Mrs. Fu, please be mindful of the appropriate boundaries.

"No need. If you're taking care of the child, the child's parents will definitely come along too, and then it won't be possible to communicate properly. This time, I wanted to introduce you to Shenghua. Once you're familiar with each other, you won't have to go through me to see her every time. It will be more convenient for you to communicate with her about the illness in the future. Besides, you still need to go to the hospital for examinations to see a doctor," Zhong Wanxiu reassured her. "You don't need to be too anxious. It won't make a difference if you wait a day or two."

"I understand, Auntie."

Xu Qingcheng hung up the phone and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Zhong Wanxiu booked a very private little restaurant, which was very elegant and converted from a farmhouse. There were only seven or eight rooms in total.

This kind of place has a nice ambiance, a touch of sophistication, and is perfect for a group of three or five girlfriends to eat, drink, chat, and talk together.

To make a good impression, Xu Qingcheng arrived early in the morning.

She wore an apricot-colored slip dress with a matching apricot-colored three-quarter sleeve blazer, a very simple style that made her look gentle and intellectual.

Zhong Wanxiu and the others hadn't arrived yet, so Xu Qingcheng waited outside for a while.

Feeling inexplicably uneasy, Xu Qingcheng placed her hand on her chest, listening to the pounding of her heart.

The hardest thing for people is making decisions, because every decision you make can subtly affect a child's entire life.

For Xu Qingcheng, after each consultation with the doctor, the doctor would explain in detail the advantages and risks of the surgery, allowing her to make her own decision.

This was the most difficult time for Xu Qingcheng.

No one can make decisions with her, not even her parents. It concerns Xu Yuan's future, and everyone's eyes will be on her. Are you Xu Yuan's mother, or is it up to you to make the decision?

At times like these, Xu Qingcheng really wished that Xu Yuan's father would be there.

Even if he's not her husband, just the father who made the wish would be fine.

Give her some advice.

Xu Qingcheng really wanted to tell Fu Jingting about Xu Yuan, if the two of them could get along better.

It's okay if there's no love, but don't harbor any hostility or hatred.

But given the current situation, Xu Qingcheng couldn't bring herself to speak.

Xu Qingcheng waited a while and then received a call from Zhong Wanxiu, who asked her where she was.

"Auntie, I've arrived. I'm waiting for you in the yard."

"I've arrived too. Dr. Pang is stuck in traffic, so I'm afraid I'll be a little late." Zhong Wanxiu said as she walked in while making a phone call. She looked up and saw Xu Qingcheng waving at her, so she hung up the phone.

Xu Qingcheng came forward and said, "Auntie."

Zhong Wanxiu watched her approach. In the past few years, even though her appearance hadn't changed, she had still changed. She had toned down her outgoing personality and become more gentle. This didn't detract from her charm; rather, it was a plus.

"Let's go in and have some tea first. We'll probably have to wait for her."

"It's alright, I don't have anything else to do tonight anyway." Xu Qingcheng smiled. "This place is very elegant. I didn't even know Ancheng had a place like this to eat. Just sitting here and looking at it is a pleasure."

"Right? I think so too. I remembered it after just one visit. The key is that this restaurant has several famous dishes, which I think are quite good." Zhong Wanxiu turned to look at the person beside her and smiled. "I never thought that one day we could chat so peacefully, not as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law."

Xu Qingcheng opened her mouth, but Zhong Wanxiu's sudden mention left her unsure how to respond.

Xu Qingcheng lowered her eyelashes, her heart aching, and still said softly, "I'm sorry, Auntie, I've hurt you."

She still remembers Zhong Wanxiu's prayers at the temple, and her reddened eyes as she cleared away the overgrown weeds at the No. 1 Jingshan Villa.

Even if you have some understanding of many things, it is still different when you are a mother and when you are not.

Upon hearing her apology, Zhong Wanxiu turned to look at her and knew that she had overthought things.

Zhong Wanxiu truly believes that nothing in life is predetermined.

"You don't need to apologize to me. Whether you're right or wrong is for you two to figure out. What matters to me is that my son is standing healthy in front of me. Frankly, if that weren't the case, I would never be able to speak properly to you again in my life. Do you understand?"

Xu Qingcheng nodded, "I know."

The mother doesn't care who is right or wrong; she only cares about whether her child is alright.

"But I didn't mean to criticize you." Zhong Wanxiu looked at the bamboo outside the window and smiled faintly. "Some people drift apart as they go through life, while others meet along the way. It just makes me think that the connections between people are truly wondrous. Oh, by the way, was that gentleman you met last time your boyfriend? What does he do?"

Xu Qingcheng knew that Zhong Wanxiu was talking about Xie Yin, and was about to explain when the door opened. "Sorry I'm late."

He had short hair, wore glasses, and greeted them with a smile.

Xu Qingcheng hurriedly stood up. She had seen Dr. Pang's photo before. He looked serious in the photo, but when she met him in person, she found that he was quite kind when he smiled.

Zhong Wanxiu introduced Xu Qingcheng to Pang Shenghua.

"Xiao Xu is indeed beautiful." Pang Shenghua sat down and praised her with a smile.

"Everyone looks good when they're young. We weren't bad back then either," Zhong Wanxiu chimed in.

Pang Shenghua laughed, "We're not bad now, we still retain our charm."

They were old friends, and the atmosphere warmed up quickly after a few words. Xu Qingcheng hurriedly poured tea for Pang Shenghua.

Zhong Wanxiu ordered a bottle of peach blossom wine, saying it was a popular wine here and she wanted to try it.

With two old friends present, the atmosphere was never dull. Zhong Wanxiu had always taken good care of Xu Qingcheng, so she wouldn't feel excluded.

The conversation didn't revolve around Fu Jingting's marriage at all; it was very casual, and they talked about everything.

Because of her work, Xu Qingcheng often needs to research and understand women's psychological preferences in order to make designs. So even if they are of different ages, she can quickly get into conversations. After all, women love beauty, pursue fashion, and like pretty things.

Xu Qingcheng also took the opportunity to give Pang Shenghua and Zhong Wanxiu each a beautifully designed diamond-encrusted brooch. The brooches were unique in design and very similar in appearance, but upon closer inspection, they were different in detail.

"These are a pair of best friend brooches. They can be used together as a single brooch, or each one can be worn separately," Xu Qingcheng explained.

Pang Shenghua exclaimed how ingenious it was, expressing her delight, "You're such a thoughtful child, I love you so much."

"Isn't she beautiful? I told you this girl has good taste." Zhong Wanxiu smiled, her words full of pride, implying that the people she brought were indeed excellent.

Pang Shenghua couldn't help but glance at Zhong Wanxiu again, but ultimately didn't say anything more.

When the conversation turned to the child, I said, "Have the child's parents come to see me at Huanan Hospital the day after tomorrow, and call me when they arrive. I've reviewed the medical records, and the chances of a successful surgery are quite high. Of course, the specific outcome will depend on the results of the examinations."

"Okay, then I'll bring the kids over the day after tomorrow. Dr. Pang, I'd like to thank you on your behalf." Xu Qingcheng filled Pang Shenghua's glass with peach blossom wine, then raised her own glass to clink glasses with her.

Xu Qingcheng was somewhat excited, her eyes brimming with tears that seemed about to burst in the ambient lighting. The statement that the surgery had a high chance of success acted like a shot of adrenaline.

Pang Shenghua patted her shoulder, "Don't get too excited. After all, treatment always involves risks. A doctor's job is to keep those risks within a manageable range as much as possible."

"I know." Xu Qingcheng smiled, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers. "You are the first doctor to tell me that the success rate of the cure is very high. Even though there is still uncertainty, I am happy."

"You silly child, crying and laughing at the same time." Zhong Wanxiu handed her a tissue. "Xu Yuan. It's a beautiful name. Was it congenital?"

"Mm." Xu Qingcheng nodded.

"How is her language now? Has it been affected?" Dr. Pang asked.

"There's a tiny bit, but it's not a big problem. I got hearing aids before, but I didn't have any experience with them. I thought that as long as I could hear, that was enough. But I started talking relatively late. I consulted a doctor and then hired a speech therapist. It's getting better slowly."

"That's right. It's very troublesome when children are born with congenital conditions." Pang Shenghua asked a few more questions about Xu Yuan's previous examinations, and Xu Qingcheng answered them very clearly.

Dr. Pang couldn't help but say, "You care a lot about the child; you understand her condition very well."

Zhong Wanxiu listened to their conversation, occasionally glancing at Xu Qingcheng without saying a word.

Xu Qingcheng went to the restroom.

Watching Xu Qingcheng leave, Pang Shenghua couldn't help but say, "I think your former daughter-in-law is quite good. Beautiful women are prone to being picky and only looking up, but she's a sensible girl who knows her limits well. No wonder you were soft-hearted."

"To be honest, I really like this child. If it weren't for all that happened..." Zhong Wanxiu shook her head. "It's hard to say about fate. I'm a little emotional. She cares so much about this child."

"Indeed, it's obvious. She must have followed all of the child's checkups. Do you know how many tests this child has had in the past two years? How many hospitals they've been to? The medical records she sent me were incredibly detailed. This is crucial for doctors to make a diagnosis; the child's medical history is very clear." Pang Shenghua smiled. "Has she not remarried?"

"I don't think so." Zhong Wanxiu suddenly shuddered. She only saw that the woman had a boyfriend, but it was also possible that he wasn't her boyfriend.

Is it her husband?

Married? With children?

But that doesn't make sense; the child is almost two years old. Even if she divorces Jingting and finds another partner, she couldn't possibly have a child that big.

When Xu Qingcheng returned from the restroom, Zhong Wanxiu couldn't help but ask, "Are you and your boyfriend getting married soon?"

Startled by the sudden question, Xu Qingcheng blushed and quickly explained, "No. That man was my boss, and also my senior, not my boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend?"

Zhong Wanxiu was actually quite pleased. "Your senior brother has a restless look on his face; he's not really suitable for you. You should find someone reliable."

Pang Shenghua was almost choked by Zhong Wanxiu's words, "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Zhong Wanxiu suddenly realized that what she said might have gone a bit too far, so she quickly coughed to cover it up, "I was just saying, after all, I don't know much about it."

Xu Qingcheng could only give an awkward smile.

Xie Yin, who was at home helping Xie Mingchen practice jump rope, suddenly started sneezing inexplicably, causing his ribs to ache terribly.

Xie Mingchen looked at him with disdain.

Xie Yin was provoked by his gaze. "What kind of look is that? The other party didn't gain anything either."

"Dad, let me ask you something. Do you like Aunt Qingcheng? Do you want to marry her?"

Xie Yin almost choked on his saliva. He glanced at Xie Mingchen and said, "Just say what you have to say."

"After all, Aunt Qingcheng is very beautiful, it's normal for you to like her, I actually have no objection."

"Forget it. Beautiful women are born in the Year of the Tiger, and I want to live a couple more years." Xie Yin thought of the way Xu Qingcheng kicked and bit Fu Jingting in the hospital that day. Her face was so beautiful, but as cold as ice.

Gee tut.

Xie Mingchen nodded. "Dad, it's rare for you to be so self-aware in this matter, and I'm very pleased."

Xie Yin, "..."

……

Afterwards, Xu Qingcheng stayed with them while they waited for the driver to pick them up, and first saw Pang Shenghua off.

Zhong Wanxiu's driver was a little late. A short while later, Zhong Wanxiu received a phone call. She walked to the side to answer the call, while Xu Qingcheng stood there waiting.

"Let's go up ahead, it's hard to drive on this street," Zhong Wanxiu said, and Xu Qingcheng accompanied her forward.

Chung Wan-hsiu asked her, "Xu Yuan, is that child very close to you?"

"Yes." Xu Qingcheng nodded without saying anything more, and Zhong Wanxiu didn't ask any more questions.

Fu Jingting stopped the car and called Zhong Wanxiu.

Half an hour ago, Ms. Zhong called him and asked him to come pick her up, saying that the driver had something to do and couldn't come.

Without even asking if he was alright, she hung up the phone.

Fu Jingting is actually fine; it's mainly because of his face that he has to cancel all his activities for the past few days.

This place is a converted guesthouse. The current influencer economy is quite lucrative, and it has brought a lot of liveliness to the whole street. However, it is not suitable for vehicles to come in because the alley is very narrow, and walking is the best option.

Fu Jingting was visiting for the first time. After wandering around for a while without finding the place, he called Zhong Wanxiu. Ms. Zhong told him to find a place to stop, and she went over there.

The lights were dim at night, and the road conditions weren't great. Xu Qingcheng gently supported Zhong Wanxiu, and once she stepped over the dim area, she withdrew her hand.

Zhong Wanxiu remained calm, but she wasn't entirely oblivious; she felt quite uncomfortable inside.

She also felt resentment when her own child was injured and his life was uncertain.

But then I thought, other people's daughters are raised so well, but they don't get any good things after marrying into my family.

Sometimes it's impossible to tell right from wrong.

At first, Zhong Wanxiu thought he could let go and get along well with Wen Fei.

However, now he doesn't even show his face. Wen Fei has already tried to talk to Zhong Wanxiu several times, and the two of them almost never have a chance to meet, except when he goes to visit Wen Liyan.

Zhong Wanxiu admitted that she did it on purpose.

She deliberately made Jingting come to pick her up.

It's not that I'm trying to match them up, but if these two have thorns in their hearts that they can't get out, putting them together will only make them hurt each other.

Zhong Wanxiu just wanted to see what Fu Jingting's attitude was.

The two people walked out of the lamplight. When Fu Jingting saw them, his eyes narrowed sharply, and time seemed to rewind for a moment.

In the courtyard of the old man's villa, they once stood in the yard looking at the colorful lights that were hung up.

That was probably the closest they ever got to each other, and also the closest she ever got to his family.

She gently supported Zhong Wanxiu with her hand, "Auntie, hasn't the driver arrived yet?"

"They should have arrived." Zhong Wanxiu looked around and spotted Fu Jingting's car. "It's over there."

Zhong Wanxiu waved, and Fu Jingting drove the car towards their location.

Xu Qingcheng opened the car door for Zhong Wanxiu, who didn't stand on ceremony and got in directly.

"Auntie, please take care. Thank you so much for tonight."

Her voice was gentle and soft, carrying polite flattery and a hint of caution.

Fu Jingting tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

There was nothing wrong with her attitude, but the way she was trying so hard to please him made him inexplicably uncomfortable.

Even though this person was his mother, it still made Fu Jingting unhappy.

It was a very subtle feeling; her lowered head seemed to pull his straight back down as well.

"You're welcome." Zhong Wanxiu closed the car door and rolled down the window. "How are you getting back?"

"I've already booked a car, it's convenient."

Zhong Wanxiu replied, "Then I'll be going now."

Then he instructed the driver, "Drive."

The man in the driver's seat did not perform his duties as a driver. Instead of driving away, he turned his head and glanced at Zhong Wanxiu.

Zhong Wanxiu pretended not to see it.

Fu Jingting rolled down the car window. "Get in. I'll give you a ride."

When the man's face was revealed, Xu Qingcheng was stunned. She really didn't expect that the driver who picked up Zhong Wanxiu was Fu Jingting. She only thought he was a driver.

"Need not."

Xu Qingcheng refused, but she quickly waved to Zhong Wanxiu and turned to walk to the other side.

Fu Jingting's forehead tightened, he immediately turned off the engine and got out of the car.

Zhong Wanxiu coolly reminded him, "Parking is not allowed here. Also, don't pull or shove in public."

With a snap, the car door slammed shut.

Ms. Zhong looked outside, but Fu Jingting stopped her.