During dinner, in order to keep Zhou Yu from feeling uncomfortable, Ji Jing’s mother, Chu Xueyao, would occasionally bring up a topic and chat with her for a few moments.
Although Zhou Yu was puzzled by Madam Chu’s enthusiasm, she still responded politely.
After all, strictly speaking, the original host had indeed been Chu Xueyao’s daughter-in-law. If she acted too coldly, Zhou Yu felt there was a good chance she would break character.
Chu Xueyao truly was happy to see Zhou Yu and Lu Cheng today.
She felt an inexplicable fondness for both Lu Cheng and Zhou Yu, so she found herself talking more than usual.
Previously, when Chu Xueyao had learned that the son she had lost many years ago was already dead, she had been devastated with grief.
But now, after meeting Lu Cheng and Zhou Yu, she felt it was finally time to let go.
After all, for the sake of such a wonderful grandson and daughter-in-law, she should pull herself together.
Besides Chu Xueyao chatting with Zhou Yu from time to time, Ji Haoyuan and Ji Jing were also quite warm and attentive. They would occasionally ask Zhou Yu questions such as whether the dishes suited her taste or whether she wanted them to order anything else.
About an hour later, seeing that everyone had more or less finished dinner, Ji Haoyuan finally spoke.
“Doctor Zhou, it’s like this. The main reason we came to the village this time was to bring Lu Cheng back to the capital and raise him there. I’d like to know your thoughts on the matter. Also, would you be willing to move to the capital with Lu Cheng and live there?”
The moment Ji Haoyuan finished speaking, Lu Cheng, Ji Jing, and Chu Xueyao all immediately focused their attention on Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu glanced at Lu Cheng.
After only a brief moment of consideration, she replied, “If Lu Cheng is willing to go back with you, then I have no objections.”
“As for me, I don’t plan on moving for the time being. It’s quite nice here. It’s peaceful and suitable for preparing for the National college entrance exam.”
She paused before continuing.
Although Zhou Yu desperately wanted to go to the capital immediately and confirm whether the parents she had before transmigrating into the novel existed in this world, she knew that now was not the right time.
If she failed to get into a medical university, finding her former parents among the vast sea of people would become vastly more difficult.
If she followed Ji Jing and Lu Cheng to the capital now, she felt she would encounter many unnecessary complications and waste a great deal of time.
Rather than that, it would be better to wait a few months and earn her place in the capital through her own abilities by passing the examination.
The moment Lu Cheng heard Zhou Yu’s answer, his face immediately fell.
He liked his grandfather and grandmother very much, but he also liked his current stepmother very much. For a moment, he found it impossible to choose between them.
Seeing the look on little Lu Cheng’s face, Chu Xueyao instantly understood what he was thinking.
She did not want the child to be put in such a difficult position, so she proposed a compromise.
“How about this? Haoyuan, you return to the capital first and take care of the company’s affairs. My son and I can stay here with our grandson and daughter-in-law for a few months. Once Zhou Yu finishes the National college entrance exam, the four of us can return to the capital together.”
Hearing Chu Xueyao’s suggestion, Ji Haoyuan, Ji Jing, and Lu Cheng all nodded in agreement. They felt it was an excellent solution.
Although Zhou Yu found it somewhat troublesome, she did not voice any objections for Lu Cheng’s sake. She merely said lightly, “I’m fine with it. Let’s see what Lu Cheng wants.”
“Grandpa, Grandma, I want to stay here and wait until Mom finishes her exams before we go to the capital together.”
It was Lu Cheng’s first time calling Zhou Yu “Mom” in front of so many people, and he looked a little embarrassed.
Zhou Yu had not expected him to change the way he addressed her so quickly.
After all, in the novel, Lu Cheng had deeply hated his stepmother.
However, since Lu Cheng was willing to call her “Mom,” Zhou Yu felt that it was a kind of fate. She should continue taking responsibility for him and raise him properly.
The problem was that Ji Jing was not Lu Bin, and she was not the original host. Remaining by Lu Cheng’s side as his stepmother felt extremely awkward.
Still, Zhou Yu was not someone who cared much about other people’s opinions. Once Lu Cheng was a little older, she could simply tell him the truth.
Though it seemed as if Zhou Yu had considered many things, all those thoughts had passed through her mind in an instant.
Looking at Lu Cheng, she nodded seriously in response to his “Mom,” acknowledging it and confirming the mother-son relationship between them.
“That works too. Lu Cheng can finish this semester here in town and transfer to a school in the capital next semester. By then, I’ll be attending university in the capital as well,” Zhou Yu said with a smile.
Everyone was very satisfied with the outcome.
After chatting casually for a while longer, Zhou Yu prepared to head home with Lu Cheng.
When Ji Jing saw them leaving, he rose to follow.
Aside from wanting to walk them back, he also hoped to find an opportunity to explain the issue of his identity to Zhou Yu.
The three of them returned together to the small courtyard Zhou Yu had rented.
When they arrived at the entrance, Zhou Yu had just been about to tell Ji Jing to return to his hotel when she noticed the hesitant expression on his face.
“Cheng’er, go review this morning’s lessons in your room for a while. I need to speak with your father about something,” Zhou Yu said to Lu Cheng.
She knew Ji Jing was probably finding it difficult to speak openly with Lu Cheng present.
Lu Cheng obediently nodded and headed inside.
Once Lu Cheng had gone into the house, Zhou Yu led Ji Jing a little farther away before speaking.
“Go ahead. What is it you wanted to say?”
“Mm. Actually, I’m not Lu Bin. I’m Lu Bin’s twin brother. Not long after our mother gave birth to us, my younger brother was lost… We only discovered his whereabouts recently, but by then he had already passed away…”
Ji Jing carefully explained the entire sequence of events from beginning to end.
Zhou Yu had not expected Ji Jing to take the initiative and reveal his identity so quickly.
Moreover, the story he had just told was largely consistent with what had been described in the original novel.
At the very least, he had not been lying.
“I understand. So?” Zhou Yu already knew that Ji Jing must have had a purpose for saying all that. She raised an eyebrow and patiently waited for what he intended to say next.
Seeing that Zhou Yu showed little surprise after hearing his explanation, Ji Jing instantly felt that she had probably known for a long time that he was not Lu Bin. At the same time, he was grateful that he had chosen to tell her the truth today rather than continue hiding it. Otherwise, the longer he concealed it, the more resentful she would likely become.
“I think Cheng’er is still too young. Learning the truth now would be too cruel for him. He’d have a hard time accepting it, so I’d like to ask you to help me keep it secret. When he’s grown up, or at least a little older, we’ll tell him the truth then.”
“That’s fine.” Zhou Yu thought for a moment before continuing, “But I have three conditions.”
“First, we’re only pretending to be husband and wife. During this time, I don’t want there to be any intimate behavior or any physical contact between us.”
“Second, no later than the day Cheng’er turns eighteen and becomes an adult, I will tell him the truth. He has the right to know.”
“The third condition, and the most important one, is that after we arrive in the capital, neither you nor your parents may interfere with or attempt to control any decisions I make or anything I choose to do. You won’t have the right to meddle.”
Ji Jing felt that Zhou Yu’s conditions were perfectly reasonable.
Without much hesitation, he nodded.
“Alright. I agree to all three conditions.”
“Thank you for being willing to stay by Cheng’er’s side for a while longer. If you ever need help with anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Whether it’s because you saved my father’s life or because you’ve raised Cheng’er, I’ll do everything in my power to help you…”
“Mm. You should head back now. Cheng’er still has school tomorrow. When he’s off for the weekend, you can take him over to your place for a couple of days,” Zhou Yu said calmly before turning and walking back into the courtyard.
As for the help Ji Jing had mentioned, Zhou Yu did not take it to heart.
She had saved Ji Jing’s father and raised Lu Cheng because she had chosen to do so. She had never needed anyone’s gratitude.
Moreover, despite the considerable influence Ji Jing’s family possessed in the capital, Zhou Yu did not believe there was anything she would need their assistance with.
After returning to his room earlier, Lu Cheng had been lying by the window the entire time, listening for sounds from outside.
Yet after eavesdropping for quite a while, he had not managed to hear a single word.
Frowning, he wondered what secret conversation Dad and Mom had been having outside.
When he saw Zhou Yu return alone, he glanced behind her in confusion before asking, “Why didn’t Dad come back inside with you?”
“We don’t have much room in this house. Even if your dad came back, there wouldn’t be anywhere for him to sleep.”
Hearing Lu Cheng’s question, Zhou Yu immediately felt a headache coming on. Sure enough, one lie required countless more lies to cover it up.
Assuming that Lu Cheng simply missed his father, she comforted him, “Isn’t it the weekend in a few days? You can go spend a couple of days with your dad then.”
“Mom, isn’t your bed a double bed? Dad could sleep with you.”
Lu Cheng was still confused. A few days earlier, he had accidentally overheard people saying that other classmates’ parents all slept in the same bed.
The moment Zhou Yu heard that, her headache intensified.
She lightly tapped his little head and changed the subject.
“If I say there’s no room, then there’s no room. Hurry up and wash up and change into your pajamas. Look how late it’s getting outside. Do you not have school tomorrow morning?”
Seeing her reaction, Lu Cheng stopped asking questions.
He could always ask his dad later.
‘Could it be that Dad had changed his feelings after being away for so many years?’
He had heard people say before that when a husband and wife slept separately, it was usually a sign that divorce wasn’t far off.
Although this stepmother had treated him badly in the past, he had only just managed to accept her. Were they really going to replace her with a new stepmother already?
Looking at Zhou Yu’s completely makeup-free face and plainly dressed appearance, Lu Cheng suddenly felt a sense of frustration and disappointment.
‘She really doesn’t know how to help herself.’
Naturally, Zhou Yu had no idea what was going through the little boy’s mind.
She simply fetched the new pajamas she had washed the day before and handed them to him.
Over the past several days, besides studying, Zhou Yu had occasionally set aside some time to make clothes, shoes, socks, and other necessities for both herself and Lu Cheng.
The original host’s clothing had been far too worn out.
Although Zhou Yu was not someone who cared much about clothes, she truly could not tolerate garments that were tattered, covered in patches, and made from mismatched scraps of colorful fabric.
Moreover, ever since receiving the two thousand yuan consultation fee from Ji Jing, her financial situation had improved considerably.
She still did not spend recklessly, but she was no longer living under such severe financial pressure, nor did she feel the need to deprive herself.
As a result, Lu Cheng now had two new outfits, two pairs of shoes, and two sets of pajamas.
Zhou Yu herself also had two new sets of clothing and pajamas.
However, although the clothes Zhou Yu made were exquisitely crafted, Lu Cheng felt they were far too plain.
There wasn’t a single decorative pattern on them.
In his eyes, they looked like clothes elderly people would wear. They weren’t attractive at all.
He was a boy, so wearing plain-colored clothes was one thing. But Zhou Yu wore them every day as well.
‘No wonder Dad came back and decided to sleep separately from her. Dad and Mom really don’t let people stop worrying about them.’
Frowning as he pondered these serious matters, Lu Cheng finished washing up and changed into his clean pajamas.
Only then did he let out a soft sigh and climb into his little bed.
Yet even as he prepared to sleep, he was already thinking about the next time he saw his father.
When that time came, he would definitely have a proper talk with him.
His father absolutely could not become the kind of person who abandoned the old for the new.