Volume One, Chapter Five: Determined Not to Repeat the Same Mistakes

Bai Xuanyuan often heard Shen Wen say: Fu Heng brought her candies and chocolates. Yet she had never seen them herself.

In her previous life, she was too shy to mention it and would just sulk foolishly. But now, she understood.

The child who cries gets the milk; if you don’t speak up, how would he know?

Shen Wen’s voice was weak: “Captain Fu, the doctor said my illness has worsened again. I’ve been dizzy lately. The doctor told me to prepare more sweets.”

Fu Heng’s hand, holding the chocolate, froze mid-air, unable to decide.

He had promised Zhang Jianping to take care of Shen Wen, and now that she was sick, she naturally took priority.

Seeing Bai Xuanyuan approach, he still handed the chocolate to Shen Wen. “Xuanyuan, the tickets weren’t enough, so I only bought this box. I’ll bring you some next time, okay?”

Shen Wen smiled coquettishly, “Sister Xuanyuan, don’t blame Captain Fu, blame me instead.”

Bai Xuanyuan blinked, tears suddenly welling in her eyes, large and shimmering. She looked at him pitifully.

She sniffled, “I didn’t want to eat it. It’s just that I’ve never seen chocolate before. Can I take a look?”

Shen Wen pouted and reluctantly handed over the chocolate.

Bai Xuanyuan opened the box and barely looked before sneezing, smudging the box with her nasal mucus.

Under Shen Wen’s shocked gaze, she wiped her nose and tears, then carefully felt each piece of candy, even squeezing them.

Closing the box, she then opened the man’s bag and touched every candy inside.

She lifted her glistening eyes to Fu Heng. “I’ve looked them over. The chocolates and candies you bought are a bit soft.”

Turning away, she resumed biting into an apple, flicking Fu Yuan’s hair. “Don’t waste food, or the hungry ghosts will come after us.”

Shen Wen’s face paled with anger, caught in a dilemma—neither taking nor refusing the chocolates seemed right.

Her face flushed a dark, liver-like shade.

Fu Heng couldn’t help but chuckle, realizing for the first time that his wife had a bit of charm.

He turned his head and handed the chocolate back to Shen Wen.

She stared at it for a long while before extending a finger to pinch a corner.

Even so, it felt sticky in her hand.

She instantly lost interest.

“I still have some at home. Since Sister Xuanyuan seems to want some, I’ll give it to her.”

With that, she tossed the chocolate aside and turned toward home.

Fu Yuan, thinking he had only just begun playing his game, rushed over to hug her.

Shen Wen pushed him away disdainfully.

Just now, Bai Xuanyuan had grabbed his hair with snot-covered hands—disgusting! She didn’t want such a dirty head touching her!

Fu Yuan stumbled and nearly fell, but luckily the man reacted quickly and caught him.

Startled, Fu Yuan burst into tears.

Bai Xuanyuan’s face flushed red and white in turns. She really hated that fire—how had it not burned this child to death? All day long, he only caused her trouble!

She sauntered over slowly, peeled a chocolate, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Fu Yuan, who had never tasted chocolate before, stopped crying instantly upon tasting the sweetness.

His black-and-white eyes sparkled brightly, curving into crescent moons.

Bai Xuanyuan pinched his cheek and walked away with the chocolate.

Shen Wen suppressed her anger and whispered an apology: “Sorry, Captain Fu. Yuan suddenly ran over just now and startled me.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay you caught him. If he had fallen, I’d never forgive myself in my dreams.”

Fu Heng was no fool; he saw clearly that Shen Wen disliked Fu Yuan.

Not her biological child, no matter how much she cared for him, he would never reach her heart.

His voice was calm: “It’s alright, luckily he didn’t fall.”

Watching the man and child disappear, Shen Wen pressed her lips into a straight line.

Since Bai Xuanyuan wanted to oppose her, she would no longer show mercy.

After Fu Yuan showered, Bai Xuanyuan and he had already finished an entire box of chocolates.

Checking the time, he couldn’t help but ask, “Shouldn’t dinner be ready soon?”

Bai Xuanyuan lowered her head, hesitant to speak.

In her previous life, she was like a housekeeper, always washing and cooking, yet she never earned any goodwill from the man.

She didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes.

Fu Yuan asked, “What’s wrong?”

Bai Xuanyuan’s eyes were red. “My wrist hurts so much. It’s probably the postpartum illness I developed before. It aches whenever it touches water.”

“Honey, I won’t be able to cook anymore.”

“Will you dislike me? Will you abandon me?”

Fu Yuan smiled faintly.

She had mentioned wrist pain before, yet tirelessly did all the housework.

Now suddenly bringing it up, it was clearly out of spite, blaming him for not taking her back to the capital.

He was indeed at fault this time.

He deserved to be punished.

Taking meat and vegetable coupons, he left and returned wearing an apron, heading straight into the kitchen.

Before marriage, he had always cooked for himself.

At first, he was awkward with the knife, but soon his movements quickened.

Bai Xuanyuan looked at the fragrant pork belly and stir-fried dishes on the table, feeling more foolish about her past self.

She picked up some meat, her mouth sweet as if smeared with honey. “Honey, the seasoning on this meat is perfect.”

“Were you a chef before? How can your cooking be so delicious?”

“How are you so amazing? Handsome and such a good cook.”

“After eating your cooking, the cafeteria food tastes like pig slop.”

...

“Honey, I don’t want to eat at the cafeteria anymore. Will you cook for me from now on?”

Fu Heng twitched his lips. How could he not understand Bai Xuanyuan’s intentions? All that praise was just to get him to cook.

He nodded resignedly.

Besides, before marriage, he had always cooked for himself.

Now, it was just more mouths to feed.

After eating, Bai Xuanyuan prepared to shower.

Fu Heng felt a bit uneasy.

In such a big household, he couldn’t possibly do all the chores himself.

Their eyes met, and Bai Xuanyuan smiled, shaking the pajamas she had made a few days ago.

It was the style popular forty years later: a white, backless camisole nightdress, very short, only reaching the top of her thighs.

It had some pleated design in front, accentuating her figure.

The man glanced once, then turned his head aside, good-naturedly coaxing Fu Yuan to eat, his voice warm and amused.

After her shower, the woman climbed into bed to apply her snowflake cream.

She had been reluctant to buy it in her past life but now had purchased it all.

After all, the man was going to take the child away; if she didn’t use the cream, it would be wasted.

Who knew if it would be left for her in the end?

As for the child’s eating, drinking, and diaper changes, she no longer cared.

When they reached the capital, the man would have to learn in advance—that was good.

Fu Heng soothed the child to sleep while she busied herself reviewing his high school textbooks, brushing up on exam points.

But she hadn’t studied long before the man entered.

His shirtless form was striking.

Muscles rippling, exuding raw masculinity.

Though she was only in her twenties, her soul was that of someone in their sixties or seventies.

She thought of the elderly choir sisters who kept a young man twenty years her junior.

He was truly unsightly.

Yet, she gave him a monthly allowance of ten thousand yuan.

She warmly wrapped her arms around the man’s neck.

Such a handsome young man—every night with him was a treasure.

Not a loss, not at all.