This person is clearly a male protagonist in a female-oriented novel, yet he is excessively lucid.

The night was like thick ink that couldn't be dissolved, gradually soaking into the crisscrossing streets and alleys of Shanghai. The neon lights shimmered on the glass curtain walls, but couldn't penetrate the heavy, oppressive atmosphere inside the hotel rooms.

Most of the relatives have already returned to their rooms and are resting.

Lin Guilan lay flat on the bed, but her body under the covers kept tossing and turning. Her chest felt like it was stuffed with a wad of water-soaked cotton, both suffocating and heavy, and even breathing was painful and difficult.

The scenes from the banquet during the day were now playing on a loop in my mind like a movie.

Uncle Yu Chenzhou, while picking up some food, sarcastically remarked, "Young people these days all love to take shortcuts; they're not willing to live a stable life."

My cousin's wife whispered in the crowd, "I heard he quit his secure job at the hospital, and now he's relying on Linlin's family for support."

There was also his own younger brother slamming his fist on the table and sighing, "They've forgotten their roots. Now that they've grown up, they're trying to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy. We poor relatives will probably never be able to reach them again."

Every sarcastic remark and every speculative glance felt like tiny steel needles piercing her heart. At first, it was a dull ache, but the more she thought about it, the clearer it became, until even her fingertips went numb.

Yu Changgui beside him was also not fast asleep, his heavy breathing revealing his undeniable exhaustion.

He turned to the side, using the dim light coming in from the window to watch his wife's tossing and turning back. His rough hands gently patted her back, as if afraid of breaking something, but he could only let out a long sigh.

He had heard the gossip, but when he tried to say it, all he could manage were "Don't take it to heart" or "The children know what they're doing"—just weak and ineffective words of comfort that couldn't dispel the gloom in his wife's heart.

The ordeal dragged on until the wee hours of the morning, until the room fell completely silent, even the traffic outside the window seemed to have faded away.

Unable to suppress the tightness in her chest any longer, Lin Guilan put on a thick coat, stepped barefoot onto the cool carpet, and quietly got up.

She knew her son, Yu Chenzhou, was still busy checking the wedding arrangements, while Xiao Tianhe, as Xiao Yilin's father, was probably in the lounge next to the main hall, working on the details.

The wall lamps in the corridor were dimly lit, casting a warm yellow glow. Lin Guilan walked lightly, her shoes making only a soft sound as they rubbed against the carpet.

When she reached the door of the lounge, she stopped and looked inside through the half-open door.

Xiao Tianhe was leaning against the sofa making a phone call, his voice very low, while Yu Chenzhou sat at the coffee table opposite him, wearing a well-pressed white shirt with the collar neatly tied.

He stared down at the tablet in his hand, his fingertips gliding lightly across the screen, occasionally jotting down notes in the notebook beside him.

The light fell on his profile, softening his usually sharp features. His brows were full of undisguised expectation, completely unaware of the gaze directed at him from behind.

After finishing his call, Xiao Tianhe told Yu Chenzhou and hurriedly left. Seeing that Xiao Tianhe wasn't there, Lin Guilan quietly went inside, her voice tinged with the weariness of the late night and a barely perceptible hoarseness:

"Chen Zhou, take a break. It's so late. Even if you're busy, a little more time won't make a difference."

Yu Chenzhou turned around upon hearing the sound, saw it was his mother, immediately put down the tablet in his hand, and closed the laptop as he stood up.

He quickly pulled over a soft fabric chair and placed it next to her, then turned and walked to the tea station, poured her a cup of lukewarm water, and even tested the water temperature with his fingertips:

"Mom, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Is it cold in the guest room, or is there something your relatives aren't used to?

During the days he was preparing for the wedding, he had considered everything carefully, and subconsciously thought that there had been a mistake in the reception, which had caused his relatives to feel wronged.

Lin Guilan took the water glass, the warm touch spreading along her fingertips, but her fingertips still couldn't help but tremble slightly.

She held the cup in silence for a moment, her gaze falling on the bloodshot eyes of her son. A pang of pain and anxiety shot through her heart. The questions and grievances she had been holding back all day finally welled up in her throat, her voice filled with trepidation:

"Chenzhou, Mom has a question for you, and you have to tell Mom the truth."

You really quit your job as a doctor?

And that villa you and Linlin live in, was that really a dowry from your in-laws?

Upon hearing this, Yu Chenzhou paused, his hand holding the water glass faltering, before he understood his mother's concerns.

A knowing glint flashed in his eyes, and his previously tense expression gradually relaxed. He pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, his voice softening further:

"Mom, why are you suddenly asking about this? Did someone say something to you?"

"Can I not ask?"

Lin Guilan's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, but as soon as she spoke, she realized it was inappropriate. She quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, lowered her voice, and her tone was full of grievance and indignation. Her eyes instantly reddened.

"Today, all the relatives gathered together and were talking about you!"

They said you quit your secure job because you wanted to live off Linlin's family; they said you lived in the villa your father-in-law gave you because you were trying to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy, and you've disgraced the Yu family!

She sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Mom knows you're not that kind of person, but there are so many people gossiping, and those words are like knives, making my heart ache and feel choked up."

Looking at his mother's reddened eyes and her slightly trembling shoulders as she spoke, Yu Chenzhou instantly understood everything that had happened during the day.

He reached out and gently patted his mother's shoulder to comfort her, his tone tinged with guilt:

"Mom, I'm sorry you had to go through all this."

I didn't resign to rely on Linlin's family. It's because I had some conflicts with the vice president at the hospital, and the resentment had been building for a long time. He was constantly making things difficult for me, so there was no point in staying any longer.

Lin Guilan clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white, feeling both angry and heartbroken.

"Is that so? Why didn't you tell your family?"

Even if we're poor and powerless, we can't let him bully you like this! It must be so hard for you to bear it all alone."

"I was afraid you'd worry if I told you."

Yu Chenzhou smiled, deliberately making his tone relaxed, but a hint of weariness was hidden in his eyes.

"And it's not like I didn't plan to resign."

"Don't worry, with my medical skills, I can earn money anywhere. I will never rely on Linlin's family for a living."

These words were like a reassuring pill, putting Lin Guilan's mind at ease.

She picked up her water glass, took a sip, and then asked:

"What about the villa? Was it really a dowry from our in-laws? Won't they think we got a good deal?"

"Yes."

Yu Chenzhou nodded, his tone clear and his words earnest.

"The villa was indeed prepared by my father-in-law as a dowry for Linlin, but we held a traditional Chinese wedding, in which the most important thing is that the betrothal gifts and dowry are equal."

It's not about having to give the exact same amount; the key is that both families contribute equally, demonstrating that they are well-matched and the marriage is a good match.

He paused, reached out to tidy the stray hairs on his mother's forehead, and continued speaking.

"The dowry I gave Linlin was no less than that villa."

My father-in-law valued this sincerity, which is why he brought the villa as part of my dowry. This is not me trying to curry favor; it's about both families valuing each other and giving each other face.

It's also so that our little family can have a good start, in accordance with the Chinese custom of reciprocity, and more importantly, we hope that our lives can be harmonious and long-lasting.

Hearing these words, Lin Guilan's worries completely dissipated, and a relieved smile unconsciously appeared on her lips, but her eyes became even redder.

This time, it wasn't a feeling of being wronged, but a sense of relief and pride in her son.

She raised her hand and patted Yu Chenzhou's hand, her voice choked with emotion:

"Okay, okay, Mom understands. Mom knew you were a sensible child and would never do anything foolish."

With a huge weight lifted from her heart, Lin Guilan's nerves, which had been tense all day, finally relaxed. In a moment of impulsiveness, she couldn't help but mutter under her breath:

"If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have explained things to your uncles and aunts today, so they wouldn't have been gossiping about me all day."

Not only are they saying you've forgotten your roots and are selfish, but they're even criticizing the wedding date you chose, forcing them all to take time off work to come over…

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Guilan realized something was wrong. She quickly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with panic, and she wished she could slap herself.

How could she have let that slip? Shen Zhou is getting married tomorrow, and she can't let him go with all his worries.

The gentleness on Yu Chenzhou's face gradually faded, his brows furrowed slightly, and his originally soft gaze gained a sharp edge.

He stared into his mother's flustered and evasive eyes, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable seriousness:

"Mom, what else did the relatives say?"

"No, nothing, just some rambling, nothing to mention, just ignorant talk."

Lin Guilan avoided his gaze, reached for her water glass and pretended to drink, trying to smooth things over, but her heart was pounding.

But Yu Chenzhou was incredibly perceptive. Just now, his mother's words about "gossiping" and "nitpicking," combined with the distant attitude and subtle scrutiny of the relatives at the banquet during the day, made it clear that things were not simple.

All the details he had deliberately ignored suddenly came flooding back.

The cold laugh when his uncle deliberately spilled his wine glass, the way his cousins ​​whispered among themselves and then looked at him, and his cousin's wife's sarcastic remark as she handed him the dishes, "Only by benefiting from Chenzhou's success can you eat such good food."

He held his mother's cold hand, his tone firm yet gentle, his grip light but offering a sense of reassurance.

"Mom, tell me the truth."

Is it because they have other complaints about the wedding arrangements, about me, or something else?

Did a lot happen today?

Seeing her son's probing gaze, Lin Guilan knew she couldn't hide it any longer. She finally sighed, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and told him everything that had happened during the day.

Uncles and aunts privately complained about the extravagance of the wedding, saying that spending so much money was just putting on a show, and that the date was not chosen properly, making it inconvenient for everyone to travel back and forth.

The cousins ​​were conflicted about how much money to give as a wedding gift. They felt that giving too little would be embarrassing, while giving too much would be painful. They also complained that attending the wedding would cause them to miss work and have their pay docked, and blamed Yu Chenzhou for not reimbursing their travel expenses.

The uncles and cousins ​​complained about the bumpy bus ride back and forth, saying that since Yu Chenzhou had married into a higher social class, their words were full of sarcasm.

After everyone learned of his resignation, there were all sorts of unpleasant speculations, such as that he had been fired from the hospital and that he would have to stay at home as a "son-in-law." Every word was like a needle pricking her. Lin Guilan didn't hide a single one and told them all.

The lounge was quiet, with only Lin Guilan's voice echoing in the air, carrying the grievances she had suppressed all day.

Yu Chenzhou listened quietly, his face expressionless, his eyes as calm as a deep pool of water. But the hand on his knee clenched slowly, his knuckles turning bluish-white, and even the veins on the back of his hand bulged out.

He always thought that by making proper arrangements for his relatives' daily lives and considering everything carefully, he could put everyone at ease at the banquet. However, he never expected that so much gossip would be spread about him behind his back.

He paid for their transportation, provided them with food, accommodation, and entertainment in Shanghai, and they could ask for leave if they didn't want to come. No one forced him to come, yet now it's become his fault.

Thinking about this, the participants couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

However, when the light in Xiao Linlin's eyes flashed through his mind when she mentioned the wedding, she took his hand and excitedly said that she wanted to have a traditional Chinese wedding, to wear a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, to bow to heaven and earth and pay respects to her parents, and to marry the person she loved amidst a sea of ​​red silk.

That was the day she had been looking forward to for a long time, and it was also the day he had devoted all his energy to preparing for the wedding.

He gradually suppressed the anger surging in his heart. He couldn't get angry or make a scene now, otherwise the wedding he had been preparing for for so long might be ruined.

After Lin Guilan finished speaking, seeing her son's gloomy face, she panicked again and quickly advised him:

"Shenzhou, don't take it to heart. They're just some relatives from the countryside. They're narrow-minded, love to gossip, and keep repeating the same few idle remarks."

Once the wedding is over and they've gone home, no one will say anything more. It's not worth getting angry with them and ruining your health.

Yu Chenzhou remained silent for a moment, then slowly loosened his clenched hand. The bluish-white discoloration on his knuckles gradually faded, and the gloom in his eyes completely dissipated, leaving only a calm expression.

His tone was gentle, yet it conveyed an unwavering certainty:

"Mom, I understand."

Don't take it to heart, and don't get angry with them.

Seeing Lin Guilan's puzzled expression, he added.

"I'll pretend I don't know anything about this and not do anything about it."

Linlin had been looking forward to this wedding for so long, and I had been preparing for it for a month. From the venue setup to the details of the ceremony, I wanted to do everything perfectly so that I could give her a perfect ceremony.

Now that all the relatives are here, we can't let these gossips ruin the wedding, and we certainly can't let everyone leave on bad terms.

Lin Guilan was stunned for a moment, then realized what her son was thinking, and felt both warm and sad.

She nodded gently and patted her son's hand.

"You're right. Linlin is pregnant and can't take this kind of treatment. The most important thing is that the wedding goes smoothly."

Let's just let those rumors go in one ear and out the other.

Yu Chenzhou smiled, his eyes filled with affection for Xiao Linlin: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"As long as we get through the wedding, everything else is secondary."

The night deepened, the neon lights outside the window gradually faded, and a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon.

The warm light from the lounge fell on Yu Chenzhou's face, reflecting the restraint and determination in his eyes.

He suppressed the hidden rumors and discontent, the deliberate mockery and criticism, and hid them deep in his heart.

At this moment, all he could think about was tomorrow, a perfect day with red silk draped on the ground and drums and music playing, so that he could give his wife a flawless wedding, where she could walk towards him with a smile, wearing a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe.