"if……"

Xiao Yunying hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

She wanted to know if Luo Xin would be willing to live with her if she divorced Luo Sheng.

But the little girl is not only close to him, she also has a good relationship with Luo Yang and the others.

Once she divorces Luo Sheng, the children of the Luo family will definitely leave with Luo Sheng.

She had to give up a relationship no matter what she chose, and the little girl would be heartbroken no matter what she did. Thinking of this, Xiao Yunying couldn't bring herself to ask.

"What does Mother want to ask?"

Xiao Yunying gently stroked Luo Xin's soft hair: "Mother is going to the city tomorrow, Xin'er, do you want to come along?"

"Xin'er wants to go, wherever Mother goes, Xin'er will go."

"Alright, then Mother will take Xin'er with her tomorrow."

That afternoon, Xiao Yunying stayed in the house as if escaping reality, and didn't come out much until she estimated that the children would be back soon, at which point she finally left the room.

When I went to the kitchen to prepare the food, I heard two dogs barking excitedly in the yard, and I knew that Luo Yang and the others had returned.

She called out to Zheng Yunwan, who was about to open the door: "I'll go open the door. You cut the carrot and wood ear mushrooms into thin strips. I'll come back and cook the vegetables in a bit."

Xiao Yunying wiped the water off her hands with her apron, took a deep breath at the doorway, and then opened the door.

Luo Li, carrying her book bag, noticed the apron she was wearing and asked, "Is Mom cooking? What are we having for dinner? Do you need any help, Ali?"

After saying that, he squatted down and played with the two dogs.

Luo Yang wanted to enter the courtyard, but as soon as he stepped in, Xiao Yunying hurriedly blocked his way.

"Wait a minute, I have something to tell you."

She tugged at her apron, glanced at Luo Chen's expression, and hesitated about how to start the conversation.

Luo Yang asked directly, "Has Father returned?"

Seeing that Luo Chen looked alright, Xiao Yunying said, "Luo Sheng returned around noon and is resting in the house..."

Noticing that Luo Chen was staring straight at her from behind, she turned around and found that Luo Shen was standing not far away, watching them.

The group stood silently at the door, looking at each other. Even Luo Li, who was squatting on the ground, stopped playing with the dog and stared blankly at the unfamiliar man in front of him.

She subtly tugged at Luo Yang's sleeve, hoping her clever second son would say something to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Luo Sheng glanced at the two people making subtle movements, his thoughts swirling in his mind.

Luo Yang looked at Luo Sheng for a while and then said, "Father, you're back."

Luo Sheng gave a faint "hmm".

Xiao Yunying sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. They didn't seem like a family at all; they were more like complete strangers.

No, it's worse than strangers. At least a few strangers meeting by chance wouldn't be like this; the atmosphere is indescribably awkward and strange.

"It's not good for us to just stand here staring at each other," Xiao Yunying said first.

"Don't stand at the door, come inside. Luo Li, stop playing with the dog. Luo Chen, take Luo Li and put down the book bag. Wash your hands and eat in a bit."

Luo Chen silently pulled Luo Li, who was squatting on the ground, and led him into his room.

Xiao Yunying chuckled twice and said to Luo Sheng, "Hehe, maybe it's because we haven't seen each other for too long, and the children are a bit unfamiliar with you. It's okay, you'll get used to each other after spending some time together."

"Um...you can come inside and wait too, the food will be ready in a bit."

Luo Sheng hummed in agreement and turned to walk towards the reception area.

Xiao Yunying couldn't help but glare at his back, muttering under her breath, "What kind of attitude is that? Will it cost you anything to say a few more words? No wonder the children aren't close to you."

Luo Sheng paused, startling Xiao Yunying into quickly shutting her mouth.

After he entered the reception room, Xiao Yunying whispered to Luo Yang, "I think Luo Chen and Luo Li are acting strangely. You should try to persuade them tonight."

Although Xiao Yunying was also angry at Luo Sheng's irresponsibility and wanted to fight with him for custody of Luo Xin, she wouldn't go so far as to do something malicious behind their backs and deliberately sow discord between them.

Luo Yang withdrew his gaze and asked, "Mother, do you know why Father has been out of contact for so long, and why he has suddenly returned now?"

"I...haven't asked yet."

She wanted to ask, but Luo Sheng looked like a martial artist and always had a stern face. She was afraid he would say something she didn't like and she would start arguing with him because of her short temper.

If he were to actually hit me, I figured I wouldn't be able to avoid it.

She didn't want to get beaten up, so she simply didn't ask; she couldn't ask now.

"I understand. Mother, go cook. I'll go and try to persuade my older brother."

Xiao Yunying wanted to pat Luo Yang's head, but halfway up she remembered that her hands were oily from cooking, so she pulled them back.

"You make things so easy for me. I'll go cook now."

For dinner, I made two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, one cold dish, and one soup.

When the dishes were served, Xiao Yunying asked Zheng Yunwan to call a few children to wash their hands and eat.

When she brought the last dish to the table, she found that Luo Sheng had taken her seat, and the children were standing on both sides.

"What are you all standing for? Sit down and eat."

Xiao Yunying didn't care much about where she sat, and picked up her bowl and chopsticks, intending to sit down next to her.

Luo Sheng had just returned, and she hadn't yet figured out his temperament. Besides, they could eat anywhere, so there was no need to fuss over such a small matter.

Luo Xin, who had just washed her hands, came over with Zheng Yunwan. After looking around at the brothers standing there, she walked over to Luo Sheng with her short legs.

This is probably because she's young and doesn't know fear. She raised her head and said to Luo Sheng, "This is my mother's seat. You can sit over there."

After saying that, she pointed to the very edge with her little finger.

Xiao Yunying was startled. She put down her chopsticks and took a few steps back with Luo Xin in her arms.

"The child doesn't know any better, please don't be angry."

After all, they're not his biological children. Who knows if this man, who always has a cold face, will feel that he's lost face as a father being lectured like this by his child, and then get angry and hit Luo Xin?

Luo Sheng just looked at Luo Xin without saying anything, while Xiao Yunying said, "You sit down, I'm fine eating anywhere."

"No need."

Luo Sheng stood up and said, "Come and sit down."

Luo Yang squinted his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Then she took a set of bowls and chopsticks and placed them near them: "Dad, you sit here. Mom is over there to serve Xin'er some food."

Luo Sheng glanced at Luo Yang and sat down in that seat.

Luo Xin then took Xiao Yunying's hand and said, "Mother, let's go eat."

Xiao Yunying felt somewhat helpless and took the bowl and chopsticks back.

She had a feeling that the children were doing it on purpose, as if they were trying to claim territory for themselves.

Fortunately, the space was spacious enough that sitting next to Luo Sheng wasn't crowded.

In fact, not only Xiao Yunying noticed this, but Luo Sheng also realized that the children seemed to be particularly protective of their nominal wife.

And they all seemed somewhat reluctant to have me come back.

The meal was even quieter than the one at noon. After finishing the meal, Xiao Yunying cleaned up the dishes and then took Luo Xin and Zheng Yunwan back to the house.

There are some things that she, as an outsider, really shouldn't interfere with; it's better to let the father and son handle it themselves.

What she needs to do now is find a suitable opportunity to bring up the matter of divorce.