Chapter 4

When Meng Yingying returned home with the three children, it was already dinnertime, and smoke was rising from every household’s chimneys.

Back at the house, she found that Zhan Tingxu had already prepared the entire meal—five dishes and a soup, all perfectly cooked, looking and smelling delicious.

The moment he saw them come back, Tingxu couldn’t hide his delight and hurried over to help carry the things she’d bought into the house.

“You’re finally back. I thought you weren’t coming home when you didn’t show up at noon.”

Why was he always worried she would run away?

Meng Yingying was speechless. Just as she was about to get off the ox cart, Tingxu lifted her down in his arms.

“I can get down myself.”

She shot him an annoyed glance and slipped out of his strong arms.

After that, the whole family sat happily around the table eating dinner.

Aliang couldn’t help but praise, “Uncle, your cooking is amazing!”

“Call me Dad,” Tingxu corrected.

Aliang glanced at Meng Yingying but still refused to say it.

Tingting quickly came to her mother’s defense: “Mom already said you’re a stranger, so you can’t be Dad.”

At this point, Aming tried to smooth things over: “It’d be great if Uncle could cook for us again in the future.”

Tingxu set his condition: “As long as you acknowledge me as your dad, I’ll keep cooking.”

The children fell silent and secretly studied Meng Yingying’s face.

Tingting stubbornly declared, “We don’t need you to cook. Mom’s food is way better!”

Tingxu casually ladled out a bowl of corn and pork rib soup for Meng Yingying. “Yingying, drink more soup.”

She didn’t say anything, simply drank it quietly.

It really was delicious—rich with the fragrance of pork ribs, with the sweet undertone of corn.

Watching her drink his soup in silence, Tingxu felt an unexpected sense of contentment.

After dinner, Meng Yingying habitually began clearing the table, but Tingxu stopped her.

“Don’t move. I’ll clean up.”

She thought to herself, If someone else is cleaning, why should I bother? So she let him do it.

She then urged the children to wash their hands and sent them off to play in the yard.

After Tingxu washed the dishes, he even wiped the table and kitchen clean.

Then Meng Yingying, sitting at the table, suddenly called out to him: “Come here for a moment.”

“Me?” Tingxu was surprised, sitting down across from her.

For some reason, looking at her calm expression gave him an ominous feeling.

Sure enough, Meng Yingying pulled out a sheet of paper from her shoulder bag and slid it toward him.

Tingxu took one glance and quickly looked away.

It was a divorce agreement.

The two words “divorce agreement” stabbed his eyes like knives.

Next, Meng Yingying pushed a passbook across the table to him.

“This is the money you’ve been sending home for the last four years. A few thousand yuan were spent on daily expenses, but I saved the rest. I’m giving it all back to you.”

For the past four years, Tingxu had sent nearly all his salary home every month, keeping only the bare minimum for himself.

Rip—

Without hesitation, Tingxu tore the divorce papers to shreds. “I will never divorce you!”

Meng Yingying frowned slightly.

When the original book’s heroine showed up, he agreed to divorce without blinking. So why won’t he agree now that it’s me?

The heroine even demanded he leave with nothing, and he agreed instantly.

But when she tried to return his savings and walk away clean, he refused.

She remembered how, in the original story, the heroine’s personality was completely different—selfish, greedy, refusing to care for the kids, even stealing their food. Of course Tingxu couldn’t stand it and wanted a divorce.

But Meng Yingying couldn’t just imitate that kind of behavior even if it meant making him let go.

At this moment, Tingxu spoke with deep remorse:

“I know I was wrong to stay away for four years. But I had my reasons. Even after the war ended, there were constant border conflicts. My commander said if I stayed stationed there, I’d be promoted to regiment commander in a few years.”

Tingxu thought about how that promotion would allow him to bring Yingying to live with him, so he agreed.

But Meng Yingying didn’t want a divorce because he’d been away for four years—she wanted it because he wasn’t a good father.

She said firmly, “The kids and I can live just fine without you.”

Especially now that she had money of her own—she finally had confidence.

Tingxu pleaded, “But if I’m here, you won’t have to work so hard. I can give you and the kids a good life.”

“I don’t want to place my fate in someone else’s hands,” Meng Yingying replied coolly.

Tingxu held her hand, kneeling on one knee, looking at her earnestly. “Please, give me one more chance.”

Yingying glanced at him and immediately looked away, afraid she’d get lost in the depths of his eyes.

She tried to pull her hand free, but he held on tightly. So she asked, “What will it take for you to agree to a divorce?”

Tingxu answered firmly: “I will never agree to a divorce.”

Meng Yingying found it absurd—and even a little frightening.

Thinking about it, she and Tingxu never had much of a foundation.

They met on a blind date when she was eighteen, got married soon after, spent one passionate wedding night together—and the next morning, he was off to war. They hadn’t seen each other since.

She really couldn’t understand where his stubbornness came from.

“What if I fall in love with someone else?” she asked.

Tingxu’s eyes grew darker and colder. “Even if you do. Even if you cheat. I still won’t divorce you.”

Now that was scary.

Meng Yingying almost regretted marrying him without thinking it through.

Maybe she’d been blinded by his good looks…

Just then, Tingting burst in, shouting, “Mom! Big Brother and Second Brother fell in the mud pit—they’re filthy!”

“How could you be so careless?”

Yingying immediately rushed out to check, with Tingxu following.

Sure enough, Aming and Aliang were covered in mud from head to toe, grinning sheepishly. When they saw her coming, they quickly admitted fault.

“Sorry, Mom!”

Meng Yingying grabbed a towel and started wiping their faces. “So dirty! Hurry up and change clothes!”

Tingxu said, “I’ll go boil water so they can take a bath.”

“Okay,” Yingying replied without thinking, continuing to wipe the boys down.

“See? I’m useful after all,” Tingxu said before heading off.

Meng Yingying: ???

Later, after everyone bathed, Tingxu even washed the dirty clothes.

She had to admit—having him around did make things easier. In the past, just doing the laundry would leave her back aching.

Before bed, Yingying read a fairy tale to the children.

When Tingxu came in, he hesitated, watching her silently.

But she ignored him, glancing at him once before continuing the story.

Her soft voice brushed across Tingxu’s heart like a feather.

But when it came time to sleep, Meng Yingying gave no sign of letting him share her bed, so he slunk back to the storage room for the night.