Events proved that Xia Xiaolan hadn’t misjudged Liang Huan.

A few days after their park encounter, when Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng returned to the Shichahai area for dinner, they ran into Liang Huan and Liu Fang at home.

“Sister Xiaolan, Brother-in-law!”

Liang Huan maintained her shy demeanor.

Liu Fang seemed somewhat awkward. When Xia Xiaolan called her Aunt, Liu Fang appeared overwhelmed by the honor.

Xia Xiaolan watched coldly as Liang Huan’s eyes wandered – though trying to hide it, her sidelong glances kept drifting toward Zhou Cheng.

As for Liu Fang, after so long without contact, her gaze had become much more peaceful.

“What a coincidence, we just met in the park a few days ago.”

Liang Huan volunteered an explanation: “It was after seeing you in the park that I learned about Sister Xiaolan’s pregnancy. Mom said Sister Xiaolan’s about to give birth while I’m still single, so we wanted to ask Second Aunt to help introduce potential matches to me.”

After her initial excitement subsided and her emotions settled, Liang Huan managed to stop stealing glances at Zhou Cheng and straightforwardly explained her reason for coming to Shichahai.

Introductions to potential matches?

Someone like Liang Huan wouldn’t lack suitors.

Liang Huan wanted to marry up.

Xia Xiaolan felt indifferent about it. Some men just preferred beautiful women, regardless of family background, education, or capabilities. If Liang Huan could improve her life through marriage, that was her ability.

Both parties got what they wanted – that was also a type of marriage model.

Just like Liu Fang twenty-some years ago, who escaped her rural background by marrying Liang Bing’an and enjoyed many good years.

If Liang Bing’an hadn’t run into trouble, Liu Fang’s good life could have continued… Of course, when a woman lacks capability herself, she’s vulnerable to crises like Liu Fang’s – if anything happens to the man, she can’t maintain her previous lifestyle.

Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t interfere in how relatives lived their lives, especially those with whom she had no emotional connection or even past grievances.

She felt Liang Huan asking Liu Fen for introductions wasn’t her real purpose.

Liu Fen herself didn’t want to get involved in this mess – she hadn’t agreed despite Liu Fang’s two or three previous visits. After seeing off the mother and daughter, Liu Fen complained to Xia Xiaolan: “I dare not introduce matches for Huanhuan. That child has high expectations but low abilities and isn’t steady. She looks down on average conditions, but with better conditions, I’m afraid of offending people!”

Liu Fen had major issues with her own younger sister.

But regardless, that was still her sister. While she might not like Liu Fang personally, Liu Fen wasn’t the type to gloat overseeing her sister’s life getting worse over the years.

She had truly doted on Liu Fang in childhood, always yielding to her.

With Liang Huan, there was another layer of distance – without Liu Fang, what connection would Liang Huan have to Liu Fen?

But this visit from Liang Huan and Liu Fang left Liu Fen feeling unsettled.

Liu Fang cherished Liang Huan, but Liang Huan… When the mother-daughter pair visited, Liang Huan was dressed brilliantly while Liu Fang appeared disheveled – the stark contrast revealed their daily relationship.

Now that Xia Xiaolan knew Liang Huan’s excuse, she said nothing, knowing Liang Huan would surely return.

The twins were likely to arrive before full term. With one month until the due date, Xia Xiaolan was prepared to welcome the new lives at any time. She couldn’t go to school temporarily, and Zhou Cheng often came home to accompany her. He had explained the situation to his advanced studies institute and mostly studied at home, just so he could take Xia Xiaolan to the hospital immediately when she went into labor.

Guan Huie had arranged everything at the hospital and found the doctors. Though Xia Xiaolan had gained weight and become less attractive, her pregnancy was progressing well, and the doctors said she was suitable for natural delivery.

In the final month, Liu Fen wouldn’t let her live alone with Zhou Cheng anymore – she had to choose between Shichahai and Zhou’s family home.

Before Xia Xiaolan could speak, Zhou Cheng chose for her:

“Let’s stay at Shichahai. We could go to my home, but I’m worried you wouldn’t be comfortable there.”

No matter how good a mother-in-law is, she can’t compare to one’s mother. Zhou Cheng had noticed Xia Xiaolan’s recent emotional state; seeing her sensitivity, he was being extremely careful.

Move back to Shichahai?

Fine – how else would it be convenient for Liang Huan to visit?

Xia Xiaolan felt she might be sick.

Since discovering her pregnancy-induced unattractiveness and encountering Liang Huan, Xia Xiaolan developed a testing mindset… Not only was she sick, but she was also too idle, wanting to see how Zhou Cheng would handle the temptress around him.

With his wife pregnant and less attractive, would Zhou Cheng be moved by a young, beautiful woman’s advances?

Two little figures fought in Xia Xiaolan’s mind – one saying such thoughts were an insult to Zhou Cheng, the other shouting that all cats steal fish, why believe Zhou Cheng was an exception?

Liang Huan indeed visited frequently, enough that even Liu Fen eventually noticed something.

Liu Fen’s blood boiled, but she dared not tell Xiaolan, fearing it would upset her daughter. She could only confide in Old Tang over the phone:

“…I always felt the past events weren’t Liang Huan’s fault. She was just a young girl then, how could she influence Liang Bing’an and Liu Fang’s decisions? These past two years, watching coldly, Liu Fang seemed to have changed quite a bit, but I never expected Liang Huan to behave like this!”

Tang Hongen had been promoted to another level last year. Though still stationed in Pengcheng, his position had changed from Mayor Tang to Secretary Tang.

Secretary Tang was busier with work but still concerned about Xiaolan’s impending delivery, calling Liu Fen daily.

When Liu Fen mentioned Liang Huan’s improper behavior, Tang Hongen first calmed his wife down, then asked about Zhou Cheng’s reaction:

“If even you noticed it, how does he react?”

Liu Fen calmed her anger and thought carefully.

Yes, how did Zhou Cheng react?

Zhou Cheng never forbade Liang Huan from visiting – this was Shichahai, not the Zhou family home. How could he prevent his mother-in-law’s relatives from visiting?

But Zhou Cheng barely spoke to Liang Huan.

He treated Liang Huan as if she were invisible.

Whether Liang Huan acted coquettishly cute or shyly charming, Zhou Cheng’s eyes remained fixed on Xiaolan.

Moreover, when Liang Huan visited Shichahai, Zhou Cheng often pulled Xiaolan into their room to study, saying his foreign language skills needed improvement and asking Xiaolan to teach him.

Liu Fen’s expression softened:

“Zhou Cheng seems fine, showing no other intentions.”

No woman can maintain her beauty forever – women give birth, gain weight, and age. A man who develops wandering thoughts while his wife is pregnant and giving birth is unworthy of being a husband. Even without love between spouses, there should at least be basic human decency.

Tang Hongen smiled, “Then what are you worried about? Afen, if ever you noticed the impropriety and Zhou Cheng’s attitude is clear, do you think Xiaolan hasn’t noticed? That girl is doing this deliberately – she wasn’t usually this coy. With twins this pregnancy, her psychological burden must be heavy!”

Tang Hongen had planned to come to Beijing when Xiaolan went into labor, but now felt he needed to arrive earlier.

His girl had become emotionally sensitive with a heavy psychological burden. Having her mother and husband by her side for the delivery wasn’t enough – was she lacking a sense of security?

He wasn’t sure if his presence in Beijing would help, but he had to try!