Ten Years

Time passed day by day in a slow, unhurried manner.

Life was peaceful and warm, with Fu Nanzhi being well taken care of under the watchful eyes of her loved ones.

After a few weeks, she began experiencing occasional bouts of nausea and dry heaving.

Shen Yi made sure to take Fu Nanzhi for regular check-ups, keeping a close eye on her condition.

However, the truth couldn’t stay hidden forever. As Fu Nanzhi’s pregnancy began to show, she finally confessed the situation to Fu's Father and Fu's Mother after a family gathering.

The elderly couple froze for a moment before the news sank in. At first, they were reproachful, but as they gradually accepted it, joy began to color their expressions.

After all, Fu Nanzhi was nearing thirty, and while things had progressed faster than expected, it wasn’t entirely unacceptable upon reflection.

Seeing Fu Nanzhi’s natural, unforced happiness—her joy radiating from within—her parents could only silently offer their blessings.

Time waited for no one. With the situation now clear, both families met to settle the arrangements.

Ji Shulan quietly took charge, throwing herself into preparing the wedding for the couple.

At Fu Nanzhi’s insistence, the ceremony would follow traditional Chinese customs, fulfilling a long-held dream of hers.

Once an auspicious date was chosen, the wedding took place the following month.

Dressed in a vibrant red bridal gown, Fu Nanzhi beamed with happiness, her hair adorned with delicate hairpins that swayed with every step.

As the newlyweds bowed in reverence to their elders, the parents—moved to tears—exchanged emotional glances. The sentimental Ji Shulan and Liu Huijuan discreetly wiped their eyes, overcome with emotion.

Shu Yunyi and Cheng Jun did not attend the ceremony. Though they had privately reconciled and harbored no lingering resentment, they couldn’t bring themselves to witness the moment firsthand.

The wedding, arranged in haste, wasn’t as grand as one might imagine, but for Fu Nanzhi, who had already been married once before, it was more than enough.

Married life continued smoothly, with Fu Nanzhi’s belly growing day by day.

Fortunately, thanks to the injections that improved her physical condition, she could eat and sleep well, and she moved about with far less difficulty than most expectant mothers. Her pregnancy was relatively comfortable.

Before long, the ten months of pregnancy culminated in the birth of a pair of twins—a boy and a girl.

The arrival of both a son and a daughter brought double joy to the families, and Fu Nanzhi couldn’t get enough of the two little treasures.

Fu Yuanyu, as the grandfather, naturally claimed the privilege of naming the children.

After much deliberation, he settled on the names ‘Zhoubai’ and ‘Tingzhi.’

The boy would be Shen Zhoubai, and the girl Shen Tingzhi—names that were not only melodious but also rich in meaning, truly excellent choices.

Under the doting care of their large family, the children grew up healthy and strong. In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

One evening, as Shu Yunyi parked the car after picking the children up from school, the doors flew open before the vehicle had even fully stopped.

The kids tumbled out, chattering and chasing each other in excitement.

Shu Yunyi, unable to keep up with their boundless energy, could only trail behind, calling out,

"Slow down, be careful not to trip!"

"Okay!"

"Got it!"

"Got it, Mom Yun!"

The first three were already racing ahead, lost in their play, but Tingzhi—the most well-mannered—paused like a proper young lady to respond properly.

As the children grew older, they gradually became aware that their family was different from most, and they began adjusting their manner of address accordingly.

Shu Yunyi smiled and nodded, leisurely making her way back into the house.

As soon as she stepped inside, Shen Yi—his tall frame wrapped in an apron—peeked out from the kitchen.

"Welcome back. You’ve had a long day."

"Long day?" Shu Yunyi grumbled as she slipped off her shoes.

"Next time, don’t ask me to pick up the kids."

"What’s wrong? Too tiring?" Shen Yi asked, flipping the contents of the wok as he spoke.

Unlike in their childhood days, kids nowadays couldn’t be left to their own devices—someone had to escort them to and from school. Whoever was free took on the task.

"It’s not the tiredness," Shu Yunyi sighed, leaning against the doorframe after changing into slippers.

"It’s their teacher. She’s been pestering me for ages, asking me to recommend skincare products and begging for beauty tips. But I don’t even use cosmetics! She just won’t leave me alone."

Shu Yunyi, now in her late forties, carried herself with an air of maturity, yet her appearance could easily pass for someone in their early thirties. With a little effort, she might even pull off looking like she was in her twenties.

Leaning against the door, her jet-black hair cascaded flawlessly, and her skin was so smooth and tight that not a single blemish could be found—no wonder the teacher was so insistent.

"If it’s such a bother, just recommend something random," Shen Yi said offhandedly. "Whether it works or not won’t be obvious until much later anyway."

Shu Yunyi’s eyes glinted with amusement.

"That would be cheating her. I won’t do that."

Shen Yi paused mid-stir, then chuckled in realization.

"Ah, so you’re just fishing for compliments, aren’t you?"

Shu Yunyi didn’t answer. Instead, she flashed him a playful glance before turning away with a parting remark:

"I’m going to help the kids with their homework."

Shen Yi shook his head with a smile and returned to cooking.

As dusk settled, Fu Nanzhi and Cheng Jun returned home under the dimming sky.

In recent years, Fu Nanzhi had gradually shifted her focus back to Jinheng, taking on the responsibilities passed down by her father’s generation.

Cheng Jun, too, had her own struggles. After defiantly bearing Shen Yi’s child, she had clashed with her family for years. But as Yixin grew older, Cheng Tianwei finally relented, grudgingly accepting the situation.

Just as Shen Yi finished cooking, the rich aroma of the meal filled the house.

Cheng Jun pulled off her hairpin, letting her hair tumble free, then clapped her hands in the middle of the living room.

"Enough playing! Go wash your hands—it’s time for dinner."

She gave her son Yixin a light pat on the backside.

"Come on, hurry up!"

The four children, who had been sprawled across the sofa after finishing their homework—watching cartoons or playing with toys—immediately scrambled up and stampeded toward the dining area.

Cheng Jun sighed in amusement, bending down to gather the scattered toys and tablets before following after them.

The table was soon crowded. Zhoubai and Yixin, ever the mischievous pair, began play-fighting with their chopsticks.

Fu Nanzhi cleared her throat sternly and rapped her knuckles against the table.

"Quiet down. Look how well-behaved Jinyao is."

"Eat properly, and don’t rush. And if I catch anyone holding their bowl but not eating, mark my words—they’ll go hungry. No snacks, and don’t even think about begging Dad!"

Fu Nanzhi’s words carried weight. As the disciplinarian of the family, her warning instantly brought silence to the table.

Meanwhile, Shu Yunyi entered the bedroom and scooped up Little Lingdang, who had just woken up, placing her in the high chair.

At just two years old, the toddler babbled cheerfully at everyone, her tiny feet kicking excitedly beneath the seat.

Shen Yi returned from the kitchen with a bowl of greenish paste.

"Freshly made baby food. Not sure if she’s hungry yet, but let’s try a little. I added vegetable juice."

"Ugh, that looks unappetizing," someone muttered.

Sitting nearby, Shen Zhoubai, never one to mince words, glanced at the baby food and then at his own meal, suddenly feeling like his dish was a gourmet feast.

Fu Nanzhi took the bowl and shot him a glare, saying,

"Just eat your food!"

She then picked up a spoon and began feeding Little Lingdang bite by bite.

Perhaps the lively atmosphere made the meal more enjoyable—the two boys were squabbling over dishes, while Shen Tingzhi remained the quietest. Jinyao, being petite, had Shen Yi reach out with his chopsticks to serve her and the others, urging them to eat more.