Chapter 1098 - Finally Understood
Others might not know the reason why the Qiu family ended up going downhill, but Shi Peng knew it very well.
Given Feng Cheng’s temper, if she caused any trouble to the Feng family, Shi Peng would still be able to resolve it. But if she caused trouble for the Shi family, it would be a serious problem.
It was rare that Feng Cheng would listen to him. Therefore, Shi Peng improved his attitude toward Feng Cheng. He pulled Feng Cheng to his side and allowed Feng Cheng to hold his hand. “Now that you have figured out what is going on, you should know how you should treat Qiao Nan in the future. I once told you that Qiao Nan is a great help to Qing Qing. If you don’t believe it, you can learn more about their friendship after you let go of your prejudices toward Qiao Nan. I believe that Qiao Nan is more sincere to Qing Qing that your two nephews.”
Shi Peng was in poor health when he was still in the army.
He heeded Qiao Nan’s advice to retire from the army and joined the government sector. Although the work was just as challenging, under Qiao Nan’s influence and his daughter’s strict care, Shi Peng felt that he was leading a better lifestyle than before.
Right now, there was always someone around him to make sure that he had his meals on time and that he had sufficient rest. Even if he had not fully recovered, at least, he was still stronger than when he was in the army.
Back then, he was constantly sick and would be hospitalized time and again. He was a frequent visitor of the military hospital.
Once hospitalized, it would be several days later before he was allowed to return to the army. When he was back at the army, he would work overtime to finish his work that had been piling up during his hospital stay.
After he cleared his work through working overtime, he would end up at the hospital again. This had resulted in a vicious cycle.
Right now, Shi Peng was no longer trapped in the vicious cycle.
Qiao Nan had to take the credit for the improvement in his condition.
Feng Cheng hesitated but she was not as condescending and obstinate as before. “W-well, I will talk to Qing Qing about it when there’s a chance.”
Feng Cheng turned gloomy in the next instant. “Qing Qing is still angry with me. She refused to talk to me.”
“Who do you have to blame for that? Back when Qing Qing was not in a quarrel with you and she tried to engage in a conversation with you, did the two of you have a good chat? You should reflect on your attitude back then! Qing Qing has grown up and she has her own life and way of thinking. Would she not be angry when you wanted her to go according to your wishes just because you are her mom?” Shi Peng lectured Feng Cheng in a harsh tone. It was Feng Cheng who caused her relationship with Shi Qing to be strained. She could not blame Shi Qing, saying that she refused to listen to her.
Feng Cheng blushed. “But Qing Qing should not lose her temper at me for the sake of an outsider.”
The reason why she could not stand Qiao Nan and refused to listen to any praises regarding Qiao Nan was that her only daughter was on very good terms with Qiao Nan and she was not as close to her mother.
In short, Feng Cheng was jealous.
Shi Peng felt amused and angry at the same time. “Let’s not talk about you. I am her dad, but I am not as important to Shi Qing as Qiao Nan is. It is not that Qing Qing is not close to us. We are definitely her dearest. However, I believe if Qing Qing encounters anything, she will definitely tell Qiao Nan, but she may not tell us. Forget it. It is rare that you can maintain your calm and accept that Qiao Nan is a special girl. I will leave you to chat with Qing Qing. As you know more about their friendship, you will understand why Qing Qing is so close to Qiao Nan.”
Qiao Nan was charismatic and this appealed to the big shots as well as her peers.
Otherwise, his proud and overbearing disciple who had no care for women would not have fallen head over heels for Qiao Nan.
Everything happened for a reason, and Qiao Nan was not pretentious.
He absolutely believed that as long as Feng Cheng calmed down and observed Qiao Nan objectively, it would not be long before Feng Cheng accepted Qiao Nan wholeheartedly.
This time, Feng Cheng did not rebut Shi Peng. Instead, she considered his words seriously.
“Dad, Mom, you are here!” The couple had a long heartfelt talk. Shi Qing, who was in her bridesmaid dress, appeared in front of them. She was light in her steps, springing like a swallow. The hemline of her dress swayed as she moved. She looked stunning. “Dad, Mom, is my dress pretty? Qiao Nan chose it!”
Feng Cheng’s eyes were smiling. “Pretty! My Qing Qing is the most beautiful girl. You will look good in any dress… Of course, you look prettier in this dress.”
“?” Shi Qing widened her eyes in puzzlement. “Mom, do I look pretty in this dress?”
Feng Cheng could tell that her daughter was testing her and was full of disbelief. She felt embarrassed. “Hmm… The person who chose the dress has a good sense of judgment. It suits you very much.”
The second half of the sentence was indeed the truth.
Shi Qing was bubbly. Qiao Nan would not want her to wear those dresses that were too ladylike and demure.
Shi Qing could not believe it when Feng Cheng praised her dress for the second time. She shifted her gaze to Shi Peng as if asking, ‘Dad, what’s up? Did you make Mom take a special medicine when you left the house today?’
Feng Cheng noticed the funny look on her daughter’s face and tapped her lightly on her head, feeling amused and angry. “Are you unhappy that I did not stop you from mingling with Qiao Nan or that I did not create trouble for her? If not, I will revert to my previous self so that you will not misunderstand that I am not your real mother.”
Although Shi Qing still could not understand why her mother changed without an apparent reason, she was glad of the change. “Mom, please don’t do that. Take no offense to a child’s babble. Don’t take issue with what I said.”
It was rare that her mother could sort out her thoughts. She did not care how she did it, but she hoped her mother would stay the same and did not revert to her previous self. “Mom, Qiao Nan looks stunning in the phoenix coronet and robe of rank. True enough, the bride should be in a red wedding dress. Chinese wedding costumes are beautiful. If I marry in the future, I won’t wear a bridal gown. I want to wear the same costumes as Qiao Nan.”
In the past, Shi Qing felt that since it was in the 21st century, one had to wear a bridal gown when getting married. The white bridal gown was stunning and romantic.
However, Shi Qing changed her mind today. When Qiao Nan put on the set of bright red phoenix coronet and robe of rank, she looked much more magnificent than the resplendent sunset in the sky.
She was beautiful and stunning.
“Dad, I have regrets now.”
“What do you mean?” Shi Peng looked at his daughter, feeling baffled. “What are you talking about?”
“Qiao Nan is so beautiful.” Shi Qing touched her chin cheekily. “Qiao Nan has good culinary skills, a good temperament, and a good temper. She is also smart and pretty.”