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After finalizing the handover arrangements with Jin Biao, Sha Zhouyin remained at his former company for over a month before officially resigning. During this period, he had to juggle responsibilities at both places and was so busy that he hardly had a moment to himself. By the time he was finally free, the Mid-Autumn Festival had already passed, and the National Day holiday was just around the corner.

In their local customs, Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival are the three most important holidays—especially for the younger generation, who are expected to pay respects to their elders. Every year, these three occasions are a must for family visits. For Huang Qi’s family, it went without saying that they would return to Huangsha Town to visit her grandparents.

A few days before the holiday, during dinner, Huang Qi casually mentioned, “Grandpa called me last time and said he hasn’t seen Xiao Ying in a long time. Should I invite him to come along?”

Teacher Ding, looking down at her bowl, replied, “Your aunt’s family just finished renovating their house and wants us to visit. I’ve already agreed with her—we’ll go to your grandparents’ house together in the morning, and then she’ll drive us all over for lunch.” Her meaning was clear: it wasn’t convenient to bring an outsider.

Huang Qi lowered her head and focused on her food.

When it came to her relationship with Sha Zhouyin, Teacher Ding adopted a “tacit non-acceptance” policy: she couldn’t stop them from meeting once they left the house, but she wouldn’t allow him through her door.

Huang Qi’s stubbornness was probably inherited from Teacher Ding. If her mother didn’t acknowledge it, so be it; anyway, the two of them were doing just fine. She refused the matchmaking attempts, determined to see who could outlast whom.

As for Mr. Huang, he was a fence-sitter—supporting his wife in front of his wife, and his daughter in front of his daughter. When the two confronted each other, he’d feign ignorance and keep silent. Huang Qi figured that as long as she could win over Teacher Ding, there would be no other obstacles to her relationship with Sha Zhouyin. And with the year coming to a close, as she approached thirty by lunar age, Teacher Ding was finding it harder and harder to locate suitable bachelors with matching age, education, and family background. Her confidence was noticeably waning.

Sha Zhouyin’s new company opened two days before the National Day holiday. Before the opening, Huang Qi accompanied him to inspect the renovation progress and asked, “Why not just wait until after the long holiday?”

Sha Zhouyin replied, “This way, the holiday becomes paid leave.”

Huang Qi couldn’t help but laugh. “What kind of boss are you? Are you drowning in money?”

He smiled too. “I’m used to working for others—still think like an employee.” Once everyone else had left, he lowered his voice, “These people gave up stable, well-paid jobs with Uncle Biao to follow me. There’s no need to be stingy over little things like this. Besides, I checked the almanac—the only auspicious day for opening in this half-month is right before the holiday.”

Huang Qi kept laughing. “You actually believe in that?”

“Whether you believe it or not, you have to understand feng shui. You think those houses are built just any old way? The more expensive the house, the more particular people are. The wealthy especially believe in this stuff. In the future, when I’m landscaping or digging ponds for clients, feng shui will be even more important. I even apprenticed under a master to learn about it.”

“These days, it really isn’t easy to make a living,” Huang Qi sighed, shaking her head. “Aren’t you running a landscape design company? That sounds chic and high-end. Why does it sound like you’re just planting flowers, trees, and digging ponds?”

He replied, perfectly reasonably, “Isn’t landscaping just that—planting flowers and trees and digging ponds? Maybe add a couple of fountains or pavilions. Where am I wrong?”

“But it sounds so much less elegant!” Huang Qi shot him a look of disdain. “By the way, was the landscaping in Jingxiu Garden really your work? It sounds so dubious to me.”

“If it wasn’t me, who else? It was Uncle Biao’s first time developing a residential project, so of course he wanted to save wherever possible. Can’t cut corners on the buildings people live in, but landscaping? Just have our own people handle it. I came up with the plan, the supply and marketing office sourced seedlings from our hometown, hired a couple dozen nursery workers from the flower base, used the masons already on site, and got everything done within a month after the buildings were finished. Turned out pretty well, didn’t it?”

More than just well—the reputation of Jingxiu Garden was built on its beautiful environment. Huang Qi thought it over and remarked, “With costs that low, this business must be quite profitable.”

“I’m just starting out now, so I don’t have the capital or workforce to take on construction, just design. Once things pick up, I’ll take on the full package. There’s so much construction everywhere these days, the flower and landscaping market has huge potential. Otherwise, why would so many towns near our hometown have stopped growing grain and started doing this instead?” Talking about his own field, he was full of confidence. “Don’t worry. Even if real estate’s golden age is over, I won’t let my wife suffer. I’ll do whatever it takes to satisfy my mother-in-law!” He even gave a mock military salute.

“Enough, enough—so many workers are around, aren’t you embarrassed?” Huang Qi pulled his hand down. “Didn’t you always want to be an architect? Why switch to landscaping?”

Sha Zhouyin said, “Becoming an architect is too hard—sometimes ideals have to compromise with reality.”

She gave him a sidelong glance. “So you know how to compromise with reality too, huh?”

He turned her hand over and held it. “That’s called being a true man—knowing when to bend and when to stand firm. I know what can and can’t be compromised.”

Huang Qi averted her eyes under his gaze. “Actually, architecture and landscaping aren’t so different—one designs the house, the other the garden. Pretty similar, right?”

“Uh… not really. There’s quite a difference.”

Just then, the workers came over to install the reception’s backdrop. The two stepped aside and watched as a huge custom-made glass panel was brought in, bearing the words “Qingyang Landscape Design and Construction Company.” Huang Qi asked, “So that’s your company’s name? Qingyang—does it have a special meaning?”

“It’s a combination of my parents’ names.”

Huang Qi pouted on purpose. “I thought you’d be like Uncle Biao and name it after your wife.”

He looked aggrieved. “I haven’t married my wife yet, have I?”

“Huang Qi Limited…” she stared at the backdrop, inserting her name in, stroking her chin, “Sounds less like landscaping and more like a pharmaceutical company.”

He gave a little proud smile. “Are you saying you’ve agreed to be my wife?”

“Wrong focus! I was just making a joke about my name—can’t you play along and laugh a little? Why so cold?”

He replied solemnly, “I didn’t take it as a joke.”

Talking past each other, utterly missing each other’s points.

“Hey, Lord Mayor, your word is your bond—don’t go back on it now.”

Huang Qi rolled her eyes skyward. “You really have no sense of humor. I can’t be bothered with you.”

Clearly, the Lord and his Lady had quite different interpretations of the same words. If they wanted a life together, a lot more adjustment was in order…

As they bickered and teased each other, a voice came from the doorway: “Accountant Zheng, what brings you here today? Be careful, things are a bit messy inside.”

A familiar-sounding woman’s voice replied, “I came by after picking up my daughter from school, thought I’d check in and go over the phase two accounts with the site manager. Is he here?”

Turning to look, Huang Qi saw a young, beautiful woman in her twenties standing at the door, holding the hand of a little girl about five or six years old with a backpack. The woman looked very familiar—Huang Qi almost remembered her name, but it just wouldn’t come to her tongue.

The young woman noticed her too, seeming to find her familiar but hesitant to speak first.

Seeing the two of them staring at each other, Sha Zhouyin found it amusing and said, “Shall I introduce you? This is my girlfriend, Huang Qi, and this is our company accountant, Zheng Tongfu.”

“Tongfu!”

“Sister Huang Qi!”

Their names finally tumbled out in unison. Tongfu had given birth at nineteen and recovered beautifully—slim and attractive, looking nothing like a woman with a child. When Huang Qi had met her, she was pregnant and dealing with a mess, her figure and face completely changed—she was a different person now.

Huang Qi stared in amazement. “Tongfu, you’re so beautiful now.” She silently added, Li Mingzhi really must have been blind.

Tongfu came over and said, “Sister Huang Qi, you’ve become much prettier too—I almost didn’t recognize you.” She bent down to her daughter, “Mingming, say hello to Auntie.”

Although the little girl was a bit shy, she politely said, “Hello, Auntie.” She already knew Sha Zhouyin and greeted him as well: “Uncle Sha.”

Huang Qi squatted down to shake her hand. “Mingming, you’ve grown so much! You promised to be my goddaughter back then, remember?”

Mingming, like her mother, was a pretty little girl; they looked about seventy percent alike. Huang Qi observed her closely—her features bore almost no trace of Li Mingzhi. Since Tongfu and Li Mingzhi came from the same village, perhaps that would spare mother and daughter some gossip.

The three chatted about their recent lives. Huang Qi asked, “Tongfu, you’re working as an accountant now? That’s great—I always said you were perfect for working with numbers.”

Tongfu replied, “It’s all thanks to Brother Sha. Otherwise I’d probably still be a supermarket cashier, taking over my mom’s stall selling vegetables, struggling to support Mingming. You two are my greatest benefactors. I never expected you’d end up together—what fate!”

Sha Zhouyin said, “Actually, I’d heard about you from Xiao Qi before, that’s why I noticed you.”

Huang Qi asked, “So how did you two meet?”

Sha Zhouyin said, “It’s a long story—I’ll tell you when there’s time.” Then to Tongfu, “Are you here to see the site manager? Go ahead, we’ll have dinner together later.”

Tongfu nodded and told Mingming, “I’ve got something to do for about ten minutes. Play by yourself for a bit and don’t wander off, okay?”

Mingming said, “There’s a desk at the door. Can I do my homework there?”

Tongfu stroked her head. “Go on, and if you have any questions, ask Auntie Huang—she graduated from T University!”

Tongfu went off to find the site manager. Mingming obediently sat at the desk by the door, doing her homework. Watching her, Huang Qi felt sentimental. “What an adorable, well-behaved girl. If only I could have a daughter like her one day.”

Sha Zhouyin looked her up and down. “If she took after you, not a chance.”

Huang Qi, indignant, reached out to pinch him. “Are you saying I’m ugly and fierce?”

“Don’t pinch—don’t pinch… That’s wild beauty! That’s just my type!” He quickly surrendered. “Besides, daughters usually take after their dads. You’ve got hope if you want a cute, gentle one.”

“Stop flattering yourself!”

He gazed at her with a teasing smile. “So you’ve made up your mind to let me be the father of your daughter?”

Huang Qi ignored him and went over to Mingming. Mingming was doing math homework, and Huang Qi sidled up, ingratiating herself. “Mingming, need any help? Want Auntie to teach you?”

The little girl replied coolly and regally, “It’s too easy. I know it all at a glance and just have to write it out again.”

Lord Huang was left speechless. What did she expect, given who Mingming’s parents were? Tongfu was great with numbers; Li Mingzhi, though lacking in character, was smart enough. The girl was clever—she hardly needed any help.

Author’s note: My little sister had her baby! I’m an aunt now! Going home tomorrow to see my nephew! I’ll bring my laptop and try to keep updating! That’s all!