Zhou Yueshen lowered his eyes and responded, "Hop on, hold your brother tight."
Zhou Yuedong nodded emphatically, clambering onto the motorcycle with some effort before wrapping his arms securely around his younger sibling.
Once the children were settled, Zhou Yueshen started the engine.
Mindful that this was the kids' first time riding a motorcycle, he kept the speed gentle.
Si Nian watched their figures disappear into the distance before turning back inside to prepare dinner.
As she stepped in, Da Huang wagged his tail at her, reminding her that she hadn’t fed him lunch—Aunt Liu and her crew had caused such a ruckus earlier.
The chaos had kept her busy until now.
She patted Da Huang’s head, thinking of the leftovers in the kitchen, and grinned. "Da Huang, we’re having meat today!"
With a man in the house, the food disappeared quickly—meat was a must at every meal.
Zhou Yueshen took the kids for a couple of laps around the village. At first, the children were hesitant, but soon they relaxed, reveling in the wind rushing past their cheeks.
The sky darkened as rain threatened, and villagers trudged home with hoes slung over their shoulders.
Dusty children perked up at the sound of the motorcycle, their eyes widening with envy when they spotted Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan riding the sleek machine.
"Mom, I wanna ride too!"
Before the words fully left his mouth, the boy earned a sharp smack to the back of his head from his mother. "Ride your head off! Get over here now!"
After a few more rounds, raindrops began to fall, and Zhou Yueshen finally steered the reluctant children home.
By then, the warm, savory aroma of food already wafted from the house.
Despite the gloomy weather, the family’s spirits were high.
Zhou Yuehan’s unruly hair was tousled wildly from the ride, making him look rather comical.
As soon as they parked and carried the kids inside, the rain began pelting down in earnest.
Yet the house was filled with warmth. Though Si Nian was the only one home, the radio buzzed with news updates, and the kitchen overflowed with mouthwatering scents that had the children swallowing hard.
Their stepmother’s cooking was irresistible, teasing their appetites mercilessly.
Zhou Yuehan was about to sneak into the kitchen to peek at what delicious dish awaited them when his collar was yanked back.
He turned, puzzled, to his older brother. "What’s the big idea?"
Zhou Yuedong stared flatly at him. "Have you finished your homework?"
Zhou Yuehan’s grin vanished instantly.
He hung his head, poking his fingers together guiltily. "N-not yet..."
"Then get to it," Zhou Yuedong said sternly.
His little brother always slacked off on schoolwork, barely scraping by unless supervised. Today’s fun had made him forget entirely.
Their parents had always taught them that knowledge could change their fate.
Having endured so much hardship, Zhou Yuedong never complained or blamed their father.
He knew better than to rely on others—survival meant depending on oneself.
Zhou Yuehan gave him a pitiful look, but his brother’s expression didn’t soften. Defeated, he trudged off to tackle his assignments.
When their big brother got serious, he was as intimidating as Dad.
Si Nian had cooked a feast, but Zhou Yueshen couldn’t stay—the rain meant he had to check on the farm.
Without an umbrella in the house, she hurriedly fetched her own and handed it to him.
"Take this. You’ll catch a cold if you get soaked," she fretted.
The man worked tirelessly, dawn to dusk. Today, he’d rushed back to deal with Aunt Liu’s nonsense, worried she’d bully Si Nian. Then he’d spent time bonding with the kids, sacrificing precious hours.
While it strengthened their family ties, Zhou Yueshen’s farm was still growing—every minute lost meant making up for it later.
Many parents, swamped with work, neglected their children. It happened in every era.
Si Nian understood.
Zhou Yueshen initially refused, but when he met her worried gaze, his throat bobbed. He took the umbrella, voice low. "I might be back late. Don’t wait up."
She nodded.
Then he opened it—a dainty, lace-trimmed parasol in soft pink.
Zhou Yueshen: "..."
Si Nian: "..."
"Ahem... Maybe wait until the rain lets up?" she suggested.
A towering, rugged man wielding a frilly parasol was... an odd sight.
Zhou Yueshen glanced at her, then the umbrella. For once, they agreed. He gave a slight nod. "Alright."
Minutes passed. The rain only grew heavier.
Si Nian kept sneaking glances at the man sitting rigidly upright.
The kids, meanwhile, eyed them both in confusion.
Hmm... Why did Stepmom and Dad seem so awkward?
After another two minutes, Zhou Yueshen stood. "Eat without me."
With that, he stepped into the downpour, pink parasol in hand.
His brows were furrowed. He wanted to tell her he didn’t mind the rain—he rarely fell ill.
But her lingering gaze left him no choice.
If he didn’t use her umbrella, would she be upset?
So the mountain of a man marched on, the absurdly delicate parasol held aloft.
A few villagers, caught in the storm, hurried home.
One spotted the approaching figure and looked up, curious.
The next second—splash!—they slipped and landed flat on their back.
By the time they scrambled up, the umbrella-wielder was already gone.
The villagers gaped.
Was that... Zhou Yueshen, the toughest man in their village, strolling under a pink floral parasol?
Since when was he so... dainty?
A frilly, girly umbrella?
This was earth-shattering gossip!
Who knew the stern Zhou Yueshen harbored such a soft, girlish heart?
The rain persisted well past midnight.
Exhausted, Yu Dong yawned as he entered Zhou Yueshen’s office. "This damn weather won’t quit. I’m dead on my feet. Boss, got a spare umbrella?"
Zhou Yueshen peeled off his soaked undershirt, revealing a chiseled back that made Yu Dong seethe with envy.
Thirty years old and still built like a damn statue. Save some glory for the rest of us.
Zhou Yueshen tilted his head, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
