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

Yu Shinan was slightly taken aback; the word "husband" represented a true change in status.

He saw her smiling eyes crinkling and knew she was being mischievous again.

The man's voice was a little hoarse, "Say it out, I'll hear which one is better."

Fu Sichen never expected to be outmaneuvered by him. Her face flushed, and she playfully pushed him away, saying, "You're so annoying!"

Yu Shinan lowered his eyes and smiled, but did not force her.

He led her out of the garden. The neighbor's grandmother brought out a basin of water and poured it into the vegetable garden in front of her house. She happened to see the two of them and greeted them with a smile. The old woman, who was missing two teeth, was smiling.

"Little girl, you've come to see your aunt again!"

"Yes, Grandma." Fu Sichen greeted the old lady with a smile, but when he tried to pull his hand away, he found that she was holding it tightly.

She struggled several times before he finally let go.

The old woman looked at them and smiled, "The little girl has grown up and can be someone's wife now."

Fu Sichen blushed immediately, while the man beside her was completely at ease, smiling as he said, "Grandma, when she agrees to marry me, I'll treat you to wedding candy."

"Who wants to marry you?" Fu Sichen muttered, blushing, and hurried home.

Ding Jing brought back a lot of snacks and toys with Yan Zheng, but the supermarkets in the countryside had limited variety and quality.

But the kids didn't care about those things; they were happy as long as they had something to play with. They kept calling out "Grandma, Grandma" affectionately the whole way.

Ding Jing pinched his cheek and smiled, "Your mouth is just like your mother's, it's so sweet."

Fu Sichen gave Yan Zheng, who was obsessed with toys, a disdainful look.

Ding Jing didn't bother cooking; she left the kitchen to Yu Shinan and sat down next to Yan Zheng on a small stool to keep him company.

Fu Sichen went in and out carrying plates and chopsticks; the pretty girl looked nothing like the mother of a three-year-old.

She said that neither of them were outrageous people and wouldn't do anything outrageous, but even so, she had wondered if Si Chen would get a divorce, and if so, she could accept it.

Ding Jing never expected that a chubby boy would directly confront her, which shocked her so much that her heart was still pounding and she felt uneasy, as if it were unreal.

But Yan Zheng was right in front of her. Others might not be able to tell, but she could. This kid was exactly like Shi Nan when they were kids.

Ding Jing quietly wiped away the tears in her eyes.

It seems the two of them...

Ding Jing didn't want to think about what exactly happened; it was between the two of them, and it was best to just talk it out.

It's heartbreaking to see Si Chen raising his child alone abroad. The girl really adores her brother Nan.

But Shi Nan, over the past few years, Ding Jing felt that she couldn't understand him anymore. But it turned out that he just had someone in his heart that he couldn't tell. He had to swallow his pain and suffer alone.

No wonder he wants to get involved in the Yu family's past affairs again... It seems that many things can be easily explained now.

Ding Jing glanced at the two people in the kitchen. Fu Sichen was talking to her with his head tilted to the side, smiling and insisting on trying out the feeling of flipping the wok.

The wok she uses here is a handmade iron wok, brought back by Shi Nan. It's very heavy, but the food cooked in it tastes different.

Fu Sichen wanted to try it out, but he found it difficult to even pick it up, let alone easily flip it in the wok.

Yu Shinan stood behind her, smiling as he took her hand that was holding the wok handle. The brightly colored green and red vegetables tumbled in the air and then fell back down.

"Ah—this is so hard."

"It's too heavy, you can't lift it." Yu Shinan smiled and pushed her away.

Fu Sichen pinched the muscles on his arm with her fingers. "Do I have to do that too?"

The man turned off the stove, and the muscles she had been pinching involuntarily tensed up a bit. Yu Shinan's gaze fell on her, his eyes sweeping over her from top to bottom. He lowered his head slightly and whispered in her ear, "You're just the right amount of softness. It feels nice to touch."

Fu Sichen reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Ding Jing couldn't see his blushing face; she only saw him angrily slap him hard.

And her blockhead son was actually quite happy to get beaten up.

The little girl turned and walked away, clearly still angry. But then she remembered something, untied the small towel wrapped around her wrist, and tossed it back to him.

Yu Shinan took it and wiped his sweat.

Ding Jing smiled and looked away. In this life, it's easy to find a companion, but it's not easy to find someone who knows how to cherish you.

The weather is so nice today, even the wind feels warm.

The family sat at a small square table to eat. They gave Yan Zheng a small stool, and he was very curious. He sat on the stool and never stopped moving.

Ding Jing looked at the little guy and lovingly patted his head.

"Shi Nan, add another set of bowls and chopsticks."

Yu Shinan hesitated for a moment, but still did as instructed.

There are five seats at the table, and four people are sitting there.

Ding Jing said, "Let's have a drink as a family. It's been too many years since we've had any happy events in our family."

Yu Shinan opened a jar of wine from his family's collection and poured four small cups into it.

One of the cups was placed on the empty seat.

Ding Jing looked at Fu Sichen, "Sichen, although you and Shi Nan haven't registered your marriage, and legally you're not yet the Yu family's daughter-in-law, you have him in your heart, and he has you in his, so to me you are my daughter-in-law. Today, our whole family is together, and we're complete. Let's all raise our glasses and drink this first toast."

Fu Sichen nodded, watching Ding Jing drink the wine in one gulp, her eyes reddening as she put down her glass.

She picked up the wine glass next to her and spilled it on the ground.

He didn't even say a word to the people underground.

But the moment the wine was spilled, Si Chen clearly saw Ding Jing shed tears. Tears slid down her cheeks, down her chin, and dripped down her cheeks.

They had supported each other for half their lives, thinking they could grow old together, but she never saw his gray hair.

The atmosphere froze for a moment, and Yu Shinan remained silent, but Fu Sichen's eyes reddened.

Many emotions don't need words, yet they strike right at the heart.

Fu Sichen had a very shallow impression of Uncle Yu. He was a stern and unsmiling man, and perhaps because he was tall and strong, he looked somewhat fierce.

Ding Jing wasn't exactly a lively person; she was the kind of person who seemed to have a mild temper, but was actually very opinionated and stubborn.

If it weren't for the child in Lin Yuanqing's belly, Ding Jing would never have given in.

Fu Sichen didn't know what to say, and Yu Shinan remained silent.

"Yan Zheng," Fu Sichen handed Yan Zheng a tissue across the table, "to wipe Grandma's tears."

Xiao Yanzheng turned his head to look over, reached out and took the tissue, and shoved the whole tissue into Ding Jing's face.

Ding Jing smiled and hugged the little one.

"Why is Grandma crying? Did she fall?"

The little guy always thinks that you only cry when you fall and get hurt.

"Grandma is happy to see Yan Zheng." Ding Jing smiled and gently pinched Yan Zheng's little nose.

……

After eating, we played for a while.

Ding Jing took out the quilt to air it out, and said to Si Chen with a smile, "Let's stay here tonight, so I can kiss Yan Zheng too."

Fu Sichen couldn't refuse; at this point, shyness seemed to be of little use.

They already have children.

Si Chen arrived in such a hurry with the children that she didn't bring any clothes.

Yu Shinan took her to the market outside the village.

Rural markets are very simple; there are stalls on both sides of the road selling all sorts of things: fruits, cheap handicrafts and toys, clothes hanging up, and even freshly fried chicken strips for five yuan a serving.

Unlike the sophistication of shopping malls, the shouts of vendors and the sounds of bargaining here felt fresh and interesting to Fu Sichen.

She held the man's hand and curiously weaved through the crowd.

Yu Shinan was always careful to help her avoid the people around her.

Overjoyed, the young lady suddenly screamed and buried her face in his arms.

"What's wrong?" The man's muscles tensed instantly, and he protectively wrapped his arm around her, looking ahead.

"..."

Someone bought a chicken, a live chicken, and had it slaughtered on the spot.

"Quick, quick, you scared me to death—"

They're adorably timid.

Yu Shinan placed one hand on her shoulder, turning her to face away from the chicken vendor, and led her away.

The man smelled of the same shower gel as her; he had taken her to take a shower last night, and he had used his shower gel.

But it seems that he smells more like a cool, grassy scent, while she has a sweet scent.

Different.

Yu Shinan picked out two sets of clothes for Yan Zheng to change into, but the quality of the women's clothing on the side was definitely not comparable to what she usually wore.

"Do you want to buy it?" he asked.

Fu Sichen looked in that direction.

She shook her head. "No need. I have to go back tomorrow. I only finished half of the illustration I promised to do, so I need to catch up."

"Then let's buy some pajamas," Yu Shinan said.

Fu Sichen raised an eyebrow, his face flushed and alluring, the red hue beneath his skin making him look fair and rosy. She hooked her finger around his and shook it, her soft voice deliberately lowered as she asked, "Brother Nan, do you want me to get dressed?"

His anger flared instantly, but he still replied seriously, "It's inconvenient at night. Are you going to go out naked too?"

In rural areas, the main house and toilet are separate.

This person is really—

Fu Sichen almost wanted to jump up and slap his mouth.

Fortunately, although there were quite a few people watching them, no one paid much attention to what they were saying.

"Any T-shirt you give me could be my pajamas."

Fu Sichen winked at him, "You don't want me to wear your clothes?"

"What's with that expression?" Yu Shinan was amused by her and grabbed her wrist. "If you're not going to buy it, we're leaving."

On the way, Fu Sichen couldn't help but ask him, "This is the first time I've seen your mother like that. I've never heard her mention your father much before."

"She's upset, so let's avoid mentioning it if possible." The man's voice was very calm.

He wasn't a sentimental person, and neither was Ding Jing.

Some feelings are buried deep inside.

Sometimes it's quite strange that two people who don't talk much and seem to have strong tempers can get together.

Fu Sichen was curious, so he asked that question.

"In my memory, my parents never argued." Yu Shinan grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side of the road. He stood beside her to prevent oncoming vehicles from hitting her.

It was a very sweet little gesture, but the man didn't think much of it.

Fu Sichen's heart stirred.

She looked up at him, but the man showed no change in emotion; this action seemed to be ingrained in his very being.

My aunt always says she has a good upbringing and praises her parents for raising her well.

But actually, the son raised by your aunt is really great, isn't he?

She was glad that she could perceive his kindness.

Fu Sichen took his arm. "I really can't believe it. Don't people say that people with similar personalities are prone to arguing? They say that two people's personalities should complement each other."

"There's no absolute certainty about this. It just depends on whether you're willing to compromise for the other person." Yu Shinan couldn't help but smile as he recalled the past.

"What are you laughing at?"

"My parents have never argued with me, but they've argued with me more than once or twice, and usually one of them is hitting me while the other is fanning the flames. Good for them! They deserve it!"

Then his dad beat him even more fiercely.

The man clicked his tongue. The so-called situation where one parent plays the good cop and the other the bad cop in front of the child does not exist in the Yu family.

Fu Sichen chuckled. "So, will our family be like this from now on? You take charge of the fighting, and I'll cheer you on."

Yu Shinan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Our home?"

Fu Sichen blushed, turned her head away, and avoided looking at him.

The man pinched her reddened earlobe. "Okay."

The little guy, who was helping his grandma water the garden at home, kept sneezing, his round head nodding repeatedly, tears and snot streaming down his face.

Ding Jing couldn't stop laughing at his cute appearance, so she dragged him home to find tissues to wipe his nose.

The little guy rubbed his nose and cried, "There's hair in it."

This season, the air is filled with willow catkins, which is really annoying.

Ding Jing chuckled, patted his head, and touched the little guy's cool little arms, complaining, "You went out to buy clothes, why aren't you back yet?"

……

Yan Zheng had a blast playing all day, and before dinner, his eyelids started drooping and he wanted to sleep. Fu Sichen led him to play with the neighbor's old lady's dog, and they ran around the alley several times before finally making it to dinner.

After dinner, everyone cleaned up and chatted for a while.

Ding Jing suddenly asked, "Where's Yan Zheng?"

Fu Sichen and Ding Jing hurriedly went to look for him, and then they found the little guy next to the sofa in the room, already asleep on the sofa.

The two smiled at each other, and Ding Jing picked up the little one and said softly, "Let him sleep with me tonight."

Fu Sichen hummed in agreement, but his face secretly flushed.

She helped turn on the indoor light, and together with Ding Jing, they put the little guy on the bed and took off his clothes.

"This little guy is really chubby." Ding Jing patted Yan Zheng's bottom and pinched his thigh with a smile. Suddenly she laughed and said, "He looks just like your brother Nan when he was a kid. I was really startled when Yan Zheng suddenly appeared."

"Do they look that similar?"

"Yes, it's true." Ding Jing smiled, the light making her features look gentle. "When Shi Nan was born, his father was overjoyed. When I came out of the delivery room, he kissed me without a second thought, saying I had worked hard, and his hand was shaking as he held mine. He always had a serious face in front of outsiders, and our relatives all thought that our relationship wasn't actually that good. His arrival made everyone's eyes pop out."

Ding Jing laughed as she spoke, as if the past was right before her eyes.

"I wasn't in good health, and I couldn't keep the baby after I got pregnant. He felt sorry for me and wouldn't let me have any more children, so he got his tubal ligation." Ding Jing smiled and touched Yan Zheng's forehead. "For a moment, I thought I had turned back time and gone back to when Shi Nan was a child. It really felt like we were back together."

It's as if she thought time had turned back, and she could turn around and see her man standing behind her.

He may not be a good person in the eyes of ordinary people, but he is the best to her.

Fu Sichen's voice choked with emotion, "Auntie, you must love Uncle very much."

"Why are you crying, child?" Ding Jing smiled. "I miss him and think about him. It will get better with time. I'll live each day to the fullest and be happy when we meet again."

Fu Sichen nodded solemnly.

Ding Jing pushed her out, "Pack up and get some rest. I'll go get some water to wipe Yan Zheng's hands and feet."

Fu Sichen offered to help, but Ding Jing stopped her, telling her not to.

Yu Shinan wanted to smoke a cigarette, and had it in his mouth, but when he saw Fu Sichen coming over, he put the cigarette back.

"Where is Yan Zheng?"

"She's asleep. Her aunt said she'll sleep with her tonight."

"Um."

Fu Sichen reached out and hugged him. "Your aunt said Yan Zheng looks a lot like you when you were little. Didn't you notice that when you saw him?"

"I couldn't tell. I didn't think of it that way either." Yu Shinan ruffled her hair. "The similarity only became apparent when the photos were placed side by side."

Fu Sichen hugged him, his eyes slightly moist. "Auntie said she misses Uncle very much. They're separated by death, and we can't even see each other anymore. I can't bear to think about what would happen if we..."

"No." Yu Shinan interrupted her, lifting her chin with his fingers, looking down into her eyes, and emphasizing again, "No. I promise you, if you marry me, I won't let you live in fear, and I won't follow the path the Yu family has taken."

"real?"

"I'm not lying to you." He pinched her cheek and wiped away the tears that had slipped down her cheeks as she closed her eyes.

"I'm not afraid of you lying to me. I'm just so glad that I'm with you now, so that I don't waste my time or squander my years."

A smile appeared in the man's eyes, and he hugged her tightly.

Night seems to fall exceptionally early in the countryside. There are limited streetlights and no night economy, so it feels much quieter once it gets dark, and even the barking of dogs becomes much clearer.

She rummaged through his closet and pulled out a T-shirt to put on before taking a shower. The little girl was wrapped in his oversized T-shirt, the pure white fabric of which looked more alluring than any of his pajamas.

The solar water heater's adjustment lever was not very sensitive, sometimes hot and sometimes cold, so she had no choice but to call Brother Nan over to help take a look.

She rinsed herself off, called him over, and put her T-shirt back on; her half-wet body had soaked her clothes a bit.

The overhead light in the bathroom wasn't very bright, but because the space was so small, it was all very clear.

The thin white T-shirt clung tightly to the body where it was wet, revealing the different colors of the body and outlining a clear landscape on the white canvas.

Small stones are scattered across the rolling mountains, like two drops of ink on white rice paper, spreading and entering the viewer's field of vision.

Yu Shinan adjusted the water temperature, but the fluctuating temperature made him feel increasingly agitated.

"Fine, that's fine then. I'll just take a shower." Fu Sichen reached out and pushed him out.

Ding Jing was in her room, the lights were off, but it was unclear whether she was asleep or not.

She could joke around and tease him when they were together, but she wouldn't dare now.

But the man clearly didn't think that way; he held the showerhead up to test the water temperature.

He made her lower her head, washed her long hair, and ran his fingers through her hair. The gentle actions later turned sour.

He lifted her T-shirt and started washing her, the water soaking both of them. Fu Sichen bit her lip and whispered, telling him not to do that, because she was afraid her aunt would hear.

But the more it's like this, the more exciting it becomes.

After they quickly showered, he picked her up and carried her outside, wrapping a towel around their chests and down to completely cover their private parts.

The gentle moonlight fell on his skin, and when the wind blew, Fu Sichen felt goosebumps all over his skin.

The man held her tighter and led her through the glass porch in front of the main house into his room.

His creamy skin shimmered in the light. He closed the door and drew the curtains, preventing even moonlight from getting in.

Fu Sichen groaned as he was pinned to the bed. Water droplets, still wet from being burned by his scorching skin, boiled over and evaporated with a whoosh.

The man kissed her lips, forcefully prying open her teeth, his voice hoarse, "Remember? That time on this bed, I wanted to do this with you."

Fu Sichen's teeth chattered, and his eyes turned bloodshot in the darkness, revealing an unbearable undertone.

She vaguely recalled that time, her first kiss, the memory lingering on her lips finally overlapping with the present.

……