Chapter 97

The next morning, when You Changqing woke up, she found that there weren’t any marks left on her body. Even sensitive areas like her chest and thighs didn’t feel sore. She immediately realized that Lihuan must have applied medicine for her.

Given how considerate Lihuan was, I won’t stay mad at her, You Changqing thought, stretching her arms and legs, her eyes curving into a smile.

She sat up lazily in bed and looked around. Seeing a light on in the bathroom, she raised her voice and asked, “Lihuan, are you in the bathroom?”

“I’m here.”

A few seconds later, Shen Lihuan stepped out of the bathroom, a few drops of water still clinging to her face—she had just finished washing up.

As soon as You Changqing saw her, she couldn’t help but grin and blurted out, “Wifey, you’re up so early.”

Shen Lihuan was momentarily caught off guard by the title, but quickly caught on and smiled as she responded, “Honey, it’s time to get out of bed.”

Their eyes met, and You Changqing suddenly started laughing like a fool. Since yesterday, she had become Lihuan’s wife. She would spend the rest of her life with Lihuan, and even after death, they’d be buried together in the same grave.

After tidying up, the two of them went downstairs. It was a little past eight. Little Youyou, full of boundless energy, had already been rampaging through the house for a while. Over on the floor, Bawang lay there looking utterly done with life, watching his tiny master riding on Jun’s back while shouting, “Giddy up! Giddy up!”

The little master was treating Jun like a horse.

Luckily, the little master liked fluffy things and not his own sleek, hairless self. Otherwise, he would’ve been the one getting ridden.

After nearly seven years, both Jun and Bawang had grown even larger, but they were still just as agile as ever. Thanks to Shen Lihuan frequently using her abilities to clear their meridians, they still had many years of life ahead of them.

Watching Jun tirelessly carry Youyou around the living room, Shen Lihuan silently praised Jun for his hard work. Then she called out to Youyou to get down. He was already six years old—still loved riding Jun so much, wasn’t even worried about squashing him flat.

As soon as Youyou saw his sister, he jumped off Jun’s back and ran over with little stomping steps. He wrapped his arms around her leg, blinking his long lashes and looking up at her with innocent devotion. “Sister! I missed you so much!”

Jun and Bawang were wagging their tongues excitedly too. Ever since their master started school, they barely got to see her anymore.

“You just saw me yesterday, and you already miss me today?”

Shen Lihuan took his hand, gently pinched his chubby cheek, and used her other hand to stroke Jun and Bawang, making the now-massive dog and snake even more hyper.

Youyou rubbed against his sister’s hand, his little face full of innocent earnestness. “They say not seeing someone for a day feels like three autumns. I haven’t seen Sister for three autumns now, of course I missed you.”

“What a sweet little mouth you have. Who taught you to say things like that?” No one else in the family was half as good with sweet talk.

Shen Lihuan pulled him into a cuddle, lifted him up and spun him around before putting him back down. Youyou burst into peals of clear, bright laughter, filling the whole living room.

Gu Qinglan came out of the kitchen and hadn’t even stepped into the living room before she heard her son’s laughter. She couldn’t help but shake her head—Lihuan must have come downstairs to play with him. This little guy only saved his brightest smiles for his sister.

“Mom, good morning.”

Shen Lihuan was the first to greet her. You Changqing also smiled and called out, “Good morning, Mom.”

“Ay~” Gu Qinglan responded cheerfully. “Hearing Changqing call me that really makes my heart happy. Back when Lihuan first brought Changqing home, I thought this pretty girl ought to be my daughter-in-law. Now my wish has finally come true.”

You Changqing shyly responded, “Mooom~”

She dragged out the last syllable, her bashful look making Shen Lihuan absolutely smitten.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Breakfast is ready in the kitchen. Let’s all go eat.”

Gu Qinglan, being thoughtful, didn’t tease her daughter-in-law any further and called everyone to the dining room. She originally wanted to take her son’s hand, but Youyou dodged her and clung tightly to Shen Lihuan.

“Youyou wants to hold Sister’s hand. Mommy can hold Changqing-jie’s hand. One for each of us.”

He said this with such pride, convinced that this division of labor was perfectly fair. His round little eyes curved into a crescent moon as he beamed with delight—it was too adorable.

Shen Lihuan looked at his chubby little cheeks and itched to squish them, but she held herself back. A child’s skin was delicate; you couldn’t just pinch it all the time.

So she regretfully gave up the dangerous idea and took his chubby little hand. Together with Gu Qinglan and You Changqing, they walked into the dining room.

Shen Jiashu was already seated at the dining table. When he saw them enter, he smiled and called them over. “Come eat. Youyou, want to sit next to Daddy?”

Faced with his question, Youyou shook his head vigorously. “Thank you, Daddy, but Youyou wants to sit with Sister.”

Shen Jiashu smiled helplessly and didn’t push it. He picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a crab roe soup dumpling on Gu Qinglan’s plate. Gu Qinglan gave him a gentle smile in return.

Youyou sat close to his sister and tapped his chin with a finger, pointing at the rose pastries on the far end. He said in his soft, milky voice, “Sister, Youyou wants a rose pastry. Can you help me get one?”

Youyou loved to act sweet with Shen Lihuan. He always dragged out his words, his voice soft and syrupy, making you want to hand him the whole world to choose from.

Shen Lihuan was no exception. She immediately picked up her chopsticks and placed a rose pastry in her darling little brother’s bowl, gently reminding him to eat slowly and be careful—it might be hot.

Youyou smiled and picked up the rose pastry. She thought he was going to eat it, but instead, he offered it to Shen Lihuan like a little gentleman. “The book said roses help with beauty and skincare. Sister, have a bite of this rose pastry—it’s filled with Youyou’s love. It’ll make you extra pretty.”

Even Gu Qinglan was stunned. Her son’s skills in wooing girls were practically innate. Just listen to that line—so smooth. If he ever started talking like that to little girls or boys outside, he’d be dragging a whole bunch of admirers back home.

“My little brother really knows how to sweet-talk people.” Shen Lihuan was coaxed into joy by her brother’s flattery. She lowered her head and took a bite of the rose pastry. After swallowing, she gave a thumbs-up to the expectant Youyou. “The rose pastry Youyou made is delicious. Big sister is definitely going to look beautiful.”

Youyou giggled on the spot, his expression full of pride.

After finishing a breakfast full of happiness, Shen Lihuan and You Changqing each held one of Youyou’s hands and took him out for a walk to help with digestion.

General and Overlord followed closely behind them. The scene was nearly identical to what it had been years ago, except now there was a Youyou.

“Time really flies.”

Shen Lihuan sighed. In the blink of an eye, she had been in this world for nearly seven years. Now she had beloved family, a cherished wife, and a life that was both happy and comfortable. She couldn’t even imagine what kind of person she would have become if she were still in the apocalypse.

“Yeah, it really does fly by. Back then, I used to complain that time moved too slowly, and it felt like we’d never come of age. Now, we’re already married.”

You Changqing turned her head to look at Shen Lihuan. Over the years, she hadn’t changed much—her features had matured, and there was a sharper edge in her expression. Yet whenever she looked at her, that sharpness would vanish. Her gaze would soften with a smile, gentle in every way.

One of her classmates had once asked curiously, “Changqing, don’t you feel pressured being with your partner? Her presence is so intense. Every time I see her, I feel like I don’t even have the courage to greet her—I just feel so inferior.”

She’d been puzzled at the time. “Not at all. Lihuan is very gentle.”

After hearing that, the classmate had looked like they’d been force-fed dog food, and she hadn’t really understood why. Thinking back now, Lihuan was gentle—but only selectively. She was only gentle toward her and their family. To others, they’d only ever see the forceful side of Shen Lihuan.

And with that thought, the woman in front of her became even more captivating.

There will always be that one person in the world who makes you love them more with each passing day. She felt so lucky to have met her early in life.

Since Shen Lihuan and You Changqing had just married, they were allowed a month of honeymoon leave. After their honeymoon, You Changqing would return to work at Dingshang International, and Shen Lihuan would continue her studies until she earned her Ph.D.

Clinical medicine was a five-year program, but at Imperial University, if you had the ability to finish your credits early and had excellent grades, early graduation was permitted. Shen Lihuan had completed her credits and passed her graduate entrance exams during her senior year, so this new semester, she would officially be a graduate student.

It did feel a bit miserable—her wife was already out working, and she still had to study…

But the exciting part was that her research institute had already gathered a team to begin work on anti-cancer drug development. Now, with the support of her professors and senior colleagues, not only had the talent pool grown, but the most advanced medical equipment had also been brought in through her advisor’s connections. The deputy director of the institute was practically skipping down the halls with joy.

Shen Lihuan knew that once she began her graduate studies, she’d have to juggle coursework and research at the institute—it was going to be an exhausting grind. She wouldn’t have time to accompany Changqing anymore. That was why she treasured this honeymoon trip so much. With a world map in hand, she and Changqing had discussed their travel destinations at length.

In the end, aside from the Pink Country, they decided to also visit the Blue Country, Red Country, Purple Country, and Orange Country.

The Blue Country was famous for its ancient castles, the Red Country for its wine, the Purple Country for its flower fields, and the Orange Country for its beaches.

The two of them had so much fun that they didn’t want to go home. They immersed themselves in joy every day, tossing aside all responsibilities and simply enjoying their little world for two.

They went sailing and almost ran into a shark. They rode the world’s largest Ferris wheel and kissed at the very top. They went bungee jumping and shouted into the vast valley, “You Changqing, I love you!” “Shen Lihuan, I love you!” They soaked in hot springs, feasted on delicious food…

When they left their final stop—the Orange Country—and boarded the plane back home, You Changqing looked back longingly. “We probably won’t get a chance to do this again for a long time.”

Shen Lihuan intertwined their fingers and leaned in to whisper with a hint of guilt, “It’s my fault. I’ll try to make time to be with you in the future.”

You Changqing shook her head with a smile. “Silly, I’m not blaming you. You have your dreams, and I have mine. Just as you support my dreams, I’ll always support yours. Life is so long. Even if you can’t always be by my side, as long as we love each other, I’ll never feel lonely.”

In that moment, Shen Lihuan’s heart melted completely.