When Cen Huai’an got off the train, he was covered in the mixed smells from the journey, which weren’t pleasant.

He felt very tired, and the Luo family no longer mattered much to him.

He had grown up, gained close family, found the love he wanted, and developed the ability to protect himself.

The scars from his past had faded; seeing the Luo family would hurt him, but it wouldn’t harm him anymore.

In fact, he even hoped they would act more outrageously, giving him a better reason to fight back.

At this moment, however, Cen Huai’an didn’t think about the Luo family at all.

After sitting on the hard seat train for so long, all he wanted was to get home quickly, take a shower, and rest.

As soon as he exited the station, he saw Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian waiting at the exit.

One wore a thick wine-red scarf and matching hat, with only her eyes visible, making it hard to discern her features.

The other was dressed in a black coat with a gray scarf, hands casually tucked into his pockets, scanning the crowd.

When their eyes met, Cen Zhengnian’s face broke into a faint smile, and the coldness brought by the biting wind disappeared entirely.

Chuxia also spotted Cen Huai’an, her eyes sparkling with a crescent-shaped smile, and she waved vigorously at him.

In that moment, Cen Huai’an felt a sudden tranquility in his heart, like a fledgling bird that had flown for a long time and finally returned to its parents’ nest.

His steps quickened as he ran towards them, stopping right in front of Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian, still breathing evenly.

“Dad, Mom.”

Chuxia suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, looking him up and down carefully. “The Luo family didn’t give you a hard time, did they?”

Cen Huai’an shook his head. “I didn’t see them afterwards. But their lives shouldn’t be too easy from now on.”

Chuxia wasn’t concerned about that; she only cared whether Cen Huai’an was okay.

Now that she confirmed he was fine, the worry she’d held for the past few days finally eased. “Let’s go home. What do you want to eat?”

Cen Zhengnian stepped forward to take the suitcase from Cen Huai’an, but he sidestepped. “I can carry it myself. Mom, I want sweet and sour ribs.”

Cen Huai’an’s voice was still that of a clear-voiced youth, carrying a unique steadiness, but Chuxia could still detect a hint of affection in his tone. “Okay, when we get home, I’ll have your dad go buy ribs.”

Cen Zhengnian walked at the outer edge of the road, protecting the two of them while observing their surroundings.

He responded with an “mm,” his mind not only on the ribs but also planning what else to buy.

As Cen Huai’an reached the car, he suddenly remembered he had forgotten to inform his teacher; they were supposed to ride back together.

When he saw Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian, he couldn’t think of anyone else.

Turning around, he saw Teacher Jiang still at the exit, calling out the names of students.

He shouted loudly, and Teacher Jiang turned to wave at him, signaling that she understood.

Only then did Cen Huai’an get into the car.

Chuxia wanted to sit in the back with him, but Cen Zhengnian opened the front passenger door, smiling at Chuxia, and gestured invitingly. “I don’t want to just be the driver.”

Chuxia chuckled, “An’an, your dad won’t be able to part with your mom in a bit.”

Cen Huai’an was very understanding. “It’s okay, Mom, you can sit in front.”

Chuxia called Cen Zhengnian stingy and, following his lead, sat in the passenger seat as the car pulled away from the train station.

“Dad, Mom, I ranked in the top three in the National Olympiad Math Competition, so I’ve earned a spot in the Winter Camp for the Huaguo Math Olympics.”

Chuxia immediately turned her head back, unable to hide her joy; it was pure happiness for Cen Huai’an’s achievement. “Congratulations, An’an!”

Cen Huai’an’s mouth curled into a smile, the fatigue from the train ride dissipating significantly.

Cen Zhengnian didn’t turn back, but he felt just as pleased for Cen Huai’an, his eyes brimming with joy.

“Congratulations, An’an.” His words, the same as Chuxia’s, made Cen Huai’an even happier.

Chuxia knew train rides could be tiring; she didn’t press Cen Huai’an about the competition or what had happened in Liangzhou.

In the quiet car, Cen Huai’an slowly leaned his head against the car window and closed his eyes.

Chuxia saw through the rearview mirror that Cen Huai’an had fallen asleep, and so did Cen Zhengnian.

They exchanged a glance, slowing the car down and driving more steadily.

Cen Huai’an hadn’t fallen into a deep sleep; as soon as the car stopped, he opened his eyes, seeing the familiar houses and courtyard of home, feeling even more relaxed.

“Dad, Mom, I’m going to shower first.”

Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian left him a note and went out to buy groceries.

At that moment, besides the family members taking care of their children, there was no one else at home.

As the early summer (Chuxia) and Cen Zhengnian were walking out, many people greeted them enthusiastically, asking where they were going.

Chuxia casually replied, “Buying groceries,” and hurriedly left, escaping the prying eyes of their gossiping neighbors.

What people would say about her after they left didn’t matter much; no one was spared from being the topic of others’ conversations.

At the market, there weren’t many vegetables left, but they managed to buy some pork ribs, chicken, and even found good ones.

They also picked up some cabbage. Winter vegetables like greens weren’t available, so everyone relied on radishes, potatoes, and cabbage.

Occasionally, if they were lucky, some farmers would bring their homegrown greens to sell, which Chuxia always made sure to buy.

Cen Zhengnian carried the pork ribs and a pile of vegetables, while Chuxia only carried her bag, looking relaxed in contrast to him.

When they returned, Cen Huai’an had already gone back to his room to rest.

Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian busied themselves in the kitchen preparing lunch.

“Zhengnian, help me wash the ribs,” Chuxia requested.

Cen Zhengnian’s cooking skills had always been basic—if it was edible, it was good enough.

Because of this, Chuxia seldom let him cook, unless it was something simple like dumplings or noodles.

Zhengnian, with his elegant, jade-like fingers, carefully washed the ribs piece by piece, as though conducting a delicate experiment.

Chuxia had finished chopping the green onions and ginger and prepared the seasonings like rock sugar and star anise.

She turned to look at Zhengnian beside the sink, her eyes drawn to his hands as they rinsed under the water.

“I always feel like your hands were made for holding a pen, doing calculations, and research. Washing ribs seems like a waste.”

“It’s not a waste,” Cen Zhengnian replied, bringing out the clean ribs, with water droplets still clinging to his fingers. “Without food, none of the things you mentioned would be possible. Food is a basic need, and I’m human too.”

He lowered his head, his eyes meeting Chuxia’s, as he placed the ribs beside the chopping board.

His smile was warm, and his voice was like a gentle spring breeze—soft and slow, yet with a touch of down-to-earth warmth.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Chuxia said, blushing as the atmosphere between them shifted, suddenly filled with tension and warmth, even in the cold winter kitchen.

Ignoring her request, Cen Zhengnian leaned in closer, his lips brushing against hers briefly.

Startled, Chuxia quickly glanced toward the living room.

“An’an’s home.”

“It’s fine,” Cen Zhengnian replied casually, showing no concern. “He’s asleep in his room; he won’t wake up.”

With that, he kissed her again, this time not just a light peck but with the intensity of a predator claiming its prey, unrelenting and passionate.

Surrounded by Zhengnian’s fiery breath, Chuxia’s heart raced, and a forbidden thrill welled up from deep within her.

Her face flushed even more than usual, a tingling sensation spreading through her back, making her legs weak.

His strong fingers, just moments ago delicately washing ribs, were now firmly holding her, rubbing her waist.

When the kiss ended, Chuxia collapsed into Zhengnian’s arms, gasping for breath.

“No…no more,” she pleaded, not wanting things to escalate further, knowing they wouldn’t be able to finish cooking lunch.

Cen Zhengnian sighed with regret, waiting for Chuxia to catch her breath before slowly letting her go, his fingers lingering on her waist, savoring the soft touch.

To avoid further “dangerous encounters,” Chuxia quickly directed Zhengnian to various tasks, trying to keep things under control.

The earlier moment was too intense, and now she couldn’t look at the door to Cen Huai’an’s room without feeling nervous.

After all, her son was home, and if he saw his parents being too intimate, she’d be mortified.

By the time they all sat down for lunch, Chuxia had managed to regain her composure.

She turned to Cen Huai’an, asking about his competition.

“It wasn’t too difficult,” Cen Huai’an replied. The questions were novel and complex, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

However, solving them using only high school knowledge had required more mental effort.

He thought to himself that if he hadn’t started studying college-level math so early, it would have been easier to stick to the basics without accidentally revealing his advanced understanding.

Chuxia asked about the Luo family, and Cen Huai’an responded briefly.

By then, the ribs were almost all gone, devoured by Cen Huai’an and Cen Zhengnian.

Cen Zhengnian picked up the last rib and offered it to Chuxia, who looked at the nearly empty plate with a bemused expression.

“Are you two only going to eat this one dish?”

Zhengnian handed her some of the other food. “This one’s the best,” he said.

Cen Huai’an nodded in agreement.

Chuxia: … These two, father and son, sharing the same love for sweet dishes.