◎ He might as well just keep her locked up in bed for the rest of his life ◎

Tao Xiaoxi’s harsh words were directed at herself, but it still became something that lingered on her mind throughout the morning.

At lunch, the old lady made soft pork and cabbage buns. Tao Xiaoxi knew he loved this kind of stuffed bun, so she thought about it for a moment. First, she sent him a message to ask if he had returned to the company. Then, after informing the old lady, she packed some buns and vegetables in an insulated box, along with some tools for removing nail polish, and went to his company.

This was her first time visiting his company. According to A Jian, their company was mostly made up of a bunch of men, except for the finance lady. It was in a small white building with four floors, and his company was on the second floor. It was a spacious, open-plan office, filled with desks. It was lunchtime, so there weren’t many people around. Tao Xiaoxi didn’t see Chen Fang at first. Just as she was about to call him, someone appeared from the corner. “Who are you looking for?”

If Tao Xiaoxi wasn’t mistaken, this should be the finance lady A Jian had mentioned. She remembered that when they got married, people from his company attended, but her mind had been a mess at the time, so she didn’t remember who was who.

“Hello, I’m looking for… Chen Fang.” Tao Xiaoxi wasn’t sure how to address him at his company, so she just said his name.

The finance lady smiled kindly. “You’re A Fang’s wife, right? He told me you were coming. He had something to take care of downstairs. You can wait for him in his office.” She warmly led her to the office.

Tao Xiaoxi was taken aback. She hadn’t told him she was coming, only asked if he was at the company.

The finance lady also brought her a glass of water. “He said he’d be back soon. You can drink some water while you wait. I’ll be outside. If you need anything, just call me.”

Tao Xiaoxi took the water with both hands, thanked her, and told her to go back to her meal. She had seen earlier that the lady seemed to be eating.

His office wasn’t large, just a small room of about ten square meters. It had a desk, a large filing cabinet, a sofa for guests, and a coffee table. It was very clean but also very plain, with no small potted plants.

She glanced around the room, then sat down on the sofa next to the desk. She continued chatting with Jiang Youlin. Jiang Youlin had taken a leave to be with her mom for a while and would be back the next day. With the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, she’d have almost half a month off. It was both a happy and an unlucky thing because during that half month, she couldn’t avoid one thing—blind dates.

Jiang Youlin was complaining, asking if Tao Xiaoxi had found out who was ranked second among the Four Great Knights yet. If she had to enter the “marriage grave” one day, she wanted to choose someone who could make her happy for a long time.

Tao Xiaoxi lazily reclined on the sofa, half-heartedly replying, “Sometimes, lasting too long might not be a good thing.”

After sending the message, she realized what she had just said. She had stayed up too late last night and woke up too early this morning, so her brain was still in a daze. She quickly tried to unsend it.

But it was already too late. Jiang Youlin had already seen it. She was excited, “You’re taking happiness for granted! A full man doesn’t understand the hunger of an empty man! Lasting too long isn’t a good thing?! Are you trying to make me jealous?! If you want to keep our friendship, don’t say such things again!!!”

Tao Xiaoxi: …

She didn’t mean to offend Jiang Youlin, so she typed back, “I meant you can’t just look at lasting power; technique is just as important.”

Uh… she wasn’t even sure what she meant herself.

Jiang Youlin responded with even more excitement, “Does that mean your man’s technique is bad?!?!”

… Was that what she meant? She just wanted to tell her that when choosing a partner, it’s about people and fate, not just the so-called ranking of the “Four Great Knights.”

Jiang Youlin, not waiting for a reply, had already made her conclusion, “Well, no one can have everything. He’s already at the top in one category, so his technique might be just okay.”

… She couldn’t let anyone question his abilities. A husband and wife are one, and she had to defend his reputation and capabilities.

She quickly typed back, “His technique is really good,” but then deleted it halfway. “Really good” sounded like there might still be room for improvement, so she retyped, “His technique is excellent.”

… Jiang Youlin went silent. She decided to “break up” with Tao Xiaoxi for five minutes.

Tao Xiaoxi felt that she had… probably lost her friend for good, but there was no way to take it back now.

The sound of light music came from outside the window. Tao Xiaoxi got up and walked over. Across the street was a kindergarten, and the children were dancing along to the music. Every child was dancing differently, and in the last row, two kids bumped into each other while dancing. She couldn’t help but smile. They were just too cute.

Tao Xiaoxi watched the little ones outside and drifted into thought. If they had a child, it would probably be this cute.

As soon as she realized what she was thinking, she quickly pulled herself back. She wasn’t ready to be anyone’s mother yet, but… he would probably be a good father.

Just as Tao Xiaoxi was about to close the window, her eyes stopped at a street corner not far below. There, she saw two people—one man and one woman.

The man, of course, she recognized. He was the “good father” she had just been thinking about.

The woman, she also recognized. It was Huang Zhenzhu, her hair dyed a shiny gold, like the color of actual gold, so bright that it almost hurt the eyes. She was wearing oversized sunglasses, despite the gloomy weather. Tao Xiaoxi even wondered if she could see clearly with them on.

The two of them were standing not too close to each other. Huang Zhenzhu was excitedly saying something, while Chen Fang had a half-burned cigarette in his mouth, his face expressionless and cold.

At first glance, this scene shouldn’t have caused any misunderstanding, but Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She found it strange that she was feeling uncomfortable—she never used to feel this way before.

His eyes lifted slightly in her direction, and Tao Xiaoxi instinctively took a step back. Suddenly, she understood what was bothering her.

She didn’t like seeing him with other women, especially a woman who clearly had feelings for him, even if he had drawn a line.

Chen Fang noticed the fleeting figure outside the window. He took the cigarette from his mouth and snuffed it out in the nearby trash can, signaling that he had no intention of continuing to listen to Huang Zhenzhu.

What Huang Zhenzhu was talking about wasn’t something Chen Fang hadn’t thought about before.

In his childhood, he remembered how close his father was to Huang Baodeng. His father often spoke fondly of “Uncle Huang,” and whenever his father had to travel, Huang Baodeng would come over to look after the house. The old lady and his mother were very grateful to him, and the old lady had once mentioned that Liu Meifen, Huang Zhenzhu’s mother, was introduced to Huang Baodeng by her. At that time, the two families were very close.

After his parents passed away, Huang Baodeng gradually became more successful, and the two families’ relationship started to fade.

When the old lady got sick, Huang Baodeng found him and told him that his father’s friendship with him hadn’t been in vain. Even after achieving success, he hadn’t forgotten them. He said they couldn’t accept the money, but they had to remember the favor.

Chen Fang sold the family’s old house and borrowed some money from Old Zhou to cover the old lady’s medical expenses. After she was discharged, he withdrew from school.

The old lady and Old Zhou were upset with him for dropping out, but for Chen Fang, spending a few more years in a field he had no interest in to get a degree seemed pointless. He wasn’t cut out for studying, and there was no need to waste any more time. In today’s society, as long as someone was willing to work hard and put in effort, they could find their own path.

When Huang Baodeng found out Chen Fang had dropped out, he went to see the old lady, offering to take Chen Fang under his wing. The old lady was naturally thrilled, believing it would be better for him to have someone familiar looking out for him than to venture out on his own. Huang Baodeng suggested he join his main company, but Chen Fang ultimately chose to join a construction team. The main reasons were that it was his father’s old profession, and he knew his own limitations—no education, no experience. It was better to start from the bottom and work his way up. Where he could go would depend entirely on his own abilities.

Huang Baodeng told his subordinates that Chen Fang was the son of his best friend and asked them to take extra care of him. To outsiders, it seemed like Huang Baodeng treated him well. However, Chen Fang noticed that when Huang Baodeng smiled at him, there was always a hint of coldness in his eyes. At first, he thought it was just his imagination.

Chen Fang became suspicious when Huang Baodeng started asking him to handle various matters, claiming it was to train him for the future. He was cautious because the old lady had pinned all her hopes on him, so he had to be careful not to make any mistakes.

After declining a few times, Huang Baodeng pressed him further, saying that being too honest was good, but sometimes, being overly honest could come off as clueless. He reminded him that if his father had only followed him back then, things would have turned out differently.

The next day after that conversation, Chen Fang told Huang Baodeng he was leaving. He explained bluntly that he was his father’s son and couldn’t do what his father couldn’t. If he went against his father’s principles, he wouldn’t be able to face him in the afterlife. He apologized in a way that wasn’t disrespectful but also didn’t give Huang Baodeng much face.

Huang Baodeng snorted, “You really are just like your father.” His sentence was abruptly cut off, but Chen Fang could hear the disdain in his tone when he spoke about his father. He had always been unsure of where this resentment came from, but after thinking about Huang Baodeng’s half-finished sentence and recalling the way Liu Meifen spoke to him in the past, he started to piece things together.

Hearing Huang Zhenzhu’s words today only confirmed his suspicions.

“Brother Ah Fang, when I was young, I didn’t understand why he and Uncle Chen had such a close relationship. Every time he got drunk at home, he would rant about Uncle Chen. I thought he was just drunk and throwing a fit, but now I understand he liked Aunt Chen. He hated… Uncle Chen marrying Aunt Chen.”

Chen Fang interrupted her, “So you came here just to tell me this?”

Huang Zhenzhu stiffened a little at his words.

She had come to apologize for things she said in the past, but she knew he didn’t need it. Who would care about an apology from someone insignificant?

Back then, when he insisted on leaving her father’s side, she went to him drunk, angry that he couldn’t seize the opportunity to work with her father. She was even more upset that he kept rejecting her advances. She was Huang Baodeng’s only daughter, and so many people were desperate to get close to her. Yet, he kept his distance, focusing only on his work. She couldn’t understand why he didn’t realize that if he married her, he wouldn’t have to worry about working on the construction site all day for money.

At that time, she pointed at him and shouted, “You’re just like Uncle Chen. My father always says Uncle Chen was too stubborn to work with him. And what happened? Aunt Chen followed him and suffered, even losing her life. Brother Ah Fang, if you were with me, all my father’s assets would be yours. Don’t say your family owes money, even if it were dozens or hundreds of times more; you could easily pay it off. Uncle Chen’s fate was his own doing. It’s just a pity for Aunt Chen. Why don’t you learn from the lesson? If you leave my father’s side, what will you do? Do you want to follow the same path as Uncle Chen?”

After waking up from the alcohol, Huang Zhenzhu wanted to strangle herself. However, she knew that her outburst had ruined the last bit of the connection between her and Chen Fang from their childhood. Even pretending to be drunk and forgetful wouldn’t help anymore.

Taking a deep breath, Huang Zhenzhu said, “Brother Ah Fang, I’m getting married next month. The wedding has already been scheduled.”

“Congratulations,” Chen Fang replied while checking his watch. “I have something to do later, so I won’t invite you up for tea.”

Huang Zhenzhu watched as he turned and walked away without hesitation. Her eyes reddened behind her sunglasses. She had noticed the red mark on his hand, and the only person who could leave such a mark on him was his new wife. She couldn’t think of anyone else.

For the longest time, Huang Zhenzhu had thought that Chen Fang liked Zhou Ying. She even tried to mimic Zhou Ying’s clothing and hairstyle, thinking that he had married that woman only because he had reached the right age and his grandmother was pressuring him to have children. So, he hastily married someone who seemed “suitable.”

But just a few days ago, a comment from Wan Jingjing made everything clear to her. Wan Jingjing had pointed out that Chen Fang wasn’t the type to have a secret crush. If he really liked Zhou Ying, he wouldn’t have let her marry someone else. He certainly wouldn’t have attended her wedding, given her a gift, and acted so indifferently. If he had liked her, he would have taken action and stopped the wedding. Chen Fang was not someone who would put up with that kind of thing. If he got married, it must have been because he liked the person.

Huang Zhenzhu’s nose tingled. Chen Fang was so deeply in love that he let her act recklessly, and still, he didn’t care. He wore that red nail polish with pride, clearly wanting the world to know how much he adored his wife.

Chen Fang, meanwhile, was walking and trying to reach someone on the phone. The call went unanswered, so he quickened his pace. He passed a vendor selling candied hawthorns, a treat his wife loved. Without waiting for a reply, he texted her: “Do you want some candied hawthorns?”

When he got back upstairs, the office was empty. The finance lady came out of the breakroom holding a lunchbox. “Ah Fang, your wife just left. She said something urgent came up, but she left your lunch on your desk.”

Chen Fang nodded, acknowledging the information.

At his desk, there was a thermos, a small brown bottle—probably the nail polish remover she mentioned—and a piece of paper with a drawing of a rabbit with drooping ears, along with a note: “It’s over, Chen Fang, you made the white rabbit turn green.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he dialed another number. This time, someone picked up.

“Where are you?” he asked.

Tao Xiaoxi let out a soft snort. “Where else would I be? I’m home.”

“Why didn’t you wait for me?”

She snorted again, clearly annoyed. “You went to meet another woman, and you still expect me to wait for you in the office? You’re too much.”

“I just happened to run into her downstairs.”

“How convenient! All these ‘coincidences’ are too well-planned.”

Chen Fang chuckled softly. “I don’t think it’s the white rabbit turning green. It sounds more like the white rabbit drank a bottle of vinegar. I can even smell the sourness through the phone.”

Tao Xiaoxi retorted, “You’re the one with the smell.”

“Even if I do smell, it should be your scent. Don’t forget, I was with you all night last night…”

Before he could finish, she hung up on him.

A few seconds later, a WeChat message arrived: “Just a friendly reminder, you’re using it a lot these days. Be careful, as you get older, it might not work as well. After all… you know what happened the first time…”

Chen Fang sneered and replied, “Don’t worry about me. Even if I end up ‘no good’ later on, when you want it, I’ll find a way to satisfy you. How about we try something else tonight? You can experience it early.”

Tao Xiaoxi threw her phone onto the passenger seat, muttering angrily that he was a pervert and a flirt.

The green light flashed, and she stepped on the gas, heading towards her parents’ house. Her dad, Tao Wenyong, had invited her over for dinner. They were making steamed meat, sausages, and a dish called ‘meat buns’. She could already smell the aroma in the hallway. As soon as she entered the door, she made a beeline for the kitchen, just in time to see the meat buns coming off the stove. However, before she could even grab chopsticks, someone patted her on the back.

“Go wash your hands,” her mother, Meng Qing, said disapprovingly. She couldn’t stand people who entered the house without washing their hands.

Tao Xiaoxi didn’t dare argue and obediently went to the sink. Meng Qing followed her, and Tao Xiaoxi thought her mother was going to supervise her. She sighed, “Mom, do you really think I can’t wash my hands properly?”

Meng Qing raised her eyebrow, “You’re what, in your thirties? I’m still going to make sure you wash them properly. But there’s something I need to ask you.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“Ask Chen Fang if he knows any young men suitable for Xiaoxiao.”

Tao Xiaoxi froze. What was with everyone suddenly being so eager to play matchmaker? It must be that time of year when single people feel pressured by the upcoming holiday season.

Tao Xiaoxi replied, “Chen Fang knows a lot of young men, but aside from whether they’re suitable for Xiaoxiao, would Second Aunt even approve? Most of the guys around him don’t meet her educational standards.”

Second Aunt had very specific requirements for a son-in-law. Education was at the top of the list, and she believed that her daughter hadn’t inherited a good head for studying. So, any future son-in-law must be well-educated, ensuring better genes for their children. Second Uncle joked that Second Aunt was being unreasonable, but Second Aunt insisted that it was all for the future grandchildren.

Meng Qing replied, “It’s your Second Aunt who asked me to ask you.”

“Huh? When did she suddenly change her mind?”

Meng Qing clicked her tongue, “Who knows? Just ask. Find someone who is upright, hardworking, and whose family is reasonable—nothing too crooked.”

There were plenty of candidates who met those criteria among Chen Fang’s circle. However, the ideal match might be A Jian. He and Xiaoxiao got along well, but A Jian had already been promised to Chuntao by the elderly lady.

“I’ll ask him later, but Mom, you’re not lying to me, right? Is there really a problem with Second Aunt? What if we find someone suitable, but then Second Aunt doesn’t like him, it’d be awkward. And it wouldn’t be easy to deal with Chen Fang’s side either.”

Meng Qing glanced at her with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “You’re really on his side. You’re already thinking about whether he’d be easy to deal with before anything even happens.”

…

Tao Xiaoxi replied softly, “Am I really on his side? It’s just common sense. Besides… even if I were on his side, what’s wrong with that?”

Meng Qing showed a faint smile. “You can ask if you want. I never realized you were so talkative. As a mother, I just want someone who truly cares for my daughter. Your Second Aunt thinks Chen Fang would make a good son-in-law. He seems like a decent person, so he should be fine.”

“Oh,” Tao Xiaoxi asked curiously, “What made Second Aunt think Chen Fang is a good son-in-law?”

Tao Wenyong chimed in from the side. “It was just the other day when your Second Uncle and Second Aunt’s car broke down. Chen Fang happened to be passing by, so he fixed their car and even took them to the 4S shop for a full inspection and maintenance. The shop is his friend’s, and he didn’t charge them a single penny.”

Tao Xiaoxi hadn’t heard about this. She laughed, “So that’s supposed to prove he’s a good son-in-law? The cost for all that maintenance can’t have been much. Second Aunt is pretty easy to please.”

Meng Qing responded, “It’s not about the money. I wouldn’t have known if your Second Aunt hadn’t told me. I doubt you knew about it either. He put in the effort—his time, his connections—just because it’s your Second Uncle and Second Aunt. I actually admire this side of him. He handles things efficiently and thoughtfully without showing off. Unlike some men, who make a big deal out of doing small things for their wife’s family, bragging about it to the world, and making their in-laws treat them like benefactors. I really don’t like that kind of person.”

Tao Xiaoxi picked up a piece of braised meat, dipped it in the chili garlic sauce Tao Wenyong had just made, and stuffed it into her mouth. “Mom, your attitude has changed a bit too quickly. It hasn’t even been long. Sure, a mother-in-law usually likes her son-in-law more as time goes on, but we should at least hold out until after the New Year. We can’t fall for it so soon.”

Meng Qing glared at her. “Just eat your food. You can’t even keep quiet while eating.”

Tao Wenyong laughed. “Your mom’s just a bit embarrassed. After all these years, it’s rare to see her embarrassed about anything.”

Meng Qing immediately kicked Tao Wenyong under the table.

Tao Xiaoxi arrived at the old lady’s house with a big bag of food. The old lady clapped her hands and laughed, “You brought half of your mom’s kitchen back with you.”

Tao Xiaoxi laughed too. “Mom made a lot, so I brought some for you to try.”

Since Chen Fang wasn’t coming home for dinner, the old lady made some porridge and used the things Tao Xiaoxi brought to prepare a full spread. Tao Xiaoxi had eaten only a little in the afternoon, so she was full again by dinner. Afterward, she went upstairs and dug out an old hula hoop, planning to turn it around and work off the food. Some people gain ten pounds over the New Year, but if she keeps eating like this, she might gain fifteen before the holiday even ends.

When Chen Fang came home, Tao Xiaoxi was turning the hula hoop, sweating all over. She could have continued, but when he stood not far away, watching her, she suddenly lost strength, and the hula hoop fell straight to the floor.

His eyes were obviously a bit tipsy, and he’d clearly had more than a little.

Tao Xiaoxi wiped the sweat off her forehead. “Aren’t you going to take a shower? Why are you just standing there?”

Her hair was loosely pinned up, and beads of sweat clung to her neck, with a few strands sticking to her flushed face. She was still catching her breath, and anyone who saw her like this would know she was working out with the hula hoop. But if someone didn’t know better, they might think she’d been doing something else.

Chen Fang took a few steps forward, and Tao Xiaoxi stepped back a bit, wrinkling her nose. “Keep your distance. You smell like alcohol.”

Chen Fang laughed lightly. “Even with all the alcohol on me, I can’t overpower the sourness on you.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, bending down to sniff her neck. “Why does it smell even more sour than earlier?”

“You’re the sour one.” Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t break free, so she twisted his wrist. His nails had already lost their red color, cleaned off nicely. She added more pressure, and soon his wrist turned red. She let go immediately, realizing she couldn’t be too hard on him.

Chen Fang pinched her nose. “I just ran into her downstairs and said a few words. You don’t believe me?”

Tao Xiaoxi kicked the hula hoop on the floor, not looking at him. “I believe you. I just don’t like it. I don’t like seeing you standing with other women.”

Chen Fang froze, as if something had pricked his heart. He looked into her eyes. “I won’t stand with anyone again, okay?” He explained, “You saw it too. That wasn’t really standing together. I was eight feet away from her.”

Tao Xiaoxi snorted. “You should be glad you were far away. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here turning a hula hoop. I’d be out looking for some other guy.”

…

Chen Fang thought, he might as well just keep her in bed for the rest of his life.