The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

The rain outside the window is still falling, and it sounds even more eerie than when we were eating.

After finishing the call, Ye Shu put her phone in her pocket, walked out of the guest room, and went downstairs.

It was just past 7:30, and a TV series was still playing on the living room TV. Shen Jingwan and An Jianxing were sitting on the sofa, while Xiaoxue was obediently nestled next to her mother.

Right now, Shen Jingwan is giving her daughter a praising lecture, saying things like, "Our Xiaoxue is so great, she can even greet the guests."

Shen Jingwan was praising her daughter, while An Jianxing sat beside her, smiling as he watched his daughter, twirling two walnuts in his hands.

Seeing Ye Shu come down, An Jianxing gestured with his chin towards him:

"Come on, Xiao Shu, sit here and have some fruit."

Ye Shu walked over and sat down on the sofa next to him.

As soon as Xiaoxue, who was still nestled in her mother's arms, heard her father call Ye Shu, her ears perked up.

After Ye Shu sat down on the sofa next to her, she stared at him longingly, then secretly glanced at her mother beside her. She rubbed her bottom against the sofa, wanting to move closer, but she was too embarrassed to move over immediately, so she could only stand there like a waiting-for-husband stone, gazing at him.

Shen Jingwan smiled inwardly at her daughter's disloyal behavior, but didn't show it. She gestured to Ye Shu towards the spot next to Xiaoxue:

"Xiao Shu, come sit here, it'll be easier to get the fruit."

Ye Shu didn't think much of it and sat down.

Xiaoxue was overjoyed to see Ye Shu sitting next to her, but she had to pretend to be nonchalant, even though her face was already turning red.

She quietly moved closer to Ye Shu, afraid that her movements would be too obvious and her parents would find out. She acted like she was stealing a landmine.

"Come on, Xiao Shu, have a taste. This cantaloupe I bought today is quite sweet."

Shen Jingwan took a slice of cantaloupe from the coffee table and handed it to Ye Shu. As soon as she did so, Xiaoxue was pushed directly onto Ye Shu by her mother.

"Oh, thank you, Auntie."

Ye Shu took the melon, took a bite, and found it to be quite sweet.

Shen Jingwan then gave another piece to her daughter, whose face was flushed and who was leaning against Ye Shu, and smiled:

"Come on, Xiaoxue, have some watermelon."

Xiaoxue knew her mother was doing it on purpose, but she could only blush and lean close to Ye Shu to start eating watermelon.

Shen Jingwan finished her business and left, concealing her merits and fame, before finally getting down to business:

"Xiao Shu, have you spoken to your father on the phone?"

"Okay, it's over."

Ye Shu nodded, swallowed the melon in his mouth, and said:

"I just bought a ticket for my dad; he's coming this Friday."

"Friday……"

Shen Jingwan did the calculation:

"That's four days from now?"

An Jianxing nodded beside him, slowing down the walnut-rubbing motion in his hands. His eyes unconsciously glanced at his liquor cabinet, and he was secretly delighted. Finally, he had someone to drink with again.

Shen Jingwan could tell what An Jianxing was thinking just by looking at him staring blankly at the wine cabinet.

She coughed lightly, and An Jianxing immediately turned around and exchanged a glance with Shen Jingwan.

This time, An Jianxing didn't pretend to be stupid and nodded slightly.

Shen Jingwan smiled, reached out and patted Xiaoxue, who was blushing and munching on a melon, and said softly:

"Xiaoxue, come upstairs with me for a moment. I have something I want to talk to you about in private."

Xiaoxue was shyly munching on a melon. Because she ate in small bites but quickly, her cheeks were bulging. She turned her head and glanced at Ye Shu with a little reluctance.

Shen Jingwan smiled and said:

"It's okay, okay? It'll only take a few minutes."

Xiaoxue then put down the melon rind and obediently followed behind Shen Jingwan, turning back every few steps as she went upstairs.

In the living room, An Jianxing looked at his daughter's reluctant expression, then at his future son-in-law sitting next to him, whom he both liked and disliked, and sighed.

Neither of them spoke. An Jianxing stared at the sliced ​​melon on the coffee table, as if he was thinking about something.

Ye Shu sat beside him, holding a half-eaten piece of melon, without saying a word.

He realized that Aunt Shen had suddenly sent Xiaoxue away, and the meaningful glances the old couple had exchanged earlier clearly indicated that they were about to have a private conversation, with the main focus still on him. However, there were some things that were not convenient for Xiaoxue's innocent little head to hear.

After a while, An Jianxing finally spoke. His tone was different from usual. Normally, when he spoke to Ye Shu, he always maintained the authority of an elder, but now it carried a heavier, more paternal weight:

"Xiao Shu, you're not stupid. You should be able to tell that your aunt took Xiao Xue away because we have something to ask you."

"Um."

Ye Shu nodded and took another bite of the melon in her hand.

An Jianxing then turned his head, looked into Ye Shu's eyes, and slowly said:

"Since both families feel there are no problems, we can discuss the specifics of your marriage with Xiaoxue once your father arrives. There's just one more thing we'd like to ask for your opinion on."

After saying that, he placed the walnuts he was holding on the coffee table:

"Have you decided when to get your marriage certificate?"

Hearing this question, Ye Shu wasn't particularly surprised. He had finished eating the melon in his hand, threw the rind into the nearby trash can, grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth and hands, and without thinking much of it, looked up to meet An Jianxing's gaze and said:

"I think we should wait until Xiaoxue is born before we can get our marriage certificate."

An Jianxing nodded, agreeing with the answer, which was exactly what they wanted to hear.

But when Ye Shu said it aloud, his hand still squeezed it gently.

Although his three daughters were just one of Xiaoxue's separate personalities, after so many years, he and Shen Jingwan had truly accepted them and treated them as their own daughters.

Xiao Nuan's earnestness, Xia Qing's liveliness, and Zhi Qiu's composure... they're all my dear children.

Now, the thought that their other three daughters will ultimately never have legal status is heartbreaking for the parents.

"Then... Xiao Qing and the others..."

An Jianxing couldn't help but ask the question. He wanted to know if Ye Shu had any good ideas, at least something to ease the sadness of his daughters.

Looking into An Jianxing's eyes, Ye Shu understood what An Jianxing was heartbroken about. He had actually thought about this question many times before.

"Uncle, there's no other way. Xiaoxue has to go to get the marriage certificate. If someone else goes and sees Xiaoxue's name on the certificate, I think... that would be even more cruel to them."

An Jianxing listened and nodded. He and Shen Jingwan understood the same principle, but understanding the principle and being able to accept it are two different things.

However, Ye Shu didn't seem as heavy-hearted as An Jianxing. He then spoke to An Jianxing:

"But don't worry, Uncle An and Auntie, I've already thought everything else through."

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, An Jianxing raised an eyebrow, showing interest:

"Tell me, what do you want?"

Ye Shu moved closer to An Jianxing on the sofa and said as if whispering:

"That's what I think..."