Ding Ruzhi sat across from Xue Yue, her face beaming with happiness.

"That’s the plan for now. My husband said he can support me, so if I don’t want to work, I can just stay home. He won’t interfere with my personal affairs. But after thinking it over, I’ve decided to quit this job and just relax at home for a while. If I ever feel like working again, I’ll do what you suggested before and open a small shop. Who knows, I might even make more money than I do here."

Xue Yue nodded. "Since you have your own plans, I’ll sign off on it."

After Xue Yue signed the papers, Ding Ruzhi stood up and gave her a hug.

"Sister Xue, goodbye. To be honest, I’m really going to miss you all. I’ve gotten so used to being here."

Xue Yue hugged her back, patting her on the back. "I wish you all the best. We’ll see each other again. We’re all in Beijing City, so if you have time, come visit us. You’re always welcome. Or just give us a call. We can all go shopping on our days off, which would be nice too."

Ding Ruzhi nodded. "Yes, I’ll definitely keep in touch."

「In July, Xiao Nian graduated from his master’s program and was assigned to Beijing First People’s Hospital.」

This was a major event for the He family. Mr. He even made a special trip to see Xiao Nian’s workplace. When he returned, he kept telling everyone, "Xiao Nian is so promising. Our He family has a doctor now! The next time I go back, I have to tell your mother all about it."

A couple of days later, He Nan called to say the town’s transportation team had been disbanded. He and Wang Hui Fang had opened a small restaurant, and business was decent.

He Lang wanted him to come to Beijing City, but He Nan refused, saying he was used to life in his hometown and didn’t want to leave.

Mr. He sighed. "Times have changed. I never thought the eldest would get laid off. Third son, I’m worried about your big brother. I think I’ll go back and check on him."

He Lang said to him, "Running a restaurant is a sure thing these days. Big brother also said their business is pretty good. There’s no point in you going back."

"I’ll also take the opportunity to burn some paper offerings for your mother. It’s been a while since I’ve been back. I dreamt of her last night. It’s about to get cold back home. I’ll go back and burn some more money and clothes for her so she won’t be cold."

Seeing his father’s firm resolve, He Lang had no choice. "Then I’ll go back with you."

Mr. He waved his hand dismissively. "I can manage on my own. You can’t get away from work here. If I go back, I can stay for a while longer. I’ll come back whenever I feel like it. There’s no rush."

"Alright, then."

He Lang bought him a ticket for a sleeper car and saw him off at the train.

Mr. He was truly homesick. Everyone in Beijing City had settled down with stable careers, so he felt he was no longer needed there.

In recent years, Shiyi and Ruanruan had grown up and didn’t even need him to take them to and from school anymore. That’s why he wanted to go back to his hometown for a while. He knew He Lang would never agree if he proposed moving back for good, which is why he phrased it this way.

Gao Cuiyun had been calling Beijing City frequently lately. The reason was none other than to pressure her son to get married.

He Zichen was about to turn thirty and still wasn’t married. He wasn’t in a hurry, but Gao Cuiyun certainly was.

It looked like he was going to be a lifelong bachelor. She used to think he was the most worry-free of her children, never needing her to manage anything, and he even helped support the family.

But now, Xiao Yang already had two kids, and her son hadn’t made a single move.

He used to hold up his third uncle as an example, but now he had far surpassed He Lang.

Little Chen saw the call was from his hometown again and could already guess who it was and what they wanted to talk about. His temples started to throb.

But there was no way around it. He had to answer the phone.

"Mom."

"You want me to come back?"

On the other end of the line, Gao Cuiyun was unusually calm this time, not nagging him incessantly like she usually did.

"That’s right. Go buy a ticket now and come back for a blind date. I’ve already picked out several nice girls for you. Come back and choose one yourself."

He Zichen said helplessly, "Mom—"

Gao Cuiyun said sternly, "If you don’t come back, I’ll bring the girls to Beijing City to find you in a couple of days. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance to choose for yourself. I’m serious."

He Zichen wanted to say more, but he heard the line go dead.

He stared at the phone in his hand, a sudden feeling washing over him that his mother might actually be serious this time.

He Zichen leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and kneaded the bridge of his nose, wondering how to handle this.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

"Come in."

"Mr. He, the business data summary is ready. Please take a look."

He Zichen opened his eyes and looked straight at the young woman standing before him.

Yun Shu. Twenty-three years old. She was the new secretary hired at the beginning of the year. She was a little over 160 centimeters tall and always wore her hair in a playful topknot. She also wore a pair of large, black-framed glasses that took up more than half of her face.

She had a small nose and very red lips—not the red of lipstick, but a natural flush that suggested good health.

When Yun Shu saw her boss just staring at her without saying a word, she swallowed nervously. She didn’t know what she had done or said wrong, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the file.

Just then, He Zichen suddenly stood up and walked toward her.

He reached out his hand as he came to a stop in front of her, and Yun Shu jumped back a step in fright.

"Mr. He."

"Don’t move."

Yun Shu blinked, frozen to the spot. Not daring to look her boss in the eye, she lowered her head.

He Zichen used a finger to tilt her chin up, then used his other hand to take the glasses off her face.

’Looking at her without the glasses... hmm, much easier on the eyes, indeed.’

A smooth, small face, long eyelashes, and large eyes that held a bewildered glimmer as they gazed up at He Zichen.

A corner of He Zichen’s mouth quirked up.

He picked up the large-framed glasses Yun Shu wore all day and examined them. "They’re non-prescription? Why are you wearing glasses if you’re not nearsighted?"

The corner of Yun Shu’s mouth twitched. She quickly took two steps back, putting some distance between herself and He Zichen, and only then could she breathe easily again.

"I’m just used to wearing glasses when I go out."

He Zichen asked, perplexed, "What kind of weird habit is that?"

It was the first time He Zichen had ever heard of someone being in the habit of wearing non-prescription glasses.

He Zichen dangled the glasses in front of her. "Don’t wear these anymore."

Yun Shu asked him, "Why?"

"Because I said so."

Yun Shu bit her lip and retorted, "Boss, you can’t control that. This is my personal business."

He Zichen raised an eyebrow. "How can’t I? I have to look at you every day. You’re constantly parading around in front of me with those hideous glasses on. It’s annoying."

Yun Shu gritted her teeth in anger and muttered, ’So high-maintenance.’

He Zichen looked at her. "What did you say? Speak up."

Yun Shu looked up at He Zichen and flashed a wide smile. "I said, you’re the boss."

He Zichen nodded, satisfied. "Mm. And, uh... you’re coming with me on a long trip this afternoon."

Yun Shu assumed it was for business and nodded.

"Okay."