The next morning, the moment Zuo Zuo opened his eyes, he scrambled out of bed and began running around the apartment, asking excitedly, “Where’s Daddy?”

I folded the blanket as I answered, “Daddy went home, sweetie.”

To my surprise, the little boy standing behind me suddenly sniffled, his big eyes turning brimmed with red. “Does Daddy not want me anymore?”

My heart clamped tight. Turning around, I crouched down and tried to explain the situation to a four-year-old, utterly lost on where to begin. “Um… well, you see, people who aren’t married can’t live in the same house.”

Zuo Zuo tilted his head, his wide eyes brimming with confusion. “Then when are you and Daddy getting married?”

I was completely tongue-tied. Before I could manufacture an answer, the ring of the doorbell saved me.

“I’ll get it!” Zuo Zuo cheered, sprinting toward the hallway.

The second the door creaked open, his happy voice rang out: “Daddy!”

Looking up, I saw Chi You standing in the doorway, waving a bag of breakfast items in front of Zuo Zuo with a radiant grin. “I brought breakfast for you and Mommy.”

Zuo Zuo perked up, pointing to a small container. “Mommy loves spicy soup! Did you buy some for her?”

Watching the two of them chatter back and forth, a wave of relief washed over me. While Chi You coaxed Zuo Zuo into eating his breakfast, I quietly stepped into the bedroom, opened the nightstand drawer, and pulled out a spare key.

When I handed the key to Chi You, he accepted it with a smile so bright it looked like he’d just hit the jackpot.

I looked at Zuo Zuo happily eating away, then turned back to Chi You, my expression turning serious. “I’m trusting you with this.”

His fingers closed tightly around the key, his voice firm and unwavering. “Three days… Give me three days, and I’ll bring you home.”

I lowered my head without saying a word, quietly accepting his promise.

Adults don’t need endless drawn-out courtships. It’s either a clean break, or marriage.

I still loved him. Zuo Zuo needed him. No matter how many times I ran the math in my head, I couldn’t find a single reason to refuse.

On the day we returned to the Chi family residence, I stood frozen in front of the main entrance, my feet feeling as though they were nailed to the floor. The man beside me took my hand, his palm warm and reassuring. In his other arm, he carried Zuo Zuo—the child we both cherished with all our hearts.

I took a deep breath, letting him gently pull me over the threshold.

The moment I looked up, I saw an elegant woman sitting on the sofa, her posture regal yet softened by a touch of gentleness.

I swallowed hard, my lips trembling as I stammered, “Auntie…”

Chi You set Zuo Zuo down on his feet and patted him on the head. Without needing another prompt, Zuo Zuo darted forward like a little rocket, babbling cheerfully.

“Oh my goodness, look at this precious little darling! Come give Grandma a hug!”

Chi You leaned down, whispering against my ear, “That was my secret weapon.”

I ducked my head to hide a secretive smile, but before it could fade, the woman’s voice called out my name:

“Yao Yao, come sit next to me.”

A subtle squeeze on my hand served as a quiet push. Butterflies fluttering in my stomach, I tentatively stepped forward and sat on the sofa. I had braced myself for a long, stern lecture, but her next words caught me completely off guard:

“I was wrong back then. You two go on and live a happy life together.”

She pulled Zuo Zuo into her lap, gently patting his back before waving her hand at us dismissively. “Pick a date for the wedding. I’ll take care of Zuo Zuo from now on.”

It felt as though a massive weight had been lifted off my chest, and I finally dared to let out a full breath of air. Turning to Chi You, my eyes overflowed with quiet gratitude.

He slung an arm around my shoulder, eyes shining bright. “Told you you could trust me.”

For the first time since we reconnected, I reached out and took his hand on my own, my voice soft and full of emotion. “Thank you.”

That evening, Zuo Zuo stayed behind at the family estate. Chi You took me out for dinner, and being in such high spirits, he ended up drinking a bit too much. By ten o’clock, I had to haul his stumbling frame back into our apartment.

The moment we crossed the threshold, he collapsed his weight against me, resting his chin on my shoulder as his voice rasped in a rough, drunken whisper:

“I finally found you… Yao Yao… wife… my cufflinks are old… will you buy me new ones?”

Before I could react, his warm lips were already tracing a path across my skin, exploring with deliberate slowness. Realizing I wasn’t pulling away, his kiss deepened, turning fierce and consuming.

His arm locked tightly around my waist, erasing every inch of space between us. My feet left the floor as he lifted me effortlessly with one arm. Driven by sheer instinct, I wrapped my legs around his waist, letting him carry me all the way from the front door into the bedroom.

Along the way, the claw clip holding my hair up slipped out, letting my locks tumble freely down my back.

When he laid me down on the bed, I sank into the soft mattress, his hot breath fanning close against my face. His voice dropped, low and deeply sincere:

“Yao Yao, you might not believe me, but you’re the only one I’ve ever had. In five years, there has never been anyone else.”

At first, I didn’t believe him. But as things slowly spiraled completely out of control, I believed every word.

By two in the morning, I lay utterly wrecked on the bed, completely stripped of strength. Chi You lay beside me, a picture of absolute satisfaction. He gently tucked a few sweat-slicked strands of hair behind my ear, offering a lazy smile.

“Yao Yao, let’s pick a day to sign the marriage papers.”

I offered a weak, exhausted hum of agreement.

Yet less than five minutes later, he leaned back in, breathing my name against my skin once more:

“Yao Yao—”

A moment later, tears of total helplessness leaked from the corners of my eyes. Gritting my teeth, I let out a tearful sob:

“Chi You, I swear I’m taking our son and running away tomorrow!”