[Urban] Campus Maple Leaves Red (Complete) - 29

[Volume 1: First Encounter with Maple Leaves] Chapter 10: None of It Was Intentional (7)

The sudden footsteps startled Dong Na, so while dodging Lao Li's relentless slapping mouth, she tried to struggle out of his arms. Cheng Yan couldn't possibly have brought the food back so quickly, and even if Lao Li was a very peaceful person, he was still a respected principal at the school. Did someone coming to the principal's office to see Lao Li at this time not know to at least knock on the door politely if it was closed? Besides, this is an office, and many people come and go every day. Does everyone who comes here want to come to Lao Li's office?

To be honest, given that Old Li was enjoying Dong Na's soft lips, it was perfectly reasonable for him to suspect the disruptive footsteps coming from the corridor. And indeed, the footsteps that had caused Dong Na to struggle in a panic did pause briefly before the sound of the door opening and closing in the next office came through again. So, while Dong Na was somewhat defiantly asserting her right to be coquettishly angry with Old Li, her soft lips were once again greedily captured by his large mouth.

The soft moans and groans were Dong Na's way of maintaining a semblance of girlish modesty, but this modesty didn't last long. She wrapped her arms around Old Li's neck and, simultaneously, stood on tiptoe to respond with a kiss.

The girl's private parts were now under the unbridled grasp of his large hands, and the rather thin clothing she wore in summer greatly facilitated the unbridled exploration of those areas.

As a young, unmarried woman, and certainly not a promiscuous girl, Dong Na, half-struggling, half-restrained, and mostly half-willing, breathed heavily as these large hands roamed over her sensitive, and more intimate, areas. Knowing when to stop was crucial;

now was not the time for unleashing passion. A gradual approach was a way of telling this girl, who had already resigned herself to fleeing, that she had nowhere to run. Old

Li's thoughts stemmed from these repeated unexpected events, each time occurring while he was in a daze, forced to passively accept everything afterward. As the saying goes, even a clay Buddha has some earthiness, let alone a seemingly gentle but inwardly strong man like Old Li.

Yes, being reserved and modest doesn't mean someone lacks a temper. Rather, it means that a man like Lao Li, with deep-seated traditional values, is very concerned about whether he's in a proactive or passive position when it comes to relationships.

Heh, accepting the same question passively once or twice will eventually cross a traditional man's bottom line the third or fourth time. In other words, while he deeply respects women, in deeper relationships, even if he doesn't outwardly express it, his inner desire to take the initiative and dominate subtly takes hold.

He cares deeply about the feelings of the women in his family, but when faced with his own dominant feelings, Lao Li unconsciously becomes proactive.

A person with a lively and passionate nature might overlook certain details in life. A person who is modest and reserved is more likely to appreciate the nuances of life in the smallest things.

Dong Na hadn't told anyone about her decision to leave No. 33 Middle School. However, when she and Cheng Yan appeared before Lao Li after she had been avoiding him for the past few days, the perceptive Lao Li subconsciously suspected something was amiss. Although he wasn't entirely sure, when he was alone with Dong Na, even though she hadn't explicitly said she was leaving, Lao Li's subconscious suspicions were confirmed.

Traditional men are humble and reserved, but once something crosses their psychological boundaries, they completely transform—a kind of gentle yet forceful dominance.

Forcefulness isn't about shouting "No!" to everyone, and dominance isn't about standing in the street with a stick, making everyone avoid you. Shouting too loudly might disturb the peace, and standing in the street with a stick might get you hit by a road roller and bruise your genitals.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway, accompanied by the sounds of two people talking. Old Li gently kissed Dong Na's cheek, then got up from the sofa to open the door.

Straightening her clothes and rubbing her flushed face, Dong Na glanced quickly at the door Old Li had opened, then casually strolled to her desk.

Old Li welcomed Cheng Yan and Dong Qin, who were carrying lunchboxes. But before Dong Na could speak to them, Tian Rong and Tie Yi also entered, following Old Li's greeting.

She had prepared for the three of them to talk in one space, but now, the space, which hadn't increased in size, felt twice as large! Even though these uninvited guests had shared the same experiences as Old Li and herself, it was still a source of annoyance for Dong Na. She had planned to subtly express her desire to participate in adapting to Old Li's family in front of Cheng Yan, but could she still do that now?

A row of sofas provided seating, and Old Li's sliding executive chair was pushed to the coffee table in front of the sofas. Two folding chairs were then unfolded, and the six people, each with their own purpose, sat down to eat lunch.

Nutritionists and doctors had said that talking too much while eating was bad for your health, and perhaps the six people eating lunch in this prison office had heeded this advice. Aside from occasionally asking someone to try a particular dish, they spent the rest of the time focused on their food.

Concentrating on one thing not only helps you do it well but also improves efficiency. Sure enough, when everyone was focused on eating, the meal was quickly finished.

Tie Yi took all the cleaned dishes to wash, and Tian Rong began wiping the coffee table. Old Li poured everyone a glass of water, and the people in the room realized that they should start a conversation to ease the somewhat tense atmosphere.

When with a woman, even a man with a modicum of manners, even if he's the type to remain silent for a second, will take the initiative. However, taking the initiative in front of a woman requires a certain level of tact; otherwise, it's like accidentally slapping a horse's hoof while trying to flatter it—the resulting kick will leave you with a broken lip.

Seemingly casually, Old Li mentioned to Tian Rong the dried-up pond in his garden. According to Old Li, it used to be not only filled with water but also teeming with lotus flowers, a type of water lily, and various kinds of carp were raised in the water beneath them. He said that a spring was connected to the pond in his garden, but decades ago, the spring gradually stopped flowing, and the pond dried up as well.

When the spring was flowing, a well platform was built around it; now that the spring has dried up, a piece of bluestone was used to block the well platform. Yesterday, Old Li was strolling in the garden when he noticed heavy steam on the bluestone blocking the spring. He moved the stone and saw that the spring was flowing again.

Old Li's idea was that since the spring was flowing again, the small pond in the garden shouldn't be allowed to dry up. And since the pond had water again, shouldn't they plant lotus flowers and raise fish in it, just like before?

Having a flowing spring in one's garden is quite amazing, and using that water to plant flowers and raise fish is even more exciting. Indeed, regardless of the botanical classification of lotus, there are countless varieties of Chinese lotus, from single-petaled to double-petaled and even thousand-petaled.

What kind of lotus to plant, and what color fish to raise—even Tie Yi, who is over forty and had just finished washing the dishes, occasionally chimed in with a few words after learning what was going on.

Dong Na knew someone at the city's landscaping department, so selecting a few pretty lotus flowers to plant at home wouldn't be difficult. As for raising fish? There were plenty of ornamental carp, and that seemed to fit the landscaping theme. So, everyone agreed that Lao Li should fill his pond first, and as for planting flowers and raising fish, he and Dong Na would consult with the landscaping department.

For the entire afternoon, everyone seemed to be talking about planting flowers and raising fish, but they all unconsciously immersed themselves in a warm, homey atmosphere.

Lao Xu and Dong Qin were going to check out costumes for a performance in the afternoon, so there was no dance rehearsal scheduled. After the senior and junior high classes finished their entrance exams, the other classes at No. 33 Middle School were preparing for their final exams. Cheng Yan had classes in the afternoon, and Tie Yi was teaching a math class. Although Dong Na wasn't teaching any specific class, she was helping out at the school's research office during this period, so she met up with Zou Yang and went to the office together.

With only twenty-odd days left until the provincial high school basketball tournament, the school's girls' team training focused primarily on tactical drills and strengthening physical reserves. These were Old Li's strengths compared to other training subjects, so he arrived promptly at the girls' team's training session in the afternoon.

After letting Ya Rou rest, Old Li, who replaced her, began practicing "tall" (originally a center-power forward combination, but Old Li was practically the shortest player on the court) support plays with the power forward from Tiancheng's girls' basketball team.

The offensive drills were mostly done on the half-court, but for Tiancheng's power forward, it was more tiring than running a full court. The reason was that Old Li, playing center, never scored; he simply followed the tactical plan, distributing the ball to other players. Throughout the ball distribution process, the tactical coordination between the center and power forward was consciously emphasized by Coach Li. This emphasis meant the power forward, running back and forth and desperately trying to create space from the defenders, had to put in almost twice the training volume of his usual sessions.

This was achieved because, regardless of whether it was point guard Hei Yatou, shooting guard Yu Lian, or small forward Zhang Nan, they all understood Coach Li's purpose in participating in this training session within minutes of it starting. So, no matter who was in possession of the ball, they would pass it to Coach Li whenever there was an opportunity. Coach Li's next target after receiving the ball was to find the power forward who was supposed to support the center.

Initially, Coach Li waited for the power forward to create space before passing, but as the game changed and the tactical arrangements led to the power forward's movement points, Coach Li no longer passed while watching for opponents; he made passes to open spaces.

When such an open pass occurred for the first time, the power forward, who wasn't in that position in time, instinctively thought Coach Li had made a passing error. But this situation occurred again, and the ball went out of bounds almost grazing the power forward's fingertips. With her considerable tactical awareness, she immediately understood that she hadn't been there in time to create an open space, and the responsibility lay with her.

Realizing this, she immediately sought to rectify the situation. This process required not only timely observation of the changing dynamics on the court but also extraordinary physical exertion! So, after the practice session, the power forward collapsed onto the floor, utterly exhausted and unwilling to move.

Ya Rou had also undergone similar on-court training as a power forward. She herself had learned through such training that when other positions on the court were struggling, or when her position became the tactical core, the training she had undergone was the foundation for continuing the game.

She reached out and helped the power forward, who was sitting on the floor, to his feet, because Ya Rou knew this was just the beginning of the training.

Dong Na and Cheng Yan moved into the Li family's courtyard, where Tian Rong and Tie Yi lived. Those who had lived in the Li family's courtyard for a while also came in small groups to inquire about the two new residents. As Cheng Yan and Dong Na received the visitors with mixed feelings, Old Li, finally finding a chance to be alone with Fei'er, hugged her tightly.

Indeed, ever since Fei'er's mother arrived, whenever Old Li and Fei'er had a chance to be alone, Fei'er's mother would appear in their sight within two minutes.

Fei'er's mother was actually a few years younger than Old Li, but given their relationship, Old Li could only shamelessly admit that she was his mother-in-law. Although Old Li could only call her "Mother-in-law" in his heart (heh, if Old Li dared to call her that to her face, he'd better be careful—his mother-in-law might immediately turn on him and cut off his little brother!), her sensitive, yet unspoken, vigilance towards Old Li and Fei'er being alone had been making Old Li sweat profusely for some time now.

Yes, a thief can operate stealthily, avoiding the light of day. To flaunt it openly is something only a robber would do.

But for now, whether he's a thief or a robber is unimportant to Old Li. What matters is that he finally has the chance to hold Fei'er in his arms again. And Fei'er feels the same way. Leaving aside which women her father-in-law's lecherous man has been involved with, what truly matters is how her father-in-law views her.

It could be said that in her father-in-law's heart, perhaps only his sister-in-law, Xiaozhu, could compare to her (I forgot, her father-in-law's feelings for Xiaozhu were those of a father for his daughter, but his feelings for her were... well...). And with recent events, Fei'er had come to terms with it. Having one more woman around her father-in-law wouldn't make a difference, and as long as his affection for her remained unchanged, she would try to be lenient. After all, she had opened the door to his relationship with Xin'er, and had repeatedly indulged him in his relationship with Tie Yi and Tian Rong.

But then again, with her father-in-law's old, animalistic stamina, she didn't want to open that door, but the problem was, could she handle it all by herself? Huh? A sense of resentment welled up inside her. At first, it was truly painful, but after actually sharing a bed with her father-in-law alongside other women several times, the unique pleasure actually became somewhat alluring.

Perhaps people are fickle, and this fickleness can even overturn one's initial rejection and acceptance of certain things. Take now, for example. Xin'er has been busy leading the team's training lately, ensuring those girls could focus on their game. It's been a while since she's shared a bed with her father-in-law. Should she give him a call now?

For the sake of her unborn child, Fei'er was being extremely careful. So, while she and her father-in-law were engaged in a passionate lovemaking session, Fei'er watched Xin'er and Tie Yi...

[Volume 1: First Encounter with Maple Leaves] Chapter 10: None of It Was Intentional (8)

After sneaking out of her father-in-law's room, Fei'er, feeling slightly lazy but very satisfied and refreshed, had just entered her own room when she saw her mother looking at her with a complicated expression.

Her heart skipped a beat. Fei'er seemed to realize something from her mother's expression, but soon a sense of relief took over. Fei'er gave her mother a smile and walked towards the bedroom.

"When did it start?"

Her mother's seemingly nonsensical question came from behind. Fei'er's heart clenched and her steps stopped abruptly.

Her expression changed for a moment, and Fei'er slowly calmed down and turned around to look at her mother, saying with a hint of coquetry, "Mom, what are you saying?"

Looking at her daughter, her mother felt a sudden pain in her heart and frowned, as if she had aged a lot in an instant. Her mother suppressed her trembling voice and said, "Mom... knows everything. Tell Mom what happened!"

From her mother's expression and words, Fei'er knew that the flame wrapped in the crumpled paper had finally burst forth. Seeing her mother's heartbroken state, Fei'er immediately went to her mother's side, comforting her and frankly telling her about the changes in her relationship with her father-in-law...

After learning that her son-in-law had gone abroad to study, Fei'er's mother felt a little unhappy, out of concern for her daughter. Yes, they had only been married for a few days! The young couple had already separated. To be honest, it was her talented son-in-law's desire to continue his studies, and as a mother-in-law, she shouldn't interfere. However, the fact that the young couple would be separated for such a long time made Fei'er's mother inexplicably worried.

But what worried her even more was that Fei'er had been living at her father-in-law's house. If her son-in-law hadn't gone abroad, it wouldn't have been a problem for her to live at her father-in-law's house, but now that her son-in-law was going abroad for such a long time, it seemed inappropriate for Fei'er to still be living there.

Although her son-in-law had a younger sister living at home, the mother, upon learning from Fei'er's phone call that her son-in-law's sister had been taken to the city to study, felt even more strongly that it wasn't appropriate for her daughter to live with her

father-in-law. She subtly hinted to her daughter, "Could you get a dormitory room at your workplace? That would be more convenient for work!" Her daughter, seemingly oblivious to her mother's concerns, continued to talk more and more on the phone about how meticulously her father-in-law took care of her. While her daughter, far away, was being well cared for, this mother should have been comforted, but things weren't quite as they seemed.

Frankly, with a young man and woman living together under one roof for an extended period, even if she trusted her daughter and her father-in-law was a good elder, gossip was bound to arise.

Moreover, the news about her husband was becoming increasingly scarce in her daughter's phone calls. It seemed there was some kind of shady business going on with her father-in-law, yet he was mentioned more and more frequently in their conversations… "

Mom, you don't know how well my father-in-law cooks… Mom

, you don't know how well he cleans the house…

Mom, you don't know how well my father-in-law…" (Until one day, when her daughter suddenly addressed her father-in-law as "Dad," it was understandable, but the way she called him so naturally in front of her mother left her with mixed feelings…)

After that, her daughter continued to call him "Dad," until she, as his mother, was driven to distraction and finally said, "Since you…" "That dad is so good to you, why are you calling me, your mother?" My daughter has been using that particularly grating term of endearment less frequently in our conversations.

A year ago, a few months ago, she called me once to say she was moving from her father-in-law's house to her workplace dormitory. Her tone was calm, but this rare calmness made me instinctively feel that something might be wrong.

To be honest, my daughter's happy life at her father-in-law's house had secretly worried me, but now that she was moving out, I didn't know why I was even more worried. So, I subtly hinted... She expressed her worry, but her daughter insisted everything was fine, gave her her dorm address, and then hung up.

For several months, her daughter didn't call her. When she did call, her daughter would give a hurried few words, saying she was busy with work, and then hang up.

Her daughter's behavior on the phone made her even more convinced that something was wrong! However, her daughter hadn't told her mother anything over the phone, so she decided to go see her daughter in person to see what was happening. Just as she decided to go see her daughter and was about to call her, she received a call from her daughter.

Her daughter's tone on the phone ... She was overjoyed, her voice brimming with undisguised happiness. My intuition told me that her daughter's husband must have returned, explaining her excitement and joy. But aside from telling me she was still staying at her father-in-law's, and talking for almost an hour, she hadn't mentioned a single word about her husband.

Puzzled, I asked her directly, "Has your husband returned?" She paused, a silence that made my heart sink. When she calmly told me that her husband hadn't returned, my heart sank even further.

I couldn't explain why, but it only strengthened my resolve to see my daughter. Determination! So I told my daughter on the phone that I was going to visit her and stay for a while!

Instinctively, I sensed a hint of panic in my daughter upon hearing my idea, but she quickly and loudly assured me that she was very happy to see me. I also heard her cautiously asking, "Mom, when are you coming to see me?"

We roughly finalized the date over the phone, and with a somewhat flustered mind, I started making arrangements…

Before leaving, my daughter called to say she was over two months pregnant. This news made me both happy and puzzled. When had her husband returned, and why hadn't she told me? I was

overjoyed at my daughter's pregnancy, and as a mother, I felt a deep sense of pride and joy. She congratulated her and offered some advice on pregnancy precautions. However, after these happy words, she also subtly expressed her slight dissatisfaction and lingering doubts to her daughter.

Her daughter was vague about what time her husband had returned, but she remembered clearly when she became pregnant. With this half-clear, half-vague account, her daughter spoke a few more words before hanging up.

But after hanging up, she suddenly felt a pang of anxiety, a feeling that persisted even after she met her daughter.

This anxiety made her extremely attentive to every interaction between her daughter and her father-in-law, especially whenever they had a private moment together. Yes, I would immediately feel anxious and need to find my daughter, as if only by looking at her could I find a moment of peace.

However, the inexplicable panic and anxiety that had been lingering in my heart all this time finally had an answer—an answer I least wanted to hear.

No matter the reason a woman divorces her husband, finding a compatible man to continue her life is perfectly understandable. But let me put it another way: a woman in the prime of her life, beautiful and with a great figure, finding a man older than herself is already inappropriate. But of all people, why did she choose her ex-husband's father?! Such a thing... Beyond shocking Fei'er's mother, she felt more indignant for her daughter, heartbroken, angry at Old Li and his son, and utterly ashamed that this had happened in her own family!

But her daughter was her own, and even though Fei'er's mother was filled with righteous indignation and wanted to demand an explanation for herself and her daughter, she had to swallow her anger and endure it for the time being because this matter concerned her daughter's lifelong reputation. She was unwilling! Truly unwilling! But what could she do now? Suppressing her anger, Fei'er's mother's face paled after several changes of color. With a trembling voice and a glimmer of hope, she asked Fei'er, "Then...then who...whose child is this?"

Fei'er had long prepared herself to face her mother about this, but seeing her mother's reaction now that the moment had arrived, even the usually quick-witted and resourceful Fei'er was at a loss for words to comfort her mother. Yes, even someone like Fei'er, who could stand proudly in the street, legs spread wide, proclaiming, "I'm a prostitute now," could still be overwhelmed by a torrent of criticism when it came to her relationship with her father-in-law. But now wasn't the time to worry about that. So, with her head down and eyes lowered, Fei'er softly answered her mother, "It's his."

"What!"

Fei'er's mother exclaimed, her head spinning. The last shred of hope, knowing the outcome already, was shattered by her daughter's unspoken answer, a decision everyone knew was made by. The fact that Fei'er's mother didn't immediately faint meant that her heart was still functioning well.

After a while, Fei'er's mother, having regained some clarity, saw her daughter's anxious, apologetic, and tear-streaked face before her.

She raised her hand to hit her, but couldn't; she opened her mouth to scold, but couldn't utter a word. After a struggle and helplessness, Fei'er's mother sighed, "My foolish daughter!" and hugged Fei'er tightly, sobbing and suppressing her tears.

A daughter who causes her mother pain and sorrow feels immense guilt, so the tears streaming down her face, along with her words of comfort and apology, came from a daughter's heart. However, sharing these tears with her mother also brought a sense of comfort: although her mother was angry and heartbroken, she had accepted her relationship with her father-in-law in the most suppressed and helpless way. The greatest

compromise a father, a mother, or even the greatest compromise they make in their lives is for their children. Perhaps this is the origin of the saying, "The hearts of parents are full of love and worry for each other."

He didn't scold his daughter, but simply lay in bed holding her in his arms, stroking her silky hair again and again. He didn't tell her what was right or wrong, nor did he talk about what tomorrow would bring. He didn't think about the cold wind, nor did he care about the falling leaves, because his mother's gentle embrace contained the world's deepest love; she was a safe harbor, a shelter from the rain.

In the early morning, Old Li, who was used to waking up early, gently kissed Tie Yi and Xin'er, who were sleeping in his arms, and then quietly got out of bed. From the time Fei'er forcibly handed the phone to Old Li, to gradually getting used to its presence and developing a certain dependence on it, Old Li now picked up his phone and turned it on as soon as he got up.

It wasn't that Old Li had any important calls waiting for him, but rather that the phone also had the function of showing the time. However, the phone, which had just been turned on, had a text message notification, so Old Li, slightly surprised, casually opened the message.

The text message was sent by Fei'er, and it was very brief, sent at 1:30 AM: "Mom knows."

His scalp tingled, his heart pounded, and it was supposed to be the height of summer, so why was it still so chilly? Haha, what was buried in the snow has finally been exposed to the sun; this boil that's been covered up has finally sprouted! Haha! When he was sleeping with that young lady, he wouldn't have accepted even an emperor's offer; now it's the young lady's mother's turn to come looking for him with her castration knife!

Old Li, his head throbbing with bitterness, sat dumbfounded for almost an hour, holding his phone.

If you're destined to die in the river, you won't drown in the well, but facing Fei'er's mother's raging fury, even if Old Li found a thousand reasons to justify his actions, they were just useless reassurances. He had

absolutely no recollection of what he was wearing or how he got to the garden. After much deliberation, Old Li was certain of only one thing: although Fei'er's mother knew about his relationship with Fei'er, she must have postponed the matter last night for Fei'er's sake.

The problem was, now it was broad daylight, and Fei'er's mother's pent-up anger was burning towards him, measured in seconds. Whether he was steamed, boiled, or stewed by Fei'er's mother, Old Li resigned himself to it. As for whether he would be castrated by Fei'er's mother's knife, Old Li felt he had no room for objection.

The issue was that whatever Fei'er's mother did to him was one thing, but this matter absolutely could not be allowed to escalate. He was willing to bear the condemnation and spittle, but Fei'er was innocent, and he couldn't allow her to suffer such unfair treatment.

Now, Old Li's only thought was this: as long as Fei'er was alright, anything was acceptable!

Fei'er didn't come for breakfast, and neither did Fei'er's mother. Moreover, it was almost time for work, and neither of them showed up. Of course, facing this situation, Lao Li was not naive enough to think that with such a transition, the matter would be resolved, because there is always a period of calm before the storm.

Should he take this opportunity to go to school to hide for a while, or should he just stay at home and wait to be put on the chopping board? Lao Li had lived half his life, so he told Tian Rong that he had something to do today and asked for leave in advance. He then stripped naked, washed himself clean, and put himself on the chopping board to wait to be stabbed.

[Volume 1: First Encounter with Maple Leaves] Chapter 10: None of It Was Intentional (9)

Fei'er's mother barely slept all night. Even when Fei'er quietly got up in the early morning and quietly took her phone out, her mother, who was seemingly asleep with her eyes closed, knew everything. She didn't say anything to Fei'er, but as a mother, she was really helpless about this situation.

Yes, her daughter and that man both got pregnant, and Fei'er's mother could definitely understand her daughter's unwavering commitment to this relationship. So, even if the mother was extremely unwilling, she could only take it one step at a time in front of her daughter.

However, every woman holds a grudge if she offends someone, let alone that shameless old man, Lao Li, who hurt Fei'er's mother so deeply! Therefore, Fei'er's mother could forgive her daughter's mistake to the greatest extent possible, but all the negative emotions she accumulated that night would be placed on Lao Li. Anyway, her daughter had tipped off that shameless old

man in the middle of the night, so she would just wait and see what kind of face that shameless old man would have!

When she woke up in the morning, the shameless old man didn't come to greet her and Fei'er. It was time for breakfast, and Xie Xin brought it to the room. It was already past the time for work. Was that shameless old man, who hadn't dared to show his face until now, scared away by his guilt? "Hmph! Even if the monk runs away, the temple is still here, right? Let's wait and see if you, you shameless old man, can run away and never see anyone again!"

She grumbled inwardly, her clenched teeth itching terribly. A knock at the door reached Fei'er's mother and Fei'er's ears.

The slightly abrupt knocking made Fei'er's mother's brow furrow involuntarily. Fei'er, who hadn't shown any unusual behavior all morning and had been cautiously accompanying her mother, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly glanced at her mother with a hint of unease before saying, "I'll go open the door."

After washing up that morning, Fei'er's face showed almost no trace of the tears she had shed with her mother the night before. However, Old Li, who was very concerned for her, noticed something amiss in Fei'er's slightly red and swollen eyes as soon as the door opened.

Heartache, affection, and a deep sense of guilt and self-reproach filled Old Li with a strong urge to hold Fei'er in his arms and cherish her. But standing at the doorway of the room, Old Li only moved his arms slightly before suppressing his urges. All the emotions surging within him were concentrated in his eyes, settling on Fei'er's face.

Fei'er had lived with her father-in-law for over four years, and especially in the last year or so, she had come to understand this man who was both her father-in-law and husband very deeply. She could clearly perceive even the slightest changes in his emotions or actions, and she could even discern the meaning behind those changes.

The moment she opened the door and met her father-in-law's gaze, the pent-up emotions welling up inside her enveloped her completely. She truly wanted to throw herself into his arms, letting these feelings carry her freely in a paradise of love! However, the man's movement followed by a restraint reminded Fei'er that this was not the time for her to pour out her heart to her father-in-law, for this was the first major test she was about to face since they shared a bed.

Looking back at her father-in-law, Fei'er gently accepted the turbulent emotions surging in his eyes, almost imperceptible. She first nodded, then shook her head, and then slightly stepped aside, gesturing for him to come inside.

Emotional matters not only make women sensitive, but even an old man like Old Li, in this critical moment, couldn't help but overcomplicate Fei'er's simple meaning.

Fei'er's nod meant she understood her father-in-law's feelings and that she appreciated them. Her shake of the head meant that understanding was enough for now, since her mother was inside, and they should stop there.

However, Old Li interpreted Fei'er's nod as her telling him, "My mother is waiting for you inside." His shake of the head, on the other hand, was interpreted as a very difficult situation, with a bleak future.

Regardless of Fei'er's true intentions, and given Old Li's misunderstanding, it was time to go inside.

Sitting upright with eyes lowered, Fei'er's mother sat directly facing the door.

He could put aside his thoughts for now; since he was inside, he had to face the situation. The problem was, as the 'heavily guilty' and apologetic Old Li, he had to take the initiative to grovel before Fei'er's mother and beg for her forgiveness. But how should Old Li address Fei'er's mother?

Fei'er's mother was a few years younger than Old Li. In the past, when Old Li met his in-laws, he treated them almost like younger sisters, omitting their surnames and calling them by their first names in a more affectionate way. Even though Old Li hadn't explicitly stated his relationship with Fei'er in front of her, he could still maintain this way of addressing her.

But was this old way of addressing her still appropriate now? Clearly, what Old Li was facing now was like an outdated Windows 98 system—it couldn't keep up with the pace of internet development.

Since the old 98 system is no longer working, a new system needs to be built to adapt to it. But where should one begin with this new relationship system?

Yes, given the current relationship between Lao Li and Fei'er, if he were to still address her as "in-law" with the surname omitted, he must have gotten water in his head while washing his face. So, he should follow the most reasonable way in the new system and respectfully address Fei'er's mother as "Auntie" (because Fei'er's mother hasn't officially recognized Lao Li's relationship with her, and traditionally, it seems that's how a prospective son-in-law addresses his mother on his first visit). But with Fei'er's mother looking so young, Lao Li really couldn't bring himself to say it. There's

an old saying, "A small radish grows tall because of its generation," meaning that in many places, a person with a white beard might still be addressed as "Uncle" by a three-year-old child. But when this situation directly confronted Lao Li, he was even more convinced that if he were to call Fei'er's mother that, she would definitely slap him across the face.

Crying out was awkward, but not calling out was even worse. Fei'er had already walked to her mother's side and gently took her arm.

Fei'er's mother opened her lowered eyelids and stared directly at Old Li's face.

To say she wasn't flustered would be an understatement; Old Li felt prickly all over, being stared at like that by Fei'er's mother. But no matter how uncomfortable he felt, Old Li had to hold his head high and not back down, because even if a man gets into trouble and is punished, he must stand tall and accept it.

Whether his relationship with Fei'er was right or wrong wasn't something Old Li needed to explain to Fei'er's mother right now. What he needed to say was his attitude towards Fei'er, at least to let her know what to do now that there was no turning back.

Yes, a secret kept in one's heart is perhaps the only true secret. If a second person already knows it, it's no longer a secret. Now that Fei'er's mother knew, it meant that others would also find out in the future. If a fourth, fifth, or even more people find out, what will become of Lao Li and Fei'er?

In this world, some things are clearly right or wrong within the framework of law, but many people are more accustomed to using conventional wisdom to judge whether something is permissible or not. For example, Lao Li and Fei'er's relationship, legally speaking, their current union is permissible. However, once placed within the framework of social norms, judging it as outrageous seems not too harsh.

This social hurdle is what Lao Li and Fei'er truly have to face: the spittle that can drown someone behind their back, even if it can't kill them to their face.

Isn't it all about saving face in public and in private? When everyone is spitting in your face, it truly takes resilience to survive. Of course, some say that when you have the power to silence the gossip of the world, no one will dare to say anything no matter what you do.

But will reality be as people wish? Even if you could truly stop the world from spitting in your face, could you then be complacent and carefree? The truth is, only the person involved can truly understand the bitterness of such situations.

Old Li couldn't, and didn't even try to, silence others. What he could promise Fei'er's mother was that no matter what happened, no matter the circumstances, as long as Fei'er didn't leave him, he would never abandon her and would genuinely cherish her. At

Old Li's age, his words no longer carried the force of solemn vows or curses, so he calmly shared his thoughts and future plans with Fei'er's mother.

Women often admire a man's fearless boldness, but as the years pass, women of a certain age begin to observe more closely how a man lives his life in the small details. A woman like Fei'er's mother, having tasted the bitterness and sweetness of life, could better understand the weight behind Lao Li's seemingly calm words. However, what Fei'er's mother found hard to accept wasn't Lao Li's attitude and determination towards her daughter, but rather the fact that the more Lao Li acted

this way, the more worried she became about her daughter. Once this matter entered the public eye, how much suffering would her daughter endure? Therefore, the better Lao Li behaved, the stronger Fei'er's mother's resentment grew. Her beloved daughter should have a happy and carefree life, but because of this incident, she not only had to live cautiously but also had to pay an unimaginable price. How could Fei'er's mother possibly

accept this? But then again, could simply drag Lao Li out and boil him alive, and everything would be over? Leaving aside whether her daughter would agree to such a thing, the fact that her daughter was currently pregnant made the matter incredibly difficult to handle.

The cruelest approach would be to abort the child, which might also be a necessary way for the daughter to completely end her current relationship with Lao Li. Although many say that nothing is more vicious than a woman's heart, not all women can be as hard-hearted as iron. At least Fei'er's mother couldn't do it, and Fei'er certainly couldn't.

She couldn't bring herself to harden her heart, and using other methods to make her daughter leave Lao Li was unrealistic. But even if Fei'er's mother tacitly acknowledged their relationship, it would drive her crazy with frustration. In desperation, the simplest solution was to avoid seeing him altogether and resolutely make Lao Li disappear from her sight.

Understanding Fei'er's mother's feelings, and knowing that this was a good start, Lao Li apologetically glanced at the silent Fei'er before leaving her room.

He neither agreed nor disagreed, not even showing tacit approval, but this outcome secretly relieved him. Yes, if Fei'er's mother had persisted, Lao Li would have faced considerable trouble. It

wouldn't be accurate to say he disliked Lao Li; people like him are generally hard to dislike. Even without the Fei'er incident, Fei'er's mother didn't seem to have any particular fondness for Lao Li. But right now, Lao Li, a man who previously held no special significance in her eyes, was causing a ruckus.

Someone you're used to seeing—perhaps it's just habit—you often unconsciously overlook them. Until one day, something unexpected happens, and that unexpected event happens to put the person you often ignored into the spotlight, only then will you re-evaluate them.

Lao Li's antics in Fei'er's mother's mind stemmed from this; a man who wasn't previously prominent was now being presented as a prize! What caused this? Fei'er's mother, having dismissed Lao Li, couldn't help but ponder.

Yes, what was so special about the man her outstanding daughter was willing to follow, almost risking public condemnation? His

looks? Would a neutral assessment be too much? His physique? It's said that anyone under 1.8 meters tall is considered a second-class disabled person! Education? He's just a teacher; there are plenty of teachers in the world! Status? He's just the principal of a run-down school; who would care?

Was it Fei'er who fell for his home? It seems his home has more houses and a bigger yard than anything else! Was it his skill in tidying up that won Fei'er over? But women themselves wouldn't even look at a woman who only knows how to cook, let alone a grown man with such a lack of ambition! But this isn't right, that isn't right either; has her daughter been bewitched? Thinking of this, Fei'er's mother couldn't help but turn to look at her daughter who had been by her side.

Seeing her daughter, she felt incredibly sorry for her, and coupled with the frustration and helplessness she had just felt, Fei'er's mother's tears flowed uncontrollably again.

Her mother cried, and Fei'er herself felt bad too, so her tears also flowed uncontrollably.

It was alright for her to cry, but if her pregnant daughter was too sad, it would not only harm her own body but also the baby in her womb. There was no other way; when Fei'er's mother also shed tears, she had to wipe away her own tears and instead comfort her daughter.

This comforting stemmed from a mother's heartache for her daughter, but the more she comforted her, the more resentful she became towards the culprit! "You shameless old man! It's all your fault, you old bastard, that we're like this! If you weren't struck by lightning, you'd be…" Whether he

felt his ears burning from being cursed was something Old Li didn't have time to verify, because he was currently cornered in the house by his sister-in-law who had come home. A sister-in-law who had waited for her brother-in-law for many years, a sister-in-law who had finally tasted happiness again after a long period of loneliness—she had just completed her official transfer procedures today and was coming to the Industrial Zone Public Security Bureau to serve as its political commissar. With

her wishes fulfilled, she was in a good mood, and when she was in a good mood, she wanted to share it with someone. For the sister-in-law, the only person she could share this with was naturally her brother-in-law. And the brother-in-law, although preoccupied with the matter of Fei'er's mother, couldn't very well pour cold water on his sister-in-law's excitement! Besides, men are often driven by their lower instincts, so after the sister-in-law squirmed and twisted in Lao Li's arms for a few moments, Lao Li, driven by his lower instincts, 'half-heartedly' put aside his worries and pulled his sister-in-law onto the bed…

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