Originally, Lin Hai had already opened the door, but he stopped when he heard my words. Before he could speak, I said, "Let's go inside and talk."

Once inside the office, he asked me curiously, "What's the difference between telling him now and telling him later?"

"I don't need you to tell him. I'll see him one last time before I leave and tell him directly. It'll be easier."

"Shi Yu is pregnant, and you still want to leave?"

"What else can I do? I started the procedures before she got pregnant."

"I suggest you wait until after the baby is born before considering it."

"Don't try to persuade me to stay. If you keep talking, I really won't want to leave."

At this moment, Pei Shi Yu, who was standing beside us, said, "Go ahead. Since you're leaving, don't linger. It's not like you won't be back."

"Yeah, one phone call, and I'll be back in minutes."

"Shi Yu, sit down and talk." Lin Hai moved aside, making room for her to sit down.

Suddenly, construction sounds came from outside. I looked through the window and saw several workers in construction uniforms had already started working. I intentionally glanced at my phone; the time was exactly one o'clock.

My eyes continued to focus on the building materials in the distance as I said, "This empty space is big enough to build several factory buildings."

Lin Hai smiled and replied, "There's not that much capital. We'll build one story first. I'll leave the height issue to you to develop in the future."

"Don't think too highly of it. I'm just going to learn." I said very reservedly.

"I'll lay the foundation first, waiting for your return."

"I don't know if I have the ability."

"I believe in you."

"Don't put pressure on me. If I don't have the ability after I come back, I won't even be qualified to go abroad."

"If I were you, I wouldn't be willing to leave."

This time, Lin Hai was looking at Pei Shi Yu when he said this. My first reaction was that it wasn't appropriate for him to say that, so I immediately questioned him, "Then why did you treat me like that back then?"

I saw Lin Hai immediately reveal an awkward expression. After a while, he said magnanimously, "Let's not talk about the past. If you feel wronged, cherish your marriage in the future."

I didn't dwell on it, because my mother had already said the same thing several times. This kind of answer obviously gave him a way out, while also seeming to enlighten me about my attitude towards marriage.

"You two are officially a couple now. Where will you live after you get married?" Lin Hai asked curiously.

"We're currently living on Zhijiang Road, and probably will be in the future as well."

At this moment, Pei Shi Yu added, "It's quite nice living there. We're already used to it."

"That's good too. Originally, I bought a house for Lin Che as well. It's quite big. You can move in after a little renovation."

"We'll talk about it later. We don't need it now." I replied tactfully.

From Lin Hai's tone, I already understood a little of what he meant, it was just a bit of male chauvinism.

…

That afternoon, Pei Shi Yu and I stayed with Lin Hai the whole time. Just like I thought before, compared to my mom, Pei Shi Yu obviously had a better rapport with Lin Hai, and she was also very relaxed and not at all pretentious. They talked about a wide range of topics, and Lin Hai maintained a constant, high level of enthusiasm.

The company had already started operating recently, and there were several projects being done at the same time. Amidst Lin Hai's busyness and leisure, time came to four o'clock in the afternoon. If Pei Shi Yu hadn't not shown any signs of leaving, I probably would have left long ago. Precisely because of this, I spent perhaps the longest time I can remember with Lin Hai, and I discovered that he handled affairs decisively and resolutely. He was a very capable person, and for the first time, I looked at him with new eyes.

Taking advantage of the moment he went out, I said to Pei Shi Yu, "Turns out he does have some ability."

"Much better than you," Pei Shi Yu replied bluntly.

"Where am I lacking? Point out my shortcomings."

After I finished speaking, Pei Shi Yu looked very serious, her eyes fixed on my face as she said, "In terms of endurance, your dad is better than you. In terms of looks, you're better than him…"

I felt very uncomfortable after hearing this and immediately questioned, "Are you saying I'm just a pretty boy?"

"Then tell me, what are your own good points?"

"I need to think about that carefully."

"Okay, think about it."

I pondered carefully for a while and realized that I really didn't have any outstanding qualities. If I had to find something that made me better than Lin Hai, besides not being as ambitious as him, it seemed like I couldn't find any other advantages.

I met Pei Shi Yu's gaze and reluctantly said, "At least I'm kinder than Lin Hai, right?"

"Don't always use things from when you were kids as a benchmark. Kindness isn't compared like that either."

"You make it sound like I'm good for nothing. It's so strange, then what exactly did you see in me?"

"I often don't understand either. Maybe I was bewitched," Pei Shi Yu replied with a rare smile.

"Not funny at all." I corrected her attitude.

Just then, Lin Hai happened to push the door open and said, "Shi Yu, you must be bored after staying here all afternoon, right?"

"It's not boring with Lin Che here."

Suddenly, Lin Hai changed the topic and looked at us very seriously, saying, "You two got your marriage certificate today. From now on, you have to call me 'Dad,' including Lin Che. It's been too long since I've heard you call me 'Dad.'"

It might be a bit difficult for Pei Shi Yu, after all, it's not that easy to change the way you address someone all of a sudden, but for me, it was just a matter of changing my mind. So, taking advantage of Pei Shi Yu's embarrassment, I shouted loudly first, "Dad, are you satisfied?"

"That's how it should be. I'm not used to hearing it anymore."

Lin Hai was right, not only was he a little unaccustomed to it, but I felt the same way, after all, the way I called him when I was a child was completely different from now.

"The problem is still with yourself. Can we leave work now?"

"Let's go. Today, our family will celebrate properly. It's the happiest moment for me this year."

I scoffed and retorted, "You really take yourself seriously, using 'family' so quickly. I haven't even adapted yet."

"That's your problem, Shi Yu, let's go."

Pei Shi Yu glanced at me and said, "Looking for trouble for no reason. Do you think you're being humorous?"

I noticed that when Pei Shi Yu was with my mom, she wasn't so obviously on my opposite side, and I could still play a role in mediating. But when she stood with Lin Hai, it was so strange, they naturally seemed like they had a close, familial connection.

So, I took the lead and walked out of the office. Those following behind me started chatting again, and bursts of laughter came from them. From a family perspective, I really liked this kind of atmosphere; but from a personal emotional point of view, I didn't want to be neglected and always hoped that Pei Shi Yu could maintain her sense of reliance on me.

The construction team outside was working quickly. In just one afternoon, they had already put up the scaffolding, and trucks carrying materials were frequently going in and out. At this speed, the simple bungalows could be built in a few days, especially since Lin Hai was in this line of work.