Wen Yuan clearly hadn’t expected that question. He looked surprised. “Why the sudden curiosity?”
“Just wondering,” Lan Xingchen said. “Have you ever planned it?”
Wen Yuan fell silent for a moment, then said, “We’re not planning to have children.”
As expected.
Lan Xingchen wasn’t surprised at all. Ever since Pei Qingjian suggested that possibility, he had already begun to suspect it might be true.
Was it possible for someone to give up having their own child for the sake of their nephew?
Of course it was.
If Wen Yuan could remain unmarried in his youth for him, then why wouldn’t he give up having children in middle age for him as well?
“…Because of me,” Lan Xingchen said softly.
“Not entirely because of you.” Wen Yuan looked at him, placing an arm around his shoulders. “Your aunt is older now. Pregnancy would carry certain risks for her, so she doesn’t want a child either.”
“Is that really her own decision? Or is it because you don’t want one, and she loves you, so she’s following your lead?”
“Of course it’s her own decision,” Wen Yuan explained. “I’ll admit, I don’t feel strongly about having children. If you ask me personally, I don’t want a second child—I already have you, and that’s enough.”
“But I married your aunt. I love her. So I would be willing to have a child together—if she wanted one.”
“But your aunt—she didn’t want a child. She was firm about it. So we reached an agreement: no children. It’s that simple.”
“How is that possible?” Lan Xingchen shook his head, disbelief in his eyes. “Why wouldn’t she want her own child?”
“Didn’t I just tell you?” Wen Yuan replied calmly. “She’s older now. Pregnancy carries certain risks for her.”
“But when you two first got married, she was only thirty-five. That’s still an age when many women have children.”
Wen Yuan looked at him silently, saying nothing.
“Is it because you didn’t want one? You didn’t, so she also couldn’t?” Lan Xingchen pressed.
Wen Yuan sighed. “Xingchen, I love you, of course, but I also love her. If she wanted a child, I wouldn’t have disagreed.”
Lan Xingchen’s eyes filled with confusion. “She doesn’t want to be a mother?”
Of course, there were women who didn’t want to be mothers. Every woman had the freedom to choose. He just hoped that Zhou Man’s choice was truly her own—not a decision forced by him.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
Lan Xingchen heard Wen Yuan’s sigh again. He picked up a glass of water and finally asked the question that had been on his mind.
“She doesn’t want one. Or rather… she only wants to focus her energy on you.”
“I’ve asked her similar questions,” Wen Yuan continued. “She told me that if she had her own child, but still gave most of her love to you, that wouldn’t be fair to her child. And if she tried to put most of her love toward her own child, she might fail in caring for you. So she doesn’t want a child. In that way, it’s best for everyone.”
Lan Xingchen frowned. “I don’t need her to love me more than her own child. I’m already this old.”
“When she first met you, you were only a freshman. You were growing, and she was growing too. To her, she would always be older than you, always responsible for caring for you.”
“I don’t need that.” Lan Xingchen tried desperately to explain. “I don’t need you all sacrificing yourselves for me. You’ve already given so much. You should have a child of your own.”
“And… and… and…” He tilted his head. “She doesn’t need to care about me so much.”
“How could she not care about you?” Wen Yuan fixed him with a steady gaze. For the first time, those long-buried words were released. “Of course she cares—very much—because you’re your parents’ only child. And she… she’s your parents’ student.”
Lan Xingchen froze, staring at Wen Yuan, disbelief written across his face.
Wen Yuan’s expression grew complex. “Not just her. Ning Yuan and Ning Rong as well.”
“In fact, they wanted to tell you all of this long ago. I stopped them. I was afraid if you knew, you’d dislike it… and they might leave.”
“All these years, you’ve held a grudge over your parents’ actions, even hated their students for it. If I had known from the start that Zhou Man was your parents’ student, I would have respected your feelings and avoided getting involved with her. But at that time, I didn’t know. When I did, everything was already prepared. I was ready, hoping to marry her.”
“So I couldn’t just break up with her because she was your parents’ student. She didn’t want you to resent her either, so we had to hide it from you. I’m sorry.”
Lan Xingchen remained silent.
Suddenly, he remembered a day during his freshman year—one of the days Wen Yuan was preparing his own wedding. At lunch, he had asked, “One of your mother’s students wants to visit her grave. Can I…?”
“I don’t agree,” Lan Xingchen had said without hesitation.
Wen Yuan didn’t know how many times he had tried to persuade him. “They are innocent. Your parents’ matters have nothing to do with them.”
“But I don’t agree.” Lan Xingchen looked at him stubbornly.
He had always been obedient in front of Wen Yuan, but when it came to his parents, he was unyielding. Not even Wen Yuan’s pleas could change him.
Wen Yuan looked at him, helpless.
He knew Lan Xingchen’s anger wasn’t personal—it was a projection, a lingering resentment toward those his parents had cared for. But what could he say? Lan He and Lu Yinkong had devoted their lives to helping one child after another in need. They had done right by everyone… except the one son they had.
Unlike most young women who loved jewelry, bags, or clothes, Lan He had never cared for such things. She loved teaching others.
In elementary school, she would explain lessons to those around her; for birthdays, she gave finely bound children’s editions of the Four Great Classical Novels.
In middle school, she would deliver homework to teachers’ offices, and when she saw unknown students crying over books because their families couldn’t afford school fees, she would immediately step forward and say casually, “I’ll pay her tuition.”
In high school, she went so far as to intercept Lu Yinkong—a smart but habitual truant—at the school gate, forcing him to sit in class.
So when, in their senior year, everyone discussed post-graduation plans, Lan He proposed going to teach in remote villages and building schools to bring education to more children. It was entirely in line with her character.
By then, Lu Yinkong, now her boyfriend, had no objections. His life rule, ever since falling in love with Lan He in high school, had become: Whatever Lan He says is right. If she’s wrong—impossible. Whatever my wife says is right. His only condition: “I’ll go with you.”
Lu Yinkong had experienced poverty firsthand. He understood that in poor regions, life could be harsh as well as simple.
“The poorer the place, the lower the education level. People may not understand the law. That’s why education is more important. If you want to bring education to more people, I won’t object—but I can’t risk your safety. I’ll go with you.”
Lan He smiled at him. “Of course I considered that, which is why I had my father select ten elite bodyguards for me.”
Lu Yinkong: ……
“Of course,” she said, bending down to cup his face in her hands. “It’s best if you come with me.”
Because of this, although Lan He had invested in the company Lu Yinkong and Xu Yang started during their senior year out of love and support for him, she never took part in management. She stayed busy with her own plans.
Lu Yinkong didn’t interfere. He focused on earning money with Xu Yang, hoping he could give the girl he loved more support and confidence.
After graduation, Lan He and Lu Yinkong married just as they had originally planned. The wedding was small, attended only by Lan He’s relatives and friends. Lu Yinkong had little family; only friends attended from his side. Soon after, Lan He brought her passion and commitment to work with Lu Yinkong in a poor mountain area.
It was a place she had never been. For the first time, she truly realized that such places still existed in their country, strengthening her resolve.
Lu Yinkong stayed with her, protecting her.
Yet, Lan He was still young. Though committed to her ideals, she also deeply enjoyed her love for Lu Yinkong. Even with contraception, she became pregnant.
At first, Lan He considered terminating the pregnancy. She felt it was too early, unsuitable.
But when would be the right time?
Too early: career just starting, not appropriate.
Midway: career at a crucial point, still not right.
Later: career stable—then when?
Lan He seriously thought about it and ultimately decided to keep the child.
Lu Yinkong didn’t object. This was her right as a mother, and he would support her no matter what.