“So you’re Xiaolan.”

With his wife hospitalized from anger, Zhou Wengang hadn’t gone to work.

He resembled Zhou Guobin quite a bit – they shared the typical Zhou family build and frame, without the middle-aged belly, still maintaining a dignified appearance.

However, he spoke rather sternly, unable to soften his tone even with his future niece-in-law.

“Uncle, I’m Xiaolan. I should have visited you earlier but was afraid of disturbing your work.”

Zhou Wengang nodded, “I know. You’re quite good. Thank you for coming all this way.”

Zhou Wengang wanted to hear about Zhou Yi’s situation, and Xia Xiaolan didn’t beat around the bush. She detailed how Zhou Yi had come seeking her help, how she felt something was off, and how she’d told Zhou Cheng about it. Zhou Wengang had already heard all this from Zhou Cheng, so why call Xia Xiaolan to hear it again? Despite his stern demeanor at work and in daily life, Zhou Yi was his only daughter!

Unlike Jiang Hong’s obvious emotions, Zhou Wengang’s concern manifested differently.

While Jiang Hong hadn’t slept all night, Zhou Wengang had spent half the night smoking. Zhou Yi’s rebellious phase had come late, and they were struggling to handle it as parents.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t control Yuan Han – an ordinary young man without connections, Zhou Wengang had a hundred ways to deal with him. He hadn’t acted yet, hoping Zhou Yi would come to her senses on her own, and fearing that striking at Yuan Han would hurt Zhou Yi’s feelings.

Even high-ranking officials became like ordinary people at times like these.

Paternal and maternal love took many forms, and for Zhou Wengang’s “fatherly heart,” Xia Xiaolan was willing to make this hospital visit.

Aunt Jiang Hong looked haggard and somehow less unlikeable than before.

Even if her aunt-in-law liked making acidic remarks, she hadn’t caused Xia Xiaolan any real harm, always ending up on the losing side of their exchanges… Well, as the winner, she should show some grace and not hold anything against her aunt-in-law at this time.

Zhou Wengang finished his questions, lost in thought.

Such matters couldn’t stay hidden forever. Since Zhou Cheng’s family already knew, Jiang Hong didn’t care about losing face and asked Xia Xiaolan directly:

“Where’s Zhou Cheng? Has he been trying to find Zhou Yi? Why haven’t we heard anything?”

Xia Xiaolan pointed toward the hospital entrance, “Aunt, they found her last night. Zhou Cheng watched over her, and Sister Zhou Yi was fine. But she refuses to separate from Yuan Han, and even to visit the hospital, she insists on bringing him along… You know Zhou Cheng’s temperament – he’s kept her confined in the guesthouse, saying she can come to see you when she comes to her senses. I think Zhou Cheng means for you to stay in the hospital for a few more days.”

What was Zhou Cheng’s temperament like?

When he reasoned with people, they’d better listen.

Once annoyed, he could be extremely hard-hearted.

Jiang Hong felt stifled, “Zhou Cheng should at least come to tell us-“

“Good that he confined her! I think Zhou Yi has completely lost her mind. You’ve spoiled her too much – a woman in her twenties who doesn’t know life’s hardships, fooling around with questionable friends all day, achieving nothing in her career, living off our wages while eating and living at home. Life’s been too comfortable, that’s why she got deceived by this unsuitable man!”

Zhou Wengang trusted Zhou Cheng’s methods, leaving Jiang Hong speechless.

She wanted to ask how Zhou Yi had spent the night, but thinking about how Zhou Yi insisted on bringing Yuan Han even to visit her sick mother, Jiang Hong hardened her heart and lay back on the hospital bed:

“Then we’ll do as your uncle says and keep her confined for a while.”

Jiang Hong refused to believe that Yuan Han outweighed a birth mother.

How long had they known each other? She had raised Zhou Yi for over 20 years!

Jiang Hong decided to follow Zhou Cheng’s suggestion – she would stay in the hospital for several days. Until Zhou Yi surrendered, she wouldn’t leave!

Xia Xiaolan thought Zhou Cheng’s approach was quite extreme, almost like deliberately pushing Zhou Yi toward Yuan Han.

But she couldn’t expect Zhou Cheng to handle things exactly like her. They were different people with different upbringings. Xia Xiaolan had typical commoner’s thinking.

Perhaps families like the Zhous always handled such matters decisively.

Leaving the hospital, Xia Xiaolan saw Zhou Cheng waiting at the entrance.

“Did Aunt scold you?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “Even if she wanted to, Uncle was watching. She couldn’t give me any grief. Are you still keeping Zhou Yi confined? What’s your thinking?”

Zhou Cheng nodded:

“Yes, confined until she realizes her mistakes. She’s hot-headed right now – last night when I found her, she was shouting at me, demanding I not harm Yuan Han. Yuan Han may be no good, but Zhou Yi has also acted foolishly in this matter. She thinks her relationship with Yuan Han is pure and blameless, not realizing that without her active ‘pursuit,’ Yuan Han probably wouldn’t have decided to divorce.”

This Yuan Han had used all his cunning to charm women, and Zhou Cheng deeply disliked him.

“But you can’t keep Zhou Yi confined forever. You have to return to the academy.”

Zhou Cheng smiled, “Confining Zhou Yi temporarily diverts her attention. No matter how heartless she is, she’ll worry about how serious Aunt’s hospitalization is. She thinks it’s just mother-daughter tension, but it makes it convenient for Uncle to act.”

Xia Xiaolan was shocked: “Is Uncle going to-“

Zhou Cheng couldn’t help flicking her nose, “What are you thinking? Would Uncle break the law over Yuan Han? Nothing will happen to him – he’s just being transferred! Back to where he came from. Yuan Han isn’t originally from Beijing anyway. Though he’s in the same work system as Zhou Yi, he was only temporarily assigned here.”

This pulled the rug out from under them.

In 1985, working in different locations was a fatal blow to young couples who had just started dating.

This might harm Yuan Han’s career prospects, perhaps unfair to him… but from the Zhou family’s perspective, with their daughter entangled with such a calculating man, they probably weren’t concerned about being fair to Yuan Han.

Zhou Yi couldn’t make a fuss either – if she did, the Zhou family would have Yuan Han transferred somewhere even more remote.

If Zhou Yi could truly withstand this test, she could suffer hardships with Yuan Han.

If Zhou Wengang and Jiang Hong could steel their hearts, Zhou Yi would learn to regret after experiencing hardship.

This move was truly harsh.

So harsh that Xia Xiaolan felt strange: “If your family treated me like this, I would have run as far as possible long ago, knowing when to quit, not daring to cling to you, Young Master Zhou!”

So the Zhou family had truly been gentle with her.

Zhou Cheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at her words, “The situations are completely different. Don’t compare yourself to Yuan Han.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t point out that it ultimately came down to society’s different standards for men and women.

When a Zhou family son dated an unreliable girl, while the family worried about Zhou Cheng being deceived, they didn’t worry about him being taken advantage of. Even if lines were crossed, Zhou Cheng wouldn’t be the one losing out – this was a traditional view from ancient times. When men engaged in improper relationships, it was considered romantic – a prodigal son’s return was precious. When women did the same, they were called loose women – everyone watched when a wayward woman tried to reform!

Zhou Yi was different – she was their daughter. If they didn’t cut off her relationship with Yuan Han swiftly, Zhou Yi would be the one losing out.

This mindset was probably why the Zhou family had been willing to give her a ‘trial’ opportunity… Xia Xiaolan rolled her eyes dramatically, making Zhou Cheng laugh:

“Stop that. Even ordinary families would handle this situation the same way as the Zhou family.”