CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 150 HE LOVES YOU, AND ONLY YOU

Managing people is a profound art, and she naturally would have managed well herself.

Employing others might not yield good results.

The old masters from Yunxi Lane couldn’t integrate with the existing embroidery staff of Ya Garden, which would be counterproductive.

Ren Ye said earnestly, "What are your thoughts on Yunxi Lane and the Chu Family Embroidery Manual?"

"I don’t have any particular thoughts. My initial interest in Yunxi Lane was only because my mother lived there as a child, and I had hoped to bring her back to Jiangnan someday to let her rest there permanently. However, after interacting with Lady Chu and Yunhui, I realized that my mother might not have been happy during her time in Yunxi Lane, which made me hesitant."

"I realized that everything I did was motivated by my guilt towards her, not by her actual feelings. If she had been fond of this place, she wouldn’t have gone all those years without any thoughts of it."

Ren Ye couldn’t help but ask further, "She never mentioned Jiangnan and Yunxi Lane at all?"

"No. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known about her childhood in Yunxi Lane until you mentioned it. I thought she grew up in the Fu Family’s main house," Fu Bing said softly. "My mother rarely talked about the past. I am very observant, yet I never noticed any unhappiness in her all those years. On the contrary, she seemed happy every day."

Ren Ye fell silent.

Everyone thought that Fu Ya, having left Jiangnan for an unfamiliar place, would face continuous setbacks and return soon.

Instead, she didn’t face any obstacles and was doing well, raising her daughter excellently.

Ren Ye said, "Perhaps your presence made her feel everything was worthwhile."

"I hope your guess is correct," Fu Bing said, looking towards Yunxi Lane in the distance.

Under the night sky, its lights softened the darkness above.

"Do you think I should bring my mother back?"

Ren Ye was silent for a long while before he spoke, "I think she would prefer to be with you. If you are willing to settle in Jiangnan, she would certainly like to return. If you plan to return to Jiangcheng in the future, she’d rather be there with you."

Ren Ye left the decision to Fu Bing.

Fu Ya was no more; returning to Jiangnan or not was merely the living’s obsession.

As a daughter, Fu Bing had already done enough.

Fu Bing said softly, "As I become responsible for more things and more people ask me questions, I find myself wishing someone would just give me a straightforward answer during our exchanges."

Ren Ye chuckled, "I can give you straightforward answers and support in work matters, but regarding your mother, I would rather you give me the answer."

Fu Bing understood clearly. "I will consider it carefully."

"Hmm."

Fu Bing, looking at Ren Ye’s still handsome features and extraordinary demeanor, asked, "Why didn’t you accept Zhang Man?"

Ren Ye, not expecting the question, smiled and said, "No matter how young I might look, I’m over fifty. Zhang Man is just thirty; her life is really just starting. She has suitable peers to be her partners, not me."

"There are so many older men and younger wives in this world, don’t you want that?"

"Having been single for so many years, I have already gotten used to the comfort of being alone. I enjoy my current life, with money, leisure, and a nephew to look after me in old age. You will also be able to take care of me when I’m old. There’s no urgent need for me to find a partner. Besides, when two people have a big age difference, eventually, it doesn’t work out since there are many things to compromise on. Zhang Man is younger, and her social experience isn’t as rich as mine. If she were with me, she would simply turn into someone who fits my aesthetic and needs, not her true self."

"To be honest, I don’t have a habit of trying to change others. I admire her as she is now, and wouldn’t want her to change to meet my needs."

Hearing him say this, Fu Bing knew Zhang Man had no chance at all. Uncle Ren cared for her and pitied her, but he felt no romantic love for her.

Seeing her lost in thought, Ren Ye said, "Don’t worry about my love life; think about your own. Your relationship with Qin Jinhai has already ended, and there are so many outstanding men around you. Is there anyone who appeals to you?"

Fu Bing immediately shook her head. "I don’t want to talk about relationships for now."

"Is it that you don’t want to talk now, or is Qin Jinhai still on your mind?" Ren Ye didn’t give her a chance to evade the question.

Wu Shi had intended to bring them water, but on hearing this question, silently withdrew his hand from the door, quietly waiting for Fu Bing’s answer.

Fu Bing chuckled, "Do you really have to ask so specifically?"

"I don’t want you to drown in the past like I did, missing the chance to step into a life full of normalcy and warmth."

"Do you regret your choices back then?"

"I wouldn’t say I regret it. But having lived alone for so long, I occasionally think that if I had married a decent woman and had two or three children, life would probably have been pretty good. But when I was young, nobody seemed right, and after being alone for so long, I wasn’t willing to force myself to accept someone else. As my career grew, everyone assumed I stayed unmarried because of your mother. In reality, adults don’t stay unmarried for someone else’s sake; they either have a fixation or simply don’t want to disrupt their existing life."

Fu Bing nodded. "Your reasons are very honest."

"So, I don’t want you to follow my old path. Your last relationship was so intense and well-known. Starting a new one would unconsciously set very high standards, and you need to prepare yourself mentally."

Fu Bing suddenly grew curious. "Uncle Ren, what do you think of Qin Jinhai as a person?"

"Are you asking about him as a person or his performance in your story?"

"I want to hear both."

"I’ve met Qin Jinhai a few times. He’s too intelligent, almost inhumanly so, resembling a fox spirit rather than a person. His aura also doesn’t seem young, as he is very layered and enigmatic," Ren Ye said, thoughtfully choosing his words. "He’s like he wears countless masks, and you never know which mask he will wear next. Whether as an opponent or a partner, I don’t think he’s a good choice. Being with him is too exhausting, always having to guess."

Ren Ye had more cutting remarks he could make, but he stopped himself, feeling they were unnecessary. Harsh words would only hurt Fu Bing.

Wu Shi quietly listened, even lightening his breath unconsciously.

After a while, Fu Bing finally spoke, "Your evaluation matches my first impression of him. But sometimes, I felt like he opened his heart to me, and other times, he seemed unfathomable. In this relationship, I experienced all forms of love, beautiful and cruel. It was thrilling, but also desperate. The most desperate part was that, until he died, I never knew if he had loved me. Even if he had told me so, I wouldn’t have necessarily believed it."

With hidden pain in her eyes, Fu Bing forced a smile and said self-deprecatingly, "To end up like this after a love affair is really something."

Ren Ye tilted his head to look at her. "As a man, I can give you the answer on behalf of Qin Jinhai. He loved you, and only you."