The voluptuous and beautiful nanny, Technician Shen fell for her.

As the year drew to a close, Jiang City was hit by a rare heavy snowfall.

Shen Wanshan officially completed his retirement procedures and honorably stepped down to the second line.

The heating was on full blast in the living room of Building No. 2 in the municipal party committee compound.

Liu Huizhen had just returned from a tea party for the families of retired government officials. Without even taking off her coat, she sat directly on the sofa, picked up her enamel mug, and took a big gulp of hot water.

Her mind was still filled with images from the tea party, and she hadn't quite come to her senses yet.

In the past, when she went to meetings, the wives of bureau chiefs and directors would surround her, asking about Shen Wanshan's whereabouts or praising Shen Huai's successful business.

But today, the wind has completely changed.

The wife of Director Li of the Tax Bureau, who is usually arrogant, surprisingly brought a plate of melon seeds to her today, smiling extremely obsequiously.

"Oh, Director Liu, your daughter-in-law is really something! I asked someone to queue for three days at the provincial capital's department store, but I still couldn't buy that 'Nostalgic' cashmere coat. Could you do me a favor and ask Factory Director Su to spare one for me?"

The wife of Director Zhang from the Finance Bureau quickly squeezed over and grabbed Liu Huizhen's arm, refusing to let go.

"Yes, Huizhen, I heard that even the wives of leaders in Beijing are wearing the high-end custom-made clothes that Director Su is making now. We're old friends, you have to talk to Xiao Su for me. My daughter is getting married next month and she insists on wearing the toast dress from the movie 'Nostalgia,' I'm really worried about this."

At the tea party, more than a dozen prominent ladies were all asking her about Su Nianhe.

Those usually picky wives of officials now consider it an honor to wear a piece of "Nostalgia" brand women's clothing.

Liu Huizhen put on airs and readily agreed, saying she would "go back and ask," but inwardly she was in turmoil.

She was acutely aware of a fact.

The country maid who was once despised and considered unworthy of the Shen family has now not only made money, but has also won a very high social status and dignity in the most upscale social circles with her genuine talent.

Even she, as the mother-in-law, now benefits from her daughter-in-law's influence when she goes out for social events.

Liu Huizhen sat on the sofa, completely letting go of her past ridiculous prejudices about social class and her mother-in-law attitude.

She stood up, went into the storage room, picked out two boxes of the best bird's nest, and took out a box of Changbai Mountain ginseng.

"Sister Wang, prepare the car," Liu Huizhen called out to the kitchen. "To Nanqiao Road."

In the courtyard on Nanqiao Road, the snow had been swept clean.

Beautiful frost flowers clung to the glass windows of the design studio, while the tin stove inside burned brightly.

Su Nianhe walked barefoot on the thick carpet.

Today she wore a fitted, off-white turtleneck sweater paired with a light camel-colored thick woolen long skirt. The sweater was made of soft, cozy fabric, and her long, black hair was casually tied back. Her fair cheeks were flushed pink by the warmth of the room.

She was leaning over a large worktable, holding a red and blue pencil, altering the waistline of a spring dress.

The sound of a car engine shutting off came from the yard.

Immediately afterwards, the glass door to the design studio was pushed open.

Liu Huizhen walked in carrying large and small bags, bringing in a gust of cold air from outside.

Su Nianhe heard the noise, looked up, saw who it was, and stopped moving.

Ever since she and Shen Huai moved out to live separately, Liu Huizhen has rarely taken the initiative to visit. When she urged Shen Huai to get a medical check-up, she would tell him to go back home, let alone bring so many things with him.

"Mom, what brings you here?" Su Nianhe put down her pencil, walked around the worktable to greet her, and spoke in a gentle and polite tone.

Liu Huizhen quickly placed the bird's nest and ginseng in her hands on the coffee table next to her, and then took Su Nianhe's hand.

"It's cold outside, don't come over to greet me, you'll catch a cold." Liu Huizhen smiled very kindly, her attitude completely changing. "Mom's tea party ended early today, so I just stopped by to see you."

These concerned calls of "Mom" surprised Su Nianhe.

Liu Huizhen pulled her to sit on the sofa, her gaze falling on the thick stack of blueprints on the worktable, her tone full of undisguised praise.

"Nianhe, you've been drawing all day, you really need to rest your eyes. At the tea party today, all those bureau chiefs' wives were praising your talent, begging me to pull strings to buy your designs." Liu Huizhen patted her hand, her face full of pride. "You've really made the Shen family proud. Mom used to be old-fashioned and her words weren't always pleasant, don't take them to heart."

Hearing this, Su Nianhe lowered her guard considerably.

She understood that Liu Huizhen was trying to appease her.

"Mom, what are you saying? The clothes are easy to handle. I'll have Yuanyuan get a few haute couture pieces from the warehouse, and you can use them to give as gifts." Su Nianhe gracefully and generously accepted the offer.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat on the sofa, the atmosphere more harmonious than ever before.

As they were talking, steady footsteps came from outside the door.

The glass door was pushed open, and Shen Huai strode in.

He was wearing a long black woolen overcoat, with a neat gray shirt underneath. He had broad shoulders and long legs, and his whole body exuded the dry, cold air that came from outside.

Shen Huai's brows twitched slightly when he saw Liu Huizhen sitting on the sofa.

He took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack, then walked directly to Su Nianhe's side, placing his large hand naturally on her slender shoulder.

"Mom, why did you come here?" Shen Huai's tone was calm, but his posture was one of absolute protection, as if he was afraid that Liu Huizhen would cause trouble for Su Nianhe again.

Looking at the couple's affectionate behavior, Liu Huizhen would have definitely scolded them for being "improper" in the past.

But today, instead of being angry, she laughed even more happily.

"I came to see Nianhe and brought you some tonics." Liu Huizhen got straight to the point, speaking earnestly, "Xiao Huai, your dad has retired now, so things will be much easier at home. Your business is growing bigger and bigger, and you can never earn enough money, so you still need to go to the hospital for a check-up when you have time. Your work injury has been under treatment for so long, so while your dad and I have some free time now, we can help you take care of the kids."

The room fell silent for a moment after he said that.

Su Nianhe's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head to pick up a water glass from the coffee table. These past few months, despite talking about having a child, Shen Huai had still discussed with her the possibility of enjoying some more time alone together.

In the past, Shen Huai would have not even bothered with a draft and would have directly shut Liu Huizhen down with the argument that "work-related injuries cannot be cured".

But today, Shen Huai didn't pretend.

He pinched the soft flesh on Su Nianhe's shoulder through her sweater with his fingertips, looked at Liu Huizhen, and spoke in a calm but firm tone.

"I'm not sick, no need to get checked." Shen Huai didn't beat around the bush. "I'm already preparing to have the baby. Don't pressure me every day, it'll be harder to conceive if you're under too much pressure."

With a loud "clang".

The lid of Liu Huizhen's teacup fell onto the cup.

She was stunned at first, then her eyes lit up with immense joy, and she stood up abruptly from the sofa.

"Really...really? Your injury is healed?" Liu Huizhen stammered with excitement.

"Alright," Shen Huai said shamelessly, making his lie seem flawless.

Liu Huizhen rubbed her hands together with joy and nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay! No rushing, no rushing! You two take care of yourselves, don't feel pressured!" Liu Huizhen picked up her purse, unable to sit still for a moment longer. "I have to hurry back and tell your dad, and your grandparents, this good news. The old lady talks about holding her great-grandson every day!"

Liu Huizhen pushed open the door and left in a flurry, even her back view exuding a cheerful and jubilant air.

The door to the design studio closed again.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Su Nianhe turned her head, her fair face flushed red, and glared at him coquettishly.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who's about to give birth? Mom will definitely tell the whole compound when she gets back." Her voice was soft and trembling, tinged with embarrassment and annoyance.

Shen Huai ignored her protest.

He walked around to the front of the sofa, put one arm around her slender waist, and lifted her up from the sofa.

Su Nianhe lifted her feet off the ground and instinctively clung to his broad shoulders.

Shen Huai carried her to the workbench, pushed the blueprints on the table aside, and placed her on the edge of the large solid wood table.

His tall figure squeezed directly between her legs, his hands braced on either side of the table, completely trapping her in his territory.

The man's body heat wafted through her thin gray shirt, dispelling the last bit of chill she felt.

"How is that nonsense?" Shen Huai looked down at her, his voice hoarse. "Ever since that courtyard house in Beijing, hasn't Boss Su made me work overtime every day? I'm telling the truth."

Su Nianhe was speechless after being shut down by his shameless words.

She tried to back away, but her back bumped against the pen holder on the table.

"You did work overtime, but you didn't neglect the measures either! And the door wasn't locked..." She found an extremely weak excuse and placed her hands on his hard chest.

Shen Huai turned around to lock the door. "Locked."

He lowered his head, his nose brushing against the side of her neck, his breathing becoming heavier.

His fingertips slipped under the hem of the milky white sweater, directly touching that delicate, burning skin.

Su Nianhe trembled and her legs went weak.

"Shen Huai..." Her voice was thick with nasal tone.

"Mom is right, we need to hurry." Shen Huai didn't listen to her reasoning at all and found a high-sounding excuse.

He kissed her lips directly, swallowing all her unspoken protests.

Outside, it was a snowy, cold winter, but inside the design studio, the temperature soared.

The sweater fabric was crumpled into a messy ball and fell to the ground.

Shen Huai held the back of her head with one hand, and with the other hand, he skillfully unbuttoned the back of her clothes.

The frost flowers on the windowpane melted little by little from the heat inside the room, trickling down the glass.