Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

When Qiao Lian and Shen Liangchuan got back to Xia Yehua’s apartment and entered the house, they saw Auntie Li sitting by the door. The moment the housekeeper saw the couple, she immediately said, “Sir, Madam, you’re finally home. Your mother, she- sigh!”

Qiao Lian paused for a moment and then asked anxiously, “What happened?”

Auntie Li spoke in a low voice, “She had very little to eat today.”

On hearing this, Qiao Lian was taken aback and hurriedly asked, “Where’s Mom?”

“Upstairs.”

Qiao Lian gave Shen Liangchuan a glance and said, “Let’s go see her.”

Upon reaching the upper floor, the couple found Xia Yehua lying on the sofa at the balcony. She sat there under the sun with her eyes closed.

For unknown reasons, both of them could feel her solitude and loneliness as they looked at her resting figure.

When Song Yuanxi had been around, she had accompanied Xia Yehua, whether it was to chat or water the plants or to read. But now Song Yuanxi was not around…

Qiao Lian suddenly felt somewhat sad in her heart.

She bit her lip and took a step forward.

Hearing the movement, Xia Yehua turned around.

Her eyes lit up when she saw them. “You’re back!”

Qiao Lian nodded and suggested, “Mom, why don’t we ask Yuanxi to come home and stay?”

Immediately, Xia Yehua shook her head. “No, there’s no need to.”

After saying that, she smiled. “I know what you’re thinking. But that child has done something wrong and she should be punished. It’s just a temporary separation, no big deal. It’s good that she doesn’t forget that you are one of our family members and also her sister-in-law.”

Her words warmed Qiao Lian’s heart.

Xia Yehua… did consider her a part of the family.

That was why she didn’t want Qiao Lian to feel unimportant.

–

Qiao Lian and Shen Liangchuan chatted with her for a while before the couple retired to their bedroom.

Qiao Lian looked troubled. “I feel we should take Mom along with us the next time we eat out.”

Shen Liangchuan’s expression clouded over. He looked at her with a softened expression and calmly agreed, “Okay.”

“What else could make Mom happy?” Qiao Lian tilted her head and pondered.

Suddenly, Shen Liangchuan embraced her waist from behind and leaned on her.

Even through the thick pajamas, Qiao Lian could feel the warmth of his body. Her posture stiffened. “What are you doing? I’m being serious!”

Shen Liangchuan placed his cheek against her ear.

Then he looked at her delicate earlobe and her pale nape. The image of her seriously focusing on the game flashed across his mind.

He felt a deep throbbing growing inside him.

He replied, “I’m serious too.”

When he spoke, his breath was hot against her ear and it was sending an electric current that spread throughout her body.

She coughed once and said, “Well, tell me.”

“I think there’s only one thing that could make Mom happy.”

“What?”

“A grandchild.”

Qiao Lian’s posture stiffened. As quickly as he had managed to arouse her, those two words doused the internal fire in half the time.

She turned around immediately, extending her hands to push him away. However, he grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes with a burning gaze. “Qiao Lian, let’s have a child.”

Have a child?

Qiao Lian laughed bitterly and hung her head. “We may have to wait another half a year.”

“Why?” Shen Liangchuan was surprised to hear that.

Qiao Lian looked up. “Because the birth control pill you had me taking was too strong and the doctor said that I won’t be able to get pregnant for another half a year.”

Shen Liangchuan’s pupils shrank upon hearing Qiao Lian’s words. “What did you say?”

The sort of birth control pill that he had given her was certainly not the sort that could affect her physical health.