Xia Xiaolan did love money.

Money was a good thing – with it, she could provide a good life for the loved ones she cared about. Xia Xiaolan inherently had a strong sense of insecurity. She enjoyed earning wealth with her own hands, enjoying both the luxurious lifestyle money brought and the process of accumulating wealth.

Fine, she did care about that house!

Stone Kai had saved Zhou Cheng’s life – even if the courtyard house would be worth tens of millions in the future, Xia Xiaolan thought it was worth it.

Moreover, it was Zhou Cheng’s house, and he had the freedom to handle it as he wished.

Guan Hui’e was still surprised – this was the first time as a mother she’d heard that her son owned multiple courtyard houses.

Xia Xiaolan suppressed her anger, “Aunt Guan, could I speak with Zhou Cheng alone?”

Though Guan Hui’e also wanted to speak privately with Zhou Cheng, this wasn’t the time. She decisively stood up, worriedly cautioning:

“Don’t fight.”

Zhou Cheng felt inexplicably uneasy.

Only Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng remained in the room. Zhou Cheng rubbed his brow:

“You don’t agree with giving the courtyard to Sister Wei?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “No, I was wrong earlier. This is your house, you have the right to decide who to give it to. I want to discuss the matter of boundaries with you.”

Xiaolan suddenly became very serious, making Zhou Cheng uncomfortable.

In his memory, Xiaolan had only spoken to him this way once before – when he wanted to get married quickly and she opposed it!

That time wasn’t exactly a fight, but Xiaolan had been quite cold toward him for a while. With history seeming to repeat itself, Zhou Cheng felt somewhat intimidated.

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to make things too serious, but since this matter involved Stone Kai’s sacrifice, there was no way to keep it light.

“What I want to discuss with you is the boundary line in dealing with the Stone family. Now that Sister Wei doesn’t want to move, you’re simply planning to transfer the courtyard house to her name. When she’s unhappy working in the cigarette factory workshop, you plan to find her different work… These things aren’t impossible! But I want to ask – are these the boundaries?”

Zhou Cheng understood Xia Xiaolan’s meaning.

He felt indebted to Stone Kai’s family. Xia Xiaolan was asking if a courtyard house and a job to Wei Juanhong’s liking could “buy out” his guilt and compensatory mentality toward the Stone family.

Zhou Cheng had never considered this question, nor had he thought about whether this guilt and compensation could be equated with money and material things.

If they could be equated, exactly how much money would it take?

Zhou Cheng couldn’t answer immediately, so Xia Xiaolan had to elaborate:

“After Sister Wei gets used to receiving things, if she later thinks this house isn’t good enough, will you buy her another with a bigger courtyard in a better location? If she thinks Stone Ping can’t remain single, will you have to find him a wife too? As for Stone Kai’s two children – their future education, work, marriage, and career establishment – will you take responsibility for all of that? Zhou Cheng, even convicted murderers have a release date – do you plan to carry this burden until the day you’re in your coffin?!”

Help in emergencies, not in poverty.

One can help temporarily, but not forever.

It wasn’t that Xia Xiaolan was cold-blooded – she wanted Zhou Cheng to let go, to follow her idea of helping the Stone family stand on their own.

Zhou Cheng wanted to be like a ‘son’ to the Stone family – Guan Hui’e didn’t object to that.

But Xia Xiaolan disagreed with Zhou Cheng acting like a ‘husband’ to Wei Juanhong.

Giving houses when asked, changing jobs when requested, planning to manage Wei Juanhong’s two children through to the end – was this guilt and compensation?

Zhou Cheng might as well pack his bags and get together with Wei Juanhong directly – then Xia Xiaolan would become the unnecessary one.

Zhou Cheng was rendered speechless by Xia Xiaolan’s questions. After a full thirty seconds of stunned silence, he couldn’t think of any counterarguments.

Because what Xia Xiaolan described could indeed happen.

If they were to look after the Stone family, they couldn’t just stop halfway, could they?

If Stone Kai were still alive, the Stone family would have their pillar of support and wouldn’t be swaying in the wind and rain. Zhou Cheng closed his eyes, still unable to forget the image of Stone Kai being blown away by the explosion.

“Xiaolan, I owe Stone Kai. If I had been more careful, if I had discovered earlier that the smuggler was hiding a grenade, Stone Kai wouldn’t have sacrificed himself… If I don’t look after his family, who will remember this family of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled?”

Xia Xiaolan’s heart grew cold too.

Zhou Cheng hadn’t contradicted her.

Yet seeing Zhou Cheng’s expression, Xia Xiaolan felt heartache.

She hugged Zhou Cheng, “This isn’t your fault, Zhou Cheng. You’re a living person, not an all-seeing deity! I’m not saying we shouldn’t help the Stone family. I said I would help you resolve this matter together. You’re now studying at the academy, and the people who interact most with the Stone family are me and Aunt Guan – why won’t you trust my judgment?”

The bond between comrades – Xiaolan didn’t quite understand it.

What kind of nightmares he had at night, he had never told Xiaolan.

“Xiaolan, I can listen to you about everything else, but this matter – I can’t make any promises to you now. About the boundary issue you mentioned, I will think about it.”

Zhou Cheng’s voice was muffled, but he hadn’t yielded at all.

Giving away a courtyard house – Xia Xiaolan could accept that.

Mother Stone was simple and kind; just as Xia Xiaolan could care for Grandma Yu in her old age, she had absolutely no objection to Zhou Cheng caring for Mother Stone in her final years!

But Wei Juanhong stood between them.

Wei Juanhong was no longer the simple ‘Sister Wei’ from when Xia Xiaolan first met her. Xia Xiaolan believed the situation could still be turned around, but Zhou Cheng insisted on indulging her. Once again, she felt the difference between herself and Zhou Cheng.

Their differences weren’t just in male and female thinking – there was also a 30-year gap in the cultural mindset.

Looking at Zhou Cheng still made her blush and her heart race.

If love was dopamine at work, her dopamine hadn’t disappeared when facing Zhou Cheng.

But could life rely solely on dopamine?

She let go of Zhou Cheng and looked into his eyes, speaking very seriously:

“I hope you can think of a solution quickly. Our different perspectives might affect our relationship.”

Zhou Cheng was incredulous:

“You want to break up with me just because of this?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “Not breaking up – I still like you. I respect your thoughts, but I also think my thoughts are important. I hope we can find a balance!”

Either Zhou Cheng would try to compromise and work with Xia Xiaolan to help the Stone family in the right way.

Or Xia Xiaolan would completely step aside and let Zhou Cheng handle it his way.

With the second option, Xia Xiaolan felt like she was practically giving her man away. The thought of Wei Juanhong being able to call Zhou Cheng away at any time made Xia Xiaolan’s temples throb.

It wasn’t just her liver that hurt.

If Zhou Cheng couldn’t distinguish boundaries and draw lines, Xia Xiaolan would be angry and disappointed!

This was the first time she had felt such negative emotions toward Zhou Cheng.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t control it at all!

She didn’t plan to control it either. She had wanted to raise this issue during her last visit to Zhou Cheng, but Jiang Yan had interfered.

Thinking of Jiang Yan made Xia Xiaolan very unhappy.

Someone was coveting her man, and while she and Zhou Cheng were separated by distance, Jiang Yan could see Zhou Cheng every day. Xia Xiaolan found it very difficult to be happy:

“…if we can’t find this balance, we might only be suitable for dating, not for living together.”