It’s just sleeping in a bit more than usual; there’s truly nothing to it. It’s perfectly normal, especially when compared to them. You’d think the old lady’s previous routine was the abnormal one—who gets up that early, anyway?

When he had a moment, Cheng Ming argued with Cheng Ying, telling him to stop fussing. The old lady had worked hard her whole life just to return to a normal state, for goodness sake.

Cheng Ying felt quite consoled, admitting he had been worrying needlessly. After all, didn’t the old lady still go out in the morning to watch people practice their vocal warm-ups? Besides, while there might not be many seventy-year-olds in the park, there were plenty in their early sixties—it was only a few years’ difference.

Cheng Ying let it go; if he felt better, then that was that. The issue simply ceased to be an issue.

Chi Wu also returned, and his words were much sweeter. “Money? How much is ever enough? It’s the wife who matters most.”

Although Cheng Ying didn't entirely agree, hearing it made her happy inside. It meant that in Chi Wu’s heart, she was more important than earning money. If the roles were reversed, and she had to weigh Chi Wu against money, Cheng Ying truly wouldn't know which was more important.

Cheng Ying didn't mention the matter of the old lady to Chi Wu. What could she even say? The old lady was getting on in years. Everyone could see that; it was just a normal change.

Like Cheng Ying, Chi Wu had never neglected the old lady.

When they went home for the New Year, they specifically went to visit Third Madam. Seeing Third Madam’s condition made Cheng Ying feel even more relieved; her own grandmother’s situation was truly quite good, as Third Madam looked so much older than her grandmother.

On the way back, Cheng Ying deliberately invited Old Aunt over to spend time with the old lady.

No one was unhappy to see the only daughter of the house, but both the old lady and her aunt had somewhat unique temperaments. They really only lasted two days together.

The old lady was annoyed by the fussiness of her daughter and the child her daughter brought along.

The daughter was annoyed by how difficult the old lady was to care for, and the two of them clashed.

Old Aunt confided in Cheng Ying later, “Me and your grandma, we’re best suited to miss each other from afar. That way, we’re both fine. We aren't suited to be stuck together like this. Proximity breeds contempt, that’s the rule. I’m leaving. I’ll come back when I start missing your grandma again.”

Cheng Ying understood and nodded. It was like having a stomach ailment; you needed to eat smaller portions more frequently. Old Aunt should visit often, but stay for shorter periods.

The old lady told Cheng Ying later, “When your Old Aunt is far away, I miss her. When she’s close, I get irritated by her. Besides nagging me, she has nothing else to do.”

Cheng Ying thought to herself, What a waste of my good intentions! It’s only been a few days.

Chi Wu remarked, “That’s nothing compared to the drama that’s coming.”

After Old Aunt left, the old lady declared, “It’s much quieter now. I can even sleep in a bit more.”

Cheng Ying hated herself so much she gritted her teeth. Who was I even doing all this for? Lying on the kang bed that night, her head resting on Chi Wu’s arm, Cheng Ying suddenly blurted out, “How about we get married?” It was so abrupt. Cheng Ying realized she had said it without any preparation; some wire must have crossed.

Chi Wu’s reaction was to nearly shove her off the bed. “Are you sleep-talking?”

Cheng Ying felt his reaction was a bit extreme. “You don't have to be that negative if you don’t want to.”

Chi Wu’s face changed so rapidly, his emotional reactions were so multifaceted, that Cheng Ying couldn't follow his train of thought. Did one sentence really require so much overthinking? If he agreed, they got married; if he didn't, they could wait—what was the big deal?

Chi Wu was genuinely overthinking. He knew Cheng Ying was treating him better and better; he knew she was starting to lean on him more as a man. Chi Wu also knew Cheng Ying was growing fonder of him; he could feel it.

If you asked if he thought Cheng Ying wanted to marry him, Chi Wu wouldn't have believed it for a second. He knew Cheng Ying better than she knew herself. Not to mention the engagement; Chi Wu was always prepared for Cheng Ying to cause a fuss. If Yingzi didn't cause a fuss and simply went along with things, he figured he’d likely never get to marry her. If she wouldn't even register the marriage certificate, there was nothing he could do. That’s why her statement was so sudden.

To say he didn’t want to get married would be a lie, but if he were to simply agree to marry her right then, Chi Wu felt unwilling. It seemed this marriage would be deviating from his original hopes. As a man, he wanted the woman to marry him because of him, not because of something else entirely.

Of course, this was Chi Wu being overly sentimental at the moment. Before the engagement, if Cheng Ying had wanted to marry him for any reason whatsoever, Chi Wu would have been so ecstatic he couldn't sleep, eager to get the license before dawn broke.

Chi Wu remained silent for a long time. Cheng Ying looked over at him. “Oh, are you going to sulk now? Who gave you the nerve?”

Chi Wu tried to keep his expression neutral. “I’m just trying to savor the feeling of being pressured into marriage. It’s wonderful.”

Cheng Ying laughed, recognizing Chi Wu’s nonsense instantly. What expression was he trying to fool? “Cut it out. You don’t want to, do you?”

As she said this, Cheng Ying wondered if Wu Zi was older now and realized how reckless she had been in the past. But whether she would let go or not was something Cheng Ying was genuinely considering. It seemed she was not a genuinely good person—meaning, she wouldn’t let him go just to fulfill some noble ideal of facilitating another's happiness.

Chi Wu countered, “What are you talking about? I have no regrets about anything concerning you. It’s just, Yingzi, tell me, why do you suddenly want to get married?”

Hearing Chi Wu’s words, Cheng Ying let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She truly didn't want to readjust the mindset she had finally settled into; the question was whether she could readjust it now. Fortunately, his unwavering focus was worthy of praise.

Cheng Ying looked at the slightly resentful Chi Wu. “What are you thinking? Girls in the village marry at eighteen or nineteen. I’m almost twenty-two. If I don’t marry soon, I’ll be an old maid in the village. Isn't that a feeling of failure compared to others? Hurry up and have a baby; that’ll be a highlight of my life.”

Chi Wu started happily envisioning their children, nearly losing control with joy. What a beautiful future! Wait—he was almost tricked! “Don’t try to lead me astray. This has nothing to do with marriage. Besides, it just passed New Year; you’re only twenty-one.”

Cheng Ying thought this kid was getting harder to coax. “I’m thinking of Grandma. She’s getting old; I want her to hold a great-grandchild. Relying on Mingzi is probably difficult; that boy doesn’t even have a girlfriend yet. As for Tie, who knows who he’ll pick, and he’s not engaged yet. If he waits until he’s married to have kids, how long will that be?”

Chi Wu knew Cheng Ying wouldn't marry him just for his sake, but he hadn't expected to be used as a seed generator. His face looked so put upon that Cheng Ying almost couldn't bear to look. “Fine, no matter the reason, you’re the one getting the better deal.”

Chi Wu looked wronged. “I still want you to marry me because of me.”

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu and felt it was better for him to maintain a bit of proud reserve. She couldn't resist teasing him. “What is it about you that makes me unable to resist getting married? You’re overthinking things. What, do you expect me to jump up and shout that I love you?”

Chi Wu flushed crimson. “Why can’t I make you act impulsively? What’s wrong with me? If I stood on the street and shouted, there’d be a line of people wanting to marry me! To tell you the truth, you have terrible taste. What awful judgment do you have that you can’t see how good I am?”

He sounded increasingly wronged. Chi Wu felt like he wouldn't be able to sleep now; whether they married or not, the thought made him feel hot and restless inside.

She neatly got dressed and slipped out. Cheng Ying couldn't fathom how the man who had been chasing her devotedly for years was now hiding outside in the middle of the night because of her sudden proposal. What a psychological barrier she had! What a loss of face!

Cheng Ying thought to herself that if she ever pulled a stunt like this again, she’d be a fool. She lay back on the kang and went to sleep. This life was something else; this man was so contrary, spoiled by her indulgence.

Chi Wu felt he was being overly sensitive. This was such a wonderful thing, something he had wished and hoped for, yet he couldn't feel happy about it. What was he being so contrary about? Yingzi had thought of him at this moment, not anyone else—that, in itself, was an absolute success for him.

How could he comfort his own restless heart? It was still burning intensely. But Chi Wu knew his wife didn't have a set temper; perhaps in a moment, this proposal would be retracted. He should have agreed first.

When he crept back into the room, the wife who had recklessly started a fire but refused to put it out was already asleep. This only made Chi Wu more agitated. He wanted to ask her if her words still counted, but he dared not disturb her sleep. Besides, if she slept in and woke up later, maybe her words wouldn't count anyway. Chi Wu tossed and turned all night, feeling utterly unsettled.

Finally, when Cheng Ying woke up, Chi Wu tentatively asked, “Yingzi, do you still mean what you said yesterday?”

Cheng Ying shot him an annoyed look. “Get lost. That was yesterday’s business.”

Chi Wu felt a profound sense of disappointment. He hadn't been happy about it then, so why was he disappointed now? He wanted to slap himself twice. With dark circles under his eyes, he didn’t get up. If only I had woken my wife up last night and asked clearly, instead of staying up all night and ending up like this.

The old lady called for Chi Wu to eat, but he still hadn't gotten up, making the old lady anxious. “Is Wu Zi sick?”

Cheng Ying snorted. “He’s crazy.”

If Chi Wu had heard this, he probably would have retorted, It’s the craziness you inflicted on me.

The old lady looked at her granddaughter with fierce disappointment. “Is that how you talk? If all women were like you, they’d all be divorced and remarried. You good-for-nothing, go take food over to Wu Zi.”

Cheng Ying thought, I spoil him rotten. But she quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and took the bowl back to the room. The old lady was not to be trifled with.

However, Cheng Ying wasn't going back to bring Chi Wu food; she was going back to eat by herself. Let you starve, just for messing around for no reason.

Chi Wu watched his wife eating without any semblance of dignity; even the sound of her smacking her lips smelled delicious. His stomach was rumbling, but if he got up now, it would make him look pathetic. He stubbornly lay there under the covers, enduring the hunger.

Why couldn’t you stand by your words? Why could you erase what happened as if it never occurred? How could you dare to play with his already fragile heart? But based on past experience, Cheng Ying was someone he truly couldn't afford to provoke. When she was in a good mood, she might toss him a few kind words, allowing him his moment of pride. When she was in a bad mood, even without a feather duster, the way she looked at him—especially with the old lady watching from the window—was enough.