Everything of yours is mine

  "Why not?" Gu Bei Chen really couldn't understand her way of thinking. To him, washing underwear and washing socks were no different, he didn't know what she was being awkward about.

  "You're a man and also a soldier, you shouldn't..."

  "In front of you, I only have one identity." Gu Bei Chen interrupted her calmly and kissed the tip of her upturned nose, "I am your husband, everything of yours belongs to me, why can't I touch?"

  "But... um..."

  Alright, wanting her to shut up obediently, this method is more direct and thorough.

  Poor Xiaoxiao waited in her room for half a day, but neither Dad nor Mom came back. She had to go out and look for them herself, with the result...

  Woo, no wonder you didn't go back to your room to accompany her, it turns out you were doing naughty things again. Sigh, a child who is a light bulb isn't a good child, just obediently go back to your own room and sleep.

  The two people who had been kissing reluctantly parted ways, and every time they finished being intimate, Ye Shuangshuang's reaction was consistently shocking: she would lower her head to look at her toes, speak in a weak and mosquito-like voice, "You go back to the room to accompany Xiao Xiao, I'll go see if the clothes are washed." Then, without waiting for him to respond, she quickly turned around and escaped.

  After returning to the room, Gu Bei Chen soon discovered that Xiao Xiao was not there. This matter is not quite normal. The little ghost spirit was still full of enthusiasm just now, how could she sneak away alone?

  The little demon is already back in her room, lying down with her eyes tightly closed, seemingly asleep. However, it's impossible to deceive Director Gu with this small trick - who sleeps with their eyelashes still moving? "What's going on, who made you unhappy again?"

  The trick was exposed, and Xiao Xiao had to sit up obediently, responding seriously: "I've thought about it carefully, and since I'm already in elementary school, it seems like it's not very good to sleep with Daddy and Mommy together."

  "Is it really just because of this reason?"

  "Or what?" The little demon asked with an unchanged expression.

  You're pretending to be stupid on purpose, aren't you? You didn't let me have my way. "Did you sneak into the living room just now?"

  Woo woo, so Director Gu knew everything all along! "Hehe, I didn't do it on purpose, who made you and Mommy not come back to the room for so long? So I went to find you guys, and as a result..."

  "What does this have to do with you sneaking back to your own room?" Although his guess had been confirmed, Gu Bei Chen still couldn't quite understand.

  Hehe, after a moment's consideration, he asked instead, "Daddy wants to be alone with Mommy, right?"

  Gu Bei Chen was driven to tears by Xiao Xiao's bizarre thinking, "How could you have such a strange idea?"

  "It's okay, I've grown up already, I'll have to sleep alone sooner or later. Daddy can rest assured and go back to accompany Mommy." Although Xiao Xiao is young, she surprisingly knows how to avoid the main issue and focus on a minor one.

  Gu Beichen was too lazy to argue with her, so he directly picked her up from the bed. "The captain's words aren't just casual remarks, we agreed to sleep together tonight, how can you be a deserter?"

  "But..."

  "There's no 'but', your mother wouldn't allow you to run back to your own room alone either." Gu Shou Zhang had a serious face, completely using a tone that didn't allow for discussion.

  "I'm not that delicate or spoiled, even without Mommy by my side, I can sleep very well." Xiaoxiao was a bit unhappy, she thought that since she was already in elementary school, she was basically a big kid and couldn't always rely on her mom.

  "From what you're saying, it seems like it's the same whether she's here or not." Although he couldn't be certain if Xiaoxiao's words were genuine, Gu Beichen naturally thought of the possibility of Shanshan studying abroad. If Xiaoxiao could really leave her, then going abroad might actually become a reality.

  "Of course it's not possible, but... if Mommy also has something she must do like Daddy, I will understand and be considerate." The little girl replied in a serious tone, completely unlike the voice of a six-year-old child.

  After hearing Xiao Xiao say that, Gu Bei Chen couldn't help but feel an inner urge to take action. Before probing Shanshan's attitude, could he first probe Xiao Xiao's attitude?

  "If... I am if, not true." Before entering the main topic, Gu Bei Chen still cautiously pointed out the hypothetical premise.

  "I won't take it seriously." Xiaoxiao replied firmly. If it's just an assumption, and nothing has happened, then I wouldn't take it to heart anyway.

  "If Mommy leaves you and goes to a very far place, she may only come back once or twice a year, what..."

  Before Dad finished speaking, Xiao Xiao excitedly shouted: "Where is Mommy going? Is Grandma taking her away?"

  "She didn't go anywhere, I was just saying what if, how could you take it seriously?" The child's words can't be trusted entirely, once she gets excited, she forgets what she just said.

  "If she were still my mom, I would wait for her to come back." Xiaoxiao thought in his heart: whether it's true or not, anyway, as a child, I couldn't change anything. If Mom really wanted to leave, I couldn't stop her either. All I care about is whether Mom will come back after she leaves.

  "You little fool, she is and always will be!" As long as she remains my wife, you are still her daughter.

  "Daddy, where are we going?" Daddy wasn't a man who liked to joke around or ask hypothetical questions for no reason, so there must be something special happening.

  The topic was brought up by himself, but now he can't end it, Gu Bei Chen can only confess the truth, "Your grandma is a lecturer at a design academy abroad, that academy is very famous and has a high level, she wants Mommy to go there to study."

  "That's great, Mommy is so excellent, she should go to a better school." Xiao smiled with an expression of complete naturalness, without a hint of reluctance or sadness on her face.

  Gu Bei Chen smiled and rubbed his daughter's head, feeling a sense of relief in his heart. This child's personality was still like her father's, honest and down-to-earth, always thinking of others before herself. If Qi Kai were alive, he would be proud of his child too. "She hasn't made up her mind yet, she might not go."

  "Does Dad think Mommy will be upset with me for giving up this opportunity?" Sometimes, having too many thoughts isn't necessarily a good thing. Thinking too much and reacting quickly means she'll guess at a lot of things that adults don't want her to know, which is not good news for either the child or the adult.

  "Dad hesitated and didn't answer, just smiled and jumped to a conclusion on his own, 'It must be that Mom is worried no one will take care of me, she definitely won't agree.'"

  "Tell the truth to dad, do you want her to go?" Although the conclusion under the smile is not entirely accurate, it is one of the important reasons. Gu Bei Chen did not deny it either. However, he and Shan Shan care most about the child's feelings.

  It's Xiao Xiao's turn to be silent now. To tell the truth, she definitely didn't wish for this, but such a thought shouldn't be had by a well-behaved child like her. She also didn't know how to respond.

  Laughing and still so young, forcing her is indeed a bit cruel. Gu Bei Chen abruptly ended the topic, "Alright, stop daydreaming, obediently follow me back to sleep."

  "Daddy, do you want Mommy to go?"

  The pressure is back on Director Gu again.

  "To be honest, of course not!" However, this question was not difficult for Gu Bei Chen to answer.

  "I don't want to either." Anyway, with dad backing me up, I can be naughty if I want.

  "My words are not finished yet." Gu Bei Chen poured a basin of cold water on her head, "Although I don't wish it in my heart, if studying abroad can give her better education and more benefits for her future development, I still think she should go. So...if her decision is to go, I won't stop her either."

  "I'm just like Dad, as long as Mom is happy, no matter what decision she makes, I'll support her." Anyway, the little ghost is determined to follow the horse's head and look at it.

  Hearing this, Gu Bei Chen's heart also felt more at ease. "It's best that you think this way, it won't be in vain for her to care about you so much."

  "How long will Mommy be gone?" The eight characters weren't even finished yet, and the little girl was already worried about coming back.

  "This thing your grandma hasn't even mentioned to her yet, how did you know she would definitely go?" Gu Bei Chen asked with a smile.

  "Let's ask first, it's good to have an idea." Hmm, anyway, you always make sense.

  "Usually it's three years, if she wants to continue studying for a master's degree, maybe add two more years." At least three years, at most five years. Calculating this way, Gu Bei Chen's heart started beating again. In three years he would be 35 years old, in five years he would be 37 years old. When she comes back after further study, he will really become an old man.

  Haha, in my heart I also have the same worry, "It's really scary, five years later I'll almost be done with elementary school."

  They are indeed a pair of people who worry about heaven. They only guessed blindly and didn't think that maybe Ye Shanshan had no interest in studying abroad at all?

  Ye Shanshan, who knew nothing about the matter, came back after drying her clothes and saw Xiao Xiao already placed in the middle of the big bed, with an extremely satisfied expression waving at her, "Mommy, come quickly."

  A family of three slept together for the second time. This time, the little devil didn't plan to play any tricks and lay quietly in the middle, giving a kiss on each parent's face, saying goodnight to them before closing his eyes obediently.

  Because of Xiaoxiao's presence, Gu Beichen couldn't complete the task entrusted by his mother-in-law, and could only wait until tomorrow when sending her to school to probe for information.

  The next day was a gloomy and rainy day, the road was unexpectedly congested, and they barely made it to drop Xiaoxiao off at the school gate before the bell rang. As soon as the car started moving, Ye Shanshan began to worry again, "I hope Huixin Road isn't as congested as Yuancheng Road?"

  "Is the first lesson important?" They had been driving for less than five minutes when they hit a red light, and Gu Bei Chen was happy to chat with her and shift her attention.

  "Yes, today is Professor Zheng's class. The old lady is notoriously strict and takes roll call every lesson, and she hates it when people are late." Just thinking about Professor Zheng's serious face made Ye Shanshan shudder. She was one of the few students in the class who had never been late, left early or skipped a lesson, and she definitely couldn't make an exception for Professor Zheng's class.

  "You should think positively, maybe she's also stuck in traffic." Gu Bei Chen comforted with a smile.

  "It just so happens that she lives in the teacher's apartment building near the school, and it only takes ten minutes to walk there." Ye Shanshan was anxious, looking at her watch while also looking at the traffic light, wishing she could use magic to turn the red light green immediately.

  "The domestic education system is so rigid, occasionally late for a few minutes also have to make a big deal out of it, not at all accommodating. It sounds like an unrelated remark, but actually contains a hidden meaning."

  "Would a university abroad allow students to be late at will?" Ye Shanshan thought this was unreasonable, students attending classes on time was like soldiers reporting for duty, it was a matter of course. Would the leader also be late when reporting for duty in the army?

  "No school would allow students to be late without reason, I just want to say that foreign schools will not handle this matter as seriously as domestic schools." Gu Beichen explained patiently, but in his heart he was thinking about how to bring up the task entrusted by his mother-in-law.

  The red light finally turned green, but the traffic on Hui Xing Road did not decrease at all. The high-performance SUV could only move forward slowly at a speed of 20 km/h.

  "Turn around and ask mom, see how she handles students who are late." The situation is not optimistic, Ye Shanshan has already made mental preparations for being late. Heaven does not accommodate human desires, and she can do nothing about it.

  "Have you gone online to learn more about the school where your mother-in-law teaches? I heard it's a very high-level school," said Shan Shan, bringing up her mother-in-law's teaching job, which was exactly what Gu Bei Chen wanted to hear.

  "What's there to understand? Anyway, it has nothing to do with me." Ye Shanshan thought it was completely unnecessary.

  "It's okay to understand, maybe... there will be a chance to go deeper in the future." Gu Bei Chen tried his best to make his tone sound calm and natural, but Ye Shanshan's reaction was still very excited.

  "What's meant by having the opportunity to further your studies there? Has Mom said something to you?"

  "I was just casually saying, what's gotten you so worked up?" Gu Bei Chen thought to himself that things were not looking good, as Shanshan seemed quite opposed to the idea, and his mother-in-law's plans might be doomed to fail.

  "Is that just a casual remark?" Ye Shanshan was half-believing and half-doubtful. The leader's words were always extremely purposeful, and casually saying something didn't conform to his usual way of doing things.

  "You seem to be quite resistant to studying abroad?"

  "It's not a matter of resisting or not resisting, I didn't even think about it." Ye Shanshan suddenly thought of the dream she had two nights ago, in which she was faced with a difficult choice between two options and ended up with no good outcome for all three people. But in real life, she didn't have so many worries, she knew clearly what she wanted.

  "Studying abroad is something that many people dream of, how can you not be interested at all?" Gu Bei Chen continued to ask cautiously.

  "That's someone else, why do I have to be like others? As long as I'm willing to learn and work hard, it's all the same wherever I go. Why do I have to go so far away? It's unfamiliar territory, a different language, and I'd have to adapt to a new environment. No way!" Ye Shanshan's attitude was very resolute, and from her words, it wasn't difficult to hear that she didn't want to study abroad not because she had emotional attachments or couldn't bear to leave, but simply because she felt it was unnecessary.

  "It's not like you're unfamiliar with life, isn't your mother-in-law taking care of you?" With the conversation reaching this point, Gu Bei Chen could no longer use casual excuses to fool Shanshan.

  "You..." He finally got straight to the point, and Ye Shanshan became even more agitated. "I knew it, Mom must have said something to you!"

  Gu Bei Chen also didn't deny it, "She just made a suggestion, asking me to ask you what you mean."

  "Then help me reply to her, I'm not going anywhere." Ye Shanshan resolutely refused and thought angrily: Now I am a married woman, with such a good husband, and a lovely daughter who is loved by everyone, if I leave them behind to go abroad, what would I become?

  "Is it because of me and Xiao Xiao?" Gu Bei Chen had expected her to make this decision, but he hadn't thought she would reject him so bluntly, as if no consideration was needed.

  "What does it have to do with you?" Ye Shanshan pretended to be stupid.

  "If you hadn't married me and didn't have Xiao Xiao, would you consider your mother-in-law's suggestion?" Gu Bei Chen continued to ask relentlessly.

  Ye Shanshan suddenly fell silent, based on her previous decisiveness, she should have answered "no" without hesitation. But thinking that if it weren't for him and Xiaoxiao, her mother would be her only relative, and her mother had suffered such a serious injury, more than ordinary people need care and attention, but as a daughter, she couldn't serve by her side, this is also unfilial.

  "You can put me and Xiao Xiao as the top priority, I'm glad. But I still hope you can carefully consider your own future, don't let good opportunities slip away from you." Gu Bei Chen's tone was still as sincere and calm as ever, because every word he said came from his heart, so he could always maintain a calm demeanor.

  "What do you mean? Are you eager for me to go to France with my mom?" Although she knew he didn't think that way, Ye Shanshan still deliberately acted childish and played dumb with him.

  How could I? This crime is too great for Director Gu to bear. "I'm not as carefree as you think, my intention is... no matter what decision you make, I'll support you."

  "You're really a freak!" Maybe it's because of being stuck on the road for too long, and feeling depressed, Ye Shanshan's words were also somewhat unbridled.

  Gu's superior didn't get annoyed or angry, but instead smiled and asked: "If I'm a freak, then what are you?"

  "I..." was suddenly turned around, Ye Shanshan didn't know how to respond for a moment, staring blankly with wide eyes before opening her mouth fiercely, "I'm the freak's wife!"

  Little silly girl, you've dug your own grave.

  They drove for less than ten minutes before being stopped by a red light again. Gu Shou also took the opportunity to hold his wife's hand and gently kissed her, "Discuss the matter of studying abroad with your mother properly, even if you want to refuse, be tactful and don't hurt her heart."

  Ye Shanshan unhappily shook off his hand and shouted angrily, "Who told you I was going to refuse?"

  Cough cough, isn't it too late for you to be stubborn now?

  "If you don't plan on refusing, then the person you need to persuade is me and..."

  He still had that serious expression on his face, Ye Shanshan was anxious and angry, "Don't say it anymore, can't tell what's true or false!"

  Gu Bei Chen just smiled and indulged in his little wife's adorable playful appearance with an air of nonchalance.

  Ye Shanshan felt a bit embarrassed being looked at by him, and stopped fooling around. "If it weren't for you and Xiaoxiao, maybe I would have considered going to France with mom. But you also said 'if', you and Xiaoxiao are alive and kicking, this 'if' will never come true, that's why I said...I've never even thought about studying abroad. What's the point of considering something that will never happen?"

  "Sorry, because of my impatience, you missed..."

  "Don't talk nonsense!" Ye Shanshan firmly stretched out her hand to cover his mouth, "There are many things more important than studying abroad, Mom will understand."

  Gu Bei Chen's mood suddenly became exceptionally good, she said there were many things more important than going abroad, and that included him too?

  The countdown of the red light is approaching 5, and the cars behind are urging, but Gu Bei Chen still can't help but turn his head and kiss her face.

  "Thank you for putting me in such an important position." His voice was soft and low, but his eyes were full of smiles.

  Ye Shanshan still didn't change her shy nature, blushing and touching her nose, "You have to behave well and keep it up."

  A thousand threads were slowly untangled, and the heavens also showed great kindness. After passing Hui Xin Road, the dense traffic gradually became sparse, and the speed finally increased to 50.

  After Mr. Gu's precise calculation, at the current speed, 8:22 can reach the school gate, and adding the 5-6 minutes walk from the school gate to the teaching building, it should be possible to enter the classroom by 8:28.

  Ye Shanshan showed her queenly demeanor, pointing at her watch and giving orders to her husband, "I'm timing you, if the error exceeds half a minute, I'll be asking questions!"

  "Please rest assured, madam, I guarantee that the task will be completed on time." Director Gu's behavior couldn't help but make people suspect that he had a slight masochistic tendency, as he was actually smiling so happily when being ordered around by a little girl.

  The brain of Director Gu, comparable to a precision instrument, did not disappoint Director's wife. At 8:21:48, the car stopped steadily at the entrance of G University. "From now on, you have to grasp your own time. If you walk at a strolling pace and are late, don't blame me."

  Ye Shanshan ignored him, gave him a white eye, and quickly got off the car without even saying goodbye.

  Gu Bei Chen still waited until Song Song's back disappeared before starting the car and leaving.

  Hmph, he's like this, yet he dares to say that no matter what decision she makes, he'll fully support her? Now that the place she goes to school is so close, they're already so reluctant to part ways in the morning and evening, if she really has to go to such a faraway place for school, who knows how much more heartbroken he'll be.

  When Ye Shanshan arrived at the classroom, most of her classmates had already arrived. Professor Zheng's intimidating power was indeed not small! But strangely, today's Professor Zheng actually came late!

  Is it true that Professor Zheng was also blocked on the road as Director Gu said?

  Ye Shanshan was deep in thought with her head down when Ning Ziyu suddenly let out a sharp cry beside her, "Ah..."

  Although Zi Yan quickly covered her mouth, the scream still earned a stern reprimand. "Pay attention to classroom discipline! Class time starts when the school bell rings, not when the teacher arrives!"

  Of course, Miss Ning's sudden scream was justified, because standing on the stage besides Professor Zheng, there was another person she knew.

  It seems that this person Ye Shanshan also knows.

  But what's going on here? How did Professor Zheng know my mother?

  After the classroom returned to calm, Professor Zheng formally invited the specially appointed lecturer to come on stage and introduced her solemnly: "This is Ms. Yang Sulan, a guest lecturer from the famous French design school Sylvie College, who will be lecturing you today on the relevant knowledge of creative concepts."

  Taking advantage of the applause, some bold classmates started whispering to each other, "I've heard this name before, she's from the same design company as the famous designer Sophia."

  Third Young Miss Ning joined in with a disdainful and pleased expression, "You dare to show off with just this little bit of knowledge?"

  Ye Shanshan was afraid that this outspoken girl would reveal her relationship with the specially appointed lecturer, so she hastily reminded, "Class is about to start, don't be distracted."

  Professor Zheng also sat in the audience, and none of his classmates dared to be absent. This specially appointed lecturer was quite prestigious, and listening carefully would certainly bring great benefits. Today's classroom atmosphere could be said to be unprecedentedly harmonious.

  At first, Ye Shanshan was a bit uncomfortable, but as the teaching content gradually deepened, her attention was completely attracted by the professional and unique explanation of the specially appointed lecturer. It has to be admitted that people who have been lecturers at well-known design colleges are on a different level.

  During the break, Yang Sulan was taken to the office by Professor Zheng to have tea and rest. Ning Ziyu also took advantage of the opportunity when his classmates went to the bathroom or relaxed outside the classroom to pull Shanshan to a deserted corner, "Your mom is so powerful, compared to her, Professor Zheng's level can only be considered ordinary."

  "So?" With such an awesome mom, Ye Shanshan felt very proud too, but it was just admiration and worship, nothing more.

  "Hey, have you ever thought of going to France with your mom?" Ziyan was a straightforward girl who couldn't hide her words and didn't know how to beat around the bush, she said whatever came to mind.

  Ye Shanshan gave her a displeased glance, "You're so eager for me to leave? What's the benefit of me leaving for you?"

  "I don't want you to leave, of course. If you leave, who will help me copy notes? Who will stand up for me if someone bullies me?" Ning Ziyu said with a smile, trying to please him. "What I mean is... with your talent and hard work, you should be able to get better development at Sylvie Academy. I think your mom..."

  Yeshan bluntly interrupted her son's well-intentioned advice, his tone unusually firm. "I've never thought about what you said, I think things are fine now."

  "I knew it, with Gu Shou and Xiao Xiao around, you can't go anywhere." Although Ning Zi had expected this reaction from Shan Shan, she still felt sorry for her. If Shan Shan hadn't gotten married so early, she could have gone to France with her mother without any worries. It was all Gu Shou's fault; Shan Shan was still in school and he had rushed her into getting a marriage certificate - what was he in such a hurry for?!

  This Ning Ziyan is simply incorrigible, Ye Shanshan was driven mad by her, "If you speak ill of them again I'll lose my temper!"

  Miss Ning looked wronged, "This... doesn't count as speaking ill of others, I'm just telling the truth."

  "Even if I weren't married, I wouldn't consider going abroad to study." Ye Shanshan lied to make her daughter give up the idea.

  But she didn't expect that when she said this, the specially appointed teacher would suddenly appear.

  Oh no, she said it so decisively just now, I wonder if mom will get the wrong idea?

  "I didn't expect you two to be classmates." Yang Sulan's reaction was relatively calm, as if she hadn't heard the previous words.

  "Teacher Yang." Ning Ziyu's face suddenly broke into a big smile as he greeted him politely, "Your class is really great, unfortunately it's only this once."

  Ye Shanshan gently patted Ziyan's shoulder and jokingly said, "If you want to often hear Teacher Yang's lectures, I can let your brother help you apply for a position at Sylvie Academy. This small matter shouldn't be difficult for him, right?"

  Ning Ziyan took her words seriously, "I don't want to, unless... you come with me. I believe... Teacher Yang will be very happy to accept you as a student."

  "You also know that I've never been ambitious, and I think I can learn a lot from G University too, it's not necessary to go all the way overseas to study." Although this was said in response to Zi Yan's words, Ye Shanshan's eyes kept sneaking glances at her mom. Strictly speaking, these words should be directed at her instead.

  "Recess is almost over, you two should head back to the classroom quickly, the next lesson will be even more wonderful." Perhaps because she knew that there was no longer any hope, Yang Sulan's reaction became increasingly calm.

  Ye Shanshan politely nodded and pulled Zi Yan to rush quickly towards the classroom.

  The brief but brilliant two classes ended soon, and the last self-study class in the morning was also changed to a free Q&A session. Yang Sulan patiently and professionally answered various questions from her classmates, and there was no disappointment or sadness on her face.

  But the more indifferent she was, the more unbearable Ye Shanshan felt. In the morning, Director Gu reminded her that even if she really wanted to refuse, she should be a bit tactful, but she firmly and decisively said that even if they weren't married, she had never thought of studying abroad. Although she said this just to shut Ziyan's mouth, her mother would still be very sad when she heard it.

  It seems like I need to find an opportunity to clarify this misunderstanding with her.

  After the morning class was over, Yang Sulan didn't leave immediately. As a mother and daughter duo, they still had an understanding between them, and she also guessed that Shanshan had something to say to her.

  After lunch, Ye Shanshan asked Ziyan for help and arranged to meet her mother at the botanical garden. Ning Xiaojie took action, and her classmates didn't dare to gossip, thinking that she was eager to learn and wanted to ask the teacher for private tutoring. The mother-daughter relationship between Ye Shanshan and Yang Suhuan could also remain a secret.

  After completing the task of Shanshan's shift, Ning Ziyu tactfully took the initiative to withdraw and found a place to play games, while helping them with the wind.

  "Rushed to class early in the morning, won't have time to go to the hospital for a dressing change and follow-up examination?" Although there were many things she wanted to say, Ye Shanshan was most concerned about her mother's injury.

  "It's okay, changing the dressing and re-examining won't take much time, going in the afternoon will be fine too." Yang Sulan maintained a smiling expression while speaking, helping her daughter comb the loose hair on her forehead, with eyes full of a mother's doting love for her child.

  "That... what I said to Ziyuan just now, you heard it all, right?" After asking about his injury, the conversation quickly got back on track. Although this question sounded like he already knew the answer.

  Yang Sulan didn't say anything, she just nodded lightly.

  Ye Shanshan felt a bit uneasy and her voice involuntarily lowered, "I said that just to make Ziyan stop asking questions, it's not what I really think."

  "What did you say?" Upon hearing Shanshan's words, Yang Sulan's heart reignited with hope.

  "If I weren't married, I might consider going abroad." Although she couldn't make her mother's wishes come true, Ye Shanshan still wanted to try her best not to disappoint her.

  Yang Sulan let out a long sigh and slowly opened her mouth after a while, "But... there's no such thing as 'what if' in this world, is there?"

  "Sorry." Besides these three words, Ye Shanshan really didn't know what else to say.

  Upon hearing these three words, the last glimmer of hope in Yang Sulan's heart was completely extinguished. "Foolish child, why do you need to apologize to me? This is your own life, as long as you're happy with it, you can decide whatever you want."

  "Don't blame Xiaoxiao and her dad, it's my decision..."

  "Never mind, I already know." Yang Su-lan smiled and interrupted her, still with a smile on her face, but with a tone full of helplessness. "You're a kind-hearted and loving child. If I really put myself in your shoes and thought for you, I shouldn't have had the idea of taking you abroad together. It's me who should apologize to you, because my selfishness has put you in a difficult position."

  "How can you say it's selfish? You're also doing it for my own good, hoping I'll have a better future. I understand." Originally, Ye Shanshan was worried that her mother would be disappointed and sad, but she didn't expect her to blame herself instead. Why did she feel like the more she explained, the more confusing it became?

  "Alright, let's just drop this topic and never bring it up again." Since there's no hope left, I might as well put my heart at ease. "Tell me, was Xiaoxiao very sad last night?"

  "She didn't cry because she was sad." Last night when saying goodbye to her mom, Xiaoxiao's eyes were still a bit red, and it was impossible to deny that she had cried. However, the reason for her tears still needs to be explained clearly, so as not to leave any misunderstandings with her mom. "You also saw that Xiaoxiao is more sensible than other children of the same age, and her thoughts are especially sensitive. She cried because...she thinks your concerns and worries are very reasonable. She feels like she's a burden and a drag, and doesn't know what to do, so she ended up in tears."

  "This child, how can you think like that! Tonight when we get back home, I'll have to explain it to her properly. I never meant to look down on her, I was just worried that you're too..."

  "In Xiaoxiao's opinion, your worries are just a form of disdain. She thinks that in your heart, you must be thinking that if she weren't around, you could do whatever you want like other young girls of the same age, go wherever you want to go. And... haven't you really thought this way before?"

  Yang Sulan looked self-reproachful and remained silent.

  "You must think I'm stupid, just like everyone else, for becoming a stepmother to a child who's only one generation younger than me and still managing to be happy about it. But you've all forgotten something very important: the days right after my father passed away were spent with Xiao Xiao and her dad by my side. They're my family, they're my support; this lifetime I won't leave them. Who says that love born from gratitude isn't true love? Ye Shanshan uses her own life experience to prove that this statement isn't entirely accurate."

  Ye Shanshan was still barely holding back her tears, while Yang Sulan had already broken down in sobs. "It's Mom's fault, I wasn't there for you when you needed me most; you found people to rely on and I complained about them, thinking they were a burden to you, which is really not right."

  "It's all in the past, why bring it up again?" Ye Shanshan had never dared to tell her mother about these things, fearing that she would blame herself. But in order to untie the knot in her mother's heart, she had no choice but to speak out, and as a result, the worrying thing still happened.

  "That year... I shouldn't have left you alone to go abroad, a moment's hesitation almost ruined two people..."

  Mom was emotionally agitated, the more she spoke, the more outrageous it became. Ye Shanshan also became anxious, "What's there to destroy or not? Aren't we all living well now? Grandpa often taught me that looking forward is the way to live happily. Dwelling on past matters wastes time and affects one's mood, what's the point?"

  After sobbing quietly for a while, Yang Sulan's emotions gradually recovered, and her tone of voice also became much calmer. "Mom won't complain anymore, I'll leave you to Beichen, I'm very reassured."

  Ye Shanshan suddenly laughed lightly and said, "My mother-in-law also told me similar words before."

  Thinking of the general's wife who was eloquent, Yang Sulan couldn't help but wipe a sweat for Shanshan, "Your mother-in-law... wasn't she also very dissatisfied with you at first?"

  "Uh-huh." Ye Shanshan frankly admitted, "She thinks I'm too young and is worried that I won't be able to take good care of Xiaoxiao."

  "Then how did she accept you later?" Yang Sulan thought that her mother-in-law seemed to be a picky person, and it would take three or two days to move such a mother-in-law.

  Ye Shanshan smiled and raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling a little complacent. "I can do anything, Xiao Xiao likes me, what's there for her to worry about?"

  "The most important reason is that her son really likes you, right?" Yang Sulan was also a veteran, how could she not guess the thoughts of her mother-in-law.

  Ye Shanshan scratched his head awkwardly, just smiled foolishly, but didn't say a word.

  Although her eyes were still a bit red, Yang Sulan's mood had completely opened up, and there was gradually a smile on her face. "As parents, that's all they expected."

  "Mom, he's really good to me, you can rest assured."

  Although I've been married twice, both husbands are very good men, but compared to my son-in-law, they are simply no match. "I've seen it all, to be honest, I've never seen any man love his wife as much as he does."

  Ye Shanshan absolutely agreed with her mother's words, "I haven't seen it either, but... what you see is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many things that others don't have the chance to see."

  He remembered last night when he personally washed his own underwear by hand, and the simple Yesuke classmate's face turned red for no reason.

  Then, Yang Suluan suddenly thought crookedly, "That... you two have already slept together, right?"

  "Uh-huh." Ye Shanshan instinctively responded with a "yeah", then quickly shook her head, "No no, it's not what you think!"

  "You've been married for almost two months, when do you plan to go? Yang Sulan was quite open-minded about this matter. A son-in-law like him is hard to find even with a lantern in hand, so it's better to cook the unripe rice into ripe rice as soon as possible, lest there be too many dreams at night."

  "He said it's okay." Ugh, although she was her own mother, discussing such private matters with her still felt very awkward.

  "You say that with your mouth, but actually you still think about it in your heart, right?" Cough cough, how to put it, it's still the same old saying, people who have been through it understand everything.

  "Just think about it, anyway I'm not ready yet." Ye Shanshan deliberately put on a nonchalant expression, but in fact her mind was already a mess. Her mother had also been in a military marriage, and she and her father spent no more than a month together each year, so her mother should have a deep understanding of this...

  Digression

  Have you smelled the scent of minced meat? (~ ^ o ^) / ~