As soon as the college entrance exam taker arrived home, everyone gathered neatly.
Jiang Li had also flown back.
Just as she arrived home, she saw everyone surrounding Jiang Yu, reviewing the situation of the past few days’ exams.
When they mentioned the major incident in Jiang Yu’s dormitory, most of them were terrified.
Whether it was a curse or inevitability, all the boys who contracted Gender Transformation Syndrome had, without exception, chosen to continue living as girls.
Their Jiang family had nearly lost a grandson and gained a granddaughter instead.
Grandma Jiang patted Jiang Yu’s hand and said with extreme relief, “Thank goodness our Xiao Yu is a good boy.”
“Don’t worry, Grandma. It’s not just that day—I’ve always been regular with my meals, my daily routine, I exercise on a fixed schedule, and before bed I try to drink a glass of hot milk to help me sleep. Every day I sleep soundly until I wake up naturally.”
Jiang Yu looked at his grandmother and said softly.
Hearing this, all the Jiang family members nodded in satisfaction, deeply convinced by his words.
Jiang Li also nodded.
Then she walked quietly over to stand beside her mother.
Mother Jiang glanced at Jiang Li and smiled gracefully. Soon Xie Zhuran also noticed Jiang Li and unconsciously gave her an extra look.
Jiang Li followed his gaze, looked at him, and gave him a slight smile.
They looked at each other without speaking.
Then Grandma Jiang said, “Since everyone’s back, let’s start preparing the celebration and the meal!” ending their eye contact.
After that, both the celebration and the dinner proceeded amidst laughter and joy.
Near the end of the meal, Grandma Jiang suddenly looked at Song Qiuyu and brought up the martial arts movie they would be starring in, scheduled for release in early August.
“You might not know this, but the martial arts choreographer for the movie you’re in is actually my apprentice!”
At this, most people at the table turned their heads, looking at her in considerable surprise.
Then Grandma Jiang began describing her years as a martial arts choreographer.
She spoke with animation, and the others listened with great interest.
Young Grandma Jiang was like a chivalrous woman living in a martial arts world—the kind who really knew internal power!
“Then, Grandma, on the premiere day, would you like to watch the movie with us?”
Song Qiuyu asked tentatively.
“Guess why I suddenly mentioned that the martial arts choreographer of your movie is my apprentice?”
Grandma Jiang picked up her phone, her tone turning displeased.
“This kid texted me last night, telling me out of nowhere that the movie’s post-production is almost done, and the next step is the preparation before release.”
“And he even had the nerve to provoke me, saying this movie is the culmination of his martial arts skills, that he’s surpassed the master. If I don’t believe it, I should go to the theater and see for myself!”
Saying this, Grandma Jiang let out a disdainful snort, her brows furrowed, clearly having serious issues with this apprentice.
“Seems like your grandma doesn’t have a great relationship with this apprentice?”
Song Qiuyu lowered her voice and quietly asked Jiang Xiao.
“Well…”
Jiang Xiao admitted to himself that he didn’t know much about this matter.
‘Still, from what I remember, my grandma has taught quite a few apprentices, but the master-disciple relationships never seemed good—even bad in some cases. I don’t know the reason; I can only judge from her usual style. Maybe she’s too strict and pushes them too hard.’
‘Besides, my grandma is the classic teacher who only likes good students and can’t stand laziness or slacking off.’
‘But over these past four years, I’ve discovered something I used to overlook.’
‘Every year on Grandma’s birthday, five or six anonymous gifts arrive at the house.’
‘Who sends those anonymous gifts?’
‘Hard to guess.’
“Then when the time comes, let’s all go watch it together.”
Mother Jiang said with an elegant smile.
“This is our child’s first movie—we have to show our support no matter what.”
“That’s right.”
Father Jiang also agreed.
They talked a bit more about the movie in mid-August, then finished eating. Everyone started discussing the second wedding to be held during the National Day holiday this year.
After one wedding banquet at the groom’s hometown, another would be held at the bride’s hometown to better follow tradition.
Only after both weddings were complete could Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao get their marriage certificate.
“Almost there, just a few months left. I know you young people are eager to get your marriage certificate, but don’t rush.”
Mother Jiang took a look at her daughter-in-law, who was four months pregnant, and elegantly patted her small hand.
‘Even though this child turned from a boy into a girl due to illness and has quite a bit of a dark past,’
‘Right now, she just looks like an ordinary pregnant woman, not much different from any normal girl.’
‘No, that’s not quite right—there is a difference.’
‘This child is more well-behaved, especially good at reading the room. Several times I tried to make things difficult for her, but in the end, it just fizzled out.’
‘No wonder my own child is so tightly wrapped around her finger.’
“Mom, actually, we’re not in that much of a hurry.”
Song Qiuyu said in a soft, gentle voice.
Jiang Xiao, however, didn’t agree.
He said bluntly, “Actually, I’m really quite anxious.”
Hearing this, two-thirds of the Jiang family members present shot Jiang Xiao a glare.
For a young man, he really lacked composure.
Then they all looked at the obviously more composed Song Qiuyu, feeling more and more fond of this TS woman the more they saw her.
If the child in her belly was a boy, they would like her even more.
Xie Zhuran watched the Jiang family’s differential treatment of the two roommates and couldn’t help but sigh, but more than that, he found it strange.
The Lao Jiang he knew wasn’t the type to be so impatient.
Lin An adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting light.
He, however, saw through everything.
‘Lao Jiang is playing the bad cop to make Lao Song more likable to the family! What a great spirit of sacrifice.’
‘But knowing Lao Song’s personality, she definitely won’t take that for granted. It seems they’ve already discussed this between themselves.’
Things were exactly as Lin An thought.
Before returning home, Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao had spent an entire night discussing how to handle the Jiang family.
One playing the bad cop, the other playing the good cop—that was just the first step in their plan.
After the conversation, the Jiang family’s attitude toward Song Qiuyu as a daughter-in-law had clearly improved.
By then, it was nearly ten at night.
Everyone had washed up and gone to bed. Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao were among them.
“Jiang Xiao, how about starting today, you sleep on the inside?”
Song Qiuyu looked at the bed in front of her, thought for a moment, and said.
‘…’
Jiang Xiao was momentarily stunned. ‘Xi’er is at it again. It must be because pregnancy increases the frequency of urination, and she’s embarrassed to disturb me.’
“What are you saying? From now on, you’re the one sleeping on the inside!”
“But…”
Song Qiuyu hesitated.
‘Before I was pregnant, it was fine. But now if I sleep on the inside, won’t I wake Jiang Xiao every time I get up to pee?’
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s not okay. Once might be fine, but if it happens many times, even the most patient and good-tempered person would get annoyed.’
‘But then again, there’s an old saying from ancient times.’
‘In the era when men could take concubines, it was the man who slept on the inside. If a concubine dared to sleep on the inside, in severe cases, she might be beaten to death!’
‘The reason the concubine had to sleep on the outside was naturally to make it easier for the man to get up and take care of her—like putting on a coat or something…’
Thinking of this, she looked at Jiang Xiao with a slightly odd expression.
“Alright, no buts. Don’t forget, I played the bad cop all night tonight to make your good cop shine!”
Jiang Xiao pressed his wife’s small shoulders, making her sit down on the bed.
“So you have to be good.”
“Hehe.”
Song Qiuyu chuckled softly and obediently lay down on the inside of the bed.
Then, after Jiang Xiao lay down, he held one of her small hands and adjusted her sleeping position to the most comfortable one.
As a soon-to-be father, he had done plenty of homework.
Among other things, he knew how to ensure his pregnant wife had a good night’s sleep every day.
“Alright, alright, time to sleep.”
Jiang Xiao gently patted his wife’s four-month-pregnant belly, speaking softly as if coaxing a child.
“Mm.”
Song Qiuyu snuggled into her husband’s arms and slowly closed her eyes.
She felt as if she were floating in a warm ocean, a gentle current flowing unhurriedly into her limbs and bones, making her whole body incredibly comfortable.