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Chapter 34: Xu An, Stop Running
After Xu An finished speaking, the Zhou family members suppressed their expressions and fell silent, each avoiding the topic. For a moment, no one spoke.
It was Pan Hehua who broke the silence suddenly, trying to change the subject. “At that time, your second brother wasn’t home, and we didn’t have a chance to change things.”
She hid her guilty conscience, trying to rationalize her behavior and cover up her obvious favoritism. She also tried to conceal her indifference toward Zhou Yu.
Listening to her weak defense, Xu An couldn’t help but laugh softly, her voice calm yet firm:
“If I remember correctly, Zhou Yu has been back for over half a year. And let’s not even mention that—it’s been almost six months since I married him, and I’ve never heard you or my father bring this up.”
“What kind of ‘family portrait’ do you call it when the whole family isn’t even there?”
“Mom, since I married Zhou Yu, I haven’t seen you smile like this once.”
“You say we’re family, but aren’t you embarrassed by your own words?”
“As soon as the eldest sister-in-law married into the family, you all rushed to take a family portrait. But when I married in, you couldn’t wait to split the family…”
“If you really meant that we should live our own lives separately, Zhou Yu and I wouldn’t have any complaints. But look at this family of yours—how many times have you dragged us into matters because of the eldest brother?”
“Even the warmest heart can grow cold. Mom, Dad, do your words about ‘living our own lives’ still hold true?”
Xu An spoke softly but clearly, her voice resonating with logic and reason. The Zhou family exchanged glances, her words forcing them to face the neglect and mistreatment toward the second son. Each family member had a different expression.
Xu An’s grip on Zhou Yu’s wrist tightened even further, her warmth spreading to him. As she glanced over the Zhou family, her dark eyes met no one’s gaze; no one dared look her in the eye.
Zhou Yu turned his head slightly, observing the woman beside him as she faced the irrelevant members of the Zhou family. His dark eyes deepened, and a slight smirk appeared on his lips.
Pan Hehua opened her mouth, still unwilling to give up trying to convince the second son, though she didn’t know where to start. The truth had already been revealed, and there was no more room to hide behind pretense. She hoped to pull the second son back, to appeal to his sense of duty and filial piety so that the family wouldn’t fall apart. But this second son and his wife didn’t care about appearances and would escalate matters if necessary.
After all, the second son had already been to prison. He had nothing left to fear, so it wasn’t going to be easy to get any benefits from him.
Zhou Youlu glanced at the steady, responsible eldest son next to him and, for the first time, felt a little resentment. But he could only defend his stance with a serious tone:
“We did say that each of you should live your own lives. Your mother and I won’t deny that. We’re not just favoring your elder brother. It’s just that for you, this business deal is like icing on the cake, while for your elder brother, it’s a lifeline. This is the family benefiting from your kindness, second son. You shouldn’t go too far.”
Hearing this, Xu An couldn’t help but chuckle. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the warmth in her hand was suddenly pulled away. The next moment, Zhou Yu’s rough yet warm palm gripped hers tightly, his touch sending a shiver through her.
She paused, turning her head to look at Zhou Yu. He didn’t look at her but instead cast a cold glance at the Zhou family, his expression mocking.
“Benefiting from my kindness? When are you planning to pay back the favor from three years ago?”
“Any decent human being knows you should repay your debts. Dad, why don’t you pay back what you owe me from last time, and maybe I’ll consider it.”
Zhou Youlu was being mocked by his own son, called out for being less than human. In the past, as the head of the family, he would’ve beaten Zhou Yu for such words. But now, there was nothing he could do about this unruly son.
Zhou Youlu let out a deep sigh. Three years ago, when they forced the second son to go to prison, the Zhou family indeed owed him a great debt. Now, facing this rebellious son, there was nothing left to say.
“The family is going through hard times right now. Your mother and I raised you, and you still want to argue with your parents, second son?”
“Now that you’re successful, you’ve grown wings, and you want to blame your own parents?”
Pan Hehua couldn’t help but scold. They had no way to control the second son or his wife, but the debt of birth and raising him could never be erased. The second son owed them, and he owed them for life.
“Mom, Zhou Yu doesn’t owe you anything. Zhou Yu wasn’t born and raised by you for free. Before he went to prison, he handled everything in this household. He’s already repaid the debt of raising him. As for the debt of being born…”
Xu An’s gaze fell on Zhou Yu’s crippled leg, her voice growing cold. “That debt was repaid three years ago when he took the blame for the eldest brother and went to prison, suffering and losing his leg. He’s repaid it in full and has no guilt left.”
“Zhou Yu repaid both his birth and raising debts long ago. So why are you still clinging to him like a sheep to shear? What have the eldest brother, third brother, and little sister done that makes you expect only my husband to show filial piety?”
Pan Hehua opened her mouth to argue with Xu An, but her lips trembled, and she couldn’t say a word.
Before the second son went to prison, he was the most diligent and caring one in the family. Even though she never admitted it, this was the truth. Despite all being her children, the second son had always been the one she overlooked and disliked the most. Ironically, it was this child, whom she least favored, who had always done the best.
“Second son, sister-in-law, you don’t need to make things difficult for Mom and Dad. They only made this bad decision for the good of the family.”
“You don’t have to make sarcastic remarks. I’ll handle things on my own,” Zhou Hongguang finally spoke up after remaining silent for a long time.
As soon as he finished, his wife, Feng Yirou, looked displeased and muttered under her breath:
“You’ll handle it? What can you do? The factory can’t even pay wages, and now this rare opportunity has been snatched away by your own brother…”
Her voice trailed off, becoming quieter, but her resentment toward Zhou Yu and Xu An was clear.
Zhou Hongguang turned to her, gently patting her hand. “I’ll be fine.”
“Elder brother, there’s something I don’t understand. There are plenty of people doing business in the capital and even more with connections to Hong Kong. Why is it that of all the bosses, you just happened to work with the one who had ties to Zhou Yu, and even raised the price higher than the internal market rate by three cents?”
“If it weren’t for Boss Zhong’s personal connection with us, your cooperation would’ve been secured under unreasonable terms.”
“How is it that you just happened to secretly negotiate with Boss Zhong?”
Xu An’s words implied that Zhou Hongguang had deliberately undermined them. He quickly masked his true feelings and responded warmly, “Sister-in-law, this is truly a misunderstanding. I didn’t know Boss Zhong was working with Zhou Yu. It’s all just a coincidence.”
Xu An smiled sweetly, her tone light. “Whether it’s a coincidence or not, only you know, but it won’t work on us.”
“Mom, Dad, if there’s nothing else, Zhou Yu and I will head back. We went out for pictures and shopping today, and we’re both tired.”
She was tired from the day, and coming home only to be dragged into family drama had ruined her mood. It made her wonder if the Zhou family did this on purpose, just to disrupt her and Zhou Yu’s peace.
Her tone was light, but the Zhou family understood her intention. Otherwise, why would she bring up the photos at a time like this if not to humiliate them?
Zhou Yu had been home for over half a year, and they still hadn’t taken the time to include him in a family portrait. Now that he and Xu An had gone on their own, it was a clear slap in the face to the family.
Pan Hehua, feeling the sting, swallowed her anger and spoke with forced gentleness.
“You’ve been married a few months now, and the family portrait is three years old. Now that the second son is back, it’s time to update it. We should all go to the photo studio together and take a happy family picture.”
She thought her words were reasonable, but Xu An, still holding Zhou Yu’s hand, stood up and looked at the Zhou family, smiling softly, her tone sweet but firm.
“No need. As for family portraits, Zhou Yu and I will take one when we have our own children.”
Xu An’s words made Zhou Hongguang and Feng Yirou’s faces darken.
Ignoring them, Xu An turned to Zhou Yu. “Since Mom and Dad don’t have anything else, let’s go bac and rest.”
Zhou Yu gave the Zhou family one last glance, then left the living room with Xu An.
“Maintain a good relationship, or at least avoid turning hostile.”
Zhou Dandan pouted, “How would I know? And it’s not like people aren’t cooperating with you because of me. It’s because of Second Sister-in-law. Who knows what she did to get on their good side.”
Pan Hehua nodded in agreement, “Eldest, Dandan may be immature, but she has a point. Just a few days ago, Boss Zhong and his wife brought over bags of gifts to your second brother’s place. I took a glance at those things, and they were rare items I hadn’t seen in my whole life. If your second brother and his wife hadn’t done something, why would they have received such nice gifts?”
Zhou Hongguang knew this well, but in this household, everyone was restless, and none of them gave him peace of mind. He could barely hold back his temper, feeling the need to vent.
“Mom, I understand, but Dandan’s mouth needs some serious correction. She says whatever comes to mind and offends whoever she pleases. A little discipline would be good for her.”
Pan Hehua nodded and glanced at her daughter, unable to hold back her comment, “With Dandan’s grades, college seems out of reach. If she had been on good terms with her second sister-in-law earlier, she could’ve helped out in her shop and made a decent income.”
Zhou Dandan pouted again, “Mom, I’m not going to do that. What girl would want to do such rough work?”
Pan Hehua sighed, “You may not want to, but even if you did, your second sister-in-law wouldn’t let you. Dandan, you think it’s easy to just go? When your second sister-in-law’s shop was hiring, I heard from the neighbors that her employees earn a three-figure salary, over a hundred yuan a month. And here you are, being picky.”
As she said this, she turned to Zhou Shuwen beside her, “Your sister looks down on this after just a high school education. I suppose you do too. But with all the factories struggling, finding a good job isn’t easy. You’re graduating next year, and there’s still no talk of guaranteed job placement. Your eldest brother’s factory isn’t stable anymore. Your father and I are worried sick.”
Zhou Shuwen responded gently, “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll definitely find a good job. Once I graduate, I’ll help out Eldest Brother.”
His words were comforting, and Pan Hehua sighed and nodded, though she couldn’t help but think.
If they had treated the second son better when he returned home, if they had been kinder and not made him feel so cold, perhaps now that he’s doing well, he wouldn’t have forgotten the family.
…And thinking back even further, if they hadn’t forced the second son to take the fall for the eldest three years ago, maybe they’d be living comfortably by now, with him being as successful as he is.
But it was too late for regrets. Their second son, who had been indirectly driven away, along with his wife, had become distant from the family right from the start.
The Zhou family fell into a tense silence.
Meanwhile, Xu An and Zhou Yu had returned home. Zhou Yu released his grip on her soft hand, rubbing his fingertips together, and casually opened the door to let them in.
Once inside, Xu An grabbed the teapot, filled it with water, and set it on the stove. Finally, she sat down on a chair and glanced at Zhou Yu across from her, pouting slightly. “Your family really knows how to think.”
“Have they forgotten how Zhou Hongguang acted like he had everything in the bag? He was practically climbing on top of us, and every one of them, openly or secretly, mocked him for being more capable than you. Your mom went around the neighborhood bragging about how much better your eldest brother was compared to you, constantly overshadowing you.”
“And now that things have changed, instead of avoiding us and staying humble, they still expect you to give way to Zhou Hongguang.”
Xu An couldn’t hold back and concluded with frustration, “They must be dreaming!”
Zhou Yu, seated across from her, could fully take in the colorful expressions on her face. He gazed at Xu An’s animated face and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he spoke nonchalantly.
“That’s typical Zhou family behavior—aren’t you used to it by now?”
Xu An rested her head on her arms, tilting her head to look at Zhou Yu with a sigh, “I understand it even more clearly now.”
“Those neighbors in the alley were one step away from saying your elder brother was better than you, but now, they’ve suddenly gone quiet.”
She sighed again, “I guess your mom hasn’t been spreading the word anymore.”
She lifted her eyes to meet Zhou Yu’s, her tone leisurely, “Zhou Yu, I feel like putting up a loudspeaker at the door and broadcasting everything.”
Zhou Yu couldn’t help but laugh at her regretful expression. He chuckled and said in a husky voice, “Go ahead, if you don’t mind the embarrassment.”
Xu An lowered her gaze and sighed softly, “Never mind, I don’t have the face for it.”
After a while, the water in the teapot warmed up. Zhou Yu took two cups and poured them both some water.
After taking a sip to soothe her dry lips, Xu An watched Zhou Yu drink his water through the faint steam. His gaze lingered on her delicate, mist-shrouded face, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.
After resting a while and drinking her water, Xu An took a bath and then went straight to bed, finally relaxing and letting out a deep sigh.
She turned her head to look at Zhou Yu, who had just come in from the other room, and asked softly, “When are we going to get the introduction letter and pass?”
Zhou Yu turned off the light, walked over to the bed, and lay down, replying in a deep voice, “I’ve already made arrangements. The introduction letter isn’t urgent—it can be done in a morning. The pass will take a little longer, about a week.”
Xu An hummed in acknowledgment.
“Zhong Yue is planning to introduce you to his connections in Hong Kong, so you’ll be making more trips there in the future.”
Recalling Zhou Yu’s formal attire from the photoshoot earlier, Xu An added softly, “Before you go, we should buy a couple more outfits suitable for business. At least something that’ll make a good impression during negotiations.”
Previously, Zhou Yu didn’t need to travel that far or handle negotiations with people from Hong Kong himself.
In a gentle tone, Xu An added, “Businesspeople in Hong Kong can be xenophobic. You’ll need to adjust at first… Don’t push yourself too hard. If it gets too much, just come back.”
Xu An wasn’t one for unnecessary hardship. After all, she had her shop, and Zhou Yu had other options. There was no need to create difficulties just for the sake of it.
In the dark, Zhou Yu’s chest stirred with emotion. He swallowed before responding in his hoarse voice, “You don’t want the money anymore?”
Xu An blinked, “I can earn my own.”
“Many of the businesses there work with foreign companies, and foreign capital is involved. Sometimes, the environment makes it hard for them to respect people from the mainland. Our country is still in the early stages of development, and even with rapid progress, we have a long way to go. When you get there, you’ll likely face challenges.”
“Even with Zhong Yue’s connections, there’s a natural hierarchy of disdain. If you don’t prove yourself, no one can help you.”
Her voice was soft but full of warmth and concern. Zhou Yu stared into the darkness, his gaze growing more intense.
Zhou Yu’s voice pierced through the darkness, reaching Xu An’s ears.
“Xu An.”
“Compared to here, the South is closer to Hong Kong, but you don’t know it that well.”
His voice was steady, but Xu An heard every word clearly. She bit her lip, realizing she had said too much, and burrowed her face into the blanket, mumbling, “I can read, and I’ve seen it in the newspapers. Besides, our country is going through tough times, and no matter where you go, people will look down on you. That’s no secret.”
The man beside her didn’t respond, as if silently agreeing with her. Xu An lowered her gaze, her lively eyes flickering as she glanced at the strong figure next to her. She swallowed nervously and whispered, “Anyway, just be careful.”
With Zhou Yu’s leg injury, everything he did was more challenging, and that was a fact.
Zhou Yu replied softly, “I know.”
Satisfied, Xu An closed her eyes, not saying anything more. After a busy morning, she was tired. It didn’t take long for her to drift off to sleep.
Three days later, Xu An and Zhou Yu took a cab to the photo studio early in the morning to pick up their photos.
As soon as they entered, the owner enthusiastically greeted them and asked them to wait while he retrieved their developed pictures from the back room.
He returned with three photos as requested and handed them to Xu An with a smile, holding an extra large, poster-sized photo in his other hand.
Unable to resist her curiosity, Xu An pulled out the photos and carefully examined them.
Zhou Yu stood beside her, and both their gazes fell on the newly developed photos.
Xu An smiled in satisfaction, seeing how close the two of them appeared in the photos, and particularly at the faint smile tugging at the corners of Zhou Yu’s mouth.
Seeing their satisfaction, the owner handed Xu
An the poster-sized photo and said, “I made an extra one. You can hang it in your shop to give other customers a reference. Big and bold is always best.”
Xu An smiled and nodded, glancing at the large photo with a grin. She then asked, “Do you have frames here? I’d like to frame two of these to display at home.”
“Of course!” the owner replied.
The shop owner quickly handed Xu An two photos, and after Zhou Yu paid, the couple left the photo studio with their freshly developed pictures.
Xu An tilted her head toward Zhou Yu and said, “Let’s go to the mall first to buy a few things to send home along with the photos.”
Zhou Yu agreed, and the two headed to the mall. Xu An bought a set of high-quality clothes for each of her family members and some snacks. Remembering that Zhou Yu would be heading to Hong Kong soon after receiving his permit, she casually picked out a formal outfit for him, suitable for social events. She also thought to buy one for Wen Yao Wu before leading Zhou Yu out of the mall. As they walked toward the post office, Xu An said, “I’ll buy you both a set for now. When you get to Hong Kong, don’t hold back if you see something suitable. You can’t skimp on necessary expenses, especially when appearance matters.”
She smiled at Zhou Yu and continued, “People can’t immediately see your inner qualities, but your outward appearance mustn’t be sloppy from the start.”
After some thought, she added, “I should still ask Fang Shu for advice. I’ll see what Boss Zhong usually wears when he negotiates with people from Hong Kong, and then I’ll buy you another set.”
Zhou Yu followed half a step behind Xu An, staying close to her as they walked. His gaze fell on her delicate profile, and he absentmindedly responded with a soft acknowledgment.
When they arrived at the post office, Xu An paused her conversation and led Zhou Yu inside. They handed the items they had bought to the staff to be packaged. As usual, she asked for a letter and stationery, then sat at a military-green desk to write a letter to Zhou’s family.
She carefully asked about everyone at home, assuring them that she and Zhou Yu were doing well. Xu An couldn’t help but speak highly of Zhou Yu, telling the family not to worry. She ended the letter by saying the clothes she was sending were all picked out by Zhou Yu. After filling two pages, she blew lightly on the paper, folded it neatly, and took 200 yuan from her pocket. She placed the money and letter in the envelope, which she mailed along with the package.
After sending everything, the couple returned to the entrance of the alley. Seeing that the afternoon sunlight hadn’t yet completely faded, Xu An couldn’t stop thinking about the shop. She tilted her head and looked at Zhou Yu.
“I’m going to check on the store.”
Xu An turned toward the shop, and after a moment, she felt a shadow behind her. She slightly turned her head and saw Zhou Yu standing right behind her. She softly asked, “Are you coming with me?”
Zhou Yu quickened his pace and walked beside her, making his intentions clear.
It was nice to have someone accompany her, so Xu An didn’t refuse. They walked together to the store. The shop had a decent number of customers, and the staff seemed to be handling everything smoothly. After talking with Su Xiaoyang about the shop’s current status and ensuring that nothing major had happened, Xu An finally felt at ease. She watched for a while longer before heading home with Zhou Yu.
The next morning, after breakfast, Xu An went to Fang Shu’s house. Fang Shu didn’t live in the same alley, but in another nearby area with a noticeable difference in wealth. Xu An followed the address Fang Shu had previously given her and realized that the people living there seemed to be quite well-off. The environment was far better than their own, making Xu An raise her eyebrows as she gazed at the elegant gate, which was more impressive than the Zhou family’s courtyard. Smiling, she stepped forward to knock on the door.
After a short wait, an older woman in her fifties or sixties opened the door. Her face was kind, but her eyes held a clear hint of scrutiny and caution as she looked at Fang Shu. Her tone was polite as she asked, “Who are you?”
Xu An smiled and said, “My name is Xu An, and I’m here to see the homeowner.”
The woman nodded and replied kindly, “Please wait a moment, I’ll go ask for you.”
Xu An nodded in response, and the woman closed the door. After waiting for a bit, the door reopened, and this time it was Fang Shu, full of joy.
As soon as she saw Xu An standing at the door, Fang Shu quickened her pace and almost ran toward her. She took Xu An’s wrist and led her inside, explaining as they walked.
“An An, Zhong Yue is just being overly cautious. I’ve been cooped up at home, and he’s worried someone with bad intentions might show up, so he’s been keeping the doors closed to avoid accidents.”
Xu An followed her inside and nodded understandingly. “You’re pregnant now, so it’s good to be cautious.”
Fang Shu’s smile was radiant. “An An, I’m glad you don’t mind.”
She led Xu An to the living room, where they sat on the sofa. Fang Shu laughed and said, “You’ve never been here before, so the housekeeper didn’t recognize you. Now that you’ve been here, they won’t stop you next time.”
Xu An noticed Fang Shu’s healthy glow and said softly, “How are you feeling?”
Fang Shu smiled. “I wasn’t feeling well before—everything I ate made me sick. But now that I’ve figured out my preferences, the housekeeper prepares meals I enjoy, and everything tastes good. I’m doing quite well.”
As they chatted, Zhong Yue came out from the study, carrying a tea tray. He set it on the coffee table, greeted Xu An, and poured her a cup of tea before sitting next to Fang Shu. In a gentle tone, he said to his wife, “You two chat. I’ll be in the study. Call me if you need anything.”
Fang Shu waved him off efficiently, practically shooing him away.
After Zhong Yue left, Fang Shu immediately scooted closer to Xu An, laughing, “An An, you finally came to see me! I was starting to go stir-crazy at home.”
Xu An apologized. “The store has been busy, and I couldn’t find the time. We just sent some things back to our families yesterday, so I figured today would be a good time to visit you.”
Fang Shu couldn’t help but laugh at Xu An’s serious expression, “An An, I know you’re busy making money! You don’t need to explain.”
Xu An lightly touched her nose and nodded. She glanced up at the empty staircase, noting Fang Shu’s rosy complexion and the disappearance of the stress that had once clouded her face. She chuckled softly, “You seem less burdened than before. Has Zhong Yue been able to spend more time with you?”
In the past, Fang Shu’s face had always shown a hint of subtle stress, but now it was entirely gone.
Fang Shu raised her eyebrows and held Xu An’s hand. “Of course, that’s thanks to you! Zhong Yue has also been home more often recently and spends his free time with me.”
Fang Shu then looked at Xu An and asked, “By the way, is your husband Zhou Yu the one heading to Hong Kong this time?”
Xu An nodded.
Fang Shu looked at her with concern and asked softly, “If he ends up working with Hong Kong regularly, won’t you two end up being apart a lot? An An, am I being ungrateful for worrying?”
Xu An shook her head. “Not at all. Zhou Yu isn’t leaving for good, and once he gains more trust over there, he won’t have to go every time. Besides, Wen Yao Wu will be going with him. Don’t overthink it. This opportunity to work with Zhong Yue is all thanks to you.”
Fang Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu An blinked and asked, “Since this is Zhou Yu’s first time going to Hong Kong, he’s not familiar with many things. Do you think he should prepare in any particular way?”
Xu An stopped speaking under Fang Shu’s teasing smile, who, though smiling, dropped her playful tone and shared some advice based on her experience. Then she added with a smile, “You don’t need to worry too much. Zhong Yue wants to maintain this partnership with your husband, so nothing will go wrong. You’re just overthinking things because you care.”
Xu An coughed lightly, her gaze drifting.
Fang Shu, noticing the faint blush on Xu An’s face, smiled but chose not to tease her further.
After chatting for a while, the two women took a stroll in the courtyard. Seeing that Fang Shu was in good health, Xu An didn’t want to tire her out. As noon approached, knowing it was almost time for Fang Shu’s afternoon nap, Xu An excused herself and left.
After leaving, Xu An returned home. When she arrived, Zhou Yu hadn’t come back yet. She rested for a while, and as the evening darkened, she got up to prepare rice. By the time she finished cooking, the sky had almost completely darkened, and Zhou Yu returned home.
Zhou Yu washed his hands with warm water, and Xu An, standing by the door, happened to see Zhou Hongguang and his wife enter as well.
Xu An glanced casually over, meeting Feng Yirou’s gaze. Feng Yirou’s expression was complex, with emotions that Xu An couldn’t quite decipher. Xu An blinked, but before she could figure it out, Feng Yirou quickly averted her gaze and followed Zhou Hongguang into the main house.
Xu An frowned slightly but didn’t dwell on it. Zhou Yu nudged her gently on the shoulder, leading her inside.
Xu An sat down at the table while Zhou
A few days ago, regarding the business matter, you didn’t see it; the second brother was aggressive and unwilling to give an inch. There’s no way he would help out with this.
Listening to her husband’s words, Feng Yirou felt a surge of resentment. “Isn’t it because your family didn’t treat others well, causing someone to take the blame for nothing?”
She didn’t say this to defend Zhou Yu, but to blame the whole Zhou family for their lack of decency. It now seemed that the reason they hadn’t had children in the past three years was likely due to the sins of the Zhou family.
Feng Yirou looked at Zhou Hongguang with dissatisfaction. “If the second brother and his wife were really the ones who cured Zhong Yue of his infertility, no matter what conditions they offered, you should accept them. What’s so wrong with begging the second brother?”
Feng Yirou, filled with grievances, couldn’t help but complain more, “You’ve asked him before, haven’t you?”
As soon as those words left her mouth, Zhou Hongguang’s expression changed completely, darkening entirely.
Seeing the change in his face, Feng Yirou felt a bit startled and took a deep breath. “The people in the alley say that Zhong Yue’s wife hasn’t gotten pregnant for five years, and then suddenly she’s expecting. Others might not know, but we who live in the same courtyard as the second brother must know. Previously, Zhong Yue and his wife came to visit the second brother’s house with gifts, and Zhong Yue didn’t hesitate to give up on you to choose the second brother.”
“They say it’s only because of the good relationship between his wife and the second sister-in-law. I don’t believe it; there’s definitely something going on.”
“Zhong Yue’s wife suddenly got pregnant; perhaps the sister-in-law helped. Otherwise, how could she suddenly become pregnant just as the sister-in-law arrived after five years?”
“I don’t care. If Xu An really has a way, you should go with me to ask her.”
Seeing Zhou Hongguang’s increasingly heavy expression, Feng Yirou softened her tone, reverting to her usual gentle demeanor. “Hongguang, we’ve been married for three years and still don’t have any children.”
“People outside say we’re a dual-income family, and there’s no rush for children. Right now, our factory isn’t busy, and we can’t even pay wages. This excuse has been used for three years, and it’s no longer valid.”
“They may not say anything openly, but there’s no shortage of gossip behind our backs.”
“You know about Fang Shu’s reputation; it’s almost the same for us.”
Thinking of Fang Shu’s husband, she couldn’t help but add, “Her husband is quite capable; he’s earned a lot of money in these years, which is why people don’t speak ill of them. But our situation… we can’t even pay wages. I don’t want to face those gossipy women every day, losing my dignity and grace.”
Zhou Hongguang sighed, sitting in the chair, and spoke softly to Feng Yirou, “I was thinking of finding another job before, also for this family, for your sake. Just give me a little more time. Without Zhong Yue, there are other ways. I won’t let those people gossip about you.”
Feng Yirou lowered her eyes. In the past, she would have believed Zhou Hongguang when he said such things. After all, they were a united couple, and there was no reason to distrust her husband.
But now, recalling how her husband had secretly sought out Zhong Yue behind her back, it didn’t seem honorable. He had wanted to outdo the second brother, and now it had all become part of this family.
Feng Yirou sighed softly and replied, “I understand.”
“You’re the eldest in the family. It would be difficult for you to lower your head to your younger brother. I’m not asking you to say it out loud. Besides, it’s not certain that the second brother’s wife helped Zhong Yue; however, if you find it awkward, you can just let your mother know beforehand and ask her to probe the situation in the east wing.”
Having felt hopeless for three years, suddenly there was a glimmer of hope, and Feng Yirou didn’t want to give up. Even if it meant begging the second brother and his wife, who she had always looked down upon, she would endure the humiliation.
Feng Yirou softened her tone, and Zhou Hongguang didn’t say anything further. His expression lightened considerably, and he finally agreed. “I’ll find a chance to mention it to Mom.”
Only then did Feng Yirou force a smile and respond.
After Xu An finished her shower and returned to the room, Zhou Yu had already added coal to the stove, washed the dishes, and cleaned up. He had also taken out his pajamas from the inner room.
His gaze fell on Xu An, whose long-sleeve pajamas had become thinner with the warming weather, and he averted his eyes as he passed by her.
Xu An’s pajamas were light since the weather had turned warm, and Zhou Yu had changed into a similar style.
Xu An yawned and strolled back to the bedroom, comfortably lying down in bed and slowly closing her eyes.
Before long, Zhou Yu locked the door, entered the room, turned off the lights, and lay down beside Xu An.
Xu An hadn’t completely fallen asleep yet and groggily mumbled, “Did you close the door?”
Zhou Yu paused momentarily, hearing the soft rustling beside him, and replied hoarsely.
Xu An buried her head in the covers and softly said, “Take Yaowu with you to Hong Kong. Don’t get into fights with anyone.”
As Zhou Yu’s departure for Hong Kong drew closer, Xu An couldn’t help but say more.
Both of them had fiery tempers, and after getting out of prison, they sometimes relied more on their fists. Yaowu was even younger, and Xu An couldn’t rely on him to keep Zhou Yu in check, so she had to remind him more.
Zhou Yu’s hands were behind his head as he listened to Xu An scold him like a child and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Still, he answered her.
“And also, there might be a language barrier over there. You should ask Zhong Yue to find a good translator for you so that there are no communication issues.”
Listening to Xu An’s gentle nagging, Zhou Yu couldn’t help but recall the day three years ago when he was pushed out.
He couldn’t help but smile ironically. The most repeated phrase from his family that day was for him to obediently serve his time and not expose his older brother.
At this moment, every word from Xu An felt like an imprint on his heart, all of them reminders for him.
Zhou Yu swallowed hard, his voice low in the darkness. “Xu An.”
Xu An tilted her head slightly, only able to see his blurry outline, and responded in surprise, “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Yu clenched his teeth and bit the inside of his cheek, then spoke in a deep voice, “I’m going to Hong Kong for a while.”
“Don’t run away…”
Xu An’s heart, which had been lifted, suddenly sank, leaving her almost speechless.
She bit her teeth and clenched her fists, holding back the urge to bite Zhou Yu next to her, and wrinkled her nose, pretending to be angry. “I’m going to run away, and you can’t control me.”
Hearing the obvious annoyance in her voice, Zhou Yu smirked slightly and murmured, “When I come back, you’ll be unable to run away from me.”
Xu An lightly huffed, “Don’t talk, you can’t spit out ivory from a dog’s mouth. Just go to sleep.”
After saying this, she closed her eyes on her own, and Zhou Yu softly replied, smiling as he closed his eyes, surprisingly obedient and not arguing with his wife anymore.
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