Guan Hui’e froze.

The middle-aged woman beside her let out a soft exclamation upon seeing such a beautiful young lady coming out of the Zhou family home: “My goodness, I haven’t seen your family in years. Who is this?”

“Auntie Guan, I came to visit you and Uncle,” Xia Xiaolan said, appearing ready to leave. Guan Hui’e didn’t know what to say. The other woman was waiting for an introduction, but how should she introduce Xia Xiaolan? Well, given that she had come to the Zhou house on her own accord, she hadn’t broken up with Zhou Cheng yet.

“Why don’t you stay for dinner? Shuyu, this is Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend Xiaolan. Xiaolan, this is Auntie Ran.”

“Hello, Auntie Ran.” Xia Xiaolan breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Cheng’s mother had always been graceful – if she hadn’t acknowledged her status at this moment, it would have been awkward for President Xia as well.

Ran Shuyu? That name sounded familiar.

Ran Shuyu was also studying Xia Xiaolan, examining her for a moment before suddenly turning to Guan Hui’e: “I knew she looked familiar! Wasn’t she in the honor guard at the Tiananmen ceremony the day before yesterday? The young lady in the front row? Guangping and I both commented on how beautiful she was. What a small world – to think she’s Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend. Your Zhou Cheng knows how to choose!”

Xia Xiaolan suddenly realized.

Ran Shuyu and Wang Guangping? This was Wang Jianhua’s birth mother!

The world was small. Ran Shuyu looked older than Guan Hui’e and dressed more plainly, so Xia Xiaolan hadn’t made the connection at first. Now looking again, she could see the features that had been inherited by Wang Jianhua. Meeting her “ex-boyfriend’s” mother together with her current boyfriend’s mother, who not only knew each other but were returning home together – even with all her worldly experience, Xia Xiaolan had never encountered such a situation!

Seeing her hesitation, Guan Hui’e assumed Xia Xiaolan was thinking about their previous conversation.

Truthfully, while Xia Xiaolan might not be suitable for Zhou Cheng, there was nothing to fault about the young woman herself. She was beautiful, from a prestigious university, and carried herself well – not at all small-minded or timid. Even in this chance encounter with Ran Shuyu, she didn’t embarrass the Zhou family. After Ran Shuyu’s praise, Xia Xiaolan’s presence brought honor to the Zhou family.

Ran Shuyu’s tone was sincere – she truly thought Zhou Cheng had good taste in choosing a girlfriend, much better than her Jianhua!

It was precisely because of Ran Shuyu’s sincerity that Guan Hui’e felt complicated emotions.

Having Xia Xiaolan as a girlfriend gave Zhou Cheng a face.

“These are the young people’s affairs – what can we parents do once they’re grown? Xiaolan is indeed exceptional; Zhou Cheng will need to work harder.”

Guan Hui’e was modest, and this modesty gave Xia Xiaolan a great face.

She had extended an olive branch, and Xia Xiaolan naturally had to accept it. Their private “conversation” earlier was one matter, but now they needed to present a united front. Xia Xiaolan didn’t need to say much; she just needed to smile and play along.

Because of meeting Guan Hui’e and Ran Shuyu returning home, Xia Xiaolan was “invited” back in from the doorway.

Sister Zeng was quite happy: “You’re finally back! Xiaolan has been sitting here for a while. She was about to leave after dropping off some things, and wouldn’t even stay for dinner when I asked.”

The gifts weren’t expensive – it was the thought that counted.

Ran Shuyu was incredibly envious. “Xiaolan is from Huaqing University, right? The honor guard the day before yesterday was from Huaqing.”

“Yes, she’s from Huaqing, studying architecture.”

“That’s much better than my Jianhua. That child was held back because of his father and me…” Ran Shuyu stopped mid-sentence, and Guan Hui’e didn’t know how to respond.

After Wang Guangping was reinstated, they no longer lived in the same area. They had been neighbors before, but Guan Hui’e and Ran Shuyu weren’t particularly close then, mainly because Zhou Guobin and Wang Guangping had different political views. When Wang Guangping was sent down to the countryside, years passed, and when Guan Hui’e met Ran Shuyu on the street and Ran Shuyu called out to her, she hadn’t even recognized her!

Ran Shuyu had changed dramatically from before. She was already a few years older than Guan Hui’e, and life at the farm had been hard. Now she looked at least ten years older than Guan Hui’e.

Though their relationship hadn’t been close before, old neighbors should still catch up when they meet.

Guan Hui’e politely invited Ran Shuyu to come sit at their home, and Ran Shuyu came along, leading to this encounter with Xia Xiaolan.

Now Xia Xiaolan found herself in this extremely awkward situation.

Her “ex-boyfriend’s” mother was praising her to the skies. Guan Hui’e couldn’t possibly lose face in front of others, so she had to go along with Ran Shuyu’s comments. Xia Xiaolan wondered if she should mention something to Guan Hui’e – judging by Ran Shuyu’s behavior, she seemed eager to resume social connections with the Zhou family.

Nobody was foolish.

Before Wang Guangping was sent down, he had held a similar position to Zhou Guobin. After these wasted years, when he was reinstated, it was at his original level.

During these years, Zhou Guobin hadn’t stayed stagnant – now he not only outranked Wang Guangping but also carried more weight than the Education Department… Ran Shuyu was actively trying to reconnect with old acquaintances, otherwise, why would she so brazenly follow Guan Hui’e home and heap praise upon Xia Xiaolan?

This meal was enjoyed by “all parties,” but for Xia Xiaolan, it ranked among the top three most surreal experiences of her life.

When Ran Shuyu finally took her leave, Xia Xiaolan had to face Guan Hui’e alone.

“Auntie, I’ve talked with Zhou Cheng, and your concerns are very valid, but I believe these conflicts aren’t insurmountable. We won’t be breaking up for now. I didn’t come today to challenge you – Zhou Cheng can’t come home often because of work, so I came to see you and Uncle… I might come by frequently in the future. If the house needs anything, please let me know, and don’t be too polite with me.”

It should be Zhou Cheng’s responsibility to provide things for the family.

Zhou Cheng devoted most of his energy to work and couldn’t manage the household, so his girlfriend, Xia Xiaolan needed to help take care of these matters.

She had previously thought she didn’t need to be very close with Zhou Cheng’s family, but now she realized that was just avoiding responsibility.

Xia Xiaolan’s attitude was natural, and Guan Hui’e wouldn’t say anything harsh.

After she left, Guan Hui’e looked at the things she had brought – just some fruit. The gifts weren’t expensive, but Xia Xiaolan wasn’t wrong – Zhou Cheng rarely came home, and the Zhou household was indeed quite empty.

Guan Hui’e thought she would be very angry.

But somehow, she wasn’t that angry. Xia Xiaolan’s attitude was too straightforward – when she said she would discuss things with Zhou Cheng, it was just “discussion,” not going to complain about his mother.

After leaving the Zhou home, Ran Shuyu complained to Wang Guangping when he returned that evening:

“Remember Zhou Guobin’s wife from when we lived in the same compound? Now that Zhou Guobin has risen in position, his wife Guan Hui’e has become quite proud. She’s not even a doctor anymore – she works at the Health Ministry. Their son is dating a student from Huaqing University… Remember the ceremony the day before yesterday? That girl from the Huaqing honor guard who got a close-up shot – that’s Zhou Guobin’s future daughter-in-law!”

With one turn of events, two women who had once been equals were now worlds apart.

How could Ran Shuyu accept this?

Zhou Guobin had been promoted, his son surely had a bright future, Guan Hui’e had become a minor leader in the Health Ministry, and they had found a seemingly perfect daughter-in-law.

What about the Wang family?

Though Wang Guangping was reinstated, he went to the Education Department.

Wang Jianhua got into university, but it was a normal university.

And his girlfriend was completely holding him back… Wang Guangping had initially opposed it but now seemed pleased with it, which made Ran Shuyu very unhappy. How was her son any worse than the Zhou family’s Zhou Cheng? Why could Jianhua only find someone like Xia Ziyu?