[Urban] Campus Maple Leaves Red (Complete) - 17

[Volume 1: First Encounter with Maple Leaves] Chapter 7: Gathered, and It's All Right (9) It

has been sixteen years since my sister married my brother-in-law. Not only Yu Rong, but even my sister who has divorced my brother-in-law, is very proud of the spacious ten rooms that my brother-in-law's family used to live in. But today, when they learned that the ten rooms were just the entrance hall of my brother-in-law's family, their eyes looked at Old Li with more than just shock.

Xiao Zhu was in high spirits, and Yu Rong was just as enthusiastic. After the two of them walked hand in hand to every corner of the garden, the two of them, who were quite in sync, chose two adjacent rooms in the thirty-six main rooms and declared their ownership of them. They

took care of their own rooms. After declaring ownership of the rooms, the niece and aunt were busy with their own affairs without caring about anyone else.

Tian Rong and Tie Yi's enthusiasm suddenly vanished under the high spirits of their niece and aunt.

It's not that it's just Xiaozhu coming back to live here, and she'll definitely be coming back to live here in the future anyway. But now, a sister-in-law whose older sister has already divorced her brother-in-law has no self-awareness at all, yet she's also coming to interfere in this already somewhat chaotic home. It's like a mouthful of undercooked rice stuck in your throat; you can't spit it out, and you really can't swallow it down!

Tian Rongdang and Tie Yi, not knowing what to do, had Old Li quietly pull them to the back of the garden.

There was a side courtyard, a semi-enclosed courtyard consisting of three main rooms and six side rooms. Its style was very similar to a traditional courtyard house, but unlike a traditional courtyard house, it was much larger, making the entire courtyard very bright and spacious.

In the middle of the courtyard were stone tables and benches, several clumps of Xiangfei bamboo and canna lilies arranged in a pleasing manner, and two pomegranate trees at the entrance, making the place exceptionally fresh and elegant.

There were many rooms in the front garden, but Tian Rong and Tie Yi didn't particularly want to stay in any of them. However, they fell in love with this courtyard, which was much smaller than the front garden, the moment they stepped inside.

This was the courtyard Old Li had left for Xie Xin, Tian Rong, and Tie Yi, because Fei'er would be staying in the front garden for the time being.

The main gate of this courtyard connected to the front garden, and there was also a side gate that directly faced the road between the front garden and the Military History Museum. This meant that if it was quiet in the front garden, they could use the main gate of the courtyard to enter and exit; if they didn't want to disturb the people in the front garden, they could use the side gate without disturbing anyone.

Old Li only mentioned where the main gate and the side gate led, but Tian Rong and Tie Yi instantly understood the reason why Old Li had emphasized these two gates. When the phrase "keeping a mistress in a golden house" unexpectedly popped into the minds of the two ladies, their faces inexplicably flushed, and they reached out together to pinch the soft flesh of Old Li's waist to test if their three slender fingers still had any strength.

As soon as the two women stopped testing their strength, Old Li turned around and embraced them, gently rubbing his face against theirs. He said softly and apologetically, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

This was how home was, and Old Li had already done his best to make it possible for them to live together. The two women, understanding his good intentions, nestled against him, savoring the rare moment of peace.

The college entrance exam began this Saturday. As usual, Old Li visited both senior high school classes before moving on to the junior high school class. There was still almost a month until the junior high school entrance exam, and the pre-exam atmosphere wasn't as intense as the college entrance exam. Therefore, when Old Li entered the junior high school class, the students could relax and chat with their homeroom teacher for a while. A

short meeting of the school administration ended after fifteen minutes. Several key leaders from No. 33 Middle School, along with an inspection team from the Education Bureau to check on the women's basketball team's preparations, arrived at the team's training ground.

Tomorrow, the Tiancheng Women's Basketball Club, which has settled in Jiangzhong City, will send their reserve third team to play a total of four home and away training matches against the No. 33 Middle School Women's Team. No. 33 Middle School's first home game is tomorrow at this time.

Accompanying the Education Bureau officials are two senior coaches from the Municipal Sports Commission to inspect the women's basketball team's preparations. Their main purpose is to use the four training matches starting tomorrow to assess the No. 33 Middle School Women's Basketball Team's practical tactics and the players' physical reserves. They will then work with the existing coaching staff to develop a more targeted 20-day closed training plan for the team.

Without interrupting the women's basketball team's training, the two senior coaches from the Sports Commission observed the players' training while exchanging ideas with the coaching staff. Clearly, they weren't just there for a cursory look; they were genuinely entrusted with the important task of helping the No. 33 Middle School Women's Basketball Team further improve their training level in the coming period.

While the women's basketball training was still in progress, the dance rehearsals were already urging Lao Xu and Lao Li to get started.

These were all tasks that needed to be completed well, so the comrades from the Education Bureau very understandingly let Lao Xu and Lao Li go to the rehearsal. Accompanied by Tian Rong and Tie Yi, they left No. 33 Middle School first.

It would be too simplistic for Lao Li, a man, to express the inner meaning of the dance alone, so after several rounds of selection, Lao Xu and Dong Qin finally found four same-sex partners for Lao Li. One was Wei Qiang, a newly arrived college student; another was Zhang Jianxin, a junior high school chemistry teacher; and the other were students who liked street dance.

Lao Xu was instructing the four newly joined dancers on the basic movements, while Lao Li, under Dong Qin's guidance, began practicing some of the choreography.

The practice was divided into two groups: one was a joint practice between the male and female lead dancers, and the other was a group practice led by two lead dancers. The group dance did not have many difficult movements, because the choreography was not based on who had the best skill level, but rather on the average level of everyone involved. Therefore, the difficulty of the dance was mainly concentrated in the choreography of the male and female lead dancers.

Standing at 1.7 meters tall, Dong Qin's flexibility and understanding of the music's meaning impressed Lao Li. This made him fully understand why someone as well-known in the amateur dance world as Lao Xu remained silent after hearing Dong Qin's affirmation. Indeed, the discerning eye of someone with true professional competence is convincing. Lao

Li, throwing himself into rehearsals with utmost focus, quickly immersed himself in the dance under Dong Qin's guidance. While

the choreography was just about manageable from beginning to end, the two of them, so deeply engaged, gave their still somewhat awkward and less-than-smooth coordination a new charm.

As the theme music faded, applause erupted in the rehearsal room, a chorus of praise for the two dedicated individuals.

"Dad, your dance this afternoon was wonderful!"

Lao Li, having just returned to his office after showering, was pulled to the three-seater sofa by Yu Lian, who was already waiting inside, who showered him with compliments.

"Hehe, Dad knows his own level. It's not that Dad dances well, it's that Dad was led by others to dance smoothly."

Old Li explained, gently stroking Yu Lian's nose with his finger.

"Hehe...who has such great charm that they got you so into it, Dad?"

Tian Tian, who hadn't even spoken, laughed before sitting down next to Old Li.

"It's your music teacher, Dong Qin. She's very professional."

Knowing that the little girls who had been peeking through the crack in the door for most of the rehearsal weren't really asking him about this, Old Li still told the truth after briefly introducing who it was.

"Hehe...Dad, what did it feel like when you and Teacher Dong did those moves during rehearsal?"

Tian Tian, laughing, sat down next to Old Li and, after making a move that was definitely more exaggerated than any dance move, asked her father.

"Hehe... Daddy doesn't feel any difference?"

Tian Tian, who had sweet dimples like her daughter Xiao Zhu, felt a ticklish, pleasant sensation as she rubbed her breasts against his arm. However, the father was happy to play along, enjoying this rare moment of intimacy with his daughter-like Tian Tian.

"You naughty daddy! Is it because my breasts aren't as big as Teacher Dong's that you say you don't feel anything!"

Rubbing her arm against her father's made her feel incredibly itchy and numb, but he said he didn't feel anything! Tian Tian, indignant, couldn't help but get angry.

"Little girl!"

Her daughter-like Tian Tian's almond-shaped eyes widened as her father affectionately called her "Daughter," pinching her cheek. "Even if Teacher Dong's are big, how can they compare to our little Tian Tian's!"

As he spoke, his large hand completely enveloped one of Tian Tian's breasts.

The two girls, dressed in long skirts but without any bras, took turns bobbing against their father on the comfortable office chair. One moment, Yu Lian was lying face down on the table, her father supporting her increasingly prominent buttocks as he deeply penetrated her from behind; the next, Tian Tian was sitting back on the table, her legs draped over her father's shoulders, watching his large member thrust in and out of her wet, glistening orifice.

Their little mouths swallowed every drop of the thick, sticky semen gushing from his swollen member. Her father then cleaned his two daughters and carried them one by one to the sofa to rest.

After the sound of a key opening the door, Tie Yi and Zhang Nan quickly slipped in. One was heartbroken to see the two girls lying motionless on the sofa, while the other simply called her father a bull and started scolding him.

The daughter who had been blaming her father was pinned down by him. Tie Yi, seeing that the two little girls had come on too strong and he was temporarily too tired to move, turned around to pull his daughter off. However, instead of being pulled off, he also ended up pinned down by his bull-like father.

Fortunately, the phone on his desk rang, urging him on. The father, unwilling to give up on his two "tender pieces," picked up the phone.

It was Da Mei calling. The supermarket, which was about to open, was hiring, and she wanted to entrust the task to Wang Caini, one of Lao Li's subordinates. She had come with Lao Li to request staff.

After explaining that Wang Caini was rehearsing a dance at school and coordinating her help schedule with Da Mei, Lao Li took out his phone and called Wang Caini.

He told her about helping at the supermarket, and that she only needed to come to school for dance rehearsals; the rest of the time was her own responsibility. Lao Li then hung up.

Having largely recovered their strength, Yu Lian and Tian Tian, along with Zhang Nan and Tie Yi who had tidied their disheveled clothes, told Old Li that the four tender prey he had almost gotten his hands on were now truly gone.

Seeing Old Li's bitter face, Tie Yi felt a mixture of amusement and a touch of sweetness, but she suppressed this good mood and told him something that surprised and troubled him as well.

A girl named Qingyu and a woman named Da Mei had driven their luggage to Old Li's home in the military region that afternoon to find Fei'er. They told Fei'er that Old Li had agreed to let them stay there as well.

Fei'er knew nothing about this, but fortunately, Tian Rong, who came out a little later, saw the situation and quietly relayed to Fei'er what had happened that day when she and Old Li were on the phone in Old Li's office. So, while Fei'er entertained the two uninvited guests, she told them that everything would be arranged after Old Li returned.

Tian Rong came out a little late in the afternoon. She was attending a meeting at the Beicheng District Education Bureau. She helped Fei'er entertain the guests for a while and also took the opportunity to call Tie Yi to discuss the matter, intending to let Lao Li make up his mind.

Qingyu and her daughter Xiaozhu have been sleeping in the same bed for at least two years. Leaving aside what would happen if Qingyu didn't stay, Xiaozhu herself probably wouldn't be able to accept it. But keeping Qingyu would create an awkward situation.

However, these weren't the most important issues. The most important thing was that Fei'er's mother would arrive tomorrow afternoon, and Fei'er relayed her mother's message that this in-law would be staying with her daughter for two or three months. If it were before, there wouldn't be any problem, but now the difficulty lies in Fei'er's pregnancy. How would she explain this to her in-laws when Fei'er's belly became noticeably larger in two or three months?

Then there's my daughter, Xiaozhu. After returning with her aunt, she argued about two things. One was that her aunt was about to be transferred to the Industrial Zone Public Security Bureau, so her aunt had to stay at home. The other was my daughter's own issue: she said that since her aunt wouldn't be in the city anymore, no one would take care of her while she was studying there, so she wanted to transfer schools, specifically to the No. 33 Middle School where her father worked! To get used to it, she'd already pestered Tieyi to bring her to school this afternoon, and she's currently temporarily auditing classes in the first year of high school.

It seems like every issue now requires careful handling, and every single one needs thorough preparation. But no matter what the immediate issue, Old Li has no time for advance planning. So, with a headache forming, Old Li gritted his teeth and thought, "I'd better focus on receiving Fei'er's mother first."

Her daughter and sister-in-law wouldn't be able to move back home for a few more days. With so many rooms in the house, two would be enough for Qingyu. The rest was what Tie Yi had mentioned on the way there that afternoon: her daughter wanted to meet him.

Yes, the college entrance exams were in a few days, taking place in the school's classrooms, and Tie Yi's daughter, who was also coming home for vacation, would be returning soon. But since her mother had already moved, shouldn't she also have a good talk with her daughter about this?

Tie Yi's daughter wanted to meet her future stepfather, so he, as her stepfather, should also meet this daughter he had only heard of but never met. However, her daughter Xiaozhu had come along now; would he have to take this daughter to meet another daughter later? The practical difficulties were what Old Li had to face.

But a more distant concern was that Tie Yi's daughter was also his future daughter. How should he arrange her living arrangements after she returned?

No matter what he did, there seemed to be no foolproof method. However, it was said that the more flaws a martial arts master revealed in battle, the higher their level of skill. Whether he had reached the level of a legendary martial arts master was still unknown, but Old Li, having steeled himself and decided to face everything without pretense, was ready to die.

The older female players on the team (though perhaps not older than him, they were definitely taller than him!) – Xiao Zhu knew her father and Tie Yi would be going out soon, so she, who really liked these older female players, offered to wait for him there, telling him it was okay if they came back a little late!

This was the house Tie Yi had moved into after her divorce. Old Li had come here before when helping Tie Yi pick up some belongings, but now that he was back, what would it be like?

[Volume 1: First Encounter with Maple Leaves] Chapter 7: All Gathered, All Done (10)

"Mom—why are you so late? Everyone's been waiting for you for ages!"

Tie Yi had just taken out her key to open the door when a lively figure in sportswear flashed out from behind the door. As the ponytail hanging behind this figure's head swayed left and right, she grabbed Tie Yi's arm and seemed to be playfully scolding her.

"Little girl! Mom came back with your Uncle Li as soon as I got off work. You call that waiting time on the way here!"

Tie Yi gently tapped her daughter's smooth forehead, her affection for her daughter evident.

"Mom~ I was just eager to see..."

The daughter, halfway through her sentence, whispered in her mother's ear, her voice only they could hear.

"You brat!"

A blush instantly rose to Tie Yi's cheeks. Just as she was about to harden her face in slight anger, she met Old Li's smiling face.

Her daughter was family, but whether Old Li was considered family was still uncertain. Following her usual practice of showing favoritism, the slight anger that had surfaced from her daughter's whispered words was transferred entirely to Old Li, who was watching the spectacle with amusement. She

glared fiercely at Old Li, as if to say, "It's all because of you, you shameless old man, that I'm angry!"

Then, Tie Yi, with her eyes lowered, introduced the shameless old man to her daughter.

"Xiaoru, this is Uncle Li Feng."

"Old Li, this is my daughter, Xiaoru."

"Hello, Xiaoru, are you looking at me like that because you have some questions for me?"

With a pair of bright, lively eyes scrutinizing him, the thick-skinned Old Li tried to lighten the mood as he greeted the little girl.

"Hehe... Hello, Uncle Li! I'm just being serious because I'm doing this for my mom. As for questions, I have plenty! If you're ready, Uncle Li, let's go inside and I'll ask you all my questions! Uncle Li, please come in!"

The girl's clear laughter was polite, but then she turned serious and, taking advantage of Old Li's earlier words, brought up the topic of the evening.

It was a typical one-bedroom apartment, but decorated more from a woman's perspective. In other words, the two women who owned the apartment hadn't considered (at least not for the time being) that a man would be living with them. However, while the house's decor prominently features a female perspective, it emphasizes the warm side of a woman's nature but diminishes some of her gentle charm. The occasional flashes of blue in the base color subtly reveal the homeowner's gentle yet strong character amidst the warmth.

It should be said that the warm color scheme reflects Tie Yi's personality; it's a mother's way of caring for her daughter. That subtle blend of gentleness and strength is undoubtedly a shared sentiment between mother and daughter.

In a room rarely frequented by men, the look in the eyes of one man tells the mother and daughter

, who are silently observing, that he understands their thoughts. The mother feels a gentle warmth and happiness at being understood, her heart overflowing with tenderness. Her daughter, who had faced many trials, finds solace and genuine comfort in finding a true confidante because of this deep understanding from a man.

"Uncle Li, please sit down!"

A surge of goodwill instantly changed one person's attitude towards the other. Xiaoru's voice, brimming with undisguised joy, greeted Old Li, who was already locked eyes with Tie Yi.

"Mom, Uncle Li, please sit down first, I'm going to do my homework!"

As soon as the not-so-lavish but carefully prepared dinner was finished, Xiaoru, having helped her mother clear the dishes, called out and went into the inner room.

Although it was her first visit, Old Li and Tie Yi were practically an old married couple. Xiaoru's departure, however, seemed to have a more intimate effect on the couple. Without Xiaoru as a bridge of communication, they were unsure where to begin their conversation.

But being an old married couple, after a brief pause, they directly discussed practical matters.

The day after tomorrow, Tie Yi will take Xiao Ru to meet the new place and Xiao Zhu as well…

Let's stay at the military area's house. We'll keep this place for now and come over to tidy it up when we have time…

Xiao Zhu is transferring to our school, so… we should ask Xiao Ru's opinion and see what she thinks…

“Uncle Li, we won't keep you tonight! If you want to stay in the future, you'll have to work extra hard!”

As they walked to the entrance of the complex, Xiao Ru waved goodbye to Uncle Li, encouraging the somewhat reluctant old man.

Mom, affectionately scolding her daughter, watched as her daughter's laughter faded into the soft night, Tie Yi holding her daughter's hand as Old Li got into his car and drove away.

In the women's team dormitory, Xiao Zhu, who was already having a lively time with the girls, only reluctantly left after her father repeatedly urged her. On the way home, she complained to her father about coming home so early.

The room prepared for Fei'er's mother was connected to Fei'er's room. Old Li and his daughter Xiaozhu came to check on the preparations after returning home. Worried, Old Li started bombarding Fei'er's mother with questions as soon as he entered the room. Finally, annoyed by the questions, Fei'er glared at him and said, "Dad! I prepared this room for Mom. Aren't you afraid I'll treat her badly?"

Yes, her father-in-law's concern for her mother was, in fact, his concern for her. While it made her feel good, please, please, save this kind of concern for when it's just the two of us. Aren't you afraid that if you show too much concern now, your precious daughter will become suspicious?

Actually, whether a child like Xiaozhu would suspect her father's relationship with her sister-in-law because of his concern for his in-laws remains to be seen. But then again, when people want to hide something important from others, they always feel a little guilty. And sure enough, before anyone else could do anything, she herself couldn't withstand it.

Fei'er's mother finally finished looking at her room, but her daughter Xiaozhu became very interested in Fei'er's room, pestering her relentlessly. She was overjoyed and decided to sleep in the same bed with her sister-in-law that night.

Old Li had a lot to say to Fei'er that evening, but his daughter's arrival completely ruined his plans.

Fei'er was secretly sticking her tongue out at her father-in-law, while Old Li could only watch helplessly as his mischievous daughter-in-law and excited daughter sang.

A car horn blared, nearly shattering the front door. It was Yu Rong, Old Li's sister-in-law, who had returned after seeing off his aunt. This sister-in-law, determined to stay at her brother-in-law's house, was truly giving Old Li a headache.

However, no matter how much of a headache it was, she had to stay. Things were already like this; could things get any more chaotic? Old Li didn't want to think about it anymore. After settling everyone in, he just wanted to find a quiet place to get a good night's sleep.

[Volume 1: First Encounter with Maple Leaves] Chapter 8: The Water's Muddy, You Can Avoid Touching It (1)

"Brother-in-law, which of these rooms are you staying in?"

After spending an afternoon tidying up the rooms, the sister-in-law not only wanted to ask her brother-in-law for suggestions, but also wanted to inquire about his daily life.

"Oh, I'll stay in the same room as before."

It's still unknown whether he will choose to stay in another room in the future, but during the time that Fei'er's mother is here, her brother-in-law will still stay in his original room.

"It's such a waste to leave so many rooms empty! Brother-in-law, why don't you stay in the room next to Xiaozhu and me? That way you can take better care of Xiaozhu."

Perhaps it was the first time he'd met his sister-in-law that he'd heard her speak so softly and gently, so hearing her speak to him like a woman again felt unreal to Old Li.

"You're used to living there, so stay there,"

Old Li said casually, responding to his sister-in-law's earlier display of femininity.

"Tch—if you don't want to stay, fine! Who do you think wants to live next door to you?! Get out! Get out! You ungrateful wretch! Get out now!"

His casual words instantly shattered his sister-in-law's feminine demeanor. Like a mother pigeon suddenly bristling, she was verbally abusive and physically aggressive, but refused to actually turn around and kick the ungrateful wretch out.

Knowing that his sister-in-law was only verbally fierce, and that this often-stern woman was actually as fragile as glass, Fei'er had already quietly left with Xiaozhu behind him. Overwhelmed with tenderness, the brother-in-law gently walked over and embraced his still-fistful sister-in-law.

"Rong'er, are you angry with your brother-in-law?"

The sister-in-law's body was stiff, as if frozen in place, yet it trembled slightly. His gentle breath and voice, filled with deep affection, drifted softly into her ear.

From the moment his sister brought him to her, he had always called her "Xiao Rong" and herself "Rong'er,"

a name she hadn't heard for many years. When those memories flowed back, in his warm embrace, amidst the long-awaited call, a complex mix of emotions welled up within her, and tears inexplicably streamed down Yu Rong's cheeks.

Her shoulders trembled, and her sobs were intermittent. She turned abruptly, burying her face in her brother-in-law's arms and weeping bitterly.

In the short time since she met him, the young Yu Rong, still harboring girlish feelings, had secretly imprinted his image on her heart. Over a decade had passed, over a decade of trials and tribulations, over a decade of silent waiting in her heart. Gradually, the shy girl of yesteryear had unknowingly filled her heart with explosive emotions.

Sensitive, painful, and unresolved feelings accumulated in Yu Rong's heart, yet she continued to silently guard everything, just as she had when she watched her sister hold her brother-in-law's hand.

Over a decade of silent waiting, at this moment, transformed into a torrent of water overflowing its banks, a complete and utter outpouring of emotion.

Dressed in a smart police uniform, with a face as delicate as a pear blossom after the rain, and a faint yet intoxicating fragrance, a woman's eyes, brimming with contentment and tenderness, blossomed before him, blooming in his arms. Unable to contain his emotions, his brother-in-law's lips moved slightly.

"Rong'er,"

he murmured.

"Sister...Brother-in-law,"

the sister-in-law responded softly, a little hesitantly.

"Rong'er!"

he called, his voice slightly urgent.

"Brother-in-law!"

Yu Rong, her eyes deeply imprinted on her brother-in-law's face, clearly conveyed her current feelings to him.

"Dad! Come and see, my room is such a mess!"

Her daughter, Xiao Zhu's, voice boomed from the doorway. This voice was like a bomb thrown into a pool of tender affection, instantly muddying the waters and throwing the brother-in-law and sister-in-law, who were about to kiss, into a flurry of activity.

The chaotic consequences were naturally borne by the brother-in-law, who bravely took responsibility. While the sister-in-law muttered curses under her breath, she also gave him a playful beating and pinching.

Her brother-in-law's large hand was pulling her towards the door, but she struggled to let him hold her hand until they reached the door before abruptly pulling away and nonchalantly stepping out first.

Xiaozhu's room was a mess, as if it had just been swept by a storm. Looking at Fei'er's strangely smiling face, Old Li understood that his daughter had done this on purpose.

Old Li only had one photo in his house, a picture of Xiaozhu when she was two years old, taken by her mother holding her. All the other photos of Xiaozhu's mother had been secretly taken away by Ya Rong, who had returned to China but couldn't attend her mother's funeral, when Xiaozhu's grandmother passed away. The only photo that still gave Xiaozhu an impression of her mother was the one Old Li had shrunk and placed in her necklace.

The mother left her daughter, but she will always be her daughter's mother. Old Li didn't let Ya Rong's departure instill in her daughter any misunderstanding or hatred towards her mother. Old Li understood that in matters of family and in many aspects of life, he could never make choices for his daughter. When she truly grew up, she had the right to make her own choices based on her own thoughts.

So, the necklace with Xiao Zhu's mother's photo was worn by Xiao Zhu when she was five years old. However, after Xiao Zhu entered third grade, Old Li never saw his daughter wear the necklace again.

Old Li knew that while his daughter hadn't taken the necklace off, she hadn't thrown it away. It remained under her pillow every night, accompanying her into her distant, longing dreams.

It was because of this dream that his daughter still had her mother by her side that Old Li had accompanied her as she grew up alone for so many years. He hoped that one day, when his daughter could fulfill this dream, it would also be the beginning of a new life for Old Li himself. Perhaps this new life will only arrive when Old Li is old and gray, or perhaps he will never experience it in his entire life. But for his daughter's dream of being with him every day, Old Li is willing to wait a lifetime. His

mother is a heavy lock in his daughter's heart; until it's unlocked, she's acutely aware of every woman who appears around her father. Perhaps it's fate, but Old Li, so sensitive to his daughter's feelings, has always been very careful about the distance he maintains with other women. However, his daughter left him during high school, and as this sensitivity gradually faded, and as many things that shouldn't have happened suddenly occurred, Old Li now faces his daughter, unsure how to explain everything.

Clearly, even his beloved aunt, his mother's sister, will have a long way to go to replace his mother, who accompanies him in his dreams, in Xiaozhu's heart.

Lost in the woods, the woman was oblivious to her surroundings. Even though Xiaozhu's shouts had interrupted her heart-to-heart talk with her brother-in-law, the sister-in-law, preoccupied with suppressed excitement and happiness, couldn't see that her niece was genuinely pouting and throwing a tantrum at her father. The sister-in-law assumed her niece was acting this way because of her father's neglect since his return. So

, as usual, the aunt, Yu Rong, tried to soothe her sulking niece. Unable to express her thoughts to her aunt, and unable to vent the pent-up frustration, Xiaozhu turned to her father for relief.

Fortunately, her father understood her feelings and knew she needed this release, so he allowed his daughter, held in his arms, to indulge in this seemingly unreasonable outburst.

Although they didn't live together every day, Fei'er had lived with her sister-in-law for over four years, which made her, being equally sensitive, more understanding of her sister-in-law's current feelings. She was moved by her father-in-law's understanding of his daughter's heart, and touched by the heart of a father behind that understanding. But at that moment, she also thought about how difficult it was for Xiaozhu to accept her own aunt as a mother; wouldn't Xiaozhu face even more obstacles in accepting her?

Just as this thought crossed her mind, Fei'er felt her father-in-law's gentle gaze fall upon her.

It was a man's gaze of deep comfort, a gaze filled with tenderness and a promise. This man, who always held her in his heart and understood her so well, made Fei'er reconsider her choice. She sincerely and unreservedly showed her father-in-law her beautiful smile.

Like a father, like an older brother, like a lover, her man—without thinking, Fei'er stepped forward, took Xiaozhu's hand, and jokingly comforted her, along with her father-in-law.

Xiaozhu, who had stopped crying and was now laughing, along with her carefree aunt and Fei'er, all suddenly shared a common target: Old Li, whom they were relentlessly pursuing. Just as

the family's joyful atmosphere was reaching its peak, Da Mei, who had disappeared for an afternoon, reappeared with another person.

"Ah! It's Sister Da Mei and Sister Qingyu!"

Before anyone else could react, Xiaozhu cried out as if she'd seen an alien, rushing forward.

"Wow! Little Zhu'er! You've grown so tall! Come on! Let your sister see if our little Zhu'er is even more beautiful now that she's grown up!"

Qingyu, stepping forward, hugged the rushing Xiaozhu, also exclaiming and carefully examining her under the lamplight.

At this moment, the three sisters, who had shared a bed for years, completely forgot about everyone else amidst bursts of laughter.

The chubby, round-faced little girl from before she was fourteen now stood before them, swaying gracefully like a lotus leaf. It was the unintentional hand of time, quietly sculpting, that had allowed that small, chubby girl to blossom in the most beautiful years of her life. And it was the relentless passage of time that had transformed Uncle Li, once so vibrant and youthful, into an old man etched with the marks of time.

The past unfolded vividly before their eyes, as clear as yesterday, yet what had passed could never be retrieved. Without the passage of time, there would be no reunion. We cannot hold onto the faces altered by the vicissitudes of life, but can we still hold onto the feelings of the past?

"Uncle, I'm back,"

a sisterly bond rippled through the air as Qingyu, standing under the lamplight, spoke to the child returning home.

"It's good to be back. Come inside and let's talk."

The most understated expression, yet the most genuine emotion, was how Old Li welcomed Qingyu back.

Old Li didn't know much about Da Mei and Qingyu's lives these past few years, so tonight, besides his daughter Xiao Zhu, he was the one asking the most questions. Whether he was Teacher Li back then or now calls him Uncle, Qingyu and Da Mei knew a lot about Old Li's life over the years. At first, seeing this scene, Fei'er didn't think much of it, but as the conversation deepened, Fei'er couldn't help but recall what Tian Rong had told her about Old Li's phone call with Qingyu that noon. When Tian Rong first recounted the conversation, Fei'er hadn't taken Qingyu's later words seriously, but now, Fei'er thought differently. She was certain that Qingyu's return this time was for something serious.

Fei'er just couldn't understand why her father-in-law, aside from lacking the beer belly common to men his age, was at best an above-average man in terms of appearance and physique.

To be honest, while a man like this might have a touch of mature charm that women find somewhat appealing, he doesn't seem to have much else to offer.

In this day and age, women's perspectives on men have changed dramatically. Generally, this shift is driven by three key factors: power and status, capital and assets, and physical appearance and demeanor. If we compare her father-in-law to these three factors, it seems he lacks many of them.

Modern women seem to faithfully adhere to these three basic standards for judging men, so why does her father-in-law, who doesn't seem to fit

any of these criteria, attract so much attention? Qingyu, sitting quietly beside him, and Damei, who is barely speaking, have seen and encountered countless successful, wealthy, and elegant men in their families and social circles. Compared to these successful men, her father-in-law seems almost incomparable.

Qingyu and Damei both practically grew up in their father-in-law's house during their teenage years. Perhaps it was this time that left the shadow of their father-in-law in their innocent young hearts. Could it be that their return here after so many years was merely due to those unclear and naive feelings from their youth?

No, it couldn't be that simple! Did that old man have some secret he hadn't yet discovered? A sudden surge of irritation, coupled with an inexplicable anger rising from her father-in-law, made Fei'er, who had long wanted to thoroughly interrogate him, resolve to make a firm decision! She was determined to squeeze every last drop of oil out of that shameless old man! Xiaozhu, feeling extremely embarrassed

about her infidelity, repeatedly apologized to her sister-in-law, saying she would be sleeping in the same bed with Qingyu and Damei that night. Sister-in-law, it must be that her sister-in-law's fickleness suited her perfectly, but after a few words of feigned indifference, she finally let her go.

Secretly pleased with herself, she looked at her father-in-law, wondering how she would deal with that shameless old man without her sister-in-law tonight! However, her good mood lasted only a few minutes. The room Xiaozhu and the others had just cleaned up couldn't fit three people in the bed, so they unanimously decided to return to their old room. Since they weren't staying in the garden room, Yu Rong would be alone. Yu Rong wouldn't stay in so many empty rooms for a night. So, with Xiaozhu feeling apologetic towards her sister-in-law, she was introduced to her sister-in-law's new room.

The father-in-law, who had been paying close attention to Fei'er's reaction ever since he saw Qingyu and Damei, suddenly relaxed. He knew that at least for tonight, he had escaped Fei'er's relentless interrogation, which she had prepared for him with all sorts of torture. However, Old Li's newly improved mood didn't last long. Fei'er secretly pinched the soft flesh on his waist and harshly told him, "Tian Rong is alone in the back courtyard. You heartless old man, aren't you going to go check on her?"

Finally finding a moment of free time, Old Li sneaked into the back courtyard. He never expected to see Tie Yi and her daughter Xiaoru there. Looking at the smirking Tian Rong, at Tie Yi staring at him expectantly, and at Xiaoru looking at him suspiciously, Old Li suddenly realized that explaining things to Xiaoru now seemed even more difficult than explaining Damei and Qingyu's situation to Fei'er!

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