The old woman outside must have been displeased with them spending too much time inside, as the clanging of a basin started up.

Heaven knew how far the kitchen was from here; for the old woman to bring a basin out into the yard, she must have been incredibly impatient.

Chi Wu’s face flushed crimson, and finally, a grand declaration burst forth: “You just wait, I’ll show you tonight.”

With that, he began to undress, though he only exposed the areas that had suffered burns. Cheng Ying looked at her fully restored thigh and felt much better. “You are so foolish, next time don’t be so reckless, darting into scalding water like that. It’s too dangerous.”

Chi Wu’s reply was full of lingering affection: “As long as you aren’t in there, you could beat me to death and I wouldn’t go in.”

Cheng Ying was satisfied; the child was taught well—to follow his heart. She then touched his leg, testing the texture. “It still feels a little different. Did you not use that water properly?”

That comment was rather casual.

Hearing the water sounds from his wife’s mouth, Chi Wu didn't ask anything. His answer came readily enough: “No, I’m a man, this is just fine. If you weren’t around making a fuss, I wouldn’t even want this scar to disappear; this is my medal of honor.”

Cheng Ying scoffed, “Oh, stop it. Do you want me to hack at your leg a couple more times?”

Chi Wu replied, “If you cut me, I’ll keep it as a token of our engagement.”

Cheng Ying teased, “Did you go for literary studies? Why has your speech become so irritatingly sentimental?”

Chi Wu countered that talking sweetly with his wife was in a league of its own: “If you would just be quiet and listen, I think that’s quite nice too.”

Cheng Ying glared at him. This unlucky kid dared to look down on her? But seeing the faint scar still slightly discernible on Chi Wu’s leg, she relented, “Later I’ll get you some more, wash with it properly.”

She was still concerned about the tactile feel.

Chi Wu said, “No need, I don’t use that stuff,” and then opened his mouth for a long time before ultimately saying nothing.

Cheng Ying sensed he still had something on his mind. “Alright, if you don’t need it, you don’t need it. But next time, please don’t get hurt again. Seeing one of our own injured really feels different than seeing someone else hurt.” Cheng Ying spoke from genuine feeling.

She thought to herself that she could probably fix him up completely if she gave him a couple more baths when they went home for the winter break.

Chi Wu felt his wife was stating the obvious; how could it be the same? “Your medicine is wonderful stuff. I asked around; I’ve never heard of anything so effective that can even remove scars. If this got out and we couldn't produce any, it would be trouble. Since there isn't much, don't go flaunting it around.”

He sounded casual, but he had pointed out the inherent risk.

Cheng Ying, whose hand was resting on his calf, paused her familiar habit of taking advantage of him, “Mm, we can’t produce more. It’s gone. You’re the only one who knows.”

That was a very simple answer. Chi Wu pursed his lips, not sure why he was so pleased—just knowing that secret made him feel so content.

He pulled his wife close. “Let’s go eat.”

Cheng Ying was still mulling over whether she should take on another person to share her secret with, but Chi Wu had already changed the subject.

To Chi Wu, Cheng Ying existed on a level akin to a deity. He had been unaware of so much since childhood; for his wife to pull out something he didn't know was one thing, but if she suddenly turned into an immortal fairy, that would be perfectly normal. She was his wife; she possessed that possibility.

She was being deliberately aloof.

Cheng Ying replied, “Mm, let’s go,” a beat slower than Chi Wu.

When the old woman saw the two emerge, her face broke into a wide smile. “Wuzi, eating already? Go chat with Mingzi inside the room; you two are both university students, you must have things to talk about.”

Cheng Ying wanted to say that she was also a university student and had far more to discuss with Chi Wu, and wondered what her grandmother was worrying about.

Chi Wu always indulged the old woman: “I’d like to see Cheng Ming too.”

To Cheng Ying, this sounded like Chi Wu was still thinking about Cheng Ming besides her. To the old woman, it meant Chi Wu was heading off to chat with Cheng Ming. Such a difference in perception based on the ear that heard it! To Cheng Ming, it sounded like he was just the backup plan. What a beautiful response that was.

Chi Wu went inside to chat with Cheng Ming. The old woman grabbed her granddaughter, scolding her, “How can you be so thoughtless? Wuzi worked so hard driving back, and you cling to him? Don't you know to let him rest a bit?”

Good heavens, a clap of thunder! Cheng Ying felt the old woman look at her as if she were a blood-sucking demon, afraid she would drain Chi Wu of his vital essence. Little did the old woman know how pure their relationship was! Couldn’t the old woman’s thoughts be a little more… mature? This was her own granddaughter; Cheng Ying couldn't voice anything else. Grandma, why don’t you just find a Taoist priest from Maoshan to exorcise me?

She shot the old woman a resentful look. She hadn't even tasted meat yet; she couldn't say that, and it festered internally.

Cheng Ying had never felt so wrongly accused. However, from this moment on, she struggled with the false blame she had to carry while not having attained the 'meat.'

If she were going to be labeled this way, she might as well earn the reputation! She cursed Chi Wu for being too timid.

The old woman watched her granddaughter enter the room resentfully and felt a surge of understanding: the child had no ambition! How could she be like this? Oh, how embarrassing.

Cheng Ming was far more casual with Chi Wu. “Send me a red envelope, or Grandma would have sent me over ten minutes ago to keep you company.”

Chi Wu grinned. Cheng Ying came in. “Thank you so much. Why didn’t you go in and clear my name? In Grandma’s eyes, I’m about to become a spider spirit. Am I even her biological granddaughter?”

That line sounded familiar; it seemed someone had said something similar before.

Cheng Ming didn't even think before replying, “I’ve heard of mothers being second-rate, but I’ve never heard of grandmothers being second-rate.”

Oh, right. Cheng Ming had once cast doubt on that; Cheng Ying had given him that exact reply back then. Well, instant karma.

Chi Wu couldn't stand seeing his wife cornered. “Yingzi, Grandma just worries about me. Isn't that the same as worrying about you? Let’s not stoop to the level of this unlucky kid; talking to us is the same anywhere, we just have an extra lightbulb here.”

Cheng Ming felt the old woman’s arrangement was a bit excessive. Wasn’t this just making him suffer? Watching the two lovebirds would surely be too much for him, a confirmed bachelor. Besides, in broad daylight, what could these two unlucky kids possibly get up to? Grandma was overthinking things too much.

As for ignoring someone, the two of them were capable of it, especially since they weren’t exchanging saccharine words but actually discussing important matters. Essentially, the moment they met, they finalized the development direction for the company for the latter half of the year.

Chi Wu said, “Yingzi, I might be coming back quite late for the New Year.”

Cheng Ying looked up, still slightly disoriented. Why was this boy trying to take a step back? Did he not want to come home yet?

Chi Wu continued, “I and some classmates are thinking of starting a business. The Solar seniors have shown interest, and I think it looks good. Don't we have the money? I was thinking of giving it a try. What do you think?”

Could Cheng Ying say that consulting with him was a good idea? But how could her young man have such foresight? What a huge market that represented! “What is the main application for your solar power?”

The direction the seniors were researching was broad, but Chi Wu felt the water heater aspect was something tangible right now, and he wasn't sure if it could take off.

Cheng Ying was one step away from singing a victory song. It was highly plausible! How could this child have such vision? He was the one she taught, after all—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

As a woman, supporting her man’s career was mandatory. Cheng Ying declared, “Go ahead and build it up properly. If we run out of money, we have it. Move forward bravely and confidently.”

Chi Wu was satisfied; his wife was always supportive. “It just means I won’t be able to get back soon to be with you.”

Cheng Ying replied that for the sake of the future, she could go see him: “It’s fine, during the holiday, I can go visit you.”

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu as if he were a bar of solid gold glowing brightly. How could an entire person shine so brightly? Look at his development direction—architecture, industry—it was all coming together.

And he was in the decoration business! If he started promoting water heaters, wouldn't that be living advertising? How did his brain work?

Even as a reincarnated person, she didn’t possess this level of ability; she was content to just manage her own spatial resources and build up a small domain. Why was Chi Wu so capable? To not hold onto him tightly would be a disservice to all her years of effort! Raising him was one thing, but what was that compared to this?

The concept of logging off was essentially erased by Cheng Ying.

Chi Wu felt that if he didn’t achieve something, he would be letting down his wife’s support. What started as simply looking around and understanding the market immediately shifted to calculating initial investment needs.

Cheng Ming sighed from the sidelines, commenting on life and opportunity. Two children who grew up together, both from the countryside, were discussing things he simply couldn't grasp.

How was their world so fundamentally different?

Was his own mind truly incapable of keeping up with the pace? He never thought of himself as slow.

Cheng Ming had always considered himself quite accomplished. In the village, in the township, there were few young men as capable as him. But standing before these two, he wasn't even a side dish—he was less than salted vegetables. This was too discouraging! It wasn't fair! Was Grandma deliberately making him watch these two just to provide him with a harsh lesson? He hadn’t done anything recently that displeased the old woman.

Cheng Ming pondered deeply, but his line of thought was certainly heading in the wrong direction. Why wasn't he thinking about catching up? Humans, honestly.

Before dinner, Cheng Ying finally remembered to ask Chi Wu, “Do you have a finished prototype for the solar water heater?”

Chi Wu replied, “We do, and it looks pretty good. It’s a small invention. The senior students aren’t that interested, but I think this has the best potential among things that can be used in daily life.”

Cheng Ying patted Chi Wu’s shoulder. “The benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom. We won’t bother arguing with them on academic matters. Our vision is definitely better than theirs.”

Aren’t they in different fields? As long as we make money, that’s what matters.

Chi Wu responded, “I’m more open-minded than you think. Otherwise, how could you appreciate me so much?”

To Cheng Ming, the look between the two was that of adulterous lovers.

The old woman interjected, “Stop talking nonsense! Let’s eat properly today. Let Wuzi quietly have some food.”

See? Cheng Ming breathed a sigh of relief. I am my Grandma’s grandson after all. We are not from the same world as you two.

Cheng Ying felt somewhat unsettled. She knew better than Chi Wu how accurate his judgment was; his vision would certainly remain relevant for the next thirty years.

Chi Wu pulled his wife closer. “Grandma, I just want to eat the food you make.”