After buying it, Zhou Zuizui just lazily sat on the balcony.
For some reason, she suddenly didn’t want to go back to the living room anymore — didn’t want to stay with that man who made her feel a little breathless.
Zhou Zuizui reached up and rubbed her forehead, wondering — if Qiuqiu’s call hadn’t interrupted just now… what was Shen Nan going to say?
Was he going to say yes, there are feelings… or no?
Zhou Zuizui didn’t know, and she couldn’t figure it out. Honestly, even after knowing Shen Nan for so long, she still didn’t fully understand this man’s personality. Sometimes when he put on a serious face, you really couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all. Zhou Zuizui was very good at reading other people — she could usually tell what someone was really thinking with just one look. But Shen Nan—
She couldn’t read him, and she couldn’t see through him.
This man was too hard to figure out. But the harder he was to understand, the more it seemed to spark something in her — some kind of desire and wild thoughts.
After lunch, in the afternoon, the two of them left at 4:30 to go to Shen Nan’s parents’ place.
Shen Nan’s family lived inside the military compound. Ordinary people couldn’t get in.
When Shen Nan drove up to the gate, the guard on duty was surprised for a second. When he saw Shen Nan, his eyes lit up. He quickly shouted: “Brother Nan is back!”
Everyone in this compound knew Shen Nan. This man was kind of a small legend here. The son of Commander Shen, but from the very beginning until now, Shen Nan never relied on his family. Not when he first joined the army, not later, and especially when — to toughen himself up — he deliberately chose to go to the most remote and barren places for training, staying there for years.
It was from that time that Shen Nan’s name spread throughout the entire compound.
People only felt respect and admiration for him. Quite a few people in the compound even looked up to Shen Nan as their goal to work toward. His reputation and authority in this place were extremely high.
Shen Nan gave the guard a light smile: “Mm.”
Coming back to this familiar place, Shen Nan was in a pretty good mood.
The guard looked at the person next to him and asked: “This is…?”
Shen Nan hooked his lips into a smile, nodded and said: “My wife.”
Hearing that, the guard looked at Zhou Zuizui in disbelief, his face instantly turning red: “Hello, sister-in-law!”
Zhou Zuizui: “……”
She gave a helpless laugh and nodded: “Hi.”
After they smoothly got in, Zhou Zuizui finally started to feel the pressure and sense of oppression. Her own family had money, but no real power or connections. That was exactly why her father had desperately pushed her into endless blind dates back then — to secure and strengthen the family business. They had money, but compared to a family like Shen Nan’s, there was no comparison at all.
She had come to this compound twice before: once after marrying Shen Nan, and once before the wedding to meet his parents.
This was the third time.
Zhou Zuizui looked around quietly, and the nervousness started creeping up.
Shen Nan parked the car, turned his head to look at her, and asked in a low voice: “Nervous?”
“A little bit.”
Shen Nan gave a low chuckle, opened the car door and got out: “Nothing to be nervous about. I’m here.”
Zhou Zuizui’s eyes flickered slightly. The touch in her heart felt even stronger. Her eyes flashed again, she opened her mouth and answered softly: “I know.”
They got out of the car. Shen Nan picked up the fruit bags, held her hand, and walked inside together.
Zhou Zuizui’s hand was ice-cold. When Shen Nan held it, he looked at her with dark eyes but didn’t say anything. This story is hosted at g.com.
When they reached the door, Aunt Chen (the family helper) saw them and called out in surprise: “Madam! Ah Nan brought his wife back!”
“…………”
A rush of footsteps came. When Zhou Zuizui looked up, she saw Shen’s mom coming down the stairs. Her eyes were smiling as she looked at the two of them. When she noticed their held hands, the smile in her eyes grew even deeper.
“You’re back.”
“Mm.”
Shen’s mom completely ignored Shen Nan and looked straight at Zhou Zuizui: “Zuizui, come sit over here. How does it feel to be back?”
Zhou Zuizui was stunned for a second. She didn’t expect Shen’s mom to be this warm toward her. She felt a bit uncomfortable at first, but still answered seriously: “It’s pretty good. Just… way too many people and cars, and the weather isn’t great.”
Hearing that, Shen’s mom burst out laughing: “Of course. The scenery and weather in the old town are really nice, right?”
“Mm.”
Shen’s mom’s eyes lit up with a bit of longing: “I hope I get a chance to go see it someday.”
Zhou Zuizui paused, then quickly said: “Mom, if you want to go, you can come anytime. It’s really nice over there.”
“Okay.” Shen’s mom looked at her with smiling eyes: “Then next time Mom finds some free time, I’ll go with your dad to take a look — and check out your little tavern too.”
Speaking of that, Zhou Zuizui looked around and asked: “Where’s Grandpa and Dad? I brought some wine for them.”
She had prepared it before coming back — thinking if they didn’t come to Shen Nan’s family home, she’d just drink it herself. But if they did come, she’d give it to Shen’s dad and Grandpa Shen.
The wine was homemade by Zhou Zuizui herself. It tasted really good — rich, smooth, refreshing, and clean. Drinking it didn’t leave you feeling bad at all.
Shen’s mom smiled: “Really? Grandpa is upstairs. You two go find him. Your dad will be back a bit later.” Then she added: “Go on, go on. I’ll go to the kitchen and help Aunt Chen.”
Zhou Zuizui thought for a second: “I’ll go help Aunt Chen too. Shen Nan can go upstairs.”
Shen Nan, receiving his wife’s “order,” glanced at her and said in a low voice: “Mom and Aunt Chen are enough in the kitchen. Grandpa misses you.”
Zhou Zuizui: “……”
After watching the two of them go upstairs together, Shen’s mom finally got up and went to the kitchen.
Upstairs, when Grandpa Shen saw the two of them appear together, he waved at Zhou Zuizui: “Chuichui, come here.”
Zhou Zuizui smiled. Meanwhile, Shen Nan — who was completely ignored — helplessly tugged at his lips.
She walked over and sat next to Grandpa Shen. Under the sunlight coming in through the window, she asked: “Grandpa, what are you doing?”
“Chuichui, two years no see, you’ve gotten thinner again.” Grandpa Shen reached out and patted her head, asking softly: “Haven’t been eating properly?”
Zhou Zuizui shook her head. Her eyes felt a little sore: “No, I’ve been eating well.”
Grandpa Shen gave a cold hum, then turned his head to look at Shen Nan, who was still standing there: “Stinky boy, what are you standing there for? Go get some snacks for Chuichui!”
Shen Nan: “……”
He looked at the old troublemaker who was clearly trying to send him away, gave a hum, and said: “I’ll go downstairs and bring up some fruit.”
After he left, Zhou Zuizui looked at Grandpa Shen and smiled: “Grandpa, did you deliberately send Shen Nan away?”
Grandpa Shen gave her a sideways glance, reached out and gently scraped her nose: “Little smarty-pants.”
She didn’t even know why, but being with Grandpa Shen made her happier than being with anyone else. Maybe because Grandpa Shen always gave her a special sense of safety — just like her own grandma. Both of them were genuinely kind to her and wanted the best for her. Or maybe… in Grandpa Shen, Zhou Zuizui found the same kind of doting love her own grandpa used to give her.
When Zhou Zuizui was very little, she actually lived with her grandpa and grandma — until she was five.
But she didn’t get to see her grandpa much. Back then her grandpa was still a soldier. He didn’t reach as high a rank as Grandpa Shen, but it wasn’t bad either. He was super busy, but whenever he had even a little free time, he would play with her and spoil her. Whatever she wanted, Grandpa would always make it happen.
So even though she only spent a few short years with him, the memories were still very deep. Even now, she could clearly remember scene after scene from back then.
And because of her grandpa, from a young age Zhou Zuizui had always respected police officers and soldiers. To her, they were the most lovable people in the world. They might look strict and serious, but they had the softest hearts.
That’s why, when her grandma first introduced Shen Nan to her, she didn’t resist it too much.
Thinking about all this, Zhou Zuizui looked at Grandpa Shen in front of her and smiled: “Grandpa, what did you want to say to me?”
Grandpa Shen glanced at her: “After coming back, did you go to the hospital to see your mom and dad?”
“Mm.”
“What did they say?”
Zhou Zuizui pressed her lips together, not sure how to answer.
Grandpa Shen gave a gentle smile and said seriously: “Chuichui, if you don’t want to go, then we won’t go.” He spoke softly: “When your grandma passed away, she told me her biggest worry was your heart knot — that your relationship with your parents would only get worse and worse.”
Zhou Zuizui lowered her eyes, staring at the chess pieces on the board in front of her, staying silent.
It was true. Her relationship with her parents would only get worse — there was no way it could get better.
Unless they changed… or she changed. But that was very, very hard — maybe even harder than climbing to the sky.
All these years, Zhou Zuizui wasn’t blind to her parents’ personalities. They were domineering and unreasonable. As long as something benefited them, they would do it. The only reason they hadn’t come after her and let her live freely in the old town was because they were still wary of Shen Nan and his family.
Grandpa Shen gave a light laugh: “Grandpa won’t lecture you. Just occasionally check in on your parents — that’s enough. The rest of the time, do what you want to do.”
“Mm.”
“But…” Grandpa Shen gave her a meaningful look: “What’s going on between you and Shen Nan?”
Zhou Zuizui choked, looking at the old man in front of her.
“Grandpa!” She acted spoiled.
Grandpa Shen laughed, picked up his teacup and took a sip: “Grandpa knows Shen Nan better than you do. That boy isn’t someone who acts on impulse.”
Zhou Zuizui gave an “Oh,” pouted a little: “Neither am I!”
Hearing that, Grandpa Shen gave her a deep, meaningful look: “Is that so.”
The conversation kind of died there.
Luckily, Shen Nan came back up and saved Zhou Zuizui. She looked at the man who appeared, quickly said: “You two talk. I’ll go downstairs and help.”
After saying that, she ran off like a guilty thief.
Shen Nan watched her go, raised an eyebrow and looked at his sly old grandpa: “Grandpa, what did you say to her?”
Right after he spoke, Grandpa Shen tossed a chess piece toward Shen Nan’s side and grumbled angrily: “Stinky boy! Two years without coming back — did you forget all about your grandpa?!”
Shen Nan: “……”
Down in the kitchen, Zhou Zuizui had just reached the doorway when she heard the voices inside.