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Upon arriving at the ward, Yu Jing Ze placed the two bouquets of flowers on the coffee table.
Ms. Lan barely lifted her eyelids and remained silent. She was still angry and unwilling to be the first to make amends. She couldn’t forgive such “ungrateful” children.
Yu Jing Ze walked over to the bedside. Regardless of past conflicts, he still asked with concern, “Mom, how are you feeling now?”
Ms. Lan’s face remained sullen. “It’s fine, I guess.”
Yu Jing Ze nodded. “That’s good.”
Ms. Lan hesitated several times before speaking, a self-deprecating smile tugging at her lips. “You and Jing Xin—you’re something else.” She gave a thumbs-up. “You both grew up on air. I didn’t contribute a single day.”
Zhou Si Yuan sat on the sofa, her face contorting as if it might drip water.
Just moments ago, outside, she and Yu Jing Ze had already clashed over the issue with Zou Le Xiao.
When Zhou Si Yuan went downstairs to meet Yu Jing Ze, she had repeatedly reminded her stepmother not to argue with him and to mend their relationship. Once their mother-son bond improved, Yu Jing Ze would surely help Si Yuan Holdings.
But here they were—barely a few words exchanged, and they were already at odds again.
Yu Jing Ze locked eyes with his mother. “Mom, we’ve already discussed this before. Since you brought it up, let me repeat it.”
He pulled out his phone and started recording. “Your efforts back then were your responsibility and obligation because Jing Xin and I were only a few years old. Later, when you had another child, you stopped caring for us altogether. Over the years, my contributions to you and your family have more than repaid your efforts in raising us for those five or six years. Even so, I haven’t abandoned you or severed our relationship. But when it comes to business matters, stop forcing unreasonable demands. All wealth and success come from hard work and sacrifice. No one is generous enough to hand over their life’s work for others to squander endlessly.”
After finishing, Yu Jing Ze sent the recording to his mother. “Next time, just listen to this recording. It’ll save me the trouble of repeating myself.”
Ms. Lan: “… “
She gestured vaguely at Yu Jing Ze. “Are you here to visit me or to deliberately upset me? Huh?”
Yu Jing Ze: “You insisted on bringing up this topic. What else could I do?”
He had no intention of staying any longer. “Rest well.”
Before leaving, he added, “Don’t go to my grandfather again. Don’t exploit an elderly man’s kindness and sympathy.”
Without waiting to see his mother’s reaction, Yu Jing Ze strode out of the ward.
Once home, he found Yu Shao Hong playing with Baby.
On weekends now, he also spent half a day enjoying family time.
Yu Shao Hong glanced at his son. “I thought you’d be back earlier.” He had left the office later than his son but arrived home to find his son still absent.
Yu Jing Ze poured himself a glass of red wine and sat at the bar counter. “I went to the hospital to see Mom.”
Yu Shao Hong was slightly surprised. “What’s wrong with your mom?”
Yu Jing Ze took a sip of wine. “Nothing serious. Just an old issue. She’s there for some recuperation.”
Yu Shao Hong relaxed. “That’s good.” If anything serious had happened, both Jing Xin and Jing Ze would surely feel worried.
He handed Baby over to the nanny and joined his son, pouring himself half a glass without asking why his son was drinking at this hour.
Father and son sat in silence for a while, each sipping their wine.
Yu Jing Ze finally spoke. “After everything I’ve said so bluntly to Mom, and after all these events, I thought she might gradually try to change herself.”
He had always held onto that hope.
Especially seeing Aunt Li, who had been so ruthless, willing to set aside grudges after twenty-five years and come to Beijing to support her daughter’s career.
“I’ve always hoped that one day, Mom could be like Aunt Li. Even if she can’t become closer to us, at least she’d be willing to change herself.”
“Jing Xin still hopes that Mom could treat her better, show genuine care once in a while—not have our relationship built solely on money. Not every call being a request for help.”
With that, he downed half a glass of wine.
Yu Shao Hong swirled his glass. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t divorced back then, maybe… maybe none of these messy troubles would exist today.”
Yu Jing Ze: “It’s all in the past. I don’t blame you.”
He wasn’t accusing his parents’ divorce. When a marriage isn’t working, there’s no point forcing it. Of course, as a child, he had hoped for reconciliation, dreamed of a united family.
Especially when his mother became pregnant again—he had only been ten years old that year.
Twenty years had passed, and he no longer remembered what he had thought as a child. He had never told anyone.
Yu Shao Hong continued the earlier topic. “Your mom and Aunt Li are different. Their personalities are different. People aren’t the same. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be terms like ‘sudden enlightenment’ and ‘stubborn ignorance.’”
Yu Jing Ze nodded. He no longer forced it.
As for Jing Xin, with Ji Qing Yuan, Baby, and Yu Qing living nearby, her regrets would slowly fade.
Yu Shao Hong’s glass was nearly empty, so he poured himself a little more. Rarely did he sit quietly with Yu Jing Ze for a chat.
It was rare for Yu Jing Ze to open up about his feelings.
Such scenes between father and son were infrequent.
Suddenly, Yu Shao Hong recalled seeing Zou Le Xiao near the bank building earlier. The license plate once belonged to Old Zou but was later given to his daughter.
Getting straight to the point, he asked, “You and Zou Le Xiao…”
Before he could finish, Yu Jing Ze cut him off completely. “No chance.” He twirled his empty glass. “She’s just like Aunt Li back then.”
Young, bold, and idealistic about love.
She should find someone her own age—someone cheerful and lively—to fall in love with and marry.
Not someone like him.
Like Jing Xin, he had an unlikable personality. The longer someone stayed with him, the more they’d grow tired of him.
Perhaps, like his father, he wasn’t one for lasting emotions.
Yu Jing Ze set down his glass. “I need to reply to an email. I’ll go check on Little Yu Miao later.”
He didn’t want to discuss this topic further and retreated to his room.
________________________________________
Zou Le Xiao had just arrived at Yu Qing’s house. After saying goodbye to Yu Jing Ze at the bank entrance, she sat in her car for a while to compose herself before driving off.
Fu Ji Chen and Yu Qing were fishing by the lake platform. She frowned—such cold weather, yet these two still had the leisure for it.
Yu Qing was bundled up in her thickest down jacket, nestled in Fu Ji Chen’s arms.
Fu Ji Chen shielded her from the wind, providing warmth.
Yu Qing spotted Zou Le Xiao and waved. “I thought your car broke down.” Three hours had passed since Zou Le Xiao called to say she was coming.
Zou Le Xiao didn’t mention canceling her card—it would ruin the mood.
She fabricated an excuse. “Just as I was about to leave, a client called. I had to resolve it before coming over. Forgive this corporate slave’s hardships.”
Changing the subject, she leaned on the railing. “Can you even catch fish in winter? Are you two really this clueless after pregnancy?”
Yu Qing sat on Fu Ji Chen’s lap, swinging her legs lazily. “Fishing isn’t important.”
Fu Ji Chen looked at Zou Le Xiao. “Who says you can’t catch fish in winter? Did you forget your childhood poetry lessons?”
Zou Le Xiao challenged, “What poem?”
Fu Ji Chen: “‘Solitary fishing in the cold river snow.’”
Zou Le Xiao: “… “
She turned away from the wind and teased him. “My mom says you used to fail your Chinese exams often as a kid. Are you studying Three Hundred Tang Poems lately?”
Fu Ji Chen: “… “
Yu Qing laughed and turned to look at him. “Is your Chinese really that bad?”
Fu Ji Chen turned her face back toward the fishing rod. “Focus on the fishing.”
Yu Qing ignored him and craned her neck backward.
Fu Ji Chen kissed her lightly, and Yu Qing stopped teasing him.
Zou Le Xiao couldn’t take it anymore, overwhelmed by their public displays of affection. “You two keep fishing. When will Little Yu Miao wake up? I’ll go upstairs to check on him.”
Yu Qing: “He woke up a while ago. We’ve only been down here for fifteen minutes. He should still be asleep.”
Zou Le Xiao: “And you two are still being all lovey-dovey? Kids shouldn’t be left entirely to nannies. They need to bond with family.”
Fu Ji Chen: “Ji Qing Yuan is helping us with that.”
Zou Le Xiao: “?”
She thought she misheard. “How is he helping you raise a child?”
Fu Ji Chen’s reasoning was simple: “Because when he and Jing Xin were dating, I helped him babysit Baby. Now that I’m on a date with Qing, it’s his turn to babysit Little Yu Miao.”
Zou Le Xiao: “… “
His logic was surprisingly sound.
She had originally planned to go to the nursery upstairs, but with Ji Qing Yuan there, she’d have nothing to say to him. She decided to wait until Little Yu Miao woke up later to play with him.
But standing by the lake made her feel like a glaring 1,000-watt lightbulb. Fu Ji Chen and Yu Qing were shamelessly affectionate, as if no one else existed.
“I’ll head to the rooftop terrace to admire your neighborhood’s view.”
Fu Ji Chen cautioned, “It’s windy upstairs. Don’t catch a cold.”
“No worries, I dressed warmly today.” Zou Le Xiao headed toward the villa.
From the third-floor lakeside terrace, she could see the entire lake and the central garden of the villa community—a unique sight.
Unconsciously, she glanced toward the yard behind. Suddenly, she froze—Yu Jing Ze had just stepped out of the house. Without time to think, she quickly crouched down.
If he saw her, he might think she came specifically to spy on him.
After crouching, she realized how ridiculous she was being. She wasn’t doing anything wrong—why was she so nervous?
Still, she didn’t dare stand up.
After nearly a minute, Zou Le Xiao slowly rose, careful not to stand fully upright. Peeking over the edge, she was surprised to see Yu Jing Ze still in the yard, standing by his car and talking on the phone.
She crouched down again, waiting for him to leave before admiring the view properly.
Too lazy to return indoors, she stayed there browsing her phone.
Unexpectedly, Gu Heng had trended today due to a new drama leak. She clicked on the trending topic, reading every comment and leaving her own small mark.
Time flew by unnoticed—fifteen minutes passed.
Zou Le Xiao was still engrossed in the topic when she refreshed the page, hoping for more photos.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out, “Zou Le Xiao?”
Startled, wasn’t that Yu Jing Ze’s voice?
Hadn’t he planned to drive out? Why was he here?
Yu Jing Ze called again, “Zou Le Xiao?”
Earlier by the lake, Yu Qing had mentioned that Zou Le Xiao was visiting.
Even if Yu Qing hadn’t said anything, he already knew.
Zou Le Xiao’s car was parked in the yard, and he recognized her license plate.
Speaking of which, Yu Qing instinctively glanced at the terrace but didn’t see anyone on the viewing platform.
He went inside, checking the first-floor living room, but she wasn’t there either.
The housekeeper informed him that Miss Zou had gone upstairs and hadn’t come down. The housekeeper added, “Her complexion didn’t look good, and she wasn’t as cheerful as usual. I didn’t dare ask too much.”
He knew she wasn’t feeling well and understood that her mood today was low.
The third floor housed Yu Qing’s luxury items, so Zou Le Xiao wouldn’t casually enter someone else’s walk-in closet.
Still uneasy, he decided to check.
After calling out several times with no response, he grew concerned.
“Zou Le Xiao?” He quickened his pace toward the eastern terrace.
As Yu Jing Ze’s voice drew closer, Zou Le Xiao had no time to think about why he was here or why he was looking for her.
She intended to retreat indoors and claim she had taken a client call in a quiet spot.
Just as she stood up, she immediately grabbed the railing.
She had crouched for too long—her legs and feet were numb, unable to take a single step.
She narrowed her eyes. Why must things go wrong at critical moments?
Hearing his footsteps approach, she quickly crouched down again.
When Yu Jing Ze saw someone crouching on the ground, he inexplicably felt relieved. “Why are you squatting here?”
Not wanting him to misunderstand that she was spying on him, she lied through gritted teeth: “Low blood sugar. I felt dizzy and almost fainted earlier. I couldn’t stand up.”
Yu Jing Ze: “… “
Did she expect him to carry her downstairs?
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