242: Chapter 242 Gao Fangfang: You can read this after I leave.

Upon hearing this news, the expression on Secretary Gao Yuliang's usually composed face changed instantly, and even his voice trembled slightly: "What did you say? Who is back? Fangfang?"

"Yes," Wu Huifen said excitedly, "It's Fangfang. She's back. She's coming home for dinner tonight, so come back early from work."

Secretary Gao Yuliang hurriedly asked: "Did she say why she came back? Did she say how long she's staying?"

"She didn't say much, just told me she was in Handong Province for official business with a project team and would stop by home for dinner. Alright, I won't talk to you anymore, I need to go back and prepare." Wu Huifen hung up the phone after saying this.

Secretary Gao Yuliang put down his phone and took a deep breath.

He couldn't remember how long it had been since he last saw his daughter. The thought of seeing his daughter tonight made him feel somewhat flustered. He wiped his glasses, trying to calm himself down, but a sudden, inexplicable sense of unease rose in his heart.

Fangfang had always been resistant to coming home and had stayed in America for all these years, refusing to return. Now that she suddenly said she was coming home for dinner, it was too unusual.

Carrying this doubt, Secretary Gao Yuliang spent the whole afternoon feeling restless. Before it was even time to get off work, he left the Provincial Committee building ahead of schedule, for the first time ever, and returned to Villa No. 3 in the compound.

Wu Huifen was busy in the kitchen, and the house was filled with the charred fragrance of soy sauce from stir-frying.

"Teacher Wu," Secretary Gao Yuliang changed his shoes and walked straight into the kitchen, "When did Fangfang say she would be home?"

Wu Huifen smiled without turning her head: "She said around 6:30. Don't just stand there, go wash some fruit."

"Okay." Secretary Gao Yuliang turned slowly, but after taking two steps, he turned back, "Why do you think Fangfang suddenly came back?"

Wu Huifen's face darkened: "What do you mean? Are you unhappy that our daughter is back?"

Secretary Gao Yuliang gave a wry smile: "How could I be unhappy? But a project team's inspection can't be a spur-of-the-moment decision. Why didn't she tell us sooner?"

Wu Huifen paused for a moment, then said: "That goes without saying! It must be that Fangfang didn't intend to come back at first, but once she arrived in Handong Province, she missed home, so she decided on the spur of the moment. So, when Fangfang comes back, don't ask random questions or say random things. I'm warning you, if you drive our daughter away again, I'm not finished with you!"

Secretary Gao Yuliang pondered for a while, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly: "If that's really the case, that would be great. If there's a chance today, I must persuade her to return and develop her career in the country."

Wu Huifen's face stiffened: "Don't rush to say that; it depends on Fangfang's mood."

"Don't worry, I know what's appropriate." Secretary Gao Yuliang waved his hand and turned to wash the fruit.

At 6:30, the doorbell rang punctually.

Wu Huifen quickly opened the door, and seeing her lovely daughter at the door, her eyes immediately welled up: "Fangfang! You're finally back!"

As she spoke, she pulled Gao Fangfang into her arms.

A mother and daughter are connected by heart.

Seeing her mother standing alive before her, Gao Fangfang's psychological defenses collapsed instantly. Family affection is an irrational thing—a Bloodline connection that nothing can erase.

Gao Fangfang's tears gushed out immediately, and she hugged her mother tightly: "Mom!"

Secretary Gao Yuliang came out from the study and, looking at the scene of the mother and daughter hugging, a touch of tenderness flashed across his face.

He raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye, his voice trembling slightly: "Come in quickly. Fangfang, let Dad have a look at you."

Wu Huifen let go and pulled Gao Fangfang to stand in front of Secretary Gao Yuliang. Secretary Gao Yuliang's eyes crinkled into slits with a smile: "Fangfang, you've lost weight."

Gao Fangfang looked at the father who was far older than in her memory, and her heart felt a sudden ache. She bit her lip; the thought of slamming the file bag onto his face had long since flown to the ends of the earth, and her voice couldn't help but choke up: "Dad, you've lost weight too."

Secretary Gao Yuliang reached out both hands and patted Gao Fangfang's shoulders firmly, his voice full of paternal love: "Sit down quickly, tell Dad about your work and life. What do you want to drink? Honey citron tea, right? I just brewed a big pot for you, it's warm."

Gao Fangfang's nose tingled, and she nodded vigorously.

Secretary Gao Yuliang poured a full cup of honey citron tea and handed it to her, and the father and daughter sat down on the sofa. Wu Huifen brought over the washed fruit and smiled: "Eat something first, dinner will be ready soon. It's all stuff you love to eat."

Gao Fangfang took a deep breath and smiled: "I can smell it, Mom's cooking has gotten even better."

Secretary Gao Yuliang looked into his daughter's eyes, but his inner unease grew with every passing minute.

He could tell—Fangfang was hiding something. Her sudden return today really did have an ulterior motive.

During dinner, except for Secretary Gao Yuliang taking a call halfway through, the meal was relatively warm. Gao Fangfang talked about what she had seen and heard in America, and Secretary Gao Yuliang and Wu Huifen also chatted about the changes in the country over the past two years.

After the meal, just as Wu Huifen was about to get up to clear the dishes, Gao Fangfang gently held her back. At the same time, her expression suddenly turned serious as she looked at Secretary Gao Yuliang: "Mom, Dad, I have something to say."

It's coming!

Secretary Gao Yuliang's heart sank, and he said: "Leave the dishes for now, let's go to the study to talk."

Gao Fangfang nodded, pulled Wu Huifen along, and followed Secretary Gao Yuliang into the study. Wu Huifen looked at her daughter, confused: "Daughter, what do you want to say? Are you coming back to work in the country?"

"It's not that," Gao Fangfang paused, "It's about something else."

Secretary Gao Yuliang's gaze flickered slightly, and his tone revealed a hint of disbelief: "Fangfang, are you coming back to develop your career in the country?"

Gao Fangfang waved her hand, not answering.

She took a file bag out of her bag, placed it on the table, and turned to look at Wu Huifen: "Mom. You know about Dad's affairs in Hong Kong, right?"

Wu Huifen's body shook, and a complex look flashed in her eyes: "Fangfang, what... what do you mean?"

Gao Fangfang sighed softly: "I'm not stupid. I know about your affairs; I also know about Dad's. What I want to say today has to do with Dad's affairs in Hong Kong. Mom, prepare yourself mentally."

Wu Huifen smiled miserably: "What else do I have to prepare for? Little Gao is the real queen."

Secretary Gao Yuliang frowned: "Teacher Wu, don't say that."

Wu Huifen looked up at him: "Then what else can I say?"

"Let's not fight..." Secretary Gao Yuliang waved his hand, "Fangfang finally came back once..."

Slap!

The thick file bag was slapped onto the table by Gao Fangfang, interrupting Secretary Gao Yuliang's words.

She tapped the tabletop and said word by word: "I didn't come back to listen to you two argue. Dad, Mom, I came back today to give you these things. I believe you have the ability to handle your own affairs. For now, don't look at them yet, wait until I leave before you look—look at them together."

Wu Huifen and Secretary Gao Yuliang were both stunned: "Fangfang, you're leaving already?"

Gao Fangfang smiled: "Don't worry, I have already joined Xiaohe Pharmaceuticals in the capital, and I will be staying in the country from now on."

"The capital?" Wu Huifen paused, then seemed to think of something, her expression somewhat complex, "Fangfang, did you see Hou Liangping in the capital?"

Secretary Gao Yuliang's heart was flooded with the same thought. Back then, Fangfang had been obsessed with Hou Liangping, but later, Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai got together, and Fangfang was heartbroken.

He looked at Gao Fangfang with worry, fearing that she had returned to the country because of Hou Liangping—Hou Liangping was now the son-in-law of the Zhong family in the capital, and both Secretary Gao Yuliang and Wu Huifen were worried that their daughter would do something reckless.

Gao Fangfang smiled indifferently: "Don't worry, I'm not the little girl who didn't understand anything back then anymore. I don't think much of Hou Liangping at all now. I came back because the research projects and benefits at Xiaohe Pharmaceuticals are genuinely good."

After speaking, she picked up her things, said goodbye to her parents, and turned to walk out of Villa No. 3.

After seeing their daughter off, Secretary Gao Yuliang and Wu Huifen returned to the study. The two looked at the file bag on the table and exchanged glances. A moment later, Secretary Gao Yuliang reached out, picked it up, opened it slowly, and pulled out the stack of things from inside...