Shu Yuan felt like she was talking to a wooden statue. She curled her lips slightly and said, “I’m not sure whether you’ll meet someone you really like in the future. Maybe you’ll get divorced, start a new family, and have another child. But I won’t. I will raise Xiao Man properly on my own.”

Chen Zai’s black eyes darkened further, his emotions unreadable. He sat up as well and turned to Shu Yuan. “Remember what you said today.”

Clearly, he had no trust in her at all.

Shu Yuan frowned slightly and let out a snort. She turned around, lay down, and pulled the quilt over herself tightly.

Chen Zai saw that she had wrapped herself so tightly in the quilt that not a bit of air could get through. He thought about pulling the blanket down, paused for a few seconds, but didn’t move. Instead, he turned around, raised his hand, and the room fell into darkness again.

More than ten minutes later, seeing that Shu Yuan hadn’t moved, Chen Zai reached out and gently pulled down her blanket. His slender fingers pressed lightly against the back of her neck, then tucked the quilt in around her.

Shu Yuan wasn’t asleep yet. In the silence, she lifted the corners of her lips ever so slightly.

——

As Chen Zai got busy with work, Shu Yuan started taking Xiao Man back to her mother’s house for dinner after getting off work. But she was mindful enough to stop by the grocery store and buy pig ears to bring along.

After dinner, Li Hongxia hurried to lay out the quilt she had been rushing to finish for Xiao Man and called Shu Yuan over to help her thread a needle. “Once I finish sewing it, you can take it back with you.”

Xiao Man took over the task of threading the needle. The little fellow was quick and nimble. He soon passed the needle through the white thread and handed it to Grandma, even thanking her politely.

Li Hongxia was busy threading and sewing. She had been about to complain that Shu Yuan didn’t like doing needlework, but when she heard Xiao Man’s sweet, grateful words, she swallowed the complaint back down.

Shu Yuan returned to the staff housing compound of the Fifth Hospital with Xiao Man in tow, carrying a bundle in her hand. It was already past eight o’clock. As she approached the gate, a sudden serious thought struck her, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for Xiao Man to take her surname after all. Better to let him keep the surname Chen.

Just as she was deep in thought, a sudden call of “Shu Yuan” startled her.

She looked up and saw an uninvited guest: Shen Zhongcheng, standing not far away. Under the streetlamp, he still had his slightly long wavy hair, a batwing shirt, and a rather trendy outfit.

Shu Yuan gripped Xiao Man’s little hand and took two steps back, her tone cold. “You’re here to return the money? One thousand six hundred. Got it ready? Hand it over.”

Shen Zhongcheng must not have figured out the situation yet. She had to strike at his pride, tear it apart completely. If he couldn’t stand the thought of having spent a woman’s money, he’d cough it up.

Shen Zhongcheng looked slightly annoyed. He had waited here for half the night, only for Shu Yuan to bring up money the moment she opened her mouth.

His gaze fixed on Shu Yuan’s face, Shen Zhongcheng gave his hair a casual toss, trying to appear carefree. With a disdainful tone, he said, “Come on, Shu Yuan, must you keep bringing up something as vulgar as money? I came here to talk about whether you remember back in the countryside…”

He paused, then continued, “That little remote place we lived in, the folks there were actually really open-minded. The peasants had a very liberal attitude toward sex.”

Shu Yuan instinctively reached out and quickly covered Xiao Man’s ears. The bundle in her hand dug into the back of her hand, leaving a deep red mark.

Xiao Man stared wide-eyed at Shen Zhongcheng. His small hand tugged lightly at Shu Yuan’s, wanting to listen, but all he could hear through the muffled cover was a whooshing noise, nothing clear.

Shen Zhongcheng was still rambling shamelessly. “You know about shared partners, right? I think Dr. Chen and I can both exist, peacefully coexist.”

Shu Yuan was stunned speechless. Was Shen Zhongcheng seriously trying to continue living off her?

There was no way someone like Shen Zhongcheng could share anything. But when it came to freeloading off a woman, he was a pro.

What does shared partners mean? In the original host’s memory, shared partners was an old custom from Northeast China. It referred to a situation where, if the husband in a marriage was in poor health, the family might bring in a second, strong and capable man to help support the household and take care of the wife and children. Over time, the new man might also father children with the wife, and the three of them would live together.

In practice, this could mean that the first man was wealthy but weak or useless, so they’d bring in another man. Or, sometimes the wife developed feelings for another man after marriage and they chose to live together in this “shared partner” arrangement. In any case, it was essentially one wife with two husbands.

This custom had emerged under the historical conditions of a male-heavy population and low productivity. It was truly shocking that someone like Shen Zhongcheng, who looked so trendy and modern, would suggest reviving such an old custom.

Shu Yuan quickly glanced around. Luckily, there was no one nearby. No one had overheard this explosive statement.

She had almost cleared her name at the electronics factory, and now they were living in the hospital’s staff housing compound. If anyone heard this, rumors would spread again.

And Xiao Man, he had heard it. How much had the little rascal heard? And had he understood it?

Shu Yuan was dazed for a good while before she managed to gather her thoughts. What was she supposed to do now? Crush Shen Zhongcheng’s pride, of course. She sneered, “Shen Zhongcheng, can you speak like a normal person? Dr. Chen and I are in love and have built a family together. What are you butting in for? Is one thousand six hundred yuan really worth all this? How does it feel to spend a woman’s money? The great writer Shen living off a woman, anyone who hears that would laugh themselves to death.”

She kept going, words spilling out without pause. The more she spoke, the sharper her tone became. If she weren’t trying to get her money back, she wouldn’t even want to hurt someone’s pride like this.

The light in Shen Zhongcheng’s eyes dimmed. He didn’t believe it. He didn’t believe that Shu Yuan and Chen Zai were really in love. It was a joke, had to be.

He had already humbled himself to the point of agreeing to share a wife with another man. He had sunk that low, and Shu Yuan still had the nerve to reject him?

Once again, he felt abandoned. Abandoned by the entire world.

He took off the Rolex from his wrist, his voice filled with utter disappointment, and held it out to her. “Shu Yuan, if all you care about is money, then I have nothing more to say to you. I’ll pay you back, not a coin less. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. Take the watch first.”

When Shu Yuan heard him say he would pay the money back, she figured that if he said so, there was a ninety percent chance he actually would.

Still, she instinctively took another step back with Xiao Man. She didn’t want secondhand goods. A watch worth four or five hundred yuan, who knew whether a secondhand shop would give her a hundred for it, or even just two hundred?

Her voice was cold. “I don’t want to take anything as collateral. I just want the money. You can sell the watch yourself. Or at most, I’ll count the watch as eighty yuan.”

Shen Zhongcheng was about to lose it. Shu Yuan had changed, turning into someone vulgar, someone who only talked about money.

But all that money had originally been given to him voluntarily by the original host, just like a streamer getting tipped by a top fan. At this point, Shu Yuan had no better way to deal with him than to attack his pride.

Then Xiao Man spoke up in his crisp little voice. “Uncle, you have to pay back the money. That money was my dad’s. You spent my dad’s money.”

Shu Yuan: This kid really understands everything.

Shen Zhongcheng was overwhelmed by a flood of disappointment and bitterness. So that money had actually come from Chen Zai. He had spent Chen Zai’s money.

His pride couldn’t accept the idea of using another man’s money. Spending a woman’s money, at least, could be justified as being for love. But spending a man’s money, what did that make him?

And even the child had joined in to shame him.

He didn’t want to speak to Shu Yuan anymore. He didn’t want to see her. He turned and walked away without looking back.

“I’ll pay you back. Not a single cent less,” he said with his head down, his voice thick and stiff.

He felt like he had been betrayed by the entire world.

“As soon as possible,” Shu Yuan reminded coldly.

Communicating with someone who doesn’t understand human language is truly exhausting.

Shu Yuan carried the bundle in her right hand and held Xiao Man’s hand with her left as they walked toward the gate. She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly felt a sharp gaze coming from the left. She turned her head, and there was Chen Zai, standing in the shadow of the parasol tree.

Shu Yuan: “…”

She suddenly felt like she had been caught red-handed.

This was the second time.

She asked awkwardly, “Why are you here?”

He didn’t need to come through this gate to get home. The side gate would’ve been faster.

Chen Zai stepped out from the shadows and strode toward the gate. “I was planning to go to your mother’s place to find you and Xiao Man.”

Shu Yuan caught up with his stride. “Then when did you get here? Did you hear everything?”

Chen Zai replied in a calm voice, “I got here before you.”

Shu Yuan: “…”

She felt like she had walked straight into a net the two men had unknowingly woven together.

She lifted her chin slightly and asked, “How do you feel about it?”

Chen Zai’s voice remained steady. “No particular feeling.”

But inside, he was still reeling from hearing about that ‘shared partners’ nonsense. What kind of idea was that?

Shu Yuan couldn’t be bothered to care what he thought. The three of them walked in silence for a while, then Shu Yuan said, “I think Xiao Man should just take your surname after all. There’s no need for him to take mine.”

Chen Zai turned his head to look at her, a sharp, probing light flickering in his dark eyes. He spoke evenly, “Did you forget what you said yesterday? Changing your mind this quickly?”

Shu Yuan: “…”

He didn’t seriously think she was planning to get divorced and remarry, did he?

Every time Shen Zhongcheng was brought up, Chen Zai’s tone would turn unpleasant. Let alone now, when Shen Zhongcheng had actually shown up spouting nonsense about shared partners.

Fine, at least he had some reaction. That was better than talking to a wooden block.

Shu Yuan shoved the bundle into his hands and pulled Xiao Man along, striding ahead quickly.

Back at home, Shu Yuan laid the brand-new quilt on Xiao Man’s bed. She said nothing more.

Xiao Man saw that both of them were wearing stiff expressions, but his energy was nearly depleted. His eyelids kept drooping, barely able to stay open. He had never slept in such clean and comfortable bedding before. Curled up in the softness, he rolled around a few times and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Shu Yuan also lay down early, wrapping herself tightly like a zongzi^[1]Zongzi are traditional Chinese rice dumplings made of glutinous rice stuffed with various fillings and wrapped in bamboo, reed, or other large flat leaves. and staying close to the edge of the bed.

——

Shen Zhongcheng was furious, disappointed, and full of resentment. Shu Yuan seemed like a completely different person now. She no longer admired him, no longer wanted to talk about literature or poetry. He wanted to discuss feelings, but Shu Yuan wouldn’t listen; she insisted on talking about money.

So what if he had spent a bit of her money? No, worse, it was Chen Zai’s money. Then what was going on between the two of them?

His pride had been shattered beyond repair.

He no longer wanted to see Shu Yuan. He swore he wouldn’t go looking for her again or meet with her. If he broke that promise, then he’d be nothing but a scoundrel.

So what if it was about money? That vulgar thing. Fine. He’d be vulgar too.

But after rummaging through his wallet, his pockets, and every corner of the money clip, Shen Zhongcheng realized he only had thirty yuan. All this time, he had thought he was well-off. Where had all his money gone? When he checked his passbook, he discovered that all his manuscript fees, every last bit, had been spent.

Only then did he realize how extravagant he had always been, letting money slip through his fingers like water.

What now? He paced back and forth in the study. Just thinking about Shu Yuan asking for money kept him from falling asleep. Pay it back, pay it back—the words echoed in his ears like a cursed chant.

He had to figure out a way to get some money for Shu Yuan.

——

The next evening after work, Shu Yuan once again went to her mother’s place for dinner.

Li Hongxia gave her a glance and let out a sharp hum. “Had a fight with Chen Zai, didn’t you?”

Shu Yuan quickly rubbed her cheeks and denied it. “No. Don’t start lecturing me. Really, we didn’t.”

Li Hongxia had bought some steamed buns from the canteen and originally planned to make do with stir-fried bean sprouts for dinner. But she changed her mind. “There’s still a small piece of salted meat at home. I’ll make zhajiang noodles. Shu He, take Xiao Man and go call your second brother-in-law over.”

With that, Li Hongxia immediately took the salted meat from the ceramic jar and soaked it in water, then started washing bean sprouts and slicing radish strips.

After returning home and finding that mother and son weren’t there, Chen Zai went into the kitchen to rinse some rice and prepare to cook. But after a moment’s thought, he set down the enamel basin, locked the door, and went downstairs, heading in the direction of the electronics factory.

At the corner, he happened to run into Xiao Man and Shu He. Xiao Man called out in delight, “Dad! Mom’s waiting for you at Grandma’s house. We’re having dinner there. Mom told me to come meet you.”

Shu He thought to herself, Did your mom really say that? This kid’s pretty good with words.

The little guy ran up to Chen Zai and stopped in front of him, looking up with his head tilted back.

Chen Zai grabbed the fabric on the shoulder of Xiao Man’s shirt and said, “Let’s stop by the grocery store.”

They arrived at Grandma’s house carrying spiced beef, braised pig trotters, tofu skin, and kelp. Xiao Man immediately piped up in a loud, cheerful voice, “Mom, Dad’s here! He bought a bunch of braised dishes. We’re having meat!”

Shu Yuan couldn’t hold back a smile. “Great, then eat more later, Xiao Man.”

She looked up at Chen Zai. His dark eyes were also fixed on her. As if no disagreement had ever happened, she casually arranged the chairs and said, “Dinner will be ready in a bit.”

The zhajiang noodles were springy and smooth, the meat sauce rich and flavorful. The braised beef was fragrant and savory, and the pig trotters were soft and tender. The meal was a pleasant one. After they finished eating, Shu Yuan helped tidy the table and chairs. Chen Zai said, “Let’s go.”

Afraid Shu Yuan wouldn’t go home, Xiao Man quickly shouted, “Let’s go! Let’s go home!”

On the way home, Chen Zai asked, “Shu Yuan, why did you suddenly change your mind about Xiao Man taking your surname?”

His tone was finally that of a normal conversation. Shu Yuan responded honestly, “I don’t know if I’ll die early. If I pass away within a few years, would you be willing to raise a child who doesn’t share your surname? You’d still have to go through the trouble of changing it for him. It’s a hassle.”

Her words took both Chen Zai and Xiao Man by surprise.

Xiao Man definitely didn’t want his mom to die early. He immediately turned around and hugged her leg tightly, looking up with pleading eyes. “Mom, you won’t die early. Don’t say things like that, okay, Mom?”

Shu Yuan bent down, scooped the little guy into her arms, and gently tapped the tip of his delicate nose. “I was just talking about a possibility.”

Xiao Man shook his head forcefully. “There’s absolutely no such possibility.”

Seeing how uneasy he was, Shu Yuan quickly comforted him. “Alright, Mom was just talking nonsense. Look at this mouth of mine, I really need to put a zipper on it. I’m sorry, Xiao Man.”

Chen Zai glanced around and, seeing no one nearby, said, “You’re overthinking. Even if Xiao Man doesn’t share my surname, even if he’s not my biological child, as long as he calls me Dad, I’ll raise him.”

Shu Yuan: “…”

She had never seen anyone so calmly and graciously accept wearing a green hat.

It was generosity to the point of being touching.

She thought for a moment, then asked, “Then if I start calling you Dad too, will you raise me as well? I don’t need much. I don’t spend a lot. I’m easy to take care of.”

Chen Zai turned his head to look at her, only to meet her serious, pure, and clear eyes. “…”

Xiao Man thought this was a great idea and quickly joined in to help persuade him. “Dad, just say yes to Mom. If you can take care of her too, she won’t have to work so hard to earn money.”

Chen Zai looked over at Xiao Man’s neat and serious little face. “…”

Was there something wrong with both mother and son?

To think that just a few days ago, he still had a filter over his biological son, thinking Xiao Man was really smart.

Xiao Man’s voice was soft and sweet. “Dad, just say yes to Mom.”

Shu Yuan also chimed in, pressing him, “Dr. Chen, yes or no? I’m even willing to call you Dad. I think it works.”

Chen Zai rejected her flatly, without hesitation. “No.”

Shu Yuan: Failed at adopting a dad.