He Zichen stood in the courtyard, looking up at the sky. It was filled with stars—the weather tomorrow should be nice.

He recalled Yun Shu’s earlier words.

’Marriage?’

He wondered if he had been too impulsive. But he knew his mother—she was more than capable of forcing a wife on him. Forcing two people with no feelings for each other to be together would be irresponsible to them both.

He knew what he’d done wasn’t exactly right; it was a decision made out of desperation.

There was no room for regret now. He could only take it one step at a time, and hope that his mother wouldn’t be too angry when she eventually found out the truth.

"I’m done."

The voice from inside the house pulled He Zichen from his thoughts, and he walked toward the room.

As soon as he stepped inside, he was met with a sweet fragrance.

He Zichen took a breath, his gaze falling on Yun Shu. Her damp hair was draped over her shoulders, and her small face, flushed from the heat, was as fresh and elegant as a water lily. Her lively eyes blinked, looking a little uneasy.

He Zichen took a single glance before quickly lowering his head, hoisting the wash tub, and carrying it out.

He even closed the door for Yun Shu on his way out.

Inside the room, Yun Shu’s face was burning. ’Having someone pour my bathwater is such an intimate thing, and I actually had my boss do it.’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

When Little Chen returned to his room after showering, he found two people on the kang bed.

"What’s all this?"

Xiao Ming snickered. "Big Brother, Second Brother wanted to come sleep with you, so I came along too."

He Zichen was used to it. In the past, they would often pile onto his kang bed to sleep with him.

Xiao Yang had already lain down. Most importantly, they had even brought their own blankets with them.

He Zichen looked at him and said, "Shouldn’t you be back home on your own warm bed with your wife and kids? What are you doing here?"

Xiao Yang replied breezily, "I get to enjoy my wife, kids, and warm bed every day. But it’s been two or three years since I’ve seen you, Big Brother. I missed you."

Because the hotel didn’t close for the New Year, He Zichen hadn’t come home for the holiday in the last two or three years. Besides, he was managing so many people now that he couldn’t afford to relax. During his first few years on the job, he’d had a lot to learn, so he returned home very rarely.

Otherwise, Gao Cuiyun wouldn’t even have had the chance to see him, which was why she had no choice but to pester him about marriage over the phone.

He Zichen also climbed onto the kang bed and lay down.

Xiao Ming then asked, "Big Brother, I thought you were sleeping with Sister-in-law tonight."

"What nonsense are you talking about? We’re not married."

Xiao Ming grumbled, "So what if you’re not married? You brought her home to meet your parents. That means it’s a sure thing. It’s just a matter of time, isn’t it?"

He Zichen gave him a complicated look.

"Big Brother, why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"

Xiao Yang said, "Big Brother’s an old-fashioned type. Don’t talk to him about this. The way I see it, we’ll probably have to wait a while for him to get married."

Xiao Ming didn’t understand. "Wait for what? Isn’t Sister Yun Shu great? She’s so beautiful, you should obviously hurry up and marry her. Right, Big Brother?"

He Zichen stared expressionlessly at the ceiling.

"Lights out!"

Seeing that his big brother wasn’t answering, Xiao Ming had no choice but to pull the light switch.

In the darkness, Xiao Ming said, "Big Brother, let’s go hunting in the mountains tomorrow. A few days ago, Niuwa even caught a wild rabbit up there. I’m craving some of that myself."

Xiao Yang chimed in, "Let’s all go. We have the tools at home. We can hunt some game tomorrow and add a dish for Sister-in-law. Or better yet, let’s take Sister-in-law with us. She can’t just stay cooped up at home every day while she’s visiting our hometown. What fun is that?"

He Zichen didn’t say anything.

Xiao Ming scooted closer. "Big Brother, why aren’t you saying anything? What are you thinking about?"

Xiao Yang laughed. "He’s thinking about his wifey, of course."

He Zichen asked quietly, "Do you guys think life is good these days?"

Xiao Ming nodded. "Of course it is. We have food to eat and clothes to wear."

Xiao Yang spoke up too. "It’s good. How could it not be? A few years back, the government distributed the land to individuals. We can plant whatever we want, and even after paying the grain tax, we have much more left over than before. These are the good days."

"I’d say my life is complete. I’ve got grain, a wife, and a daughter and son."

As he spoke, Xiao Yang started laughing to himself.

Xiao Ming agreed with his second brother. "In a few more years, I’m going to get a wife, too."

His words even made Little Chen laugh.

Xiao Yang joked, "Well, listen to you. You’re not even fully grown and you’re already thinking about getting a wife?"

Xiao Ming puffed out his chest. "I’m an adult. I know everything. Why can’t I get a wife?"

"HAHAHAHAHA."

The three brothers laughed as they talked.

Xiao Ming added proudly, "When the time comes, I’m going to find a girl I really like, just like you two."

Little Chen looked at him and said, "That’s ambitious. Good for you."

Xiao Ming beamed.

"Big Brother, how did you and Sister-in-law meet? Have you met her parents?"

The smile on He Zichen’s face stiffened.

He said slowly, "She’s my secretary."

Xiao Ming asked, "What’s a secretary?"

"A secretary is like an assistant. They help me with my work."

Understanding dawned on Xiao Ming. "Oh, so that’s what it is. In that case, Sister Yun Shu must be pretty skilled."

He Zichen actually agreed with this point. Yun Shu was indeed capable. He had seen her resume—she was a college graduate, but her major wasn’t in a related field. He had no idea why she’d come to work at the hotel.

"Big Brother, have you met her parents? Is her family well off? I think Sister Yun Shu has a really great presence about her."

Xiao Yang let out a laugh. "You even know what ’presence’ means?"

Xiao Ming said, "Why wouldn’t I? It’s just a feeling, you know? A kind of noble air."

He Zichen couldn’t answer the question. He knew nothing about Yun Shu’s family background—or, to be more precise, he’d never paid it any attention. All he knew was that she was from Beijing City.

"Why do you have so many questions? Hurry up and go to sleep. Didn’t you say you wanted to go up the mountain tomorrow?"

Xiao Ming pouted, then lay back down.

Meanwhile, Yun Shu was tossing and turning on her kang bed, unable to fall asleep.

Maybe it was just because she was in an unfamiliar place.

Somehow, she felt the urge to use the restroom again. It was probably because she’d drunk the entire glass of water Gao Cuiyun had brought in for her after her bath.

She tried to hold it in, but the more she tried, the more she couldn’t. Resigned, she sat up.

She was wearing the pajamas she had brought from Beijing City, and she threw a jacket on over them.

She got off the bed and opened the door.

In the room next door, He Zichen’s eyes snapped open.

He turned his head to look outside. There was definitely a noise. Without hesitating, he quickly sat up.

"Big Brother, what’s wrong?" Xiao Yang asked.

"It’s nothing. I’m going to use the restroom."

When He Zichen came outside, he saw Yun Shu tiptoeing toward the outhouse.

Even with the stars out tonight, one could only make out blurry shapes; it wasn’t easy to see clearly.

A beam of light suddenly shone in her direction. Yun Shu instantly stopped and turned to look.

He Zichen walked toward her. "What are you doing up instead of sleeping?"

Yun Shu said softly, "I need to use the restroom. It’s a little dark."

He Zichen realized he’d forgotten to leave a flashlight in Yun Shu’s room.

He Zichen handed the flashlight to Yun Shu. "Can you manage by yourself?"

Yun Shu nodded. "Mhm."

But Yun Shu had only taken two steps with the flashlight when a small creature suddenly darted out from the corner of a wall.

"Ahhh—!"