It's hard to quit, but it's the perfect marriage!

Zhou Yinghuai gently placed her on the jewelry stand.

He turned around, placed his hands on either side of her, and looked at her intently. "I want to discuss this with you."

Zhu Xi nodded, a grin on her face, her toes occasionally dangling over his wide trousers. "Looks like it's something big."

Zhou Yinghuai smiled slightly, "Lingyi wants to come to my house for a housewarming party."

Zhu Xi: "Here?"

"Um."

Zhou Yinghuai explained, "I didn't let her come before because I was afraid it would disturb your sleep."

Zhou Lingyi is now pregnant, and hormones are acting up.

Knowing about the recent troubles Zhu Xi had gone through, her maternal love overflowed, and she insisted on coming to Huanxisha.

Previously, the Zhou family's upbringing would never have allowed Zhou Lingyi to be so inconsiderate.

But now, she is pregnant.

Zhou Yinghuai is also in a difficult position.

Fortunately, Lingyi is the same age as him, and fortunately, Zhu Xi has a high level of affection for Zhou Lingyi.

That's why Zhou Yinghuai tried to discuss it with her.

"If we don't come to Huanxisha, we can go to that villa over there." He actually preferred that villa; it was more spacious and had a small boat.

Zhu Xiying's fair and delicate fingertips touched the eyes of his dog head, first the left and then the right, finally landing on the two exaggerated nostrils.

"You really have to come?"

Zhou Yinghuai kissed her cheek in a conciliatory manner, "It wasn't necessary for me to come."

He had just said he would take back the love he had given to Lingyi and give it all to Zhuxi.

"This is our home. I won't let anyone in unless you want them to."

Zhou Yinghuai always struggled to maintain a proper balance when facing Zhu Xi.

Zhu Xi hooked her instep around his thigh, "Don't always do this, Zhou Yinghuai. You're so careful, as if you're afraid of dropping him or melting him if you keep him in your mouth."

She paused, then playfully scolded Zhou Yinghuai for being too cautious.

"I'm not a hothouse flower." Zhu Xi wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his chest. "Although I admit, I enjoy what you do for me. And I've returned the favor, haven't I?"

Zhou Yinghuai stroked her hair, its fragrance delicate and subtle. "I've finally managed to get this wife, so I'll definitely cherish her. I can't just reciprocate once; I'll do it many, many times!"

"You're so cloying," Zhu Xi sighed, her gaze falling on the gift cabinet.

The second compartment was originally empty, but now it's completely full.

The colorful boxes were neatly stacked together, and you couldn't tell what was inside just by looking at them.

She was immediately pestered by Zhou Yinghuai when she got home last night, and she didn't even have time to see what changes had occurred in the house.

"A business trip gift?"

Zhou Yinghuai also looked over and said, "Hmm."

"What did you buy?"

"Read it yourself when you're free."

"There are too many, I can't look at them all."

"Then take your time reading it. Tear off a piece whenever you want to read it! If you don't want to read it, just leave it."

This is similar to what he said when he first gave her the bracelet.

Back then, she was greedy and wanted to sell the property to pay off her mortgage.

Zhu Xi raised her eyebrows and straightened up in his arms. "Does your daughter have one?"

Zhou Yinghuai nodded, "Yes."

"Where is her baby?"

"Yes."

It's no wonder Zhu Xi asked that question; she knows this man too well.

If she treats her sister so well, she won't treat her sister's children any worse.

Zhu Xi teased him, "He's not even born yet, what can you possibly give him?"

Zhou Yinghuai scratched his brow.

Zhu Xi guessed, "A bag?"

"no."

"What is that?"

Zhu Xi suddenly understood, "Am I that gift?"

"Does Lingyi really want to see me?"

Zhou Yinghuai sighed and nodded, "Using the emperor to command her brother."

Zhu Xi joked, "You're in such a sorry state, what will happen to Lan Qi?"

"Why bother with him!" Zhou Yinghuai said sarcastically when Lan Qi was mentioned. "I think Ling Yi's fuss was too mild."

"Alright then." Zhu Xi pinched his ear. "Even my gentle and kind Huaihuai has been angered like this. How hateful must Lan Qi be!"

"Go ahead and invite your sister and brother-in-law over." She raised her eyebrows. "As the aunt-in-law, I should also send a gift to the Emperor."

-

Zhou Lingyi arrived in the evening.

As dusk settled, the lingering heat of the day still remained.

Zhu Xi took another nap in the afternoon, and now she's full of energy.

She changed into a white dress and walked arm in arm with Zhou Yinghuai along the winding path of Huanxisha.

With their fingers intertwined, Zhou Yinghuai swayed his arms along with the little tune she hummed.

Always busy, Zhu Xi usually catches up on sleep during her short breaks and has no time to appreciate the famous landscaping design of Huanxisha.

It was the moment of transition between day and night, and the sky was a grayish-blue, with no stars in sight.

Vast expanses of mist and clouds floated between heaven and earth.

The night breeze carries a unique tranquility and a faint floral fragrance.

Suddenly, the mediation was resolved.

Zhou Yinghuai glanced sideways at her face, which appeared even whiter against the gray-blue background, and her eyes, which seemed even clearer.

"Why did you stop singing?"

With her red lips slightly parted, Zhu Xi stopped and said, "So that's what you meant when you were in the car that day."

"Zhou Yinghuai, you fell in love with me first!"

"Okay, I'll go first."

Zhou Yinghuai smiled, took her hand, and started their journey again.

She sang a few lines a cappella, "I cannot hide this love; it is as deep as the sea."

The Cantonese version, paired with Zhou Yinghuai's deep and resonant voice, makes even the scattered flowers laugh their heads off in this hazy, misty atmosphere.

Zhu Xi listened attentively, her skirt fluttering in the breeze.

The two quickly arrived at the entrance of the residential area, but Zhou Lingyi and Lan Qi had not yet arrived.

Zhu Xi puffed out her cheeks and poked Zhou Yinghuai's upper arm.

Zhou Yinghuai: "Look, the husband Lingyi found is just so unreliable. Being late is a regular occurrence, and there are even more outrageous things he does."

Zhu Xi surrendered with her hands raised, making an emergency public relations effort: "I didn't mean to blame the Blue Flag."

"I know."

"Traffic jams can happen unexpectedly, no one can predict that." She spoke up for Lan Qi, "They're family, so it's okay if they're late."

Zhou Yinghuai was furious and indignant, saying, "If something is unpredictable, we should leave earlier to prevent accidents."

Zhu Xi laughed smugly, "Zhou Yinghuai, you're so domineering!"

"If I were Lan Qi, and I were as unreliable as him, Congratulations would probably break my legs and gouge out my eyes to feed to the dogs!"

Zhu Xi: "My brother would never do that."

"At most, he'll cry, make a scene, and threaten suicide, using his tears and vows to stop me from marrying you."

Zhou Yinghuai, however, interpreted it differently. "Sister Xi, are you praising me for being reliable?"

People were coming and going at the entrance of the residential area. Zhou Yinghuai, with his devastatingly handsome face and aloof and noble temperament, was wearing an ordinary T-shirt. He happily hugged Zhu Xi and acted like a cat or dog seeking affection.

"Sister Xi, you're praising me!"

Zhu Xi was speechless. She couldn't do what Zhou Yinghuai did, ignoring the curious stares of others and disregarding worldly conventions, "I'm arguing with you about the Blue Flag..."

"Lanqi is unreliable, it's always been like this," Zhou Yinghuai interrupted directly.

Zhu Xi sensed the worry in his voice, "Lingyi likes him, and that's what makes Lanqi reliable."

"Brother Huai, don't worry, okay?"

Zhou Yinghuai smiled knowingly, "Don't worry, Brother Huai, Brother Huai won't get angry with a dog."

Zhu Xi smiled and said, "Then, Brother Huai, could you go buy me a strawberry-flavored ice cream?"

"Want some?"

Zhu Xi nodded, "Yes. I want to eat what my brother bought himself!"

Zhou Yinghuai took on everything, saying, "Let's go!"

The two of them each picked one item from the small refrigerator at the entrance of the convenience store.

Zhu Xi Strawberry, Zhou Yinghuai Matcha.

He didn't understand, "Can't I eat it plain?"

Zhu Xi shook her head and showed the cashier her payment code.

Payment successful, receipt slowly rolled out.

Zhu Xixing's eyes sparkled, "Brother Ahuai's tea skills are getting better and better."

Zhou Yinghuai: "..."