After their private wedding settled into memory and the honeymoon glow faded, life found its rhythm again. The company was, well... it was doing better than anyone expected, really.
Bio-tech firms were calling, researchers were interested, even some foreign government agencies were making inquiries. Hye Won, Yue Lan found themself busier than they've anticipated, but in a good way. The staff count had basically doubled in three months.
Still, some things couldn't wait. Han Chen, he'd been putting off visiting his mother and father for too long, and this time he wasn't going alone. Yue Lan had insisted on coming—something about wanting to meet the woman who raised him, though Han Chen suspected it was more complicated than that. Hye Won had simply smiled and said she'd like to see his mother again, which was... well, that was Hye Won being diplomatic.
The same vehicle his parents have gifted him, they came in front of the villa, and before Han Chen could even reach the gate, his mother's voice cut through the afternoon quiet.
"Chen'er! You're early!"
She appeared in the doorway like she always did— a little flour on her hands, that old apron tied around her waist. It was funny how she could shift between being the composed executive at his father's company and this... this version of herself. The home version. Time had been kind to her, mostly, though he could see new lines around her eyes. What struck him was the gentle curve of her belly beneath the apron.
He met her halfway down the path, careful with the hug. "Ma," he said, and for a moment he felt like he was fourteen again instead of... well, considerably older than that. "The news was unexpected. Why did you wait so long to tell me and why are you still working?"
"You must be feeling awkward, right? Forgive your mother—it was our selfish desire," she said, her smile a little sheepish. "You've been so busy with work, we are now mostly free and apart from that, we felt sort of lonely in this big house. But now you get to have a young sibling to play around with—isn't that good?" She was trying to make light of it, but Han Chen could hear the genuine longing underneath.
Over her shoulder, he caught sight of Yue Lan and Hye Won just beside him. To anyone watching—and Mrs. Mei from next door was definitely watching while watering her plants—they probably looked like business associates. Colleagues, maybe.
Yue Lan had gone with the cream suit, very boardroom, very CEO. Professional smile and everything. Hye Won wore something softer, flowing silks that made her look serene and elegant. Both beautiful in completely different ways.
His mother pulled back, holding his face between her hands for a second. "Look at you," she murmured. "A surprise has to be a surprise, doesn't it? Otherwise what's the point? and its still early."
Her gaze shifted past him again, taking in the two women. He could practically see the gears turning. "Hello again, Hye Won... and you must be Yue Lan?"
"Ma, this is Yue Lan,"
Han Chen said, stepping aside. "She's the CEO of NovaGen—the bio-tech firm I consult for."
Yue Lan stepped forward with a handshake that was firm, professional didn't mind the bit of flour that's still there even after she wiped it off. It didn't had the usual distance and his mother was uncomfortable as she suddenly acted out of her 'work' memory to reach the hand in front, too late to hold back. Yue; her eyes, usually so calculating in meetings, seemed softer when they met his mother's.
Hye Won dipped her head gracefully. "Mrs. Han, it's wonderful to see you again. Han Chen mentions you so often."
"Please," his mother said, ushering them inside, "I've told you before—call me Mom."
But Han Chen noticed her watching. The way Yue Lan's hand brushed his arm as they passed through the narrow entryway. The way Hye Won glanced at him before stepping over the threshold, like she was checking for reassurance. The look that passed between the two women when he bent to remove his shoes—not competitive. Recognition.
At the living room. His father emerged from the kitchen, reserved as always, but his stern expression cracked when he saw Han Chen. A handshake, a pat on the shoulder. "Good to see you, boy." His eyes widened slightly at Yue Lan and Hye Won, but he recovered quickly enough.
They settled into the familiar routine—tea was poured, small talk flowed about the journey, the unusual spring weather, neighborhood updates.
Han Chen asked about the EV business, listened to his mother's commentary about market demands. He didn't try to impress anyone or show off his knowledge. He just listened, responded like a son should.
Yue Lan mentioned her products' increasing adoption rates, and even brought up how they were currently researching formulas for high-end cultivators like his parents.
His mother had been quieter than usual about asking him to work for their company—something she'd brought up before he'd even joined NovaGen.
Eventually, the conversation drifted to the pregnancy. How many months left, what they were hoping for, whether they'd picked names yet.
"And this little one," his mother said, her hand drifting to her belly with that fond, exasperated tone parents-to-be always seemed to develop, "has decided sleep is overrated and has been kicking up a storm all afternoon. Here, feel."
She guided Han Chen's hand to her abdomen. To anyone else, it would have been just warmth, the subtle movement of life. But for Han Chen... well, his perception went deeper than that. For just a moment, his eyes lost their everyday aloofness, becoming something more focused, a small curve traced his smile. A careful thread of spiritual awareness, completely hidden from mortal senses, brushed against the life within.
Vibrant. Pure. Unburdened by the weight of the world. A protective instinct coded by nature flooded through him, and his smile—when it came—was radiant and completely genuine. "I can feel her," he said, his voice thick with emotion he hadn't expected.
His mother laughed, hearing something in his tone. "Oh, you've decided it's a girl? We don't know yet."
"Well," Han Chen said, his mask slipping for just a second, "I have a hunch it is..."
Hye Won's smile deepened, her eyes bright with shared joy. Under the coffee table, hidden from his parents, her hand found his knee—not possessive, just... connected. Yue Lan, sitting close beside him, shifted so her leg rested lightly against his. Subtle. Intimate.
His mother caught some of that undercurrents while his father remains oblivious as always. The shared looks of affection directed at her son. The unconscious way both women leaned toward him. The silent communication in those brief touches. This wasn't colleagues or friends. Maternal intuition clicked the pieces together, and her gaze sharpened, moving from Han Chen to Yue Lan to Hye Won and back again.
Of course, Yue Lan's presence had an official justification. NovaGen was interested in a more cooperative agreement with his father's company. This was more of a unofficial meet.
"HanTech's energy storage density specifications are impressive, Mr. Han," Yue Lan had said during their technical discussion. "But our biomolecular thermal regulators could extend your battery cycle life by forty percent under stress conditions. We've run simulations."
His father had leaned forward, intrigued despite himself. "Biologicals... in my batteries? Show me the data." It went onto become a technical disclosure about how each company can have a joint research and its extend. The conversation had gone back and forth like that for a while, technical specifications and projected outcomes, eventually leading to tentative agreements about future collaboration. All very professional. All very legitimate.
Later, as they were clearing teacups before departure, his mother cornered Han Chen near the kitchen door. Her voice was low but direct.
"Chen'er. These women... Yue Lan and Hye Won. They're not just colleagues, are they?" Her eyes held his, searching. "The way they look at you, the way you are with them... it's sending different signals." Across the room, both women's attention and ears subtly shifted, though they maintained their conversation with his father.
Han Chen didn't flinch. He met her gaze steadily and spoke in a way only they could hear.
"No, Ma. They're not just colleagues. We're in a relationship—a consenting one."
He kept it simple, honest, weighted with unspoken truth. He paused. "They know me on a more personal level. More than friends, and they know about my martial cultivation too."
The silence that followed was charged with understanding. His mother didn't need him to say the word 'wives or girlfriend.' She could see the devotion in his eyes, the shared history. She saw the way her son—the boy who had become something she couldn't quite comprehend—anchored himself in their presence.
She exhaled slowly, a complex mix of surprise, maternal concern, and reluctance crossing her features. This was textbook social stigma territory, she knew. She reached up to cup his cheek, grounding him in the moment.
"They're beautiful," she said simply. "You've always been brilliant. We were never worried about you academically, martially, or professionally. But relationships? You don't have any close friends, and now... this kind of relationship?"
She paused and continued.
"People are complex, son. You're mature enough to make your own decisions, but you're still... this kind of relationship adds layers of complexity. Marriage, children, society... you've studied law. You know the challenges."
Han Chen nodded. "From disrupting traditional family structures to household registration issues, family planning quotas... there are many complications if we were to seek official recognition or childbirth. Which we don't plan to."
"You're not going to marry? Have children? As our older son?" She sounded both angry and heartbroken.
"Well," Han Chen said carefully, "Mother, my cultivation has... increased significantly. I only prioritize that now. My path now demands clarity and focus. Forming conventional ties—marriage, children, human affairs —it introduces vulnerabilities and obligations that can be exploited. And yes, I've already been targeted for suspicions many time that I haven't told you. Considering normal lifespan, It's enough time for me to revisit my priorities if needed."
His mother's fingers paused on his cheek. Her gaze flickered toward the living room where Yue Lan and Hye Won were politely discussing something with his father, Hye Won admiring a family photo.
A thread of mild spiritual energy, so fine it was almost imperceptible, steadied her pulse and made her feel warm. "You're not joking." Her nails dug into his sleeve. "You're really—"
"What about Hye Won and the other girl, — how did she agree to this? what if they have there own priorities later??" his mother continued.
"Yes. Willingly." Han Chen's tone remained low, but the centuries of unspoken truth pressed between them. "I never wished to tell you like this. But... ma, your and father's... martial training. Its unnatural rise over the years. You felt it. I made that happen. I modified your foundational scripture long ago. My intellect and talent... it was always tuned for this path. You tested me multiple times and know it very well... But potential has limits ~ talent, understanding, resources, situations... choices, its for me to take the initiative..."
His gaze then passed her and saw the two girls turning towards him. "Now about those two. Those women with me—both found their way into my life during vulnerable moments and essentially changed their lives around me. I know them completely, and I plan on keeping them with me. I have the power to do that and they know that."
" Women can be fickle, Han Chen." She quietly ended their conversation when she also sensed the girls approaching.
"There's a reason marriage as a social construct exist. It is a reminder to be faithful, to learn to prioritize others...I get it, you have a long road ahead of you. Money Status Life Martial way; You can afford to challenge existing constructs, but don't get hurt in the process. "
...
It's clear that she didn't fully understand his choices; As expected.
"Wait... mother, please accept this." He slowly raised his hand, showing small threads of qi light forming into a rune pattern. She'd seen him manipulate qi before, but she still looked questioningly.
"Protection for both you and the child, just like how I helped you avoid that car accident years ago." The confession hit her even though she'd suspected it in her heart. She froze under those words. The sigil touched her forehead and dissolved within without a resistance. It was also Han Chen's way of saying he can afford to stand apart from world's customs.
While being left out, she called Hye Won aside for a private conversation, asking about certain things. Yue Lan was still somewhat difficult for her to fully accept, considering her public persona and status. She maintained a formal tone with her while still prying into their private life with Han Chen.
Before nightfall, when they planned to leave, Han Chen quietly renewed the spiritual arrays with spirit stones, keeping them hidden from mortal perception. He added several more protections to their vehicles and house. They still like to keep a simple life even after becoming publicly well known as Founders of Chen energy systems, which also brings it's disadvantage these two conveniently ignore. It's his job to give them peace of mind like he did all these years silently.
---
Later, as they walked toward the waiting car with jasmine scent fading in the evening air, Han Chen walked flanked by Yue Lan and Hye Won—not ahead or behind, but beside them as equals.
His mother watched from the doorway, her hand resting on her unborn daughter, her mind processing everything she'd learned from her conversation with Hye Won.
She saw the way Yue Lan's shoulder brushed his—a CEO allowing her armor to crack just enough. She saw Hye Won's hand slip naturally into his for a brief, comforting squeeze. She saw the way her son stood taller between them, the impossible burden he carried momentarily eased.
" They seem surprisingly friendly with each other and Ms. Yue Lan was unlike she is portrayed in news, very easy to talk to..." His Han Zhong commented by her side oblivious again.
The world hadn't returned to normal. Her son wasn't normal. But the love—watching the three figures disappear into the twilight—that was real. That was the foundation. And whatever storms lay ahead in her son's impossible existence, he wouldn't face them alone.
That knowledge settled in her heart, warm and fierce, as she closed the creaking gate.