You're my wife, don't doubt it!

Shen Jie shook her head and said, "I thought about this when I went to get our marriage certificate, but it seems that nothing has changed so far—you know, I just flew back from the United States."

“I know,” Xiao Yao said. “I’m just reminding you that you can pay more attention to this possibility later.”

“I know,” Shen Jie nodded, “Don’t worry.”

She seems to have returned to her capable, strong-woman persona.

"Um, there's something I want to ask you," Xiao Yao said hesitantly.

"Go ahead and ask," Shen Jie said. "Oh, right, I just remembered, where's your grandma? I remember you lived with her during high school, didn't you?"

“She went on a cruise ship for summer vacation,” Xiao Yao said.

"Oh, do you have enough money?" Shen Jie's train of thought jumped around a bit.

"Huh? Is it enough?" Xiao Yao answered subconsciously. He hadn't checked his bank card balance in a long time and didn't know whether it was enough or not.

“You probably can’t use the cash I have here from 04, so I’ll have to exchange it for old bills. I don’t know if the exchange rate will have depreciated,” Shen Jie continued, talking to herself. “I probably can’t transfer money into cards from your era either—”

As she spoke, she took off her earrings and necklace and placed them on the table: "Take these and sell them first. I'll write down the price range for you later..."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, I don't want to," Xiao Yao repeatedly declined.

Shen Jie ignored him and went to take off the bracelet on her wrist.

"Really, no! I have money!" Xiao Yao said urgently.

"Aren't you trying to find a way to get me, the 17-year-old, out of the house?" Shen Jie said calmly. "If you have enough money, things will be easier, won't they?"

"Well... I haven't thought of anywhere I'll need the money yet," Xiao Yao said after a moment's thought.

“I have plenty of these things. If you don’t take them, it means you don’t consider me family,” Shen Jie said somewhat angrily.

"Fine, fine." Xiao Yao raised his hands in surrender.

"What were you trying to ask me just now?" Shen Jie finally remembered Xiao Yao's question.

“I forgot too,” Xiao Yao said.

He actually wanted to ask about Yu Luying's future, but he was too embarrassed to ask directly, so he chose another question: "I've always had a worry that if I pull you out of your family, will it end up harming you? Will he sever his father-daughter relationship with you?"

“No,” Shen Jie answered crisply, “In my memory, although it’s very vague, it was Dad who ultimately gave in to this matter. Also, although Dad has a lot of flaws, he still loves me at the end of the day.”

"Really?" Xiao Yao blurted out, then swallowed the last three words, "I don't believe it."

"Then, I can rescue you without worry?" Xiao Yao said.

“Yes, I’ve been trying to find a solution for you since the very beginning,” Shen Jie said.

"Um, there's one more question," Xiao Yao asked Shen Jie. "Isn't Tianyun also the eldest daughter of your Shen family—our Shen family? Why is she living in my dilapidated house?"

“This is your request,” Shen Jie replied without hesitation. “You don’t want her to live with my father. This was one of the conditions you made when you offered to take the blame for my father.”

"Is that so...? Just to avoid her maternal grandfather?" Xiao Yao said.

“It’s Grandpa,” Shen Jie immediately reminded him.

“Ah, yes, yes, Grandpa,” Xiao Yao said.

You wouldn't have emphasized these things to me so deliberately when you were 17, would you?

“That’s only part of the reason,” Shen Jie told Xiao Yao. “Another reason is that it’s very close to Changqing Sports School and the training grounds, which is very convenient. Also, the old house is quite livable after the renovation. Another reason is to cultivate Tianyun’s independent personality and prevent her from developing a spoiled princess attitude. And…”

"Isn't it better to raise a spoiled princess than a delinquent?" Xiao Yao muttered with some disapproval. "If it were me, I would want her to have the best."

“It’s normal,” Shen Jie told Xiao Yao. “That’s how people are. Even the same person will have different views and ideas at different stages of life. It’s hard for them to stay the same.”

“That’s true…” Xiao Yao replied.

For some reason, he had a gut feeling that Shen Jie wasn't telling the truth, or rather, not telling the whole truth, and was downplaying the important points.

But he himself couldn't explain why.

However, he didn't dwell on that issue any further and instead asked his third question, which was of most concern to him.

"Do you know where Yu Luying went after she grew up?" Xiao Yao asked Shen Jie.

He failed to notice the fleeting look of displeasure on the woman's face.

Chapter 244 Old Couple and Old Wife

2023-06-22

*This chapter is also known as "The Time Traveler's Wife"

"Do you know where Yu Luying went after she grew up?" Xiao Yao asked Shen Jie.

He failed to notice the fleeting look of displeasure on the woman's face.

“She…” Shen Jie thought for a moment and said, “Actually, I only know that there is such a person, and I’ve only heard of such a name. She should be the girlfriend you had before you met me.”

“That’s how it is,” Xiao Yao said.

“I only remember that you two started dating around college or graduation. I really didn’t know that you and she were classmates in high school and were so close,” Shen Jie recalled. “Actually, you know me—oh, you might not know now—but I really don’t care what kind of relationships you had before me, so I never ask. You have to look forward in life, not backward.”

“That’s right,” Xiao Yao repeated the four words, “but we’re still classmates and friends at least. It’s reasonable for me to inquire about things for her so she wants to know about the future.”

“I’m not sure right now, but I can try to find out, no problem.” Shen Jie said seriously, “Ah, I remember you said she was married, but I’m not too sure—and then she became a teacher and had children. Like I said, I can’t be too sure, I need to confirm it again.”

"Oh," Xiao Yao said casually.

Upon hearing this "news," Xiao Yao did not experience any significant emotional fluctuations. He had anticipated this answer and considered it a natural occurrence.

Of course, he should express his regret, but...

Well, it's surprisingly calm.

Shen Jie immediately regretted telling the lie, because she remembered that she seemed to have told "Shen Jie" that Yu Luying had passed away and that she would be rescued. As soon as the two little ones matched their words, she would be exposed. So she quickly tried to cover it up with an uncertain tone.

"Xiao Yao," Shen Jie stretched out one foot and rubbed it against Xiao Yao's calf, "I want to discuss something with you."

Xiao Yao had a bad feeling, but all he could say was, "Go ahead."

"Have you ever considered being more devoted to her, that is, to me?" Shen Jie made her request: "Only be with the two of us."

Xiao Yao looked troubled and said, "Originally, she and I were just ordinary friends. It was you—the 17-year-old you—who asked for it... I don't really want to bring up your memories again and make you feel confused."

“I know about this,” Shen Jie nodded, “because she mentioned it to me on the phone. I don’t need to inherit her memories to know…”

"Hmm, how much else do you know?" Xiao Yao asked Shen Jie.

Symbiosis, the palace—had Shen Jie ever told her about all of this? Or would she eventually "remember" it herself?

It seemed unnecessary to hide these things from her, Xiao Yao thought.

"Well," Shen Jie coaxed, "when you're young, you don't understand things, you say strange things, do strange things, and then you regret it when you grow up. Isn't that reasonable?"

“It’s quite reasonable,” Xiao Yao said reluctantly.

"Since I granted the authority, and since I regret it, can I take it back now?" Shen Jie asked Xiao Yao.

"..." Xiao Yao didn't know what to say, so he could only remain silent.

“Well, even so,” Xiao Yao thought for a moment and said, “it can’t be like a public toilet, where you can come and go as you please, right? It can’t be so sudden. I’ll consider what you’re saying, but please don’t do it so suddenly.”

"Alright then." Shen Jie was a little disappointed, but she didn't press him any further: "We've all been young once, I understand."

Xiao Yao said, "I'll consider it," but in his heart, he had no intention of considering it at all. If it were Xiao Shenjie who said that, maybe I would... I would...

"Alright, stop worrying about it," Shen Jie smiled gently. "I'm not worried about it anymore. Let's watch a movie together tonight."

“Okay, okay,” Xiao Yao said, “but I can’t get out.”

“Use a laptop,” Shen Jie said.

Xiao Yao rushed to clear the empty plates and bowls from the table, but Shen Jie stopped him.

She simply opened the bedroom door, shook the wind chimes hanging on it, and soon two women dressed as Filipino maids came in and quickly tidied up the table.

"Very good, these are the third and fourth people from the future I've met," Xiao Yao thought.

It's really good to be rich.

After tidying up, Shen Jie conjured up a fruit-shaped laptop from who-knows-where.

"Are laptops this thin now?" Xiao Yao asked, puzzled. "They're as thin as paper. Where are they supposed to put the components?"

Shen Jie smiled silently, indulging him as he rambled on about the “foolish things of the ancients,” while sitting on Shen Tianyun’s soft sofa.

Her thin laptop rested on her lap. Due to her comfortable sitting posture and her right leg crossed, the hem of her nightgown was naturally lifted up to the top of her thigh. Only then did Xiao Yao realize that she wasn't wearing pantyhose, but... a camisole.

"Do you like it?" Shen Jie noticed Xiao Yao's gaze, raised her hand and patted her leg. After a soft sound, her round thigh trembled slightly.

“Well,” Xiao Yao said honestly, “I don’t really like it that much.”

Shen Jie raised her eyebrows, revealing a somewhat surprised expression: "You used to really like it—no, you'll definitely like it in the future."

"The future? Hmm, it's hard to imagine. To be honest, this thing is a bit too... too... in my eyes." Xiao Yao said, "At least don't wear it when you go out."

Shen Jie chuckled and said, "Do you even need to tell me that?"

Shen Jie sat on the soft sofa, quietly untying her hair from its bun and gently shaking it down so it could fall smoothly. In the dim light, her long, straight hair shone with a soft luster, like a shining star in the night.

"It looks really good. Finally, it has a bit of a girlish feel to it," Xiao Yao thought.

Every strand of her hair obediently followed her contours, dancing in the gentle breeze of the air conditioner, like a black waterfall softly embracing the woman's body. It flowed down her shoulders and back, creating a dreamlike scene. The air conditioner's gentle breeze caressed her hair and face, bringing a touch of coolness and tranquility.