As Cen Huai’an walked faster, so did Cen Zhengnian, who quickly came to meet him.

Cen Zhengnian scooped Cen Huai’an up and remarked, “An An has grown heavier and taller.”

He set Cen Huai’an down and took his hand, leading him toward Chu Xia, who smiled as she watched them.

Upon approaching, Cen Zhengnian noticed the beads of sweat on Chu Xia’s forehead and felt a pang of sympathy.

He took her hand and asked, “How long have you been here?”

Chu Xia checked her watch and said, “About forty to fifty minutes. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait an hour or two.”

Cen Zhengnian, who initially felt guilty, couldn’t help but smile at her words, and his apologies were swallowed.

“I’ll take you to where I’m staying,” Cen Zhengnian said, picking up the items he had brought. Chu Xia stopped him, “I’ve prepared a lot of locust flower dishes. You won’t be able to finish them alone. Please share some with your colleagues. With the heat, they can’t be left out.”

Cen Zhengnian looked at the basket filled with Chu Xia’s homemade treats and felt a lump in his throat.

The sight of it filled him with warmth, making his eyes moist.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then said, “Alright.”

As Cen Zhengnian turned to re-enter the research institute, Chu Xia stopped him again, “I’ll take out the food for you.”

She had already portioned the food, so Cen Zhengnian could simply take it directly.

In the cafeteria, Cen Zhengnian approached his teacher and a fellow researcher.

Yan Hemu was the first to notice him. “Zhengnian, didn’t your wife come over? Why are you back? Did she leave already?”

“No,” Cen Zhengnian replied, placing the basket on the table and unpacking the food. “My wife made some food for you all. She made a lot, so I’m bringing some for you to eat.”

The various dishes—locust flower buns, pancakes, and steamed locust flowers—were laid out, and everyone’s eyes lit up with interest.

The cafeteria food was often bland and repetitive, and they hadn’t had anything as fresh as locust flowers for a long time.

Yan Hemu, seeing the locust flower dishes, smiled and said, “It’s been ages since I had locust flowers. I was so busy that I forgot it was the season for them.”

He reached for a bun, and the others quickly followed suit, grabbing the dishes with eager hands.

Ye Xingxu, not concerned about whether Cen Zhengnian was showing off, hurried to fill his bowl with steamed locust flowers.

Seeing how delicious the food looked, he knew if he didn’t act quickly, it would be gone.

As they ate, they talked to Cen Zhengnian, expressing their gratitude. “Thank your wife for me!”

“Thank you, sister-in-law!”

“Thanks to your wife!”

Within a minute, all the food was gone, and everyone had some in their bowls.

Cen Zhengnian, unfazed by his colleagues’ behavior, began to clean up the dishes Chu Xia had brought.

“That was delicious!”

“It was really good! Just like the buns my mom makes.”

“It’s been a long time since I had such tasty pancakes.”

Yan Hemu also thanked Cen Zhengnian, “Thank your wife for me. The buns were excellent.” He winked and urged Cen Zhengnian, “Go join your wife and son. Do you need to get some food from the cafeteria?”

Cen Zhengnian shook his head, “No need.” He picked up the basket and headed outside.

As he left, the group at the table couldn’t help but express their envy. Most of them were married, so their envy was mild, but the unmarried ones, like Ye Xingxu, were the most envious.

Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an followed Cen Zhengnian to his dormitory, where they saw his living conditions.

The dorm was stark and sparsely furnished, with just a bed and a desk, but it was very clean.

There was only one chair, so Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an sat on the bed.

Chu Xia stretched out her legs and began massaging her calves.

Standing for so long was tiring, and she eventually made Cen Huai’an sit on the floor to rest.

Cen Zhengnian arranged the food on the table and noticed Chu Xia’s discomfort.

He knelt down to massage her legs, asking, “Is it sore?”

Chu Xia nodded, “Yes, it’s sore and numb. But it does feel a bit better after you massage it.”

Cen Zhengnian’s lips curved up slightly, “I’ll massage for a bit longer.”

Chu Xia replied, “No need. Let’s eat first. Huai’an and I only had one bun each.”

The food had cooled somewhat, but the steamed locust flowers still retained some warmth.

They ate what was left.

The remaining dishes were quickly consumed by Cen Zhengnian.

“Is it delicious?”

Cen Zhengnian was wiping his mouth with a handkerchief when he heard Chuxia ask him.

He put down the handkerchief, nodded, and said, “It’s delicious.”

“Spring is the time to enjoy these seasonal delicacies—Chinese toon, locust flowers, and elm seeds. Missing out on them would feel like a regret.”

Cen Zhengnian: “I’ve had my fill.”

Chuxia nodded. “Yes, I brought them especially for you. And all these things are for you, too.”

Chuxia motioned for Cen Huaian to go over and open the packages.

Cen Zhengnian looked at them, stunned for a moment, then his eyes filled with warmth. “Chuxia, thank you.”

He held Chuxia’s hand, speaking softly, his voice restrained, as if many emotions were flooding in.

Chuxia felt a flutter in her heart as she listened.

“Thank you for what? Aren’t we husband and wife?” She quickly glanced at the items on the bed to hide her unease.

At this moment, Anan, standing by the bed, pointed at the things and said, “Dad, I helped pick out this shirt for you, and these shoes too. This bread is delicious…”

He introduced each item to Cen Zhengnian, who nodded with a smile and praised him.

Cen Huaian’s face turned slightly red from the compliments, and he became shy, running over to lie on Cen Zhengnian’s lap and look up at him. “Dad, I’ve started learning martial arts. The teacher said I’m working hard.”

Cen Zhengnian knew about Cen Huaian’s martial arts training and only advised him not to overexert himself, without saying much more.

Cen Zhengnian followed up on Huaian’s words, asking what he had learned and how his Go studies were going.

For a while, the entire dormitory was filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Chuxia and Cen Huaian had initially planned to leave today, but Cen Zhengnian said, “My dormitory has space. Why don’t you stay the night before leaving?”

Chuxia hesitated. “But your bed is so small; it won’t fit three people, will it?”

Cen Zhengnian had already thought of a solution. “No problem. My colleague next door and I get along well. An An can sleep there for the night.”

Chuxia looked at Cen Zhengnian’s expectant face and then at Cen Huaian, who also didn’t want to leave.

She nodded involuntarily, “Okay.”

Staying in the family compound required registration, which Cen Zhengnian had already handled.

Chuxia and An An had also registered when they came in.

After Cen Zhengnian went to work, Chuxia and Cen Huai’an, unfamiliar with the compound, stayed in his dormitory without wandering around.

Chuxia worked on some practice problems, while Cen Huaian took out the Go pieces he always carried and played by himself.

That evening, Cen Zhengnian returned with food for Chuxia and Cen Huaian.

“The cafeteria food may not taste as good as home-cooked meals.”

Chuxia and Cen Huai’an didn’t mind the taste; it wasn’t bad, just the typical flavor of cafeteria meals.

After eating, Cen Zhengnian went to wash the dishes.

When he finished, he apologized to Chuxia and An An, saying, “I have to go back to work for a bit, but I’ll try to come back early tonight.”

Cen Huaian looked disappointed. “Dad, when will you be back?”

Cen Zhengnian couldn’t guarantee a time.

However, upon returning to the lab, Cen Zhengnian was shooed away by Yan Hemin, who said, “Your wife and son rarely get to visit. Go spend time with them. Take these papers and finish them at home!”

Yan Hemin handed him a stack of papers and urged him to leave.

Cen Zhengnian didn’t leave immediately but looked over at Ye Xingxiu.

Ye Xingxiu, sensing his gaze, grew wary. “Why are you looking at me? I didn’t eat all that food at lunch by myself.”

“It’s not about that.” Cen Zhengnian stated his request.

Ye Xingxiu patted his chest. “I thought you were going to ask me for lunch money. Letting your son sleep at my place? No problem. Here’s the key; you can let him in yourself.”

However, after handing over the key, Ye Xingxiu regretted it—he hadn’t even asked how old Cen Zhengnian’s son was. “Your son won’t wet the bed, right?”

Cen Zhengnian took the key and the stack of papers in one hand. “He’s six; he won’t wet the bed.”

Ye Xingxiu was relieved.

As long as there were no accidents, it was fine.

Cen Zhengnian returned to the dormitory, surprising Chuxia and Cen Huaian. “Didn’t you say you had work? How come you’re back so soon?”

Cen Zhengnian closed the door and set the papers on the table. “My teacher asked me to come back and be with you.”

Chuxia chuckled. “Your teacher seems like a nice person.”

Cen Huaian was even happier, peppering Cen Zhengnian with all sorts of questions. Of course, Chuxia had warned him not to ask about his dad’s work, so he didn’t.

Instead, he asked strange questions about things he had seen and couldn’t understand.

Some of them Chuxia couldn’t answer, but Cen Zhengnian, with his vast knowledge, could always explain the principles behind them, and Cen Huaian listened attentively.

However, Huaian’s energy was limited. No matter how excited he was, he would still get sleepy when it was time for bed.

He listened to Cen Zhengnian talk, nodding off as he leaned against him.

Seeing this, Cen Zhengnian picked him up and whispered to Chuxia, “I’ll take him to the room next door.”

Chu Xia was a bit concerned, “Is Huai’an adjusting well to staying with strangers?”

Cen Zhengnian reassured her, “It’s fine. My colleagues won’t be back too early.”

When Ye Xingxu returned, it was right when Huai’an was in a deep sleep.

Like Chu Xia, Cen Huai’an wouldn’t wake easily during deep sleep.

Chu Xia nodded in agreement.

She knew the small bed in the dorm wouldn’t fit two grown men, and it wouldn’t be comfortable for Cen Zhengnian.

After getting Cen Huai’an to sleep, Cen Zhengnian returned to the dorm, where Chu Xia was still working on her error-prone problems.

During Cen Zhengnian’s time in the research room, Chu Xia had already helped Huai’an with his washing up.

The research institute had a supply store where they could buy towels, soap, and toothbrushes.

Cen Zhengnian came over and sat down, asking, “Are there any problems you’re struggling with?”

“Why don’t you wash up first? We can talk about it afterward,” Chu Xia suggested, sensing Cen Zhengnian’s fatigue and not wanting to burden him with her issues.

By the time Cen Zhengnian returned from washing up, Chu Xia had already packed away the problem book and was lying in bed.

Seeing the time, Cen Zhengnian looked at her in surprise, “Are we going to sleep now?”

Chu Xia nodded, stifling a yawn, “I’m tired.”

“Alright,” Cen Zhengnian said, giving her a lingering look before turning off the light.

“What are you doing? This is the dorm,” Chu Xia protested as she grabbed Cen Zhengnian’s wandering hand, her voice uneven.

“Don’t make noise. No one else will hear,” Cen Zhengnian whispered back.

Chu Xia was surprised by his boldness and asked, “Do you have something?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Chu Xia gave him a stern look and said in a low, embarrassed tone, “Did you plan for this?”

Cen Zhengnian replied, “No.”

He was just used to being prepared and had been since a past regret.

Chu Xia didn’t concern herself with his intentions anymore as she drifted into a daze, her thoughts fading.

The night stretched long.

Later that evening, Ye Xingxu returned to the dorm and saw the child sleeping in his bed.

He sighed, “What a hassle.”

He moved Cen Huai’an to the side and lay down beside him.

Normally, Ye Xingxu would fall asleep as soon as he hit the bed, but tonight he struggled to fall asleep, worried about accidentally rolling over onto Cen Huai’an.

The next morning, he woke up with panda eyes and looking utterly exhausted.

Seeing Cen Zhengnian looking refreshed and satisfied next to him, Ye Xingxu silently cursed under his breath!

Cen Zhengnian washed up and went to the cafeteria to get breakfast.

After Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an finished eating, he accompanied them to the bus stop.

Huai’an looked at Cen Zhengnian with a face full of reluctance, “Dad, when can we see you again?”

“I’ll try to come home,” Cen Zhengnian promised.

Chu Xia looked at the research institute in the distance and asked thoughtfully, “Zhengnian, is that the affiliated elementary school of the research institute?”

Cen Zhengnian followed her gaze and nodded, “Yes, it has both an elementary and a middle school.”

Chu Xia didn’t respond immediately and continued to look at the schools.

At that moment, the bus arrived.

Cen Zhengnian first helped Huai’an onto the bus, then turned to give Chu Xia a hug. “I’ll find time to come home.”

Chu Xia replied, “Your work is important. If An An and I miss you, we can come to see you.”