Chu Xia smiled and waved her hand. “It’s okay.”

She didn’t mind at all; after all, Jiang Zhida had always been welcoming to her and An An, so she had no reason to be unhappy.

As the car started, Cen Zhengnian stretched his hand around Chu Xia’s shoulder, pulling her head gently onto his shoulder. “Rest on me for a while. We still have some distance to go before we get home.”

Chu Xia was truly tired and didn’t hesitate. She murmured, “Mm,” and closed her eyes, leaning against his shoulder.

Seeing that Chu Xia was asleep through the rearview mirror, Jiang Zhida drove the car more steadily, trying not to let it bump at all.

As the car gradually approached the alley near their house, the sky started to darken, and there were more bicycles and people on the streets—everyone was heading home after work.

Chu Xia was awakened by the noise.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up, and the jacket that had been covering her fell onto the car seat.

Cen Zhengnian naturally picked up the jacket and asked her if she felt any better and if she was cold.

Chu Xia nodded, then shook her head. “I’m fine. Where are we now?”

She looked out the window at the unfamiliar streets and houses of Beijing, a city she wasn’t familiar with but one that many people would dream of in the future.

“We’re in the alley; it’s not far from home.”

Cen Huai’an was leaning over the back of the front passenger seat, feeding two little puppies.

When Chu Xia was asleep, anytime the puppies wanted to bark, An An would immediately pet their heads and whisper, “Heizi, Huangzi, don’t bark. My mom is sleeping.”

Heizi and Huangzi understood An An’s actions well, and they could understand simple commands.

Since their little owner didn’t want them to bark, they just let out small whimpers, wagging their tails excitedly and nuzzling An An for pets.

They didn’t bark the whole way.

Even Jiang Zhida was amazed at how smart these two little mutts were.

“Mom, are you hungry? I have some cookies here.”

Cen Huai’an had some snacks Chu Xia had packed for him, just in case he got hungry on the train.

Chu Xia, having just woken up, didn’t feel like eating anything, especially cookies.

She shook her head, patted An An’s head, and said, “I’m not eating.”

Just as Cen Zhengnian had said, after a turn, they arrived home not long after.

Cen Zhengnian got out to open the large, red door, and Chu Xia and An An followed him out of the car.

Chu Xia looked up at the Beijing courtyard house.

All she could see were tree branches sprouting from within, and the entrance had several steps flanked by stone lions.

Since the car couldn’t go inside, Jiang Zhida got out to help with the luggage, and An An went to take down the puppy’s cage first.

After opening the door, Cen Zhengnian walked over, took Chu Xia’s hand, and said, “Let’s go in and take a look. If there’s anything you don’t like, we can change it slowly.”

They walked past the steps and through the entrance into a covered walkway, with a bicycle parked inside.

Right opposite the main entrance was a screen wall carved with lucky symbols and bamboo and plum blossom designs.

Walking around the screen wall, they finally saw the entire courtyard of the house.

There were buildings on both sides and in the center.

The east and west wings were on the sides, and the main house was in the middle.

Cen Zhengnian led Chu Xia to the west wing, where he had already set up the room. “The bed and bedding here are new. Chu Xia, do you want to lie down and rest for a bit?”

Cen Zhengnian had lived in this house as a child.

Later, when his parents were transferred to the northwest, the house was left vacant and was taken care of by his uncles.

When he went to college, he would stay here occasionally, but once he started working, the house was left empty again.

Without much time to clean it himself, Cen Zhengnian asked his uncle to help hire someone to tidy up inside and out.

Broken items were thrown away and replaced, and today, Cen Zhengnian had even taken a day off to prepare the house specifically for welcoming Chu Xia and An An.

Actually, when Cen’s grandfather learned that Chu Xia and An An were coming to Beijing today, he wanted to bring them directly to his house and have a nice family meal.

But Cen Zhengnian insisted that after such a long train ride, it would be too exhausting for Chu Xia and An An to meet a bunch of elders right away.

Instead, they should rest at home first, and meeting family could happen anytime.

Grandfather Cen agreed, realizing that in his eagerness to see his granddaughter-in-law and great-grandson, he hadn’t considered their comfort.

So, he let Cen Zhengnian take them home first.

Instead of lying on the bed, Chu Xia asked Cen Zhengnian, “Is there a place to wash up? I’d like to wash my face.”

“There is.”

The house had all the necessary facilities.

Though it had only been restored for a few days, the property itself was well-preserved, with only minor adjustments made to add some modern conveniences.

The bathroom had hot water for showers, and the toilets were fully functional.

Compared to the small building at the family compound, this place was far more convenient.

Especially seeing that she could take a bath, Chu Xia’s eyes lit up.

“I want to take a bath first.” After being on the train for so long, Chu Xia had longed for a proper wash, but she hadn’t mentioned it because she wasn’t sure if it was possible.

Now that she could, she certainly wasn’t going to miss the chance.

“Okay, I’ll get your clothes,” Cen Zhengnian said immediately, with no objections.

Remembering her intimate clothes, Chu Xia’s face flushed, and she quickly stopped him. “I’ll get them myself. You go talk with An An; he has some questions for you.”

Noticing the slight redness of her ears, Cen Zhengnian stopped, a smile tugging at his lips. “Alright.”

He turned and walked over to find An An, who was playing with the two puppies under a large jujube tree in the yard.

Chu Xia quickly grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom.

The soap, towels, and other essentials were all new, and Cen Zhengnian had said the pink ones were hers.

With hot water cascading from the shower, Chu Xia felt completely refreshed.

She had been waiting for the day when she could enjoy a bath at home like this, and now it had finally come true.

When she finished her bath, she found that the courtyard was empty.

Neither Cen Zhengnian, An An, nor the two puppies were around.

While drying her hair with a towel, Chu Xia wandered around the courtyard curiously and found them all in the west wing’s living room.

On the dining table were two multi-tiered wooden lunch boxes.

Cen Zhengnian was the first to notice Chu Xia because he was facing the entrance. He smiled warmly at her and said, “Chu Xia, dinner’s ready. Come and eat.”

Considering that Chu Xia and An An had just arrived, and Cen Zhengnian wasn’t a great cook, he asked Jiang Zhida to buy food from a famous old restaurant.

The dishes from this restaurant were light, not greasy, and had a great taste—perfect for Chu Xia and An An to eat at that moment.

After taking a bath, Chu Xia felt much more refreshed and also hungry.

She responded to the call for dinner, found a dry towel to wrap her hair, and then walked to the living room to eat.

By this time, Cen Zhengnian and Jiang Zhida had already set the table with six dishes and a porridge.

The porridge was a special red date and yam porridge made by the restaurant.

Cen Zhengnian pushed the bowl of porridge towards Chu Xia and said, “Their porridge is always popular. Try it and see if you like it.”

Cen Huai’an also had a bowl of porridge in front of him, and he had already taken several sips. “Mom, it’s delicious,” Cen Huai’an said to Chu Xia, looking up at her as soon as he heard his father’s words.

Jiang Zhida added, “Cousin-in-law, you should try it. If I hadn’t spoken to the owner in advance, this porridge wouldn’t still be available.”

Chu Xia smiled, picked up a spoon, and said, “Since you all say it’s good, it must be.”

She took a sip and immediately, the sweetness of the red dates and the natural sweetness of the rice filled her mouth.

Besides the taste of the food itself, there was a subtle sweetness she couldn’t quite identify, but it blended perfectly with the dish.

The yam was also soft and delicious.

“It’s really good,” Chu Xia said, looking up at the three who were watching her.

When her eyes met Cen Zhengnian’s, she noticed that he was looking at her intently, as if there was another emotion in his gaze.

Feeling a bit shy, Chu Xia quickly looked down and continued to drink the porridge, and before she knew it, she had finished more than half the bowl.

Her stomach felt instantly comfortable.

Cen Zhengnian placed a piece of blanched green vegetable in a small bowl in front of Chu Xia. “Don’t just drink porridge, have some vegetables too.”

Chu Xia noticed Jiang Zhida’s teasing gaze directed at her and Cen Zhengnian, so she quickly said, “I can eat by myself, you don’t have to serve me.”

The blanched greens were also delicious—crisp and refreshing, retaining all the fresh flavor of the vegetables.

Chu Xia couldn’t resist taking another bite.

Simple dishes are often the best way to showcase a chef’s skills.

Although these dishes were all very ordinary, each one had been meticulously prepared, reaching a level that ordinary people couldn’t achieve.

Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an both ate with great enjoyment.

Jiang Zhida didn’t stay long.

After eating, he prepared to leave.

“Cousin-in-law, no need to see me off. I’m very familiar with this area. An An, do you want to come stay at Great-Grandpa’s house with me?” Jiang Zhida teased An An before leaving.

Without thinking, An An shook his head and held onto Chu Xia and Cen Zhengnian’s hands, saying, “I want to stay with Mom and Dad.”

Jiang Zhida raised his hand to rub An An’s head. “Alright then, I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

Cen Zhengnian walked him to the door and closed it as he left.

Just as Jiang Zhida stepped out, Cen Zhengnian was already halfway through closing the door.

Quickly, Jiang Zhida turned back and held the door before it shut completely, asking, “Second Cousin, are you and Cousin-in-law going to Grandpa’s house tomorrow?”

Cen Zhengnian replied, “We’ll see. If we go, I’ll let Grandpa know in advance.”

If he were to visit Grandpa with Chu Xia, he would have to ask her first, just in case she thought going tomorrow was too rushed.

Jiang Zhida smiled knowingly. “I get it, I get it. Second Cousin, I’ve known you all my life, and I’ve never seen you listen to anyone like this before. Cousin-in-law really has a way with you!”

Before Cen Zhengnian could say anything, the boy laughed and quickly jumped away, eager to go home and share the news with his siblings.

When the iron tree finally blooms, it’s truly something remarkable.

Cen Zhengnian glanced at him and casually closed the main door, locking it behind him.

Chu Xia had already brushed her teeth and was thinking about having An An take a bath, but she was worried he wouldn’t clean himself properly.

Just then, Cen Zhengnian came over, and Chu Xia handed the task to him, saying, “Make sure An An brushes his teeth, and don’t forget to put baby cream on him after washing his face.”

Chu Xia pointed at the items on the sink outside the bathroom, then looked at Cen Zhengnian’s face and joked, “You could use some too.”

Cen Zhengnian smiled at her teasing, picked up the baby cream, and seriously examined the ingredients. “Actually, it suits me as well,” he said.

“Really?” Chu Xia leaned in to look at the ingredients, asking about each one, and Cen Zhengnian patiently explained each to her, using his professional knowledge.

His job involved mathematics, physics, chemistry, and mechanical engineering—it was quite complex.

To research and develop things, one needed a rich theoretical background, and of course, theory had to be combined with experiments; otherwise, it was just empty talk.

Unnoticed, Cen Huai’an had come out of the bathroom, leaning against Cen Zhengnian, listening intently and occasionally asking questions.

If Chu Xia hadn’t realized how late it was getting, Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an could have kept talking.

Chu Xia returned to the bedroom first, thinking she wouldn’t fall asleep quickly, but to her surprise, before she could even turn a page of her book, she felt so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open.

She put the book beside her pillow and fell asleep within seconds.

When Cen Zhengnian came back after bathing An An, Chu Xia was already sound asleep.

Cen Huai’an’s room was right next to theirs, with a small 1.5-meter bed that Cen Zhengnian had specially prepared for An An.

The bed was similar in size and design to the one at their family home, so An An didn’t feel unfamiliar.

After tucking An An in, Cen Zhengnian was about to go back to his room to sleep when An An grabbed his hand. “Dad, Mom tells me a bedtime story every night,” he said.

Since Mom hadn’t told him a story tonight, Dad could do it instead.

Cen Zhengnian stopped, turned around, and sat down on An An’s bed. “What story does Mom tell you?” he asked.

An An knew the answer right away: “Confucius Traveling to Different States.”

Ever since Chu Xia returned from her trip to Ninth High, she had been telling An An parts of the story each night.

An An fell asleep quickly, so Chu Xia hadn’t yet finished telling him about all the states Confucius visited.

Cen Zhengnian picked up where Chu Xia had left off.

His voice was calm and steady, full of warmth.

It was soothing for An An, who was already tired from the day’s activities.

Halfway through the story, Cen Zhengnian noticed that An An had already fallen asleep.

He stopped talking and watched An An’s peaceful sleeping face, with his little nose moving slightly with each breath.

A gentle smile appeared on Cen Zhengnian’s face.

He gently pulled the blanket up a little higher on An An, then got up, turned off the light, and quietly left the room.

He entered the bedroom he shared with Chu Xia, where she was also sound asleep.

Her soft breathing was faintly audible, and in her haste to sleep, she hadn’t bothered to fix her hair.

A few strands had fallen across her face, rising and falling with each breath.

Cen Zhengnian reached out, gently tucked her hair behind her ear, and took the book from beside her face.

Only then did he carefully turn off the light and lie down beside her.

The mattress dipped slightly as Cen Zhengnian lay down. Before he could even reach out his hand, Chu Xia instinctively rolled over into his arms, draping her leg over him, finding a comfortable position and continuing to sleep.

Cen Zhengnian felt her soft body against his and silently recited a Buddhist scripture to calm his mind.

She trusted him completely, forgetting that he was a man in his prime.

Chu Xia had a habit of tossing and turning in her sleep, something Cen Zhengnian had long gotten used to.

He knew how to handle it—just by wrapping his arm around her, she would settle down significantly.

Cen Zhengnian didn’t sleep well that night, but Chu Xia had a restful sleep, waking up feeling completely refreshed, with none of the previous day’s fatigue lingering.

The cheerful chirping of birds outside filled the air, adding to the joyful morning.

When Chu Xia first opened her eyes and found herself in an unfamiliar environment, she paused in confusion before remembering she was in Beijing.

As Chu Xia was getting dressed, Cen Zhengnian walked in with a towel in hand.

Seeing that she was awake, he smiled warmly and said, “You’re up. My grandpa would like to meet you. Have you thought about when you’d like to see him?”