Chapter 29

“Let’s sleep together tonight.”

Jiang Chen looked at Shen Mingyou, speaking clearly and calmly.

He meant no other intentions. The program was being recorded with possible cameras around. Also, this wasn’t home, so things weren’t as comfortable as usual.

After being away for several months, Jiang Chen had hoped to be close with his wife again. However, he had received a divorce request just before returning.

Jiang Chen had been reflecting on his actions and noticed his wife’s attitude was less resistant. He took the chance to push things a little.

They had a big bed and a small bed for Nian Nian. Jiang Chen hoped to sleep in the big bed with his wife.

“Is it okay?” Jiang Chen asked, looking at his wife.

Earlier, he had moved Nian Nian back to her small bed. Now, he was waiting for his wife’s approval to sleep together.

Shen Mingyou asked, “Do you think it’s okay?”

Jiang Chen replied, “Yes.”

Shen Mingyou took her feet out of the water, dried them, and walked to the bedroom.

Jiang Chen was pleased and followed her. As he was about to get into bed, he saw Nian Nian, who had been moved to the small bed, was back on the big bed.

Nian Nian was sleeping soundly, indicating that Shen Mingyou had moved her.

“Have you forgotten we’re about to get divorced?” Shen Mingyou asked, lifting the quilt. “Have you reflected on it?”

Jiang Chen remembered Shen Mingyou had said she would divorce him after he reflected on himself. He replied, “Not yet.”

“Then keep reflecting,” Shen Mingyou said, yawning. She was tired and wanted to sleep. She pointed to the single bed and said, “You can sleep there tonight, or on the sofa outside. It’s up to you.”

Shen Mingyou then lay down with Nian Nian and fell asleep.

Jiang Chen watched his wife and daughter sleeping peacefully and went to the single bed.

He didn’t fall asleep easily.

Since the divorce request, Jiang Chen had been reflecting on his actions, trying to understand why Shen Mingyou wanted a divorce. He was getting to know a different side of Shen Mingyou now.

Jiang Chen’s views on marriage come from his parents. Like his own marriage with Shen Mingyou, his parents’ marriage was also a business arrangement.

After his parents married, they were very busy with their careers and barely saw each other, maybe once or twice a year.

Since childhood, Jiang Chen didn’t need his parents’ company. He was tested for a high IQ and had a housekeeper and servants. His parents hired various teachers for him, so he learned a lot daily. He grew up well on his own.

However, he was curious as a child. He had a young female teacher whose husband often picked her up after class, sometimes bringing their children.

Seeing this family of three returning home several times, Jiang Chen wondered why his family was different. His parents, despite their busy schedules, were very happy when they saw each other, giving each other gifts and sharing their lives.

Jiang Chen asked his mother why his family was different. She said that a marriage needs novelty. Seeing each other rarely helps them cherish each other more. If they lived together every day, they might argue and possibly divorce.

Jiang Chen didn’t fully understand this then. Later, his teacher got divorced, and Jiang Chen saw her crying. When her ex-husband came to see her with their children, they argued bitterly at the door.

Jiang Chen realized his mother was right. The teacher and her husband, seeing each other every day, lost their sense of novelty and started to dislike each other. Jiang Chen believed that seeing each other rarely helped keep his parents’ marriage fresh and lasting.

Jiang Chen applied this belief in his own marriage, keeping a distance from Shen Mingyou. He would give her gifts when he came home, and they appeared happy. However, when Shen Mingyou filed for divorce, Jiang Chen realized there was a problem he couldn’t fully understand.

He felt he had minor issues but didn’t think they were serious enough to cause a divorce. He couldn’t figure out where he was wrong.

That night, Jiang Chen lay in bed, feeling uneasy.

_

The next morning, after breakfast, the live broadcast began.

Shen Mingyou was tying Nian Nian’s hair for a parent-child sports event. They needed to wear sportswear.

Jiang Chen, in his sportswear, matched Shen Mingyou and Nian Nian’s outfits, which looked like coordinated parent-child outfits.

[Parent-child outfits, so pretty!]

[Mr. Jiang looks even more handsome in sportswear today!]

[Does Mr. Jiang have dark circles under his eyes? Did he do something bad last night?]

The camera showed two new footbaths outside the bathroom.

The observant viewers noticed this.

[Are these the new footbaths Mr. Jiang picked out from the wooden furniture last night?]

[Did Mr. Jiang buy footbaths and bring water for Shen Mingyou and Nian Nian to soak their feet? So thoughtful!]

[I knew Mr. Jiang looks cold but is caring behind the scenes. I love him!]

[Shen Mingyou must have been very good in her past life to deserve such a husband.]

Director Wu Li announced the sports event rules: “Today’s sports meeting includes relay running, three-legged race, and ring tossing. First place gets ten points, second place seven points, third place five points, and fourth place three points. The family with the most points wins a generous prize.”

Other families have three members each, but Gu Aifei’s family has four, so only one of the twins can participate in the first relay race.

Zhou Ziyu runs faster than Zhou Ziai, so Gu Aifei wants Ziyu to go first in the relay race. However, she still asked, “The relay race is about to start, and only three people from our family can participate. Who wants to join, Zi Ai or Zi Yu?”

Both Zi Ai and Zi Yu eagerly raised their hands, saying, “I want to participate.”

Gu Aifei explained, “Those who join the relay race cannot participate in the three-legged race.”

Ziyu immediately said, “Mom, I want to join the relay race. I run fast.”

Zi Ai was a bit upset: “I run faster than my brother. I also want to join the relay race.”

Neither child would give in, and Gu Aifei felt a bit embarrassed. Twins often argue over the same things. Despite her efforts to give them both opportunities, sometimes it’s hard to divide things equally, which is a challenge for her.

Gu Aifei considered having them decide by rock-paper-scissors, but Zhou Jingxing spoke up.

“Zi Ai, please join us,” Zhou Jingxing said, patting his daughter’s head. “You need to cheer up and stay safe. Safety comes first.”

Zi Ai nodded: “Yes, Dad.”

Ziyu felt disappointed. He could run faster than his sister, so why did his father choose her instead of him?

[Zhou Jingxing seems to favor his daughter a lot. No matter what Zi Ai says, he agrees with her.]

[Ziyu seems a bit neglected. Zhou Jingxing appears to be strict with his son but very loving towards his daughter. Yesterday, he was very affectionate with Zi Ai and even washed her and Aifei’s hair, but missed out on Ziyu.]

[This is often a challenge with the second child policy. It’s hard to be completely fair.]

Nian Nian hopes to win first place. She is confident in herself and her parents.

She tugged at her mother’s clothes and said, “Mom, Nian Nian will be first.”

Shen Mingyou looked at her confident daughter and felt concerned: “How does Nian Nian know she’ll be first? The other kids are very good, and Yi Yang’s dad is an Olympic champion. We might not win first place.”