Chapter 199: Look at Me

She stood up, patted Su Ruan's hand: "Mom doesn't understand business matters, but Mom knows you all have it hard."

"Go then, when it's time to strive you must strive. At home there's me, your dad, and Grandma. Jinjin and An'an, we will take care of them."

"Mom…" Su Ruan's eyes reddened.

"Why are you crying?" Li Huijuan laughed, wiping the corner of her eye, "You should be happy. My son and daughter-in-law are going to Shanghai to open a shop, how impressive."

She then spoke seriously: "But no matter how busy, you must look after your health. From now on, no matter how late you return, Mom will leave food for you. It must be hot, you can't settle for otherwise."

"Understood, Mom." Jiang Ran's nose also went sour.

That night, the mother and the two children talked until late.

Li Huijuan asked many questions about Shanghai, and Jiang Ran and Su Ruan answered one by one.

Although they knew their mother might not understand everything, that feeling of being understood and supported warmed their hearts.

When they went upstairs, it was already close to twelve o'clock.

In the bedroom, Jiang Ran embraced Su Ruan from behind while she was removing makeup: "Daughter-in-law, having Mom here is truly nice."

"Hmm." Su Ruan looked at him from the mirror, "Should we... tell Dad and Grandma?"

"Tomorrow then." Jiang Ran kissed the back of her neck, "A family, everyone who should know knows, and the heart feels steady."

During dinner the next day, Jiang Ran formally announced the Shanghai matter.

Jiang Jianguo, after listening, remained silent for a long time.

Just as Jiang Ran thought his father would oppose, Jiang Jianguo spoke up: "Going to Shanghai is a good thing, but there are several matters you must think through clearly."

"Father, please speak."

"First, the team over in Shanghai must be reliable. In an unfamiliar place, you must find people you can trust."

"Second, in the Provincial Capital you cannot relax. The foundation is here; you must not abandon your old home for Shanghai."

"Third," Jiang Jianguo said, looking at his son and daughter-in-law, "No matter how busy, you must have one day each week to spend with the children. Jinjin and An'an are still young; they cannot always be without dad and mom."

Every sentence was reasonable, every sentence caring.

"Dad, we have noted that," Su Ruan said solemnly.

Jiang Nainai was even more emotional: "Shanghai... I went there once when I was young. Back then I went with your grandfather to purchase goods, we took a ship for two days and two nights. Now it's better, there are trains, convenient."

She held Su Ruan's hand: "RuanRuan, when you go to Shanghai, if anyone bullies you, just come back. Our home is here, always your way out."

"Grandma..." Su Ruan choked.

"Don't cry." Jiang Nainai patted her hand, "Grandma is happy. My grandson and granddaughter-in-law have prospects, they can go to big Shanghai."

The family's understanding and support, like a strong heart‑injection, gave Jiang Ran and Su Ruan more confidence.

In the days that followed, work became more intense, but the heart felt much steadier.

Saturday afternoon, Jiang Ran and Su Ruan unusually returned home early.

They promised the children they'd play with them, and could not break that promise.

"Dad! Mom!" As soon as they entered, An'an rushed in like a little projectile.

Jinjin followed behind, silent, but her eyes were bright.

"What do you want to play today?" Su Ruan lifted her daughter.

"Drawing!" An'an said, "The teacher taught us to draw little flowers!"

"Then Mom will draw with you." Su Ruan, still holding her daughter, went to the children's room.

Jiang Ran, meanwhile, held his son: "Jinjin, what do you want to play?"

"Blocks." Jinjin said, "Build a tall building."

"Alright, build a big Shanghai skyscraper!"

The children's room became lively for a moment.

Su Ruan and An'an sat at the small table, spreading out drawing paper.

An'an held a crayon, earnestly drawing crooked little flowers.

"Mom, is Shanghai... far?" An'an suddenly asked.

Su Ruan paused: "A bit far. You have to take a train."

"Then... Mom is going?"

"Yes, I'm going," Su Ruan said softly, "but Mom will return quickly. Also, Mom will bring An'an a gift."

"What gift?"

"Shanghai has tasty candy, pretty Skirts, and talking Dolls," Su Ruan listed, "What do you want, An'an?"

An'an thought seriously: "I want... a gift for my sister."

Su Ruan was startled: "For a sister?"

"The sister in aunt's belly," An'an explained, "When the sister is born, there must be a gift."

Su Ruan's heart softened, she kissed her daughter: "Alright, I'll also bring a gift for the sister."

On the other side, Jiang Ran and Jinjin's blocks were already stacked very high.

"Dad, are Shanghai's skyscrapers that tall?" Jinjin pointed at the block tower about to hit the ceiling.

"Higher than this," Jiang Ran gestured, "Shanghai's skyscrapers have dozens of floors, they can touch the clouds."

Jinjin widened her eyes: "Then... can people go up?"

"Yes, there are elevators," Jiang Ran said, "When Dad is done being busy for a while, we'll take Jinjin and An'an to Shanghai, and we will also ride the elevator to the top floor."

"Really?" Jinjin's eyes brightened further.

"Really," Jiang Ran assured, "When has Dad ever deceived you?"

The father and son were talking when the block tower suddenly wobbled, looking about to fall.

Jiang Ran, with quick eyes and swift hands, steadied it, and Jinjin also reached out a small hand to help.

"Be careful," Jiang Ran said with a smile, "the tall building must be stable, the foundation must be solid."

"What is a foundation?"

"It's the lowest part," Jiang Ran pointed at the base layer of the block tower, "it's like our family: dad and mom work hard, grandpa, grandma, and Great-grandmother take care of you; that's our family's foundation. When the foundation is steady, the building can rise high."

Jinjin nodded as if half‑understanding, "Then… are the skyscrapers in Shanghai built on a stable foundation?"

"Stable," Jiang Ran patted his son's head, "so when dad and mom go to Shanghai, they also have to secure the foundation."

After playing with the children all afternoon, having dinner at night, then telling stories and coaxing them to sleep, Jiang Ran and Su Ruan finally returned to their own room.

"Jinjin asked me about Shanghai today," Jiang Ran said while taking off his clothes, "I told him we'd take them to Shanghai for fun."

"An'an asked too," Su Ruan said as she entered the bathroom, "the kids are small, but they understand everything."

The water sounded, and the two squeezed into the shower stall. Jiang Ran helped Su Ruan wash her hair, his touch still gentle.

"Starting next week, I'll have to go to Shanghai often," Jiang Ran said, "I need to keep an eye on the boutique's renovation, and personally oversee the team's hiring."

"The fashion‑week samples still need tweaking," Su Ruan said with her eyes closed, "a few pieces don't look as expected when worn."

"Don't push yourself too hard," Jiang Ran rinsed the foam from her head, "you've already done very well."

"Not good enough," Su Ruan opened her eyes, water droplets falling from her lashes, "Shanghai is different from here; the standards are higher, the eyes more discerning. Our work must withstand the strictest scrutiny."

Jiang Ran looked at her stubborn profile, feeling a surge of tenderness and pride in his heart.

He turned off the water, wrapped her in a towel, then carried her out of the shower stall.

"Jiang Ran!" Su Ruan whispered in surprise.

"Don't move." Jiang Ran placed her on the sink, stood between her legs, his hands braced at her sides, "Look at me."