{I can’t help but think about her 1}

At the far end of this desolate, overgrown graveyard, two half-grown children indeed appeared.

Shen Qiyue’s pigtails occasionally poked out from the desolate flower bushes as she gazed into the distance, looking for her parents; no matter how much the little boy beside her tugged at her, it couldn’t change her determination.

Shen Qiyue didn’t know where her brother found a half-meter-long tree branch, but he insisted on holding it in front of her, making it hard for her to see.

She felt irritated by the boy’s childish and clumsy antics until her mother’s gaze fell on them from afar. Instantly, she cheered up again, pulling her brother along as they danced around in joy.

On the small hill, Shen Qi also saw his children waving at him.

However, he didn’t return their enthusiasm. In fact, his deep eyes showed no trace of being softened by family affection. He almost said without thinking, “No.”

“Cheng Shuangyi, I underestimated your tricks. These two kids really do listen to your every command.”

“If you really like these two children so much, I don’t mind if you take them home and raise them from now on.”

Shen Qi’s tone was cold and indifferent, as if he considered the two children a burden, ready to abandon his custody rights at any moment without hesitation.

Cheng Shuangyi hadn’t expected this kind of reaction from Shen Qi today. She had underestimated his coldness and determination. However, she still believed that Shen Qi was just talking.

After all, even an ordinary man who had been through the pain of abandonment would take at least three to five months of coaxing to come back. With Shen Qi’s pride, it would likely take even longer.

She didn’t leave in a huff but instead continued speaking softly, “If we’re going to raise them, we should raise them together, Ah Qi. I know how hard it’s been for you in the past, and from now on, I’ll share more of the burden.”

When Jiangcheng’s most pampered woman humbled herself so much, pleading for his forgiveness;

When his pride was infinitely satisfied;

When he thought he might slacken, be swayed by the woman’s charm, and want to indulge his past bitterness—

At least, before he met Cheng Shuangyi, Shen Qi had thought that, but he didn’t believe their relationship would change after just one night. Men and women sharing a night was merely a way to relieve emotions.

At this moment, he handed her a hotel room key card for the Ritz-Carlton, as he had planned.

Cheng Shuangyi’s smile lit up her face. “I’ll head over early.”

Cheng Shuangyi naively believed Shen Qi had “surrendered,” though she wasn’t about to proudly wave the room key in front of her children and declare this her victory.

Last night, she had spent a long time thinking about why Shen Qi had left early, but now the answer no longer mattered.

He could weather storms, but that didn’t mean he was unmoved.

In Cheng Shuangyi’s eyes, this was proof enough that she had turned the tide in their relationship. She waved affectionately at her clingy daughter and slightly distant son before walking away triumphantly.

As Shen Qinian faced his overly enthusiastic mother, he didn’t know what to do, standing there stunned. In contrast, the quick-witted Shen Qiyue immediately responded, waving goodbye to her biological mother.

Looking at the withered leaves of winter and seeing her parents come together again, Shen Qiyue felt an indescribable joy.

But when she lowered her head, she still couldn’t log into the email where she wanted to share her happiness.

She wasn’t entirely oblivious to adult emotions, but there were some things she wanted to tell Qian Xu personally, to warn her against having unrealistic fantasies and not covet her biological mother’s place.

Again and again, she emphasized to Shen Qinian, “See, this is our real mom.”

It was as if she were trying to prove something.

Yet, deep down, she vaguely felt that maybe there was no longer any need.

But soon, her mother sent her a message telling her to “rest easy.” It seemed that her parents’ reconciliation wasn’t far off now, and she was overjoyed, bursting with energy as she pulled Shen Qinian along to their father.

…

Shen Qi watched as his children clumsily lit incense, knelt, and paid their respects before his father’s grave.

After the rituals, it was time to prepare for the New Year.

Shen Qi’s expression was serious as he handed his children over to the assistant. The assistant, already exasperated, often found himself exhausted by the two children but had no choice but to accept the difficult task again.

Together, they all boarded a Mercedes van.

Along the street, the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year was already in full swing. From the back seat, the two kids eagerly shouted, “Let’s buy fireworks!”