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In the summer of 1990, the air in Alabama was hot and humid.

In front of the old house in Greenfield Town, Fores and Jenny were sitting in rocking chairs, watching their two-year-old son, Little Fores, chase dragonflies on the lawn.

Jenny's belly is showing again; she's pregnant with her second child, expected to be born in the fall.

“My brother said he’ll be back for vacation this weekend.” Fores glanced at his watch. “He should be here soon.”

"Still alone?" Jenny asked.

“He didn’t say. But…” Fores hesitated for a moment, “In the last phone call, he seemed to mention that he would bring a friend.”

Jenny raised an eyebrow: "Friend? Male or female?"

I didn't ask in detail.

"It should be Brooke Shields."

"possible."

Just then, the sound of a car engine came from afar.

It wasn't a Ford Foresight pickup truck, but rather that deep, powerful engine sound.

A black Rolls-Royce turned the corner and slowly came to a stop in front of the old house.

The driver got out of the car first and opened the door. Su Ning walked out and then reached out to lead a tall, blonde woman out.

Fores and Jenny were both stunned, because it wasn't the Brooke Shields they knew.

Forrest and Jenny, who already knew that Suning was a Hollywood star-collecting machine, remained calm, simply because the women around Suning changed too frequently.

This is also why Jenny let go early on; she knew that Su Ning didn't have a place for her in his heart, or rather, no woman could conquer Su Ning.

“Brother!” Fores stood up and walked quickly over.

Jenny also stood up, but slowly, after all, she was pregnant.

Su Ning and the woman had already reached the door.

The woman was young, looking to be in her early twenties, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a simple but well-made dress and carrying a small suitcase.

“Forrest, Jenny.” Suning nodded in greeting, then stepped aside to introduce, “This is Anna. Anna, this is my brother Forrest, and this is his wife Jenny.”

Anna smiled and extended her hand. "Hello. Sue often mentions you."

Fores was still a little dazed when he shook hands with her, but Jenny quickly recovered: "Welcome, Anna. You must be tired from your journey. Please come in and have a seat."

"Thank you."

The four people entered the living room.

The old house was rebuilt and is now very spacious, but it is decorated in a simple style that Mrs. Gan liked.

"Where's little Forrest?" Suning asked.

“He’s playing in the yard,” Jenny said. “I’ll go call him.”

"No rush." ​​Su Ning sat down on the sofa, and Anna naturally sat down next to him, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Fores went to the kitchen to pour water, and Jenny followed to help.

In the kitchen, the two lowered their voices.

“Not Brooke,” Fores said.

“I can tell.” Jenny picked up her cup. “That girl… looks European?”

“The accent sounds like German or Scandinavian.” Fores frowned. “What’s wrong with my brother? Where’s Brooke?”

"Don't ask yet, let's see how it goes later. Anyway, he changes women all the time."

"That's true! I also have an impression of Emily Clark."

"Hmph! Aren't you envious?"

"How could that be! Jenny, I will always love you."

"Hmph! You and your brother are both full of sweet talk."

Lunch was a typical Southern home-style meal prepared by Jenny: fried chicken, cornbread, and stewed beans.

Anna ate very politely, but it was clear she wasn't used to the greasy food.

"Anna, what do you do?" Jenny asked, trying to start a conversation.

“A PhD in physics,” Anna replied. “I’m doing research at MIT.”

Fores nearly choked on his water: "Doctor? Then...how old are you?"

“Twenty-six years old,” Anna smiled. “Su said it was quiet here and suitable for resting, so I came. I hope I haven’t disturbed you.”

"No problem, no problem," Fores said hastily. "It's just... a little unexpected."

Suning chimed in, "Anna is working on an important project and is under a lot of pressure, so I brought her here to relax for a few days."

"How many days will you stay?" Jenny asked.

"About three days," Su Ning said, "and then back to New York."

"Okay! I'll have Jenny go to the lakeside villa to tidy up later."

After lunch, little Fores ran in from outside. The two-year-old wasn't shy at all and immediately ran to Suning's legs, saying, "Uncle!"

Su Ning picked him up: "You're too heavy."

“This is Aunt Anna,” Jenny introduced.

Little Fores looked at Anna with his big eyes and suddenly said, "Golden hair!"

Anna smiled: "Yes, blonde."

“Unlike Aunt Brooke,” said little Fores.

The child has a good memory; he remembers what Brooke looked like when she came last year.

The atmosphere at the dinner table instantly became a little awkward.

Jenny quickly changed the subject: "Honey, go take a nap."

The nanny took the child away, leaving four adults in the restaurant.

In the afternoon, Fores and Suning smoked under the old oak tree in the backyard.

The women were inside.

"Brother," Forrest finally couldn't hold back any longer, "where's Brooke?"

"We broke up." Su Ning exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Why? That's not what Mom wanted..."

“My mother wants me to get married, but I don’t want to,” Su Ning said bluntly. “Broki wants marriage, I want freedom. We can’t reach an agreement, so we’ll break up.”

"What about Anna? What about you...?"

“My girlfriend,” Su Ning said. “She did me a favor, so I brought her here to relax and offer her whatever help I could.”

"What kind of help do you need to bring home?" Fores asked, puzzled. "And when the child mentioned Brooke earlier, she didn't react at all, as if she already knew."

Su Ning was silent for a moment: "Fores, there are some things I don't want to say. Anna is a smart woman, let's help each other, that's all."

"Help each other?" Fores repeated thoughtfully.

Su Ning glanced at her younger brother: "Fores, I'll handle my own affairs. Just know that Anna is my guest, and respect her."

"But……"

“No buts,” Su Ning interrupted. “Just treat him as a regular friend visiting.”

"Okay! Anyway, you've always been very opinionated since you were little."

Fores wanted to say something more, but seeing his brother's expression, he knew he wouldn't get any more information.

……

Inside the house, Jenny and Anna were tidying up in the kitchen.

"Anna, how did you and my brother meet?" Jenny asked casually.

“Through an academic project,” Anna said, wiping the dishes. “Su’s investment company supports some basic scientific research. My research group applied for funding, and he is a well-known alumnus of MIT. Many students regard him as their idol.”

"Oh, so it's a working relationship?"

“At first, yes,” Anna nodded, “but then we got to know each other and became friends.”

Jenny observed Anna's expression; it was calm, revealing nothing.

"So what do you think of my brother?"

Anna paused for a moment: "Very smart, farsighted, knows what she wants."

"What about your love life?" Jenny asked more directly.

Anna laughed. "Jenny, I know what you want to ask. Sue and I aren't in that kind of relationship. At least, not in the traditional sense of boyfriend and girlfriend." "Then what are we?"

“Partners,” Anna chose her word. “We provide each other with what we need while maintaining our independence and freedom. That’s good.”

Jenny understood the subtext, but not entirely.

After all, she never dreamed of Su Ning's crazy plan, so she couldn't understand Anna's words for a moment.

"Broki...you know her, right?"

“I know,” Anna nodded. “Sue was very honest and said it all. They broke up because they had different expectations for life. Brooke wanted a family, and Sue wanted freedom. There’s no right or wrong, just different choices.”

"Then what do you want?"

“I want to continue my research, I want financial freedom, I want… a great child,” Anna said naturally. “Su can help me achieve these things, and I can give him what he wants. A fair trade.”

Jenny understood completely.

She didn't ask any more questions and silently finished wiping the last plate.

……

In the evening, the four of them went for a walk by the lake in town.

Jenny has finished decorating the house by the lake that was built for Suning. It's modern in style and doesn't match the surrounding old houses, but it's very beautiful.

“Brother, your house has been empty for a while. Why don’t you move back in for a while?” Fores asked.

"It's fine to come back and stay occasionally," Su Ning said, looking at the house. "I'm too busy most of the time."

Anna asked, "Did you design this?"

"This is a gift from my younger brother, Forrest! He had it designed," Su Ning said. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful, but a bit... deserted."

"Yes! It seems I'll be coming back to live here more often in the future."

As we walked to the lake, the sun was setting, and the scenery was beautiful.

Jenny and Anna walked ahead, talking about children and education.

Fores and Suning lagged behind.

“Brother,” Fores whispered, “Jenny said that Anna and you were in a… deal?”

Suning did not deny it: "You could say that."

Don't you think this... is bad?

“What’s wrong with it?” Su Ning retorted. “We both got what we wanted, there was no deception, no coercion. It’s cleaner than many hypocritical marriages.”

"But what about feelings? What about love?"

“Fores,” Suning stopped and looked at his brother, “not everyone needs love. For me, efficiency and results are more important.”

"But Mom said..."

“Mom has her ideas, and I have mine,” Su Ning said. “I respect my mother, but I won’t live entirely according to her wishes. So do you. You chose to stay in Greentown, marry Jenny, have children, and live a peaceful life. I chose my own path. Neither of us is wrong.”

Fores couldn't find a way to refute it.

He is indeed happy.

The shrimp fishing company grew so big that they also had shares in Apple. They no longer needed to go out to sea themselves, and the annual dividends were enough for their whole family to live a good life.

Jenny is a virtuous woman, her children are adorable, and her second child is about to be born—this is exactly what their mother hoped for.

But Forrest Gan couldn't understand Suning's choice.

That evening, at the lakeside villa.

Suning and Anna were passionately entangled in the comfortable master bedroom. Although they both knew it was a win-win deal, Anna had already unknowingly become addicted.

Suning not only provides her with the career and material foundation she desires, but also allows her to enjoy unprecedented happiness.

An hour or two later, Anna said to Su Ning with satisfaction, "Su, I miss the baby."

"Bring the kids back for vacation next time." Su Ning naturally understood that Anna wanted Su Ning to bring the children back.

"Su, thank you." Anna was pleasantly surprised by Su Ning's straightforwardness.

"Don't thank me! You deserve this. You are the smartest woman I've ever met."

"Perhaps I have truly fallen in love with you."

"Oh? So what are your plans for the future?"

"Let's take it one step at a time! Anyway, we've signed an agreement, so even if I wanted to leave, it wouldn't be easy."

……

The three-day holiday passed quickly.

On their last night, Fores and Jenny chatted with Anna in the living room, while Suning dealt with work emails in the study.

Jenny finally asked the question she had been wanting to ask most: "Anna, will you have children with him?"

Anna didn't shy away from the question: "Yes. In fact... I'm already pregnant with his second child."

"What? What about your other child?" Fores nearly dropped his teacup.

“In New York! He usually lives with me, but I didn’t bring him back this time.”

How far along are you in your pregnancy?

"It's been three months," Anna said, stroking her lower abdomen.

Fores and Jenny exchanged a glance, both seeing complex emotions in each other's eyes.

They couldn't understand it, but it seemed... they couldn't object either.

It's important to know that Su Ning has always been unconventional and very opinionated, and even her former mother couldn't change that.

……

The next morning, Suning and Anna prepared to leave.

Forrest and Jenny escorted the two to the door with little Forrest.

"Brother, come back often." Fores hugged his brother.

"Yes, I will." Su Ning patted her younger brother on the back. "Take care. Jenny is about to give birth, so take care of yourself."

"know."

Anna and Jenny hugged goodbye.

"I wish you all the best," Jenny said.

Thank you. And you too.

The Rolls-Royce drove away and disappeared at the end of the street.

Back inside, Forrest and Jenny sat in the living room without speaking for a long time.

“My brother has changed,” Fores finally said. “Or rather, he has always been like this, but we just didn’t notice.”

“He’s always been very rational,” Jenny said, “but now… he’s taken it to the extreme.”

"Can Anna really accept this arrangement?"

“For her, it might really be the best choice,” Jenny sighed. “A top physicist who doesn’t want to be burdened by a family, but also wants children. Sue can give her all the resources she needs; it’s truly a win-win situation.”

"But what about the children? After all, the brother and Anna didn't have a normal marriage."

“The baby…” Jenny stroked her belly, “I can only hope that Su can really give them enough love. Not money, but love.”

Fores recalled his mother's dying words: "Let Suning get married and have children."

Now, Suning lives his life in his own way and continues to take care of his younger brother.

But this method... my mother would never have imagined.

“Jenny, let’s live our own lives.” Foresh held Jenny’s hand. “Let my brother walk his own path.”

"Ah."

Outside the window, the summer in Greentown was still sweltering.

Inside the old house, there is the warmth of a traditional family.

But inside the luxury car that drove away, there was another life choice.

There is no right or wrong, only differences.

As Suning said: He chose efficiency and control, while Forrest chose emotions and family.

...(End of chapter)