to apologize to her. And I won't do it either," Zhai Yanjun sounded resolute when he spoke.

Grandma Zhai didn't continue this topic when she noticed how worked up Zhai Yanjun got just at the mention of his mother's name. In fact, he stood up and said, "I'm going back to work." Just hearing about his mother again and again annoyed him so much that he didn't even feel like visiting his maternal grandparents anymore. He needed to calm down first before taking another step.

No matter how eager he was to find out the truth, he had to act rationally. And currently, he was definitely not thinking straight.

Seeing his retreating back, Zhai Kuijun sighed out, "Mother, why did you mention Yue Lan?"

"I..." Grandma Zhai had nothing to say actually. 

"Why do you forget that he hates her?" asked Zhai Kuijun.

"She is his mother. A child can't hate his own mother," argued Grandma Zhai.

"Oh? Then you're forgetting what his doctor said? Or are you forgetting why I had to send him to you? Or you're also forgetting why he suddenly chose to join the military!"

Grandma Zhai looked depressed when she recalled all of that. She didn't forget any of it.

"It's not that I forgot," she began. "I just think he is mature now."

"He is certainly mature. But that doesn't mean he is willing to forgive his mother," said Zhai Kuijun. "I know you also dislike Yue Lan. And you are only trying to make sure that Yanjun can somehow connect with his mother. But it is not possible. Stop trying it."

"I really messed up. He looked so relaxed and I ruined his mood by bringing up Yue Lan," muttered Grandma Zhai. She knew how much her grandson yearned for motherly love. And she still hoped that he could get connected with his mother. Even though it looked impossible. 

Zhai Kuijun patted his mother's shoulder, "I know you love Yanjun the most. No one thinks about for his good more than you. But he is old enough to make his own choices. It's not our say. So, let's allow him to spread his wings however he wants to."

"You're certainly old enough to lecture your own mother now, eh?" Grandma Zhai narrowed her eyes at her son who sheepishly scratched his chin.

"It's nothing like that. I just think we live in an age where it's not right to make choices for our kids. Since they think they know what's good and bad for them, then it's our responsibility to just support them."

"You're right," agreed Grandma Zhai. "It's just me who thinks he is still a kid who needs my protection. I often forget that he is a high-ranked military officer who is well respected."