Rules of Engagement

Although he said so, he clenched his fists tightly. In fact, what he said was reasonable, but Soren felt a little uncomfortable when
he heard it. He retorted, "Of course you are not anxious. You don't care about her, how anxious you can be."
"How can the decision of God be made by human? What's the use of being anxious? Life or death is a matter of life and death. If
God wants you to die, you can't pull your life back by the rope. If God didn't allow you to die, you wouldn't be able to die even
being hit with a life-threatening stick. Does being anxious help your mother be safe?" Fred was also indignant.
The father and son were at loggerheads again because of this sentence. They stared at each other angrily.
Hearing what the two men said, both of Ada and Elsa went to pull them back. When Elsa said something to Soren in a low voice,
Ada also said, "Ren, don't listen to your father's nonsense. He is always like this. He is concerned about her. But if he says
something, it will be unpleasant to hear. You are a sensible child. Don't blame your father for saying something wrong. Well, both
sides compromise. You know your father's bad temper."
Then she turned around and said, "You. Don't talk about what life and death. You don't feel it inappropriate but the kids do."
Winona echoed, "It's all my fault. It's all my fault. I should not mention this topic."
Only Walter, who was sitting on the main seat, said slowly, "Ren, don't you have the phone number of your mother's friends and
colleagues over there? Call them to ask about the situation. Fred, you too. Call the relevant department to know the situation."
Walter's words finally hit the nail on the head. It occurred to Soren that this was reasonable. He should call to ask about the
situation, and immediately took out his mobile phone and made several calls in succession. The other end of the line said that
there was no latest progress and he would call back as soon as he knew the situation.
He was angry at his father's indifference to his mother. When he was about to leave after saying that, Fred called the relevant
department to learn the situation. The department also said that he would return the news to Fred later. Worried about the
situation, Soren sat back on the sofa, waiting for the latest progress on both sides.
Elsa held his hand and found that his big warm hand was a little cold. She knew that he didn't look well on the face. He just
frowned slightly, but in his heart, he must be worried about his mother. She was also very anxious, but she still slowed down her
voice and said as calmly as possible, "Ren, God bless our mother. She will be fine."
Soren nodded his head, indicating that he heard it, but he didn't say anything.

On the other side, Ada and Winona held their breath and dared not take a deep breath. Walter closed his eyes for rest. Fred's
face was so cold that no expression could be seen on his face, but his hands grabbed each other subconsciously. He trembled
and found a pack of cigarettes from the drawer of the tea table. After lighting up the cigarette for a long time, he only took a
breath, and he was choked to tears.
Soren glanced at him coldly. Fred used to smoke all day long. At that time, he hadn't returned from the company and smoking
was prohibited in the company. If he couldn't hold it back, he would smoke secretly and was often scolded by his superior. The
room was in a mess because of him. Every time Walter scolded him and he didn't listen to him, he would take off his shoes and
beat him up. But he still couldn't stop smoking.
Only at that time, Soren was still young. He frowned and told his mother that he didn't like the smell of his father's cigarette and
that he didn't want to come again. Susie was a little angry. "Don't you know how harmful second-hand smoke is to the child, let
alone the child doesn't like the smell? If you smoke in front of Ren again, don't come to pick up the child next time."
It seemed that Soren had never seen his father smoking since that time.
Fred was choked and coughed violently. Ada wanted to persuade him, but she said nothing. She handed him a glass of water
and sat back to her original seat. With the glass of water in his hand, Fred's cold and hard face looked like the calm, confident
and emotionless Mr. Wang.
Soren withdrew his gaze and looked away. No matter how much he didn't like his father, his cold and hard side couldn't be
changed to his father's genes.
At this moment, Fred's phone rang. He immediately went to take the phone, but forgot the hot water in his hand. As a result, the
cup fell to the ground and broke, making a harsh noise. Regardless of all these, he immediately slid the answer button. He had
hidden his great seriousness and calmness just now, but at this moment, all his previous efforts were in vain. His voice trembled.
"Hello? Is there any result?"
Not knowing what the person on the other end of the line said, Fred replied casually and hung up the phone in a somewhat
dispirited manner, lowering his hands.
Soren suddenly stood up and rushed to him, "What's wrong with my mother? What happened to my mother?"
"The company tell me to have a meeting in the office," Fred replied.

Holding Soren's hand, Elsa took him back to have a seat. "Don't worry, Ren. Everything will be fine. Let's wait a little longer. I'll
get you some hot water."
"I'll do it," Afra said. Then she turned around and went to the kitchen.
Soren grabbed Elsa's hand and trembled slightly. Elsa knew that everyone was feeling bad at this time, but no matter how much
comfort she said, it could do nothing but add to the trouble in his heart. She had no choice but to quietly accompany him and
spend the hard time with him.
He had a hard time these days. Everyone could only hear the voice of the anchorwoman in the news. Soren couldn't help calling
again, but the result was the same.
Soren put down the phone disappointedly. Although Elsa felt so sorry for him, she could do nothing about it.
As soon as he put down the phone, it suddenly rang. Soren was a little happy. "Mother! Are you all right? I was scared to death!"
"Nothing. What's wrong? Do you miss me so much?" Susie said with a smile. Thinking of this, Soren put the phone on speaker
so that Elsa could hear her.
Hearing the voice, Elsa felt relieved. "Mom, it's so good that you are all right. The news just said that there was a fog in the area
and the plane couldn't fall. We are very worried about you."
"Don't worry. What can happen in the fog? You young people are not as open-minded as I am. I was on the plane just now. The
others were so scared but I even read half a novel. As the old saying goes, life or death is a matter of life or death. If God wants
you to die, you can't pull your life back by the rope. If God didn't allow you to die, you wouldn't be able to die even being hit with a
life-threatening stick. These media are really good at sending messages. It's only been a while. You all know it." Susie laughed
and said, "I didn't know you called so many times until my friend came to pick me up."
She didn't realize that her words were the same as Fred's. All the people present had their own feelings.
After sitting for a while, Ada felt bored and went to the kitchen to clean up the rubbish. Then she slowly walked out of the door
and threw the rubbish away.
Soren hung up the phone after chatting with his mother for a while.

The depressing atmosphere in the room suddenly dissipated, and the fresh air returned. Winona put her hands together and
murmured, "Amitabha, amitabha!"
Fred picked up his coat and said, "I have to work overtime. Do as you like."
Walter was not in good health and said he wanted to go upstairs to rest. Soren said, "Take care." He was about to leave with
Elsa. Seeing that Ada had disappeared, Winona sighed in her heart and said, "Ren, Elsa, I have something to give you."
Soren stopped and didn't refuse. He and Elsa went upstairs with Winona.
Winona took out a very beautiful and eye-catching green emerald necklace, which must be very expensive at a glance. Winona
touched it with a smile and said, "This is for Elsa."
Elsa refused in a hurry, and Soren was unwilling to accept such a precious thing. He said, "Grandma, we appreciate your
kindness. Please keep it."
"I was going to give it to Susie, but she didn't have the chance to wear it. Why not give it to Elsa now?" Winona shook her head
and said, "Back then... It's all our fault. Ren, don't blame your father."
"I didn't blame him," said Soren.
"Your father is just stubborn. In fact, he also cares about you. At that time, no matter what position and reason he took, it was not
easy for him to be together with Susie. His grandfather had been educated by a firm and determined proletarian. He always said
that the Qi family was a kind of capitalist and refused to agree with this matter no matter what. Many times, he took off his shoes
and slapped your father. At that time, the promotion and development of the organization all paid attention to the Party. Just the
marriage approval alone, your father had traveled many times and begged many people. Besides, at that time, Susie was less
than twenty years old. Both the family and his leaders worry that your father and Susie were just too enthusiastic and lost their
minds because of the so-called love. Later, your grandpa asked your father to go back to the company first and told him to wait
until Susie reached the legal age for marriage. Your father thought he saw a turning point and agreed to this decision. He had
spent all his money on this necklace and asked someone to buy it for Susie."
Winona raised the corner of her clothes and wiped her tears. "This was just an expedient that your grandpa used to stop your
father. He arranged someone to inform your father that he was urgently called back to the company without seeing Susie. Before
your father left, he had to ask us to bring this thing to Susie and let Susie wait for him. At that time, it was not so convenient to
communicate with each other. None of the letters he had written back had been sent out, and all of them had been handed over
to his grandfather. Then, under the arrangement of his leaders and grandfather, your father got the marriage certificate with Ada

without knowing it. Susie found out that she was pregnant not long after your father left. She lost the news of your father for no
reason, so she had to call home. Your grandfather only said that 'Fred has been married, don't bother him anymore!' Susie did
not believe it, so your grandfather sent the copy of your father's and your stepmother's marriage certificate to her."