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

Zhu Xi never imagined that she would meet her fiercely protective mother-in-law on such a occasion.

She hadn't really understood the saying "An ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her in-laws," but now she was experiencing it firsthand.

My mind went blank, and my hands and feet felt stiff and numb.

Even she, who is usually quick-witted, almost bit her tongue. She was so nervous and flustered, even more so than when she was performing surgery for the first time.

Realizing she had lost her composure, she immediately released her grip on Zhou Yinghuai's sleeve.

He straightened his body, nodded, and bowed, saying, "Hello."

The pressure on Zhou Yinghuai's arm gradually loosened. He looked down and saw the slight wrinkles, and boundless warmth spread across his eyes.

He straightened his body slightly, fighting alongside her, while looking at his mother.

For Zhou's mother, this wasn't the first time she had met this busy daughter-in-law.

The admiration she felt upon first meeting Zhu Xi during that heavy snowfall, coupled with her innate fondness for him, brought a warm smile to Zhou's mother's face.

Jokingly expressing his dissatisfaction with Zhu Xi's change in address, he asked, "Why don't you call me 'Mom' anymore?"

"Mother-in-law is fine too," Zhou's mother said playfully. "Mother-in-law is good too."

Zhu Xi swallowed hard, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the same smile on Zhou Yinghuai's lips.

"Mom," Zhou Yinghuai said first.

A decent man will always do decent things and will never put his wife in an awkward position. "If you're not engaged or have a wedding, calling her 'Mom' or 'mother-in-law' is not appropriate."

Zhu Xi chuckled awkwardly, looking at Zhou's mother with a smile, but said nothing.

"Yes, we haven't given her a gift or a change of address fee yet." Zhou's mother moved closer, stopping just a step away, and said, "I know you're busy with work and have a lot of responsibilities. But, Auntie would still like to invite you to come over for a visit when you have some free time."

Zhu Xi nodded in agreement, feeling a growing sense of closeness to the legendary Mrs. Zhou standing before her.

When Yu Qingge ran away from her arranged marriage, only the parents of both families were present when the two families renegotiated the marriage to avoid embarrassment.

Zhu Xi was wronged in the hospital, while Zhou Yinghuai worked hard to make money at the company.

With the marriage arrangement finalized, Zhou Yinghuai took on his responsibilities. They couldn't make decisions about the marriage itself; the wedding ceremony and other such matters were theirs to decide.

Zhu Xi was overjoyed; she loved both married and unmarried life.

She is a married widow with a handsome, wealthy, and considerate husband.

Zhu Xi felt she had hit the jackpot.

Seeing that her blockhead son was about to speak up again to stop her, Zhou's mother gave him an unpleasant glare and said, "Shut up!"

When Zhou's mother yelled, Zhu Xi tensed up and glanced at Zhou Yinghuai, who was being scolded.

Their eyes had barely met when Zhou's mother spoke again, "This has nothing to do with that blockhead of a man beside you. Before the official wedding, this is just a matter between my best friend and me, okay?"

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law become best friends? What kind of strange and lively situation is this?

"Shall we also invite Lingyi along?"

Since Zhou's mother had already said this much, Zhu Xi couldn't refuse any longer and nodded in agreement.

Zhou's mother was very happy, and turned slightly to the side, half of her previous warm and loving demeanor dissipating.

Wen Ming remained calm despite being stared at, but his tone softened as he spoke, "Elder sister."

"Well, you're so busy, it's better if the housekeeper takes care of Uncle Wen, don't you think?"

Wen Ming paused, "My father underwent such a major operation, and as his son, I can't be by his bedside to fulfill my filial duty..."

Zhou's mother interrupted coldly, "Oh? Did I remember wrong? I only saw the housekeeper before, not you."

"Besides, with Lao Hao here and my beloved disciple here, what can you do here?"

Despite wearing a mask, Zhu Xi couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, her fists clenched to hold back her joy.

The mother-in-law's fierce protectiveness is truly legendary.

These few words were more scathing than a hundred curses from her.

It's true, it's not very harmful, but extremely insulting.

Zhou's mother continued her tirade, "I'll just use my age as an excuse this once, Wenming, are you saying you don't trust Zhu Xi's medical skills and ethics?"

These words created an eerie atmosphere in the ward.

The only sound the occasional beep from the device connected to the elderly person.

Zhou Yinghuai nudged her with his elbow.

Zhu Xi turned around, "?"

Zhou Yinghuai gently reminded him, "What are you here for?"

Zhu Xi suddenly realized that she was now the attending physician and the chief resident of neurosurgery.

Apart from the director, she was in charge of the most things.

She stepped back to the right, past Zhou's mother, and said, "I'll examine the patient."

Zhou Yinghuai: "Go do your thing."

The interlude has temporarily ended.

Before leaving, Zhou's mother said casually, "I've been quite bored at home lately. Wenming, you have many girls in your family, why don't you have them come to the Zhou family to keep me company?"

Zhu Xi sighed inwardly, thinking how wonderful her mother-in-law was.

-

As night fell, Zhu Xiwan's ward rounds concluded.

I saw that tall and straight figure again in the dormitory.

As usual, Zhou Yinghuai helped her make the bed.

She leaned against the doorway, her toes touching the floor, and said, "Why do you always seem to be arguing with my bed every time you come here?"

Zhou Yinghuai straightened up, grabbed her pillow, and replaced the pillowcase with a new one.

He didn't tell Zhu Xi that her mother-in-law had already seen her at noon.

Although he ignored the mess in the room and didn't say a single bad word about Zhu Xi, he was still disliked.

Zhou's mother sarcastically mocked her own son, saying that he was blind and deserved to be single.

The implication is that you're busy, Zhu Xi, what are you doing?

Zhou Yinghuai, who had just returned from a business trip, was innocent and helpless; where could he go to seek justice?

Zhu Xi stepped inside and closed the dormitory door behind her.

The surgeon's ruthless gaze made her immediately notice the thickened bed.

She raised her hand and pressed it; the touch was familiar.

"You changed it?" she asked in surprise.

Zhou Yinghuai arranged the pillows and said, "Hmm."

That day, she didn't tell Zhou Yinghuai the mattress brand.

Zhou Yinghuai saw the doubt in her eyes. "I asked Auntie."

"My mom?" Zhu Xi raised an eyebrow, somewhat unhappy. "Don't ask her about my affairs in the future."

She stated frankly that the mischievous look on her face had slowly faded, "It's my business, our business. If you want to know anything, you can just ask me."

"As for the Yu family's affairs, and the affairs of the Zhou and Yu families, you can ask her if you need to."

Zhu Xi added, "I will abide by this sense of boundary, and I hope you will too."

Zhou Yinghuai paused for a second, looked into her bright and clear eyes, and apologized for the first time, "I'm sorry, I'll be more careful."

Zhu Xi had been a little tired since entering the dormitory, and now she was leaning against the bedpost. "Um, thank you."

She looked up and met Zhou Yinghuai's calm and deep eyes.

It was also the first time I had seen such dark circles under Zhou Yinghuai's handsome eyes.

"Did you stay up late?" she asked.

After staying up all night several times abroad, I finally got a few days of free time to go back home.

Zhou Yinghuai didn't say anything, but went to the sink by the door to wash his hands. "No, it's probably just a time difference."

Zhu Xi frowned, then turned around and leaned against the bedpost, looking at his broad back and strong muscles.

His hair is getting longer, and his profile view still shows a cool and stylish look.

Watching his long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles rub the foam, he said, "I brought some food."

Zhu Xi exhaled, moved closer, and handed him two tissues.

With clear eyes and honest words, she said, "I don't need you to do anything."