Chapter 189: As Long as It’s You

Taking a break is always a good thing. Even if this break came because of an injury, Xiao Yu wasn’t exactly enjoying his time in the hospital.  

The moment his discharge paperwork was completed, he dragged his sister back home—home as in, his parents’ place.

When they arrived, both his mom and dad were there, and a big meal had already been prepared to celebrate their eldest son’s discharge from the hospital. Even his mother-in-law had come over, bringing both families together for the occasion.  

However, amidst the laughter at the dining table, Liu Yunqing suddenly fell silent, her mood turning somber.  

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Xiao Yu asked, placing some food onto his mother’s plate.  

“Maybe… you shouldn’t be a police officer anymore,” Liu Yunqing said.  

No matter how strong she appeared on the outside, she was still a mother. Her son had been injured twice because of his job. Being a police officer, serving and protecting others, was indeed an honorable profession, but as a mother, she couldn’t shake the fear that one day her son might not just come home injured—but become an honored hero, in the worst way possible.  

“What are you saying?” Xiao Shengguo reassured his wife gently. “This is the path our son chose.”  

“You…”  

Liu Yunqing wanted to glare at her husband but could only let out a soft sigh instead.  

“Kids have their own lives to live,” Zhou Xuelan, trying to comfort her friend, said with a smile. “Yunqing, if he enjoys being a police officer, let him be. Besides, the kids are all grown up now, and if even Qingwu hasn’t said anything, it’s not really our place to speak up.”  

All eyes turned to Mu Qingwu.  

“Whatever he loves doing, I love it too,” she said with a gentle smile. “If he’s happy, then so am I.”  

The couple shared a glance, and Xiao Yu tightly held his sister’s hand.  

All three elders rolled their eyes in unison.  

What does it mean to be a perfect match? Well, this was it.

As the dinner table fell into an awkward silence, Xiao Yu’s eyes darted around before he grinned at his mother. 

“Mom, I watched this reunion show recently—about kids who got abducted when they were young and sold to other families.”

“What are you getting at?” Liu Yunqing shot her son a glare.

“Mom, do you think I’m one of those kids? I mean, why am I so good-looking, but you… well, you’re kind of average,” Xiao Yu teased, batting his eyes at her. “Maybe we should get a DNA test done tomorrow, just in case?”

“Hahaha!”  

Everyone at the table burst into laughter—except for his mom, who just rolled her eyes.

“Oh, now you’re starting to wonder?” Liu Yunqing retorted, smirking. “I’ve been suspicious ever since you were five and still wetting the bed. I remember thinking, ‘Did they swap babies at the hospital? How could my kid still be wetting the bed at five?’”

“…”  

Xiao Yu’s face turned beet red. 

‘Yup, that’s my real mom, alright. But seriously, that was just a childhood problem. How is that my fault?’

Embarrassment flooded over him, and Xiao Yu wished he could just roll on the floor in shame. Better yet, he’d prefer to disappear altogether and escape this cruel world.

“Hahaha!”  

The room echoed with laughter.

“Yep, definitely not my real mom!” Xiao Yu, still blushing, shot a look at his dad, who was laughing the loudest. “Dad, what do you say we get a DNA test, too?”

“You think I haven’t thought about it?” Xiao Shengguo played along with his son, chuckling. “I just figured I’d hold onto a little hope. But you know, if we get tested and it turns out you are mine… we’d have no hope left.!”

“Haha!”  

Both families were doubled over with laughter.

“Alright, enough joking around.”  

Liu Yunqing could see right through her son’s attempts to make her laugh. Smiling, she said, “You little rascal, always so clever. But now that you’re away, it’s just me, your dad, and Kara at home. It gets a bit lonely. Oh, right! Yesterday, I visited a friend, and she has this talking parrot. It was so much fun! If you really care about me, why don’t you get me one?”  

“A parrot?”  

Xiao Yu laughed and teased his mom, “Mom, why a parrot? Those things are expensive. A talking one can cost tens of thousands. How about this? Give me three grand, and I’ll recite the Three Hundred Tang Poems for you. You name it, I’ll recite it. What do you say?”  

“Definitely not my real son,” Liu Yunqing muttered, rolling her eyes.  

“Mom, you’ll have one by tomorrow.” Mu Qingwu chuckled, linking her arm with her mother-in-law’s. “He’s just messing with you.”  

“Hmph, he’s got no heart. You’re the best, Qingwu!” Liu Yunqing hugged her daughter-in-law, grinning from ear to ear.  

“Hey, what about me?” Xiao Yu, feeling a bit jealous, latched onto Zhou Xuelan’s arm. “Now this—this is my real mom!”  

Both families laughed and joked around, enjoying a joyful day together.  

***

Later that evening.  

The young couple strolled hand-in-hand on their way home. 

Funny how life works—when you don’t have a car, you long to buy one. But once you do, you still end up enjoying a simple walk.  

Xiao Yu’s heart warmed as he gazed at his wife’s face, as flawless as a piece of jade, and her eyes shimmering with playful allure. His thoughts wandered, imagining her in a casual outfit—maybe a cute little T-shirt with a bear print, denim shorts, long legs, and simple sneakers. She’d look so pure and adorable, instantly turning into an 18-year-old version of herself.  

Mu Qingwu, the sharp and clever woman she was in public, would turn adorably naive when alone with him. It was a good thing she’d married him. If she’d fallen for some scoundrel, she’d be an easy target for those with bad intentions.  

Xiao Yu quickly removed himself from the bad intentions category.  

After all, ‘I’m a good guy.’  

“Hey, what’s your favorite version of me?” Mu Qingwu asked, leaning her head on his shoulder, arm wrapped around his. “And no dirty answers.”  

Even she had noticed how she’d become much more dependent on him, like a completely different person from before.

“Uh… this…”  

Xiao Yu thought to himself, ‘You’re not letting me have any fun here.’

After thinking for a bit, he said, “When you’re always sticking to me, bothering me, getting jealous, acting cute… Oh, and when we’re not together, send me texts every day, selfies to let me know how you’re doing. And, ideally, you’d come and cling to me even when I’m in the bathroom.”  

“Hah!” Mu Qingwu giggled, “You’re such a weirdo.”  

“Yep, I’m a weirdo,” Xiao Yu replied proudly. “And I love it.”  

“Haha!” Mu Qingwu hugged him tightly, burying her face in the familiar warmth of his chest. “Do you think we’ll be this happy forever, little brother?”  

“Of course,” Xiao Yu nodded firmly, his arms wrapped around her waist. “Happy for life.”  

“Mom said something today.” Mu Qingwu’s eyes sparkled softly as she spoke, “She made a wish, saying that we’ll have a son. That she’ll have a grandson.”  

“Then let’s have one.” Xiao Yu gently caressed her delicate cheek. “With dimples like yours.”  

“A boy with dimples?” Mu Qingwu looked up at him, her eyes dreamy but tinged with a bit of worry. “What if it takes us a long time to have a baby?”  

“Honestly, it’s okay if it takes time.” Xiao Yu held her tightly, reassuring her. “As long as, in the end, you’re the one who becomes the mother of my child. That’s all that matters.”  

The world might not be the best place, but as long as he had her, Xiao Yu felt lucky beyond words.  

Three lifetimes of luck!