Chapter 279 - 277: The Vacation Is Over

Chapter 279: Chapter 277: The Vacation Is Over

Time flies for those who are happy and content. The holidays were over in a flash, and it was that time of year again—back-to-school season. The big kids and little kids in the house all had to sling their backpacks on and head off to school, and Zhou Lian also had to return to the university for a seminar.

The morning was peaceful and serene, but the courtyard was bustling with activity. The two older boys were starting their sophomore year of high school and eighth grade, respectively. Nuonuo was skipping ahead to start the fifth grade, and Yanyan was also starting primary school. The older boys could manage on their own; Zhou Huaitai would drop Zhang Yizhen off at his school on the way, since it was close to the junior high and wouldn’t make him late.

Nuonuo and Yanyan now attended the same school, and Mr. and Mrs. Zhou had always been the ones to take them. Today was Yanyan’s first day of primary school, and Zhou Lian had wanted Li Xiu to take him, but Li Xiu had said no. Zhou Lian assumed he had other things to do and didn’t press him. After all, this wasn’t the future; children weren’t so coddled back then. There was nothing wrong with having the grandparents take them. Besides, many families had two working parents and no time to take their children to school. Just look at Nuonuo’s classmates—many seven- and eight-year-olds went to and from school by themselves!

After seeing off Zhou Huaitai and Zhang Yizhen, and then watching Mr. and Mrs. Zhou leave with one child each, Zhou Lian picked up her handbag and said to Li Xiu, "If you have something to do, you should go ahead. I need to get to the university, too."

Gently taking Zhou Lian’s hand, Li Xiu turned to Sister Fang, who was standing on the veranda. "Sister Fang, it’s the kids’ first day of school. Please make lunch a little early so they have time to rest. Stew a chicken with red dates, yam, codonopsis root, and astragalus root to nourish the elders and the children. Also, please prepare a separate rock sugar, pear, and snow fungus soup with red dates for Bao’er."

Sister Fang smiled and nodded. "Of course, I understand. I’ll go get started right away. I have the children’s class schedules here, but is Xiao Lian’s schedule the same as last semester?"

"It’s not set yet. It should be finalized after today’s seminar at the university. I’ll give you my schedule then, Sister Fang," Zhou Lian said after a moment’s thought. ’I don’t even know what year I’ll be teaching this semester!’

"Alright, I understand. You two should get going, don’t be late!" Sister Fang said, glancing at the time and hurrying them along.

The two of them nodded to Sister Fang. Li Xiu then led Zhou Lian by the hand toward the outer courtyard. He opened the car door and helped her in. Only after she was seated did Zhou Lian realize what was happening. She turned to Li Xiu, who was about to start the car, and said, "If you have something to do, you should go. I have plenty of time!"

Li Xiu glanced at her, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Bao’er, who told you I had something to do?"

"No, but... when I asked you to take Yanyan to school earlier, you said no!" Zhou Lian said, looking at him in confusion.

Gently starting the car and pulling out of the courtyard, Li Xiu replied at a leisurely pace, "I have to be with you. Haven’t your father and mother always taken Yanyan to school? Bao’er, what are you thinking? How could I possibly let you go to the university by yourself? It’s so far away!"

Speechless, Zhou Lian looked at him, feeling a little frustrated. ’I should have known,’ she thought. ’This man is so domineering, yet so meticulous. For all these years, unless he was out of the Capital City, he has truly taken me to and from the university come rain or shine!’

"Jin Chen, do you remember that internet meme from the future? The picture shows a young couple walking slowly under an umbrella on a rainy day, followed by a little six- or seven-year-old boy in a raincoat with a backpack. Underneath it are two captions: ’What a loving young couple,’ and ’And the kid they got as a freebie!’ Then, in the middle of the picture, there’s a line in big red letters: ’HE’S BIOLOGICAL, WE SWEAR!’ For some reason, I feel like that little boy looks an awful lot like our Yanyan!"

While waiting at a red light, Li Xiu tilted his head and looked tenderly at Zhou Lian’s teasing smile. He said softly, "Hmm, it does look like him. We could add Nuonuo in a raincoat with her backpack next to the little boy. Then our family of four would be complete!"

Looking at him, Zhou Lian said with a resigned sigh, "You win!"

He smiled triumphantly. As the light changed, Li Xiu gently pressed the accelerator and said, "Bao’er, how are you still not used to this after all this time?"

’Used to it? Of course I’m used to it. I’ve long grown accustomed to how this man puts me first in everything, placing both our children and even himself after me.’ A flower seemed to bloom in Zhou Lian’s heart. It was just that sometimes, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for Li Xiu, even though he seemed to revel in it.

’He loves me, and I love him too. But his love seems almost... humble. This was a man highly regarded by all those old masters in the Imperial Palace, a man who coveted neither money nor power, yet he willingly endured the ridicule of others behind his back, all just to stay by her side!’

’Doesn’t Li Xiu dote on their two children? Of course he does. He loves them dearly; they are his own flesh and blood, after all. But when it came to a choice between the children and her, Li Xiu had always put her first, without a moment’s hesitation!’

"Jin Chen, thank you!" Zhou Lian said softly, watching the crowds on the sidewalk. ’Thank you for never giving up on me, thank you for loving me so much, and thank you for giving me this life of tranquil bliss.’

Raising a hand to gently stroke Zhou Lian’s hair, Li Xiu shook his head and smiled. ’She really is a liberal arts major,’ he thought. ’It’s rare to see her get so sentimental.’ He understood the words she’d left unsaid after her "thank you." ’But what is there to thank me for? Doting on her, loving her, following her—this has been my obsession, my hope for two lifetimes. She is the only light in both of my lives. Now that I’m this fortunate, how could I not cherish her in my heart?’

He drove the car onto the university campus. After Zhou Lian went to her office, Li Xiu ambled over to see Li Guo. Li Guo and Li Cui had arrived in the Capital City a few days prior. As expected, Li Guo had gotten into the journalism program at Beijing University. Li Cui’s scores were a little lower, so she had been admitted to Beijing Normal University.

Spotting Li Guo in his classroom, Li Xiu stood by the window. It wasn’t long before the other students noticed him. Li Guo looked up and out the window thoughtfully. ’Just as I thought,’ he mused. ’It’s the first day of school, so Sister-in-law had to come to work. Big Bro must have dropped her off and is just stopping by to see me.’ He didn’t dare flatter himself by thinking his brother had come specifically to find him. Pushing back his chair, he strode quickly over.

"Big Bro, where’s Sister-in-law?"

Looking at his younger brother, who now came up to his shoulder, Li Xiu smiled. "Your sister-in-law went to her office. She has a seminar today. After your classes this afternoon, she wants you to come to the house. From now on, just come home directly on Saturdays and Sundays. I won’t have time to come and get you!"

"Got it, Big Bro!" Li Guo replied with a smile, not standing on ceremony at all. He felt more comfortable and closer to Li Xiu and his wife than he did with his other older brother and sister-in-law. It wasn’t that he and Li Bao weren’t close; it was just that, by comparison, he preferred being with Li Xiu and Zhou Lian.

"How’s the dorm? Are you settling in okay?"

"What’s not to get used to? I’ve been living in dorms for six years. The conditions here are way better than back home, though. Don’t worry about me, Big Bro, I’m doing great!" Li Guo said with a simple grin. Inwardly, however, he was dismissive. ’Sister-in-law must have told him to ask that. As if my brother would ever ask about something like this. Sister-in-law is the best—she’s gentle, thoughtful, kind, virtuous, and beautiful to boot!’