Cheng Ying gently guided the old woman’s head toward the window, “We must look to the world and anticipate the future. If we lost Wu Zi, that mule, we might still meet a thousand-mile steed. You need to broaden your horizons, Grandma. The world is vast, there are plenty of men out there, and even more good men.”

Cheng Ying was about to paint a picture of a beautiful future.

The old woman’s eyes turned red. “Nonsense! You stubborn thing! Fine, Cheng Ying, I knew that Wu Zi said your eyes were wandering! So you really have wicked ideas stored up for me! You ungrateful wretch! Have I been too good to you? Have I spoiled you too much? You’ve forgotten about living your life, and you dare talk about horizons? I’ll beat you to death!”

Cheng Ying felt utterly betrayed by Wu Zi. When had that boy set a trap for her in front of the old woman? It was truly malicious. How could he do this? She was only trying to comfort her! She hadn't even done anything yet. Cheng Ying stamped her foot and stormed out.

From that day on, the old woman forced Cheng Ying to spend time on the phone with Chi Wu every day, and the old woman never once complained about the cost of the phone bills.

This was an unprecedented change. Cheng Ying suspected that every time the old woman paid the phone bill, she must have been gritting her teeth while handing over the money.

But this money, the old woman spent it willingly. Furthermore, the old woman commanded Cheng Ming to go home and go to school with Cheng Ying every single day. It was like having a personal bodyguard—both visible and invisible security rolled into one for Cheng Ming.

The old woman’s supervision of Cheng Ying became unprecedentedly intense. Cheng Ying thought life was too good; she hadn't even received this level of attention in primary school. Now, she had to account for her whereabouts every time she left or returned home. How could you argue with an unreasonable old woman who had been instigated by a petty schemer?

It was only because it was the old woman that Cheng Ying didn't just hire someone to stuff her into a sack and deal with her.

Alas, the only great Buddha she possessed couldn’t be moved or angered. She had to endure it.

It wasn't as if she had any pressing need for solitary action anyway. Even though social customs were quite good these days, she could frame it as the old woman being concerned for her personal safety.

Think of this lady’s market value! Preemptive measures against kidnapping and extortion were quite necessary.

But that was just framing it for the old woman. At the root of it all, the source of this trouble was Chi Wu. That boy was the ancestor of all bad deeds.

Cheng Ying seethed, waiting for the chance to deal with Chi Wu.

She saved up all the accumulated grievances from the engagement period and the time around it. Was a petty woman that easy to provoke? Chi Wu had forgotten who she truly was.

When immortals fought, mortals suffered—what a carefree time university life was supposed to be! Cheng Ming had been tethered by these three people, reduced to a simple commute between two points.

Poor Cheng Ming had nowhere to cry. Who was he doing this for? Whose favor was he benefiting from? What did this have to do with him? Why did he have to be dragged into it? If he had known, he never should have bothered attending a provincial university; he had ruined himself.

So, when summer break arrived, Cheng Ming packed his bags and left early.

He never wanted to be shackled by these people here again. His youthful prime! Why wasn't it revolving around girls, but instead around his little sister and someone else's wife? Could anyone be as excessive as them?

Just like Cheng Ming, Chi Wu, who only had his wife on his mind, returned the moment the break started, not wasting a single second.

And the man even managed to intercept Cheng Ming and Cheng Ying right at the school gate. The effort he put into that maneuvering!

Cheng Ming sighed in relief. “Done. Look, six months. I’ve watched your person for half a year, and nothing is missing. You two enjoy yourselves. Don’t drag me into it next semester. I want to find myself a wife before I graduate too, seriously. Bye-bye, see you never!” With that, he bolted.

Chi Wu was slightly displeased. It wasn’t enough that nothing went missing; he needed to ensure no other things lingered near his wife. It seemed he’d have to lecture Cheng Ming again next semester; the kid wasn’t diligent enough.

Cheng Ying’s forehead wrinkled. Cheng Ming had actually taken himself for a bodyguard.

“That unlucky kid is possessed,” Chi Wu remarked. How phony that sounded.

Cheng Ying glanced at Chi Wu, her eyes overflowing with tenderness. But they were like the holes in a fishing net.

It gave Chi Wu a tingling, unsettling feeling in his core—a rhythm that spelled doom.

Cheng Ying said, “Hello there, you’re so good, you’re truly so good.” She then walked away.

Cheng Ying had reached her limit enduring him for half a year. Was this really acceptable? Did he think she didn't know the ghost beside her was his doing just because she hadn't spoken of it?

Chi Wu twitched his lips. It was hard to explain anything. He followed Cheng Ying to the car before speaking, “Well, I arranged for the gloomy weather, and Cheng Ming was supposed to drive you around, truly.”

He could swear to it—everything else was managed entirely by his grandmother. While he found the arrangement quite pleasing, he couldn't admit it too readily.

What Cheng Ying hated was precisely this—he could be indirect, even manipulating the old woman. What a capable man.

She gave him a strained, fake smile. “Are you awfully pleased that I can’t find any dirt on you?”

Chi Wu felt a chill down his spine. “Don’t joke. Do you need to find dirt to deal with me? You just need to say the word; I’ll let you deal with me without question.”

Faced with a person like this, Cheng Ying felt a strange inability to strike or find a vulnerable spot. “It’s good that you know that.”

Chi Wu took a deep breath. “If I did wrong, just tell me. You might not see the other benefits yet, but one thing is certain: I listen to my wife. Whatever you say, goes.”

Cheng Ying inhaled sharply. He was trying to flatter her now. “Yes, a truly commendable virtue. Keep it up! If this merit of yours gets out, finding a wife in the future will be easy.”

Chi Wu grinned slyly. “Why does that sound so sour coming from you? Are you doubting me? Jealous? Don’t worry, I have another virtue: absolute fidelity. I’ve read the Women’s Precepts as if they were the Men’s Precepts. I promise you complete loyalty.”

Cheng Ying shivered, glancing at the tall, broad man beside her. This level of saccharine talk was unbearable. “Stop it, I can’t take it! Let me out of the car so I can throw up. Did a ghost possess you? Did your soul or your skin switch?”

Chi Wu’s face darkened. “Why are you so hard to please? I’ve used almost every trick the seven students in our dorm used to win over their girlfriends, and you still aren’t warming up to the situation.”

Cheng Ying took a deep breath, finally returning to normalcy. “Change dorms next semester. Your living environment isn’t normal. Don’t go learning bad habits, or all those handsome guys you’re trying to avoid will corrupt you.”

Then, she flipped her long hair back with one hand. “Am I an ordinary woman? Do you think mere mortal tricks can handle me? What a joke.” Her tone was full of pride and confidence.

Chi Wu felt utterly defeated by his wife's self-assurance. Luckily, his own methods were extraordinary, otherwise, he definitely wouldn’t have managed to tame his wife.

Chi Wu pursed his lips and chuckled. “I think the original me is the best, the most handsome.”

Though it sounded a bit thick-skinned, it was the truth. Chi Wu had been taught this by Cheng Ying—he had been molded according to her aesthetic standards and preferences. Naturally, he was the most appealing to her taste. Chi Wu had finally understood this lately.

No more fussing. It was better to go back to how things were. The stories of others couldn't be forced into their lives. He just needed to wear her down slowly; his wife would eventually be his.

Cheng Ying asked, “You didn't sleep again until the early morning, did you?”

Chi Wu nodded. “Yeah, I’ll nap when we get back.”

Cheng Ying said, “What’s the rush? You have the whole winter break.”

Chi Wu rubbed his forehead. He was tired from rushing to see his wife, but it was worth it. “I want Grandma’s milk,” he mumbled, wanting to say he missed his wife too, but he dared not say the latter part out loud. His wife was too fierce.

Cheng Ying didn’t waste words on him. Even with the break, they wouldn’t have many days to relax together; so much needed to be done. “By the way, I want to sell off some ginseng this year. Do you have any good connections for that?”

Chi Wu asked, “Are you short on money? I do. Why buy that stuff? Just let them graze; they don't eat grass or feed.”

Cheng Ying countered, “No, the mountain isn't that big, and that many ginseng roots will draw attention. Besides, those things are hard to maintain. I heard the elders say that after harvesting a batch like that, the mountain takes more than ten years to recover. I thought about selling off some and keeping just a bit.”

Chi Wu replied, “Sure. Whatever you say, that’s what we’ll do. I’ll look into it for you later.”

Cheng Ying stressed, “The most important thing is that the connection must be legitimate. We aren’t lacking those few coins right now.”

Chi Wu understood. “Got it.” What they both sought was this stable life; they knew what was important.

Cheng Ying suddenly asked a stray question, “Did that Miss Qingfang return your money?”

Cheng Ying felt like she must have been possessed at that moment. Why would she ask such a thing?

Chi Wu froze for a moment. Cheng Ying never asked questions like that. Was this coming from a place of concern over money, or concern over his personal relationships?

Chi Wu’s hand trembled slightly. Sometimes, a person’s emotions were exhausting, even for someone like him who was confident that Cheng Ying would eventually love him as much as he loved her. But that time hadn't arrived yet.

Chi Wu didn't dare look at Cheng Ying, wondering if the look on his face betrayed any emotion that mattered to him. Had his wife responded to his feelings? Was she investigating his social circle? Did she care? His heart pounded; he almost couldn't face it.

Cheng Ying felt the silence stretched too long. How had the atmosphere shifted so quickly? They were getting along fine just a moment ago. She looked at her own mouth, realizing why the old woman said her mouth needed a gatekeeper. “Um, I…”

Chi Wu didn't want to hear what she might say next. “No. If I went to ask her for the money back, wouldn’t that just give her an excuse to look at me twice?”

Cheng Ying snapped, “Get lost! As if you’re made of gold! Shameless!” And just like that, she easily smoothed over the awkwardness.

Chi Wu dared not bring it up again, afraid that if Cheng Ying tried to explain, he might have to endure her feeling something genuine for him. He preferred to savor this moment, treating it as proof that Yingzi cared about him.

It was rare comfort, and self-comfort at that. Even a man as confident as Chi Wu lacked the courage to face certain things head-on.

In truth, no one understood the song Cheng Ying sang better than Chi Wu—the sheer wretchedness of loving someone.

Cheng Ying let Chi Wu sleep for half the afternoon in the room. The family only ate dinner later. The old woman, as always, prepared a huge table of dishes for Chi Wu to replenish his strength, insisting he looked thinner. She didn't care about waste at all, forgetting her usual frugality.

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu’s rapidly increasing height. Of course, he looked thin. Didn't the old woman’s eyes have trouble balancing things?

Only the three of them were at the table for this meal. The old woman specifically poured Chi Wu a large cup of fruit wine to refresh him.

River Mouth wine, hot in the middle of winter. Chi Wu woke up feeling invigorated and genuinely craved the wine. “Grandma, this is exactly what I wanted!”