Chapter 183: Alive and Kicking

"Huh?"

Jiang Ye blinked, carefully replaying what Jiang Chen had just said. A bright smile bloomed on her face as she asked excitedly, "Does this mean Mom has forgiven me?"

"Not exactly."

Jiang Chen’s gaze fell upon Gu Che. The main reason their mother had agreed to let them come home to study for their exams was because Gu Che had already secured early admission to Qingbei University.

"In any case, whether or not Mom forgives you will depend on your college entrance exam scores. Gu Che is going to Qingbei, so you’ll need to get into a university in Beijing at the very least."

Jiang Ye was speechless.

’She knew full well how her studying was going.’

’Forget getting into a university; she’d be thanking her lucky stars if she managed to avoid a single-digit score in math.’

Jiang Chen looked at Gu Che and warned, "I’m the one who saw you this time. If the Jiang Family’s secrets get out because of you two, I won’t be able to save you."

Gu Che blushed. "We won’t."

"Hm?" Jiang Chen tilted his head.

’Gu Che’s words were ambiguous. Did he mean they wouldn’t do it again, or that they’d just be more careful next time?’

"Jiang Chen, don’t misunderstand. I won’t cross the line again."

Jiang Chen nodded. ’Even though they hadn’t interacted much, a real man should keep his word.’

"Come over for dinner tonight."

His flight was at nine tonight, and their mother planned to cook a homemade meal herself.

"Oh, right." Jiang Chen suddenly remembered something. "And stop targeting Wen Ci from now on. That’s a non-negotiable condition from Mom."

"She had a very hard life in the countryside before."

Gu Che frowned. ’What does this have to do with Wen Ci?’

He looked at Jiang Chen and asked tentatively, "Is Wen Ci the Jiang Family’s biological daughter?"

"Yes."

After Jiang Chen’s confirmation, Gu Che turned to look at Jiang Ye, who was standing beside him, his eyes filled with a storm of complex emotions.

’So Jiang Ye was the one who had taken her place, usurping the happy life that should have been Wen Ci’s for over twenty years.’

——

「West Lake Old Mansion.」

After dinner, Wen Ci and Huo Jingyuan headed straight back to their room. As they walked through the courtyard of the old mansion, Wen Ci glanced around at the buildings. "The soundproofing here looks pretty good."

"Why? Want to test it out?" Huo Jingyuan smirked.

"Piss off." Wen Ci rolled her eyes at him.

’Back in the Northwest, she never realized Huo Jingyuan had such a high libido. But after he got injured, his true nature started to show, using ’wanting a baby’ as an excuse to torment her night after night.’

’She really couldn’t understand where he got all this energy from. Weren’t men supposed to start slowing down after thirty?’

"What are you so lost in thought about?"

Wen Ci accidentally spoke her thoughts aloud. "Aren’t men supposed to be past their prime after thirty?"

"?"

The meaning of "past their prime" was perfectly clear. He wrapped his arm around Wen Ci’s slender waist and leaned in close to her ear. "Your man isn’t like other thirty-year-olds. Forget thirty—I’ll still be full of vigor at eighty."

Wen Ci’s lips curved into a smile. "Eighty?"

’She couldn’t imagine Huo Jingyuan at eighty, with white hair and wrinkled, aged skin. The very thought was hilarious.’

"What are you laughing at?"

Wen Ci looked him up and down, fighting back a smile as she teased, "Forget eighty. I’d be impressed if you’re still going strong at forty."

"Your man is not that pathetic."

"It’s not about being pathetic, it’s just how men are. If you can last half an hour, I’ll eat my hat."

Huo Jingyuan was speechless, unable to come up with a rebuttal.

’Back when he lived in the barracks, he’d often overhear the older soldiers talking about... that kind of stuff late at night. They even mentioned a bunch of folk remedies.’

"What, no comeback?" Wen Ci asked with a laugh.

"You are so in for it tonight."