Burnout. That’s something you simply cannot afford when you have serious work to do. Chi Wu had originally been against Cheng Ying going to work. They had more than enough to deal with at home; where would she find the energy for office politics? Besides, did his wife really need to struggle so hard?

But the timing was all wrong. The old lady had only just passed, and his wife needed a distraction. Chi Wu couldn't stand seeing Cheng Ying so perpetually distracted, as if her very soul had departed.

And he was jealous of the old lady for causing his wife such sorrow. He couldn't imagine what he would be like without her. Pah, pah, he thought, he needed to stay beside his wife for a long, long life.

Chi Wu hated measuring things that way, but every time he looked into Cheng Ying’s unfocused eyes, he couldn't help but entertain the thought.

When Cheng Ying mentioned going back to work in the future, Chi Wu saw it as a perfect way to shift her grief.

They couldn't keep showing off the children in front of his wife all the time, anyway. Besides, the children were getting older and had to go to school. He couldn't hold his wife back just to keep her tied down. Chi Wu was willing, but his parents and grandparents weren't, were they?

Cheng Ying's work went smoothly. The children settled into school fine. Everything seemed to be getting back on track.

This led to the current situation where his wife’s entire focus was on her career, on the unit, essentially pushing him and the children into second place. To say he wasn't frustrated would be a lie.

Especially recently, when Chi Wu learned that his wife wasn't making friends at work and was instead hanging around with Cheng Ming—Chi Wu couldn't sit still any longer.

What kind of person was Cheng Ming? Anything good could possibly come from keeping company with him? He absolutely had to stop this trend from spreading.

Chi Wu had to admit, Cheng Ming was worthy of being his wife’s brother; he was undeniably handsome. And the people Cheng Ming hung around with—they looked respectable, all sharp dressers.

Chi Wu felt the family needed protecting, and vigilance must always be maintained, especially when he had such a beautiful wife he couldn't quite keep tabs on. Chi Wu knew he couldn't keep up with Cheng Ying's thoughts. Heightened alertness was necessary.

Why did hospitals even need male doctors? Chi Wu wondered. It wasn't like it was manual labor. It would be much better if all doctors were female; then he wouldn't have these hidden worries.

But men and women both get sick, and doctors, whether male or female, are necessary for both. This wasn't something Chi Wu could dictate. Moreover, the profession truly had no gender requirements.

So, Chi Wu would just have to remain worried. Chi Wu had been quite vexed lately. It wasn’t just his wife; the children were also a problem. The teacher had called the company directly. The two children were too mischievous, too mischievous, starting fights at school when they were only two years old—and during recess, too, group brawls.

When they fought at home, it was usually with the immediate neighbors, who held back out of consideration for appearances, not making too much of a fuss. But at school, nobody knew who they were, they had no history with anyone—so of course, the trouble escalated more severely.

Chi Wu was grateful he’d had the presence of mind to leave the company phone number when providing contact details for the teachers. Otherwise, his wife would have thrown a fit again when she got home that evening.

The problem wasn't just his wife getting angry. The children’s bottoms would also suffer. He could endure all that, but what Chi Wu truly feared was that the children would start tattling. They didn’t just have parents; they had grandparents, and even great-grandparents. Then the Chi family elders would descend. That would lead to an internal family conflict—an event that had happened more than once. The thought alone gave Chi Wu a headache.

Thinking of this, he also had to consider that his own father was still depressed, recuperating because a long-standing issue remained unresolved. His father practically demanded Chi Wu swear to the heavens daily, promising Chi Yong that he wouldn't align completely with his wife, and that when they were both old, he would stand firm against pressure and not let Cheng Ying bury him next to his own mother.

Chi Wu pulled out a handful of hair—a dozen strands came out. How old was he? He was going bald already. Why was being a man so exhausting?

Chi Wu looked up at the sky. The couple had never discussed the matters of 'drawing water across a distance' or the mysterious disappearance. Although, a large part of that was because Chi Wu was slightly afraid to face it, feeling unsure.

And Cheng Ying had never given a formal explanation.

Of course, the most critical factor was that all these miscellaneous problems hadn't settled down, so the couple never had time to properly discuss the issue.

If there was one issue that seemed easiest to resolve, it was the children.

However, even the kindergarten principal had said that if things continued, even if Chi Wu renovated the entire school’s teaching equipment, they wouldn't keep his children anymore—they caused too much trouble.

So, Chi Wu had to handle this first, then talk to the stepmother, and only after that could he address the issues between him and his wife. One by one, he’d solve them.

Just as Chi Wu was overwhelmed with anxiety, he discovered someone blocking the front door.

Looking at the posture, Chi Wu immediately recalled how irritating he found this person in high school—what a pretentious show-off!

Chi Wu felt utterly terrible; life was becoming unbearable.

It seemed the children’s problems were minor. The most urgent matter to resolve was his wife’s situation. Why worry about male doctors anymore? A male patient had shown up at their door! This really proved someone couldn't stand to see them happy.

Chi Wu’s concern shifted from "Why are there male doctors in the hospital?" to "Why are men getting sick?" It was an insurmountable obstacle.

Cheng Ying also felt quite embarrassed. She already had two children, yet she still had admirers? She truly was charming. Being confronted by such a discerning admirer in front of the entire family made her blush deeply.

But sending flowers to the hospital was one thing; why would he come to block the door at their home? That was utterly tactless, and it carried the suspicion of trying to wreck a happy family!

Seeing Chi Wu’s dark expression, Cheng Ying didn't dare go into the living room.

On a Saturday morning, someone pounded on the door. Then, her own husband was receiving her suitor in the living room. Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow; it was a bit melodramatic, and a little bit proud, too. It was finally her turn to feel a sense of honor! It was just that this situation was rather bothersome. Seeing Chi Wu’s black face, she deliberately brought the two children out.

Chi Wu, staring at the man holding a bunch of foxtail grass, scowled, pointed toward the little chubby girl who could barely keep her eyes open, and ordered, "Go call your mother. Say someone is here to see her."

The little chubby girl was so young; expecting her to relay the message correctly was wishful thinking. She opened her mouth and yelled, "Mama, Mama!"

Then her brother chimed in. It was an assault on the eardrums. Chi Wu watched the man sitting opposite them transition from shy to pale. This was delightful! I told you not to pursue women without doing your homework first. Didn't you know they have a family and children?

Chi Wu said, "Are you here to thank my wife?"

The man opposite—at best, a young man—was decent looking, but too young. If he weren't so young, he wouldn't have done something so impulsive, right? If he were just handsome, a bit smart, or experienced, he wouldn't have impulsively chased her all the way to her home.

The man nodded and spoke hesitantly, "I came to thank Dr. Cheng."

Then he awkwardly hid the foxtail grass behind him, his expression truly heartbroken and deeply disappointed.

Chi Wu maintained his dark expression. "Do you thank a doctor with this? Are you treating me like a country bumpkin?" he sneered. "Ah, congratulations on your recovery. By the way, my wife is a doctor in proctology. May I ask what ailment you were suffering from?"

That was stating the obvious. The man opposite, who could be called a young man, blushed fiercely. What illness could one possibly have that required a visit to a proctologist?

Chi Wu deliberately feigned ignorance. "Speaking of which, being a doctor is truly a sacred profession. They must face all sorts of situations, especially in proctology. Don't you think they consider the patient’s difficulties when they see them? And the patient's hidden worries? Truly, my wife is very dedicated. To face patients like you—thank you for coming to see her. It really isn't easy for a doctor. Those who aren't mentally prepared can easily develop psychological trauma."

How mean-spirited were those words? He was essentially telling the patient: When my wife looks at you, all she thinks is, Is that a rectal prolapse, or hemorrhoids? Internal or external? How dare you face your doctor like this? And you dare to pursue her? Do you have any brains? You actually fell for a proctologist.

Even Cheng Ying couldn't listen to it anymore. This kid was too ruthless; was he trying to destroy the young man's will to live?

The handsome young man stood up, placed the flowers into Chi Wu’s arms, and said, "Please pass on my gratitude to Dr. Cheng. I'll be leaving now."

Then they watched the young man run off in tears—literally tearfully sprinting away.

Cheng Ying took a deep breath. Her little bit of romance had been snuffed out.

Then she lifted the door curtain and came out, beaming, "Oh, we have a visitor! And flowers too? Are these for you? Who has such good taste?"

Chi Wu snorted, looking at Cheng Ying; she was like a high-pressure wave.

Cheng Ying tried her best to appear gentle and innocent.

Chi Wu spoke dryly, "They're for you. Your patient came to thank you."

Cheng Ying replied, "Really? Tell him I chose such a sacred profession! But why send flowers? This patient doesn't know me well; I prefer plaques. Why didn't he send a banner instead?"

Chi Wu ground his teeth, playing along. "Hmph, Cheng Ying, don't make me lose my temper!"

Cheng Ying blinked innocently, casually hooking her arm through his sleeve in an appeasing gesture. "How could I? I always follow your lead, you know. I wouldn't dare upset you."

Chi Wu shook her hand off. "Cut the act. Now, confess!" He then shouted for Sister Rong to take the two mischievous children out.

Cheng Ying thought, It’s too late. The interrogation has begun. Facing Chi Wu’s high pressure, Cheng Ying felt she wasn't really that wrong; at most, her rejection hadn't been perfectly sharp or decisive enough. "Look," she reasoned, "we need to face this rationally. First, regarding that person—no matter how you look at it, I wouldn't be interested in someone like that; he's not my type. Besides, don't you trust my character? Other than you, I haven't looked at another man."

Basically, that statement was unbelievable. Chi Wu almost pointed out the high school teacher right then. But to prevent himself from getting even angrier, he let it go. Why give Cheng Ying a reminder?

Then he heard Cheng Ying continue, "Furthermore, is there a trust issue? Is my character, my integrity, so untrustworthy? This was just some random passerby, truly a nobody. He just didn't know I had a husband and children." (To be continued)

P.S.: Dear reader, what do you think of Heaven’s Will Be Done as a title for the new book? R752