Stepping into the study on the second floor, Chu Fan walked to the sofa in front of the desk, about to sit down, when a cold, emotionless shout came from behind him:
Where will you sit?
Chu Fan paused, looked up, and saw that the man was expressionless. He pointed to the hard little stool in front of the desk, his tone cold and harsh.
He was speechless for a moment, standing still without moving, and couldn't help but mutter to himself: This is like interrogating a criminal.
Without much hesitation, after a moment's thought, he silently walked over and sat on the old wooden bench.
The bench was narrow, hard, and cold, without even a backrest. He sat up straight, his posture even more disciplined than when he was in the criminal police team in his previous life.
"Zhiyao drove to pick you up today, and I don't want this to happen again."
The man placed his hands on the table, staring intently at Chu Fan, his tone filled with absolute authority and unquestionable authority.
This is his father-in-law, Song Chenglan, the Party Secretary of Yunzhou City!
Sure enough, he exuded a powerful aura, and the sense of oppression was overwhelming.
Chu Fan pursed his lips and remained silent.
After all, this man had at least "bestowed" upon him a cold and aloof wife—he could still swallow that favor for the time being.
The room fell silent for a moment.
After a moment, Song Chenglan spoke again, his tone slightly softer, but still calm:
"How's your reading going?"
"Books?" Chu Fan was taken aback. "What books?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Chenglan's expression darkened noticeably, and a hint of impatience appeared in his eyes.
"Your study materials are for the public exam."
"You think just because I'm your father-in-law, I can let you get into the system so easily? Let me tell you, if you can't pass the written exam—no one can protect you!"
His tone was not loud, but it was stern.
Chu Fan then realized that his father-in-law was actually planning to promote him from his position as an assistant traffic officer to a full-fledged position in the traffic police system.
However, the prerequisite is that he has to pass the written test on his own.
"I'm...I'm looking at it."
Chu Fan didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he could only bite the bullet and give a perfunctory reply.
"Alright, I'll test you."
Song Chenglan casually picked up a book from the table, his tone indifferent.
Chu Fan's face almost froze when he heard this.
Seriously... are they really going to take this this seriously?
A test? A real test for me?
His heart skipped a beat, and he almost shouted out on the spot: I haven't even flipped through the cover, how am I supposed to answer your questions now that you're asking me questions right here?
My mind was completely blank, but sweat suddenly poured out.
He glanced at his father-in-law, who was as cold as an iceberg, and couldn't help but mutter to himself:
—My wife's cold face is most likely learned from her cheap father!
Sure enough, the whole family is cut from the same cloth! Afraid of angering his short-tempered father-in-law, Chu Fan quickly tried to smooth things over:
"I've been a bit busy these past few days... I haven't had much time to look at it."
"Not watching much and not watching at all are two different things."
Song Chenglan spoke casually, flipping open the book in his hand, glancing down at it, then raising his eyelids to ask:
"Let me ask you a simple question—under what circumstances can motor vehicles proceed when the red light is on?"
"..."
Chu Fan's mind went blank for a moment.
Seriously? They're starting to draw questions on the spot now?
His mind was full of criminal investigations, interrogations, and crime scene investigations... and this was the answer he was asked to give?
I did learn it before, but the problem is—that was so many years ago, I've long forgotten it all.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.
Seeing that he couldn't answer for a long time, Song Chenglan frowned more and more, and his eyes darkened.
"This is the first question on the first page of this book."
"Looking at it like this... have you even bothered to look at it?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, authoritative tone, like he was interrogating a subordinate, showing no respect whatsoever.
Chu Fan felt a pang in his heart, and he couldn't even manage a bitter smile.
This is hardly a father-in-law.
This is clearly a three-pronged attack by the "leader + examiner + father-in-law"!
"I...I'll start watching tomorrow!"
Chu Fan's expression stiffened, and he quickly tried to salvage the situation, his tone tinged with embarrassment and a lack of confidence.
"No need to look."
Song Chenglan's face darkened. He slammed the book he was holding onto the table with a loud bang, stood up with a stern expression, walked a few steps to the door, flung the study door open, slammed it shut again, and coldly uttered:
"You can't make a good impression."
After saying that, he walked to the balcony alone.
He stood there, his back stiff, took out his cigarette case, skillfully lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and the smoke he exhaled slowly dissipated in the night.
Hearing the noise coming from the study, Song Zhiyao immediately walked over quickly.
She stood in the doorway, giving Chu Fan a cold look, her tone devoid of any warmth:
"This book was specially obtained for you by my father through someone. It's been almost half a month and you haven't touched a single page. What exactly do you mean by this?"
Chu Fan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
The air seemed to freeze; he could sense the suppressed anger in the other person's tone.
"I'm asking you a question, are you mute?"
Song Zhiyao's voice grew even colder, her brows furrowed, and she stood with her arms crossed, exuding the sharp aura of a policewoman that made Chu Fan's breath catch in his throat.
He genuinely didn't know how to explain. Was he supposed to say—"Your husband isn't actually your husband, he's a detective who was reborn?"
If I say that, won't you treat me like a lunatic and drag me in for an evaluation on the spot?
Just as the atmosphere became tense, a gentle voice rang out from the end of the corridor:
"What's wrong? Why are you speaking so loudly?"
Shen Rulan walked over, her gaze first sweeping over Chu Fan's stiff face, then landing on Song Zhiyao's cold expression. Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable rebuke:
"Xiao Fan just got home from get off work, and you're already pressuring him like this? Books aren't going to grow wings and fly away."
As she spoke, she slowly approached, standing beside Chu Fan, her tone shifting to a soft smile:
"Don't take it to heart. His father is the kind of person who is stubborn and inflexible. He's been like that since he was young. He's very rigid and won't listen to anything you say."
After saying that, she casually grasped Chu Fan's wrist, as if to lead him away, but her fingertips gently slid across his skin—carrying a layer of delicate warmth.
Chu Fan was taken aback, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Song Zhiyao's brows furrowed even more, but a smile inexplicably appeared on her lips.
Shen Rulan stepped aside to shield him, and smiled gently:
"Let's go downstairs and have some hot tea. Your dad needs to cool off a bit from his smoking."
...
The living room lights were soft, and the kettle on the coffee table was still steaming.
Shen Rulan gently released Chu Fan's hand, poured him a cup of hot tea, and placed it beside him.
"Your dad did speak a bit harshly."
She sat down, her voice gentle, "But he's a man with a sharp tongue but a soft heart."
She didn't sit upright, but naturally leaned against the side of the sofa, her legs gently crossed. The smoky purple silk dress slid down her thighs, clinging tightly to the back of her legs, outlining the soft, rounded lines between her calves and knees.
Chu Fan lowered his head to take the tea, and just then he caught a glimpse of the hem of the skirt being slightly raised, revealing a glimpse of fair skin peeking out from between the seams, and even the outline of the silk fabric clinging to the skin.
He quickly lowered his head and whispered, "I didn't take it to heart."
"You've suffered a lot these past few years,"
Shen Rulan continued, speaking slowly, "If it were any other man, he would have given up and left long ago."
"Zhiyao may not say it, but she actually acknowledges you in her heart."
As she turned to look at him as she spoke, the fabric at her chest gently twitched into an arc. The thin silk material hugged the contours of her breasts, the lines taut, revealing glimpses of the lace trim inside. Her breasts rose and fell slowly with her breath, soft and high, their full contours seemingly standing upright.
Chu Fan's eyes twitched, feeling the cup of tea in his hand getting hotter and hotter, as if even his palms were sweating.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Shen Rulan smiled and gently patted his knee: "Don't worry, I'm here, I won't let you suffer."
The hand landed right on the inside of his knee, warm and soft through the fabric, and the fingertips almost brushed against the nerves at the base of his thigh.
Chu Fan's breath hitched, and he abruptly straightened his back.
As if she hadn't noticed, she got up to pour water. As she leaned forward, her skirt clung tightly to her buttocks, revealing the outline of her full, round, and perky buttocks, which were clearly visible through the silk. Even the corners of her panties were clearly visible, swaying and trembling before his eyes.
"Home is not a workplace, nor is it an interrogation room."
With her back to him, she said in a gentle tone, "When you're under someone's roof, sometimes it's not shameful to lower your head."
Chu Fan stared blankly at her retreating figure, his heart burning with rage.
After pouring the water, Shen Rulan turned around and placed the teacup in front of Chu Fan. She did not immediately sit back down, but slowly sat down beside him, leaning slightly forward.
"I know you weren't in this circle before,"
Her voice was soft, and the aroma of tea mixed with her natural fragrance drifted gently into Chu Fan's nostrils.
"Being a civil servant sounds respectable, but in reality, you have the most rules and regulations."
As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, and her smoky purple silk dress slid down her body, revealing a triangular slit in the fabric at her chest. The outline of her breasts was clearly visible, and the edge of a pink areola was almost exposed, though it was already held in place by the neckline.
Chu Fan sat upright, trying his best to remain calm, but his ears were already slightly red, and his eyes never dared to look down.
How about this—
Shen Rulan suddenly raised her hand and straightened his crooked collar. Her voice lowered, but her tone remained gentle. "If you really don't know how to learn, Mom will pull some strings and find someone to teach you?"
Just as Chu Fan was about to reply, he heard a "click"—Shen Rulan bent down and took out a folder from under the coffee table.
In that instant, her entire upper body slumped down, her waist bent extremely low, her chest dropped completely, and the silk collar slipped down, pressing her snow-white, full breasts directly against the edge of the table. The soft flesh was deformed by the pressure, her cleavage stretched deep into the shadows, and even the protruding nipples were clearly highlighted by the tightly clung fabric, trembling slightly.
Chu Fan sat even more stiffly, and even his breathing began to become irregular.
As if unaware, she handed him the materials, her tone extremely calm: "This is a collection of key questions that your father had someone compile. Don't let him waste his time."
"Thank you..." Chu Fan's voice was a little dry.
Shen Rulan looked at him, her lips slightly raised. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she stood up and her feet wobbled slightly. She swayed and her soft body almost fell into his arms.
The silk dress clung to her round, pert buttocks, the entire hem pulled up an inch, clearly revealing the lines of her panties at the back, which looked like an alluring curve under the light. Even the cleft between her buttocks was tightly wrapped, trembling gently with each movement of her body.
"oops..."
She gently helped him stand up, one hand still resting on his knee, and smiled down, "Mom is getting old, and I can't believe I slipped. How embarrassing."
Chu Fan's back tightened, and he almost dared not move.
But Shen Rulan's hand was still on his knee and hadn't moved away. Her warm and delicate palm was pressed against the inside of his pants, and he could feel the burning heat even through the fabric.
Shen Rulan let out a soft breath, seemingly oblivious to his tense body, her tone as gentle as ever:
"Xiao Fan, you need to spend more time with Zhi Yao. She had a tough childhood, and it's not easy for her to have made it this far."
"She doesn't know how to act cute or ask for favors. It's already quite an achievement that she took the initiative to pick you up."
As she spoke, she suddenly withdrew her hand, looked up at him, her gaze calm yet containing a barely perceptible scrutiny:
"She doesn't know how to comfort people... If you're really feeling down, don't just keep quiet."
Her tone remained calm and composed, without a trace of anger. Then, she casually lowered her head and straightened her slipped skirt.
Beneath that slit in the skirt, the edge of a milky-white pair of panties glided past the base of Chu Fan's thigh. In that brief moment, Chu Fan's mind went blank.
She looked down and patted her knees, as if she were just adjusting her posture, seemingly unaware of the momentary exposure.
"alright,"
She stood up with a smile, "Aunt Qin has prepared dinner, let's go eat!"
After saying that, she turned and walked towards the restaurant. Her silk dress swayed against her hips, each step like a ripple on water. Beneath her rounded and firm curves, the shadow of the seam marked by the dress swayed under the light.
Chu Fan held the cup of tea, which had long since gone cold, his knuckles turning white, and remained motionless for a long time.