Chapter 31: I Am a Respectable Person

Lin Wei waved at them. “Drive safely!”

Xia Ruanruan nodded.

Still worried, Lin Wei reminded them, “It’s dark at night, drive slowly!”

As the car drove off, Lin Wei stood there, reluctant to leave.

It was only when Huo Shuyuan spoke that she finally moved. “It’s chilly at night, come inside.”

When Lin Wei gave birth to Huo Yuanyuan, she suffered a severe hemorrhage. Although she was rescued, her body had been weak ever since.

She couldn’t overwork herself or get too emotional, or she’d fall ill.

Huo Shuyuan didn’t want her catching a cold—if she did, she’d suffer greatly.

Hearing this, Lin Wei pulled her clothes tighter around her and went back inside.

As the car left the residential compound, Xia Ruanruan glanced at the bag of medicine in the backseat and couldn’t help but say, “When are we going to tell Mom that you don’t drink this medicine?”

Before Huo Beiqing could answer, she added with a heartbroken expression, “We keep throwing the medicine away—not only does it go against Mom’s good intentions, but it’s also a waste of money!”

“Wasting money isn’t as bad as wasting food, but it’s still not good!”

Huo Beiqing nodded solemnly. “I think you’re absolutely right.”

“Wasting anything is shameful.”

He paused, and just when Xia Ruanruan thought he was done speaking, he suddenly raised an eyebrow and said, “How about you brew it for me tonight?”

“It’s bitter, but I’m a man—I can handle it.”

Xia Ruanruan: “…”

“You said this was medicine for having kids, right?”

As soon as she said that, Huo Beiqing turned to look at her, the corners of his mouth curving up. It was a smile like a fisherman watching a fish take the bait.

Sure enough, his smile faded, and he spoke in a deliberately hesitant tone, “Actually, Mom’s not wrong to be worried. You’re still young, but I’m not—I’m already twenty-eight, almost twenty-nine, practically thirty. In two more years, I’ll be pushing forty.”

He glanced at Xia Ruanruan. “Do you know what forty means?”

“If you get married early, you could already have grandkids by then.”

“But I don’t even have a child yet.”

“So tell me, how could my mom not be anxious?”

Sighing, he added, “Honestly, it’s not just Mom who’s worried…”

Xia Ruanruan was so startled she grabbed the car’s handle, pressing herself against the door. In a trembling voice, she asked, “How… how did you suddenly turn forty?”

“No matter if it’s ‘almost twenty-eight’ or ‘practically twenty-eight,’ you’re still twenty-eight!”

“That’s the prime of life! The way you’re talking, it sounds like you’re halfway to the grave!”

At the end of her sentence, Xia Ruanruan sounded a bit disgusted. How could this man be so good at talking nonsense?

Huo Beiqing finally put on a serious face. “Based on the average life expectancy in our country, I really am at an age where I’m halfway to the grave.”

Xia Ruanruan: “…”

Could he be any more shameless?

“An-anyway, I’m not having kids!”

“I’m telling you, I’m still young. I can’t have kids.”

“I… I’m afraid of pain.”

Saying this, Xia Ruanruan suddenly thought of something and added, “If you’re in a hurry to have kids, I suggest we get a divorce.”

As soon as the word “divorce” left her mouth, her eyes darted around. “I think we should just get a divorce!”

“Thinking about it carefully, what you said is true. You’re indeed not that young anymore.”

Huo Beiqing: Hmph, now she dislikes my age? Wasn’t it her who cried and screamed to marry me in the first place?

Xia Ruanruan continued rambling, “Look, I still want to go to school. I can only take the college entrance exam next year, right?”

“If I pass, university takes four years, right?”

“After graduating, I have to work hard for at least two years, right?”

Skrrt!

The car came to a sudden stop. Xia Ruanruan looked out the window and realized they were home.

Huo Beiqing unfastened his seatbelt while smiling at her. “You’re absolutely right. That’s why I said that by the time other men are becoming grandfathers at forty, I’ll just be becoming a father.”

As he spoke, he finished unbuckling his seatbelt and suddenly leaned in close to Xia Ruanruan, who was in the middle of unfastening hers. “Guess what I meant by that?”

“I’ve already factored in everything you just said. I’m twenty-eight now, which means I have twelve years until I turn forty.”

“Xia Ruanruan, twelve years. Even if you fail the exam the first time and take three years to pass, then go to college, then leave your brain at home and fail your classes, delaying your graduation—it’s still more than enough time.”

Xia Ruanruan: “…”

Huo Beiqing leaned back. “Get out of the car.”

Xia Ruanruan: “…”

Outside, his voice rang out again. “Divorce is not an option. I’m a proper man.”

Xia Ruanruan: “…”

She remained silent all the way back to her room.

She thought this was a perfect opportunity to get a divorce, but in the end…

Back in her room, she buried her head under the blanket and let out two frustrated screams. Only then did she feel a little better.

Wuwu (crying sounds), her dream of freedom had failed again.

Huo Beiqing stood in the living room, organizing some medicine. Hearing the commotion from her room, the corners of his lips curled into a smile.

But then he shook his head.

If she wanted a divorce now, it was clear that when she had cried and insisted on marrying him, it was nothing more than a momentary impulse.

Young people, after all, tend to get carried away.

But getting carried away when it comes to marriage is not a good thing.

Marriage isn’t child’s play—whether she had been impulsive or truly wanted to spend her life with him, they had already been married for a while. So why suddenly bring up divorce now?

He would rather wait another twelve years.

As the weather grew colder, Huo Beiqing was indeed as busy as he had said.

Most nights, he only came home in the middle of the night.

Whenever Xia Ruanruan had no classes, she started searching for cassette tapes.

Eventually, in a warehouse, she found what she wanted.

After confirming with the owner that they were genuine, she only bought a few dozen.

She didn’t dare buy too many—partly because of limited funds and partly because she was afraid they wouldn’t sell.

After bringing them home, she stored them in her room and then asked Huo Beiqing, “Dr. Huo, will you be coming home early tonight?”

Thinking she was asking whether to prepare dinner, Huo Beiqing shook his head. “I’ve been busy lately. You should sleep early and take care of yourself.”

Xia Ruanruan immediately nodded. “Mm-hmm! I’ll definitely eat well and sleep well at home.”

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and for some reason, Huo Beiqing felt like something was off.

But he was indeed busy, so he didn’t overthink it.

Knowing he wouldn’t be back early, Xia Ruanruan began her street vendor life.

At this time, nightlife wasn’t as lively yet