Ling Ruoke stared at her blankly, unsure how to respond for a long time.

If you didn't know why she was there before, now you have the answer. From the moment you met her until now, she has been very gentle. Although you were uneasy, you thought she was just there to see her grandson. You never expected that she came for this reason.

If she had questioned him aggressively, he might have responded sharply. But since she asked him so gently, he could only respond cautiously.

"No." She was already feeling a bit uncomfortable eating, and now she could barely swallow.

"Grandma, you can't bully Mommy!" the little guy suddenly cried out. Daddy had said he would protect Mommy and wouldn't let anyone bully her!

Yang Ziyun glanced at Ruoke, her gaze somewhat scrutinizing. Then, she smiled and patted the little one's head, explaining, "Grandma didn't bully your mommy. Don't believe me? Ask Mommy."

The little guy turned his head and looked at Ruoke with his big, bright eyes.

Ling Ruoke forced a smile but couldn't manage it, wiping the rice grains from his mouth. "Grandma was just chatting with Mommy, she didn't bully Mommy. Let's eat."

"Oh." The little guy smiled and lowered his head to continue eating.

"You've really raised him well," Yang Ziyun said with some admiration. She hadn't expected Fu'an to be so protective of her in such a short time. Even she, his grandmother, didn't seem important anymore.

Ling Ruoke didn't know what she was referring to, and replied, "It's because you educated him well before; he's very well-behaved and smart."

Yang Ziyun didn't answer, and after a while she asked again: "You and your ex-husband were married for quite a while, why didn't you have a child?"

Ling Ruoke took a deep breath, put down her chopsticks, and met her gaze. "Aunt Yang, just say what you want to say."

Yang Ziyun smiled and picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks. She chewed while looking at her. "You're not good enough for our Qingfeng," she said with a gentle smile, but her words were deeply hurtful.

Perhaps because she was already mentally prepared, Ling Ruoke didn't panic, but boldly looked into her eyes. Only, her chest felt like it had been stabbed.

“Aunt Yang, are you referring to his character or his family background? If it’s his character, then I’m confident that there’s nothing about him that makes him unworthy of Qingfeng; if it’s his family background, then I, a homeless orphan, am indeed no match for the Huo family.”

Yang Ziyun's smile remained unchanged, and her eyes were not sharp. No matter how you looked at her, she was a loving mother.

“You’ve been divorced, so you’re not a pure and whole woman anymore. Just for that reason, you’re not good enough for Qingfeng. You know, Qingfeng has always been a perfectionist since he was little. I also admit that you are indeed a gentle and kind girl, but our Huo family cannot have a divorced woman as a daughter-in-law.”

Ling Ruoke took a deep breath and smiled, but it was more bitter than crying.

“Aunt Yang, I’m sorry, but I can’t agree with you. I’ve heard Qingfeng say that the men in the Huo family are the most doting on women. I’m just not as lucky as you, Aunt Yang, to have met the right person at the beginning. I don’t think that should be evidence of my innocence. I’ve always considered myself a woman who values ​​her integrity. As for Qingfeng, if he really dislikes me because of this, I won’t choose him. My family background is indeed not good, and I’ve been divorced, but I don’t think that means I’ve lost the right to choose a partner.”

Ling Ruoke tried hard to suppress her emotions, lest she inadvertently use a confrontational tone. It wasn't that she wanted to appease the other person, but as an elder, she should at least show them respect. Besides, she understood that as a mother, what she said might have been somewhat excessive, but it was understandable.

"He's such an outstanding person, with illustrious military achievements, becoming a colonel at such a young age. If he were to be with you, it could become a stain on his illustrious career. Have you thought about him? If not, aren't you being too selfish?"

Ling Ruoke desperately wanted to sneer, but she couldn't. "Qingfeng once said that the only thing I need to do and must do well is love him, love him well! He doesn't need anything else. A proud person like Qingfeng doesn't need anyone to add anything to his life. Aunt, you are his mother, you should understand him best."

Yang Ziyun was speechless for a moment, then sighed.

"If I could, I wouldn't want to be the bad guy either. In fact, I had a very good impression of you from the first time we met. It's a pity that fate is cruel. If you had met Qingfeng first, we would definitely be a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. So, I hope you can think it through and leave Qingfeng. Otherwise, once things get to his father, I'm afraid you will not only have to leave, but also pay a huge price."

Ling Ruoke stared at her in astonishment. Her expression was sincere, her smile gentle. Only her words cut like knives. She wanted to question her sharply, but ultimately lowered her eyes. When she looked up again, the tears in her eyes had quietly dissipated.

"Aunt Yang, even if Qingfeng doesn't mind my past, you still insist on breaking up this couple, is that right?"

Yang Ziyun was silent for a few seconds. "Let's eat."

After dinner, Ling Ruoke was washing dishes and tidying up in the kitchen, her mind in turmoil. Several times she was so lost in thought that she almost smashed a bowl.

After all three of them had showered, they sat together on the sofa to watch TV. Little Fu'an sat in the middle, with his mother on one side and his grandmother on the other, and he was overjoyed. He gripped the remote, his chubby hands pressing buttons, switching between cartoons, but none were playing. Finally, they watched Animal World.

Yang Ziyun asked questions casually, mostly about the father and son's daily life. Her tone was natural and easygoing, as if she genuinely just wanted to understand their lives, or perhaps check if she was taking good care of them.

When it was time for bed, the two of them helped Xiao Fu'an to sleep.

As she closed the door and came out, Yang Ziyun, who was walking ahead, turned around and said to her, "Think carefully about what I said."

"..."

Lying in bed, Ling Ruoke tossed and turned for half the night, her mind still troubled by Yang Ziyun's words earlier.

In her dream, at her wedding with Qingfeng, someone suddenly rushed out and berated her, saying she wasn't a pure and innocent woman, and that she didn't deserve Qingfeng...

When I woke up, my clothes were soaked with sweat.

"Honey, did you have a nightmare?" A warm embrace accompanied a low, husky voice in her ear.

Ling Ruoke stared wide-eyed in astonishment, only then noticing his return. She buried her face in his chest, her nose stinging with tears. "Qingfeng!"

He patted her back and hugged her tightly. "Honey, it's alright, I'm back. It's still early, sleep a little longer."

Ling Ruoke lay down in his arms, looked out the window, and saw that dawn was just breaking. Holding his waist and breathing in his scent, she quickly fell asleep peacefully again.

However, once a biological clock is established, it's not easily changed. Ruoke usually wakes up around 6:30.

As soon as she moved, Huo Qingfeng woke up. "Wife."

"You go to sleep, I'll make breakfast." Ruo Ke felt a surge of tenderness in her heart and kissed his forehead.

He had just returned from a mission and was truly exhausted, so he mumbled something and fell asleep again.

After washing up, Ling Ruoke went out for a walk and bought some things. When she returned with soy milk and meat and vegetables, Yang Ziyun was already up and sitting in the living room. "Aunt Yang, have some soy milk first, I'll make breakfast right away."

Yang Ziyun looked at the dark circles under her eyes and asked, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Ling Ruoke nodded. She felt a pang of irony; how could she have slept so soundly after saying those things? "Sit down for a bit, I'll make breakfast right away."

While Ruoke was busy in the kitchen, Yang Ziyun walked in and watched quietly. Ruoke smiled at her, said nothing of pleasantries, and focused on her work.

As the dumplings were being cooked in the pot, I suddenly heard her ask, "I think you're a good wife, so why would I, Cang Wei, not want you?"

Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, and the dumpling fell into the pot, splashing water that scalded the back of her hand.

The pain is in my heart.