Chapter 23: Do You Like Him?

As twilight spread across the horizon, it gradually eroded the last vestiges of the setting sun’s brilliance.

Dragging his weary body, Zhao Dingzhuo, a courier at the delivery station, parked his tricycle and prepared to head home.

Having heard from his wife that his brother-in-law was visiting tonight, Zhao Dingzhuo had specifically bought some barbecue from the night market for a late-night snack and several bottles of beer from the supermarket.

Knowing his brother-in-law held his liquor well and could drink a lot, he had made sure to buy extra bottles.

The prospect of drinking openly tonight brought a wide smile to Zhao Dingzhuo’s face.

However, upon arriving home, laden with bags, he was met with the sight of an unfamiliar man chatting with Bai Qing on the sofa.

Zhao Dingzhuo set his bags on the table, then turned to the man and exclaimed, “Damn, Xiao Bai, what happened to you? You look so handsome!”

Zhao Dingzhuo couldn’t help but marvel; his brother-in-law looked like a completely different person.

No wonder he had mentioned such a big change in their previous conversation—this transformation was even more striking than his sister’s!

The man stood up, extending a hand. “Hello, Brother-in-law!”

Zhao Dingzhuo was astonished; had he grown taller too?

He firmly clasped the man’s hand. “Why be so formal with your brother-in-law? Make yourself at home!”

Meanwhile, Bai Qing cast a tight-lipped, humorless smile at her husband. “Zhao Dingzhuo, when did your eyesight start failing? How come I wasn’t aware?”

Zhao Dingzhuo: “Huh?”

Just then, Bai Sha, who had been playing with the little one in the guest room, peeked out from behind the doorframe, extending half her head to greet him. “Hi! Long time no see, Brother-in-law.”

The little one, mimicking her mother, also popped her head out from below. “Long time no see, Uncle!”

Zhao Dingzhuo: “Huh!!??”

****

‘My name is Zhao Dingzhuo, and I’m a courier.’

‘I’d originally thought I’d get to drink heartily with my brother-in-law tonight, but I never expected three people to suddenly appear in my home! What in the world is going on?!’

Sitting on the sofa, Zhao Dingzhuo pointed at Bai Sha. “So, you’re the real Xiao Bai.”

Bai Sha nodded. “That’s right.”

“And you’re Xiao Bai’s boyfriend,” he said, turning to Zhou Haochen.

“That’s correct.”

“And this is your future child?”

Zhou Yuying, cradled in her aunt’s arms, giggled happily as Bai Qing playfully tickled her.

Zhao Dingzhuo paused for a moment, then retrieved the beer and asked Zhou Haochen, “You can drink, right?”

He nodded. “My alcohol tolerance is decent.”

Zhao Dingzhuo handed each of the three a bottle, then brought out the barbecue. “Well, since things are this way, let’s drink first! The barbecue will get cold soon.”

“Cheers!”

Watching the three of them immediately start drinking, Bai Qing’s face darkened, and she delivered a sharp whack to Zhao Dingzhuo’s back.

“Whack!”

“Ow! There’s nothing you can change now anyway.

These two little ones were startled by you, so I’m just trying to lighten the mood with some drinks.”

Bai Qing pulled her sister away. “You talk to him; I have something to say to Xiao Bai.”

The three women retreated to the bedroom, leaving only the two grown men in the living room.

Zhao Dingzhuo pulled out some cups and asked, “Brother, where are you from?”

Zhou Haochen accepted the cup with both hands. “I’m from the Northeast.”

“Oh, people from the Northeast are known for their great alcohol tolerance, aren’t they?”

Zhou Haochen felt a trickle of sweat. “Just average. Just average.”

“Come on! Let’s have one!”

After three rounds of drinks, Zhao Dingzhuo’s face was flushed, while Zhou Haochen’s remained as usual.

“Xiao Zhou, can I ask you something? Are you truly not bothered by Xiao Bai’s past?”

He was asking about Bai Sha’s former gender.

“I believe that people in every stage of life are a brand new version of themselves,” he replied. “I love who she is now.

My journey into her life began when I met her.

I don’t care about anything from before; I only wish to live well in the present.”

Zhao Dingzhuo’s body trembled slightly, and he downed a cup of liquor. “Brother! What genuine character! I like it!

As long as you follow through on your words, I won’t stand in the way of you and Xiao Bai.”

“I’m not some old-fashioned person either; as long as Xiao Bai is happy, that’s all that matters.”

Zhou Haochen clinked glasses with him, finding Zhao Dingzhuo to be a truly authentic and magnanimous person.

****

Inside the room, the Bai sisters played with toys alongside the little one, creating an atmosphere of utmost warmth and coziness.

Bai Qing turned her body slightly and asked, “Do you truly love him?”

Bai Sha spread her hands and smiled. “Otherwise, how would this little one have come into being?”

Bai Qing lightly patted her. “Plenty of people with children get divorced,” she explained. “I’m asking if you like him *now*?”

Bai Sha twirled a strand of her hair, smiling gently. “I do.”

“You’ve been involved in professional gaming since you were little, and that scene is so chaotic.

Don’t mistake just any feeling for love.”

This girl had been on her own since childhood and had never been in a relationship.

Bai Qing genuinely feared that Zhou Haochen might sweep her off her feet simply because he was the father of her child.

Bai Sha rested her chin in her hand, smiling. “I want to share everything with him, I feel completely relaxed when I’m with him, and I get sad when we’re apart.

He prepares surprises for me, and he even tries out games because of me.”

“I honestly don’t know what ‘love’ truly is, but my feelings for him are special, and that’s enough for me.”

Seeing her sister’s slightly surprised expression, Bai Sha asked with a smile, “Isn’t it?”

Bai Qing couldn’t refute her, for ‘falling in love is nothing grand; staying in love is where the true challenge lies’.

Moreover, with Zhou Yuying in their lives, even if they weren’t a typical couple, their bond was undoubtedly stronger and more secure than most.

“As long as you know, I won’t say much more.

You’re older than him, right?”

“Yes, three years older.”

Bai Qing furrowed her brow. “He’s still studying?”

“At A University. He’s a sophomore.”

“So, you’ll have to support him? Is he going to be a kept man?”

Bai Sha scoffed softly, her voice brimming with pride. “He has a job, and he’s currently starting his own business.

He’s going to be a boss someday! He doesn’t need me to support him!”

Bai Qing, who hadn’t earned a single cent during her three years of university, was speechless.

“What are you boasting about?

No wonder you retired.

So you were planning to become the boss’s wife all along~”

Bai Qing straightened her posture, giving Bai Sha, whose tail was practically wagging to the heavens, a gentle pat.

“Back to serious matters, what’s his family situation like?”

Bai Sha mused. “His father is a doctor, and his mother runs a candy store.

He has no siblings; he’s an only child.”

“Have you met his parents yet?”

“Not that quickly.

I wasn’t even planning to bring him to meet you initially.

If Mom and Dad hadn’t called me…”

At the mention of their parents, Bai Sha seemed a little off.

Bai Qing cautiously asked, “What… did they say to you?”

“Nothing much, just asked if I wanted to go home for New Year’s, which I refused, and also brought up how I missed your wedding.”

Bai Qing also felt a sudden wave of helplessness. “Why are they still bringing up something that happened so long ago?

You two didn’t argue, did you?”

“No, am I that kind of person?”

Bai Sha patted her face. “This is called being a respectable person!”

****

When the three women emerged from the room, Zhao Dingzhuo was in the midst of bragging to Zhou Haochen.

“Xiao Zhou, I’m not just bragging, but you wouldn’t believe it.

Your old brother here was a big star back in school, playing guitar with his left hand and basketball with his right.

Your sister was absolutely smitten with me!”

“Look at me, let me show you, like this, and this.”

Bai Qing’s face turned ashen, while Bai Sha curiously asked, “Sister, is that true?”

“He borrowed money from me to buy a broken guitar, taught himself for half a year and learned nothing, then sprained his ankle playing basketball, and I had to take care of him for over half a month.”

“Wow!” How could that not be love?