The basketball court had more than one hoop and more than one person playing, and there were many soldiers watching others play.

As Cen Zhengnian’s game began, a crowd slowly gathered around.

Soon, some people blocked Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an’s view, so they had to stand up and move forward to continue watching.

Chu Xia didn’t understand the rules of basketball; she could only see who made or missed a shot.

On the court, as soon as the game started, Cen Zhengnian’s demeanor changed completely.

He was no longer gentle but highly aggressive.

When he dribbled past opponents, several people couldn’t stop him.

His tall figure leaped swiftly, and with a “clang,” the ball went smoothly into the hoop.

“Wow! Daddy!” Cen Huai’an exclaimed, jumping with excitement, and Chu Xia couldn’t help but smile with joy.

The people around the basketball court also cheered and clapped, creating a lively atmosphere.

After scoring, Cen Zhengnian looked over at Chu Xia and the others.

Chu Xia gave him a thumbs up, and Cen Zhengnian responded with a broad, carefree smile.

Chu Xia had never seen him smile like that before; she was amazed to see this side of the usually gentle Cen Zhengnian.

On the court, Cen Zhengnian was clearly the center of attention.

He wasn’t the biggest player, but he was the one scoring the most.

Although it seemed that Hu Lei and the others were stronger, they couldn’t stop Cen Zhengnian’s shots.

Chu Xia couldn’t take her eyes off him.

No wonder so many girls liked watching boys play basketball during school—there was an undeniable charm to men on the court.

Not to mention that Cen Zhengnian had an outstanding face; every time he scored, he would flash a smile in her and An An’s direction.

Chu Xia felt her heart racing not just from the tension of watching the game but also from Cen Zhengnian’s aggressive, hormone-charged aura.

As the game progressed, Yu Tian and his two friends appeared from somewhere and squeezed in next to Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an.

“Sister-in-law! An An!”

Chu Xia looked over; they were sweating and holding their thick winter coats, looking like they had just finished exercising.

“Did you come to play basketball too?” The surrounding noise was too loud, and Chu Xia’s voice was drowned out.

Yu Tian and the others didn’t hear her clearly but saw her mouth moving.

They nodded in acknowledgment, though they didn’t catch what she said.

Yu Tian and the others handed Chu Xia and An An a bottle of soda each, which they had brought with them.

“Sister-in-law, drink up.”

Before Chu Xia could refuse, the three of them joined the cheering crowd, loudly shouting encouragement to Cen Zhengnian.

Chu Xia had to tell An An, “It’s too cold. Don’t drink it secretly.”

The basketball game became more intense.

In the end, Chu Xia watched as everyone on the opposing team blocked Cen Zhengnian, preventing him from approaching the hoop.

He dribbled the ball, eyes focused on the basket.

His body leaped high, and with a three-pointer amidst the tense atmosphere, the ball went “clang” into the hoop, and the final whistle blew right on time.

“Wow!”

“Good!”

The excitement was palpable, with cheers and clapping filling the air, making the atmosphere almost overwhelming.

The game was completely over, and undoubtedly, Cen Zhengnian’s team won.

Hu Lei and his teammates lay on the ground, panting heavily.

“Zhengnian, how are you still so strong?”

Cen Zhengnian glanced toward Chu Xia’s direction and casually said, “Playing basketball isn’t just about brute force; it’s also about strategy.”

They were amazed that playing basketball required so much thought. Isn’t it supposed to be just for relaxation?

Cen Zhengnian was also very tired.

He hadn’t exercised in a long time, and his stamina was starting to wane. Instead of lying on the ground like Hu Lei, he walked over to Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an.

Cen Huai’an, having watched an exciting game where his father won, was thrilled.

“Daddy! You’re amazing!”

He wriggled free from Chu Xia’s hand and ran to Cen Zhengnian.

Cen Zhengnian picked him up and walked over to Chu Xia.

Still catching his breath, sweat dripping from his forehead, his eyes remained focused on her.

Chu Xia felt all the surrounding noise fade away, leaving only the sound of her own heartbeat thumping loudly.

She stared at Cen Zhengnian’s eyes, mesmerized, unable to snap out of it.

“Chu Xia, did you enjoy the game?”

Hearing his voice, Chu Xia snapped back to reality and quickly replied, “Yes, it was great.”

She felt her face flush, cursing herself for being so “unimpressive.”

But this side of Cen Zhengnian was simply too captivating; who could resist?

At this moment, she noticed the sweat on his face and took out a handkerchief to give him. “Wipe your sweat.”

Cen Zhengnian glanced at An An in his arms and looked at her with an expression that suggested he couldn’t manage it himself.

He bent down naturally and said, “Can you help me wipe it?”

Chu Xia looked at his smiling lips, tightly gripping the handkerchief.

She heard herself say, “Okay.”

As she lifted her hand to wipe his face, Cen Huai’an suddenly reached out, grabbing the handkerchief from Chu Xia’s hand.

With enthusiasm, he said, “Daddy, I’ll wipe it for you!”

He carefully wiped the sweat off Cen Zhengnian’s face and then folded the handkerchief, handing it back to Chu Xia. “Mom, it’s done.”

Chu Xia breathed a sigh of relief, taking the handkerchief and putting it in her pocket, missing the fleeting hint of regret in Cen Zhengnian’s eyes.

Hu Lei and the others, sitting on the court, watched the family of three with ambiguous expressions, exchanging glances and raising their eyebrows.

“Seeing Zhengnian like this, it gives me goosebumps.”

Hu Lei slapped him playfully. “He’s not doing it for you, why get goosebumps?”

The man retorted, “I’ve never been so lovey-dovey with my wife.”

“What do you know?” Hu Lei raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you know that a little separation makes the heart grow fonder?”

The others instantly exclaimed, “Oh~”

Yu Tian and his friends, standing by, were even more affected, feeling a pang of envy.

Yu Tian looked at Xu Liang, Wen Anguo, and then at the Cen family of three, clutching his chest and saying in an extremely frustrated tone, “I miss my wife and daughter too.”

Xu Liang and Wen Anguo nodded in agreement, exchanging glances that made them feel even worse about their situation.

Cen Zhengnian originally planned to go home with Chuxia and Cen Huai’an, but Hu Lei and the others insisted that they needed to hang out together, since it was rare for them to catch him this year.

Chuxia didn’t want to keep hanging around the basketball court, so she encouraged Cen Zhengnian to go, saying with a smile, “If you’re going, take An’an with you. He’s a little man now.”

Cen Zhengnian looked at her, then took An’an and left with Hu Lei.

Yu Tian and the others were also called along.

In reality, gatherings of men usually involve drinking, eating, smoking, and maybe playing cards.

Chuxia knew that Cen Zhengnian had his limits. He wouldn’t smoke or play cards, and he had never seen him drunk.

With An’an with him, she trusted him completely.

After dinner, Cen Zhengnian and the others returned home, carrying a faint smell of alcohol.

Cen Huai’an’s little face was also flushed.

As soon as Yu Tian and the others came in, they headed straight to the guest room, barely able to walk steadily.

Jiang Shengnan, worried about them, followed them in. Soon, the sound of vomiting could be heard from the guest room.

Cen Zhengnian sat on the sofa, rubbing his forehead, with Cen Huai’an sitting next to him, leaning against him.

Chuxia frowned and walked over, feeling Cen Huai’an’s face, which was a bit warm.

“You guys drank?”

Cen Huai’an grinned at Chuxia, “Mommy, I only had a little bit. It was really spicy.”

Seeing Chuxia’s displeased expression, Cen Zhengnian hurriedly said, “An’an had a few sips with chopsticks dipped in alcohol. It’s my fault for not watching him closely.”

Chuxia sighed with relief but still said, “Children shouldn’t drink alcohol.”

“I know. There won’t be a next time.”

“How much did you drink?” Chuxia couldn’t tell from Cen Zhengnian’s face, except that his ears were very red, almost as if they were about to bleed.

Cen Zhengnian closed his eyes, leaning lazily on the sofa, and said, “Not much. Just a few drinks.”

He knew his own tolerance for alcohol.

Apart from having a few drinks at the beginning, he stopped drinking later, and Hu Lei couldn’t force him to drink more.

His alcohol tolerance wasn’t good, and An’an was the same; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten drunk from just a few drops of alcohol.

In contrast, Yu Tian and Xu Liang had drunk a lot, and after getting drunk, they kept saying they missed home and their wives and children.

If Hu Lei hadn’t called people to help bring them back, Cen Zhengnian alone wouldn’t have been able to manage.

Chuxia knew Cen Zhengnian wouldn’t lie and confirmed he hadn’t drunk much.

She stood up and said, “I’ll go make some hangover soup for you.”

She turned and went to the kitchen. Soon, Jiang Shengnan came out of the guest room, went to the kitchen to get a steel brush and a broom, and also scooped up coal ash to clean up the guest room.

As she walked, she complained to Cen Zhengnian, “You young people, just taking advantage of your good health to mess around, drinking so much and not afraid of hurting your stomach.”

While talking, she mentioned Cen’s father, “Your dad is the same. I’ve told him many times to drink less, but he never listens! I don’t understand what’s so good about drinking!”

Chuxia finished making the hangover soup and brought it out.

Jiang Shengnan had already cleaned the guest room and mopped the floor.

Chuxia brought two bowls of soup and sat down to feed the already semi-conscious Cen Huai’an.

She looked up at Cen Zhengnian and said, “The taste is a bit off. Remember to drink it all in one go.”

Although Cen Huai’an was dazed, he was obedient.

No matter how strange the taste of the hangover soup was, he followed Chuxia’s instructions, drinking it all without throwing up.

After finishing, he said, “Mommy, the medicine today isn’t bitter,” forgetting that he hadn’t taken medicine for a long time.

Cen Zhengnian drank his soup in one gulp without showing any sign of dislike, and he even had a smile on his face.

If Chuxia hadn’t tasted it herself, she would have thought the hangover soup was quite pleasant.

Jiang Shengnan took three bowls of soup to Yu Tian and the others and warned Cen Zhengnian, “If you feel like throwing up, do it outside. Don’t let Chuxia take care of you.”

“I know, Mom.”

After finishing the hangover soup, Cen Zhengnian stood up from the sofa and said to Chuxia, “I’ll take An’an to wash up.”

Chuxia had already washed up. She yawned and nodded, saying, “After you’re done, send An’an back to his room to sleep.”

“Okay.”

Chuxia went back to their room.

Although she was feeling a bit sleepy, she was still worried since Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an hadn’t returned yet.

She sat at the vanity, holding a medical book, but she couldn’t focus on reading, her ears listening to the noises outside.

As soon as she heard footsteps, she immediately looked up and saw Cen Zhengnian carrying An’an upstairs, passing by her door.

Chuxia stood up and followed them to Cen Huai’an’s room.

Cen Huai’an was in Cen Zhengnian’s arms, eyes closed, with his little face still red.

Chuxia pulled back the blanket on the bed.

Cen Zhengnian carefully placed An’an on the bed, and after mumbling a few indistinct words, turned over and continued sleeping.

Cen Zhengnian touched An’an’s forehead, covered him with the blanket, and turned to Chuxia, saying, “Let’s go back to our room.”

“Is An’an alright?” Chuxia still felt a bit uneasy.

Cen Zhengnian walked over, took her hand, and a warm sensation passed from his hand to hers.

“He’s fine. He’s just asleep.”

As An’an’s father, Cen Zhengnian was naturally concerned about his health.

After drinking the hot hangover soup and sweating, he was sure that An’an had no more alcohol in his system.

However, having played all afternoon, the little child was indeed tired.

While washing his face, An’an’s head kept drooping, unable to keep his eyes open.

After washing his face, An’an fell asleep in his father’s arms and didn’t wake up even during the foot wash.

Reassured by Cen Zhengnian’s words, Chuxia finally felt at ease.

She let him lead her out of Cen Huai’an’s room and back to their own room.

Chuxia hadn’t yet let down her hair from the earlier styling.

She had been waiting downstairs after washing up since Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an hadn’t returned.

Back in their room, she sat at the vanity and felt like talking to Cen Zhengnian.

While undoing her hair tie, she asked, “Do you want to apply some face cream?”

“What face cream?” Cen Zhengnian asked, removing his coat and walking over.

Chuxia shook the jar of friendship snow flower cream and said, “This. But your face looks so smooth that it seems like you don’t need it.”

She carefully examined his face.

As she turned back to continue undoing her hair, Cen Zhengnian’s hand covered hers.

He bent down, his voice a bit hoarse, and said, “I’ll help you with your hair.”

Chuxia’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly withdrew her hand, pretending to be calm as she picked up a comb. “You can do it.”

Cen Zhengnian’s fingers gently worked through Chuxia’s braid, loosening her hair bit by bit.

Her black hair fell softly over her shoulders.

He took the comb from Chuxia’s hand again and started brushing her hair, his expression serious yet carrying a hint of tenderness.

Chuxia looked at herself and Cen Zhengnian in the mirror, her heart racing like a drum, “thump-thump” beating rapidly.

“You…”

Before Chuxia could finish her sentence, Cen Zhengnian suddenly lifted his eyes and their gazes met in the mirror.

His hand rested on her shoulder, and his eyes seemed to harbor some emotion, both restrained and burning.

Chuxia felt her face flush instantly, a wave of warmth rising from within her.

“Chuxia…” His voice became deeper and a bit hoarse. “We haven’t been together for a long time.”

With a “boom,” Chuxia felt heat rushing from her feet to her head, making it impossible for her to think.

The air between them was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, and she felt her breath becoming erratic.

“I…” Chuxia’s voice, as she tried to speak, was startlingly soft.

Before she could finish, Cen Zhengnian had already picked her up.

Chuxia’s heart was in turmoil, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

She was placed on the bed, her gaze meeting Cen Zhengnian’s eyes. His gaze was so deep that it made Chuxia’s heart tremble.

The surrounding air seemed to have stagnated, and Chuxia could hear the sound of her own swallowing.

Her hands gripped the blanket tightly, her eyes fixed on Cen Zhengnian.

She knew she had no reason to refuse and couldn’t bring herself to reject him in this state.

“Chuxia, I think I’m a bit drunk,” Cen Zhengnian said, his hand gently brushing the stray hair from her face to her ear.

He looked at her, the emotion in his eyes now overwhelming, flooding towards Chuxia.

With the lights out, Cen Zhengnian’s burning kiss fell on her neck and face. Chuxia felt her whole body go limp, devoid of strength.

She wanted to push him away but felt like a little kitten, only giving him more stimulation.

He held her hand and said, “I’m prepared, you won’t get pregnant.”

Then came the storm, and Chuxia never knew that being together could mean this.

Seeing Cen Zhengnian play basketball, Chuxia knew he had explosive power, but she didn’t expect him to be equally strong in this aspect.

Even though she cried and begged him, he still gently coaxed her, not letting her go.