Zhang Yuxi composed herself and went to wash her face.

She pulled Lin Feng along, giving him a tour of the villa's layout.

"Actually, it's not much different from our house, just the arrangement is a bit different..."

Zhang Fuyong had bought this villa over ten years ago. The garage was to the left of the main building, resembling a freestanding carport that appeared to have been built by hand. As for the original basement garage, Zhang Fuyong had converted it into his personal collection room. Inside were all the antiques, paintings, and calligraphy he had collected over the years.

After touring the villa, they returned to the living room. The two elders were like children themselves, playing games with the kids. The eldest and fourth sons were playing a shooting game with their grandfather. The toy guns made a TAT-TAT-TAT sound and even had special features.

Zhang Fuyong flopped onto the mat without a care for his image, writhing in pretend agony as he clutched his chest.

"Ah, your marksmanship is too good!"

"I... I've been hit... ah..."

As he cried out in mock pain, Zhang Fuyong fumbled for a toy gun. He picked it up and immediately started "shooting" at the two boys.

"But you never expected that I have a gun too, did you? Ha ha ha ha!"

The fourth son clutched his chest, his expression a dramatic mask of pain.

"Ah... I've been hit... Brother..."

The eldest son ducked behind Zhao Lizhen, drew his gun, and aimed it at Zhang Fuyong.

Zhang Fuyong's awkward acting skills resurfaced. Clutching his chest, he feigned agony. "Ah, you've hit me again... You're truly incredible sharpshooters!"

With that, Zhang Fuyong lay motionless, pretending he'd been shot dead.

The eldest and fourth sons were delighted.

"Let's play again, let's play again!"

For them, it was a game they could play endlessly with glee.

Meanwhile, Zhao Lizhen was braiding the Barbie dolls' hair for the second and third daughters and dressing them in little outfits.

"Here, let's put this crown on the little princess, shall we?"

"Let's make them as pretty as you are!"

"Now let's pick out some shoes for our little princesses. Let's see which ones look nice!"

The third daughter loved delicate and beautiful things. She pointed to a pair of shoes that glittered as if they were covered in diamonds.

"Then let's use these! They look so pretty!"

"Second daughter, what do you choose?"

"Slippers!"

"...That works too."

Lin Feng checked the time and went to the kitchen to help Zhang Yuxi with dinner.

"Don't you two bother, I'll do it!"

Just as Zhao Lizhen started to get up, her second granddaughter asked her to put the Barbie's hair in a bun. Just like hers!

Zhao Lizhen sat back down. "You two wait, I'll be over in a minute!"

Zhang Yuxi smiled. "Mom, just play with the kids. Lin Feng and I can cook."

The couple got busy in the kitchen.

Zhang Yuxi spoke softly about her mother.

"Before, we had maids to cook three meals a day and clean the house, so Mom didn't have to do anything."

"Now that she's running her own dance class, she isn't as busy as she used to be and has started being a housewife again... Her cooking is passable, but nothing to write home about."

"She's always trying to maintain her figure, so her cooking is very light, mostly boiled dishes. She even makes 'health-focused' meals occasionally."

"My dad couldn't stand it, but my mom forced him to eat it. After a while, our whole family just got used to it."

Such ordinary things from the past were now just memories for her.

After rummaging through the kitchen, Lin Feng smiled. "I can see that."

The kitchen only had the most basic seasonings, and the bowls and chopsticks laid out were just for two people. Extra utensils were stored away in the overhead cabinets. The fridge, however, was fully stocked.

「Forty minutes later」

Lin Feng had finished preparing the meal.

Zhang Yuxi called out, "Mom, Dad, bring the kids to wash their hands for dinner."

"Alright."

"And check if their backs are sweaty."

"Got it."

Once everything was ready, everyone sat down for dinner.

Zhao Lizhen suggested, "After we eat, let's take a walk in the little park across the street."

When they got to the park, it was bustling with people out for an evening stroll. Most were from the nearby residential complexes, and many of them recognized Zhang Yuxi's family. Sure enough, they ran into a familiar aunty.

"Oh, Lizhen! Are these four quadruplets? Your grandchildren?"

Zhao Lizhen beamed with pride. "That's right! They're all my grandchildren. They're a year and a half old now!"

The woman was shocked. "They really are your grandchildren? Quadruplets? Your daughter is incredible!"

"My daughter is just that capable," Zhao Lizhen huffed lightly.

The other woman clucked her tongue. "I heard people in the neighborhood saying you'd become a grandmother, but I didn't realize it was true! You're so blessed!"

Zhao Lizhen smiled faintly. "I do feel very blessed!"

Seeing Zhang Yuxi and Lin Feng, the woman smiled again. "Oh, isn't this Yu Xi? I haven't seen you in ages. So you were off having babies!"

Zhang Yuxi recognized the woman as one of her mother's friends, but only vaguely. Unable to recall her name, she simply called out, "Aunty."

The woman sized up Lin Feng. "This must be your son-in-law! What a handsome man. He and your daughter are a match made in heaven!"

She kept sighing with admiration. "You're so fortunate now. Your daughter is married and settled, so you have nothing left to worry about."

Zhao Lizhen said with a laugh, "Aren't you blessed too? I heard your daughter brought home a foreign son-in-law this year!"

At the mention of this, the woman sighed. "Don't even get me started. She said they're going to live abroad. I'm afraid I'll be lucky to see her more than a couple of times a year."

Zhang Yuxi offered some comfort. "As long as he treats your daughter well, all that matters is that they live a happy life together."

The woman immediately scoffed. "A happy life? Hah! All they eat is bread and steak every day. What kind of nutrition is in that stuff? I tell them to cook a proper meal, but they won't listen!"

Zhang Yuxi smiled. "That's just how young people are these days. They'll understand once they become parents themselves."

The woman's expression was one of pure exasperation. "Heh heh, they say they'll 'consider' having kids after they've had enough fun. Can you believe it? Have they gone mad? She's thirty-three and he's thirty-one! The older a woman is when she gives birth, the harder it is on both her and the child. I tell them, but they refuse to listen. They're going to be the death of me."

Zhao Lizhen couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. She consoled her, "Don't get so angry, your health is what's most important! As the saying goes, 'Children will make their own way in life.' And if you don't get any grandchildren, you can just enjoy your freedom! Let them live their lives and make their own messes."

The woman's gaze fell on the quadruplets, her eyes filled with envy. "Who knows when I'll ever get to hold a grandchild!"

Compared to Lizhen, I'm such a pathetic mother!

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