The pushover offended a top-tier boss

The two little devils finally turned three years old, and Ye Zhenzhen successfully graduated.

Zhou Huaijin's term has ended, and he will soon be transferred to a ministry in Beijing.

Before stepping down as secretary of Binzhou New District, he recommended Yang Guanyu, the county head of Nanjing County, to succeed him.

Over the years, Yang Guanyu has completely transformed Nanjiang, turning it from a drab and impoverished county into a model county for Binzhou City. Its GDP has increased several times over, and tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing have all flourished. Young people are no longer leaving the area but are returning to their hometowns to open guesthouses and engage in e-commerce.

Every time Ye Zhenzhen returns to Nanjing, there are new changes. The newly built square and the bustling night market make her want to take a second look, and she feels a surge of indescribable emotions.

What surprised her even more was that Yang Guanyu had gotten married, and it was a whirlwind marriage.

The other party was his teacher's daughter, several years younger than him, very beautiful, with two cute dimples when she smiled, and quite a good match for Yang Guanyu's down-to-earth and steady temperament.

The children are of kindergarten age. Beijing has better educational resources than Binzhou. With the grandfather's status, both children can attend the military kindergarten.

After graduating, Ye Zhenzhen went to teach at a university in Beijing. Her job was simple: teaching and educating students, which was much less stressful than working in an office.

The office staff were naturally very curious about this young teacher. During breaks, someone would come over with a teacup to strike up a conversation, asking her where she was from. She would just smile and say that she wasn't a local, but had married into the area, and then say no more.

In Beijing, a city teeming with powerful and influential figures, many people secretly speculated about her background, given how difficult it was to get into that school.

The students all liked her very much. She was young and beautiful, her lectures were interesting, and she was very helpful during exams, raising students' scores from 40 or 50 to the passing grade. In the students' word of mouth, she was simply a "miracle teacher".

Ye Zhenzhen and Zhou Huaijin lived in the courtyard house given to them by Zhou's father. The courtyard was located deep in a quiet alley, with green bricks and red tiles, moss growing between the bluestone slabs, and an old locust tree at the corner, which was filled with the chirping of cicadas in the summer.

Ye Zhenzhen fell in love with it at first sight. The courtyard was larger than Yuyuan Garden, and there was plenty of sunshine. In winter, when the snow fell on the gray tiles, it was as quiet as a traditional Chinese ink painting.

She planted flowers and plants all over the yard, and the two little ones would go to the yard to dig in the soil and catch insects every day after coming home from kindergarten.

After Zhou Huaijin was transferred to a ministry in Beijing, his calm and composed demeanor became even more apparent. He maintained the same rhythm in meetings, research, and document approvals.

Mr. and Mrs. Ye live in a small house next to theirs, and they usually come over to help look after the children and cook.

On weekends, the two children often go back to Nanjing with their maternal grandparents. They especially love to run to the countryside, chasing chickens and ducks, climbing trees and picking fruit. Every time they come back, their trouser legs are covered in mud and their faces are rosy from the sun, looking like two little wild children.

Ye Zhenzhen always looked at their "wild" behavior with disdain, but Zhou Huaijin said, "It's good, you can't teach this in school."

The two children became the darlings of the whole family. Their grandparents, who hadn't seen them for a long time, were overjoyed and brought a lot of things every time they came. Jinshu's little dresses filled two wardrobes, and Yanhui's toy cars lined up an entire wall.

Especially her grandfather; Ye Zhenzhen is still afraid of this father-in-law. The imposing presence in his eyes when he has a stern face always intimidates her.

One afternoon, Ye Zhenzhen was playing with her two children in the yard. On a whim, she got on their little car, and the two little servants ran behind her to push it, shouting, "Mommy, hurry up!"

She was riding that little tricycle, rushing down the slope in the yard.

"Wow, that's so fast!"

The car veered erratically out of the gate and crashed straight into Zhou's father, who was walking in.

Ye Zhenzhen froze, her feet on the ground, her hands still gripping the handlebars, and her back instantly broke out in a layer of sweat.

She looked up and met his stern face. "I'm sorry, Dad, I...I didn't see it..."

He stood up sheepishly, like a primary school student who had done something wrong.

Mr. Zhou frowned, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before sweeping over the tricycle still askew on the ground: "How old are you? Still so unreliable?"

I don't know what my son likes about her. She doesn't seem very smart, and she's so soft-hearted. How can I control him?

Ye Zhenzhen stood there with her head down, her toes curling inside her shoes. At that moment, she felt as if she had returned to many years ago, to the days when she had just met Zhou Huaijin and was scolded by him every day.

She seemed to see what Zhou Huaijin would look like when he grew old.

Mr. Zhou walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back, and Ye Zhenzhen followed awkwardly behind him.

He sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard.

"Do you know how to make tea?" he suddenly asked.

"I know a little..." Ye Zhenzhen said softly.

Ye Zhenzhen steeled herself and went to get the tea set. She brewed a pot of tea and brought it over. Her hands were trembling a little, and the tea sloshed around the rim of the cup, spilling a few drops onto the stone table.

Mr. Zhou picked up his teacup and took a sip, wanting to say something, but seeing Ye Zhenzhen's aggrieved look, he swallowed his words.

He simply put down his cup, took a check from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards her. "Take this and buy something for the children."

After saying that, he added, "And yourself."

Ye Zhenzhen was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly picked up the check.

"Oh, thank you, Dad."

But the two children adored their grandfather, sticking to him like two little pieces of chewing gum.

Every time Zhou's father came, she would rush over and hug his legs, looking up at him with her little face and calling out "Grandpa, Grandpa".

Jinshu, in particular, was incredibly sweet-talking at such a young age. Every time, she would cling to her father's arm, her voice soft and sweet, "Grandpa, I miss you so much! Have you missed Jinshu too?"

Even with that serious face, his voice unconsciously softened a bit: "Of course I want to."

"Grandpa, what did you eat today?"

"Does your head still hurt? Let me massage it for you."

The little girl stretched out her soft little hand and clumsily pressed her grandfather's temple.

Every day after Zhou Huaijin gets off work, the two little ones rush over and hang on his lap.

"Daddy, Daddy, you're finally back!"

He picked them up, one in each arm, and Jinshu began her performance: "Daddy, you're so handsome! You're better looking than all of our classmates' dads!"

Then she kissed and hugged him, her little mouth babbling as she flattered him, "Daddy, shall we buy a few more little dresses?"

Zhou Huaijin was flattered and beamed with joy: "I'll buy it."

Ye Zhenzhen stood beside her, watching her daughter's smug little expression: "She can't let go! She's never worn at least dozens of them!"

Zhou Huaijin was already completely charmed: "If my daughter wants it, I'll buy it for her."

He spun Jinshu around in his arms, and the little girl giggled.

Ye Zhenzhen sighed, looking at those big, round eyes and long eyelashes. Every time she acted coquettishly, not to mention Zhou Huaijin, even she herself couldn't say "no".

No wonder there are so many doting fathers.