Lin Xiaoxiao respected the superstition and let the subject drop. Instead, she smiled brightly at the portly chef. "The food here is truly delicious. This braised fish and the lamb with radish are exceptional. I'm especially impressed that the lamb has no gamy taste at all."

Naturally pleased by the praise, especially from such a pretty young woman, the chef laughed heartily. "Getting rid of the gaminess is all about technique and a secret recipe, passed down in my family. Of course, I can't share the secret! But if you like it, you should come by more often. I'll make sure you get an extra-large portion."

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes curved into happy crescents. "I'll hold you to that! Thank you so much."

"No problem at all," the chef beamed. "Just ask for me. Extra lamb is no trouble."

Reassured, she turned her attention back to the meal with Zhou Huaian.

But then the chef, trying to be friendly, asked another question. "Which department are you in, miss? And is this your… uncle, come to visit you?"

Zhou Huaian's face darkened instantly. Lin Xiaoxiao stifled a giggle and quickly shook her head. "Oh, no! This is my husband. He's just visiting me at school."

The chef looked surprised, his eyes darting between Zhou Huaian's stern, mature features and Lin Xiaoxiao's youthful brightness—a mismatch, in his opinion. He offered an apologetic smile. "My mistake, so sorry! I really didn't see that."

"It's perfectly fine," Lin Xiaoxiao assured him.

Zhou Huaian, however, finished his meal in stony silence. Once they were outside the cafeteria, Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. Giggling, she eyed him mischievously and teasingly emphasized, "Uncle?"

While he could scowl at the world, with Lin Xiaoxiao, he was all helpless surrender, allowing her to poke fun at him.

After her teasing subsided, she thought of Zhou Xiaoling at the hospital. "Are you going back to the hospital this afternoon?"

He shook his head. "No. Lin Zihao doesn't want me there."

It baffled him. Even with the mind of a six-year-old, Lin Zihao should be capable of eating properly. Yet he was picky, turning his head away if scolded, always complaining that Zhou Huaian wasn't as good as "Sister." The moment Zhou Xiaoling arrived, he'd shoo Zhou Huaian away. Left with no choice, he had come home.

Hearing that he was free for the afternoon, a restless excitement sprouted within Lin Xiaoxiao. She wanted to go home with him.

Since his return, they hadn't had a single moment truly alone. Between his worry over Lin Zihao's surgery, a full house, and the children demanding attention, days had passed without any real privacy—or any chance for the kind of intimacy she missed.

Weighing her options, she made a decision. "I'll skip my afternoon classes. I'm coming home with you. I already know the material for both sessions."

Her previous concerns about taking too much time off vanished. Forgetting her own principles, she happily ran to get permission, then returned to Zhou Huaian, ready to head home.

The only disappointment was that, walking back, they had to maintain a proper distance, side-by-side. She couldn't even link her arm with his.

As they entered the compound, they ran into Geng Aiguo accompanying Lin Hongyan home.

Lin Hongyan clearly hadn't missed any meals. She had grown considerably rounder, her already small eyes now narrowed to slits, her belly prominently swollen. Her face, initially clouded with irritation, transformed the moment she saw Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Huaan. She straightened up, puffing out like a proud pheasant.

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't be bothered with her. She didn't even want to look her way, urging Zhou Huaian to walk faster. It was too cold to linger; she'd rather be home with the children.

Seeing that Lin Xiaoxiao completely ignored her, Lin Hongyan flared up, planting her hands on her hips. "What's so great about her? It's just that her man came back alive."

Geng Aiguo frowned. "Must you always stir trouble? Do you need her to curse you out to feel satisfied?"

This only infuriated Lin Hongyan more. "Geng Aiguo, what's that supposed to mean? Are you scared of her? What right does she have to curse me? You're so spineless, no wonder Luo Anran didn't want you!"

Geng Aiguo snapped. Luo Anran was his raw nerve, a subject that always provoked him. "Have you run out of sensible things to say? If you don't know how to talk, then shut up! Don't think your pregnancy protects you. Push me too far, and I'll teach you a lesson!"

Lin Hongyan wasn't intimidated. "Go on, hit me! Does it hurt when I mention Luo Anran? She's shameless! Carrying that ribbonfish to the Zhou family, only to be thrown out. She got what she deserved! And you still treat her like some goddess in your heart. It's disgusting!"

Enraged, Geng Aiguo shoved her. "Shut your mouth!"

Shocked that he had laid hands on her, Lin Hongyan erupted. Wailing and screaming, she flew at him, scratching and hitting.

Right there at the compound entrance, the two descended into a messy, grappling fight.

With a final, forceful push, Geng Aiguo sent Lin Hongyan stumbling back. She landed hard on the icy ground with a heavy thud.

A sharp cry of "Aiyo!" pierced the air as she clutched her stomach, rolling on the ground in apparent agony.

Geng Aiguo, well-versed in her dramatics—the tears, the tantrums, the threats—just sneered coldly. "Stop pretending. Get up if you're going to. Otherwise, you can just lie there."

Without another glance, he turned and stormed off toward home.

…

Lin Xiaoxiao, of course, had no idea that the mere sight of her and Zhou Huaian had triggered a violent fight between Lin Hongyan and Geng Aiguo—a fight that would ultimately cost Lin Hongyan her pregnancy.

Arriving home early, they found the three children had just gone down for their nap. Li Yunlan was resting in the room with them, while Zhou Liyun sat in the living room, sewing little shoes. She greeted them quietly, then shooed them upstairs. "Huaian must be exhausted after these last few days. Go and get some rest while you can. Once the little ones wake up and see you're home, they'll demand all your attention."

Lin Xiaoxiao, however, had other plans. Sleep was the last thing on her mind. Wasting such a perfect opportunity on a nap seemed like a crime.

With the entire second floor to themselves, it felt almost irresponsible not to take full advantage of the privacy.

Chuckling to herself as they went upstairs, she hurried Zhou Huaian toward the bathroom. "Quick, quick! The little ones will nap for at least three hours!"

It took Zhou Huaian a moment to catch on. Seeing her delighted expression and the gleam in her eyes, he could only smile wryly in surrender, obediently heading for the shower. This marital intimacy was something he desired as much as she did.

Lin Xiaoxiao later felt profoundly grateful for the old building's thick walls and the fact that no one ventured upstairs. They allowed her to drift like a lone boat on a turbulent sea all afternoon. She lost all sense of time, and for a while, even the existence of their three children faded from memory…