Chapter 253 - 250: The Dust Settles

Chapter 253: Chapter 250: The Dust Settles

Following Ping’an and Liu Shengnan’s engagement, the adults in the family quickly chose an auspicious date and held the ceremony. Right after they were officially engaged, Ping’an’s leave was over. He had no choice but to bid a reluctant farewell to his new fiancée, looking back again and again as he grabbed his luggage and took a car heading north.

It was already the twelfth lunar month, and a festive atmosphere filled the streets. Li Xiu took the opportunity to shop for New Year’s goods, gathering a lot of things for Mr. and Mrs. Zhou to take back for the holiday. After the Laba Festival, Li Xiu set off for their hometown with Yanyan, Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, Zhou Huaitai, Zhang Yizhen, and Li Bao’s family of four.

The night before he left, Li Xiu held Zhou Lian, unable to bear the thought of sleeping. He just gazed at her affectionately, leaving Zhou Lian at a loss for whether to laugh or cry. It wasn’t like he would be gone for long—from what Li Xiu had said, it would only be two or three days. ’Does he really have to be like this?’ Thinking of the looks from her parents and nephews at dinner, Zhou Lian felt an urge to smack him.

But seeing him stare as if he couldn’t even bear to blink, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but gently caress his face. "It’s only for two or three days," she said. "It’ll pass quickly. Nuonuo and I will be waiting for you and our son to come home."

Gazing at Zhou Lian’s gentle eyes, Li Xiu buried his head in her embrace and said, half-pouting, "I just don’t want to be apart from you. If I can’t see you for even a moment, I start to feel anxious. Bao’er, comfort me, won’t you?"

"Alright, I’ll comfort my big baby, too," Zhou Lian said gently, her heart melting as she softly stroked his head.

Li Xiu woke before dawn. By the faint light from outside, he quietly watched Zhou Lian sleeping soundly in his arms. He savored the memory of their blissful night, unable to hold back a silent laugh. His precious darling had been wonderfully compliant, letting him do as he pleased. It made him wish he could just melt her into his own body.

After breakfast, Li Bao’s family of four came over. With two cars, five adults, two older kids, and three young children, there was just enough room. But when it was time to part, Li Xiu was so clingy with Zhou Lian, refusing to get in the car, that everyone present could hardly bear to watch.

After seeing them off, Zhou Lian stood dazed under the eaves of the corridor, finding it hard to adjust to the sudden quiet in the courtyard. For the past six months, she had grown used to her parents waking up early, her nephews going for a run in the garden first thing in the morning, and the sound of Li Xiu shouting from the yard for the kids to hurry up and eat or they’d be late for school. Their abrupt departure left her feeling a little disoriented.

Seeing Zhou Lian’s state, Sister Fang didn’t disturb her, figuring it was best to let her quietly adjust. Li Xiu and Yanyan would be back in two or three days anyway. She led Nuonuo to her room and quietly sat with her while she did her homework. Starting tomorrow, Nuonuo would be going to Professor Xiao’s home to be taught by two professors. ’To be honest, my heart aches for her,’ Sister Fang thought. ’She’s so young, and from the moment she opens her eyes, it’s all about studying various subjects, not to mention all the hobbies she enjoys. There’s no time left to play. But I also understand this is all for her own good, and the child herself is willing to learn. All I can do is make delicious, nutritious food for her. There’s not much else I can help with!’

The morning passed in a daze. It wasn’t until Sister Fang came to call her for lunch that Zhou Lian snapped out of it. She gave a wry, helpless smile. ’Getting used to things is a dangerous habit. In the years since my rebirth, Li Xiu has truly spoiled me rotten. I’m getting a little sentimental!’

After lunch, Sister Fang took Nuonuo back to her room to rest. Zhou Lian went to her study. Seeing the elegant and cozy room, Zhou Lian was dazed for a moment. Li Xiu had decorated all of it according to her tastes. Famous paintings and calligraphy, valuable antique-style furniture—Li Xiu had piled it all into her study as if it were free. Even Ping’an, the "little prince" of the Ping Family, couldn’t help but joke that the collection of precious artworks and ancient books in his sister’s study was probably more comprehensive than the entire collection in the Imperial Palace combined.

At this thought, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but break into a sweet smile. Knowing she liked these things, Li Xiu had used the advantage of his extra life. In his first two years in the Capital City, he had scoured nearly every scrap collection station. When he had time, he would also wander through the small alleyways, buying up the treasured collections of families who had fallen on hard times. Now, half the space beneath their three-courtyard residence was hollowed out, used to store all those miscellaneous antiques, paintings, treasures, and jade artifacts.

Sitting on the sofa by the window, Zhou Lian stared blankly at the now-bare pomegranate tree in the courtyard. ’Since Li Xiu has chosen to help Ping’an reach the top, and now that Ping’an is engaged to Liu Shengnan, Liu Shengnan, as his other half, will have to play a supportive role. It’s only been a little over thirty years since the nation’s founding. The chaotic warlord era that preceded it nearly severed all the old aristocratic lineages. Most of the people now in the Imperial Palace come from humble origins, to say nothing of their wives. Aside from one late madam who once studied abroad, the rest have had, at best, a basic education.’

’If Ping’an is destined to reach the top, then Liu Shengnan’s current knowledge and refinement aren’t sufficient. It seems I need to have a good talk with Mrs. Ping and Liu Shengnan. It would be my way of honoring the bond I share with Ping’an, who so sincerely calls me his sister.’

Realizing time was of the essence, Zhou Lian didn’t hesitate. She stood up, let Sister Fang know she was heading out, and rode her bicycle toward the Imperial Palace. It wasn’t that she was being impatient, but Liu Shengnan was already 27. She would have to learn so much from scratch, and not only would it be very difficult, but Zhou Lian was afraid it would also take a great deal of time.

Arriving at the Imperial Palace, she was welcomed inside by the Ping family’s housekeeper. Rubbing her hands together, Zhou Lian saw Mrs. Ping sitting on the sofa and greeted her with a smile.

Mrs. Ping took off her reading glasses and looked at Zhou Lian with a smile. "What brings you here today? Jin Chen didn’t bring you? Is he really okay with you coming out by yourself?"

"Aunt Zhou!"

"Alright, alright, I won’t tease you. But really, where is Jin Chen?" Seeing Zhou Lian’s face instantly flush, Mrs. Ping didn’t dare tease her too much. ’This child is so thin-skinned. Even as a mother of two, she’s been so spoiled by Li Xiu that she remains endearingly unworldly, so simple and pure.’

Zhou Lian held the cup of tea the housekeeper poured for her and offered a quiet thank you. Hearing Mrs. Ping’s question, she said softly, "He and Yanyan took my parents and nephews back to our hometown today."

Mrs. Ping chuckled to herself. ’No wonder. Li Xiu usually acts like he wants to keep Zhou Lian tethered to his hip. The only reason she came alone this time is because he’s not home!’

Pretending not to see the teasing smile on Mrs. Ping’s face, Zhou Lian’s expression grew serious. "Aunt Zhou, is Shengnan home right now?"

Raising an eyebrow at Zhou Lian, Mrs. Ping said, "She is. She’s submitted her retirement papers, so she’s been on leave at home recently."

"Aunt Zhou, please have someone bring her over. There are some things we should start planning for."

Looking at the elegant Zhou Lian, Mrs. Ping couldn’t figure out what she was planning, but she nevertheless sent someone to the Liu Family’s home to fetch Liu Shengnan.

"What is it about?" Mrs. Ping asked, her curiosity piqued.