Every year, on the birthdays of their children, the families would gather.
So today, Situ Jun and Su Yinwan brought their youngest son, Situ Yu, with them.
Situ Yu was four years old this year, a year older than Ling Lejing, so these two children of similar ages got along well.
Upon seeing him, Ling Lejing excitedly shouted, "Brother Yu, you're here!"
He then jumped off the sofa and ran towards Situ Yu.
Situ Yu grinned, already resembling Situ Jun by seven-tenths, and his demeanor perfectly copied his father's.
"Little brother Lejing."
Ling Lejing boasted, "My daddy and I are going to participate in Super Dad!"
As soon as he said this, Situ Yu's gaze towards him became full of pity.
The past two months had not been easy; his father wasn't a super dad, but more like a killer.
The food he cooked was awful, and it was a miracle they weren't poisoned. He couldn't dress or wash clothes properly, leaving them wrinkled and messy, making him very uncomfortable.
When trying to put him to sleep, his father would fall asleep before he did.
In short, it was indescribable.
Situ Jun had said that all fathers were like this, so Situ Yu truly believed that all fathers in the world were the same.
Ling Lejing didn't understand his gaze and excitedly pulled him to play.
"It's my birthday today, and I received so many toys. Let's go play together!"
Children are children; when toys were mentioned, he immediately forgot about their previous conversation.
The two little rascals, hand in hand, went to a corner to start unboxing their toys.
Meanwhile, Situ Jun and Su Yinwan sat in the living room and started chatting with the others.
Over the years, their interactions had become more harmonious, and distant memories seemed to fade further away.
Time truly heals and softens everything.
After a while.
Jiang Zexi and Xia Wanfu arrived with their only son, Jiang Jinyou.
Jiang Jinyou was eleven years old this year, two years younger than Ling Leyou and one year younger than Li Bowen's triplets.
He was the child Xia Wanfu had managed to conceive after purposefully breaking the condom, and he was their only child.
When she told Jiang Zexi she was pregnant, he didn't doubt the child was his; he only blamed himself for not protecting Xia Wanfu.
Having an abortion would cause more pain than giving birth, and seeing Xia Wanfu's hopeful eyes, Jiang Zexi finally agreed to let her keep the child.
However, to ensure they wouldn't have any more children, Jiang Zexi secretly underwent a vasectomy, and by the time Xia Wanfu and the Jiang family found out, it was too late to stop him.
Fortunately, Xia Wanfu lived up to everyone's expectations and gave the Jiang family a son.
Throughout her pregnancy, Jiang Zexi was constantly anxious. A man who never believed in gods or ghosts.
He prostrated himself at every temple he could find, bringing back countless amulets for peace, all to ensure Xia Wanfu had a safe delivery.
Now, their family was happy and prosperous, with harmony bringing all good fortune.
"You're here, come sit. Dinner will be served soon."
Gong Zhijing smiled and greeted them. When she looked at Jiang Jinyou, she couldn't help but praise, "Jinyou has grown taller, becoming a big young man."
Jiang Jinyou shyly called out, "Auntie, hello."
He inherited the best traits of his parents, possessing a handsome appearance. Wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses added a touch of scholarly elegance. He was taller than his peers and exceptionally intelligent.
At eleven years old, he had already placed in the top three of the global high school math Olympiad and was expected to graduate from a vocational college by twelve.
He was the "child of someone else's family" in his parents' eyes, a true academic prodigy. Despite his outstanding grades, he was a bit shy and introverted.
Just then, Ling Leyou and Li Jin'an returned.
Upon seeing Jiang Jinyou, Li Jin'an called out to him, "Brother Jinyou, you're here too! I heard you came second in the math competition last month. That's amazing, congratulations."
Jiang Jinyou blushed and whispered, "Thank you, little sister Jin'an."
They always addressed each other this way; from childhood, it was always brother to brother and sister to sister.
Ling Leyou had little interest in him, considering him a bookworm who couldn't get a word out.
But Li Jin'an greatly admired him because she was a poor student with truly terrible grades.
Wen Xuanyuan glared at her daughter with disdain, "Jinyou got another award. What place did you get in your final exams? I have to wear a mask when I go to parent-teacher conferences; otherwise, I'd be too embarrassed to show my face because of you."
Li Jin'an's face turned completely red, and she softly apologized to Wen Xuanyuan.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I came in last place again."
Wen Xuanyuan covered her face, speechless with anger.
Her fiery temper had produced a daughter as gentle as a lamb; sometimes, she found it hard to punish her.
Such a good child, you couldn't bring yourself to do it.
If she argued back a little, you could justify scolding or spanking her. But this girl never spoke loudly, let alone argued.
Li Bowen, doting on his daughter, immediately spoke up for her, "Everyone has their strengths. Jin'an isn't good at academics, but she has a great musical talent. Didn't she win first prize in singing?
Perhaps she could become a singer like Leyou in the future! That would be nice!"
Wen Xuanyuan immediately glared at Li Bowen and scolded, "Don't defend her. Don't think I don't know you helped her hide her grades. It was the teacher who called me that I found out..."
Li Bowen didn't retort, simply enduring her scolding with a fawning smile on his face.
Gong Zhijing couldn't watch any longer and advised, "Xuanyuan, you need to temper your temper. All I hear is you scolding Bowen every day."
Wen Xuanyuan pouted and finally calmed down.
Li Bowen seemed to enjoy it, laughing, "It's okay. I have to listen to her scold me for the rest of my life!"
"Get lost, you're making me sound like a shrew..." Wen Xuanyuan's face flushed.
The guests were caught off guard by this display of affection.
Every couple has their own way of interacting, but as long as they are happy, that's all that matters.
Wen Xuanyuan had a volatile temper, but Li Bowen was willing to be scolded by her; one willing to strike, the other willing to be struck – wasn't this also a form of happiness?
Although Jiang Zexi had been a philanderer, after meeting Xia Wanfu, his eyes were only for her. Once this kind of man fell in love, it was an unstoppable deluge.
As for Gong Zhijing and Ling Yucheng.
One was as gentle as water, the other a doting husband. Though they didn't flaunt it in front of others, they mutually redeemed each other and loved each other without doubt.
Finally.
"I'm here, sorry I'm late."
Qiao Xinyue arrived, looking travel-worn, followed by the ever-radiant Wen Yan, and their three children.
As the wife of a Heavenly King, she was the object of envy for countless women. In the past ten years, she had given Wen Yan three sons.
Their deep desire was for a daughter, but fate was not always kind.
After Gong Zhijing and Wen Xuanyuan had both married and had children, Wen Yan decided to marry Qiao Xinyue without regard for the developing plot.
His straightforward nature meant he announced their marriage directly.
With the explosive news of their relationship announcement preceding it, the marriage announcement received much blessing.