Chapter 383: Extra (7)

"Are you asking if you still had feelings for me deep down? Bao’er, although I’d love to think you had me in your heart back then, it’s honestly not very likely. It was probably just your disposition. Our generation is more conservative. While we weren’t necessarily expected to be with one person for life, that idea was still there to some extent. That’s why even if you really didn’t want to see me, you never thought of resisting your parents’ arrangement!"

When it came to understanding Zhou Lian, Li Xiu knew her best. People of their generation weren’t really wired for romance. In their previous life, they had gotten married and started a family through an arranged marriage, but they never even got to the point of figuring out if they loved each other. Li Xiu’s terrible behavior snuffed out any feelings that might have developed between them. After that, Zhou Lian simply put up with him for the children’s sake.

In this life, Li Xiu was refreshingly direct. His full-court press was as fierce as a tiger, and it completely stunned Zhou Lian. He managed to win her over while she was still in a daze. Later, even after his cover was blown, Zhou Lian couldn’t bear to sever the bond between them. Still, the thought that they were acting as clingy as a young couple at their age was enough to make her blush.

After some thought, Zhou Lian said softly, "You’re right. My previous life is over, and this one is a fresh start. Why am I getting so hung up on these things? I must have it too good, worrying about nothing. Anyway, Jin Chen, with Grandma Li in this state, when are you planning to call everyone back?"

"Let’s wait a little longer. Everyone has their own lives—some are busy with work, others with their studies. They’re all busy. If we call them all back now, what about their jobs? What about their schooling? You know what they say: a long illness tests the devotion of any child. Our uncles are getting on in years themselves. Grandma has to rely on us now." After hearing Zhou Lian’s question, Li Xiu couldn’t help but sigh. "Except for a few of my sisters who married young, the rest are all in the Capital City, and they’re all worked to the bone. We can’t ask them to drop everything to come back and stay with Grandma Li."

Seeing him sigh, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but reach out and stroke his face. "That makes sense. It’s fine for you to be away from the Capital City for a while. My job at the school is secure, but my principal is very accommodating and approved my leave request without any trouble. And you don’t have to worry about the company with Li He there. By the way, have you told Ping’an? What did he say?"

"What could he say? He knows me well enough after all these years. By the way, Ping’an mentioned his brother isn’t doing too well," Li Xiu said, speaking of the two Ping family brothers nonchalantly. He had mentored Ping’an for several years, personally guiding him until he could stand on his own. As for Ping Jing, their relationship was purely superficial.

Hearing this, Zhou Lian sighed wistfully. "Ping Jing isn’t that old, is he? And how is Aunt Zhou holding up? Ever since Elder Ping passed away, her health has been getting worse and worse. With her eldest son in this condition now, can she possibly handle it?"

Elder Ping had passed away last year on the day of the Lantern Festival. He went peacefully and without regrets; his only worry was for Aunt Zhou. As for his son and daughter, Elder Ping was quite philosophical, especially since he knew Li Jincheng was looking out for them. But it was hardest on Aunt Zhou. When Elder Ping left her, it was as if half her life went with him.

"Aunt Zhou is doing alright. Ping’an said they’ve been hiding Ping Jing’s condition from her, and they still don’t dare tell her now. She’s been in and out of the hospital herself, so no one wants to add to her worries. It’s better to keep it a secret. Ping’an called me before to discuss whether they should let her know, but I didn’t give my opinion. I don’t want to get involved. If Ping’an asks you about it, just shut him down. He’s getting more and more shameless these days."

Zhou Lian couldn’t help but chuckle. Li Xiu and Ping’an were still the same after all these years. They weren’t young anymore, but they still had such a childish way of interacting. ’What on earth goes through their minds?’ she thought. ’If outsiders knew this was how they usually behaved, their jaws would hit the floor!’

Seeing Zhou Lian’s smile, Li Xiu smiled gently as well. "It’s getting late," he said softly. "Aren’t you sleepy?"

"I’m okay, not really tired. Oh, by the way, Li Gui and Ge Yulian came to see Grandma Li this afternoon. They brought her some roasted sweet potatoes. Grandma ate a small piece and wanted more, but I was afraid it would upset her stomach, so I didn’t dare give her any. She threw a little tantrum until I promised she could have more tomorrow. That finally quieted her down," Zhou Lian recounted with an amused grumble.

Li Xiu couldn’t help but chuckle. "They say the old become like children again, and it’s absolutely true. I remember when Grandma was young, she hated sweet potatoes. I never would have thought she’d end up liking them. But are the sweet potatoes even ready for harvest yet?"

"They’re about seventy or eighty percent of the way there, not fully mature yet. I guess Li Gui saw that Grandma Li hasn’t been eating well lately and went to great lengths to come up with something to tempt her." The filial devotion the Li family sisters showed toward their elders was truly beyond reproach; even Zhou Lian had to admire it. After all, not everyone could show such patience for the grandmother from their maiden family after getting married.

Grandma Li’s appetite had been poor recently, and both Li Xiu and Zhou Lian had tried everything they could think of. Li Hua, Li Yun, and Li Fen from the first branch of the Li family, as well as Li Gui from the third branch, all frequently brought their husbands and children back home, racking their brains for ways to coax Grandma Li into eating just a few more bites. This was especially true for Li Gui, who had married into the same village. If she didn’t stop by to see her grandmother at least once a day, she couldn’t sleep at night.

Li Xiu sighed and said softly, "These girls are certainly devoted. Grandma’s efforts to protect them back then weren’t in vain. Okay, it’s really getting late. You need to sleep, or you’ll wake up with another headache."

If Zhou Lian stayed up late and didn’t get enough rest, she was guaranteed to wake up with a headache. Li Xiu was always mindful of this, taking special care not to let her stay up too late. He had been like this for decades, and it had become second nature.

"What time is it?"

Li Xiu tilted his head and glanced at the large quartz clock on the wall. "Almost nine," he said softly. "Time for bed. Why are you so wound up tonight? Can’t sleep? How about we get some ’exercise’? It’ll tire you out, help you fall asleep."

"Oh, you!" She shot Li Xiu a look but didn’t take his teasing to heart. "Jin Chen, I just miss the children. I wonder what Nuonuo and Yanyan are doing right now?" After all, she was a bit worn out from taking care of Grandma Li these past few days. Zhou Lian had lived a pampered life for years, and her body wasn’t quite used to constantly being on her feet for Grandma Li. Li Xiu doted on her so much he practically wanted to wrap her in cotton wool; how could he possibly be willing to tire her out more?

The hand patting Zhou Lian’s paused. Li Xiu’s voice grew a little deeper as he said, "The kids are grown up now, Bao’er. You don’t need to worry about them. Besides, your parents and my adoptive parents are there with them. Rest assured, nothing will happen. I’ve also arranged for people to protect them discreetly."

"That’s good to hear. We won’t be back in the Capital City for a while, and the two of them have never been away from us for this long. I was really worried they wouldn’t be able to adjust!"