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Suning walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and added two ice cubes.

Holding a wine glass, he slowly strolled around the living room.

The contrast was particularly strong after returning from the world of "The Most Beautiful Youth".

In Saihanba, I got up early and went to bed late every day, sweating profusely, but I felt fulfilled.

Here, with luxury homes, luxury cars, and fine clothes and food, you always feel like something is missing.

Seeing such a large house, with only him and Chen Lijun living there, made it seem even more desolate.

"Perhaps... it's time to have a child," Su Ning murmured to herself, taking a sip of her drink.

Children are always the bond between husband and wife.

In the alternate world, after he and Qin Xuemei had Hanghang, their whole family was different.

Every day when I come home, hearing my child's voice and seeing their smiling face, I feel it's all worth it, no matter how tired I am.

Moreover, having children makes a home feel more like a home.

Instead of being like a luxury hotel suite, as it is now.

Suning walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the beautiful scenery and lights of West Lake outside.

Does Chen Lijun want children?
They were actually in a state of secret marriage, since she had too many female confidantes, so Chen Lijun had been cooperating with Su Ning in putting on an act.

Su Ning then thought of Qin Xuemei from the dungeon world.

That girl who was willing to settle in the desert for her ideals, that wife who bore him children, that comrade-in-arms who fought alongside him...

Although I know it's another world, and I know I can return at any time, I still can't help but feel a little melancholy.

"Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore." Su Ning shook his head and drank the rest of the wine in one gulp.

He took out his phone and sent Chen Lijun a WeChat message: "Still not done? What time are you coming back?"

A few minutes later, Chen Lijun replied, "Still in a meeting, probably after nine o'clock. You go to sleep first, don't wait for me."

First, I washed the cup, and then I took a hot shower in the bathroom.

The system is still matching for a new instance; I wonder what kind of world it will be.

In the real world, he also needs to carefully manage his relationship with Chen Lijun.

Career, family, system tasks... none of them are easy.

But this is my life.

Real life.

It is more complex and more realistic than any other copy.

I closed my eyes and slowly fell asleep.

In my dream, I felt like I had returned to Saihanba.

Standing in the forest he planted with his own hands, the wind rustled through the treetops, making a sound like ocean waves.

Qin Xuemei held Hanghang's hand and smiled at him from a distance.

Then the scene shifts to a luxury mansion in Hangzhou.

Chen Lijun, dressed in business attire, sat in the study reading documents and said to him without looking up, "Su Ning, we should talk."

"What to talk about?"

"Do you really think I don't know about your affair with Li Yunxiao?"

Su Ning suddenly opened his eyes in fright, only to realize that it was just a dream and that Chen Lijun would not question him.

Suddenly, I felt that two worlds, two lives, were intertwined and colliding in my dream.

This left Suning momentarily confused about which side was more authentic.

Which side is where I truly belong?

……

Around ten o'clock, the sound of the door opening was finally heard.

Su Ning had actually already woken up; after all, that nightmare was too terrifying, and perhaps it was the guilty conscience that was most afraid of being exposed.

Hearing the noise, Su Ning came out in her pajamas and saw Chen Lijun bending over to change her shoes in the entryway.

"You're back?" Su Ning said softly.

Chen Lijun was startled, looked up and saw him, then breathed a sigh of relief, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I'll wait for you." Su Ning walked down the stairs. "Are you hungry? I made something to eat."

Chen Lijun then noticed a faint light coming from the restaurant.

She quickly took off her coat, hung it up, and followed Su Ning over.

The restaurant's main lights weren't on; only two candles were lit.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the exquisite tableware and several dishes on the table.

“This is…” Chen Lijun was stunned.

"A candlelight dinner." Su Ning pulled out a chair. "It's a bit late, but it'll celebrate you finishing your overtime."

Chen Lijun looked at the dishes on the table...

Beef braised in red wine, garlic roasted shrimp, vegetable salad, and a bottle of decanted red wine.

Each dish was presented with great care, more like it was prepared in a restaurant than taken out.

"You made this?" Chen Lijun looked at Su Ning with eyes full of spring.

"Of course," Su Ning laughed. "Try it and see if your skills have deteriorated."

Chen Lijun sat down, picked up her fork, and tasted a piece of beef.

The meat is tender and juicy, the sauce is rich and flavorful, and the cooking time is just right.

"Delicious!" Chen Lijun's eyes lit up. "It's still so delicious."

Su Ning poured drinks for the two of them. "Come on, let's have a toast. Let's celebrate President Chen completing another major project."

Chen Lijun raised her glass, the candlelight flickering on her face. "Thank you."

The two clinked glasses and each took a sip.

"Why are you being so romantic today?" Chen Lijun asked. "It's not like you at all."

"What's my style?" Suning countered.

“Straight man style,” Chen Lijun laughed. “You used to only give me bags and jewelry for anniversaries, never anything like this.”

“Then we should do it more often in the future,” Su Ning said. “We can’t let President Chen always think that I’m not romantic.”

Chen Lijun looked at him, her eyes softening, "You're... a little different today."

"What's the difference?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it." She thought for a moment, "She seems more... composed? And more gentle too."

Suning understood that this was the mark left by more than a decade of playing the game.

In Saihanba, I learned patience, I learned thoughtfulness, and I learned how to truly love someone.

But he couldn't say, he just smiled and said, "Maybe it's because I'm getting older and more sensible."

"You're only in your thirties, why are you saying you're old?" Chen Lijun said reproachfully.

The two of them chatted while eating.

When Chen Lijun talked about the company's situation, she mentioned that the preparation for the new movie was encountering difficulties. The investors demanded changes to the script, the director had objections, and the actors' schedules could not be coordinated.

Suning listened quietly, occasionally offering some advice.

He had managed a forest farm in the dungeon world and knew how to handle interpersonal relationships and balance the interests of all parties.

“You’re right.” Chen Lijun listened to his advice thoughtfully. “I might have been too impatient. I always wanted to get everything done at once.”

“Take it slow,” Suning said. “Good things come to those who wait. If the investors go too far, we’ll kick them out. My original intention in creating Guangguai Luli was to be free from constraints.”

"Understood! I've already spoken with the scriptwriting team, and we'll definitely reject any unreasonable requests."

After finishing his meal, Suning went to the living room and put a vinyl record on the CD player.

Soothing jazz music flowed out.

"Want to dance?" He held out his hand.

Chen Lijun laughed, "What are you doing today? Did you do something wrong?"

"Don't misunderstand! It's just my full-service package." Su Ning held her hand and gently put his other arm around her waist.

The two danced slowly in the living room.

Candlelight streamed through the dining room, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

Chen Lijun leaned on Su Ning's shoulder, "It's been so long since I've felt like this."

"Ah."

“I remember when we first got together, you often took me dancing.”

"I'll jump often from now on," Su Ning said.

The music changed; it was slower and gentler.

Su Ning held Chen Lijun in his arms, swaying gently to the rhythm.

You can smell the fragrance in Chen Lijun's hair and feel the warmth of her body.

This moment feels so real, more real than any of the dungeons combined.

Because the person in his arms is his legal wife, and the person he is closest to in the real world.

"Lijun," he called her name softly.

"Ok?"

"Let's...have a child."

Chen Lijun's body stiffened slightly.

She looked up, meeting Su Ning's eyes. "What did you say?"

“I said, we want to have a child.” Su Ning said seriously, “Look at this house, it’s so big, it’s too lonely for just the two of us. It will be much more lively with a child.”

Chen Lijun's eyes slowly reddened.

"You...you really want a child?" Her voice choked with emotion.

“Really.” Su Ning nodded. “I want to be a father, and I want to raise our child with you.”

Chen Lijun had waited far too long for these words.

She understood the pressure of starting Suning, so she endured it.

But as I get older day by day, I start to get anxious.

Now, Suning has finally brought it up on its own initiative.

"Aren't you afraid it will affect your career?" Chen Lijun asked. "Daning Capital is at a critical stage right now, and Tiangong Auto is just starting out..."

"There's never enough work to be done," Su Ning said. "But some things can't wait. If you wait any longer, it'll be too late."

Chen Lijun's tears fell.

She hugged Su Ning tightly, burying her face in his chest, "I thought... I thought you would never want children..."

"How could that be?" Su Ning gently patted her back. "I just... wasn't prepared before."

"Are you ready now?"

“I’m ready,” Su Ning said. “I’ve thought it through. Family is more important than career. Money can be earned slowly, but some moments, once missed, can never be regained.”

Chen Lijun cried even harder, tears of joy and relief. All these years of waiting, all these years of forbearance, had finally come to fruition.

The two of them held each other and swayed gently to the music.

It took Chen Lijun a while to stop crying.

She looked up, her eyes still red, but with a smile on her face.

"So...when do we begin?"

“Now,” Su Ning said.

Su Ning lowered his head and kissed Chen Lijun.

The kiss was gentle, yet firm.

Chen Lijun responded to Su Ning, wrapping her arms around his neck.

The candlelight danced, and the music flowed.

The two figures moved slowly through the living room, from the living room to the bedroom.

The clothes fell one by one, scattering on the floor.

On the bed, Chen Lijun looked at Su Ning with eyes full of love and anticipation.

"This time..." she said softly, "we're not using any safety measures?"

“No need.” Su Ning kissed her forehead. “We want children.”

Chen Lijun smiled, a smile as bright as a spring flower.

Then, everything happened naturally.

There was no pretense, no restraint.

There is only love, only longing, only anticipation for the future.

This time, they did not take any protective measures.

Because this time, they really wanted a child, a child of their own, a life that could make their family more complete.

……

A dreamless night.

When Su Ning woke up, it was already broad daylight.

He reached out and touched the bed beside him; it was empty. Chen Lijun had already gotten up.

Su Ning sat up and rubbed her eyes.

The bedroom was quiet, with only the slight sound of the air conditioner blowing air.

But a delicious aroma wafted through the air—the smell of fried eggs and toast.

Su Ning smiled, lifted the covers, and got out of bed.

Then, shirtless, wearing only a pair of shorts and slippers, he walked out of the bedroom.

He tiptoed over and saw Chen Lijun standing in front of the stove with her back to him.

Chen Lijun was wearing a cool loungewear outfit, and her long legs were quite alluring.

Her hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling around her neck.

She was frying eggs, and the pan was sizzling.

Su Ning quietly walked over and hugged Chen Lijun from behind.

"Ah!" Chen Lijun was startled and almost dropped the spatula in her hand.

"Good morning." Su Ning buried her face in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath. "Smells so good."

"You scared me to death!" Chen Lijun scolded playfully. "Why do you walk so quietly?"

"I wanted to give you a surprise." Su Ning smiled, her hands wandering around restlessly.

Chen Lijun shifted her body slightly. "Stop fooling around, I'm frying eggs."

"Fried eggs are nothing compared to you." Su Ning kissed Chen Lijun's ear.

Chen Lijun's ears turned red. "You...you let go first, the eggs are going to burn."

"So what if it's burnt?" Su Ning turned her around to face her. "I want to eat you now."

"But……"

Before she could finish speaking, Su Ning kissed her.

The kiss was passionate, with the unique impulse of the early morning.

Chen Lijun was initially preoccupied with the eggs in the pot, but she was quickly melted by Su Ning's kiss.

She released the spatula, wrapped her arms around his neck, and returned his kiss.

The sizzling sound in the pot gradually changed, from crisp to burnt, and Chen Lijun struggled to turn off the heat.

But neither of them cared about it.

Suning picked up Chen Lijun and placed her on the kitchen counter.

The spatula fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"The countertop is cold..." Chen Lijun said softly.

"I'm holding you." Su Ning continued kissing her.

The buttons on his loungewear were undone one by one.

The pot was thick with burnt bits, but nobody paid any attention.

The countertop was a bit hard, but the feeling at that moment overshadowed everything else.

Chen Lijun tilted her head back and hugged Su Ning's head tightly.

I've never done anything like this in the kitchen before, but it was surprisingly exciting.

"Go...go to the bedroom..." Chen Lijun pleaded breathlessly.

“Right here,” Su Ning said hoarsely. “I want you here.”

Chen Lijun blushed even more, but did not object.

So, in the kitchen early in the morning, amidst the gradually intensifying smell of burning, the two became entangled again.

This time it was more intense and unrestrained than last night.

Maybe it was because they were in the kitchen, maybe it was because the sunlight was so bright, or maybe it was simply because they had finally decided to have a child and no longer had any reservations.

The eggs in the pan were completely burnt, turning into a dark, mushy mess.

The bread machine popped up with a "ding," and the toasted bread popped out.

But these voices were drowned out by another voice.

Their love for each other was so intense it was almost overwhelming.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe an hour, maybe two hours.

When things calmed down, the kitchen was a complete mess.

Chen Lijun slumped in Su Ning's arms, covered in sweat, her shirt completely open.

Su Ning held her, also panting.

It took them a while before Chen Lijun remembered something.

“My eggs…” she struggled to look at the stove.

In the pot, the black mass was no longer recognizable as an egg.

"It's burnt." Su Ning laughed.

"It's all your fault." Chen Lijun punched his chest. "I got up early to make you breakfast."

"I'll make it up to you." Su Ning kissed her. "What do you want to eat? I'll go out and buy it."

"I don't want to move." Chen Lijun nestled in his arms. "Let's order takeout."

"Okay." Su Ning picked up her phone and opened the food delivery app.

Chen Lijun looked at the charred mess in the pot and sighed, "This is the result of my first time cooking."

"First time?" Su Ning asked in surprise. "You've never cooked before?"

"No," Chen Lijun said a little embarrassedly. "I usually study drama at school and eat in the cafeteria, so I never have a chance to do it. I finally wanted to give it a try today, but..."

She looked at the dark, indistinct thing and smiled helplessly.

Su Ning smiled and said, "It's alright, I appreciate the thought. Besides..."

He leaned close to Chen Lijun's ear and whispered, "That 'breakfast' just now was better than any fried egg."

Chen Lijun blushed again. "You rascal."

"I'm only a rogue to you." Su Ning hugged her, feeling very satisfied.

"What about Li Yunxiao?"

"Stop it! You know what kind of person I am."

"Haven't you visited Sister Lin in a long time?"

"You really think of yourself as the Empress of the harem? You're already starting to worry about the other concubines?"

"Hmph! They'll treat everyone equally, huh!"

In the dungeon world, Qin Xuemei often cooks for herself.

Although the conditions were simple, they put a lot of effort into it.

Now back in the real world, Chen Lijun is also willing to cook for him...

Even if it's burnt, the sentiment remains the same.

Perhaps, this is what home feels like.

Someone is willing to get up early for you, willing to try things they're not good at, and willing to give you their best.

Even if the result is not perfect, the process is heartwarming.

Su Ning didn't want to discuss his other women with Chen Lijun either, as it always felt a bit strange.

Chen Lijun understood this principle, so she only stopped when she was satisfied with what she had done.

"Oh, right," Chen Lijun suddenly remembered something, "Aren't you going to work today?"

"I'll go this afternoon," Su Ning said. "I'll spend the morning with you."

“Then I won’t go either,” Chen Lijun said. “It’s rare for me to take a break.”

"Okay." Su Ning kissed her forehead. "We're not going to do anything today, we'll just stay home."

"Mmm." Chen Lijun leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

The warm sunlight shone in and fell on the two of them.

The burnt smell from the pot was still there, but it wasn't as pungent anymore.

On the contrary, it has a kind of...realistic feel to life.

Imperfect, but real.

It is full of love, warmth, and the warmth of everyday life.

This is their life.

...(End of chapter)