Chapter 20.1

Su Ting found it very strange. How could he like her?

Clearly, her original self had the same appearance and figure as hers. Although her original self had later mistreated He Yan, she still harbored deep affection for He Dongchuan at this moment, and her performance should not have been bad.

However, according to the memories of her original self in the novel’s extras, the layer of coldness surrounding He Dongchuan had never melted.

Therefore, although Su Ting had speculated that there might have been other events in the novel that led to He Dongchuan’s consistent indifference—after all, in the extras, her original self still complained about He Dongchuan in her heart, and the memories were written from her perspective, so it was natural for them to be embellished.

But He Dongchuan’s coldness had thus been imprinted in Su Ting’s heart. After traveling into the story, she had never thought about the possibility of him falling in love with her, because she had a clear understanding of herself.

He Dongchuan had said she was kind, straightforward, and soft-hearted, but she never thought so. She had always believed herself to be a cold person and was too lazy to maintain relationships.

She had never donated money, rarely helped beggars on the street, did not feel much sympathy for tragic stories online, had never raised a cat, nor fed stray dogs.

She also wasn’t very fond of children, so as she grew older, although she thought about finding someone to build a family with, the thought wasn’t very strong, and this matter had always been put aside.

She was just an ordinary person living a lonely and indifferent life.

She never thought her personality was very likable, nor had she ever considered that He Dongchuan would fall in love with her inner self.

Su Ting felt that she was now like Ye Gong, who pretended to love dragons. When she didn’t know that He Dongchuan liked her, she thought she could give it a try. After all, he was handsome and had a good body, and if things turned out seriously, she wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

Now that she was certain he liked her, she hesitated, worried that he might misunderstand her and regret it once he knew what she was really like.

After hesitating, Su Ting asked: “What if the real me is different from what you think?”

He Dongchuan thought for a moment and asked: “Have you been deliberately pretending during this time?”

“No.”

“Then how could the real you be different from what I think?”

Su Ting asked uncertainly: “Maybe… I don’t think I’m that kind-hearted?”

He Dongchuan chuckled softly.

Su Ting scrunched up her nose. “Are you mocking me?”

“No.” He Dongchuan shook his head and changed the subject. “I think you feel this way precisely because you have a strong sense of morality and like to introspect. If you really weren’t kind-hearted, you wouldn’t even consider this issue. In fact, when someone questioned you, your first reaction would be, ‘I’m so kind, and you still think I’m not good enough?’”

Su Ting thought that He Dongchuan truly was suited to be a leader; he could easily persuade people, like he was doing with her right now. Her heart swelled with pride, so she decided to give him a chance. She lifted her chin and said: “Since you like me so much, then let’s just live well from now on.”

Anyway, he had already said so. If, in the future, he dared to say: “I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person.” she would have something to retort.

This time, it was He Dongchuan’s turn to be stunned.

Because of what she had said to He Yan, he thought she would need some more time to think it over. After all, his performance right after their marriage hadn’t been great, and he had easily hurt her feelings. She might be disappointed in him, or even find it hard to trust him.

Before knocking on the Master’s Bedroom door, He Dongchuan had already mentally prepared for the long haul. Today, he mainly wanted to express his thoughts to Su Ting and get a chance.

He hadn’t expected Su Ting to agree so easily.

Though surprised, He Dongchuan didn’t naively go and ask her about his doubts. Instead, he chose to go with the flow and asked: “So, can I move back into the Master’s Bedroom today?”

Su Ting looked up at the sky and laughed: “Well… I need to think about it some more. Let’s see how you perform.”

Although she didn’t mind being with He Dongchuan in bed and was even a little expectant, it had been his idea to sleep separately. Now, just because he wanted to move back, didn’t he care about his pride?

What?

She hadn’t come over when they separated rooms?

But apart from her, no one else knew about this. She had to show a bit of attitude.

He Dongchuan didn’t think anything was wrong after hearing that. He had always felt that this matter wasn’t that simple. It was good enough to clarify things today and set the tone for their future relationship.

He would take it slow.

……

When He Yan arrived at the Zhang family’s house, Zhang Xiaokai was sitting on a small stool, using a high chair as a desk to do his homework.

Ever since she found out that He Yan had only been attending school for a month yet could score 40 or 50 points, Huang Wenxia thought she couldn’t be too gentle with Zhang Xiaokai. Going out to play was out of the question. The first thing he had to do when he came back every day was homework! Even during holidays!

So, after breakfast, before Zhang Xiaokai could even leave the yard, his mother remembered and called him back, forcing him to sit back on the small stool.

Zhang Xiaokai felt苦 (suffering) inside!

When he saw He Yan appear in the courtyard holding a toy car, his heart felt even more苦 (suffering).

He was苦, but Huang Wenxia was very happy to see He Yan. As a parent, everyone hopes their own child can play with well-performing kids.

Although He Yan’s ranking in this exam wasn’t impressive, and he even scored lower than Zhang Xiaokai, He Yan had been studying for such a short time! This time he ranked third from the bottom, but maybe next time he would be third from the top.

One had to admit, Huang Wenxia had more faith in He Yan than even He Yan himself.

Huang Wenxia’s plan was quite ambitious. With her son’s wooden brain, even kids with good grades might not want to play with him. Now, if she built a good relationship with He Yan, when He Yan’s grades improved, he could help her son with his studies.

He Yan was a potential asset!

Huang Wenxia personally moved a stool to the courtyard and invited He Yan to sit down, smiling as she asked: “Have you had breakfast?”

“I’ve eaten.”

“Did you come over right after breakfast?”

He Yan nodded, then shook his head. “I went to the playground first.” Thinking about what had happened at the playground, he scrunched his nose.

Huang Wenxia thought that He Yan couldn’t find anyone at the playground, so he came straight to her house. She continued asking: “So, did you finish your homework?”

“I finished it yesterday.”

Although there was homework every day in elementary school, Sunday homework was usually not too much, and many kids even had to help with housework during the holidays.

“You’re such a good kid.” Huang Wenxia praised. Then, turning to look at her own son, her brow furrowed. “Look at Xiaoyan, he finished his homework yesterday. Now look at you. If I didn’t keep an eye on you, wouldn’t you have been playing around again today?”

Zhang Xiaokai sighed dramatically. “I’m doing my homework… I really am.”

“You not only have to do it, you have to do it properly!” Huang Wenxia switched her tone instantly. “Xiaoyan, could you stay here and watch him while he does his homework? When he finishes, you can help him check it, and then you can both go out and play. Is that okay?”

He Yan: “…Okay.”

So, for the rest of the time, Zhang Xiaokai struggled through his homework while He Yan played with his toy truck.

Although the toy truck had already made an appearance at the playground last week, He Yan hadn’t left the house except for going to school this week. Moreover, in their family compound, there weren’t many parents willing to buy such a large toy truck for their kids. Up until now, no one else in the compound had a toy truck like it.

Therefore, He Yan’s toy truck remained a very cool presence in the courtyard. He had barely been fiddling with it in front of Zhang’s house when the neighbor’s kids gathered around, eager to play with him.

He Yan readily accepted their invitation. After all, toys were much more fun when shared with others.

First, it was the neighbor’s kids, then more children passing by the courtyard joined in. Soon, He Yan was surrounded by an ever-growing group of kids, all happily playing with the toy truck.

Zhang Xiaokai watched with longing, several times trying to get up from his small stool, but each time his mother quickly suppressed him, forcing him to continue writing his homework with a grim expression.

For a moment, Zhang’s courtyard felt like a world of extremes.

The excitement and joy belonged to others, while sadness and frustration were his alone. Zhang Xiaokai thought his life was too苦 (suffering)!

After his moment of frustration, Zhang Xiaokai began to write feverishly. In the end, his usual homework, which would normally take two or three hours to finish, was completed in under an hour.

Although the handwriting was a bit ugly, the accuracy was decent.

Huang Wenxia was quite satisfied. Not making him correct the mistakes right away, she waved her hand and let him go outside to play.

Zhang Xiaokai cheered and rushed straight into the circle of kids surrounding He Yan. He was finally free!

That morning, after finally getting his freedom, Zhang Xiaokai played a little too wildly. Of course, He Yan did the same. Surrounded by others and basking in their envious glances, his vanity was fully satisfied. The unpleasant events from the morning were completely forgotten.

It wasn’t until after his bath in the evening, when he returned to his bedroom and began to roll around in bed, that he noticed the two pillows placed side by side. He suddenly remembered something very, very important.

He Yan rolled over and sat up in bed, thinking for a few seconds before getting out of bed, shuffling in his slippers to the Master’s Bedroom. He knocked on the door.

As soon as he knocked once, Su Ting’s voice came from inside: “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Mom!” He Yan called out loudly.

As soon as his words finished, the door was opened from the inside. Su Ting, wearing a loose t-shirt and pants, crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame, looking down at him and asking: “What’s the matter?”

“I need to talk to you.”

Seeing his serious expression, Su Ting couldn’t help but laugh. She glanced up at the closed bathroom door before asking: “Do you want to talk about it in the bedroom?”

He Yan nodded vigorously.

Su Ting stepped aside, letting He Yan enter the room, and closed the door behind him. “Can we talk now?”

He Yan nodded twice again, then looked up at her and said: “I asked Dad.”

“Asked what?” Su Ting casually asked as she walked toward the bed.

“If you and Dad divorced, would he let me stay with you?”

Su Ting, who had just gotten into bed, froze when she thought about the conversation she had earlier with He Dongchuan. She calmed herself down, sat up against the headboard, and asked: “What did your dad say?”

“He said he’s willing.”

Su Ting was stunned. “Are you sure?”

He Yan puffed out his chest and replied: “Yes, I’m sure. Dad said it himself.”

That couldn’t be possible. He Yan was his biological son!

It was one thing for He Yan’s biological mother to say that, but after the divorce, for him to be sent to a stepmother with no blood relation—it took a lot of trust! He Dongchuan didn’t seem like such an unreliable person.

Seeing that Su Ting didn’t speak, He Yan’s eyes started to redden. “Don’t you want me to come with you?”

“No, I just…” Su Ting denied it quickly. “Did your dad say anything else?”

“He did.”

“What else did he say?”

“He set a condition. If I come with you, I have to bring Dad too.” He Yan blinked his big eyes and innocently asked: “Mom, can I bring Dad with me then?”

Su Ting thought to herself: I’ve already divorced your dad, and now you want to bring him along? Is this really still a divorce?

He Dongchuan was truly something else, not fooling around with the child!

But when she saw He Yan’s hopeful expression, Su Ting couldn’t bring herself to reject him. She could only speak gently: “I can agree to it now, but I’m not sure if my thoughts will change in the future. Also, by then, your dad might not want to come with me.”

They had agreed to live like an ordinary married couple from then on, so her original plan of divorcing him after three years, provided he survived, was now up in the air.

If they did divorce in the future, it was likely that it would be because of a breakdown in their relationship.

By then, they’d probably both be tired of each other. Forget about her not wanting to bring He Dongchuan along—he probably wouldn’t want to stay with her either.

But He Yan didn’t think about all that. He confidently pounded his chest and said: “It’s okay, Mom. If Dad doesn’t want to come with you, I’ll come with you!”

Seeing his earnest determination, Su Ting refrained from saying anything negative. Instead, she reached out and rubbed his head gently.

The little guy let out a wail. “My hair is all messy!”

“Anyway, you’re going to bed soon, so it doesn’t matter if it gets messier!” Su Ting shouted, increasing the pressure in her hands.

By the time He Dongchuan returned home after taking a shower and hanging up the clothes, he saw He Yan, with his messy hair like a bird’s nest, coming out of the Master’s Bedroom from across most of the living room.

He Dongchuan: “Your hairstyle is quite unique.”

He Yan complained: “…It’s all Mom’s fault, she messed it up!”

He Dongchuan gave a soft “oh.” walked over to his son, and rubbed his hair roughly, commenting: “Hmm, it feels pretty nice.”

He Yan: “…”

—

Half an hour later, after the father and son had gotten into bed, turned off the lights, and prepared to sleep, He Yan still couldn’t fall asleep. He turned over to look at his dad’s figure in the dark. He Dongchuan, feeling the gaze, reached out to mess with his hair again and asked: “What are you staring at me for?”

After hesitating for a moment, He Yan spoke up and asked: “Dad, are you and Mom still going to get divorced?”

Even though Mom said she was willing to raise him, he still didn’t want Dad and Mom to divorce because he didn’t want to be separated from either of them. He wanted to stay with them forever.

In the dark, He Dongchuan opened his eyes but didn’t speak right away. After a long pause, he asked: “Did your mom say she wanted to divorce me?”

He Yan shook his head. “No, but Mom said that if Dad isn’t nice to her in the future, she’ll get a divorce.”

He Dongchuan said: “Well, then, I’ll always be good to your mom, so we won’t get divorced.”

“Oh…”

He Yan sighed in relief, but then remembered something that Yu Hongzhi had said. “But other people’s dads and moms all sleep together. If you and Mom aren’t getting divorced, why don’t you sleep together? Dad, does Mom not like sleeping with you? If Mom doesn’t sleep with you, can I sleep with Mom instead?” He had wanted to sleep with Mom tonight, but he didn’t bring it up, afraid it would make Dad sad.

He Dongchuan: …Alright, enough. Don’t break your dad’s heart anymore.

She turned over and covered the little guy’s mouth, who was still chattering, saying: “Go to sleep.”

—