Mu Wan understood the underlying thought behind Wu Ma’s question. Her mother had also gotten pregnant before marriage and spent so many years as a single parent afterward.
She could resemble her mother in many ways, but Wu Ma didn’t want her to take after her mother in this particular aspect.
Truthfully, no matter what path she took, she wouldn’t resemble her mother in that way. She’d discussed this with Lin Wei before. Marriage and children felt like natural steps for her.
But she didn’t elaborate. Instead, she placed her hand in front of Wu Ma and teased, “Ta-da! He just proposed the other day. We’re taking it slow.”
The ring on her finger was exquisite—vibrant yet straightforward, undoubtedly costly, and ideally suited to Mu Wan. Seeing it, Wu Ma felt reassured, realizing she’d been meddling. The young couple had their own pace. She smiled and said, “Since you’re pregnant, go rest. I’ll handle dinner.”
Mu Wan couldn’t help much, and the kitchen was cramped, so she decided not to get in the way. After playing in the living room for a while, she heard a knock on the door and perked up. Setting her phone aside, she skipped over to open it.
The door swung open to reveal Liu Qianxiu standing outside. The cool air from the living room rushed toward him as the woman approached, colliding into his embrace. He pulled her close, a faint smile playing on his lips, and carried her inside.
“Wu Ma is cooking,” Mu Wan gestured toward the kitchen. “It'll be ready soon.”
Perhaps feeling shy, Wu Ma didn’t come out of the kitchen despite hearing the commotion. Liu Qianxiu glanced toward the kitchen before lowering his head to kiss her cheek, his voice soft.
“I'll go help.”
“Alright.” Since Wu Ma was too embarrassed to come out, Liu Qianxiu should probably go greet her. Mu Wan released her arms from around him and escorted him to the kitchen.
Wu Ma heard the commotion outside the door. She could sense the sweetness between the young couple without even seeing them. Feeling a bit awkward, she didn’t go out. Unexpectedly, moments later, both of them ended up blocking the doorway.
Wu Ma had seen Liu Qianxiu before. He’d visited the Mu family to look for Mu Wan. But she’d only caught a glimpse from afar, noting only that he was tall and slender, radiating an air of nobility that marked him as anything but ordinary.
Seeing him up close today, she was surprised by his striking beauty, as if he were a deity from a painting. His brows and eyes seemed to hold distant mountain mists, and he stood tall and slender, utterly untouched by worldly concerns.
“Wu Ma, this is Liu Qianxiu. Liu Qianxiu, this is Wu Ma.” Mu Wan wrapped her arms around Liu Qianxiu’s shoulders, peeking out from behind him with her fuzzy little head as she introduced them.
Liu Qianxiu politely greeted her first. “Aye, aye,” Wu Ma responded twice, her hands busy with tasks. She gave an embarrassed smile and said, “Wait outside for a moment, the meal will be ready soon.”
As she finished speaking, Liu Qianxiu had already entered the kitchen. His fingers, with their clearly defined knuckles, rolled up his sleeves. His voice was as calm and detached as his demeanor.
“Let me handle this.”
Saying this, he took the lotus root she was holding, still not thoroughly cleaned.
Dirt clung to the lotus root as he scraped its surface with a knife. Water streamed from the faucet, washing the root until it gleamed white and tender. His slender fingers were a cool, pale white, matching the lotus root’s hue perfectly.
Even performing such tasks, he remained untouched by the mundane.
Wu Ma reached out to take it, but Mu Wan called out cheerfully from outside, “It's fine. He can cook. He makes all the meals at home.”
Liu Qianxiu glanced up at her. Mu Wan met his gaze and saw a sparkle in his eyes. Impulsively, she walked over, tugged at his sleeve, tilted her head, and asked, “Is that right?”
“Mhm.” After washing the lotus root clean, Liu Qianxiu let her tug at him. He gave a brief nod before picking up a knife to slice the root.
Their interaction was warm and sweet, their eyes brimming with love that couldn’t be hidden. Watching them, Wu Ma felt her heart gradually fill with ease and joy.
After dinner, Wu Ma prepared to leave. It wasn’t dark yet, so she planned to take the bus. After Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu escorted her downstairs, Liu Qianxiu asked Uncle Li to drive her home.
Wu Ma protested repeatedly, but in the end, Mu Wan helped her into the car, closed the door, and waved goodbye. Uncle Li rolled down the window. Watching the two figures through the glass, Aunt Wu felt warm and content.
As the car pulled away from the community, Mu Wan watched Wu Ma disappear from view. Dark shadows now stretched across the sky, and street stalls had sprung up along the roadside, filling the air with the warm, bustling atmosphere of everyday life.
Beside her, Liu Qianxiu seemed out of place amidst the lively scene. Mu Wan moved closer, and he took her hand—his palm slightly cool and dry.
“Let's go home,” Mu Wan said with a smile.
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