"I will. By the way, Yurong feels guilty for not having time to see you or contact you often. She's under a lot of pressure this time. There's something I'd like you to talk to Mom about, so as not to pressure her too much."

"What is it?"

"About having a baby. Her parents are always urging her, and I think you guys may be thinking about this too. But don't forget, she's now the CEO of a big company, and her career is developing rapidly. Suddenly expecting her to get pregnant and have a child would be inconvenient. Let's discuss it again in a couple of years!" Li Yan shared what Yurong was worried about with his father first.

This was indeed a concern for Li Tang. Although he returned to the country earlier than Zhang Tianyi, his health was poor due to a serious injury and took a long time to recover. Then there was job hunting, and finally meeting Wang Suzhen, getting married and having children relatively late. Now, his son is not young, and after finally getting married, they still have to wait two more years to consider having children. Wouldn't that be even later?

"Alright! It's a different time now; people get married later. Yurong has her own career, you guys do as you see fit!" Li Tang still agreed, but emboldened by drink, he leaned closer to Li Yan and whispered, "Yurong is far better than you. She married you to fulfill old Zhang's wish. Now that old Zhang's health has improved... anything could happen! If you have a child, your relationship would be more stable!"

Li Yan was both amused and exasperated, his father actually taught him such a trick! This wasn't just about getting a cooked meal but preparing the ingredients...

On the surface, he nodded compliantly to his father's words, but in his heart, he didn't plan on accepting it. If a man has to rely on such methods to hold onto a woman, he might do so temporarily, but not permanently!

Besides, using a child to tie down a woman is not only shameless but excessive. The child would be innocent, and if they really broke apart or had a bad relationship, it would greatly harm the child's growth.

"You..." Li Tang wanted to say more but hesitated.

"What?"

"Nothing." In the end, Li Tang didn't ask after all.

Li Yan guessed that he was about to ask why he suddenly left home to work back then, and what he has been doing all these years – things he had covered with excuses over the phone before. If asked now, he would still give an excuse, not letting them know the truth. Since he didn't ask, there's no need to answer.

— This is precisely one of the reasons he felt estranged from his parents. This matter couldn't be spoken of truthfully. Not speaking of it meant lying to his parents, which of course was troubling.

...

By the time the father and son had finished their conversation, Wang Suzhen and Zhang Yurong also came out. Everyone sat in the living room watching TV and chatting, while Wang Suzhen cut fruits and so on.

Watching TV shows this way was rather boring, and close chatting between two generations was also a cautious affair. But since it was the first night back, Li Yan and Yurong had to endure and accompany them.

Li Tang didn't talk much, but Wang Suzhen did. People tend to talk more as they age. Moreover, she hadn't seen her son for a long time—meeting a year ago hadn't offered much talking opportunity, so she couldn't help it.

Since it was just the two of them at home usually, and it was winter, the couple generally rested early. Now with the son back, they chatted more out of joy, but considering the fatigue from the journey, they didn't talk too late and let them go wash up and rest in their rooms.

When Li Yan finally finished his shower and returned to the bedroom, he saw that Yurong was lying further inside, completely wrapped in the blanket, with only her head exposed. Seeing him come in, she looked at him with a slightly apprehensive gaze.

"Ha ha, have you warmed the bed for me?" Li Yan laughed as he sat by the bed.

Yurong had experience sharing a bed with Li Yan, but it was different from the current situation. Moreover, this time they had to share a bed for more than ten days, which vaguely suggested growing intimacy between them. But if they shared a blanket on the first night, the progress would be too fast—perhaps in a couple of days...

"Isn't there another blanket?" She muttered softly.

Of course, Li Yan noticed the additional blanket—two new blankets were prepared. But he certainly wouldn't miss this rare chance for some close skin contact with Yurong.

"You know, at night, the heating might turn off, and just one blanket would be too cold. So, we should use two blankets not to separate, but to overlap together to keep warm. We must take advantage of the warmth now to warm up the bed." He got onto the bed with a smile, unceremoniously pulling half the blanket off her and then layering the other blanket on top of hers. "This way is warmer!"

"Haven't you been away for more than ten years? How do you know the heating stops at night?" Yurong didn't believe him, but feeling uncomfortable about competing for the blanket, she shrank further inside, exposing his fabrication with a bit of sarcasm.

Li Yan paid no mind, continuing to adjust the blankets and inching closer to her, smiling slyly: "If you go further, you'll hit the wall. Are you planning on sleeping on the wall? I just want you to warm the bed, not eat you alive!"

Yurong rolled her eyes internally. Who doesn't know your little tricks? But she couldn't show fear and let him feel confident in controlling her. Thus, she turned to face him: "What do you want? Why should I warm the bed for you?"

Li Yan adjusted the blankets, covering both of them well, trying to stay as close to her as possible. His feet already touching hers underneath. "I don't want anything. If you don't wish to warm the bed, it's fine..."

"Really?" Yurong didn't believe he was so agreeable.

"If you don't want to warm the bed, I don't mind going the extra mile to warm it for you!" Li Yan said 'generously'.

"..."

Seeing her speechless look, Li Yan chuckled softly and whispered, "Relax, I won't do anything to you. Especially with my parents in the next room, I'd be too embarrassed to do anything!"

"Good to know..." Yurong murmured lowly, thinking: We've been married for a year already, even if you did something, they'd probably just laugh it off, right? But Li Yan's assurance eased her mind considerably.

"Yurong..."

"What?"

"Shall I turn off the light?"

"Okay."

Yurong agreed with a soft response, feeling strangely different. At home, she never rested this early. Coming here felt like entering another world, devoid of the convenience of working on a computer anytime, yet offering a sense of liberation and lightness.

Once the lights were out, the room suddenly darkened, and before her eyes adjusted to the darkness, it all seemed pitch black.

"Yurong..." Li Yan whispered.

"What is it again?" Yurong felt a little helpless. Tonight, this guy seemed a bit... clingy?

Clingy? Li Yan? The thought amused and bemused her.

"Can I hug you?" Li Yan asked softly.

Yurong's immediate response to his request was "no," judging it as just another pretense.

But after hearing his sincere request, her heart softened. They had been married almost a year, but now he wanted only a hug while still respecting and reassuring her. This made her feel a bit guilty, thinking perhaps others took the initiative to pursue him even without such favors.

If others pursue him, and I won't even allow a hug, isn't that a bit too unfair?

"Mmm..." She finally agreed in an almost inaudible voice.