Chapter 33: The Heat that Burns into the Heart

The next day, as Xu An returned from the shop, she noticed Zhou Hongguang standing at the main house’s entrance, glancing over toward their east room. She frowned, locking eyes with him. Zhou Hongguang gave her a brief look but quickly turned and went back inside without saying anything.

Xu An was puzzled. She walked a few steps into her room and immediately understood upon seeing Zhong Yue sitting there. No wonder Zhou Hongguang kept peeking inside. Was he starting to feel worried?

Xu An entered the room with a smile and greeted Zhong Yue. She glanced at the two men sitting across from each other and took a seat next to Zhou Yu.

Without interrupting, she simply listened to their conversation.

“Boss Zhong, you don’t need to worry about my wife’s relationship with yours. My older brother’s price may be more to your liking, and we can work together again in the future.”

Zhong Yue took a sip of tea, sighed lightly, and glanced at Xu An and Zhou Yu, smiling softly.

“To be honest, if it weren’t for my wife’s involvement, as a businessman driven by profit, I wouldn’t have chosen to work with you.”

“But I do genuinely value your ability. And now, because my wife is pregnant, something that’s been weighing on my mind has been settled.”

His eyes softened with affection. For the first time, he spoke sincerely, without focusing on profit. “From now on, I won’t be focusing my work in Hong Kong as much. Running around all day, I barely have time to be with her.”

“In the past, I worked hard to reach the top so no one could easily push her around. But now, with a child on the way, there’s no need to do so much. Not having time to spend with her would be putting the cart before the horse.”

He looked at Zhou Yu seriously. “If I continued doing everything myself like before, prioritizing profit, I would choose to work with Zhou Hongguang. After all, he’s willing to give me more. But things are different now. I need to let go a bit, and working with you is clearly the better choice.”

What Zhong Yue didn’t say was that ever since he found out it was Zhou Yu’s wife who had healed his wife, he had no intention of ever choosing Zhou Hongguang over Zhou Yu.

Xu An, sitting beside Zhou Yu, was surprised by Zhong Yue’s words. He had chosen to collaborate with Zhou Yu instead of his older brother.

Her gaze drifted toward the main house, but Zhou Hongguang was nowhere to be seen. If he found out about this, he’d probably be furious.

And as for the Zhou family, who had been strutting around arrogantly in front of her and Zhou Yu these past few days, Xu An couldn’t help but smile. She was actually looking forward to the upcoming drama.

Zhou Yu glanced at the slight smile on Xu An’s lips, and his own mouth curled up a little. Then, turning back to Zhong Yue, he resumed discussing the details of their partnership.

As the two men delved into business talk, Xu An felt bored after a while and stood up, heading to the bedroom. She grabbed her pajamas and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

When she returned, she found Zhou Yu alone in the room. Raising her eyebrows, she asked, “Zhong Yue left?”

Zhou Yu looked up at her, replying calmly, “Yes.”

Xu An smiled as she walked over, resting her hand on the board in front of Zhou Yu. She gazed down at him and chuckled lightly, “So Zhong Yue still plans to work with you?”

Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows and nodded slightly.

Noticing the composed look on his face, Xu An couldn’t resist her curiosity. “Are you happy?”

“After all, the business your older brother maliciously outbid and stole from you is now back in your hands. He’s been secretly working behind your back for so long, and now it’s all been for nothing.”

Listening to her cheerful voice, Zhou Yu couldn’t hold back his smile. His dark eyes fixed on the woman in front of him, he didn’t respond with any more harsh words.

“Not bad.”

When he said “not bad,” it meant he was quite pleased.

Xu An smiled brightly and whispered, “Earlier, your family members were all looking down on us, their noses in the air. If they find out Zhou Hongguang didn’t secure this deal, their expressions will be priceless.”

Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows slightly but didn’t comment on her words.

In a good mood, Xu An let out a small yawn. Straightening up, she headed to the bedroom, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes, thinking about something that had been bothering her.

Taking a deep breath, she called out to the system in her mind.

“System… Do you have any pills that could heal an injured leg?”

Xu An cleared her mind, quietly waiting for the system’s reply in the vast emptiness of her consciousness.

After a while, she finally heard the system’s mechanical voice.

“Are you referring to the Bone-Healing Pill?”

Xu An’s eyes lit up when she heard the system’s voice. She quickly responded, trying to negotiate.

“Yes, that’s it! System, can I pre-order one? I’ll do my best to complete any task you give me.”

With that pill, Zhou Yu’s leg would surely heal right away.

But the system coldly rejected her request.

“Request denied. The system will not open the pre-order channel. The host must make their own efforts.”

Xu An frowned slightly.

“System, Zhou Yu is my man. If I want to make that scumbag regret his actions and feel inferior, having a partner who’s better in every way is key. Helping Zhou Yu’s leg heal is crucial.”

She nervously waited for the system’s reply, but after a long time, all she heard was the system rejecting her request again.

Xu An sighed in disappointment. Frowning slightly, she realized that asking for rewards upfront wasn’t going to work. She would have to work hard herself.

However, at least she now knew that the system had something that could heal Zhou Yu’s leg, so there was still hope. Thinking this, Xu An felt a bit relieved.

As her mind relaxed, she heard Zhou Yu moving around the room. She tilted her head slightly and saw him turning off the light as his large shadow moved toward the bed.

Zhou Yu climbed into bed and lay down next to her. Spring was nearly over, so his body wasn’t cold, and Xu An didn’t feel chilly.

Once Zhou Yu was lying beside her, Xu An’s chest gently rose and fell. She took a light breath, her lips slightly parted, thinking about what she wanted to say. But after a moment, she decided to keep it to herself.

She’d wait until she completed the task and could share the good news with Zhou Yu. No need to get his hopes up and make him happy for nothing.

With that thought, Xu An relaxed and slowly closed her eyes.

Zhou Yu noticed her steady breathing but said nothing.

The next morning, Xu An went out by herself. When she arrived at the shop, she found that everyone was already there, and the shop had opened early.

As she entered, the staff greeted her warmly. They were busy at their stations, working calmly, and everything was running smoothly.

Xu An watched for a while, feeling much more relaxed. Worried about crowding the customers, she sat in the room at the back of the shop.

Not long after, Fang Shu came in from outside, smiling as she greeted Xu An.

As soon as Xu An saw her, she immediately stood up from her seat, walking forward to welcome her in.

She poured Fang Shu a cup of water and frowned as she looked at her. “Why are you here? You should be resting at home in your condition.”

Fang Shu laughed, seeing how worried Xu An looked—just like her husband at home. She couldn’t help but smile.

“You and Zhong Yue are really alike.”

She subconsciously placed her hand gently on her belly. The once vibrant and alluring face now appeared softer and more gentle.

“Zhong Yue is overreacting. I’m barely two months along, but he’s already hired three nannies to take care of me 24/7.”

She glanced at Xu An.

“I’m bored out of my mind at home, so I came to see you. You won’t send me away, will you?”

Seeing her act so pitiful, Xu An couldn’t harden her heart and send her off. With a helpless smile, she shook her head and let her stay, chatting with her for a while inside.

Seeing that Fang Shu had finally relaxed, Xu An sighed in relief. Fang Shu then mentioned quietly,

“I didn’t know earlier that Zhong Yue was negotiating business with your Zhou Yu.”

As she spoke, her face showed a trace of guilt, and she looked at Xu An apologetically.

“If I had known, there’s no way I’d let him cooperate with Zhou Hongguang. I’d give him a good scolding.”

Seeing Fang Shu’s determination to stand up for her, Xu An couldn’t help but laugh and said softly,

“Business is business. Your husband was just being practical since Zhou Yu’s older brother offered him a better deal. It’s nothing to hold a grudge over.”

Fang Shu shook her head.

“Hmph, Zhong Yue’s been too focused on money, trying to earn as much as possible. But when it comes to choosing business partners, he should at least consider their character. Zhou Hongguang is not someone he should work with, no matter how much money is involved.”

She glanced at Xu An’s smiling face and added,

“If it weren’t for Zhong Yue stepping up to help in the negotiations, Zhou Yu might not have been able to get back what was originally his.”

At these words, Xu An’s heart softened, and she didn’t pursue the matter further.

As soon as Xu An returned to the house, she saw Zhou Yu transferring the stir-fried dishes from the pan onto a plate. Hearing her enter, Zhou Yu turned his head and said calmly:

“Wash your hands. There’s warm water in the kettle.”

Xu An, in a good mood, cheerfully responded. She poured some warm water from the kettle, obediently washed her hands, then took the bowls and chopsticks from the cabinet, serving both herself and Zhou Yu. She placed Zhou Yu’s rice in front of him and then sat down at her seat.

She looked up at Zhou Yu across from her, picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks, tasted it, and found the flavor ordinary.

“Just now, I saw Zhong Yue coming out of the main house. Did he talk with Zhou Hongguang? I noticed your brother didn’t look too happy.”

Zhou Yu let out a light snort. “Hmm.”

He looked down at Xu An and said in a calm voice, “Did he manage to hold back from blaming you?”

“My older brother was determined to win this collaboration. If it weren’t for your connection with Fang Shu, he’d be the one working with Zhong Yue right now.”

Xu An raised her eyebrows, feeling a bit pleased. “No wonder I felt like he was secretly glaring at me earlier.”

“When Fang Shu came over before, apart from your brother, their whole family barely paid any attention to her.”

Speaking in a lower voice, Xu An continued, “It seems like your brother already knew about Fang Shu’s relationship with Zhong Yue when she came by before. No wonder he told Zhou Dandan to be more polite to Fang Shu.”

Xu An blinked and looked up to meet Zhou Yu’s eyes, her voice softening.

“Zhou Yu, did you already know that Fang Shu’s husband was Zhong Yue?”

Zhou Yu didn’t deny it and responded calmly, “I didn’t know him personally. I’d just heard of him before I went to prison.”

However, he wasn’t familiar with him—he’d only overheard Pan Hehua talking about how Zhong Yue’s wife had been married for two years and still hadn’t had any children.

When Xu An became friends with Fang Shu, Zhou Yu knew but didn’t stop her.

Zhou Yu gazed steadily at the woman in front of him and said in a deep voice,

“You’re just like that—so naive, making friends without knowing anything. You wouldn’t even know if you got taken advantage of.”

Xu An wrinkled her nose in mock offense and glared at Zhou Yu.

“As long as I know that Shu Shu isn’t a bad person, that’s all that matters. It’s just making a friend—who goes around investigating everything?”

She frowned slightly, puzzled as she looked at Zhou Yu, her voice soft. “You knew about her connection to Zhong Yue, so why didn’t you mention it when you were negotiating with him?”

If Zhou Yu had casually brought it up, Zhong Yue might have chosen him over Zhou Hongguang from the beginning.

Zhou Yu stared at her and glanced sidelong at her.

“Aren’t you supposed to be best friends with her?”

“I’m too rough and uncouth to get involved in your emotional bonds.”

Xu An lowered her gaze slightly, realizing that even though Zhou Yu knew about her close friendship with Fang Shu, he never intended to mix personal relationships with business interests.

Even when Zhong Yue had already chosen Zhou Hongguang, Zhou Yu never mentioned it.

He might speak harshly, but he certainly had a good sense of boundaries.

Still, Shu Shu had been her top customer from the beginning, so there were benefits involved from the start. This man sure thought things through.

Xu An’s eyes sparkled as she locked eyes with Zhou Yu’s deep, dark gaze. After a moment, Zhou Yu’s gaze wavered, and he looked away, clearing his throat softly.

“What are you looking at? Eat your meal.”

Xu An chuckled lightly. “Okay.”

She lowered her head and continued eating.

The next morning, after Xu An finished breakfast and stepped out of the house, she saw Zhou Hongguang, dressed in a Zhongshan suit and carrying a briefcase, also preparing to leave. Xu An raised her eyebrows slightly. Since the shop had opened, she had been going in later and hadn’t seen much of Zhou Hongguang. Judging by his appearance, it seemed like he was heading to work at the factory.

Zhou Yu followed Xu An out and also saw Zhou Hongguang. However, he had no intention of greeting him. Noticing that Xu An’s gaze had fallen on Zhou Hongguang, Zhou Yu’s expression darkened, and he placed his hand on Xu An’s shoulder, guiding her out the door.

Zhou Hongguang’s eyes followed the two of them as they left, his face slightly tense, watching their backs as he also walked out of the courtyard.

Zhou Yu and Xu An walked side by side to the alley entrance. As they left the alley, Xu An tilted her head and looked at Zhou Yu.

“Are you coming with me to help at the shop?”

Zhou Yu shook his head. “I’m going to find Yaowu.”

Xu An raised her eyebrows. “Yaowu’s not at the shop. I gave him some time off.”

Zhou Yu turned his head slightly to look at her and said leisurely, “I know.”

After saying that, he walked Xu An to the street and then turned back. Watching his limping figure as he left, Xu An smiled. So, he had made the effort just to walk her over.

Feeling lighthearted, she returned to the shop. Seeing the line of customers, she didn’t intend to sit and rest. Xu An went inside, washed her hands, and joined the others in helping out.

Business at the shop had gradually stabilized, with the daily earnings fluctuating little and becoming more consistent.

While busy, Xu An pondered how she could complete her task. The shop was already up and running—what more could she do to earn the system’s reward and heal Zhou Yu’s leg?

After a long day, when it was time to close up, Xu An said goodbye to Su Xiaoyang and the others before heading home.

When she arrived back at the courtyard, she saw Wen Yaowu helping Zhou Yu with dinner outside the east room, washing vegetables in a very proper manner. Xu An walked over.

When Wen Yaowu saw her, he immediately raised his face and greeted her enthusiastically.

“Sister in-law, you’re back.”

Xu An nodded, didn’t say much, and went inside. Zhou Yu was keeping his distance from the stove, reaching over with the spatula in his hand to stir the food in the pan.

Xu An couldn’t help but smile. She poured herself some warm water, washed her hands, and went back inside. Gently pulling the spatula from Zhou Yu’s trembling hand, she started stir-frying the dish herself.

Zhou Yu froze for a moment, then cleared his throat, folding his arms as he stood not far from Xu An, leaning against the door. Through the rising steam, he gazed at the hazy outline of her face, momentarily lost in thought.

After Xu An finished stir-frying, she noticed Zhou Yu standing by the door out of the corner of her eye and called out to him.

“Zhou Yu, help me get a plate from the cabinet.”

Without stopping her movements, she continued stir-frying.

Wen Yaowu came inside, hearing his sister-in-law’s voice, and glanced at Zhou Yu. Following his gaze, he saw Xu An cooking and had to suppress a laugh. Wen Yaowu quickly grabbed a plate from the cabinet and placed it on the stove. Xu An didn’t mind and promptly plated the dish.

As she continued cooking, Wen Yaowu quietly stepped back and stood beside Zhou Yu, nodding with a proud smile.

“Brother Yu, sister in-law looks great, doesn’t she?”

Before he could finish the sentence, Wen Yaowu felt a hard smack on the head. Zhou Yu hadn’t held back.

Wen Yaowu winced, instinctively crouching and clutching his head, his face contorted in pain.

Zhou Yu glared at him coldly and said in a low voice, “What the hell are you looking at?”

Wen Yaowu felt wronged but couldn’t argue. He could only endure the pain and explain, “Brother Yu, sister in-law asked you to get her a plate, but you were staring at her and not responding, so I said something to you.”

He wouldn’t dare harbor any thoughts about his sister-in-law. To him, both she and Zhou Yu were the people he respected most.

Zhou Yu’s gaze shifted to the dish Xu An had just plated on the stove, and his eyes flickered with a hint of unease as his expression grew darker.

Xu An didn’t notice the two of them. After finishing three dishes and making a soup, she finally asked Zhou Yu to bring the bowls and chopsticks for dinner.

This time, Zhou Yu heard her and quickly fetched the bowls and served the rice. The three of them sat down around the stove to eat.

Once they had eaten their fill, Wen Yaowu got up and left, satisfied. After he left, Zhou Yu took an envelope from inside the house and handed it to Xu An, saying in a low voice,

“It’s from Nancheng. It arrived this afternoon.”

Xu An hadn’t been home, so he had signed for it on her behalf.

Xu An stared at the envelope in front of her and reached out to take it. “From Nancheng?” she asked.

It was sent by her family.

She glanced up and made eye contact with Zhou Yu, who was standing in front of her. She lowered her gaze again, not hiding anything from him, and opened the envelope.

Focusing her attention on the letter, Xu An read it carefully, word by word, then pursed her lips and looked back at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu’s eyes darkened slightly, and he looked at her in silence.

Xu An sighed, “A letter from home.”

“My brother… he told them everything about us.”

In a soft voice, Xu An continued, “Let’s find time to go to a photo studio and take a picture, so they can see you.”

“We’ve been married for so long, it’s about time they saw what you look like.”

Zhou Yu’s expression was unreadable. He stared at her calm face without asking any questions, only responding with a hoarse “okay.”

In front of him, Xu An carefully folded the letter, placed it back in the envelope, stood up, and went into the inner room to store the letter securely.

Standing in front of the cabinet, she quietly sighed.

Although the letter didn’t explicitly say so, it was filled with subtle hints urging her to return home.

They still didn’t think Zhou Yu was a good match. Xu An exhaled lightly.

Zhou Yu, after all, was from the capital. Other than his leg, there was no other reason for her family in Nancheng to look down on him.

Xu An composed herself, ready to leave the room, but when she turned around, she was startled to find Zhou Yu standing not far behind her. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed him come in.

Xu An met his deep gaze but quickly looked away.

Zhou Yu continued to stare at her and let out a slight scoff, “Do you really need a picture of me?”

Xu An nodded, “Yes.”

Her family had indeed requested to see what Zhou Yu looked like.

Zhou Yu’s hand tightened at his side, and in a deep voice, he said, “Xu An, my leg won’t get better.”

“If this is the reason, they’ll never accept me, not even in a lifetime.”

Xu An pressed her lips together and softly replied, “Can’t you treat me a little better? If there are no surprises, we’ll be together for the rest of our lives.”

“If you’re good to me, even if your leg never heals, they won’t have anything else to criticize.”

Zhou Yu’s leg was injured, and because of his family, his heart was probably wounded too. Now, he had a strange temperament, which made it understandable why her family in Nancheng would have trouble accepting him.

Her voice was soft, so low that it was almost hard to hear, yet every word hit Zhou Yu’s heart, making it ache and feel bitter.

He couldn’t say anything, neither accepting nor rejecting.

Xu An didn’t expect him to say anything comforting. She pressed her lips together, took out her nightgown from the cabinet, and silently walked around Zhou Yu to leave the room.

Zhou Yu stared at the cabinet in front of him, his chest tight with the bitter sensation making it hard to breathe.

When Xu An returned from her bath, she was surprised to find that Zhou Yu was already lying on the bed, positioned neatly on the outer side. She paused for a moment, then turned off the light and approached the bed, feeling her way up.

Lying beside Zhou Yu, Xu An thought about the day’s events and softly asked, “Did you go to see Yaowu today for something?”

After a long pause, Zhou Yu responded, “Yes. Once the introduction letter and travel permit are ready, I’ll take Yaowu to Xiangjiang.”

Xu An frowned, “Hasn’t the deal with Zhong Yue already been made? Why do you still need to go?”

Zhou Yu’s hand rested behind his head as he explained in a flat tone, “I mentioned before that going there would be about finding contacts on our own.”

“This time is different. With the deal with Zhong Yue, he’ll make arrangements for us in Xiangjiang, and someone will meet us when we arrive.”

He turned slightly, facing Xu An, his voice hoarse. “In the past, after closing a deal, I’d just wait at home for the goods to arrive. But now that Fang Shu is pregnant, Zhong Yue can’t keep traveling. I need to pick up this shipment myself.”

“He’ll introduce me to his contacts in Xiangjiang, which is much better than going there blindly.”

That was good news, Xu An thought. She remembered that Fang Shu had mentioned Zhong Yue was planning to stop traveling as much, so handing the Xiangjiang task to Zhou Yu made sense. It seemed that Zhou Yu’s trips to Xiangjiang would only become more frequent in the future.

Xu An pressed her lips together and, with a soft smile, said, “That’s good news.”

“It’ll take some time for the introduction letter and travel permit to be ready.”

“Before then, let’s make time to go to the photo studio and take that picture for me to send to my family.”

In the darkness, Zhou Yu turned over slightly and lay on his back. “Okay,” he agreed.

A few days later, Xu An made arrangements with Su Xiaoyang to watch the shop and took Zhou Yu out early in the morning. They first went to a department store to buy new clothes. Xu An picked out a matching set for the two of them: she chose a dress with a small cardigan, while Zhou Yu wore a shirt. They both got new leather shoes and changed into their outfits before heading to the photo studio by taxi.

When they walked in, the owner immediately noticed the striking couple and greeted them warmly.

Seeing the handsome couple standing together, the owner’s eyes fell on Zhou Yu’s slight limp, and he instinctively frowned, not out of malice but pity. Zhou Yu was tall and handsome, and if it weren’t for his limp, he would have been perfect.

The owner quickly adjusted his expression and went on to serve them as usual.

Though the picture was mainly for her family to see Zhou Yu’s appearance, Xu An knew it was about more than that. That’s why she had dressed Zhou Yu so nicely—to show her family that she and Zhou Yu were doing well.

There was still more work to be done. Xu An smiled at the owner and asked, “Do you offer color photos here?”

The owner nodded with a smile, “Yes, but color photos take three days. You can come back then to pick them up.”

Three days—Xu An could wait. She nodded and said, “We’ll take a color photo. By the way, do you have any makeup? Can you help me with it?”

The owner, understanding that many women liked to look their best, smiled and said, “Of course. Let me get it for you.”

He went to the back room and returned with a small box, handing it to Xu An.

“Are you two taking wedding photos?”

Most of the makeup was for women taking bridal photos.

Xu An shook her head with a light laugh, “We’re taking these to send to my family.”

While Xu An chatted with the owner and did her makeup, Zhou Yu stood by her side, arms crossed, silently watching her in the mirror as her face grew more vibrant and lively.

After Xu An finished her makeup, the owner positioned the couple in front of the backdrop and instructed them to stand together in the center.

Xu An noticed Zhou Yu standing about a foot away from her but didn’t say anything.

Just as the owner counted down, Xu An suddenly smiled and quickly looped her arm through Zhou Yu’s, tilting her head to rest gently on his shoulder, her eyes full of warmth. Zhou Yu froze, glancing down at her, half his shoulder going numb.

The moment was captured.

When the owner straightened up to look at them, Xu An had already let go of Zhou Yu’s arm, not glancing at him, her eyes still smiling as she spoke to the owner.

The owner was surprised by her boldness. Most couples he photographed, even for wedding photos, were stiff and reserved. Sometimes, he’d suggest they get closer, but the results were never as good, so he stopped trying.

He hadn’t expected this woman to be so open, and the photo turned out beautifully.

With a smile, the owner said, “It came out well. Do you want to take another one? The gentleman didn’t smile.”

Xu An turned to look at Zhou Yu, blinking innocently as if asking for his opinion. Her eyes caught on his ear closest to her, noticing something unusual. She paused for a moment.

Zhou Yu, noticing her gaze, shot her an irritated look, making her cough lightly.

With the owner’s help, the couple took a few more serious photos before finishing.

After Zhou Yu paid, Xu An told the owner they’d come back in three days to pick them up, and they were about to leave.

As the owner looked at the photos, he couldn’t help calling after them.

“Xu An, your photos…”

Xu An frowned slightly, “What about them?”

The owner gathered his courage and asked, “Do you mind if I print an extra copy to display in the shop?”

The store owner felt a bit embarrassed as he spoke.

“In the past, many couples have come to take wedding photos, but they were always too stiff. Even though they were married, the photos didn’t turn out well. I thought I could use your photos as an example to show future customers.”

Xu An blinked, realizing the owner wanted to use their photo as a template.

She didn’t mind and looked at Zhou Yu by her side. Zhou Yu’s face showed impatience, and when he saw her looking at him, he turned his head and muttered, “Do whatever you want,” before striding toward the door.

Seeing Zhou Yu’s discomfort, Xu An smiled and responded, “Sure, we’re okay with it. You can use it as you like.”

As she followed Zhou Yu out of the studio, the owner thanked them.

By the time they left, it was already afternoon. Zhou Yu took Xu An to a state-owned restaurant for a meal, and afterward, they both returned to the courtyard.

Just as they were about to enter their house, they were stopped by Pan Hehua, who stood in the yard.

“Hey, you two, there’s something the family needs to discuss with you. Come over.”

After saying this, she walked toward the main house.

Xu An glanced curiously at Zhou Yu, wondering what the Zhou family wanted to talk about. Zhou Yu noticed the curiosity in her eyes and, without a word, led her into the main house.

Upon entering, they saw the entire Zhou family gathered inside, including Zhou Shuwen, who was in college, and Zhou Dandan, who was preparing for her upcoming exams. Everyone’s expressions were tense.

Xu An and Zhou Yu entered and glanced around the room. Without waiting for an invitation, they pulled out two chairs and sat down.

The rest of the Zhou family was visibly annoyed at their casual behavior but said nothing.

After a pause, Pan Hehua finally spoke, “Second son, I heard you’re the one working with Boss Zhong now?”

Pan Hehua was secretly fuming. She couldn’t believe her second son had somehow managed to snag a business deal with Boss Zhong just because his wife had made friends with Zhong’s wife, stealing the opportunity right from under her eldest son, Zhou Hongguang.

Zhou Yu, leaning back with his hands behind his head, glanced mockingly at Zhou Hongguang.

“Big brother, five years of marriage, and you still haven’t grown up?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, both Pan Hehua and Feng Yirou’s faces turned dark.

Zhou Yu remained unfazed, grinning arrogantly.

‘Smack!’

“Second son, watch your mouth!” Zhou Youlu, the family patriarch, slammed his hand on the stove and glared at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu lazily scanned the room, letting out a small chuckle. “What? You brought me here just to ask me to give up the business for my brother?”

The room fell silent.

When no one responded, Zhou Yu stood up, ready to leave. “Well, if that’s all, stop wasting my time.”

Just as he was about to walk out, Pan Hehua sighed and finally admitted, “Yes, that’s what we wanted to talk about.”

Zhou Yu sat back down, completely relaxed.

Pan Hehua continued, her tone full of resignation.

“Second son, now that you and your wife are doing well, you don’t really need this business anymore. You have your wife’s store, and with Boss Zhong’s business, it’s not like you need to be involved. But your brother… the factory hasn’t been able to pay salaries, and there are so many mouths to feed at home. Last time you were angry about the price increase, but we were desperate. We were counting on this deal to improve things here.”

“We’re not asking for much. We’re not even asking you to let us work at your wife’s store or asking for money. Just give this deal with Boss Zhong to your brother, and your father and I will help out at your wife’s store without taking a salary.”

Pan Hehua’s face was full of weariness, and she looked as though she’d been through a lot. She gazed pleadingly at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu’s eyes swept over Zhou Youlu and Pan Hehua, and he clicked his tongue twice before glancing at Xu An.

“Wife, does your store need help from people who are half in the grave?”

Zhou Yu’s sharp words were incredibly harsh, though in reality, Pan Hehua and Zhou Youlu could still be of use.

Xu An, however, smiled and shook her head in agreement. “No, we don’t need any help. Dad and Mom should relax at home.”

She then glanced around at the Zhou family and continued, “My brother-in-law has a stable job, my second brother-in-law will graduate from college soon and start working, and my sister-in-law is about to enter university. Dad and Mom should have no worries and enjoy their time.”

Her words dripped with sarcasm, hitting the Zhou family where it hurt the most.

Zhou Dandan, normally the most outspoken, remained silent. With her exams approaching and her performance lacking, she was struggling. Her once-proud elder brother couldn’t even get paid at work anymore, and her other brother was nearing graduation but still couldn’t find a job. Meanwhile, the brother she had always looked down on—Zhou Yu—was living a better life than the entire family.

“Second son, no matter how bad things get, we’re still family. Family should help each other. Your brother’s factory can’t pay wages, and your sister-in-law is in the same boat. Shuwen and Dandan are still young. You’re doing well now, and I know you still hold grudges against us, but under the same roof, family is family. We’re all connected,” Pan Hehua added.

“Still young?” Zhou Yu looked at Pan Hehua like he had just heard the most ridiculous joke.

Zhou Yu was about to say something, but Xu An squeezed his wrist. She didn’t look at him, instead sweeping her gaze around the room, finally landing on Pan Hehua.

“Family?” Xu An said coldly. “Mom, do you really consider me and my husband part of this family?”

Pan Hehua, not quite understanding where Xu An was going, nodded in confusion. “Of course. No matter what, he’s still my son. No matter how big the disagreements, we’re family.”

Xu An’s grip on Zhou Yu’s wrist tightened. Her eyes settled on a photograph sitting on a cabinet, her voice cutting through the tension.

“If I’m not mistaken, everyone’s in that family photo… except my husband.”

Her tone turned icy. “That picture was taken when Zhou Yu was in prison, wasn’t it? Look at you all, smiling so happily.”

Xu An’s words froze the air in the room. All eyes followed hers to the photo, where everyone was smiling—everyone except Zhou Yu, who had still been in prison at the time.

The Zhou family’s faces shifted. Some looked guilty, some indifferent, but no one dared break the suffocating silence.

Zhou Yu, amused, watched Xu An’s hand holding his wrist. The warmth from her touch spread through him, making him grin despite the situation.