150: Still a family

Zhou Wanyi's face turned red, and she subconsciously reached for her collar.

Only then did she realize the top button of her pajamas was undone, revealing a small patch of her collarbone.

She had been in a bit of a hurry just now and had just thrown on these pajamas; she quickly turned around to fasten the button.

Yu Heng didn't say anything more and turned to leave the kitchen.

He sat down on the sofa, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

He was a bit sleepy; he had gotten up early in the morning and hadn't slept soundly on the way.

Zhou Wanyi stood in the kitchen for a while longer and pursed her lips before finally rinsing the last bowl clean.

Yu Heng leaned against the sofa and fell asleep with his eyes closed.

Zhou Wanyi sat down on a chair by the dining table, picked up her phone to unlock it, then turned it off again.

She didn't know what to do.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the sofa again.

Yu Heng's face was turned to the side, and his breathing was very light.

Zhou Wanyi looked away and stared at her fingers; it was time to trim her nails.

But she remembered what Yu Heng had said earlier, and her face heated up again—the "trimming nails" he mentioned had another meaning.

He looked... not much like his brother; his brother had a larger frame.

Yu Heng was leaner, and his features were more deep-set.

She remembered the first time she saw him, was it when he had just started junior high school?

Back then, he was completely a kid, but now he was no longer a child.

He was in college now and was quite a bit taller than her.

Zhou Wanyi took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the balcony.

The sky outside was gray, looking like it was about to rain.

She leaned against the window and spaced out for a while.

Until a child's whimpering came from the bedroom.

Zhou Wanyi snapped out of it and walked quickly into the bedroom.

Xiao Hui was awake, eyes open, his small hands grabbing at the air.

She bent down to pick the child up; Xiao Hui nuzzled into her arms, his small hand grabbing her collar.

Zhou Wanyi sat on the edge of the bed and opened her lapel, and the child latched on and began to suckle.

She looked down at the little fellow in her arms, and the messy thoughts in her mind slowly subsided.

But for some reason, she felt a strange sensation while the child was nursing today.

After a while, Yu Heng opened his eyes in the living room, sat up, and rubbed his neck.

He checked the time; it was almost two o'clock.

Liu Jianfen was sitting on the sofa folding clothes. Yu Heng turned his head and said, "Mom, I'm going out for a bit."

"Where are you going again?" Liu Jianfen looked up when she heard this.

"Out to buy some things," Yu Heng said as he stood up, walked to the door, and bent over to put on his shoes.

"Buying what?" Liu Jianfen put down the clothes in her hand. "Is the house missing something?"

"Nothing's missing," Yu Heng didn't explain much and opened the door. "I'll be back in a bit."

The door closed, and Liu Jianfen frowned.

Yu Heng hailed a taxi and headed straight for Tianyang Square.

There weren't many people in Kuanguang Supermarket. He pushed a shopping cart and first circled the health supplements section, picking them up one by one to read the instructions.

Liu Jianfen was getting older; these past few years she often complained about back and leg pain, and her blood pressure was a bit high.

Many illnesses of the elderly aren't really illnesses; as long as they eat well, drink well, and take care of themselves, they can live comfortably into their eighties or nineties even with some minor ailments.

He picked out a few items and put them in the cart. While waiting in line at the checkout counter, he suddenly thought of Zhou Wanyi.

He paused, pushed the shopping cart to the side, and turned back.

Yu Heng wasn't very familiar with these things women used. He stood in front of the skincare shelves for a long time—better just buy the expensive ones.

At the checkout, the cashier scanned the codes, and the machine beeped.

Finally, he swiped his card—over five thousand.

When he returned, Yu Heng walked in carrying the bags. Liu Jianfen was pacing the living room holding Xiao Hui.

"What did you buy?" Liu Jianfen glanced at the bags.

"Bought some supplements for you." Yu Heng placed the bags on the coffee table. "Remember to take them every day; they're good for your health."

Liu Jianfen looked at the large and small boxes, her brow furrowing. "Where did you get the money?"

"Earned it." Yu Heng smiled. "Didn't I say I was starting a business? Would I lie to you?"

"How much do you earn a month to spend like this?" Liu Jianfen was still worried.

"Anyway, it's enough." Yu Heng didn't give a specific figure. "Don't worry about it; just eat them since I bought them for you."

Zhou Wanyi came out of the bedroom and glanced at the pile of things on the coffee table.

"Sister-in-law," Yu Heng called out, pushing the skincare set over. "This is for you."

Zhou Wanyi was stunned. "For me?"

"Yeah." Yu Heng also took out a lipstick. "I don't know if the shade is right; give it a try."

Zhou Wanyi didn't take it. "I don't want it. Keep it to give to your classmates."

"Why would I give this to my classmates?" Yu Heng stood up and directly stuffed the items into her hands. "I bought it for you."

Zhou Wanyi looked down at the items; she recognized this brand and had never been able to bring herself to buy it.

"It's too expensive..." she said softly.

"It's already bought," Yu Heng said with a smile. "Just take it."

"Okay, thank you." Zhou Wanyi pursed her lips and took the skincare products back to the bedroom.

Closing the door, she walked to the dressing table and placed the new set next to her nearly empty bottle.

She picked up the lipstick, twisted it open to take a look, and saw that the color was very suitable for daily wear.

Facing the mirror, she lightly applied a bit to her lips.

Her complexion immediately looked better. She stared at her face in the mirror and suddenly remembered the scene from this morning when she was seen.

She quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped off the lipstick.

In the living room, Liu Jianfen lowered her voice and asked Yu Heng, "Why did you buy such expensive things for your sister-in-law?"

"What's wrong?" Yu Heng watched the TV, his tone casual.

"What do you mean, what's wrong?" Liu Jianfen glared at him. "That's your sister-in-law."

"So what if she's my sister-in-law?" Yu Heng turned his face. "My brother is gone. Shouldn't we be a bit nicer to her?"

Liu Jianfen was choked up by these words; she stared at Yu Heng for a few seconds.

"It's right to be good to your sister-in-law, but you have to mind your boundaries," Liu Jianfen muttered.

After saying that, she sat back on the sofa and continued folding clothes.

Suddenly, she remembered a casual conversation among colleagues at work a while ago. They said there was a relative in their hometown where the eldest son had passed away, and later the daughter-in-law followed the second son, and the family continued on as usual.

Wanyi is only twenty-six; surely she can't really be expected to stay a widow for the rest of her life?

But if she really remarries and leaves, what about Xiao Hui?

If she were to take the child with her, she definitely wouldn't be able to bear it.

And it's not easy to find a new husband while carrying a child.

If she wasn't allowed to take the child, she, as a mother, wouldn't be able to bear it either.

And if she didn't take him, wouldn't Xiao Hui become a child with neither a father nor a mother?

But Yu Heng... Liu Jianfen's movements in folding clothes slowed down.

This boy will only be twenty after the New Year; isn't he a bit young?

Thinking of this, she glanced at Yu Heng again.

This boy, suddenly buying such expensive things for his sister-in-law today—could he also have some thoughts?

But there's also that girl, Yue Ling; she liked that girl quite a bit too.

Liu Jianfen narrowed her eyes; this matter still depends on what the young people themselves have in mind; it's useless for her to think about it.

She looked at her son, then glanced toward the room.

Anyway, if such a day really comes... after Yu Heng graduates, they can settle the matter first; the marriage certificate can be obtained later.

"That livestreaming thing of yours," Liu Jianfen suddenly spoke again, "how much can you actually earn in a month? Don't go messing around."

"Enough." Yu Heng kept his eyes on the TV. "Anyway, it's better than having a regular job."

"Better than a job?" Liu Jianfen stopped her hands. "You're still a student; your main priority is studying!"

"I know, I know what I'm doing." Yu Heng responded perfunctorily.