Chapter 93: The Children Are Still Up Ahead

On the dim road, only Lin You’s profile was visible, and his expression could not be made out.

Yet Xia Yan could sense his mood at that moment.

When she arrived at the home of Peng Zhengguo that evening, she too had been uneasy. After all, she had heard from Zhou Shimao that Peng Zhengguo was not nearly as easy to persuade as he was.

Perhaps it was her sincerity that finally softened the old man’s heart.

Xia Yan teased him, asking, “What is it? Do you want our marriage to go through as many trials as the monk’s pilgrimage for scriptures?”

At her words, Lin You stopped, turned to look at her, and reached out to take her boneless, delicate hand. “I never thought that. I...”

He was so tense that for a moment he could not find the right words to explain what he felt.

“Now you understand what it means to regret not having studied enough, don’t you? I think one thing Commander Peng said was especially right: you really should go to military academy and improve yourself. You can’t spend your whole life on the mountain as a battalion commander.”

Since his wife had spoken, Lin You did not hesitate. “When I finish training this batch of recruits, once they’re ready, I promise I’ll obey the organization’s安排 and go to military academy.”

Xia Yan suddenly remembered what Wang Guilan had told her about Lin You’s position and shot him an irritated look. “If you hadn’t said that, I would have forgotten. Why are you teaching so many by yourself? Is there really no one else on the mountain who can handle it besides you?”

Looking at the slight puff of her cheeks, Lin You felt a headache coming on. “That wasn’t my arrangement. If you want to ask, go find Regiment Commander Sun. These are all his orders. Besides, Old Jiang and Old Lu are also responsible for the recruits.”

Xia Yan did not see it that way. “If you didn’t agree, could Regiment Commander Sun really force you? In the end, isn’t it still because of you?”

Seeing the thoughtful look on Lin You’s face, Xia Yan felt that saying it like that was not quite right. She patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, “Still, it’s only because you’re too capable. Otherwise these things wouldn’t fall on your head.”

Before Lin You could speak, Lin Hongzhuo ran over. “Mom, there’s candied hawthorn up ahead. I want some.”

Xia Yan looked at this big son of hers and laughed, ruffling his hair. “Ask your dad. If your dad agrees, I’ll buy it for you.”

Lin You looked at him, still nursing the embarrassment he had just suffered at Xia Yan’s hands and already headachy. He shot Lin Hongzhuo a glare. “You ate so many dumplings at night and you still want more? No buying.”

“Mom~”

Lin Hongzhuo looked at Xia Yan pleadingly.

“Buy it tomorrow. Eating sweets at night gives you cavities.”

“You said it.”

“Don’t worry. Tomorrow, before we head back, Mom will definitely buy you a big one.”

Only then did Lin Hongzhuo happily trot after his older brother and younger sister ahead.

“How can you spoil him so much?” Lin You looked at the little boy’s retreating back and pinched Xia Yan’s hand. It was still cold at night, yet Xia Yan’s hand was warm and very pleasant to hold.

“He’s my own child. If I’m not going to spoil him, who will?”

Xia Yan felt the man’s small gesture on her hand and blushed, though the dim light hid it.

Lin You looked at her deeply. “Xia Yan, thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me for no reason? Do you remember what you said the first time we met?”

As she spoke, Xia Yan imitated Lin You’s cold expression. “I don’t plan to have children in the future. The three of them are my biological children.”

“And now that I’ve chosen to be with you, they are my biological children too. So my kindness to them is not because I want to hear you say thank you; it’s because I truly want to be good to them from the bottom of my heart.”

Lin You, with little experience in love, racked his brain for sweet words, but still could not think of any. In the end, he could only grasp her shoulders with both hands and pull her into his arms.

Xia Yan was petite, and in Lin You’s embrace she was almost entirely hidden.

Seeing that the two of them still had not caught up, Lin Hongzhuo, who was walking ahead, turned back in curiosity. “Big brother, look...”

Hearing his brother’s shout, Lin Hongzhe looked over at the two not far behind them and immediately covered Lin Nuannuan’s eyes. “Nuannuan, we’re not looking.”

“And you’re not allowed to look either.”

Lin Hongzhuo shook his head. “Big brother, you’re looking too?”

“I’m the elder brother! I’m older than you.” With that, Lin Hongzhe took his younger brother by one hand and his younger sister by the other, and led them toward the guesthouse ahead.

Lin Hongzhuo smiled, turning back every few steps, and kept giving Lin You a thumbs-up.

Startled by Lin You’s sudden embrace, Xia Yan froze in place. It was a long while before she came to herself. Seeing Lin Hongzhuo giving them a thumbs-up from afar, she struggled out of Lin You’s arms. “W-what are you doing? The children are still ahead.”

“What’s wrong with a husband and wife hugging?”

Xia Yan flushed and huffed. “We’re not married yet. If you want to hug, wait until after we’re married...”

Very quickly she felt that what she had said was not quite right. “No, even after we’re married, you can’t just hug whenever you want. You need my permission first. Someone said he wasn’t planning to have children in the future—what if something comes of a hug?!”

Hearing this, Lin You’s face also showed a trace of awkwardness. He had only been thinking of the three children when he decided not to have any more, but now that he heard Xia Yan say this, a deep regret suddenly welled up inside him.

He regretted it so much he almost wanted to slap himself.

...

Early the next morning, Xia Yan got up and went out to buy some food. The guesthouse at that time was unlike the hotels from her era; breakfast was not provided.

When she returned, Lin You was already waiting for her in the room.

Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Xia Yan asked with concern, “What is it? Did you not sleep well last night? Or is something bothering you?”

How could he possibly have slept well? All night long his mind had been filled with the image of holding Xia Yan, along with those words that made him regretful. He had spent the whole night staring at the hospital ceiling with his eyes open.

“I’m fine. There were mice causing trouble in the hospital last night. The nurses were outside beating them away, and the noise kept me from sleeping.”

“I see. I bought breakfast, let’s eat together. By the way, Lin Ling is coming next week, right?”

Xia Yan handed Lin You a steaming bun, while she herself held Nuannuan and combed the little girl’s hair. Before long, a little bun-shaped topknot appeared on the child’s head, making her look utterly adorable.

Lin You took the bun from her and bit off a large mouthful. “If I’m calculating right, it should be next week. I’ll call home today to ask.”

Xia Yan remembered what Zhou Shimao had told her yesterday. “Then call my home too and ask my parents to help me transfer my household registration back. If the old couple don’t want to see An Xin, then let my eldest brother handle it.”

“Alright.”

After finishing her instructions, Xia Yan affectionately kissed Nuannuan’s cheek and praised her, “My Nuannuan is getting prettier and prettier. She’s definitely going to be a great beauty someday.”

...

At the An family home at that moment, An Xin sat before the vanity table, looking at her dark, dull skin in the mirror, her expression gloomy.