Chapter 36 : Aren’t you afraid that I will run away with the money?

Song Shiwei thought about it and realized he had a point. Children of this generation matured early, and many started helping with housework as young as seven or eight.  

In reality, Zhou Tingyue took good care of them.  

Children are like young seedlings, if they are kept in a greenhouse all the time, then one day, when they finally face the wind and rain outside, they might not be able to withstand the hardships and could easily go astray. It was better to let them take on some responsibilities now, to train them properly, and to help them understand the struggles of adults.  

Only children raised this way would know how to be filial and truly appreciate their parents’ hardships.  

Thinking of this, Song Shiwei no longer worried about the housework. Right now, she just wanted to enjoy this moment alone with Zhou Tingyue.  

Zhou Tingyue led her out of the family compound and toward the beach.  

At night, the sea breeze carried a hint of coolness, sweeping away the lingering heat of the day.  

His large hand held her smaller one tightly as they strolled along the shore, the sound of waves crashing against the sand filling the quiet night.  

Suddenly, Zhou Tingyue spoke, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.  

“Do you regret marrying me?”  

Song Shiwei saw a flicker of panic in his eyes.  

Maybe he was afraid of hearing an answer he couldn’t bear.  

For years, he had raised his children alone. He had thought about finding a partner before, but the women introduced to him had all minded the fact that he had four children. It would be a lie to say that he didn’t feel insecure about it.  

And now, with Zhou Cheng and Zhou Lin’s open hostility toward her, he felt even more uncertain.  

He hadn’t expected his children to oppose his remarriage so strongly.  

If she truly regretted it, then… since they hadn’t yet… he was willing to let her go.  

Just as these thoughts filled his mind, Song Shiwei suddenly tightened her grip on his hand.  

She stopped walking and looked straight into his eyes with unwavering seriousness.  

“I don’t regret it. I have never regretted it! Zhou Tingyue, in this life, I have already chosen you. It can only be you! There will be no one else!”  

She wasn’t just saying this on a whim. She admitted that, at the beginning, she had agreed to marry him out of necessity to avoid the original plot.  

But after spending time together, she realized this man was truly good to her.  

From the moment they were at the Song family’s house, he had protected her unconditionally.  

On the train, he had taken great care of her.  

And after arriving here, he couldn’t bear to see her suffer any harm or injustice.  

When Sun Weidong almost hit her, if Zhou Tingyue hadn’t arrived in time, she might have really been punched.  

For her sake and for the children he had insisted on dragging Sun Weidong to the division headquarters to demand an explanation.  

She could see now that this man was a good man, just one that no one had truly recognized yet.  

Many people looked down on him because he was a widower with four children. But to her, he was the greatest treasure in the world.  

Even though the four children were described as future villains in the original story, right now, she could see they were kind at heart. There was still hope to change their fates.  

Zhou Tingyue’s eyes lit up in an instant, as if filled with countless stars. There was joy in them, along with relief.  

He grasped her hand even tighter, his Adam’s apple moving up and down as he swallowed.  

Then, in a low voice, he said, “Thank you. Thank you for choosing me.”  

Song Shiwei met his gaze and smiled.  

Perhaps it was the intoxicating ocean breeze, or maybe it was just the perfect moment but she slowly stood on tiptoe, looked at his slightly moving Adam’s apple, and gently kissed him.  

Zhou Tingyue froze in shock.  

The hand holding hers instinctively shifted to her waist, pulling her into his embrace.  

Her waist was so slender, as if it would snap if he held her too tightly. So he moved carefully, afraid of hurting her.  

But the emotions in his heart were raging wildly, and he could only clutch the collar of her clothes at her lower back, tightening his grip more and more.  

When Song Shiwei felt his entire body go rigid, she couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Then, playfully, she suddenly stuck out her tongue and slid it across his prominent Adam’s apple.  

In an instant, Zhou Tingyue’s entire body tensed.  

The large hand gripping her lower back suddenly tightened.  

A deep, hoarse voice sounded in her ear: “Little girl, do you know you’re playing with fire?”  

“Um?”  

Song Shiwei’s face instantly turned red. She was the type to get timid after being bold.  

She lowered her head and tried to wriggle out of his embrace.  

But how could Zhou Tingyue let her get away so easily?  

The delicate girl in front of him had a rosy little face, so beautiful that even he had to admit his old heart had been completely captured by her.  

“What? You want to run after taking advantage of me? That won’t do!”  

His voice was already husky, revealing the emotions he had been holding back.  

Song Shiwei’s face turned even redder. Since she couldn’t break free, and she was too embarrassed to keep struggling, she simply buried her face in his chest.  

Her face was burning.  

There was only a thin layer of fabric between them, yet she could feel that the skin underneath his shirt was even hotter than hers.  

Zhou Tingyue gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.  

At that moment, Song Shiwei noticed her own reflection in his gaze like a tiny girl, blushing and shy, mirrored in a sky full of stars.  

Zhou Tingyue must have noticed her staring, because he smiled, a ripple appearing in his dark pupils.  

“What do you see?”  

Song Shiwei murmured, “I…”  

Zhou Tingyue slowly leaned closer. “Yes, it’s you. Only you.”  

You are always in my eyes.  

Before she could react, he suddenly lowered his head and captured her soft, alluring lips the lips he had been thinking about all this time.  

He kissed her deeply, as if he wanted to merge her into his very being.  

No one knew how much time passed before he finally let her go, only when Song Shiwei felt like she was about to run out of breath.  

The moment she inhaled fresh air, she gasped, trying to calm her rapid heartbeat.  

She pressed a hand to her chest.  

So… this is what love feels like?  

When she looked up at Zhou Tingyue again, she saw that under the moonlight, he looked as if he had stepped out of a dream his features chiseled and perfect, with sharp brows, a straight nose, slightly pursed lips, and a defined jawline.  

No matter how she looked at him, he was incredibly handsome! Even more so than her favorite male celebrity!  

If they were in modern times, scouts would probably be lining up to sign him.  

Seeing her dazed expression, Zhou Tingyue chuckled.  

Then, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a stack of something, and handed it to her.  

“From now on, all of this in our house will be kept by you.”  

Song Shiwei snapped out of her thoughts and took a closer look.  

The stack in his hand was a pile of money and ration coupons from this era.  

She suddenly burst into laughter.  

“You’re giving all this to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll run away with it?”  

Zhou Tingyue also laughed. “I’m not afraid. I trust you.”  

Hearing his words, a warm feeling spread through Song Shiwei’s heart.  

She reached out and took the money.  

This was probably everything Zhou Tingyue had.  

It looked like about four or five hundred yuan, plus various ration tickets.