Xinyan reached out and wrapped her arms around He Jinxuan’s neck: "What do you think?"

He Jinxuan lifted her in a princess carry: "You’re finally back at the staff quarters. I was thinking on my drive back that if you couldn’t make it back, I would just go over to your place. Now I can openly stay there."

Hearing this, Xinyan felt a bit touched: "You’ve had it rough before."

He Jinxuan gave her a big kiss on the cheek: "It’s not hard. I’m willing to do anything for you."

Thinking of something, he leaned over to Xinyan’s ear: "From now on, I have official credentials to come and go. I don’t have to worry about what others might say. If you can’t come to the staff quarters, I’ll go to you."

Xinyan was moved. Though He Jinxuan wasn’t particularly handsome, his masculinity and tenderness made up for it. He might not be the most well-off among the people she knew, but he was the most hardworking.

He’s not great with sweet talk, but as long as they’re together, he always takes good care of her. In her heart, to always put her first is enough: "Thank you, Jinxuan."

He Jinxuan held her tighter: "Silly girl, it’s what I should do, why thank me?"

While the two were being affectionate, a voice called from outside the gate: "Brother He, sister-in-law."

Hearing the shout, Xinyan quickly struggled to get out of He Jinxuan’s embrace: "Let go, someone’s coming."

Hearing the voice from outside, He Jinxuan’s face darkened, but he still helped tidy his wife’s clothes: "You wait inside, I’ll go take a look."

He kissed Xinyan on the forehead before leaving the yard: "You better have an important reason."

The look in his eyes startled Wang Baoliang, who only then realized: "Ah, I’m sorry for interrupting.

Anyway, I’ll make it short. I ran into Fang Zhipeng yesterday. He asked me to let you know that he’s been transferred back to Beijing from Guang Province. He wants to get together this weekend and asked you to bring your wife along."

After delivering the message, he hurriedly detailed the dinner location for the next night and quickly left.

He Jinxuan watched him go and closed the gate.

Xinyan came out of the house: "Where’s he gone?"

He Jinxuan pointed outside: "He had something urgent and left."

Before Xinyan could ask more, He Jinxuan recounted the matter to her: "Tomorrow we’ll go together. After dinner, I’ll accompany you back to your place."

He originally wanted to cuddle with his wife a bit longer, but as it was nearing mealtime, he couldn’t let her go hungry: "What do you feel like eating, dear? I’ll cook for you."

Xinyan playfully replied with a smile: "Whatever you cook, I’ll eat."

The two then moved their intimate talk to the kitchen.

As the food was being prepared, He Jinxuan brought a chair for Xinyan outside the kitchen door: "Yanyan, you sit outside and eat some fruit, I’ll stir-fry the dishes, and dinner will be ready soon."

Xinyan, who had been on her feet non-stop for the past few days, really didn’t want to move. Obediently, she sat on the chair outside, ready to eat.

As He Jinxuan put the food in the wok, he asked: "Yanyan, has there been any outcome regarding second uncle’s issues?"

Xinyan picked a washed grape from the plate and popped it into her mouth: "Yes, the children and grandchildren in the main Xue Family turned against Old Man Xue, not expecting he’d betray his family, wife, and children by having another family outside.

Though nothing was successful in the end, Old Man Xue left his final assets to his illegitimate children, chilling the hearts of his legitimate descendants in Beijing, who then severed ties with him mercilessly.

The illegitimate children also resented Old Man Xue. Always hidden in the shadows, they could count on one hand the days they saw their biological father. Yet, they were fed empty promises, and ultimately it all came to nothing, so much so that even living became a luxury.

No matter the mutual dislike between the legitimate and illegitimate sides, they ended up meeting in jail. Old Man Xue’s greed hurt others as well as himself, and now the Xue Family has met its karma."

She then added: "Grandpa said we should go together to pay respects to my eldest uncle next Wednesday."

What she didn’t say was that with the Xue Family’s downfall, all those with past ties to them were also uprooted, paying the price for their greed.

As the meal was served and the two were about to eat, there was a loud knock on the gate.