Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce

Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Cautious and Lingering Tenderness

As the night deepened, the mountain air, fragrant with grass and trees, drifted through the small courtyard.

Inside, the house was warmly lit.

Granny Foster, Mrs. Sutton, and Mr. Sutton sat in wicker chairs, chatting quietly. Their gazes would occasionally drift over to the two little ones playing on the rug, full of affection.

"These two children are so good. No crying, no fussing, just playing so happily together."

"Oh, by the way, Yuna, which of the two children is older?"

Mrs. Sutton replied, "The older one is the brother, Owen, and the younger one is the sister, Nina."

Granny Foster’s face lit up with understanding. She chuckled and asked, "Your son-in-law must have chosen their names, right?"

Mrs. Sutton nodded, pleased. "Yes, he did."

"They’re good names, very nice indeed."

Wren Sutton gently placed the freshly brewed hot tea on the coffee table between Adrian Lancaster and Finn Foster.

"Wren, thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Finn Foster’s expression was focused. He held a leather-bound notebook in his hand.

Adrian Lancaster picked up his teacup and took a sip. His posture was relaxed, yet he exuded a natural air of authority that inspired confidence.

"Brother-in-law."

Finn Foster opened the worn, leather-bound notebook, his fingertip tapping on several key questions marked in different colored inks. His tone was pragmatic, honed by work experience, yet it also held a hint of urgency—a desire for a breakthrough.

"Our three main professional-grade backpacks and one high-altitude hiking boot have hit a plateau in online sales."

"The cost of paid traffic on traditional e-commerce channels is getting ridiculous. Our profit margins are being squeezed thin, and there’s a serious problem with competitors offering similar products. Simply relying on bidding for rankings and running promotions feels like we’re running out of steam."

He paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts.

"My team and I have been discussing a shift in strategy. We want to try digging deeper into niche communities and building a content-driven brand. For example, by forming deep partnerships with KOLs—key opinion leaders—who are genuinely into hardcore trekking and mountaineering, or by building our own outdoor knowledge community."

"But I’m not entirely sure about the investment timeline, how to evaluate the results, or how to balance content and sales. I wanted to hear your take on it, Brother-in-law."

Finn Foster’s questions weren’t vague; they cut directly to the growth problems many emerging consumer brands face today. It was clear they were the result of market research and repeated internal discussions.

Adrian Lancaster listened intently.

He set down his teacup and leaned back, relaxing into his chair.

His gaze fell upon the densely packed data and keywords in Finn Foster’s notebook. He unconsciously tapped his fingers twice on the smooth mahogany armrest.

A moment later, he clasped his hands in his lap and looked at Finn Foster with a steady gaze.

"Your instincts are sharp. You’re on the right track, and this could be the key to your next breakthrough."

Adrian Lancaster first affirmed Finn Foster’s line of thinking, then shifted his tone and began a deeper analysis.

"For outdoor sports, especially at the professional level, the core driver of consumer decisions has never been the flashiest ads, but rather trust and a sense of belonging."

"Consumers aren’t just buying a product; they’re buying an identity, a validation of professionalism, and an aspiration to be part of that community’s culture."

"So, just competing on traffic and price is dragging yourself into the most cutthroat battlefield. It’s a thankless effort."

Adrian Lancaster leaned forward slightly, his tone guiding. "You mentioned collaborating with experienced players, which is great, but the key is the collaboration model."

"Simple product placements or labeled endorsements will have diminishing returns. What you need to do is invite them to become product partners or chief experience officers."

"For example, during the R&D phase for new products, get them involved. Have them suggest improvements based on pain points they’ve experienced using gear in genuinely harsh environments."

"Let their authentic review stories become the most powerful part of your product description pages."

"Organize small-scale, challenging, extreme-environment testing events with them, and present the entire process through content."

"This isn’t advertising; it’s evidence and storytelling. The cost might be higher and the cycle longer, but the brand barrier and user loyalty you build will be something that simply buying traffic can’t compare to."

Seeing Finn Foster furiously taking notes and nodding, Adrian Lancaster continued to expand on the topic, delving deeper.

"As for offline experience stores, your idea has value too. But remember, it should never be just a sales terminal. It should be a physical community hub."

"It can be small-scale at first, but the theme must be distinct and the experience top-notch. For instance, the store could regularly host outdoor skills-sharing sessions, gear maintenance workshops, adventure documentary screening salons, or even serve as the meet-up point for local outdoor activities."

"The staff themselves should be enthusiasts who are passionate about the outdoors and have some experience—or even be part-time trip leaders."

"When your store becomes a spiritual landmark for the local outdoor community, sales will follow naturally."

"Online content attracts interest, offline experiences drive conversion and deep connection, and online communities—like WeChat groups or a dedicated section in an app—are used to maintain enthusiasm and user stickiness, forming a closed loop."

Finn Foster’s pen moved rapidly. Several more pages in his notebook were now filled with outlines and keywords, and the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

It was the excitement of having his mind opened up, of seeing a clear path forward.

He occasionally interjected with more specific questions, such as, "How would you roughly estimate the ROI model for an initial offline store?"

"How do you assess a KOL’s true influence and the quality of their followers, instead of just looking at surface-level data?"

Adrian Lancaster answered each question with precision and accuracy, not only explaining the logic but sometimes also mentioning industry-standard algorithms, evaluation tools, or potential pitfalls to watch out for.

Finn Foster was completely in awe, thoroughly convinced. He gave Adrian Lancaster a thumbs-up.

"Brother-in-law, you’re incredible. Compared to you, I’m just a total rookie. I’ll have to learn from you more often in the future."

Wren Sutton didn’t interrupt them. She sat quietly to the side, sipping her tea, her gaze occasionally drifting over Adrian Lancaster and Finn Foster.

Finn would sometimes frown in thought, then his expression would clear in a moment of insight, full of the sharp energy and thirst for knowledge unique to the young.

Adrian, on the other hand, was as steady as a mountain. His words carried both strategic vision and practical details, unconsciously revealing an insight and sense of control that could only have been forged through weathering great storms.

Wren Sutton withdrew her gaze and lowered her eyes. Her thick lashes cast a small shadow beneath her lids, and the curve of her lips was soft and serene.

After a little while, Nina let out a small yawn, her eyes growing drowsy.

Seeing this, Wren stood up and picked up her daughter, while Mrs. Sutton picked up Owen.

"The children are sleepy. I’ll take them back first."

Adrian Lancaster paused the conversation and turned to look over, his gaze softening.

"Okay. It’s cool at night, so change them into that thicker set of pajamas. I’ll be back soon."

"Mm, no rush. You two take your time."

Granny Foster got up and walked the three adults and two children to the courtyard gate, waving goodbye.

"Granny, it’s windy tonight. Go on back inside so you don’t catch a cold."

Back inside, Adrian Lancaster and Finn Foster were still deep in discussion.

"Brother-in-law, listening to you has cleared up so much of my confusion. I think I was getting stuck on trivial details before."

Adrian Lancaster’s expression softened. "You have a flexible way of thinking; what you’re lacking is experience and the right connections. In the future, if you run into any specific problems at work, feel free to talk to me about them anytime."

"Thank you, Brother-in-law," Finn Foster said sincerely.

The two chatted a while longer about specific collaboration possibilities and exchanged contact information. They only wrapped up their conversation when Granny Foster came over with a plate of fruit, gently reminding them not to just talk about work.

Adrian Lancaster rose to leave, returning to his mother-in-law’s family home next door.

A warm, yellow bedside lamp was on in the bedroom, its soft light gently outlining the furniture.

Owen and Nina were asleep in their small, side-by-side beds, their breathing even and light.

Wren Sutton stood with her back to the door, her head tilted slightly as she reached a hand behind her, trying to get a grip on the zipper of her dress.

Her fingertips struggled for a few moments, but she just couldn’t quite reach the top.

Hearing the door open and familiar footsteps approach, she immediately froze.

Adrian Lancaster walked up behind Wren, his gaze falling on the elegant lines of her back, which were accentuated as she reached up. He then reached out himself, his warm fingers unintentionally brushing against the small patch of bare skin at the nape of her neck.

"Let me help you."

He gently pulled the zipper all the way down, smoothly and silently.

Freed from its restraint, the dress slid softly down Wren’s body, pooling on the polished wooden floor.

Underneath, Wren wore a black base layer that covered her completely from neck to ankle. Yet the soft, form-fitting fabric clung to her every curve, revealing her graceful and elegant figure without reservation.

...

Adrian Lancaster’s gaze deepened, his eyes instantly turning dark as his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Giving in to the impulse, he wrapped his arms around Wren from behind.

"Adrian Lancaster," Wren’s voice trembled slightly. "You..."

Silence spread between them.

A moment later, Adrian Lancaster lowered his head and whispered in Wren’s ear.

His tone was careful, tender, and intimate.

"Tonight... can I sleep here, with you and the children?"