TAMW CH26

Yuqing felt as if he were in an illusion.

He was about to step into the role most conspicuously absent from his life, becoming a father, and also the mother who would bear the child.

When Zhou Xiao buried his head against his chest, it was as if all the jealousy and hatred he had ever felt toward this man vanished into a blank void.

The Zhou Xiao of this moment seemed more like a certain day he had recorded in his diary.

[Today is my birthday. The cook gave me an egg. It was boiling hot, and my hands hurt. I cried into my quilt until it was wet. Only my quilt accepts me.]

In this deep, secluded mansion where the First Madam ruled, no one celebrated the Eldest Young Master’s birthday. The egg the cook secretly gave him was scalding, yet Zhou Xiao would clutch it tightly, terrified that this small blessing would be discovered.

An egg was a common food in the Zhou household, but on this particular day, it held a different meaning. He couldn’t bear to let it go. Sneaking back to his room, he joyfully cracked a small hole in it and slowly savored every bite.

When he finished, Zhou Xiao felt a surge of grievance. Sitting at his desk, he wrote down the heavy thoughts of a child, tears falling slowly, fine crumbs of egg white still clinging to the corners of his mouth.

A page of a diary, wrinkled and soaked with tears.

When Yuqing read that page, his fingertips brushed over the paper, reaching across time and space to touch the damp, sorrowful thoughts that had belonged to the Young Master so many years ago.

He is so pitiful, Yuqing thought.

Back then, when Yuqing wanted to cry, he could seek comfort by his father’s side. But Zhou Xiao never had that; he could only hide under his quilt and weep.

Now, with Zhou Xiao nuzzling against his chest, Yuqing’s heart unexpectedly softened.

He is so pitiful, Yuqing’s thoughts remained the same as they had been back then.

A warm, fragrant embrace replaced the quilt of the past, and the tears Yuqing touched were no longer just marks on paper.

They were damp. They were warm.

Those eyes, under the dim candlelight, were surprisingly bright.

Yuqing found Zhou Xiao somewhat endearing, like a small puppy. But ironically, the dog they used to keep was a massive hound. Zhou Xiao’s lean, robust body was the very definition of youth—his powerful chest and arms were not something Yuqing’s narrow frame could fully encircle.

Moreover, with his belly swollen, Zhou Xiao was afraid of pressing against his lower abdomen, so he only rested his head there.

“How can a man like me be a mother…” Yuqing said.

Having the child call him that would be a terrible influence.

“Why not?” Zhou Xiao looked up at him, his eyes shining. “To give birth and raise a child is to be a creator. The earth created all things in the world, which is why we all call it Mother Earth.”

Yuqing laughed. “Is there such a saying?”

Zhou Xiao mumbled, “It’s very popular abroad.”

Yuqing: “I’ve never been abroad.”

“And now you couldn’t go even if you wanted to,” Zhou Xiao said, resting his head on the pillow beside Yuqing’s, his palm gently stroking Yuqing’s lower abdomen. “You’re trapped in this mansion by this child, and you’ve trapped me here too.”

“I haven’t.” Yuqing, afraid he was overthinking things, said quickly, “No, Young Master, I have no intention of making you take responsibility…”

Zhou Xiao frowned. “I won’t take responsibility for you. You chose this willingly.”

“Yes.” Yuqing breathed a sigh of relief.

“But I am not willing. You forced this marriage on me in the first place, and now I can’t just abandon the child. You forced me to come back. If something like what happened at the port happens again, how will you handle it in your condition? Since you ruined me, if you think you can just write it off without paying a price, that’s impossible. Until the child is born, I will stay here and give you a chance.”

Yuqing didn’t want him to take responsibility, but he desperately needed Yuqing to take responsibility for him.

His virginity, his newfound status as a father, even his name on the Zhou family genealogy as the Young Master—Ruan Yuqing had taken it all away.

He, Zhou Xiao, had lost so much, and Ruan Yuqing thought he could just brush it off with a casual “I won’t take responsibility”? In his dreams!

What right did Ruan Yuqing have not to take responsibility for him?

Thinking of this, a wave of suffocating resentment flared in Zhou Xiao’s heart, and he glared intently at Yuqing.

He has a very beautiful face, he thought, but also the heart of a viper.

What a fine job Zhou Yuzhang had done. He truly was a spineless coward, raising the perfectly good Yuqing to lack even the basic ability to take responsibility.

Truly teaching the bad and neglecting the good.

If Yuqing had met him earlier, he would have definitely taught Yuqing well, making him understand what it meant to be a man, what it meant to stand tall and shoulder one’s burdens.

Instead of being a coward who didn’t dare take responsibility and only used schemes to avoid consequences.

Yuqing was stunned, not quite understanding his meaning.

“I thought men didn’t like taking responsibility. Besides, I don’t want to be your burden. You have your ambitions, things you want to achieve…”

“If a man doesn’t take responsibility and shoulder burdens, what kind of man is he?” Zhou Xiao frowned. “So, you still have a chance.”

Yuqing was completely lost. “What chance?”

He felt Zhou Xiao constantly stroking his lower abdomen and thought, Zhou Xiao wouldn’t make me get an abortion, would he…

A sudden tension gripped his heart, and his palm gently pushed against Zhou Xiao’s chest.

Being pushed away, Zhou Xiao’s expression slightly changed. “To fall in love with me.”

“…..Huh?” Yuqing heard him clearly, but he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“I’m giving you a chance. This is my ultimatum.”

Since they were destined to be entangled for this lifetime anyway.

Ruan Yuqing didn’t love him, so he just needed to give him time to fall in love with him.

Yuqing’s mouth opened slightly in disbelief at the words he was hearing.

What did he mean by, ‘Doesn’t love him… then give him a chance to love’?

Hmm….

Yuqing even began to wonder if pregnancy had made his brain sluggish.

The Young Master’s words always took sharp turns, catching him completely off guard.

“Then I’ll…” Yuqing held back a smile, “…try my best—mmph…”

The hand he had placed on Zhou Xiao’s chest to push him away was suddenly grabbed by the man.

The young man leaned in, capturing his lips in a deep kiss, his voice urgent. “Not ‘try your best’. It’s a requirement.”

“It’s better for both of us this way.”

At the very least, they wouldn’t have to torture each other for a lifetime.

As long as Yuqing fell in love with him, he could stay by his side for a lifetime, and he would be happy for a lifetime.

As long as Yuqing fell in love with him, he would suffer the same constant anxiety over gains and losses as he did. Only the person holding the upper hand possessed absolute control.

Yuqing realized that whenever his words deviated from what Zhou Xiao envisioned, the man would bite his lips.

As if punishing him for not understanding.

With his face cradled by Zhou Xiao, Yuqing had no choice but to play along before the next urgent kiss landed. “Alright, alright…”

“Go to sleep.” Zhou Xiao got off the bed to blow out the candles.

Yuqing asked, “You’re sleeping here?”

“Nonsense. Where else would I sleep?” Zhou Xiao retorted. “Do you want everyone in the household to laugh at me? I’m the legitimate Young Master, and I don’t even have a room to sleep in?”

Besides, Zhao Fu was definitely standing guard outside. If he walked out now, he’d be an absolute laughingstock.

“Except for the servants’ quarters, which room outside has been cleaned? Are you expecting me to sleep with the servants? I haven’t been back for over half a year; I won’t sleep anywhere dirty.”

After blowing out the candles, Zhou Xiao lifted the quilt and climbed back in, his ankles pressing tightly against Yuqing’s as he tossed and turned. “This bed is terrible too. Tomorrow, I’m replacing it with a large Western-style bed.”

Yuqing: “We could move to your old room…”

He didn’t really want to move his father’s belongings; seeing them brought back memories.

“Right here. Wherever you sleep, we replace the bed. Otherwise, if something goes wrong in the middle of the night, how could you handle it alone?”

So it was for Yuqing’s sake after all.

Yuqing smiled helplessly. “Alright then.”

This was the first time the two of them had formally and peacefully lain on the same bed in the Zhou residence.

Last time in Shen City, they weren’t exactly familiar with each other yet.

A physical connection was far less profound than an emotional one.

The thought that Yuqing had traveled all the way to Shen City, enduring an exhausting journey, solely to get a child out of him?!

A wave of frustration washed over Zhou Xiao again. He tossed and turned, making the old bed frame creak and groan.

Finally, catching a glimpse of Yuqing lying flat on his back from the corner of his eye, Zhou Xiao mimicked his posture and lay flat as well.

Staring at the bed canopy in the dim light, Zhou Xiao suddenly said, “Do you know why I didn’t want anything from the Zhou family?”

Yuqing: “I don’t know.”

Zhou Xiao: “Because I have never received anything from the Zhou family.”

In his childhood, he had nothing—no love, no money, no power.

So when he grew up, Zhou Xiao treated himself well, hoping never to suffer the grievances of his childhood again.

If he wanted something, he wanted all of it.

Yuqing’s voice drifted softly. His hand, resting by his side, gently brushed against the back of Zhou Xiao’s hand. “I know.”

“I knew long ago,” he said.

Zhou Xiao didn’t have any particular strong emotion attached to it; he just wanted to tell Yuqing, so he would know he wasn’t an unreasonable person.

Yuqing remained still. After a moment, his soft hand was clasped by Zhou Xiao.

“You are the first,” Zhou Xiao said. “Belonging to me, keeping me here.”

It was also the only thing he had gained in all his years growing up in the Zhou family.

All his firsts had been given to Ruan Yuqing.

This man was truly detestable.

The reasons for his love and his hate were the same.

Yet it was Yuqing who had claimed him—this person who was like jasmine had claimed him.

He absolutely had to reclaim something from Yuqing, otherwise, he wouldn’t let it go.

So, he grabbed Yuqing’s hand tightly, forcing Yuqing to open his palm. Interlocking their fingers didn’t even seem like enough.

Only then did he feel slightly more comfortable, and the two drifted off to sleep.

It was normal for Yuqing to be lethargic during his pregnancy, but lately, his legs had been causing him discomfort. Lying flat for too long made it hard to breathe, and sleeping on his side often caused his arms and legs to go numb.

A man’s pregnancy was inherently more excruciating. Now, with another person beside him, Yuqing found himself unaccustomed to it.

Usually, when he felt uncomfortable, he could get up and rub the soreness away himself. But with Zhou Xiao sprawling presumptuously beside him, heaven knows how he slept, but he ended up pulling Yuqing into a tight embrace.

Yuqing couldn’t quite distinguish if the discomfort came from the pressure of the pregnancy or from Zhou Xiao’s tight hold.

Sensing his movements, Zhou Xiao woke up and asked what was wrong.

Lifting the quilt, Yuqing felt somewhat embarrassed.

After all, any man looking the way he did right now would be considered strange.

Deep in his bones, he cared very much about his dignity.

Zhou Xiao said, “It’s not like I’m an outsider.”

“You’re too embarrassed to order the guy outside around, but you can’t even order me around?” Zhou Xiao touched his calf; it was indeed somewhat swollen.

He was very thin, so any swelling was easily noticeable. The tendons behind his knees were taut—a cramp was imminent.

Zhou Xiao gripped his calf. “If it hurts, speak up.”

Yuqing’s foot was placed on Zhou Xiao’s thigh. The delicate, pale joints were visible as Zhou Xiao’s other hand gripped the top of his foot. He could almost feel the veins bulging on Yuqing’s instep.

“So cold?” he remarked about his foot.

“Mhm…” Yuqing said, “An old ailment.”

He couldn’t sit up, leaning his head back against the pillow, clearly enduring the pain.

His icy soles were slick with cold sweat. Zhou Xiao gripped them tightly, rubbing them until they warmed up.

“Mmph…” Yuqing’s body trembled uncontrollably, the veins on his neck bulging slightly as his hands crumpled the surrounding quilt.

This was the first time Zhou Xiao had witnessed such a scene. This was merely a glimpse into Yuqing’s daily life, enduring difficult nights one after another.

Before this, Yuqing had never let anyone massage him.

“Is it better?” Zhou Xiao squeezed the fascia, sensing it had relaxed a bit.

Yuqing let out a deep breath, as if finally able to rest after enduring the agony. “It only lasts a while. Once it passes, it’s fine.”

“Where are you going?” Zhou Xiao asked, seeing him clutching his lower abdomen, trying to get out of bed.

“I…”

When they had first lain down, he hadn’t noticed anything amiss, but now, having another person there actually made things more troublesome.

Yuqing’s ears turned red. “I need to relieve myself.”

Zhou Xiao: “Does a leg that just cramped have the strength to walk?”

Yuqing was holding it in, feeling quite uncomfortable.

Although he was only five months along, the child moving randomly in his belly and pressing against his bladder was extremely uncomfortable. Furthermore, he had just broken into a sweat; lying back down would only make him feel worse.

Zhou Xiao lit a candle. “Wait.”

He brought the chamber pot inside, crouched down, and directly reached to untie Yuqing’s undergarments. Afraid he couldn’t see clearly, he even pulled over a chair and placed the candle on it to get a better look.

“What are you doing?” Yuqing grabbed his approaching hand.

“Didn’t you say you needed to relieve yourself?” Zhou Xiao frowned.

Yuqing’s eyes widened slightly, and he turned his head away. This gesture carried a hint of unmistakable bashfulness. “Let go.”

Zhou Xiao was instantly displeased. He gritted his teeth and asked, “What? That Zhao Fu can serve you, but I can’t?”

He had specifically come back to keep watch, and he was right here. Was he supposed to let Zhao Fu swagger in and walk all over him?

He needed Zhao Fu when taking medicine, and now he wouldn’t even let him help with this?

Why?

He muttered to himself, “Am I worse than a servant?”

Yuqing’s legs were still trembling slightly. “What does this have to do with Zhao Fu? He…”

“I never let him serve me for these things.” Yuqing closed his eyes. “I can do it myself.”

“He never came in to serve you before?”

Yuqing, uncomfortable from holding it in, hurriedly pushed him away, wanting him to turn his back. “Mhm. Since I became pregnant, he only keeps watch in the outer corridor at night.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xiao felt comfortable again. “Perfect then. Where he falls short, I’ll be generous and step in.”

“Besides, I’ve never done these things for anyone before. You’re the first.”

Another one of my firsts, all given to Yuqing.

“…” Yuqing’s ears turned a faint shade of red.

Seeing how uncomfortable he was, Zhou Xiao didn’t force the issue. He placed the chamber pot on the floor and stopped trying to untie his undergarments, but he sat nearby, watching.

If he had known it would be like this, Yuqing would never have let him on the bed.

Having just had a cramp, he couldn’t stand up at all. But bending over made his lower abdomen bulge, and Yuqing had always been careful with his stomach; he couldn’t squat down.

As he reached out to steady himself against the edge of the bed, Zhou Xiao leaned in again, supporting him with a hand. “What’s there to be shy about? It’s not like I haven’t seen it.”

Yuqing: “The open-mindedness of the West hasn’t fully made its way here yet.”

Zhou Xiao gave a soft snort. As the calluses on his hand brushed against little Yuqing, his mood seemed to improve significantly.

The shyer Yuqing was, the more it proved that no one had done these things for him before.

This could be considered another first.

Being rubbed like that, Yuqing’s already cramped leg grew even weaker. Helpless, he leaned back, ending up resting against Zhou Xiao’s chest, relying on him for most of his support.

“Do you want me to hum a tune to coax you?”

Feeling somewhat fragile and powerless, Yuqing thought to himself, Whose badly raised dog is this?

If he weren’t pregnant, if he weren’t in a state where he could be manipulated like this, he would definitely teach Zhou Xiao a lesson for daring to treat him this way…

Zhou Xiao’s lips brushed against his sticky nape. “Didn’t you say it was uncomfortable? Still haven’t gone?”

Yuqing’s face flushed bright red, and he pursed his lips, refusing to speak.

“Since the Young Master doesn’t mind Yuqing, I will trouble you then,” Yuqing said, as Zhou Xiao tried to look down.

Yuqing reached back and held his face, covering his eyes, allowing him to continue supporting him.

The candlelight crackled and sputtered.

From the chamber pot, however, there wasn’t much sound, only a few drops.

As the months progressed, the space the bladder could occupy became even smaller. It didn’t store much to begin with, and with Yuqing suppressing himself slightly, Zhou Xiao instead felt a patch of wetness on his fingers.

“You—”

Yuqing’s lips curled up slightly: “It was an accident.”

“Yuqing told you, I’m rather hard to serve.”

After finishing, Yuqing got back onto the bed as if nothing had happened. “If the Young Master finds it distasteful, then don’t serve me in the future.”

Zhou Xiao turned away angrily, took the chamber pot outside, and ordered Zhao Fu to fetch some water.

Before washing his hands, he glanced behind the mother-of-pearl screen.

He specifically brought a candle over to illuminate his hands. Only two fingers were wet. It had been warm just a moment ago, but now it was almost dry.

“If the Young Master feels uncomfortable, I suppose someone has already cleaned up a room outside for you,” Yuqing’s voice drifted eerily from the bed.

Separated by the screen, neither could see the other.

Zhou Xiao was carefully examining the two fingers where the moisture was about to evaporate.

He thought for a moment, then lowered his head to sniff.

He didn’t know if it was because Yuqing had been steeped in the scent of jasmine all year round or what.

Zhou Xiao only felt that he, too, seemed to be tainted with this fragrance.

There was no particular smell on his fingers; instead, his palm carried a faint fragrance from holding Yuqing’s hand while sleeping.

Or maybe the moisture had already evaporated.

He had said Yuqing was beautiful, every part of his body was beautiful.

The day they reunited, when he ducked under Yuqing’s long gown, he had seen it clearly. It was incredibly clean, even tinged with a bit of pink.

Burying himself deeply inside was far more profound than the scent of the long gown; pressing against the flesh was the true scent of the body.

The more Zhou Xiao thought about it, the more he felt that not being able to smell anything was his own problem.

Yuqing smelled so good; how could this thing have no scent?

He refused to believe it.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. His eyes stared blankly at the basin of clear water Zhao Fu had brought in, while a smug, triumphant satisfaction settled in his heart.

That fellow Zhao Fu must be heartbroken, right?

What did that son of a bitch amount to?

He hadn’t met Jiang Sui yet and didn’t know what he looked like, but to reach the rank of General, he certainly wasn’t young. An old geezer—how could he compete with a young, attractive body like his?

And Zhao Fu was even less of a concern. So what if he had accompanied Yuqing for years?

He, Zhou Xiao, was the true winner.

As long as he was back, his position was unshakable.

If Yuqing didn’t love him, he would give him time. Others weren’t even worthy of getting close enough to empty Ruan Yuqing’s chamber pot or carry his shoes.

Ha!

Thinking of this, Zhou Xiao was incredibly smug. He tasted his fingers and found it to be a delicacy of the highest order.

Yuqing might act disgusted on the surface, but didn’t he still leave half the bed for him?

For the first time, Zhou Xiao felt that Zhou Yuzhang wasn’t entirely useless.

At the very least, banking on the old man’s affection, he would always be able to climb into Yuqing’s bed.

Finally, the almost-dry water stain on his fingers turned into his own saliva. It was too little; there was absolutely no taste.

In fact, tasting it only made him more parched.

Snapping back to reality, Zhou Xiao saw his fingers gleaming slightly under the candlelight. Disgusted, he washed off his own saliva, opened the door, and tossed the water out.

Zhao Fu had already emptied the chamber pot.

Seeing Zhao Fu’s submissive and obedient demeanor infuriated Zhou Xiao. Who knows if he had secretly tasted it just like he did?

What wouldn’t a dog servant do?

Slut…

This was a word the First Madam loved to use.

In the First Madam’s eyes, any woman the Old Master so much as glanced at was collectively labeled a slut. If they were truly favored, they wouldn’t live long; the Old Master’s gaze was a death warrant for others.

Ha.

So the First Madam wasn’t crazy either.

She had her hardships.

Zhou Xiao never imagined that one day he would actually understand that woman.

He resentfully ordered Zhao Fu to scram from the courtyard, then hurriedly climbed into Yuqing’s bed.

Yuqing was clearly angry. He hadn’t expected him to return, and had his back turned to him.

Zhou Xiao didn’t care. The back was even better; facing each other meant having to be mindful of his stomach, but back-to-back allowed them to press even closer.

The things Yuqing did always found a way to warm his heart.

Yuqing: “….”

The next morning.

Zhou Xiao was in high spirits.

Deng Yongquan felt sorry for his father and originally didn’t want him to come over to serve breakfast.

But the Zhou family used to have many rules, and the butler was the strictest adherent to them. Etiquette was carved into his bones. Previously, Yuqing was only the Young Madam.

But it was different now that the legitimate Young Master had returned. His willingness to come home meant there was officially someone to inherit the Zhou family.

The Young Madam’s condition made it inconvenient for him to go out often. In the future, the Young Master would still have to shoulder the burden of the Zhou family and revive the clan.

Butler Deng stood by to offer guidance while the two ate.

As long as the Young Master offered a stick of incense to the Old Master, it would be considered accepting the Zhou family, and he could formally become the Master in the future.

Deng Yongquan held a small bowl. He could have sat, but his father wouldn’t let him, so he had to stand and eat. He muttered, “The Young Master doesn’t believe in those things.”

“Everyone outside is talking about materialism now. The Young Master will be unhappy about offering incense,” he whispered a warning. His mind still horrifyingly flashed back to Zhou Xiao giggling yesterday; he didn’t want his father to press his luck.

Butler Deng reached out to hit him: “When is it your turn to speak? The master hasn’t opened his mouth, so how is it your place to talk?”

Deng Yongquan muttered: “The Young Master says everyone is equal. You can’t hit me anymore. Nowadays, fathers who hit their kids are incompetent. If you don’t believe me, ask the Young Master.”

He took the opportunity to hide behind Zhou Xiao, holding his rice bowl.

Zhou Xiao gave a sound of agreement, “But since Yuqing likes to keep these traditions, I won’t interfere. Since the Old Master let him call the shots, I won’t say much.”

Zhou Xiao usually maintained a gentle smile when facing normal people.

Two people sat in the room eating, the butler stood to the side, and two maids served the dishes. Outside the courtyard stood two rows of guards, all perfectly disciplined.

This was the scene after Yuqing had already dismissed a portion of the servants bound by death contracts. He usually had a poor appetite and would just eat casually in the small courtyard. But as soon as Zhou Xiao returned, all these formalities were reinstated without exception.

He preached equality for all, but he also demanded to enjoy the privileges of the rules.

Yuqing lazily looked up at him, then recalled how this person had sprawled across his chest this morning, making ‘tsk tsk’ sounds while eating. How was the man now, in a suit and tie, sporting a Swiss watch on his wrist and exuding a progressive aura, the same person?

Zhou Xiao had eaten his meal in bed this morning, very well-behaved. He didn’t overstep, didn’t touch anywhere he shouldn’t, it was just his teeth….

Teeth biting down on things, but why did his tongue sweep around wildly, slipping between the gaps of his teeth…

It was as if he was intentionally trying to seduce him. Yuqing was already pregnant; faced with a young, vigorous body, there were certain places that… itched.

It wasn’t his heart; it felt more like a bodily instinct during a special period. Thinking of this…

Yuqing looked at Zhou Xiao’s disguised appearance again, a peculiar feeling rising in his heart. Did he only reveal his true nature to him?

“Since you’re back, offer a stick of incense to Father,” he spoke up.

The moment Yuqing spoke, Zhou Xiao reluctantly gave an “Mhm.”

Seeing Deng Yongquan hiding behind Zhou Xiao looking quite pitiful, Yuqing beckoned him over and placed some food in his bowl. “Sit down. There’s no need to be so formal. You didn’t adhere to these rules when you followed the Young Master in France. You’re even younger than the Young Master; there’s no need to force yourself.”

Deng Yongquan was stunned, almost dropping his rice bowl. He trembled inwardly, thinking to himself that in France, he only dared to sit down when the Young Master was in a good mood…

The Young Master was nothing like the reasonable and understanding Young Madam.

Just as Yuqing finished giving him food, Deng Yongquan said, “Thank you, Young Madam, for the food.”

When he looked up again, Zhou Xiao had slightly lowered his head. The shadow beneath his brow obscured his eyes, and he was glaring fixedly at Deng Yongquan.

Butler Deng immediately said, “Someone, change the chopsticks.”

This was the rule: a master’s chopsticks could not touch a servant’s. If they did, it was considered a reward.

Once Yuqing changed his chopsticks, Zhou Xiao finally felt at ease and resumed eating.

After finishing the meal, Zhou Xiao headed to the ancestral hall. Before entering, he stopped beside Deng Yongquan.

“Look up,” Zhou Xiao commanded.

Deng Yongquan wished he could slap himself twice. He couldn’t refuse the food the Young Madam offered, but accepting it sent a chill down his spine. He still had to support his father in his old age; he needed to stay alive.

Zhou Xiao took a step closer, patted his shoulder, and said with a beaming smile, “Don’t be nervous. You’ve been my companion in France for many years. In my heart, you’ve long been a confidant.”

“Yes….”

“So if you harbor any ulterior motives, I’ll give you a quick death.” He smiled radiantly. “Wait by the door.”

Zhou Xiao entered the ancestral hall, where the spirit tablets of generations of Zhou ancestors were enshrined.

The incense smoke was choking. As the wooden doors opened, dust danced in the air.

The ash on the altar was swept daily, but there weren’t many sticks of incense burning. After Yuqing became pregnant, he had to limit his exposure to such things.

Zhou Xiao lit the incense—three sticks emitting the acrid, smoky scent typical of a temple.

Watching the red embers on the tips of the incense, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket, placed it between his lips, and used the three burning incense sticks to light it.

He didn’t kneel on the prayer mat either. Zhou Xiao didn’t believe in ghosts or gods; otherwise, the ghosts coming to find him over the years would have to form a line.

In the new era, one naturally had to believe in materialism. People needed to progress, and so did their thoughts.

Zhou Xiao planted the incense into the burner. Facing his biological father’s spirit tablet, he flicked his cigarette ash into the burner and said softly, “You better bless Yuqing with safety.”

“Otherwise, I’ll burn your ancestral hall to the ground.”