"Mr. Ye, you must have more confidence. In my heart, your well-being is far more important than nation-building. And it's not like we'll miss out on nation-building entirely.
What we'll miss is merely the opportunity to participate in the discussions about it. While that is a glorious matter, it pales in comparison to your health.
This is our first child, and I want to be by your side. I don't want to miss any part of his journey."
Ye Xiuyuan looked at Lin Yan with eyes full of affection.
"Mr. Ye claims to be a science student, devoid of the romantic notions of scholars, incapable of writing flowery prose. Yet, your words now are more moving than any love poem!"
Lin Yan's eyes reddened, deeply touched by Ye Xiuyuan's actions.
"These are all sincere words from Xiuyuan." He raised his hand to caress Lin Yan's cheek. "I promised Mr. Lin we would walk side by side. How could I leave before you?"
Lin Yan lowered her head, touching her forehead to Ye Xiuyuan's.
"Then I shall trouble Mr. Ye to take care of me."
Their breaths mingled, a tender intimacy spreading between them.
After Lin Yan and Ye Xiuyuan saw off the main group, they returned to pack their belongings. Although they couldn't leave immediately, they had to get their things organized.
Lin Yan herself was in good health, thanks to the spiritual spring she had been using to condition her body from the start. Despite her delicate appearance, her stamina was better than many soldiers.
Lin Yan planned to depart once her condition stabilized further. After all, if she waited until just before the founding ceremony, the journey would surely be congested.
It was, after all, the founding of a nation! Which Chinese person wouldn't want to witness it firsthand!
Zhou Wenjie, at this time, saw the news from the mainland in the newspaper and could hardly believe what he was reading. Why was nation-building happening so much earlier than he remembered?
Had he not arrived in the Republic of China he remembered? However, it didn't really matter to him; a new nation was surely better than continued war!
He didn't know if history had changed and if that revolution would still occur, but he had no intention of returning.
Though he wished to witness that historical moment, he felt he might not survive the revolution. So, he decided not to go back.
"What are you looking at?" Tao Menghan walked up to Zhou Wenjie. They were already married and had two children.
Tao Menghan's dowry included a publishing house, and with Tao Menghan's marketing, Zhou Wenjie's books sold exceptionally well.
Now, Zhou Wenjie was quite famous among literati, and his books were sold in many places. Some even wanted to buy the rights to adapt his works into films.
Zhou Wenjie and Tao Menghan had a very good relationship. He was a modern man, not burdened by traditional Republican-era thinking, so even after gaining wealth and fame, he didn't consider taking a second wife or concubine.
This made Tao Menghan, who had witnessed enough struggles between wives and concubines, like him even more. Initially, she was merely curious about their family's interactions. Later, after reading Zhou Wenjie's books, she gradually began to fall for him.
Although she knew he had always treated her with a certain detachment, their interactions had slowly brought them closer.
At first, Tao Menghan didn't expect to have a lifelong monogamous relationship with Zhou Wenjie. She thought that because of her family background, Zhou Wenjie would at least continue to dote on her until his power surpassed that of the Tao family.
But she hadn't expected his development to be so rapid. His writing was excellent, and even the Governor's wife had heard his name, which caused his status to rise dramatically.
She had worried he might find a lover, as so many people admired him, and many "actresses" threw themselves at him.
Tao Menghan had seen far too many such men who, with even a little power, would take a second wife or concubines. Thus, she was extremely worried, and during that period, she felt a sense of despair.
She truly loved this man and could not bear to share him with anyone.
Fortunately, he noticed her unease, and they had a serious talk. Zhou Wenjie gave her a promise. She never imagined he would promise her fidelity.
Tao Menghan could not forget that day; it was the happiest day of her life!
"Reading the newspaper. The war is over, and representatives from various sectors are heading to the capital to discuss nation-building!" Zhou Wenjie tilted the newspaper in his hand towards Tao Menghan.
"Are you going back then?" Tao Menghan inquired, mentally calculating how to handle their businesses here.
"Not for now. It's not time to go back yet! Besides, Nannan and the others are still young. The environment there is no comparison to here," Zhou Wenjie said with a smile.
He knew that although Tao Menghan was a strong woman, she was also a tender one. She depended on him and listened to him in all things, which greatly satisfied his vanity.
Zhou Wenjie relished this feeling. Especially the sense of frustration he experienced with Lin Yan was completely soothed by Tao Menghan.
Tao Menghan and Lin Yan were very much alike, not in appearance or temperament, but in that air of aloofness brought by their family background.
"That's true. Although it's peaceful there now, everything needs rebuilding, and it's bound to be chaotic, which isn't conducive to children's growth." Knowing Zhou Wenjie had no intention of returning, Tao Menghan let the matter drop.
"I suppose my father won't want to go back either. After all, the Tao family has moved all their businesses to Southeast Asia and likely won't consider returning to start from scratch."
"Yes, your brothers are not the type to endure hardship, so they would likely dissuade Father from returning," Zhou Wenjie said. He knew Tao Menghan disliked her brothers, as they were from different mothers and shared no affection.
"Oh, right. Wenying's wedding is at the end of this month. Will she be married from our home?" Tao Menghan asked.
This villa was where their immediate family lived. She had bought houses for Zhou Wenjie's younger siblings near their workplaces.
But for such a significant event, it would naturally be held here.
"You and Mother decide. It will be a lot of work for you again," Zhou Wenjie said sincerely.
Since she married him, his siblings had been under her care. Tao Menghan treated his siblings far better than her own.
"We're family!" Tao Menghan said with a smile. As long as Zhou Wenjie treated her well, she was willing to treat his family well.
"Daddy, Mommy." A soft voice came from upstairs. A little dumpling peeked its head from the top of the stairs.
"Nannan, what is it?" Tao Menghan quickly walked towards the stairs.
"I want Daddy and Mommy." The little dumpling tried hard to come downstairs. Then, she was picked up.
"Sir and Madam, Miss said she wanted to find you as soon as she woke up," a middle-aged nanny said, carrying her down.
The little dumpling in her arms kept reaching out towards Tao Menghan, melting her heart.
Zhou Wenjie watched the adorable little dumpling with a smile. How could he bear to send his daughter, who was so lovable, back to endure hardship?