Wen Xuanyuan received ample attention at the Li family's home.
Li's mother was warm, and Li's father was kind.
His elder brother was humble, and his sister-in-law was gentle.
Their grandfather was even more benevolent.
Everyone also gave her a gift.
This indicated that they were all very satisfied with her, and the atmosphere at the Li family's home was very similar to her own family's; the family was warm and loving together.
As they were talking, two identical little girls came downstairs.
They had pigtails and wore pink puffy skirts. Their delicate and carved little faces were very cute.
Xu Xiaoran smiled and waved, "An'an, Ningning, come to Mom. We have a beautiful aunt visiting."
Li Yu'an and Li Yu'ning skipped to Xu Xiaoran's side, blinking their big eyes and curiously observing Wen Xuanyuan.
These two children were as exquisite and beautiful as Barbie dolls, and Wen Xuanyuan couldn't help but feel fond of them.
She took out the fruit candies she had bought from her pocket and smiled, "Come to Auntie, Auntie has candy."
Li Yu'an said crisply, "Teacher said we shouldn't accept things from strangers. Those who give candy are bad people."
"But Auntie is not a stranger; she's at our house!"
Li Yu'ning, being more spirited, giggled and stepped forward to take a candy from Wen Xuanyuan's palm.
"Thank you, Auntie. Auntie, you're so pretty."
Wen Xuanyuan's heart melted. Even her usually loud voice softened.
"You're pretty too, a beautiful little princess!"
Li Yu'an swallowed, wanting candy as well, but she still remembered her teacher's words.
Xu Xiaoran stroked her daughter's head and smiled, "Auntie is not a stranger. She's your Uncle's girlfriend, and she'll be part of our family from now on."
Hearing her mother's words, Li Yu'an finally took a candy from Wen Xuanyuan.
She was shyer than her sister, and after a meek "thank you," she ran back to Xu Xiaoran's side.
Li Yu'ning stared at Wen Xuanyuan, her big eyes full of innocence. Her childish words were both amusing and perplexing.
"When will Auntie marry Uncle? After you get married, you can have babies. I want a baby sister."
Wen Xuanyuan hadn't felt shy after being at the Li family's for so long, but she blushed at the little child's remark.
She didn't know how to respond.
Xu Xiaoran glared at her younger daughter, both amused and exasperated, and chided, "You little imp, where did you learn such nonsense?"
Li Yu'ning stared at Xu Xiaoran with her dark, grape-like eyes and said seriously, "Uncle Ling next door brought his girlfriend home, and then they got married. After getting married, you can have babies."
"Hahaha, you little girl is something else!" Old Master Li laughed heartily, unable to close his mouth.
The entire living room was filled with joy.
Only Li Yu'ning looked confused, thinking she hadn't said anything wrong!
Wen Xuanyuan felt even more embarrassed by everyone's laughter, her face burning intensely, wishing for a splash of cold water.
She nudged Li Bowen and whispered, "I want to go to the restroom."
Li Bowen immediately took her hand and led her.
Once inside the restroom, Wen Xuanyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at her flushed cheeks in the mirror, she felt sweet and happy.
She washed her face with cold water and felt much better before going out.
Everyone was already talking about something else.
As she approached, she noticed a little boy in the living room.
He was about two or three years old, cute and chubby, with a mushroom haircut, wearing a small black suit, looking both cool and adorable.
"Yujin, say hello to Auntie."
Li Yujin glanced at Wen Xuanyuan and, with a very young voice, perfunctorily said, "Auntie."
After speaking, he immediately went back to watching Ultraman on television.
Li Bowen, afraid she might feel uncomfortable in the living room, took her out for a walk.
When Wen Xuanyuan had gone to the restroom, Li's mother had instructed him.
She told him to be mindful and not to act recklessly, as Wen Xuanyuan was still in university and quite young.
Actually, even without Li's mother saying it, he wouldn't have acted recklessly.
After all, he had promised Wen Xuanyuan's parents that he wouldn't overstep before she graduated.
Stepping outside, Wen Xuanyuan curiously looked around.
The Li family's old residence was a siheyuan, like the Ling family's. She hadn't properly explored it before.
She followed Li Bowen around, admiring the ancient architecture with a look of wonder in her eyes.
The Li family was harmonious, but the atmosphere at the Jiang family's was exceptionally heavy.
Jiang Zexi had taken Xia Wanfu to rest.
Zhou Yuqing and Old Mrs. Jiang were sitting in the living room.
Old Mrs. Jiang's eyes were red, and her face, etched with the traces of time, was filled with sorrow.
Zhou Yuqing said with displeasure, "Looking at this, she doesn't intend to marry and have children for years. Zexi is almost thirty; how long will this drag on?"
"Alas, it's all fate." Old Mrs. Jiang's spirit seemed to have plummeted.
This was like an unsolvable problem.
Xia Wanfu wasn't wrong, yet their expectations were also perfectly natural.
Which family's child marrying wasn't for the continuation of the lineage?
With new life came new hope.
How could Jiang Zexi not understand these things? He didn't want Xia Wanfu to be unhappy, but what about his grandmother's and mother's expectations?
The two walked silently along the corridor.
The weight on Xia Wanfu's heart grew heavier and heavier, so much so that she even considered giving up.
Jiang Zexi took her hand and smiled gently, "Why are you unhappy? Hmm?"
"Am I very selfish?"
Xia Wanfu could no longer hold back, tears streaming down her face, her heart filled with difficulty.
"How can you be? You're still so young, and you've done nothing wrong."
Jiang Zexi gently wiped away her falling tears, looking at her with a tender gaze.
"But everything I have now is because of you."
After saying this, Xia Wanfu suddenly found it a bit funny. What had she been holding onto?
Her current, insignificant achievements were all thanks to Jiang Zexi.
In such a prominent family, how could they tolerate her continuing to be an actress?
Thinking of this, she suddenly felt enlightened and understood many things.
She should have known better.
Her family background was what it was, and she wasn't particularly outstanding.
Jiang Zexi's parents and grandmother allowed her to enter the family and gave her everything she deserved, merely out of consideration for Jiang Zexi.
And what had she done?
For a time, caught in a dead end, she had caused Jiang Zexi trouble and saddened his family.
She looked up at Jiang Zexi, the man who had always sacrificed for her and protected her.
She made a decision that would change her life.
"Let's get married."
Jiang Zexi looked at her in disbelief, becoming like a fool for a moment.
After a long, long while, he suddenly smiled, a smile of pure joy.
"Okay, let's get married."
He embraced Xia Wanfu and whispered affectionately in her ear, "Actually, I don't like you acting at all, especially when others kiss you."
Xia Wanfu smiled faintly, wrapped her arms around his waist, and chuckled, "Then I won't act anymore..."
"That's more like it."
Jiang Zexi held her contentedly.
"I've cost you your job; shall I compensate you with another one?"