Chapter 17

“Dad, you’re mean!” Er Bao shouted.  

“Da Bao!” Li Chen called out to Da Bao, who had been standing quietly by the side the whole time.  

“Er Bao.” Da Bao said seriously, looking quite a bit like their Dad. “Dad and Mom are doing this for your own good. Stop asking and come with me to get the clothes for bathing.”  

Er Bao, puffing his cheeks in anger, stomped out.  

“Don’t forget to bring Xiao Bao’s clothes too.” Li Chen reminded him.  

“I know, Dad.” Da Bao replied, pulling Xiao Bao along as they went out.  

Now, only Shen Yiyi and Li Chen remained in the kitchen.  

Shen Yiyi scooped up some water, and Li Chen crouched down to lift the large basin. Shen Yiyi stepped forward and grabbed the other side to help him carry it.  

When they reached the water vat outside, Li Chen ladled in a few scoops of cold water into the large basin. He tested the temperature, and when it felt just right, he called out for the Three Baos to come for their bath.  

The Three Baos each grabbed their clothes and came out. Then, they began taking off their clothes one by one.  

Xiao Bao was not very good at undressing himself, so his two older brothers helped him. Soon, the three little radish heads obediently climbed into the big tub. The basin was large enough to fit all three of them perfectly.  

Li Chen casually picked up a bucket from the side and poured water over them while saying: “Make sure you wash properly. Da Bao, Er Bao, remember to help your little brother scrub off the dirt.”  

Da Bao responded obediently.  

Then, Li Chen carried the bucket and went back into the kitchen.  

Shen Yiyi, who had no chance to do anything at all the entire time: “…”  

Da Bao and Er Bao, feeling a little embarrassed under her gaze, turned their backs to her and said: “Mom, don’t look at us.”  

Shen Yiyi: “…”  

These little kids, acting like adults..

Just as she was thinking about going back to her room, Li Chen came out, carrying half a bucket of hot water. He poured in some cold water and said to her: “Go take a bath.”  

“Huh?” Shen Yiyi was momentarily caught off guard.  

Li Chen was already carrying the bucket of hot water toward the bathing room. Suddenly realizing what was happening, Shen Yiyi’s eyes lit up, and she quickly ran after him. “Brother Chen, is this hot water for me?”  

“Mm.” Li Chen glanced at her briefly, afraid of seeing any trace of disgust on her face.  

Shen Yiyi didn’t notice his hesitation. When she heard that the water was indeed for her, a bright smile spread across her delicate face, and she praised him without hesitation: “Brother Chen, you’re so kind!”  

Then, she quickly dashed back to her room while calling out: “I’ll go get my clothes!”  

Li Chen watched her cheerful figure disappear into the room, and a faint smile appeared on his rugged, masculine face.  

He placed the water in the bathing room and stepped outside just as Shen Yiyi returned with her clothes. Without thinking, he said: “The hot water is inside. If it’s not enough, let me know, and I’ll bring more.”  

“Okay!” Shen Yiyi’s eyes sparkled brightly.  

——

Shen Yiyi was a slow bather. By the time she came out, half an hour had already passed.  

Under the moonlight in the courtyard, Li Chen was washing the Three Baos’ clothes. He even took the set she had worn that afternoon and washed it as well.  

Though his washing was rough—just a few scrubs before tossing the clothes into another basin of clean water—his movements were skilled, an odd contrast to his tough and rugged demeanor.  

Who would have thought that this was once a man who gave his parents headaches, struck fear into the villagers, and dominated everything like a tyrant?  

And all of this change was because he had met her…  

Yes, her!  

In the original story, after Li Chen met her character, he did develop feelings for her.

But after marriage, his love seemed to fade. Later, when she abandoned him and their children to return to the city, he had come to resent her deeply.  

Yet in her previous life, after she entered this character, he had treated her exceptionally well. In the end, he had even perished alongside Lin Jiadong because of her…

So, he had already broken free from the story’s script and fallen in love with her as a person—not because of the author’s setting, but because of who she truly was!  

Thinking of this, Shen Yiyi’s eyes began to turn red again.  

While washing clothes, Li Chen noticed someone standing nearby from the corner of his eye. When he turned and saw that it was her, he frowned in confusion. “What’s wrong?”  

“Nothing.” Shen Yiyi quickly wiped her tears away.  

The night was dark earlier, so Li Chen hadn’t noticed the mist in her eyes. But now, seeing her wipe her tears, he immediately understood. He stood up abruptly and strode over to her, his tone a little urgent, almost harsh. “What exactly is wrong? Speak!”  

“Uuuh—”  

Shen Yiyi threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.  

“Brother Chen.” she sobbed, choking on her words: “In this life, I will never let you down!”  

Li Chen’s body stiffened, and in that instant, his heart trembled. His hands lifted slightly—but then, they slowly lowered again.  

Shen Yiyi noticed his hesitation. She looked up at him, her eyes still brimming with tears. “You don’t believe me?”  

“I do!” Li Chen replied. As if trying to convince himself, he even forced a small smile.  

Shen Yiyi: “…” That expression clearly showed he didn’t believe her!  

She suddenly felt like crying again.  

“I know you don’t believe me.” she said, wiping away her tears. Then, she glared at him with exaggerated fierceness. “Time will prove my determination!”  

“I hope so too.” Li Chen replied, looking at her with an unreadable expression in his eyes—one that carried emotions too complex to put into words.  

Shen Yiyi let out a frustrated sigh.  

As soon as she stepped back into her room, she heard soft rustling sounds at the door. Turning her head, she saw three little radish-heads clutching their small pillows, standing at the doorway, looking at her with hopeful eyes.  

“Mom~” they called out in unison.

Shen Yiyi immediately understood. “You want to sleep with Mom?”  

Mm-hmm!  

The three little radish-heads nodded eagerly, their eyes shining with anticipation. Can we?  

“Of course you can!”  

Shen Yiyi sat on the bed and stretched her arms toward them.  

“Yay!” The three little ones cheered and leaped toward her.  

“Ah—” Shen Yiyi tried to scoop all three of them into her arms but almost strained her back. She quickly let go and patted the bed instead. “Get up here.”  

With little grunts and huffs, the three of them scrambled onto the bed, tumbling together with Shen Yiyi in a heap of laughter and playful shouts.  

Outside, Li Chen had just finished hanging up the laundry when he heard the cheerful voices coming from inside. His stern expression softened slightly.  

Thinking about what she had said to him earlier, he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.

If only she truly meant those words…  

Shaking off the thought, he grabbed the remaining hot water and took a bath. Afterward, he returned to his… own small room next to Shen Yiyi’s.  

When they had separated from the family, Li Chen had used most of his savings to build two 30-square-meter rooms. Originally, his plan was for one to be a bedroom and the other to serve as both a living area and kitchen.  

But Shen Yiyi had refused to share a room with him. So, Li Chen had divided the original large bedroom into two uneven sections—a bigger one for Shen Yiyi and a smaller one for himself and the Three Baos.  

The walls were thin and barely soundproof. As Li Chen lay on his bed, he could hear the laughter coming from next door. That soft, feminine voice, even amidst the scattered noises, reached his ears with crystal clarity.  

A strange heat stirred in his chest.  

Suddenly, he sat up straight, lit an oil lamp, and walked over to the next room.

The door was shut, but through the window, he could see that their light was still on. He knocked firmly and said in a deep voice: “It’s time to come back and sleep.”  

His words were meant for Three Baos.  

“Dad.” Er Bao’s voice came from inside: “Tonight, we’re sleeping with Mom. You don’t have to wait for us.”  

“Sleeping with Mom!” Xiao Bao echoed happily.  

Li Chen: “…”  

No one even came to open the door for him.