Luo Dafu furrowed his brow deeply, reluctant to make the request.

He had saved Cen’s father back in the day and had taken pride in being a savior.

Later, when his wife suggested using that favor to establish a lasting connection, his pride had diminished.

Now, having to beg for help felt like a blow to his ego.

Wang Yulan could see her husband’s reluctance and gently persuaded him, “He owes you a life. Without you saving him back then, he wouldn’t have his current success. Cen Zhengnian is still your son-in-law and his father’s savior. He should at least be more considerate. Shouldn’t you mention our difficulties and ask him to help Chuming? He’s in charge of the military, so arranging a job shouldn’t be a problem.”

Luo Dafu recalled the grievances he faced from Cen Zhengnian and Chuxia and felt his anger flare up.

He slammed the table and stood up. “You’re right! I need to call the old general. His son can’t treat me, his savior, like this!”

Luo Dage’s wife had been eavesdropping on the conversation.

Anger flashed in her eyes as she turned to her husband, who was lying on the bed and not doing anything.

She walked over and kicked him.

“Look at how your mother favors your younger brother. When there’s no job, she looks for connections, but when it comes to our house, why didn’t she look for help?”

Luo Dage, covering his head with the blanket, replied, “My mother tried, but what could my sister’s family do to help?”

“I’ve really had enough of this. You don’t care, so I will!”

Luo Dag3’s wife stormed out and said, “Mom, don’t just handle Chuming’s job issue. We also need to talk to Dad about our house division…”

Soon, the Luo family was in chaos again, but Cen’s father did receive Luo Dafu’s call.

---

The next day, Chuxia felt her forehead and sighed with relief, realizing she wasn’t sick.

Chuxia went to work unaware, but Cen Zhengnian received a call from his father.

“Zhengnian, your father-in-law called me.”

The call was made to the office of the Textile Factory Director, not to the small shop where Cen’s father didn’t have the number.

The director left the office to provide Cen Zhengnian with enough privacy to speak with his father.

“Dad, I already mentioned this to you.”

Actually, Cen Zhengnian hadn’t done much to cause the Luo family’s troubles.

He only gave them some trouble himself, noticing that he wasn’t the only one acting against them.

He decided to watch the situation unfold.

Sure enough, Luo Chuming soon faced issues.

This was trouble of their own making—those who do wrong will eventually face consequences.

When Cen Zhengnian said he would seek justice for Chuxia and An An, he had informed his father beforehand.

Cen’s father was very angry with the Luo family’s actions and told his son to handle it himself.

He knew his son wouldn’t be ruthless but would make the Luo family learn a lesson.

However, Luo Dafu had sought him out again.

“Zhengnian, I can’t help with this.”

The gap that Luo Dafu sought couldn’t be opened further.

Cen’s father had repaid all the favors owed to him.

He had arranged Luo Dafu’s military transfer and helped him in the factory as well.

The connection ended with their marriage.

Cen Zhengnian understood his father’s stance and knew it wasn’t easy to find a job for Luo Chuming.

Without the right skills and knowledge, arranging a position was difficult.

Cen’s father couldn’t repeatedly use his connections.

He was also under scrutiny in his position, and Cen Zhengnian had built his career on his own efforts.

“Dad, leave this to me. If he calls you again, don’t answer. Have the guards tell him to come to me.”

Cen’s father frowned. “Zhengnian…”

Cen Zhengnian looked out at the yellowing leaves and said coldly, “I know what I’m doing.”

Cen’s father was reassured and left the matter alone.

Luo Dafu’s expectations of Cen’s father’s intervention didn’t materialize.

Instead, he was so enraged by his son and daughter-in-law that he nearly had a stroke.

Fortunately, his younger son brought good news.

“Mom! You don’t need to have Dad ask Cen Zhengnian for help. I found a better job!”

After Luo Dafu received the message from Cen’s father’s guards, he was in no mood to seek help from a younger generation.

Cen Zhengnian wasn’t going to come forward voluntarily, so the issue remained unresolved.

Wang Yulan’s daily lamentations were in vain.

Luo Chuming, unable to stay home, kept running around and came back one day excitedly, proudly showing off his achievements to Wang Yulan.

“What good job?” Wang Yulan asked eagerly, her previous worries fading.

Luo Chuming didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he showed her a bundle of cash in his pocket. “Mom, look at this. Isn’t it much better than working at the factory?”

Wang Yulan was initially shocked, then delighted, and finally worried. “Chuming, you’re not doing anything illegal, are you?”

Luo Chuming waved his hand dismissively. “Mom, you know me. Do you remember Brother Sheng from the bus station? His entire team runs the routes around here. I’m working with him now. I earned all this just from a few local runs!”

Wang Yulan’s face turned pale. “No, no. Transport work is too dangerous. No matter how much you earn, you can’t do it!”

Luo Chuming, focused solely on money, dismissed her concerns. “I’m not running out of the province. Brother Sheng said they’re familiar with the nearby routes, and I’m just a dispatcher. Nothing will happen.”

….

When Chu Xia got home from work, she found a small bed added to the house.

Cen Zhengnian was in the back room, his shirt sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, hammering in the bed.

“When did you make this bed?” Chu Xia walked over and touched the bed’s board and sides.

It was coated with a layer of varnish, smooth and free from splinters that could hurt a child’s skin.

Cen Zhengnian wiped his sweat with his elbow and said, “A few days ago.”

It was the day when Chu Xia mentioned that the house was small; he had already started paying attention to getting a bed.

He had also been looking for a suitable house.

Although the family quarters were small, they were close to the textile factory, and the area was safe with the police station nearby.

He had found a few larger houses, but they all needed extensive renovation and were farther from the factory, in areas with mixed types of residents.

He decided to give up on those.

Finding the right place was difficult, and he didn’t want to raise Chu Xia’s hopes only to disappoint her.

After securing the bed’s backrest with the hammer, Cen Zhengnian stood up, shook the bed to make sure it was stable, and turned to smile at Chu Xia. “It’s done.”

Because of the work, Cen Zhengnian’s shirt sleeves were still rolled up, revealing his strong, muscular arms.

His current appearance combined scholarly demeanor with a rugged strength, creating a complex and attractive aura.

Chu Xia felt his physical presence strongly. She tried to keep her eyes away from his arms and focused on the bed instead.

“Will Huai’an be willing to sleep here alone at night?”

Cen Zhengnian paused briefly, then slowly rolled down his sleeves and said, “Whether he’s willing or not, he needs to get used to it.”

It was normal for children to sleep alone as they grew up.

Cen Zhengnian had also slept alone at an early age.

Now that Huai’an was five years old, it was the right age for him to sleep alone.

When Huai’an came back from kindergarten, he was informed by his parents that he would be sleeping alone that night.

Contrary to Chu Xia’s concerns, he didn’t fuss or feel scared; in fact, he seemed a bit excited.

“Mom, if I sleep here alone, will you and Dad sleep on that bed?”

“Yes,” Chu Xia nodded. “Will you be scared?”

Cen Huai’an shook his head. “No. We’re still in the same room. Why would I be scared?”

He wasn’t afraid even when his mother didn’t cuddle him to sleep.

Chu Xia intended to comfort Huai’an but found it unnecessary as he had already gotten ready for bed by himself, washed up, and covered himself with the blanket.

Since he wouldn’t be sharing a bed with his mother, she wouldn’t have her leg pressed against him anymore.

With this thought in mind, Huai’an fell asleep soundly before Cen Zhengnian had finished telling him his bedtime story.

Chu Xia couldn’t believe it. “He just fell asleep like that?”

Cen Zhengnian nodded with a smile. “Yes.”

Chu Xia said, “Huai’an really is different from other kids.”

Cen Zhengnian agreed, although every parent thinks their child is unique.

After Chu Xia finished her bath and lay in bed, she looked at Huai’an sleeping on the small bed.

He looked even more adorable in sleep, with long eyelashes resting on his cheeks, making one want to touch him.

“What are you looking at?”

Suddenly, a tall and warm figure lay down beside her.

The invading presence was undeniable.

Chu Xia: !!!

She had forgotten that without Huai’an between them, she and Cen Zhengnian would have to share the same bed!

Chu Xia felt flustered, unable to think clearly, and could hear her heart racing rapidly.

“Nothing…”

She turned over, facing away from Cen Zhengnian, her body tensed.

She wasn’t ready for bed yet!

“Chu Xia, Huai’an is asleep.”

Cen Zhengnian’s strong arm wrapped around her from behind, enveloping her in warmth.

This made her face flush and her body soften.

“I…”

Chu Xia tried to think of an excuse. As a couple, it wasn’t reasonable for her to keep rejecting Cen Zhengnian.

He might suspect something.

His hand gently held hers, his voice soothing. “Don’t be nervous.”

“I’m not nervous.”

Chu Xia suddenly turned, grabbing Cen Zhengnian’s hand. “Zhengnian…”

She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and quickly said, “Not tonight. I don’t want to get pregnant again.”

Cen Zhengnian’s expression froze, understanding her concern.

He knew more than Chu Xia about their situation; they didn’t have contraceptives at home, and Chu Xia’s health wasn’t fully recovered.

Getting pregnant again could be more damaging.

Cen Zhengnian gently patted Chu Xia’s shoulder in reassurance. “I didn’t consider this thoroughly. Let’s sleep.”

Chu Xia wanted to push Cen Zhengnian’s arm away since it made sleeping uncomfortable.

But he held her tightly, and in the end, she didn’t struggle.

Instead, she felt warm, with her hands and feet no longer cold.