Chapter 31: You Smell Nice

On the eighth day of the new year, Xu An’s pre-ordered items from the stall owner were delivered. Early in the morning, Su Xiaoyang and Wen Yaowu came to help out. After Zhou Yu opened the door for them, he left home without wasting any time.

Knowing he was busy, Xu An didn’t pay him any mind. She had Xiaoyang and Yaowu take the ordered items back into the house and clean everything up.

After preparing fresh marinated broth and stewing the meat, it wasn’t until dusk that Xu An let Su Xiaoyang and Wen Yaowu leave, packing them each a meal to take home, avoiding the trouble of preparing a second dish. After sending the two away, Xu An returned to the house, her clothes reeking of marinade, which wasn’t pleasant at all. She sighed softly, rubbed her somewhat sore wrists, and went to the bedroom to grab a clean set of pajamas before taking a shower.

When she returned, feeling exhausted and free of the smell of marinade, Zhou Yu hadn’t come back yet. He was likely still entertaining guests. As usual, Xu An gently propped the door with a stick, not sealing it completely so it could be pushed open from the outside. Relieved, she stifled a yawn and went back to sleep.

When Zhou Yu returned late at night, Xu An was in a deep sleep. In her hazy awareness, she sensed someone nearby making an effort to be quiet. She recognized it was Zhou Yu, but she didn’t wake up. She caught a faint whiff of his familiar tobacco scent, wrinkled her nose in protest, and then relaxed, drifting back to sleep.

On the ninth day, Xu An woke up early but didn’t see Zhou Yu. She could tell he returned very late the previous night. She and Su Xiaoyang, along with Wen Yaowu, loaded the items onto a cart and arrived at the familiar stall location before dawn.

With her eyes crinkling in a smile, Xu An greeted the old customers who had arrived early at the stall. Spotting Fang Shu standing at the front, she chuckled lightly.

“Why are you here so early?”

Fang Shu pointed at the sign Xu An had taken down with her chin, her smile bright, “I know you’re starting business today, so I had to come support you.”

She had been craving the taste for a long time and wanted to be the first to try it.

Xu An shook her head while chatting with her, deftly setting up the stall.

Although she had taken a break for the New Year, they quickly resumed business, with Su Xiaoyang and Wen Yaowu skillfully attending to customers.

After Fang Shu finished buying her items, she stood beside Xu An, looking at her. When Xu An turned to meet her gaze, she smiled.

“What’s up?”

Fang Shu hesitated, biting her lip, and finally spoke up, “An An, about that thing you gave me last time…”

“I didn’t have much hope for it.”

Recalling how her body felt after taking the pill, Fang Shu said softly, “I don’t know if it was just my desire that created an illusion.”

She looked at Xu An with a smile, saying, “But I really feel like I’ve improved a lot after taking the medicine. My husband even said I look better.”

Hope bubbled up in her heart; maybe she had truly encountered a benefactor in Xu An.

Hearing this, Xu An raised her eyes to carefully examine Fang Shu’s complexion and smiled back at her. “As long as it works, just keep up this good mood. Everything might get better.”

Fang Shu nodded, “I know.”

She felt a surge of hope inside. Even if it didn’t have much effect, at least she knew that what Xu An gave her genuinely benefited her health, and that was enough to make her satisfied.

After chatting with Xu An for a while, she took her things and left.

On the first day of resuming business, the enthusiasm of the old customers flooded the small stall. They sold out before noon.

Not wanting to overexert herself at the start of the reopening, Xu An decided against continuing the stall in the afternoon. She returned with the two, pushing the cart.

While thinking about opening a small shop, after getting home, Xu An prepared the marinated dishes for the next day and called Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang to head back. She sat by the stove, waiting for Zhou Yu to return.

By the time Zhou Yu came back, the sky was already dark. He pushed open the door to the yard, noticing that the lights in the main house had already gone out. Seeing the dim light in the east room, he frowned, realizing Xu An was still awake at this late hour. He subconsciously sniffed himself, checking for any lingering odors. He figured it must not be too noticeable, so he walked over to the east room and pushed the door open.

As soon as he entered, he noticed the woman sprawled over the stove, her head resting on her arm. Zhou Yu stepped lightly, approaching slowly. His gaze fell on her long, curled lashes, her eyes closed peacefully, appearing harmless and completely unguarded.

Zhou Yu swallowed hard, slowly extending his hand. Just as he got close, Xu An suddenly opened her eyes, the shadow of Zhou Yu falling over her. She blinked and looked up at him, her voice still laced with sleepiness.

“You’re back.”

He withdrew his hand, pausing for a moment before responding in a husky voice.

Xu An raised her head, her arm having gone numb from resting on it. She lightly clenched her fist, yawned, and gazed at Zhou Yu with slightly watery eyes, speaking softly in a daze.

“I wanted to discuss something with you.”

Zhou Yu casually picked up a chair to sit next to Xu An, but then he thought better of it and moved the chair to sit directly across from her instead.

Xu An didn’t notice his hesitation. Seeing him sit down, she shared her thoughts with him. “I mentioned before that I want to open a small shop.”

She locked eyes with Zhou Yu and said, “When are you done with your work? Let’s go look at some shop spaces together.”

“Once we get the shop open, it’ll be official, and I can hire people to help you quickly.”

Zhou Yu became serious and replied in a low voice, “It’ll be about two weeks. Once this batch of goods is sold, we can go look at the shop.”

Two weeks was something Xu An could wait for. She nodded, “Alright, then two weeks it is.”

“The shop doesn’t need to be too big, just enough for a few tables and chairs. It shouldn’t be too troublesome.”

Zhou Yu replied, “Hmm.”

He then stared at the woman’s drooping eyelids, speaking softly, “Next time, don’t wait for me. Just leave me a note if you need something; I’ll check it.”

Xu An hadn’t thought of that. Hearing Zhou Yu say this, she nodded casually.

“It’s fine; I always wake up when you come back.”

Saying this reminded her of how she could still catch a whiff of his faint tobacco scent even in her half-sleep when he returned.

At that moment, noticing Zhou Yu intentionally sitting across from her, Xu An was slightly taken aback.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Zhou Yu, you can drink and smoke when you’re socializing, but don’t smoke or drink at home.”

It seemed Zhou Yu couldn’t avoid these things during social gatherings, but it wasn’t good for everyday life.

Zhou Yu looked at the woman’s slightly furrowed brow and replied in a low voice, “I accidentally picked up the smell.”

He hadn’t smoked in a long time, but in certain situations, he couldn’t avoid the scent even if he didn’t smoke.

The night was deep, and everything around was quiet. The words the man spoke seemed to carry an uncharacteristic tenderness.

“I’ll try to avoid it.”

Xu An nodded obediently, getting up from the stove, yawning as she headed into the inner room.

Zhou Yu lingered behind, adding coal to the fire, then went to the bedroom to fetch his pajamas. He took a shower to wash off the smell of smoke and alcohol before returning to the east room, turning off the light and heading into the bedroom.

Xu An was already sleeping on the inside, her head buried under the covers, her porcelain white face slightly flushed, appearing to be in a deep sleep.

Zhou Yu switched off the bedroom light and walked a few steps to the bed before climbing in.

Sensing the slight movement next to her, Zhou Yu’s voice in the dark was low and husky, “Does it smell bad?”

Xu An buried her head under the covers, mumbling, “Just a little.”

After speaking, she thought about how it wasn’t intentional, adding, “I’m kind of used to it.”

Zhou Yu responded with a heavy “mm,” closing his eyes without saying anything further.

In the next two weeks, Zhou Yu continued to leave early and return late every day. Regardless of how late it was, he would always shower first before going to bed, greatly reducing the smell of smoke and alcohol on him. Xu An gradually became accustomed to the faint tobacco scent that lingered on the man.

During these two weeks, Xu An continued as usual, setting up her stall with Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang.

Until all the goods in Zhou Yu’s hands were sold.

Xu An rarely saw Zhou Yu come back early. She smiled brightly, her tone tinged with surprise.

“Are you done this time?”

As she spoke, she stood up to pour him a cup of

 tea and handed it to Zhou Yu. He sat down in the chair, took a sip of tea, and nodded slightly.

Looking up at the evident joy on Xu An’s face, Zhou Yu’s cold and hard features softened unconsciously as he said in a deep voice, “I’ll accompany you to look at the shop tomorrow.”

Xu An’s smile widened even more as she nodded, “Mm.”

“It shouldn’t take too much paperwork. We have our previous business license and health permits; we just need to confirm the shop and set it up before we can operate normally.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Zhou Yu, feeling very pleased. “Once we’re operating normally, I’ll definitely hire a couple of people to help out, and then we can get Yaowu to work with you.”

Zhou Yu nodded lightly, “No rush.”

Xu An raised an eyebrow and glanced outside, recalling something. She looked at Zhou Yu and asked, “Have you eaten dinner yet?”

Zhou Yu, noticing the obvious smile on her face, swallowed his disappointment and replied in a low voice, “No.”

Xu An clapped her hands, “I’ll make you a bowl of marinated meat noodles.”

She took the pot over to the stove, swiftly boiling water to cook Zhou Yu a bowl of noodles.

Zhou Yu’s gaze lingered on the woman’s pale face and the strands of hair that fell over her gentle features. He was momentarily entranced.

When Xu An served him a bowl of fragrant noodles, he snapped back to reality, accepting the chopsticks she handed him and eating heartily, clearly enjoying the meal.

Xu An rested her chin on her hand, watching Zhou Yu with a good mood. Once her shop opened, it would mark the completion of this mission. She didn’t like feeling indebted to others, even if it was just to the system.

They had agreed to go look at the shop the next day. Early in the morning, Zhou Yu took Xu An out the door.

Xu An followed Zhou Yu to contact the shop rental transfer. After a whole day of visiting several shops, they found locations not far from where they originally set up their stall.

They also roughly understood the rental prices; most small shops of around thirty square meters had a monthly rent ranging from seventy-five to one hundred.

After a day of searching, Xu An trailed behind Zhou Yu, and they still hadn’t made a decision. When the couple returned home, Xu An collapsed onto the stove, while Zhou Yu calmly poured her a cup of hot water.

Xu An lazily moistened her lips, looked at Zhou Yu with a vacant expression, and let out a heavy sigh.

Seeing the seemingly indifferent expression on Zhou Yu’s face made him want to smile for no reason. He restrained the smile that was tugging at the corners of his lips and said in a soft voice, “Tomorrow, we’ll look outside the street we visited today; the location might not be great.”

“However… based on past business, it shouldn’t affect us.”

Xu An nodded, tilting her head to look at Zhou Yu. She yawned and said softly, “With a monthly rent of around a hundred, we can even stay inside when it’s busy.”

Xu An expressed her thoughts, “I still prefer to buy a shop instead of renting.”

She frowned and looked at Zhou Yu, voicing her concerns.

“The uncertainty of renting is too great. Our business was doing well when we had our stall, and it shouldn’t be too bad once we rent a shop. I’m worried that renting may lead to conflicts in the future.”

If their business improves, it’s inevitable that the rent would increase. If negotiations fail, they might have to move, which would add to the complications.

Xu An looked at Zhou Yu and asked, “Is it allowed to buy a shop now? Do we have enough money?”

Zhou Yu nodded slightly, “We have enough.”

He looked at Xu An and said slowly, “Buying a shop would mean stability for us; it’s not something to regret.”

We can’t just be wishy-washy. The person in front of him clearly didn’t seem to be hardworking and ambitious, looking so lazy.

Xu An let out a soft breath, “I won’t regret it.”

She smiled at Zhou Yu and said softly, “If I decide to stop doing this in the future, I’ll just teach a few apprentices to take over. Selling the recipe is also an option; it won’t go to waste.”

Staring at the woman’s pure white face, Zhou Yu eventually nodded lightly.

The couple spent three days, and Xu An finally settled on a shop. After discussing, they spent a little over three thousand to buy it, not far from their original stall location.

Xu An placed a new sign at their previous stall location, explaining that they would be closed for a while to renovate.

During the renovation, Zhou Yu didn’t go out to do his own business but helped Xu An personally renovate the small shop together.

Knowing that she planned to open a shop, Fang Shu also came to help her out, providing advice as a valued customer.

It took nearly a month for Xu An to finish the renovations. Once completed, she immediately called Zhou Yu and Wen Yaowu to clean the shop inside and out. After a few days of cleaning, Xu An looked at her freshly opened shop with some pride and turned to Zhou Yu, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s all ready; now we just need to choose a good day to officially open!”

She looked up at Zhou Yu, “It’s been over a month since we closed the stall; we should pick the soonest date.”

“And you must have things to handle on your end too.”

Zhou Yu stared at the minimalist little shop. Xu An’s aesthetics didn’t lead her to create any extravagant decorations; it was simply a small shop with the cleanest, simplest design. The interior was spacious, considering that there would be many customers lining up during regular business hours. To avoid congestion, the counter was set up right at the door to facilitate queueing.

Zhou Yu said in a calm voice, “Is five days enough to prepare for the opening?”

Xu An looked puzzled, “Do you only have five days?”

Zhou Yu nodded slightly. He had offended some partners while discussing collaborations, and if this batch of goods wasn’t just for him, it was likely they wouldn’t consider him.

Xu An nodded and immediately decided, “Then we’ll open in five days. I’ll buy some flowers and banners to decorate, and before that, we can put up a sign at our stall explaining the new location and opening time.”

During the renovation period, she had received inquiries from many old customers about when they would reopen, and they could no longer delay.

After deciding on the opening day in five days, Xu An bought ribbons and banners, hanging them at the shop door. She also arranged for the vendors they had previously collaborated with to deliver supplies directly to the new location instead of the old alley.

On the day before the opening, Xu An, along with Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang, prepared all the marinated meat they needed for the grand opening. She informed them about the special offers for the new opening.

Old customers had been waiting for so long, and they deserved some appreciation.

Having set the plan, Xu An closed the shop early to go home, taking out the new clothes she had bought and handing Zhou Yu his suit.

Zhou Yu stared at the suit handed to him, lowering his gaze to Xu An.

Xu An looked at him with a cheerful smile, tilting her head to explain.

“We’re cutting the ribbon for the opening tomorrow; the boss should dress formally.”

Xu An handed the suit to Zhou Yu and raised her own dress to show her seriousness.

Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow at the dress in Xu An’s hands, then took the suit and put it away.

After the spring had arrived, the weather gradually became warmer, only feeling a chill when the cool wind swept through.

Early in the morning, after Xu An finished washing up, she put on the new dress she had bought, along with a small blazer to appear more formal. She wore small leather shoes and sat at the vanity to do her makeup lightly.

Zhou Yu had already changed into his suit and was lazily waiting for Xu An to finish sitting in a chair.

Half an hour later, Xu An finally emerged from the bedroom, smiling sweetly at Zhou Yu as she stepped out, feeling great.

“Let’s go.”

Zhou Yu looked up, staring at the woman whose beauty seemed enhanced, lightly pinching his fingers and clearing his throat. He stood up neatly, facing the morning spring light outside, and the couple walked out of the yard together.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw Zhou Hongguang and Zhou Dandan walking out of the main house.

When the Zhou family saw the couple looking refreshed and beaming, they couldn’t shake the feeling that the two of them had a somewhat smug air about them.

Especially when Xu An and Zhou Yu clearly noticed them but chose to ignore them entirely, walking away with their backs turned.

Zhou Dandan couldn’t help but pout.

“It’s just a shop opening. Big brother, look at how proud second brother and sister-in-law are; they don’t even acknowledge us.”

“This is a good opportunity; if it were a few years earlier, they wouldn’t have had this chance at all.”

Zhou Hongguang watched the second couple leave the yard, his gaze falling on the formally dressed second brother. Despite the limping figure that should have been noticeable, he momentarily overlooked it, perceiving him as a successful individual.

Zhou Hongguang’s eyes dimmed slightly as he heard the somewhat irritating voice of his younger sister. He frowned slightly.

Not saying anything, he continued walking, while Zhou Dandan followed beside him, unable to resist grumbling.

“I heard second brother and sister-in-law are opening a new shop today. They’re all dressed up but didn’t even think to inform us. They’ve really separated their hearts in this split.”

Zhou Shuwen, half a step behind her, spoke gently, “It’s normal that second brother didn’t inform us siblings.”

At this point, he glanced at Zhou Hongguang ahead, then lowered his eyes, sighing. “But no matter what, they shouldn’t forget to inform our parents.”

“That’s where second brother is at fault.”

Pan Hehua had been holding her breath, originally thinking that the second brother and sister-in-law were just playing around. Although she felt a bit envious, she hadn’t really thought much of it. Who would have thought that they would be capable enough to open a shop now?

“The second sister-in-law is dressed so ostentatiously; anyone who doesn’t know would think she’s out there attracting men. She’s dressed more flamboyantly for opening a shop than for her wedding.”

The Zhou family exchanged words, while Zhou Hongguang strode forward. He couldn’t afford to stand still any longer.

Xu An was unaware of the Zhou family gossiping behind her as she walked to the shop with Zhou Yu. The day had brightened, and Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang were already waiting at the shop entrance. Xu An opened the shop door and immediately called for Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang to bring the marinated meat to the stove.

Before long, the shop entrance was bustling with customers waiting for their grand opening, creating a lively atmosphere.

Many old customers even brought flowers, all placed at the shop entrance. Fang Shu had also hurried over with flowers to present to Xu An.

Preparing for the grand opening, neither Xu An nor Zhou Yu were chatty. Xu An sent Zhou Yu outside to set off firecrackers. Along with the deafening sound of firecrackers, cheers and applause erupted at the shop entrance as Xu An and Zhou Yu together pulled aside the banner hiding the sign.

The “Sui Yu An” marinated meat shop officially opened, and Xu An wore a joyful smile, standing alongside Zhou Yu while Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang showered them with ribbons.

Compared to their previous wedding, which lacked blessings, the current atmosphere felt more like a celebration of their union.

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers, Xu An and Zhou Yu completed the final ribbon-cutting. Xu An cheerfully held a loudspeaker to inform customers that they were officially open and would offer discounts.

Zhou Yu gazed at the woman beside him, his focus on her smiling eyes, and his expression softened unconsciously.

Xu An then took hold of his wrist and pulled him into the shop.

The marinated meat shop was officially opened, and customers waiting at the door surged inside, making Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang busy.

On the first day of business, they were completely overwhelmed by everyone’s enthusiasm. Thankfully, with the shop now opened, Xu An didn’t need to worry about insufficient supplies; they had prepared enough the previous day.

After a day of business, Xu An was so busy that she could barely stand straight, yet her face wore a smile as she welcomed customers until the evening, when it started getting dark. They finally began to clean up the tables and chairs in preparation to close.

Su Xiaoyang squatted by the basin, washing dishes with a splash, while Wen Yaowu tidied up and swept the floor before sitting beside him to help.

Xu An took a small stool and sat beside Zhou Yu.

Watching the fine sweat on their foreheads, Xu An raised her voice.

“I’ve decided to hire a few more people for our shop. Do you have any objections?”

Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang exchanged glances and shook their heads in agreement.

Xu An glanced at Zhou Yu beside her, then looked back at Wen Yaowu to speak.

“Once we hire people, you two need to train them well, Yaowu.”

Wen Yaowu looked up at Xu An, nodding with certainty. “Sister-in-law, don’t worry; I’ll definitely train them well.”

Xu An shook her head. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Once we hire people and bring them out, you won’t need to help in the shop anymore.”

Wen Yaowu looked a bit shocked and didn’t have time to plead before Xu An continued.

“Then you’ll work with Zhou Yu.”

“He needs someone he can trust, and right now, you’re the only one.”

Wen Yaowu felt a mix of emotions as he listened to his sister-in-law, staring blankly at Zhou Yu, stammering, “So, you’re not getting rid of me.”

Seeing his silly expression, Xu An couldn’t help but chuckle. “If Zhou Yu had found someone trustworthy, I wouldn’t have asked you to join him.”

“So, do you agree? If you don’t want to, you can keep helping me.”

Wen Yaowu scratched his head, a bit shy, and nodded. “Sister-in-law, I’m willing to work with Brother Yu.”

Xu An wasn’t surprised by his answer and nodded in agreement. “If you’re willing, that’s fine.”

“However, don’t rush. Once I hire someone, you need to make sure they’re well-trained; otherwise, I won’t let you go.”

Wen Yaowu nodded vigorously, promising, “Sister-in-law, you can rest assured. I’m not unreliable.”

Xu An raised an eyebrow and turned to Zhou Yu beside her, agreeing with a nod.

After the four of them tidied up the shop, Xu An locked the door and left with Zhou Yu.

The couple walked side by side, and Zhou Yu said in a deep voice, “I can’t keep an eye on hiring for you; just be careful.”

Xu An nodded, turning her face to look at Zhou Yu, and said cheerfully.

“I know,” she replied, unable to stop herself from frowning. “You’ve delayed me for more than a month. Is that okay?”

Zhou Yu spoke in a calm tone, “The partners are a bit dissatisfied.”

“It’s not a big problem.”

Xu An furrowed her brows. “What goods are coming in this time?”

“If they make things difficult for you over something not too important, can we give up on this cooperation?”

Zhou Yu leaned back with his hands behind his head and chuckled lightly.

“It’s foreign goods, the latest batch of color TVs imported from Hong Kong. Right now, it’s not about whether I give up or not; it’s whether the partners choose me or not.”

If they manage to secure this latest batch of color TVs, they would certainly make a decent profit. At the very least, Zhou Yu wouldn’t give up this opportunity.

Xu An also knew, feeling a hint of embarrassment in her heart. She touched her nose and spoke softly.

“I understand. I’ll keep an eye on hiring people afterward.”

She tilted her head to look at Zhou Yu. “As for you, you should take care of things on your end too. If they give you a hard time… if it’s manageable, just go for it; if not, come back.”

She meant to ease Zhou Yu’s pressure, and he let out a short scoff, responding in a low voice.

The couple walked home side by side. Passersby in the alley glanced at the young couple walking together, their expressions complicated.

Neighbors knew that the couple no longer sold goods on the street but had opened a shop, dressed quite nicely. If one ignored Zhou Yu’s limp, they looked quite matching—one tall and robust, the other delicate and gentle, both handsome.

Who would’ve thought that Zhou Yu, once seen as a schemer, would return so successful? Now he not only had money but also married a capable and beautiful wife, which made onlookers envious.

Yet, envy didn’t change the fact that Zhou Yu was someone not to be trifled with, and no one dared to approach them.

The couple was accustomed to ignoring the gazes as they made their way home.

In the following days, Xu An put up recruitment notices at the shop. She planned to hire three people to help out, as they were too busy every day. Wen Yaowu and Su Xiaoyang were both working hard but were feeling overwhelmed, and hiring more help was sure to make things easier for everyone.

On the first day the recruitment notice was posted, Xu An returned home that evening to find Pan Hehua waiting for her in the yard.

She looked at the friendly-faced Pan Hehua and unexpectedly frowned, her tone indifferent.

“Is there something you need?”

Pan Hehua cleared her throat after blocking Xu An’s way, staring at her. “I heard you’re hiring at your shop?”

Xu An nodded. “I’m considering it.”

Having said that, she tried to walk past Pan Hehua to go inside, but Pan Hehua blocked her way again, frowning. “It’s Zhou’s family’s shop after all. Hiring outsiders doesn’t make sense.”

“Outsiders can’t be as reassuring as family,” Xu An countered.

She looked at Xu An. “You see, your dad and I still have some strength left; we can help you.”

At this point, Pan Hehua added, “Also, Dandan just started school, and she’ll be taking the college entrance exam this year. I doubt she’ll do well. Once she graduates from high school, if she doesn’t find a good job, let her come help at the shop. You can’t keep relying on outsiders.”

Xu An raised an eyebrow at her mother. “Mom, are you saying you and Dad want to help at our shop?”

Pan Hehua nodded. “Yes, while we still have the energy, it’s only right to help you.”

Xu An smiled with her eyes. “Mom, if you and Dad are willing to help us, that’s the best.”

Before Pan Hehua could feel pleased, Xu An continued nonchalantly.

“Since you’re family, Mom, you wouldn’t ask for wages, right? Zhou Yu and I just opened the shop; we need to save wherever we can.”

“That won’t do!”

Pan Hehua couldn’t help but raise her voice, but seeing Xu An’s gaze, she softened her tone.

“If your dad and I help you for free, the older siblings wouldn’t be happy. There are also many things waiting for us to do at home.”

“To help you two, your dad and I won’t ask for much—just forty bucks a month per person. With that, Dandan won’t have any objections.”

Hearing Pan Hehua’s words, Xu An couldn’t help but smile. “Mom, you and Dad should enjoy your lives at home. I can’t bear to make you work for us.”

“Before Zhou Yu went to prison, he cared about you the most, taking care of everything at home. Now that he’s back, even though we’ve split, he still cares about you. I’m his wife, so I can’t ask you and Dad to help me with work.”

After hearing Xu An’s words, Pan Hehua opened her mouth but couldn’t find the right words to respond.

Before Zhou Yu went to prison, most of the household chores were indeed done by him. Now that the couple had split, and he still said he cared about her, she didn’t know what to say, feeling a mix of guilt and bewilderment.

Seeing her expression, Xu An didn’t expect her to pity Zhou Yu; instead, she raised her voice.

“When the shop gets busy, I won’t even be able to straighten my back. If Zhou Yu knows I treat you this way, he’ll definitely blame me.”

“Mom, I appreciate your good intentions, but it’s better for you to enjoy your lives at home. You know how temperamental your son is; I really don’t want to get scolded by Zhou Yu.”

After saying this, Xu An sidestepped Pan Hehua and entered the house.

Once inside, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. They had a set of calculations in mind, wanting her to be grateful and accept their help—it was as if they didn’t regard her as a person.

Xu An sat leisurely by the stove, resting for a while before making dinner.

When Zhou Yu returned that evening, the couple sat by the stove eating dinner. Xu An told Zhou Yu about Pan Hehua wanting a job.

“I didn’t agree to her; I told her you care about her too much to let her do these things.”

Zhou Yu gazed at Xu An’s somewhat mischievous face, his lips twitching slightly. “You’re not too foolish after all.”

He sat across from Xu An, casually eating dinner, his voice carrying rare praise.

Xu An rested her chin on her hand, raising her eyebrow.

“It’s clear she just sees that our shop is doing well and wants to share in the profits.”

She stared at Zhou Yu. “She never said she wanted to help when we were selling on the street.”

“It’s just that she thought selling goods on the street was beneath her and felt we wouldn’t make much money. Now that we’ve opened a shop and it looks more respectable, helping out here isn’t embarrassing anymore. Plus, with a proper salary, she immediately came sniffing around when she heard we were hiring.”

Zhou Yu spoke in a deep voice, “Let’s just mind our own business; there’s no need to deal with it.”

Xu An nodded, then remembered something and looked up at Zhou Yu.

“Speaking of which, how’s everything on your end?”

Zhou Yu paused, lowering his gaze to Xu An, his expression neutral. “There were some issues.”

Xu An frowned. Although Zhou Yu’s tone was calm, she could tell he wasn’t in a good mood and asked with concern.

“What happened?”

Zhou Yu scoffed lightly. “There’s an additional competitor.”

Zhou Yu had mentioned earlier that he had delayed some time, and the partners were already somewhat dissatisfied. Now, if there was an additional competitor, the chances of securing this cooperation were slim.

Xu An asked softly, “Is it confirmed? Can this cooperation still be negotiated?”

Seeing the worried look in her eyes, Zhou Yu leaned back in his chair, swaying slowly. “The other side offered a price nearly thirty cents higher for each unit, which is quite targeted.”

Xu An frowned. “Can we raise our price to be competitive?”

Zhou Yu shook his head. “There’s no need. Their unit price is already higher than ours. If we increase our price, it will still be higher than us.”

Thirty cents higher for each unit isn’t a small number. Xu An frowned. “Do you know who they are?”

Zhou Yu nonchalantly shook his head. “The partners didn’t reveal that.”

Xu An lowered her gaze slightly. “If this cooperation really falls through, there will be more opportunities in the future; we can bring in other goods instead.”

Zhou Yu spoke in a deep voice, “This batch of color TVs, the other party is determined to snatch from me. If we can’t avoid this competition now, there will be a second and third time.”

“What do we do then?” Xu An looked up at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu’s expression remained indifferent, and he gave Xu An a lazy smile.

“I won’t starve; don’t worry about it.”

Seeing him act so nonchalant, Xu An felt a little relieved, unable to resist a smile that softened her expression.

“Now that the shop needs more hands, you can come back anytime; you definitely won’t starve.”

Zhou Yu lowered his gaze and responded.

Xu An set down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up,

 and went to get her pajamas to take a shower.

Zhou Yu casually tidied up the dishes, went to the yard to fetch water, boiled some hot water, and washed the dishes clean.

As he stepped outside to dump the dishwater, he unexpectedly bumped into Zhou Hongguang, who had just entered the yard in formal attire.

Zhou Hongguang wore a long-lost calm smile, composed and steady, and when he saw Zhou Yu, he smiled at him.

“Second brother, you’re back.”

Zhou Yu straightened up, noticing a hint of satisfaction in Zhou Hongguang’s gaze, unable to resist raising an eyebrow.

Zhou Hongguang took two steps forward, not making a fool of himself in front of Zhou Yu, and walked past the yard toward the main house. His voice, filled with laughter, seemed to be deliberately loud enough for Zhou Yu to hear.

“Mom, in a couple of days, I have guests coming over; can you make me some good dishes? I need to treat them well.”

The dim yellow light in the main house illuminated the conversation between the mother and son, piercing Zhou Yu’s eyes. He returned to the house with an indifferent expression, holding the basin.

When Xu An came out after her shower, drying her hair, she looked at Zhou Yu and called out.

“Is Zhou Hongguang up to something good?”

She had heard him sounding quite pleased about inviting guests.

Zhou Yu looked lazy, seemingly unconcerned.

“It must be some great news that could overshadow me.”

Xu An sat in a chair, Zhou Yu casually pulled the towel from her hand, and he lightly dried her hair, softly saying.

“Is it really worth being so happy about?”

Zhou Yu dried her hair absentmindedly, not replying, and finally said, “If the cooperation doesn’t go through in a couple of days, I’ll help you with the hiring.”

Xu An paused for a moment, softly responding with a light “Mm.”

“Okay.”

Hearing her somewhat relaxed tone, Zhou Yu stopped his movements, pressed his palm against Xu An’s head through the towel, and bit his teeth together, saying, “Xu An, can’t you pity me?”

Xu An touched her nose, denying it repeatedly.

“No.”

“If you had nothing to do, you would help me.”

“Don’t press; it hurts!”

Xu An frowned, raising her voice to stop Zhou Yu from messing with her head.

Zhou Yu eased his grip, dried her hair, and tossed the towel aside.

Xu An lightly cleared her throat, murmuring, “You don’t look like someone I should pity, you’re fierce and unreasonable…”

When she finished, she locked eyes with him, lowering her voice as she stood up from the chair, exaggerating a yawn.

“I’m tired.”

After saying that, she quickly walked toward the bedroom, leaving Zhou Yu staring at her slender figure. After leisurely finishing his evening routine and turning off the lights, he returned to the bedroom, quietly moving toward the woman who was hiding her head under the covers.

He casually turned off the bedroom light.

As he reached the bedside and rolled over into bed, he immediately sensed the stiffness in the woman beside him.

Zhou Yu, disregarding his usual boundaries, leaned closer, his arm almost touching her.

Xu An caught a whiff of a faint soap scent, replacing the usual faint smell of tobacco, causing her heart to flutter slightly, and she couldn’t help but speak out.

“Zhou Yu, you smell nice.”

The playful Zhou Yu froze, finally realizing the alluring fragrance around him. He turned away from Xu An in annoyance, distancing himself.

“Damn you…”

Zhou Yu gritted his teeth, swallowing the rough words that almost slipped out. He turned away, wrapping his arms around himself and clearing his throat.

“Sleep!”

Xu An blinked, poking her head out from under the covers, tilting her head to glance at the man who was facing away from her, confused.

“Oh.”

“Good night.”