Coming Right to Your Doorstep

"Oh, I see..."

Shen's Mother suddenly understood, assuming it was Fu Nanzhi's car and didn’t press further.

"Then you two should get going. Drive safely, and call me when you arrive."

Shen Yi opened the trunk and placed the luggage inside.

After getting into the car, Fu Nanzhi leaned against the passenger window, waving at Shen's Mother.

"Auntie, your cooking was so delicious. I couldn’t get enough of it."

"Ah, if you liked it, come back next time. I’ll cook for you again. Now, off you go."

Shen's Mother smiled, her eyes crinkling as she patted Fu Nanzhi’s head.

Fu Nanzhi grinned, her dimples showing, and waved again.

"Goodbye, Auntie~"

Shen Yi also got in, fastened his seatbelt, and said,

"We’re leaving, Mom. No need to see us off."

Liu Huijuan nodded.

"I won’t. Go ahead, I’ll just watch you from here."

Shen Yi started the car and drove off, while Fu Nanzhi continued waving at Shen's Mother through the rearview mirror.

Once the car disappeared around the corner, Liu Huijuan dropped her smile, lowered her arm, and turned back toward the house.

On the highway, the car gradually settled into a steady speed. Shen Yi glanced at Fu Nanzhi.

She had been leaning against the window, staring blankly at the passing scenery as if lost in thought.

Shen Yi turned the music down and asked,

"What’s wrong? Something on your mind?"

"Ah..."

Fu Nanzhi didn’t answer immediately, instead letting out a long sigh.

"Come on, tell me. There’s nothing you can’t share with your husband, right?"

Knowing her temperament, Shen Yi coaxed her with a smile.

Fu Nanzhi looked downcast, her left hand pressed against her abdomen without letting go.

"Husband... I think I can’t have children..."

"Oh, that..."

"I already knew."

Shen Yi replied casually, keeping his tone light to avoid burdening her with unnecessary worries.

He had known for a while and deliberately never brought it up. Having children wasn’t a priority for him, but if it weighed on Fu Nanzhi’s emotions, then it mattered.

"It’s not a big deal. Isn’t having me enough?"

Fu Nanzhi shook her head repeatedly, aware he was just comforting her.

"No, it’s just... it feels incomplete."

"You know I love children. I wanted to have one with you."

A proper family shouldn’t consist of just two people, and she genuinely adored babies.

Shen Yi kept his eyes on the road, speaking lightly.

"It’s fine. We still have Xiaolingdang. We can adopt her when the time comes."

Fu Xinyin, their daughter from their past life, had been adopted as an infant. Shen Yi still remembered the process.

Fu Nanzhi frowned, hesitating before saying,

"But Lingdang won’t be born for another eight years. There are too many variables..."

"Even the smallest change could alter everything. Will she really still be there waiting for us?"

She lowered her head, having already considered this. The uncertainties were overwhelming—whether Lingdang would even be born was a fear she couldn’t voice.

Reuniting with Shen Yi had already been fraught with unpredictability. Stretching the timeline further only magnified the butterfly effect.

And the most daunting part was the sheer length of time—eight whole years.

Her past life had been painful enough, filled with longing and the hopeful gazes of both sets of parents.

The thought of reliving that path filled her with dread.

"Ah..."

"Don’t worry, she will be."

Shen Yi could only sigh, lacking absolute certainty himself.

Fu Nanzhi’s eyes reddened. Since her rebirth, she had been burying her head in the sand, but now reality was unavoidable.

Since Shen Yi was driving, he couldn’t do much more than reach over and squeeze her hand reassuringly.

The warmth steadied her heart, and a long-held thought resurfaced, growing rapidly until she could no longer hold it back.

"Husband, what if..."

---

Shu Yunyi acted decisively, setting off without delay and driving straight to Gusu Province.

Linjiang County—a small town Shen Yi had taken her to many times in their past life. Revisiting it now filled her with nostalgia.

Shen's Father and Mother had been kind and understanding, never looking down on her for her age. The memory brought a smile to her face.

Following the GPS, Shu Yunyi exited the highway and turned right toward the town.

Afraid of missing it, she counted the houses carefully until she spotted the familiar red-roofed, white-walled courtyard.

After parking, she took a moment to straighten her appearance before stepping out.

Nervousness crept in—visiting her past life’s in-laws alone was unexpectedly daunting.

From a distance, she saw Old Liu sitting under a canopy, weaving a bamboo basket.

Approaching, she greeted him warmly.

"Uncle Liu, keeping busy?"

Liu Wensheng, trimming bamboo strips, replied absentmindedly.

"Ah, just a little handiwork."

"Alright, I’ll head in first."

"Sure thing."

Only after finishing his strip did Liu Wensheng look up, puzzled by her retreating figure.

"Who was that?"

He smacked his shiny forehead in realization.

"Oh... right, right. Xiao Yi’s wife."

"Getting old and forgetful..."

Shaking his head, he picked up another strip, muttering to himself.

"Strange, she looks different somehow..."

Shu Yunyi walked on after greeting him. In their past life, Old Liu had lived an impressively long time—still lounging in his rocking chair when she and Shen Yi had handled the elders’ affairs.

Standing before the vermilion gate, she took a few deep breaths before knocking.

"Who is it?"

"Hands are full—just come in!"

Countryside manners were informal—doors were either left open or visitors invited to enter freely.

Hearing the familiar voice, Shu Yunyi steadied herself and pushed open the side gate.

Inside, Shen's Mother was cleaning a large fish by the faucet, while Shen's Father weeded a small vegetable plot in the back. Both were occupied.

She stepped in, her slender legs neatly together as she stood in place.

Liu Huijuan had skipped her usual card game today, opting to prepare the fish originally meant for Fu Nanzhi’s dinner.

With the couple gone, the fish would spoil if not preserved.

Busy with the task, she called out for the visitor to enter when she heard the knock.

The moment the gate opened, she froze.

By the red iron gate stood an exceptionally beautiful woman.

Her face suggested youth—mid-to-late twenties—but her aura carried a mature elegance.

Dressed formally in a beige pantsuit, her hair was neatly pinned up in a high bun.

Liu Huijuan snapped out of her daze, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn’t expected to encounter two such sights in one day. Puzzled, she asked,

“Miss… who are you looking for?”