Chapter 28 Reason for sleeping in separate rooms

"What's going on?" Lin Li raised her eyebrows in puzzlement; her parents rarely laughed so heartily, even at home.

Curious, she walked toward the dining room.

Her parents were seated on one side of the table, facing a Western-style breakfast—sandwiches and fried eggs—that they seldom ate and weren't quite used to. Zhou Han sat opposite them, holding a sandwich in his left hand and a glass of milk in his right. He was saying something that had her parents beaming with delight, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Seeming to sense someone nearby, Zhou Han turned his head and locked eyes with Lin Li; the corners of his mouth curled up into a faint, knowing smile.

Seeing that familiar smile—the same one from the night before—Lin Li was instantly reminded of the previous evening's unpleasant memories. Her ears burned, and she glared at him before pointedly looking away.

Her mother, sitting opposite Zhou Han, seemed to pick up on the dynamic; she followed his gaze and spotted Lin Li standing in the doorway connecting the dining room to the living room. Smiling, she said, "Oh, Lin Li, you're up! Come have some breakfast. Zhou Han got up early and made it himself—it tastes wonderful."

Lin Li raised her eyebrows and glanced at the sandwiches and fried eggs on their plates; they looked appetizing. She was surprised to find that, beyond just cooking noodles, Zhou Han was actually quite skilled at making sandwiches.

Zhou Han spoke up then, "Come and sit down; I'll go warm up your portion in the microwave." With that, he set down his sandwich and milk, stood up, and headed into the kitchen. 

Through the clear glass partition separating the kitchen and dining area, Mother Lin watched Zhou Han pour a glass of fresh milk and place it, along with a pre-made sandwich, into the microwave to heat up. She smiled and said to Father Lin, "Look at how considerate Zhou Han is."

Father Lin glanced toward the kitchen and nodded with a smile. Turning back, he noticed Lin Li was still standing there and asked, "Xiao Li, why don't you go sit down?"

Lin Li simply smiled and nodded, then walked over to sit in the spot Zhou Han had previously occupied.

----- please read the translation from https://irisatdusk.blogspot.com/

It didn't take long to heat the food; Zhou Han soon emerged from the kitchen with the sandwich and milk. He placed them in front of Lin Li and ruffled her pretty short hair, saying, "Hurry up and eat."

"Stop messing up my hair!" Lin Li glared at him in annoyance—lingering anger from the previous night still coloring her mood—and reached up to petulantly smooth down the hair he had disheveled.

Zhou Han didn't get angry; he just smiled, his expression clearly showing how much he doted on her.

Seeing this, both Lin’s father and mother smiled. Mother Lin found her son-in-law increasingly likable; she had completely switched sides to take Zhou Han’s part. Looking at Lin Li, she teased, "You’re a grown woman, yet you still act like a child. It’s only Zhou Han who indulges you like that."

Lin Li looked at her mother in surprise and pouted in protest, "Mom, why are you taking an outsider's side?" Her mother’s attitude had shifted so quickly—after just one night, it felt like she was entirely on Zhou Han’s team. *She* was the daughter, after all!

"And you say you aren't a child? Listen to that childish talk," Mother Lin said with a laugh. "You’re married to Zhou Han now; he’s my son-in-law. They say a son-in-law is like a son, so how am I taking an outsider's side?"

Lin Li was left speechless by her mother’s words. Logically, her mother was right, but the problem was that she and Zhou Han were only a "fake" married couple. Even though all the legal paperwork was in order, both of them knew the reality of the situation was quite different.

Of course, she couldn't possibly tell her parents that now, so Lin Li had to swallow her frustration along with her sandwich and milk.

The Lins and Zhou Han enjoyed the breakfast thoroughly. Although Lin Li felt a bit disgruntled, the breakfast Zhou Han had prepared was truly delicious, so she still enjoyed the meal.

After breakfast, Zhou Han had to head to the office to handle some work matters, so he grabbed his briefcase and left. Before going, he made sure to tell Lin’s parents that the dinner reservation for the two families had been made and that he would come to pick them up later. He also asked Lin Li to take her parents out for a stroll; the October weather was neither too cold nor too hot, making it a perfect time to go out and walk around. 

Zhou Han’s words made the elderly couple beam with delight; any lingering reservations they might have held about the marriage vanished completely, and they nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

At her mother’s insistence, Lin Li reluctantly walked Zhou Han to the elevator.

----- please read the translation from https://irisatdusk.blogspot.com/

While waiting for the elevator, Zhou Han glanced at the woman beside him—who had clearly been unwilling to see him off—and leaned casually against the wall, looking as languid and slightly disheveled as a lazy kitten.

He asked with a faint smile, "Still angry about last night?"

At this, Lin Li glared at him fiercely, her hackles rising like an agitated cat, and hissed in a low voice, "Don't you dare mention last night!" She was just going to write the whole thing off as a stroke of bad luck.

Seeing her reaction, Zhou Han raised an eyebrow and asked teasingly, "Why not?"

Lin Li gritted her teeth, practically snarling the words: "Do you think that was some sort of fond memory? Why on earth would I want to dwell on it?"

Zhou Han seemed to give serious thought to Lin Li’s words. After a long moment, he nodded and said in a measured, matter-of-fact tone, "It was pretty good for me—at the very least, the taste was decent."

"You...!" Lin Li glared at him in frustration. She wanted to retort but couldn't find the right words; she simply puffed out her cheeks in anger as she stared at him.

Zhou Han merely shrugged at her glare. "I’m telling the truth; the taste really was good—soft, you know?" He paused, then seemed to recall something. Nodding affirmatively at Lin Li, he added, "Oh, and it was sweet, too. It’s truly a fond memory for me—something I can look back on and reminisce about when I have some free time."

Lin Li blushed at his words. After glaring at him for a long while, she finally spat out, "You pervert!"

Zhou Han shrugged; he didn't dispute her assessment—in fact, he nodded in agreement. "I won't deny it." Finding her indignant, cheek-puffing expression amusing and cute, a soft smile unconsciously played at the corners of his mouth—a detail he didn't even notice himself.

Lin Li glared at him resentfully until her eyes began to ache, finally looking away. She consoled herself with the thought that someone who is utterly shameless is invincible; it was like getting bitten by a dog—you certainly wouldn't pounce on the dog to bite it back, would you?

With this thought, her anger gradually subsided. She cast a sidelong glance at him, gave a soft huff of disdain, and walked past him.

Lin Li’s attempt to appear composed while failing to hide her irritation amused Zhou Han so much that he didn't even notice the elevator had arrived. Lin Li stomped her way home, still feeling a bit miffed. 

----- please read the translation from https://irisatdusk.blogspot.com/

No sooner had she opened the door and stepped inside than her mother—who was waiting right there—pulled her straight into the living room. Her father was sitting stiffly upright on the sofa; on the low table in front of him sat a glass of hot water and the medication prescribed at the hospital the day before.

"Sit down, sit down." Her mother guided her to the sofa opposite her father, then walked around the table to sit beside him. The couple then fixed their gaze intently on their daughter.

Feeling a bit unnerved by their stares, Lin Li scratched at her stylish short hair and asked, "Dad? Mom? Is there something you want to tell me?"

Her father, his throat still feeling a bit rough, gave a slight cough and nodded. He glanced at her mother and said, "You ask her."

Lin Li was somewhat startled by their solemn demeanor. She had no idea what was going on, yet she sensed that whatever they were about to say was no small matter. She offered a sheepish smile and asked tentatively, "Mom... what is it you want to tell me? Has something happened?"

Her mother rolled her eyes and demanded, "Tell me the truth—are you giving Zhou Han the cold shoulder because you're angry with him?"

Lin Li was taken aback. *Was I that obvious?* she wondered. *How did Mom and Dad figure it out?*

Of course, she couldn't admit it. She feigned ignorance, offering a nervous laugh as she said, "Mom, what are you talking about? Why would I be angry with Zhou Han?"

"Don't try to deny it." Her mother rolled her eyes again. "I saw it all. You were so obvious about it—if that’s not being angry, then what is?"

"You saw it?!" Lin Li was shocked. *Did Mom find out about what happened in the study last night?* "Of course I saw him!" Mother Lin said. "When I got up this morning, Zhou Han happened to be getting up too; I saw him come out of the first room on the left!"

"The first room on the left?" Lin Li turned to look toward the bedrooms. She thought to herself, *Isn't the first room on the left the master bedroom? What’s so strange about Zhou Han coming out of that room? There’s nothing odd about it—that’s where he sleeps, after all!* 

"Oh, dear," Mother Lin sighed softly. She stood up, walked around the low coffee table to sit beside Lin Li, and took her daughter's hand, patting it gently on her own lap. Softening her tone and speaking with a touch of wistfulness, she said, "Xiao Li, from what your father and I have observed—both yesterday and this morning—Zhou Han is a truly wonderful man. He’s considerate, he takes good care of you, and he treats us well, too. 

You really shouldn't be so headstrong or act childishly. It’s perfectly normal for couples to have their little bumps in the road, and there are plenty of ways to handle them—but don't go too far. If you push things too far, a person's heart can go cold; and once a heart turns cold, it’s very hard to warm it up again."

The more Lin Li listened, the more confused she became; she couldn't quite grasp what her mother was driving at. She gave an awkward, forced laugh and asked, "Mom, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all."

"There's no point in trying to keep it from us anymore; we know everything. Zhou Han told us," Mother Lin said. "To be honest, you can't entirely blame him. He runs his own company, so naturally, he’s busy with work and has less time to spend with you. As his wife, you ought to be more understanding instead of always acting so willful."

The corner of Lin Li’s mouth twitched as she asked, "Mom... what exactly did Zhou Han tell you?"

Mother Lin glanced at her and said, "He told us that you’ve been giving him the cold shoulder these past few days because he’s been working until midnight every night—and that’s why you two have been sleeping in separate rooms."

At that moment, Father Lin chimed in to criticize his daughter: "Xiao Li, you were in the wrong here."

Lin Li was left speechless; she could only offer another awkward, forced laugh, the corner of her mouth still twitching.

----- please read the translation from https://irisatdusk.blogspot.com/