"You've resorted to force," Cheng Ying said, "what choice do I have?" "Understood. From now on, I will treat Wu Zi with the gentleness of a spring breeze."

Chi Wu listened from the west room window, clenching his fist in triumph.

This path was surely the right one. Just wait and see how Ying Zi changes. How gentle Shadow will be to him in the future.

Chi Wu couldn't stop smiling.

Cheng Ying, "Grandma, why don't you go visit Aunt Gan? I'll have Chi Wu escort you."

The old lady, "Mm, that's right. Keep your word. Alright, I'm leaving now. Don't forget to go to school, you two."

Cheng Ying, "Mm," then turning toward the west room, her voice became melodious and winding, dropping a full three notes lower, punctuated by a slight tremor, "My dearest Wu~zi, our Empress Dowager is departing. Could you come see her off?"

Oh, the old lady's legs trembled, and even her hair seemed to stand on end. "Oh, you little nuisance, you’re embarrassing me!"

Chi Wu was just about to step out of the room when he heard Cheng Ying's voice, and his own legs went weak. Perhaps he truly couldn't handle Ying Zi's gentleness. Still, that word "dearest" made Chi Wu blush, even if it was mostly a joke.

Chi Wu, "I know, Grandma. Let's go."

He hurried the old lady out as if fleeing, not daring to look at Cheng Ying.

Gentleness—he wouldn't dare think of it again. He probably deserved the life of being bossed around by Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying called out from the doorway, "Grandma, we'll come pick you up tonight."

Chi Wu seriously prepared to drive. The old lady waved to Cheng Ying from the window.

The car started, and just as it began to move forward, Chi Wu suddenly spoke to Cheng Ying through his grandmother, "Ying Zi, I'm used to you ordering me around. Being gentle or not isn't important; what matters is that we live our lives genuinely. You don't need to deliberately try to please me."

With that, the car vanished in a whoosh. Cheng Ying's face darkened. Her greatest worry was the speed of the car—could the old lady handle it?

As for Chi Wu's words, let them blow away with the wind. What nonsense was that little rascal spouting? Trying to deliberately please him? Had he not woken up yet?

Of course, if one were to ignore the shoe Cheng Ying hurled after being provoked by those words, then yes, she was truly composed.

The old lady, however, was quite pleased with Wu Zi. Look how good this boy was, always yielding to Ying Zi. Though, she admitted, the car was going a bit fast. "Wu Zi, I'm not in a hurry. We can go slower, dear."

Chi Wu’s face flushed. He only normalized the speed once he couldn't see Cheng Ying in the rearview mirror anymore. Unimaginable gentleness—the normal way they interacted was much more acceptable.

Chi Wu, "Grandma, what if Ying Zi and I were both drunk that day, and Shadow looks down on me?"

Chi Wu had been pondering this for a day. It was best to report it to his grandmother first. The benefits were immense.

The old lady, "How could that be? Look, besides you, who else does Ying Zi ever treat well? That's just Ying Zi's temperament; she’s only this relaxed with her own people. If she were polite to you, that would be abnormal."

Chi Wu grinned, agreeing with her logic. "Grandma, you’re right."

The old lady thought to herself how sensitive this boy was about feelings. She would have to have a serious talk with her granddaughter later; look, even Wu Zi lacked confidence.

When Chi Wu drove back, Cheng Ying was staring blankly at her application form inside the house.

The moment he lifted the door curtain, Chi Wu felt a pang in his heart. He couldn't bear to see Cheng Ying frowning. She would be his wife soon; of course, he had to dote on her.

He hadn't seen what was troubling Cheng Ying so much. This must be a real predicament.

Chi Wu wondered if his insistence wasn't that important. Did their relationship absolutely require them to be together to be secure?

He was a man; he shouldn't be so spineless.

Cheng Ying looked up and saw such a large shadow standing there, impatiently saying, "You're blocking the light."

Chi Wu, "What's wrong? Must you be so worried?"

Cheng Ying, "I’m thinking about when we get to the capital, where to buy a house. The surroundings need to be similar to where Grandma usually goes, and the people we meet should be compatible with her. It also needs to be close to the school for convenient travel. This location isn't easy to find."

Chi Wu sat opposite Ying Zi, looking at the enrollment application form. "Ying Zi, when I asked to be engaged to you, it was because I genuinely wanted to build a life with you. We grew up together; I've never cared for anyone else along the way. I just wanted to walk this path together. I can't stand seeing anyone else in your eyes, making things for others. I am a man, not a child. I can be your support. I understand the importance of my studies. If you're worried about Grandma, then you can attend university in the province. We already considered it when we bought the house—whether you study here as a day student or a boarder, Grandma will have company at home. I’ll still come back every Sunday when I have time off."

Was there ever a more understanding child? Cheng Ying thought, is this really Chi Wu?

Cheng Ying looked up at Chi Wu in surprise. "Didn't you want to go to school together? Back then—"

Chi Wu cut her off, "We weren't engaged back then. I wasn't at ease. I cherish you; I was afraid you'd run off if I wasn't around. Now that we're engaged, I feel secure. I trust you have me in your heart. Besides, where else could you find a handsome man like me? Even if you found someone as handsome, you wouldn't find anyone as good to you as I am. Right, Ying Zi? You definitely wouldn't care for anyone else, would you?"

Chi Wu asked that last sentence very cautiously, his gaze fixed on Cheng Ying, demanding reassurance.

Cheng Ying thought the kid had grown up to be so considerate, but that reassurance was quite demanding. Four years of university—this meant delaying her youth by four years. However, looking at the little rascal, it was better than uprooting the entire family. "Of course. Is there any man more handsome than my Wu Zi? And who do you think dressed him up?"

Chi Wu, "And is there anyone better to you than me?"

Cheng Ying, "That’s true." Cheng Ying dared not say anything more.

Chi Wu felt he had conceded so much; how could it be dismissed so lightly? He felt it was unfair. "Ying Zi, think about how hard it's been for us these years. Is there a family closer than the three of us—you, me, and Grandma? I am happiest when we live happily like this. I only cherish you; I never thought this could actually happen. Do you feel the same way? Would you be willing to try it out with me?"

This was the question Chi Wu asked with the least confidence; he almost didn't dare listen for Cheng Ying's answer. What if she said no?

Chi Wu turned and left. This ebb and flow might just be a way to make Cheng Ying consider him seriously.

But Chi Wu was still quite sad. Even though their relationship was confirmed, he was still in the process of 'pursuing' her. Ah, a failure.

This boy had completely unsettled Cheng Ying's mind. The old Chi Wu was like an immature child, insisting they attend the same university. If he went to the provincial capital university with Cheng Ying, would the whole family agree? Old Master Chi had taken a step back, allowing Chi Wu to stay near their home, and ultimately giving the family to another child, perhaps out of fear that Chi Wu would cause a fuss by attending university in the provincial capital. Now that the boy had relented, and his words had indeed resonated with Cheng Ying—no one cared for the old lady more than Chi Wu. They had come this far; Yang Zhi and Chi Yong had left, but Chi Wu had stayed with them, never abandoning them.

It was strange; despite having no blood relation and even his own father being gone, why had Chi Wu stayed with their family? This boy was sincere. If things continued this way, it would truly be excellent.

A jolt brought Cheng Ying back to her senses. The little rascal was trying to manipulate her emotions. Such a complex relationship couldn't just be smoothed over by a few words.

However, Cheng Ying still weighed Chi Wu's sincerity from time to time.

Chi Wu filled out Cheng Ying's application form—for a university within the province.

When Chi Wu filled out his own application, Cheng Ying sighed, "Oh, I'm so envious!"

Chi Wu glanced at Cheng Ying beside him. "What's there to envy? It's not like you can't afford it. I made a huge sacrifice; I'm doing this for Grandma, letting my wife serve her first. You owe me compensation. You absolutely cannot look at anyone else, and you can't be skipping around wildly at school, corrupting customs, understand?"

Cheng Ying, "Get lost, you're relentless. Let's go to school."

Chi Wu, "You have to say it."

Cheng Ying looked at the application form in Chi Wu's hand—it was a threat. "Fine, I'll be low-key. Don't worry, I'll study hard and make daily progress."

Chi Wu was unsatisfied, but there was nothing he could do. This conversation had reached its limit. If he kept pestering her shamelessly, Chi Wu himself would blush—it didn't fit his proud nature.

Cheng Ying, "How are we going to explain this to Grandma? Grandma said if you don't get into B University, you won't be worthy of your family's standing."

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying. "If I don't go to B University, then I won't be worthy of you. Otherwise, why would I sacrifice my wife just to continue studying? Isn't it so I can be worthy of you while staying by your side?"

Cheng Ying recoiled. "Are you possessed? Why are you so cold?"

Chi Wu’s face darkened. He was trying to naturally transition into their established romantic dynamic, but why was Ying Zi always undermining him? He had said so many intimate things, yet she hadn't taken a single one to heart.

He stomped off, his expression grim. "Hurry up and come!"

Cheng Ying felt as if the world had finally snapped back from the distortion of four-dimensional space. Thank the gods, the little rascal wasn't acting crazy anymore.

Cheng Ying decided she was better suited to the ways of mortals. Chi Wu's sudden outburst had nearly made her need a dermatology check. What kind of rhythm was that?

Still, it was genuinely better for them that Chi Wu wasn't stubbornly insisting on attending the same university.

When they arrived at school, Chi Wu was normal, except for a slightly cooler demeanor. Everything else was fine.

Cheng Ying wiped a bead of cold sweat. She preferred living in a chilling atmosphere to having a lunatic by her side at all times. This was a matter of quality of life.

It was normal to run into classmates at school. It was even more normal to run into classmates she disliked.

When Cheng Ying saw the lunatic, she was filled with resentment. Couldn't her life be less dramatic? Having two fewer such people around would be wonderful.

A male classmate approached her eagerly. "Cheng Ying, I'm truly sorry I couldn't make it to your teacher appreciation dinner."

Cheng Ying thought, Why is this lunatic classmate causing trouble again? "Classmate, you just said it was my teacher appreciation dinner. Whether or not you, as someone who isn't a teacher, came is irrelevant."