Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapter 303, Section 304: An upright official must settle family disputes.

After a morning of getting to know each other.

By noon, the recording of the new song "Little Apple" was finally completed.

When Cao Yuanzhi listened to the final version, although the melody was still catchy and addictive, it didn't sound so bad because of Lin Xiao's deep voice and playful mood.

I don't know if it's because I'm used to hearing it.

Old Cao now has a tiny bit of confidence in this song.

"It's noon, why don't you treat me to lunch?" Old Cao said.

"Huh? Shouldn't you be treating me to dinner?" Lin Xiao gave him a look that said, "Do you even want to hear what you're saying?"

"You're the host, and I'm the guest. How can I be the one treating you to dinner?"

"Heh, is that how you put it?"

Lin Xiao smiled slyly, "Then you're still the boss of this company. I just came from the countryside to help you. You're the host, shouldn't you be treating me to dinner?"

Cao Yuanzhi rolled his eyes with delight.

It's been a few months since I last saw him, and this junior has become so talkative! I remember him being quite aloof back in college!

Does marriage really change a person so much?

"I'll treat, okay?" Old Cao surrendered.

"That's pretty much it~"

"What to eat?"

"Hehe, I won't eat it!"

"Ok?"

Old Cao had a look on his face that said, "You little brat, you're messing with me!"
Lin Xiao grinned and glared at me: "You're a single dog with no one wanting you, but I have a wife and kids waiting for me at home. Who would go out to eat with an old bachelor like you? Seriously..."

After saying that, she gave him a disdainful look that said, "You don't even know your own limitations," and walked away arrogantly!
Old Cao: "???"

I was stunned for a long time; it was absolutely outrageous!
Holy crap, so what if you have a wife and kids? You don't have to brag about it every single day.

Besides, did a single guy eat your rice? Don't you understand what a golden bachelor or eligible bachelor is?
I have no children, no ties, and no worries. You know nothing...

Old Cao complained in his heart for a long time, but the more he complained, the weaker his confidence became.

I almost cried in the end!

"Waaaaah, I don't want to date, get married, or have kids? Who the hell wants me?!"

Mr. Cao was dealt a devastating blow and decided to get a massage at noon to ease his emotional wounds.

His grandma’s!

……

Lin Xiao returned home just in time for his family to have lunch.

Lin Xiao was quite surprised to see his mother-in-law, Liu Liyun, who had also come over, but she looked much thinner than before.

The room was filled with women enjoying themselves.

"Xiao Lin is back!" Liu Liyun asked her.

"Yes, Mom."

After greeting everyone, Lin Xiao couldn't wait to ask his wife, "Where's Xiao Chu?"

Xixi said, "She just finished drinking her milk and is playing over there~"

Lin Xiao followed his wife's gaze.

In the stroller in the living room, the chubby little girl was engrossed in chewing on her Manhattan ball.

He was calm and appeared very composed.

"Did you cry when you got the vaccine?" he asked again.

"Of course he'll cry, how could he not cry..."

Xi Xi laughed and said, "She cried especially hard today. Maybe she's been too comfortable in the mountains lately, and she's been a bit irritable since she got back. She started crying as soon as she arrived at the clinic and kept crying until the observation period was over..."

These words were spoken casually, but Lin Xiao's heart clenched with anxiety.

He could picture it all in his mind—his own daughter in the hospital, being forcibly held down by a group of people to get an injection, crying so hard she could barely breathe, her face covered in snot bubbles…

It breaks my heart just thinking about it.

He quickly picked his daughter up from the stroller, held her in his arms, and rubbed his face against hers.

"My dear baby, you've suffered today... These bad guys gave us needles!!!"

“Bubu…”

Lin Xiaoxi was having a good time when she was suddenly picked up and snuggled close to him. She blinked her big eyes, looking completely bewildered.

Then it blew a bubble.

Hearing the noise, everyone eating in the living room laughed with delight.

Liu Liyun subconsciously exclaimed, "Xiao Lin is really great... a good father!"

As he spoke, he sighed almost imperceptibly.

The others listened, their expressions changing involuntarily, realizing that Director Liu was alluding to her ex-husband.

Everyone immediately lowered their eyes and remained silent.

Xixi was in a good mood watching her husband play with their daughter, but her heart sank when she heard her mother's words.

Others might be able to remain spectators when it comes to their parents' affairs.

But she was indeed involved in it.

Over the past few months, Lin Xiao had advised her many times, and she gradually came to understand her father's predicament.

But understanding is one thing, being able to accept it is another.

Anyway, since giving birth to Xiao Chu, Xi Xi has not contacted her father on her own initiative.

The last time Lin Xiao spoke to his father was after the trending topics and press conference, during a frank session with his parents-in-law.

The "betrayal" by the South Korean navy was a bitter pill to swallow for Liu Liyun and her daughter Han Xixi.

Especially Liu Liyun.

What Xixi finds hard to accept is nothing more than her father's preference for boys over girls, and the fact that his years of doting on her were all an illusion.

But later, as the reasons why his father was about to be dismissed came to light, and as it turned out that he had not actually adopted his nephew into his own name, the truth came to light.

That proves that he doesn't really favor boys over girls and dislike his daughter.

Even if it really exists!

He didn't go so far as to be heartless and abandon his wife and daughters.

Having realized this, Xixi gradually forgave her father—though she didn't say it out loud!
But Liu Liyun, as a wife, is a completely different case.

Whether the South Korean navy abandoned his wife and daughter or had other reasons, it doesn't matter.

Liu Liyun has been working within the system for over twenty years, and for more than a decade of those years she held leadership positions.

This woman's calmness, rationality, and overall perspective are unmatched by most women.

Even many men can't compare to her.

and so.

When faced with her husband's antics in front of their daughter's delivery room, Liu Liyun remained calm and composed throughout, showing no sign of anger or frustration.

This is very unreasonable.

After all, it was her husband who was willing to abandon his daughter, who had just given birth, to adopt a nephew who was only half her bloodline.

Any woman would go crazy in this situation.

But Liu Liyun wouldn't.

Even though she was worried about her daughter who had just gone through a difficult childbirth, she still immediately saw the strangeness of this farce.

She knew her husband wasn't an impulsive or cold-hearted person.

Even if he had painstakingly and patiently plotted for so many years for a mere penis, he would never choose to confront the issue when his daughter had just given birth.

This is completely inconsistent with the mindset that enabled him to reach his current position.

Liu Liyun immediately concluded that something was fishy about this.

Based on this intuition, she handled the matter calmly throughout, accepting her husband's divorce request without asking a single question.

Later, the news that Han Haijun was going to be dismissed by the organization was revealed by his son-in-law, Lin Xiao.

Liu Liyun, who had been on edge for months, suddenly relaxed.

She was like a child going to a rendezvous in the pouring rain; everyone advised her not to go, saying that her friends wouldn't come in such heavy rain.

She went anyway, and waited for a long time in the heavy rain.

The rain was icy cold, the wind was howling, and pedestrians hurried by.

She was shivering from the cold, telling herself that her friends would definitely come, but also fearing that if they didn't come, she would not only have waited in vain, but also be laughed at when she got home.

Filled with fear, anxiety, and anticipation, she waited and waited...

Finally, my friends arrived, all smiles, though they were late!
Upon learning the truth, Liu Liyun was overjoyed. She completely forgot about the long wait in the bitter wind and rain, and only thought about reconciling with her friends and keeping their promise.

But her friend told her: I came to tell you that I'm not playing with you anymore, you should go home.

Then he said goodbye without looking back.

At this moment, Liu Liyun was truly stunned.

Even though the misunderstanding had been cleared up and the difficulties had passed, Han Haijun felt that he was doing very well living alone and had no intention of remarrying. He had not even returned to Ninghai since the confession, and was enjoying a carefree life in Yizhou.

Liu Liyun had never anticipated this situation.

In her memory, she and her husband were always a model of an equal, independent, harmonious and respectful marriage. For a long time, she was proud and felt very lucky to have found such a respectful and supportive husband.

But now they tell her.

What she perceived as equality, friendship, and respect, and what she considered a model of a happy marriage, was actually entirely wishful thinking on her part.

For her husband, Han Haijun felt only stifling, compromise, and the exploitation of his male pride during their 25-year marriage.

Now, after enduring so much, he has finally found a good opportunity to break free and has given himself a free and easy life.

The South Korean navy has landed.

But Liu Liyun was kicked into an abyss, sinking deeper and deeper.

When Han Haijun made a big fuss about "adoption" and divorce, she cooperated fully with the divorce and division of property because she believed that her husband had "his own reasons."

Now, the light boat should have already passed ten thousand mountains.

Han Haijun remained indifferent, showing no intention of remarrying.

This was a truly fatal blow to Liu Liyun, even an insult that could be considered as simple as killing someone by beheading them.

She's been acting a bit crazy lately.

While her daughter took her granddaughter to Mashan County, she stayed alone in Ninghai.

While going to work like a zombie, he also used all his connections to inquire about the South Korean navy.

She needs to know if Lao Han is having an affair, keeping a mistress, or even has a child out of wedlock...

Any of these situations occurred.

Liu Liyun wouldn't be as frantic as she is now, after all, her husband's indifferent departure could be considered "understandable".

Unfortunately, none of them were available.

In fact, that's definitely not the case!

The South Korean Navy had just experienced a near-dismissal due to a work error.

Then, due to the widespread exposure online and his son-in-law's efforts to save the day, he was reinstated by the organization.

Under the watchful eyes of tens of millions of people across the internet.

The organization would never dare to reinstate him unless it was certain that the South Korean Navy had no problems with public or private morality.

Otherwise, they might be investigated and exposed.

It's not just the South Korean Navy that's losing face, but the entire organizational system of Namju Province.

From this perspective, it can be inferred that the South Korean Navy did not "commit a crime," and given Liu Liyun's knowledge, it's impossible that she wouldn't have thought of this.

But she just wouldn't believe it, like she had developed a paranoia, and she conducted all sorts of undercover investigations.

The final result was as expected.

Old Han is perfectly fine and is now focused on his work. When he has some free time, he might go fishing, but he never even attends ordinary banquets.

The main theme is to escape vulgar interests and live a relaxed and carefree life.

He was at ease.

Liu Liyun, however, fell into an unprecedented internal conflict, and almost became obsessed.

In just over a month, she lost more than 20 pounds.

The once spirited division-level leader is now emaciated and skeletal.

Even so, she still pretended to be carefree in front of her daughter and in-laws, saying that her current figure was the result of deliberate weight loss and attention to health.

Zhou Xiuping was fooled and even praised her in-laws for knowing how to enjoy life.

However, from the darkness in her mother's eyes and the gray hair on her head, Xixi instantly sensed her stubbornness, disappointment, struggle, and embarrassment.

She was heartbroken.

But because I know all too well how strong-willed my mother has been all these years, even though I see through it all now, I can only pretend to know nothing and join my mother-in-law in marveling at how well my mother has maintained her health and how open-minded she is.

……

After dinner, I returned to my room.

Xi Xi buried her face in Lin Xiao's arms, sobbing softly, and remained motionless for a long time.

Lin Xiao was a little confused.

But I quickly guessed that my wife's sudden depression was due to family changes and her mother's influence.

He was speechless for a moment.

He could only use his large hands to stroke his wife's back gently to give her strength.

The two hugged for a long time.

"elder brother……"

After what seemed like an eternity, Xixi finally spoke, her voice like that of a stray kitten that had been starving for a long time.

Lin Xiao's heart softened at the words, but he tried his best to remain calm.

"Ok?"

Is there any way... to get my parents back together?

"..."

Lin Xiao didn't speak, and continued to gently stroke his wife's back.

"elder brother?"

"Ah."

Why aren't you saying anything?

"Yes, I'm thinking of a way!" Lin Xiao said seriously.

Xi Xi was stunned for a moment, then got up from his embrace and blinked her two dark eyes at him.

"Is there really a way?!"

Xi Xi is incredible.

Lin Xiao laughed and gently pinched the tip of her nose: "Your reaction suggests that you yourself think it's impossible?"

Xi Xi was a little embarrassed: "Um..."

Lin Xiao laughed even louder: "Although you also think it's impossible, this matter... is actually not entirely without a solution!"

Although Xixi found it unbelievable, she naturally believed him.

"What method?" she asked eagerly.

"I haven't thought of it yet, but it definitely is!"

"..."

Xi Xi was a little disappointed. "If you didn't even think of that, how can you be sure it will happen?"

Lin Xiao lifted his wife's chin and grinned, "Of course they do. Your parents don't have any fundamental problems, so they still have basic marital affection. As the old saying goes, 'A day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness.'"

"Although the elderly couple are separated now, their more than 20 years of marriage have not been for nothing. If we want them to get back together, there must be a way!"

Lin Xiao's words instantly ignited a spark of hope in Xi Xi's eyes, which had been filled with dejection.

"That's great! Let's think of a solution!"

"..."

Seeing his wife's excitement, Lin Xiao frowned slightly and didn't reply.

This reaction puzzled Xixi.

"Brother, what's wrong...don't you want to get involved in this?" My lovely wife sounded a little aggrieved.

"of course not!"

Lin Xiao pulled her into his arms again and kissed her on the forehead.

"You're my wife now, and we're of one mind. Your parents are naturally my parents too, so how can I not care about their affairs!"

Lin Xiao said seriously, "But before I get involved, I need to make this matter clear to you—do you really think that getting your parents to remarry is the best outcome?"

Xixi looked puzzled and broke free from the embrace.

"Of course! Didn't you say there were no fundamental problems between them?"

"Yes. But the fact that two people who clearly didn't have any fundamental problems still divorced speaks volumes!"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Xi Xi was a little irritated. "Brother, I don't understand. All I know is that from childhood to adulthood, my mother has always been a proud, dignified, and ambitious person. But look at her now, she's lost a lot of weight in just one month, and her eyes have lost their former sparkle... You can imagine how much the divorce has affected her."

“I want to help her, but someone as rational and intelligent as her can’t be persuaded by words alone when she’s in trouble. She’s spent her whole life doing counseling for others, she understands all the道理 (principles/reasoning). So the only way to help her get out of this dark place is to get her to remarry my dad!”

Lin Xiao sighed: "Honey, I know everything you're saying. Mom has been a leader her whole life, and she's a very strong-willed person. I knew that even when I was still working under her. Because her personality is different from most women, you need to figure out whether she's so upset right now because of the breakdown of her marriage or something else."

Xi Xi frowned even more, her face full of confusion: "What else? What else could it be?"

Lin Xiao pulled his wife to sit down on the rocking chair on the balcony, the two facing each other.

"Let's put it that way!"

He said seriously, "You want your parents to remarry so that your mother can regain her confidence in life and return to her former radiant and decisive self, right?"

Xi Xi nodded: "Of course!"

Lin Xiao's eyes sharpened: "Fine! Assuming your parents remarry and can really achieve this goal, what about your father?"

Xi Xi was stunned.

"My Father?"

"Yes, marriage is a matter between two people. You can't just think about making your mother happy and ignore whether your father lives or dies, right?"

"..."

Xixi stopped talking.

Lin Xiao patiently asked, "Since your parents' divorce, have you ever called your father alone?"

Xi Xi shook her head.

"So you're unaware of his current lifestyle, right?"

Xi Xi nodded.

Lin Xiao paused, then said seriously and calmly, "Then let me tell you, your dad... is living a very good life now!"

Xi Xi was momentarily stunned.

"He didn't lose his official position, but he's even more driven and energetic at work now, and he looks radiant and full of energy every day."

Lin Xiao spoke of these things with some emotion.

After all, his father-in-law and mother-in-law are equally important to him.

Even if you calculate it carefully, the mother-in-law is actually heavier.

After all, Liu Liyun was initially the head of his unit, and she was the one who wholeheartedly tried to bring him and Xixi together, so she could be considered his benefactor and matchmaker.

The couple's marriage has now broken down.

My father-in-law experienced a second spring in his life, but my mother-in-law lost everything.

This made Lin Xiao feel sorry for his mother-in-law.

But given the current situation, he could only truthfully relay the facts: "Besides work, his free time consists of fishing and playing ping-pong, and he enjoys every day. He called me twice, and both times he was in great spirits... at least much better than before the divorce!"

These words made Xixi's expression turn displeased and sharp.

She really wanted to curse the scumbag, but since he was her own father, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.

So he could only keep it to himself.

Lin Xiao saw through his wife's thoughts and calmly said, "Actually, when a marriage comes to an end, it's hard to say who's right and who's wrong. As a daughter, of course you hope that your parents' love will be as strong as gold and that they will grow old together in love, but such a beautiful ending is probably less than one percent in worldly marriage relationships."

"Most couples, even if they don't divorce in the end, just end up disliking each other and making do with their lives. Now, your parents' divorce has become a reality, and your father is clearly in a better state than before, living a more carefree and free life."

"From his perspective, this amicable separation is the best outcome for him. If that's the case, why drag him back into this cage and let him waste the rest of his life? You feel sorry for your mother, shouldn't you feel the same way about your father?"

After a series of earnest and heartfelt words of advice, the anger in Xixi's eyes gradually dissipated, leaving only helplessness and sorrow.

“But my mom… she’s so pitiful…” Xixi almost burst into tears.

However, this time, Lin Xiao did not rush to hug her.

Instead, he said with a serious expression, "Wife, using the word 'pitiful' to describe Comrade Liu Liyun is a huge insult to her!"

Xi Xi didn't say anything.

"Who is your mother? She's the second daughter from a family within the system, the most ambitious of her four siblings, and also the most successful of your maternal grandfather's children."

Lin Xiao's eyes were filled with admiration and respect. "At work, she is decisive and resolute. At home, she assists her husband and takes care of her daughter. She is so strong-willed and always strives to excel in everything."

"Even though she's been through a huge divorce, she always maintains a dignified and respectable demeanor in public and in private, never letting anyone see the slightest bit of her grievance... Such a remarkable person, yet you describe her as 'pitiful.' You've really failed as a daughter!"

Xi Xi pouted, feeling a little wronged after being scolded.

"But...but..."

"I know I know!"

Lin Xiao's tone softened, and he sat down next to his wife, holding her cold little hand in his palm. "I know you feel sorry for your mother, and I do too. Even the strongest woman would be overwhelmed by such a big change. But to be honest, I don't think your mother is in such a bad state because of the divorce."

Xi Xi looked puzzled.

"Not divorce? Then what is it for?"

"It's your dad!"

"Ok?"

Xixi didn't understand this logic.

"It's a bit convoluted, but let me explain slowly."

Lin Xiao patiently guided her, and after a moment of contemplation, asked, "Do you think your mother is the kind of person who is sentimental and loves romance?"

"no!"

Xi Xi readily shook her head.

Lin Xiao nodded and said, "I don't think so either. She's a very career-oriented woman. You can't say that she's indifferent or uncaring about relationships, but they could never be her whole life. Do you agree with that?"

Xi Xi nodded again: "Agreed."

Lin Xiao continued, "So, your parents' divorce will definitely be a blow to your mother. But with her resilient nature, no matter how ruthless and decisive your father is, he would never make your mother feel as depressed and lost as she does now."

Xi Xi tilted her head, seemingly having never thought about this question before.

"Your mother has lost a lot of weight recently, there must be another reason!" Lin Xiao concluded.

“…What?” Xixi was both surprised and curious.

"I'm just guessing!"

Lin Xiao paused, then said mysteriously, "I guess... it's because your dad is doing too well!"

XiXi: "???"

Lin Xiao quickly said, "I'm just saying, don't just take it as a joke!"

Xixi suppressed her pent-up complaints and tried her best to listen.

After receiving a look of approval from his wife, Lin Xiao said, "Actually, when I first met your parents, I felt that their relationship was strange. Generally, couples complement each other or cooperate with each other. For example, the man is responsible for earning money outside, and the woman is responsible for taking care of the husband and children at home. This is the state of most couples, like my parents."

"Of course, with the pressure of life so high now, most couples are dual-income families. But even in this case, the division of labor is different. One person works hard to build their career, while the other focuses on the family. It's impossible for both of them to be single-mindedly busy with work."

"Only when a couple supports and complements each other can they ensure a steady increase in family income and that household affairs are well-organized, thus making life better—but clearly, that's not the case in your family."

"Your parents are both leaders, both focused on their careers, and both have achieved great success in their careers. To outsiders, this is certainly enviable, but behind closed doors, a very real problem is that there's no one to take care of the family."

"That's why you were raised by your maternal grandparents since you were little, because your parents were busy with their careers and didn't have time to take care of you."

As Xixi listened to this analysis, her expression gradually brightened, and the doubt in her eyes turned into focus.

Lin Xiao continued, "Being ambitious is not a bad thing, but when both husband and wife are ambitious... it will inevitably turn the relationship from mutual cooperation to mutual competition. Both husband and wife hope to reach a higher position so that they are not inferior to each other."

"This kind of competition is normal at work, but at home, it's too oppressive and suffocating. Of course, when I met you, your dad had already been promoted and your mom was preparing to retire. Their competition, which had lasted for more than 20 years, should have come to an end, and your dad won."

"Judging from your mother's expression, she has accepted the situation and intends to return to her family with a clear conscience to take care of her daughter and grandson. That's why she took the initiative to apply for early retirement when she heard you were pregnant. Originally, this was a good thing. Success is history, and both of you are open and honest."

"But the problem is that your father not only won, but also wanted the spoils of war—his spoils of war were freedom! Actually, I can understand him very well on this point. A man with a successful career and a smooth official career, yet he never stood up straight at home in his entire life. This would be a loss of face for any man."

“It’s one thing for a man to be a coward, but your dad is very capable. He’s now the mayor, in charge of hundreds or even thousands of officials. In ancient times, he would be considered a regional lord. With such a high position, he still has to sit on equal footing with his wife at home, and he might even have to do housework… He may not say it, but he’s definitely unhappy about it.”

"Of course, your father is an upright person, not the kind of person who would settle scores after suddenly becoming rich. His divorce from your mother was indeed for a reason, and from his perspective, it was to protect his wife and daughter."

"But in the end, things were resolved satisfactorily. He found that he was more comfortable living after the divorce, so he simply went with the flow and lived a carefree life on his own..."

"He's living a carefree life, but your mother can't sit still. She and your father are husband and wife in name only, but in reality they're rivals. They've been chasing and competing with each other for half their lives, and in the end, it all ended in divorce, which is already bad enough."

"Right now, your father's career is booming, and judging from the current momentum, he will be given important responsibilities in the future, while your mother has already retired to the second line. Now that her daughter and son-in-law are not around, she is living alone and inevitably has all sorts of worries."

"Given such drastically different circumstances, even the most open-minded person can easily get stuck in a rut, and if they keep getting stuck, they'll end up looking like this, completely lost and dejected!"

As Lin Xiao spoke, he felt both heartache and helplessness, and let out a deep sigh.

Upon hearing this, Xixi suddenly understood, and her earlier hesitation and stubbornness vanished completely.

"So the reason my mom is so heartbroken now isn't because of the broken marriage, but because... seeing how well my dad is doing, she's resentful but powerless to catch up or change things, so she's wallowing in self-pity and feeling sorry for herself?"

Xi Xi was absolutely stunned.

Lin Xiao looked embarrassed: "Uh... I guessed it was like that!"

Xi Xi pondered for a moment, connecting the various memories in her mind, and finally nodded.

"Brother, you guessed right, it really is like that!"

"Ok?"

“I am their daughter, and I have always been a detached observer in the midst of it all.”

Xi Xi said earnestly, "Now that you've analyzed it like this, I've stepped out of my daughter's perspective and looked back on my childhood... Many things I couldn't understand before are now clear!"

Lin Xiao nodded.

He did not feel smug about uncovering the truth; in fact, he felt that discovering the truth about a marriage was not always a good thing.

An old saying goes: "One who is neither deaf nor blind cannot be a good father-in-law."

Family matters are always a mess; you can get by without a care in the world, but if you're clear-headed and serious, things will just turn into chaos.

"Of course, none of that matters!"

Lin Xiao returned to the main topic and said seriously, "The important thing is how to help your mother get out of this quagmire and regain her former composure, elegance, and confidence!"

Xi Xi looked dejected: "Is there any other way? I originally thought my mom was like this because of the divorce, but now that we know it's not, remarriage won't work either."

"As for work, my mom has already stepped down from her frontline position, which is equivalent to semi-retirement, while my dad is already a department-level official. The current gap in their positions is the biggest one they've faced since they started working. It's simply impossible for my mom to catch up with and surpass my dad!"

Looking at his worried wife, Lin Xiao smiled calmly.

"It's unrealistic to expect your mother to surpass your father in official rank, but it's not difficult for her to rediscover her personal value!"

"Hmm? Brother, do you have a solution?" Xixi perked up.

"Of course!"

Lin Xiao sighed, "They say even an upright official can't settle family disputes, but since it's already happened, we children have to do something about it, whether we want to or not. Besides, in a sense, I'm also partly responsible for how your parents have gotten to this point..."

Xixi understood what her husband meant.

It all started with that photo in the luxury store. Lin Xiao's casual snapshot triggered a series of events like a butterfly effect.

Although in the end, he took the initiative to confess everything to his parents-in-law, and the couple accepted and forgave him.

But that photo ultimately led to the current situation.

This situation has both advantages and disadvantages.

The good part is that the family of three is warm and happy, and their respective careers are developing smoothly. The bad part is that the parents' marriage broke down, and the couple, who had been married for many years, ended up going their separate ways.

Xixi finds it hard to judge whether her parents' current situation stemmed from their own past problems or was truly related to that casually taken photo by Lin Xiao.

But it doesn't matter anymore anyway.

"Brother, there's no point in dwelling on this now. If I have to blame you for Mom's condition, then should I be grateful to you for Dad's condition?"

"Uh……"

Lin Xiao looked embarrassed, realizing what his wife meant.

The couple smiled calmly and serenely.

"Look ahead, brother."

"Yes, look ahead and figure out a way to resolve your mother's issue!"

"Is there really a way?" Xi Xi asked in astonishment.

"Do you trust your husband?" Lin Xiao asked confidently.

Xi Xi looked at him with a blank and innocent expression.

Her face, which had been sullen for a long time, finally broke into a sweet smile, and she nodded emphatically.

"Hmm~~"

(End of this chapter)