Finally, after a flurry of activity, Chen Hongyan was pushed into the operating room. An Yang and her twin brothers were pacing back and forth outside the door, making everyone restless. An Xin couldn’t help but speak up.

“An Yang, why don’t you take your brothers back to the rental house? Use the time to review your schoolwork. School is starting soon, and your brother-in-law and I can handle things here.”

She wanted to stop the kids from aimlessly loitering around the operating room, which was enough to give anyone a headache.

An Yang glanced at her sister and then at the man sitting silently on the bench outside the operating room. Hesitant, she asked cautiously, “Are you sure you and brother-in-law will be okay if we leave?”

Last night, her brother-in-law had been moody. Today, he still seemed withdrawn. An Yang wasn’t sure if her sister would be okay if she and her brothers weren’t around to intervene.

But An Xin gave her a reassuring look and said, “Go ahead. Your brother-in-law and I can handle it.”

“Alright then… we’ll head back for now.”

After all, there wasn’t much they could do once the operation was complete, and their mother would be wheeled out. With her brother-in-law here, they’d only be in the way. Better to head back and help the twins review their studies since school was about to start.

An Xin nodded and motioned for them to leave.

Once the area quieted down, An Xin slowly walked over and sat beside Bai Yichen.

Sometimes, one had to admit that men held onto grudges longer than women. Take Bai Yichen, for example. Since she had come home late the night before, he had been cold and distant—not saying much, clearly sulking. Of course, this is Bai Yichen’s one-sided cold war with her.

It wasn’t entirely his fault, and An Xin didn’t feel particularly wronged either. The real issue lay with how unreliable communication was in this era, leaving everyone feeling anxious and impatient.

Sitting beside him, she was enveloped by his faint, woody cologne, its cool and subtle scent calming her nerves. Organizing her thoughts, she spoke softly.

“About last night… I was in the wrong. Next time, I’ll make sure to let you know where I’m going in advance.”

It was her fault, after all, so it only made sense to apologize first.

“Okay.”

Bai Yichen cast her a brief glance and gave a simple, indifferent response.

An Xin: “…”

What did that even mean? Was that it?

Fine. An Xin silently recited a mantra to calm herself and suppress her irritation. After a moment, she tried again.

“Since we have some free time, how about we discuss our plans for the future?”

Last night, before falling asleep, An Xin had given it some serious thought. In the future, she would often have to travel to the provincial city to run a taxi business or pursue other ventures. Situations like last night’s might happen again. It was better for them to have an honest conversation now about their individual life plans, to avoid unnecessary sulking and misunderstandings later. Harmony was the key to success, after all.

Bai Yichen clearly hadn’t expected An Xin to bring this up. A flicker of intrigue crossed his eyes, and he focused intently on her, as if trying to discern something from her expression. His piercing gaze made An Xin tense up, her long lashes trembling nervously.

Oh God, his stare felt like being tied to a stake while someone aimed a gun at her. The adrenaline was unbearable.

Just as she began to second-guess herself and wonder if she’d said something wrong, Bai Yichen’s deep, enigmatic voice broke the silence.

“Plans for the future? I’m listening.”

He hadn’t expected An Xin to be so forthright. The idea of his young wife having a clear vision for the future piqued his curiosity.

Once again, An Xin was breaking the stereotypes he’d heard about her. The village gossip painted her as a troublemaker and a seductress. Yet, since their marriage, she’d been nothing but respectful and dedicated to their home. Ironically, he wouldn’t have minded if she acted more like the so-called temptress they described—perhaps trying to charm him once or twice. But no, not a single mischievous moment from her. Instead, here she was, discussing life plans.

His curiosity grew even stronger.

Under his intense gaze, An Xin instinctively licked her lips and hesitantly began, “I just think… we can’t keep living like this forever. You go to work, and I stay at home, like Sister Chen, being a full-time housewife.”

Bai Yichen raised an eyebrow. “And?”

Clearly, his wife had ideas, and he was more than willing to hear them.

“So, I was thinking that while you’re at work, I could spend some time in the provincial city doing something productive. It’s a way to pass the time and also to realize my own potential.”

As if suddenly remembering something, she quickly added, “Of course, since we’re married, I’ll still take care of the household and make sure everything runs smoothly. I’ll handle your meals and daily needs as always. I’ll also ensure I’m home before you return from work.”

Her plan was simple: when he worked, she’d work. When he was home, she’d be home. She wanted to fulfill her role as a wife while pursuing her own ambitions.

For now, her mother’s hospitalization provided an excuse to visit the provincial city and earn some money by running a taxi service. But once her mother recovered, she’d need another reason to keep going back.

Bai Yichen had proven himself a trustworthy and fair partner. She saw no reason to keep things from him any longer. It was better to be upfront, so she could continue her work openly and with his support.

Sneaking around like a thief wasn’t sustainable—especially when nosy people like Sister Chen were always watching her as if she were up to no good.

The world was full of biases against women, and An Xin didn’t want to give anyone ammunition for gossip. Gaining Bai Yichen’s backing was crucial.

Bai Yichen hadn’t expected An Xin to be so thorough. After a pause, he said calmly, “Why work so hard? You’re my wife now. Providing for the family is my responsibility. You don’t have to—”

Before he could finish, An Xin interrupted firmly, “No, Bai Yichen. Family life isn’t the responsibility of just one person. It’s something we share. I don’t want to become a woman who simply waits for meals and does nothing. For me, marriage isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning.”