During summer vacation, Xu Qinghuan stayed at home with the children, while working with Senior Cen on his project. He was an old Chinese medicine practitioner who had studied abroad, committed to combining Chinese and Western medicine, and was now exploring a suitable path.

The main research topic was the correlation analysis between genome variation and diseases, with a focus on allergies as a symptom.

There were two others in Senior Cen’s laboratory who had just returned to the city this year. They were once senior students, reaching the level of associate researchers. After ten years away, they returned to the lab and worked especially hard, wishing they could stretch a single day into two.

In contrast, Xu Qinghuan followed her routine every day.

The senior student hinted subtly a few times, yet Xu Qinghuan stuck to her own approach. But since her research tasks were never compromised, they couldn’t say anything against her.

Jiang Xingye returned two days before school started, noticeably tanned and travel-worn.

He gave Xu Qinghuan the property deeds for five arcades, all bearing Xu Qinghuan’s name.

"Do you really need to be so clear about this?"

Xu Qinghuan wasn’t there, and she had no idea how Jiang Xingye managed to have the deeds titled under her name.

Slight separation enhances the joys of reunion. With no one else in the room, Jiang Xingye’s gaze was somewhat fierce as he bit her lip hard, "I want to buy you properties all over the world, to spend my life giving you homes everywhere."

Xu Qinghuan’s heart trembled suddenly.

She placed the deeds on the table and wrapped her arms around Jiang Xingye’s neck.

They both missed each other after nearly two months apart.

As if dry wood sparked into a blazing fire.

Things quickly became intense.

Jiang Xingye pressed her onto the bed, with her wrists pinned above her head, his strong frame moving in front of her.

"The policies over there... have changed, a lot more relaxed now, changing every day... I might have to go there often, did you miss me?"

He did as he pleased on his own territory, planting bright kisses upon her. Every day away from her seemed long, and every night was hard to bear. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Xu Qinghuan couldn’t hear what he was saying, her eyes filled with intoxication, tears slid down her cheeks naturally, her swollen lips inviting him like tempting fruit.

Jiang Xingye used all the strength he had accumulated over the last two months on Xu Qinghuan, leaving her too exhausted to even move her fingers.

When they went to wash, he pressed her against the edge of the pool again.

Watching her waist move like seaweed in the water, despite having two children, her figure hadn’t changed much, instead gaining the charm of a mature woman. Her initial innocence had faded under his touch. Jiang Xingye couldn’t take his eyes off her porcelain-like skin, his desire growing.

Xu Qinghuan pleaded non-stop.

Finally, she collapsed against him.

When Jiang Xingye carried her out, she lay on the bed weakly, "Go check on the two kids."

"I’ll go check, you rest first!" Jiang Xingye knew he had exhausted her, but the longing was hard to resolve.

Jiang Xingye felt refreshed, pulled on a round-neck shirt and large shorts, and headed outside.

This time he brought back many clothes from the south.

Over there, clothes from overseas were abundant, colorful and varied, while Yan City was still full of gray, drab clothing, lacking appeal.

In his current outfit, Jiang Xingye looked youthful.

If one could overlook his earlier vigor and unrestrained behavior in bed and the pool.

Xu Qinghuan watched Jiang Xingye’s broad shoulders disappear from the doorway before closing her eyes wearily.

The two kids had recently been playing a lot with Jiang Nanxin.

Jiang Xingye came in, and the two children had already bathed and were lying in bed with Jiang Nanxin.

Jiang Nanxin’s bed was a small single frame, and with three small children, it wasn’t crowded. The two little ones lay on either side of Jiang Nanxin, listening to her telling stories.

Xu Qinghuan liked buying children’s books, but at that time, books suitable for kids were rare. Comic books were few and expensive. Still, Xu Qinghuan bought them faithfully.

Jiang Nanxin read often, and she was enthusiastically telling the children stories from "Journey to the West" at this moment.

The two kids listened attentively.

"Not going back to sleep?" Jiang Xingye stood by the bed, looking down at his two little treasures.

"Dad, can my brother and I sleep with sister tonight?"

Jiang Nanxin was slightly surprised, but also happy. Since summer vacation wasn’t over, there was no school tomorrow, "Sure, sure, let’s finish the comic book Aunt bought today."

"Alright." Jiang Xingcan looked at his father expectantly.

Jiang Chijing was also evidently moved; he wanted to hear stories and sleep with his parents, but what could he do?

Jiang Xingcan got up, "Brother, let’s sleep here then; Dad surely won’t tell us stories."

Though Jiang Xingye loved the two kids dearly, his wife always came first in his heart. Tonight, he wanted a quiet night holding her.

He touched his daughter’s head and said, "Yes, Dad is tired from the train ride back, storytelling will have to wait till tomorrow."

Thus, the siblings decisively chose to sleep with their sister.

Jiang Xinglan came in, "You just returned, get some rest early. Leave the little ones here, I’ll keep an eye on them."

"Thanks, big sis!"

"What are you thanking me for!"

Jiang Xingye took a few steps, then returned, "Big sis, next year things will be even better. I plan to open a shop here by then. The little ones will be sent to kindergarten, and Grandma and Grandpa can pick them up;

you should read more books, learn some characters, so you can help out at the shop later."

Jiang Xinglan agreed even without fully understanding, aware that with three college students in the family, she feared falling too far behind. When Jiang Nanxin did homework, she’d sit beside her and learn a few more characters.

During summer, Jiang Xingmei returned, and she studied with her.

After her brother left, she hurried to Jiang Xingmei’s room and shared what he said, "Meizi, do you think I won’t have to go back to Shangjiang Team in the future?"

She had seen her brother’s capabilities; there’s nothing he wanted that he couldn’t achieve.

Jiang Xingmei was reading a book Xu Qinghuan gave her, one related to aesthetics, engrossed.

University had broadened her horizons; in just half a year, compared to her time at Shangjiang Team, Jiang Xingmei had become a knowledgeable woman.

The Jiang and Huo families both concerned over her marriage. Initially, it seemed good that she was with Huo Zui, but since Huo Zui had no intention of marrying, she and Huo Chi, who were close in age, got along well.

Both families were keen on pairing them.

After hearing her sister, Jiang Xingmei looked up, puzzled, "If they asked you to return to Shangjiang Team, would you go?"

Jiang Xinglan hesitated a bit and shook her head, "Of course the big city is better, there’s more opportunity ahead."

Jiang Xingmei said, "Do you think Fifth Brother and Sister-in-law are unreliable, would they bring you out only to send you back? Honestly, how could you even think that way?"

Jiang Xinglan felt ashamed, "How would I know, city life is tough. You need coupons for everything; feeding four of us each month is a problem, we buy high-priced grain."

She had never bought grain; Xu Qinghuan did. As for where she bought it, Jiang Xinglan didn’t know, but the grains were good, mostly white flour and rice, which were hard to come by.

She didn’t know Xu Qinghuan had stored enough food in her space to last for years.