The passing of Grandma was undoubtedly a massive blow to Cheng Ying, yet for her, the old woman’s death was only a matter of time. When the matriarch’s mind had begun to cloud, Cheng Ying had already braced herself, even preparing the burial shrouds with her in the preceding years. Though Cheng Ying hadn't wanted the old woman handling such things herself, she understood that birth, aging, sickness, and death were forces beyond human control.

Cheng Ying’s rush to marry and have children was only meant to give the old woman one more glimpse of happiness. Now that she was gone, Cheng Ying’s throat ached from crying, but deep down she knew that no amount of weeping would bring her back.

When the old woman was lucid, she once told Cheng Ying, "Once you have children, once you have Wu Zi, I can pass peacefully." Perhaps it was this rare moment of clarity from the old woman that brought Cheng Ying a profound sense of peace; at least she still had Wu Zi, and her two children. Even though the old woman was gone, she had seemingly taken care of everything she could for her.

It was only when accompanied by her two children and Chi Wu in the evenings that Cheng Ying’s mood began to lift slightly. Cheng Ying knew that for the old woman to rest easy, she had to live happily and well. She struggled to adjust to life without Grandma, feeling as though something essential had been burned away from her existence. Even the children couldn't fully draw her attention away.

When Chi Wu complained to Cheng Ying with a hint of grievance about the children's general unreliability and their infuriating behavior, Cheng Ying understood he was merely trying to comfort her. Still, the two troublesome children were indeed being far too disobedient.

Watching Chi Wu, who seemed younger than her, shoulder the responsibility of managing the entire household and outside affairs during this time made Cheng Ying’s heart ache. Frankly, Chi Wu was still practically a boy at his age; it was she who had, in a way, forced him to mature so quickly. Had it not been for her, Chi Wu would still be an older child, not saddled with marriage and children so soon.

Cheng Ying felt a deep sense of owing Chi Wu. She didn't know how to express it. Seeing the strain on Chi Wu, Cheng Ying gathered her resolve and began to focus on disciplining the children, determined not to leave the entire burden on their "little papa."

Cheng Ying knew her children well enough, but she didn't expect her wildlings to be quite this unruly. An entire street’s worth of children, and hardly a household hadn't required them to go apologize.

Cheng Ying glared fiercely at Chi Wu, wondering how he managed them. Any lingering sadness vanished as she focused on disciplining the kids.

Regarding Chi Wu’s knowledge of the Spatial dimension, Cheng Ying couldn’t say if she had been deliberate about it. In her mind, it was only a matter of time before Chi Wu found out. As long as Chi Wu didn't treat her like a monster or an anomaly, Cheng Ying would be content.

What Cheng Ying hadn't anticipated was Chi Wu asking if she was a deity or a demon—a question that made her want to bite someone.

Later, seeing that Chi Wu treated the Spatial dimension merely as a playground, Cheng Ying was truly speechless. Could she say their minds were aligned? That Chi Wu hadn't been corrupted by the Space to drastically alter their lives?

Cheng Ying was genuinely thrilled; at least they shared the same outlook.

When Cheng Ying decided to open a private clinic, Chi Wu offered his unconditional support. Strictly speaking, given the strength of both Cheng Ying and Chi Wu, they hardly needed the meager income from a clinic. Yet, Chi Wu still dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to helping Cheng Ying establish the practice.

Chi Wu understood Cheng Ying's intentions regarding her paternal uncles and maternal uncle.

Although Cheng Ying could be petty, she was fiercely protective of her own. She absolutely could not ignore the old woman's kin, especially her maternal uncle's family. Cheng Ying had always wanted to bring her maternal grandfather and uncle to the city, but the old man was unwilling.

So, that plan never materialized.

Cheng Ying intended for the clinic to stabilize, then find someone competent to manage it, allowing her to focus entirely on life with Chi Wu, perhaps even stepping away from work altogether to care for their trio at home.

At that time, Cheng Ying truly possessed such a spirit of dedication toward Chi Wu, simply because he managed everything so competently. Even knowing the nature of the eldest paternal aunt, Cheng Ying still allocated shares to her elder and second paternal uncles.

She kept half the shares not primarily for wealth, but to retain a voice in the clinic's future operations. If it were to thrive, she needed influence; otherwise, if every family chimed in their two cents, how could any proper management take place?

Cheng Ying resolved that no matter how the Cheng family fared in the future, having ten percent of the clinic’s shares would ensure the future descendants of the Cheng family could afford education.

Furthermore, Cheng Ying was determined to grow the private clinic into a private hospital; it simply wasn't the era for the clinic to take flight yet.

As for Cheng Ming, Cheng Ying genuinely cared for him. Throughout her childhood, Cheng Ming had looked after her often. Back when she went up the mountain alone, it was Cheng Ming who cycled back and forth to fetch her.

At that time, the eldest paternal aunt didn't want Cheng Ming serving Cheng Ying like that, so he would sneak out to give her rides. Cheng Ying remembered it all. Moreover, Cheng Ming himself was driven; he was capable, and there were few areas where Cheng Ying needed to help him. As the saying went, capable people remain capable regardless of the circumstances.

Cheng Ying secretly offered Cheng Ming five percent of the shares, but he refused. Cheng Ming firmly stated, "For my mother’s sake, I won't take it. Who knows how she'll cause trouble later? With my own skills, if I work in the hospital for a few years and then move to the clinic, that will be more valuable than five percent of the shares. Am I worried about not being able to support a wife?"

Cheng Ying said nothing and took the documents back. Cheng Ming had thought several steps ahead.

Cheng Ying remarked, "Don't regret it later; there's no second chance after this."

Cheng Ming sauntered away, genuinely unconcerned about the offer.

Chi Wu even said Cheng Ying was making trouble, suggesting that if Cheng Ming held that asset, the eldest paternal aunt would surely stir up endless legal battles once she found out. "You're hurting Ming Zi," he cautioned.

Cheng Ying’s face darkened. She hadn't realized the shares were so worthless to him, thinking they would regret it later.

Cheng Ying didn't know much about Cheng Tie. Her sole impression was that Cheng Tie lacked any sense of responsibility. Later, when Cheng Tie’s girlfriend appeared, Cheng Ying felt she was the most calculating woman she had ever seen. The eldest paternal aunt was thoroughly outmaneuvered by her own daughter-in-law.

Cheng Ying wondered what went on in that woman's mind all day. She began to worry about Cheng Ming's future; with such a sister-in-law, he couldn't rely on his paternal uncles and aunt for support down the line.

Later, when Cheng Ming brought home a wife, the first person he introduced her to was Cheng Ying. Cheng Ying spent an afternoon with Cheng Ming's wife, and that evening, when chatting with Cheng Ming, the two brothers laughed conspiratorially. Cheng Ying no longer worried about Ming Zi being taken advantage of; his wife looked like someone who would never let herself be slighted.

Cheng Ying couldn't help but wonder what Cheng Ming was thinking, how he ended up with such a wife. Did he perhaps favor the temperament of the eldest paternal aunt?

Cheng Ying couldn't hold back and finally asked, "Ming Zi, you have a mother complex? Though, watching you, you seem to prefer the second paternal aunt’s type."

Cheng Ming rolled his eyes. "If I didn't bring home a wife like this, wouldn't my wife and I be schemed against to death?"

Cheng Ying felt a pang of sympathy for Cheng Ming. "Do you genuinely like her, or did you choose her for the sake of the family?"

Cheng Ming pursed his lips. "I've gotten this far; there’s no reason to mistreat myself. I do like my wife, but I prefer her temperament. Perhaps I'm used to that kind of personality, so it doesn't bother me. Remember, don't stoop to her level in the future."

Cheng Ying wasn't sure if Cheng Ming had sacrificed too much. After all, most men preferred women who weren't overly calculating; they might admire cleverness, but they married the innocent and kind.

Cheng Ying didn't know how to praise Cheng Ming. Her mood remained low until Chi Wu returned.

Chi Wu had also met Cheng Ming's wife. When he saw Cheng Ying's troubled expression, he scoffed, "What are you making a fuss about? Am I any different? I like you just fine."

Cheng Ying immediately bristled. How could they compare? Did he know what Cheng Ming’s wife was truly like? She had the exact temperament of the second paternal aunt—someone who would never back down. To be more specific, she was a combination of the eldest and second paternal aunts. Cheng Ying wondered if Ming Zi had chosen her deliberately.

Chi Wu's remark sounded like a slight. "What do you mean? What am I like?"

Chi Wu replied, "You're petty, unwilling to be taken advantage of, and you love money. Tell me, doesn't Ming Zi's wife have those exact traits? How can you mock someone else?"

Cheng Ying felt aggravated. "Am I really like that?"

Chi Wu continued, "What’s wrong with being like that? Women need to be like that to live well. Men might admire kindness, but when they marry, they marry someone like you."

Cheng Ying lunged forward, wanting to bite him—he was implying she wasn't kind.

From then on, a knot formed in Cheng Ying’s heart. Every time she saw Cheng Ming's wife, she subconsciously made a comparison: was she really that similar to her? Cheng Ying began instinctively monitoring her words and actions, disturbed that she shared the temperament of the very person she disliked most. It was incredibly vexing.

Seeing Cheng Ying so conflicted, Chi Wu couldn't help but try to comfort his wife. "There’s nothing wrong with it; what are you struggling with? Think about it: if you weren't sharp, how would our family have split apart back then? Could we have the life we have today? Didn't you completely subdue the second paternal aunt?"

Hearing this only made her more conflicted—subdue her?

Cheng Ying was despondent for several days until she finally came to terms with it, recognizing that this was simply who she was, and she wouldn't change in this lifetime.

When she next saw Cheng Ming's wife, Cheng Ying was much more relaxed and even warm.

Looking at the sharp, even severe-looking woman, Cheng Ying sighed and said, "I thought you didn't like me."

Cheng Ying held back for a moment but finally blurted out, "If I don't like you, it means I don't like myself. Those two men said my temperament is just like yours. Do you think I dare to fight against myself?"

Cheng Ming's wife chewed on Cheng Ying's words for a long time before grasping the nuance, and she burst out laughing.

Female friendships formed quickly, especially between women who shared similar temperaments.

Later, Cheng Ming's wife explained to Cheng Ying that their family only had two daughters; if she wasn't strong and calculating, how would their household survive? Who would their parents rely on? Cheng Ying nodded in understanding. Weren't most women like that? It perfectly matched Cheng Ming's criteria for a spouse.

Could one say this woman was blessed? To have someone like Cheng Ming who specifically appreciated a woman of her nature.