Chapter 484: Chapter 484

Perhaps the matters aren’t related, after all, there’s the Shen Family, the Zhao Family, and the Liu Family, but Shen Bin felt that all these events were somehow intertwined. Finally, after finishing his tasks, Shen Bin got the rare chance to stay at home for a day, and this day was spent tidying up the house with his family.

The things from the new room upstairs were moved to the study downstairs, and the items in the study were moved upstairs. While it didn’t seem like much work, it took nearly half a day once they began moving, with the housemaid and the young guard joining in.

Shen Bin looked at the newly arranged room, and the smile on his face quickly faded. Ever since he learned that his wife was coming back, he had a bad feeling, knowing that this time wouldn’t just pass by like before.

Early the next morning, after Ye Zhenfen had breakfast, she also tidied up and prepared to pick up people with Shen Bin. Shen Bin hesitated for a moment but thought it was a good idea. At least in front of his mother, even if Ye Ling was unhappy, she would hold it in.

Ye Ling’s train wouldn’t arrive until noon, but Ye Zhenfen couldn’t sit still at home. She had the driver take her to the station early, waiting in the car in the cold winter air. Finally, unable to remain seated, she got out to wait at the exit.

When Ye Ling walked out with a big bag, her belly showing, she saw Shen Bin striding toward her from afar. Then she noticed her mother-in-law lagging behind. Although she was still upset with Shen Bin in her heart, seeing her mother-in-law, who was not in great health, coming in the cold winter to pick her up, Ye Ling’s mood improved.

She directly ignored Shen Bin’s outstretched hand offering to carry the bag and walked briskly toward her mother-in-law. "Mom, it’s so cold, you should have just waited for me at home. Why did you come all the way here?"

"Child, with such a big belly, how could I not worry about you coming back alone?" Ye Zhenfen looked at her daughter-in-law’s growing belly and couldn’t help but smile. "Give the bag to him; with such a big belly, don’t strain yourself."

Only then did Ye Ling hand the bag over to Shen Bin beside her, but she didn’t even glance at him.

Ye Zhenfen noticed immediately but didn’t say much. The two of them then linked arms and walked toward the car, with Shen Bin sitting in the front. The whole way, he listened to his mother asking Ye Ling what she did at home alone and what she ate on the train. These were things Shen Bin also wanted to know. Hearing that his wife was pondering over food while alone at home, his earlier sadness from being ignored slowly faded away.

Amid cheerful laughter, the family arrived home. The housemaid had already prepared the meal, waiting for them to return. This maid had been with the Li Family for over ten years and was like family. Seeing Ye Ling’s big belly made her feel joyous too. After washing their hands, the family sat around the table. Seeing the dishes, Ye Ling realized she was truly hungry.

When she tasted the braised pork, Ye Ling’s eyes closed with delight, indicating her happiness. Shen Bin kept observing his wife’s expression, feeling pleased as he placed a few more pieces of braised pork into her bowl. Although Ye Ling pretended not to notice, she did eat the meat.

"It’s good to have a hearty appetite. When I was pregnant with Shen Bin, I also had a big appetite. Others couldn’t stand the smell of meat, but I could eat it." Ye Zhenfen also kept adding meat into her daughter-in-law’s bowl.

Before long, Ye Ling’s bowl was piled like a little mountain of meat.

Ye Ling didn’t feel embarrassed at all. She liked her mother-in-law and knew her kindness was genuine. Perhaps it was because she cherished Shen Bin as her son that she treated her well, but no matter the reason, the goodness toward her was real.

Ye Ling didn’t politely say she couldn’t eat anymore. She ate whatever was given, enjoying it thoroughly, which only made Ye Zhenfen happier. The meal was filled with laughter, and after, Ye Zhenfen told Ye Ling to rest first and talk later in the evening, shooing her son inside before she went to call her husband.

Ye Ling saw that their bedroom had been moved to the first floor. Going inside, she found the setup unchanged from upstairs. Knowing that the family cared for her, something even her biological mother hadn’t done, she couldn’t deny feeling touched. After surveying the room for a while, she held her belly and sat on the bed, ready to lie down. Her legs were then supported by a pair of large hands and placed on the bed.

Ye Ling simply accepted it as if she had climbed onto the bed herself, making no sound. She pulled the quilt over her, breathing a soft sigh. After the past few days, she truly felt exhausted. Feeling the bed beside her dip, without looking, she knew it was Shen Bin sitting down.

"If there’s anything I did wrong, just say it. Don’t keep it to yourself." Shen Bin reached out his hand.

Ye Ling immediately withdrew her hand, not letting him hold it, then lifted her head with a faint smile. "What are you talking about? We just reunited, and you’re saying I’m angry, without any reason why would I be mad?"

Undeterred, Shen Bin reached out again. Ye Ling, making an act of pulling the quilt, avoided him once more. "Move over a bit, or sit on the chair; I can’t pull the quilt properly with you sitting on it."

Was this a rejection?

Shen Bin shifted his body back and helped her with the quilt. "You say you’re not angry with me. I know you’re upset that I kept things from you. I was worried with your pregnancy that you’d get anxious, so I didn’t tell you. I wanted to handle everything first and then talk to you face-to-face when I got back so you wouldn’t worry."

"What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word you’re saying." Ye Ling interrupted with a laugh. "I’m tired too, having been on the train for three days. If you have no business, go chat with mom; I want to sleep for a while."

Seeing his wife smiling but not fighting with him left Shen Bin feeling powerless. Unwilling to truly upset her, he nodded, watching as she turned away and appeared to doze off before quietly leaving.

In the living room, Ye Zhenfen saw her son come out and waved him over, whispering as he got close, "Lingzi is mad at you, isn’t she?"

"No." She wasn’t arguing or making a fuss, just too polite. That didn’t count as a quarrel, right?

Ye Zhenfen gave her son a suspicious look. "She’s pregnant right now, so don’t anger her. Just because she’s good-natured, don’t assume she’s easy to bully. I think you must have upset her. I won’t nag you, but maybe use these days to return to that side and hand over your work. By the time you come back, Lingzi should have forgiven you."

"Mom, I’ll wait a few more days before leaving." Shen Bin flatly disagreed.

Leaving now, and who knew how his wife would treat him when he returned. Shen Bin didn’t dare to gamble on that, and Ye Zhenfen studied her son for a long moment before nodding, "Suit yourself then."

And she didn’t interfere further.

In the bedroom, Ye Ling opened her eyes. She already had a plan on how to handle Ye Qian, and as for Shen Bin, she would watch how he behaved. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵