Chapter 153: The Older, the More Reclusive

Zhou Yinhe didn't hear clearly, walking to the bedside while asking, "What did you just say?"

Wen Ling shook her head, so Zhou Yinhe didn't press further; after getting into bed, he stretched out his long arm, and Wen Ling naturally lay down in his embrace, Zhou Yinhe gently patting her back to lull her to sleep.

The rain outside was pounding loudly; even in her dream Wen Ling could hear the sound, at this moment she shrank her body outward, a feeling of unease just beginning to spread, when Zhou Yinhe turned her body and held her tight again.

Hearing Zhou Yinhe softly coaxing her, Wen Ling blearily opened her eyes and glanced at him, then feeling reassured she withdrew her gaze and fell back asleep.

Morning rain hadn't stopped, making it somewhat dim due to the rain; Zhou Yinhe feared being caught by Ning Qing and scolded again, so this time he was considerably smarter, waking up early and preparing to go downstairs.

But just as he stepped out of the room, he bumped into Ning Qing, who was holding a cup of honey water, drinking it while preparing to return to her room.

Ning Qing clicked her tongue, rolled her eyes, and said, "I can't even be bothered to talk to you."

After saying that, she sidestepped Zhou Yinhe and returned to her own room.

Zhou Yinhe was already much more awake, but he didn't mind going back to the room to sleep a little longer with Wen Ling.

The mattress beside her sank slightly; Wen Ling sensed his return and whispered, "Why did you come back so suddenly?"

It's fine, go back to sleep.

Wen Ling was thinking about having breakfast together in the morning, tossing and turning unable to sleep, though her mind was still groggy.

Zhou Yinhe ruffled her hair and chuckled, "What are you doing?"

"It'll be time for breakfast soon." Wen Ling pressed her lips and explained, "I'm going downstairs to eat breakfast shortly."

"What breakfast?" Zhou Yinhe embraced her, saying, "It's fine if you don't go down to eat; my parents and elder sister-in-law might not even be awake yet, so don't worry."

Wen Ling furrowed her brows, tried to sit up, but Zhou Yinhe grabbed her and forced her to sleep a bit longer.

After the two woke up and went out, they ran into Ning Qing, who was yawning; compared to Wen Ling, Ning Qing felt even more embarrassed.

Previously she feared Wen Ling would think they didn't value her, so she deliberately got up early; now that she's familiar with her, she no longer minds those things, but having the younger generation see her still asleep makes her feel a bit embarrassed.

Wen Ling stepped forward, linked arms with Ning Qing, and said with a smile, "Auntie, your complexion looks especially good today."

"Really?" Ning Qing touched her own face.

"Yes, yes, sleeping well gives you a good complexion." The two went downstairs together, and as they walked Wen Ling said, "You need to go to bed early and rise late; more sleep improves the skin, especially not getting up early in the morning."

"That actually makes some sense."

Zhou Yinhe turned his head, struggling to hold back laughter until it hurt, yet he still made a little movement; Wen Ling looked back and glared at him, seeing him raise both hands in surrender, his smile fading, she then withdrew her gaze.

When they reached downstairs, Shang Zhiyu wasn't there; the housekeeper smiled and said, "The eldest and second young masters have already gone to work."

Ning Qing waved her hand indifferently and said, "Just let them go."

She now has two well-behaved daughters-in-law by her side; sons and such don't matter much anymore.

It would be nice if her daughters also came back, but unfortunately neither of her daughters is very home‑oriented; they prefer to focus on their careers, which is fine too, and Ning Qing feels gratified.

But that sense of gratification vanished instantly when she saw her young son sitting opposite her.

"How come you're becoming more of a recluse as you get older?" Ning Qing frowned, glanced at the increasingly pale Zhou Yinhe, and continued, "I remember you loved going out to play when you were little."

Wen Ling laughed while biting her silver fork beside them; Zhou Yinhe's hand paused as he cut the fried egg, and he said flatly, "I didn't understand things back then."

His tone was especially, especially justified and confident, to the point that the other three didn't know whether to laugh or be speechless.

"Fine, then you'll take us to the mall later, and after that you can go home."

Although it's raining today, the weather isn't that hot, so she wanted to go out and play with her two daughters‑in‑law; other places might easily get soaked, but the mall poses no such risk—anyway, the car comes out of the underground garage and goes into the mall's underground parking lot.

"……" Zhou Yinhe was left speechless, while Wen Ling leisurely ate her breakfast without speaking up for him.

After the meal, Zhou Yinhe followed Wen Ling to the room to change clothes; he pulled her into his embrace and demanded, "Why didn't you speak up for me?"

Wen Ling smiled and said, "You mean Auntie telling you to let us go and then head home? I think Auntie is very considerate of you."

But the slyness in her eyes said otherwise.

Zhou Yinhe raised his hand, pinched Wen Ling's cheek neither lightly nor heavily, shook it, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Fine, you wait."

Wen Ling pursed her lips, unbothered, thinking, "What can happen? At most it's just bullying her, but she's not the only one who ends up teary‑eyed each time."

After changing clothes, Wen Ling heard Ning Qing calling her; she callously tossed Zhou Yinhe aside and walked into Ning Qing's dressing room.

Ning Qing asked her to help pick an outfit to wear out; Wen Ling brought out the same seriousness she had when watching a fashion show, analyzing each piece one by one.

"This one, Auntie." Wen Ling picked up a mid‑length skirt in warm tones and handed it to Ning Qing, then explained to Ning Qing why she had chosen that skirt.

Ning Qing nodded in agreement with Wen Ling's words; Wen Ling then left the dressing room, giving Ning Qing space to change.

Shang Zhiyu finished changing and descended the stairs slowly; Wen Ling felt an inexplicable jolt in her heart, stepped forward, and gently supported her.

"No need to support me, my belly isn't big yet." Shang Zhiyu said softly, "There's really no difference from before; just pay occasional attention, don't worry."

Wen Ling shook her head, recalling a plastic‑sounding sister‑in‑law she knew, who during pregnancy was carefree, even roughhousing with her husband, went to a bar to play and fell down the stairs, losing the baby—not to mention almost losing her own life; Wen Ling didn't say it out loud, feeling it was somewhat inauspicious.

Zhou Yinhe had already gone downstairs to wait while Ning Qing and Wen Ling were coordinating outfits; now he leaned against the elevator yawning, and Ning Qing, seeing him, pretended not to notice—after all, no matter how much she said, this young son would still listen.

After seeing them to the mall, Ning Qing said before getting out of the car, "You can go home and lie down."

Zhou Yinhe: "……"

Wen Ling burst out laughing with a "puchi" sound, unbuckled her seatbelt, and as Ning Qing and Shang Zhiyu stepped out of the car she leaned in, cupped Zhou Yinhe's face, and kissed his cheek.

Zhou Yinhe felt his heart soften, about to say "you're still the best," when in the next second Wen Ling, who enjoys watching a spectacle and isn't shy about causing trouble, shot another arrow into his chest.

"Baobao, go home and get some sleep."

With a whoosh, Zhou Yinhe even hallucinated hearing an arrow pierce his heart.

Wen Ling waved at him, then after getting out of the car she headed straight into the elevator with Ning Qing and Shang Zhiyu without looking back.

Zhou Yinhe rubbed his tight chest, eased up, then decisively turned the steering wheel; the car pulled out of the mall's underground parking lot.

He couldn't possibly really go home to sleep; having come all this way, he went to the company instead.