Cheng Ying sighed; this strong-willed old woman, did she really have to force herself to relieve herself in the outhouse? The commode was installed specifically for the old lady's convenience, not to make her uncomfortable; why couldn't she see that?

Chi Wu, watching from inside the house, understood perfectly. "She'll have to adjust eventually. Once society develops further, there will be plenty of good things. I wanted Grandma to enjoy more of them. Don't worry about it, dear."

Cheng Ying insisted, "No, I need to check on her; what if she falls again?"

Chi Wu held his wife back from getting up. "Since Grandma secretly asked Rong Sao to help her go, it means she doesn't want us to know. Let the old lady stay inside comfortably. If you go over, she'll feel uneasy."

Cheng Ying felt a knot in her chest. "I'm her own granddaughter."

Chi Wu thought his wife was being temperamental. The old lady felt uncomfortable about this matter and didn't want to trouble anyone, whether it was her grandson, son, or granddaughter. "Grandma is a strong woman. When Grandpa passed away back then, she got through it all by herself. She doesn't want to rely on us for these private matters. You need to understand her feelings; just let her manage it. Grandma knows what she's doing."

Cheng Ying mumbled unhappily, "Isn't this the old lady opening up to me? Do you think I could possibly look down on her?"

Chi Wu steered the conversation away immediately, drawing his wife closer. "It's rare that you have a moment of being thoughtless that requires my comforting. I'm actually quite pleased. I deserve a comfort award!"

Cheng Ying snorted. "Hmph, but you really did well, much better than me. Look at the washroom renovation—now that we're not home, with Rong Sao accompanying her, Grandma can handle it alone. And those railings outside—how did I not think of that? I was only thinking about making it like our village setup and didn't consider that Grandma is getting older; having something to hold onto when going in and out would be more appropriate."

Chi Wu deflected the praise modestly. "I can't take credit; that was a post-facto realization. Otherwise, Grandma wouldn't have fallen. Of course, if you genuinely praise me, I'm happy to accept it. If there’s a little reward, even better. I'll certainly have more motivation for future tasks."

He then looked at Cheng Ying in a way that made him seem like a scoundrel fishing for a favor.

Cheng Ying looked back at Chi Wu, her eyes sparkling with amusement. You think you can tease your elder sister? She laughed inwardly. Do you think I’m afraid of this kind of display? Can you catch me? She lunged forward and planted a quick, sharp kiss right on Chi Wu's cheek. "A reward for you. You were brilliant!"

Chi Wu flushed, thinking his wife was too bold, too quick. "How could you be so reckless?" The room fell silent.

It wasn't until the gushing sound of the old lady flushing the toilet outside broke the quiet that Chi Wu and Cheng Ying separated.

This time, Cheng Ying could savor the feeling; it wasn't bad, and no lightning bolt had struck from the heavens. Perhaps, maybe, them being together was alright after all.

Chi Wu muttered in annoyance, "The soundproofing is terrible. I’ll have the workers come tomorrow to line the walls with another layer of wood paneling."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu, thinking he was taking her willingness to be lenient as a given. She immediately stood up and walked out. I can't let you get spoiled like this.

Chi Wu stayed in the room, sipping cold water, feeling utterly tormented.

Cheng Ying asked, "Grandma, how was it? Is it usable now?"

The old lady, helped by Rong Sao, emerged from the restroom, noticing her granddaughter's slightly disheveled hair. "Everyone should be asleep. Why are you still up? Go back to your room and rest properly. Don't I know how to use a toilet? Don't worry, it’s fine. This thing might look a bit crude, but it works wonderfully, and there’s no smell, it’s clean too. From now on, I’ll be much more comfortable; I won't even need to leave the courtyard to use the toilet. Wu Zi put a lot of thought into this."

Cheng Ying replied, "We never left the house to use the toilet before either."

The old lady felt touched, knowing Wu Zi had taken her needs to heart. "That’s not the same! Go look outside; which family’s outhouse looks like it’s in a new house? Go take a look."

Cheng Ying thought, You lack perspective, and I’m not going to argue about it with you. "Just get used to it."

After Grandma was settled in bed, Cheng Ying returned to the room and complained to Chi Wu. "If I had suggested building this kind of washroom for Grandma initially, she would have made me tear it down, surely saying I was wasting money. But when you suggest it, she has this attitude?"

Chi Wu comforted his wife. "This is a different time for a different situation. Now, the commode is much more convenient for Grandma. You should hurry up and sleep; aren't you supposed to go to school tomorrow?"

Cheng Ying felt that his words sounded like those of an old married couple, which felt strange in an unsettling way. "I'm not going to school tomorrow."

Chi Wu asked, "Is there something urgent at home? Since I’m here, you should go. You can't keep postponing your classes."

Cheng Ying lay down, turned off the light, and closed her eyes to rest. Yes, why wasn't she going to school? She couldn't bear to leave, couldn't bear to leave Wu Zi. This thought troubled Cheng Ying.

Chi Wu pressed her gently from beside her. "What's so urgent at home, Yingzi?"

"I don't want to go to school tomorrow; I want to stay home. What business is it of yours? Go to sleep." Her tone was sharp.

Chi Wu suspected his wife was tired from the past few days and needed rest, which made her irritable. He dared not argue with her, silently planning to himself whether he should cook something nice for her tomorrow to recuperate.

The next day when they woke up, the old lady urged Cheng Ying to go to school.

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, I plan to go with Wu Zi to visit his home for a few days. Wu Zi has finally returned, and he hasn't visited his paternal grandparents yet."

The old lady exclaimed, "Oh, heavens, you're right! I've been so muddled with age." She turned to Rong Sao. "Go pack some things. Our in-laws aren't lacking anything; just take some fruit." Chi Wu sighed in relief; at least it was just a normal exchange of gifts; otherwise, this would never end. "Grandma, you don't need to bring anything."

The old lady insisted, "So much fruit! Our family can eat it all and still not finish it. You must tell your grandma not to look down on it."

Chi Wu agreed smoothly, "Yes, I will bring you good things."

Cheng Ying took off her cotton-padded jacket and put on a spring outfit, looking charming and delicate. Chi Wu found it almost dazzling. She had clearly dressed up intentionally.

Cheng Ying stood confidently in the middle of the room. "How is it? Can I show my face in public?"

The old lady frowned. "Showing off! Go put on a guakua (traditional jacket); look at how your backside is showing! What kind of spectacle are you making?"

Cheng Ying glanced at her jeans, which covered her completely. "What are you talking about? I have three layers on, inside and out. How could my backside be showing?

Chi Wu looked at his wife’s round posterior, and the tip of his nose immediately flushed crimson. She was too stunning. "Grandma, this is clearly your handiwork. I never saw such beautiful clothes when I was in B City. Yingzi is lucky to have you; otherwise, how could she be so pretty?"

The old lady huffed. "That pair of pants—I finished making it for her long ago, but I didn't give it to her because I thought wearing it outside would be morally corrupting. I have no idea where she dug it out from."

Chi Wu praised his wife without batting an eye or losing his composure. "But she looks beautiful wearing it."

Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow. "The public's eye is discerning."

The old lady frowned. "Let Wu Zi look all he wants, but you dare go out and make a spectacle? Put on the jacket for me!"

This was becoming urgent. Cheng Ying pouted. We're not even close to the start yet. She was a grown woman, yet the old lady still dictated her clothing. However, she didn't quite dare to disobey, so she glanced at Chi Wu.

Chi Wu instantly understood. "Grandma, it’s cold outside. Yingzi won't wear that without an outer layer. Don't worry; I’m here. We’re leaving now!"

When they finally left the house, he made sure to put a leather jacket on his wife.

Cheng Ying lamented, "My beautiful figure is completely hidden away inside this thing."

Chi Wu, driving, replied, "I saw it."

Cheng Ying fell silent, gazing out the car window. She had dressed up specifically to be seen by Chi Wu. Now she felt like she wasn't even herself. Good heavens, why am I blushing?

Chi Wu glanced at his wife, then thought about her outburst the previous night. She must have skipped school just to stay home with him. His mood immediately soared. "Yingzi, I heard the cinema has a new movie." He looked at Cheng Ying, not daring to say more.

Cheng Ying responded, "We can catch the afternoon showing after lunch."

Chi Wu became even more certain. She was skipping school just to be with him! His mouth was split in a wide grin all the way there.

Cheng Ying accompanied Chi Wu to see the Chi family's old lady. During the recent incident, the Chi family had earned Cheng Ying's respect. Although the Chi old lady wasn't entirely agreeable, she proved capable in a crucial moment, and the actions she took weren't petty. Because of this, Cheng Ying decided that from now on, she would treat this grandmother, whose character occasionally shone through, a little better.

Furthermore, even if only for Chi Wu's sake, she couldn't afford to become entirely estranged from this elder. Chi Wu and his wife would be spending a long time together in the future; she couldn't always...

Cheng Ying felt that Chi Wu's conduct was worth making a concession on her part regarding the old lady. Looking at the beaming Chi Wu in the driver’s seat, Cheng Ying mused that perhaps she could concede even more ground.

Considering Chi Wu’s qualities—he had wealth, looks, character, and a decent family background—he would shine anywhere. She considered herself incredibly lucky to have snagged him, especially since he had pursued her. Cheng Ying felt it would be foolish not to seize this opportunity; where would she find someone better than Chi Wu through blind dates? The more she thought about it, the more she felt this arrangement was perfectly fine.

Recently, the thought, This is good enough, kept echoing in Cheng Ying’s mind.

When the Chi family grandmother saw the fruit Cheng Ying was carrying, her expression genuinely softened. "Is your grandmother feeling better? When people reach a certain age, these ailments really just require careful tending. You youngsters need to be attentive." She personally took the fruit from Cheng Ying. "See? Why bother remembering us? The in-laws are being too polite." She cheerfully carried the fruit toward the refrigerator herself.

Chi Wu thought to himself, We bring you a pile of things, and you insist on arguing the point, but now that we bring a little fruit, you are smiling from ear to ear. He truly couldn't understand the old lady's world; it was distant and incomprehensible.

The Chi family elder also breathed a sigh of relief. Facing two elderly ladies whose thinking was utterly bizarre, the Chi elder couldn't figure out what they were arguing about. In any case, all the good things his wife cherished were being given away. The elder had always worried that his wife would one day give away something she truly prized. Now, he was relieved. "See? We aren't outsiders. Our in-laws keep piling things on us; we can just help dispose of some of it."

The Chi family grandmother agreed. "Yes, if all this fruit piles up, it will indeed become a nuisance. I'll fetch more when this is eaten."

What kind of turn is this? Cheng Ying felt her own grandmother taking such a small step back was brilliant. Look at how the Chi family's grandmother had stepped back a whole stride. The Chi family grandmother was in a good mood, and the Cheng family’s old lady had conceded; she wasn't going to send things over like a nouveau riche brute, making them think her family had narrow eyes and only cared about minor gifts.