Xu Musen sat in the living room with Liu Rushuang, sipping coffee and chatting about setting up a short video platform.
Liu Rushuang had already invested quite a bit of money and she joked about it herself, "If this investment fails, she could consider going back home to sell roasted sweet potatoes."
But for all her talk, she never hesitated or doubted when it came to giving Xu Musen the investment he needed.
"Three years, at most three years and you'll see the results, and the returns will definitely be hundreds, thousands of times more."
Xu Musen answered with certainty.
"I could wait thirty years, no big-money venture comes without investment."
Liu Rushuang spoke carelessly, always with an elegant and warm smile: "Anyway, I have confidence in Xiao Sen, and if I really lose out, then I can just rely on you to support me in my old age."
As Liu Rushuang said this, she playfully tapped Xu Musen's cheek, just like she used to tease him when he was little.
Xu Musen replied with a puzzled look, "Mom, aren't you forever the eighteen-year-old girl? How could you possibly get old?"
Liu Rushuang was taken aback for a moment, but soon her eyes curved into crescents, full of charm and gaiety, as she stretched out her hand to rub Xu Musen's cheek: "You little rascal, your mouth is getting sweeter by the day."
Which girl wouldn't like being praised, especially Liu Rushuang who took extra care of her appearance.
A somewhat forced cough sounded.
Yao Mingyue changed into fleece-lined trousers and a down jacket, with a pair of pale yellow snow boots on her feet, dressed in light beige, looking exceptionally bright and lively.
This truly eighteen-year-old girl, at that moment, had her eyes nearly turning into crescent moons as she gazed at the affectionate pair in the living room.
"Mom is definitely not eighteen anymore, otherwise, her jealousy would have been bigger than this young lady's."
Liu Rushuang chuckled in amusement, again rubbing Xu Musen's head and beckoning to her daughter.
Yao Mingyue pursed her lips and sat down between the two.
"Still denying it? Just now you didn't listen when I advised you to wear more, but once Xiao Sen said something you did, Mom might turn into a jealous jar for real!"
Liu Rushuang put on a heartbroken expression of a mother who realizes her child has found love and forgets her, even pretending to wipe away non-existent tears from her eyes.
"Alright, Mom, stop acting, you're still the head of the family, really..."
"What's wrong with being head of the family? Are you being ageist? Hey, Xiao Sen even said I looked young. Really, it's like 'raising sons to support you in old age'—back then, I should've swapped you and Xiao Sen..."
"Mom, enough already."
Yao Mingyue knew of course her mother was only acting, but she still felt embarrassed on her behalf, especially in front of Xu Musen.
Xu Musen chuckled on the side, the mother-daughter duo clearly inherited their acting from the same lineage.
But it was clear that Liu Rushuang, the veteran artist, had a more relaxed approach to her craft.
Liu Rushuang also prepared the gifts for Father Xu and Mother Xu and put them in the trunk.
After closing the trunk, Liu Rushuang looked at Xu Musen, the little guy who had now grown taller than her by a good half head, truly all grown up.
She helped Xu Musen straighten his collar.
"You've really grown up, are you going to be engaged to Nuannuan this year?"
Liu Rushuang suddenly asked quietly.
Xu Musen nodded: "Yeah."
Liu Rushuang was silent for a moment, then her face broke into a smile.
She gently touched Xu Musen's head: "I've watched you grow up, you're able to make such a big decision in life, and I'm happy for you."
Yet her words couldn't help but carry a hint of complexity.
"Mom, I won't let go of Ming Yue either, nothing between us will change."
Xu Musen faced Liu Rushuang, with no intent to conceal anything.
And Liu Rushuang, whose emotions had almost exploded with An Shanhai, was different; she just flickered her eyes slightly before pinching Xu Musen's nose: "Really... I don't know what to say to you."
In the end, Liu Rushuang just sighed, releasing her hand and touching his cheek again.
"It's cold, be careful on the way back. You know how Ming Yue is, pamper her more. She's the one who's truly eighteen, let her be happier. That will be the greatest reward for me."
Liu Rushuang's voice remained warm and insightful, yet it hid a tinge of sorrow.
The health of her daughter was her greatest concern.
Especially in the winter, especially this winter when Xu Musen was getting engaged.
She was afraid that Ming Yue's emotional state might overwhelm her health.
At this point, she couldn't ask for more.
This winter... just staying healthy would be the best.
Xu Musen didn't have much else to say; they had long been a family.
"Mom, we're leaving now!"
At that moment, Yao Mingyue, possessing a radar-like sense, came over without knowing when.
Watching her mother touch Xu Musen's face again, she huffed, "He's not a child anymore, stop pinching him all the time..."
"Oh, oh, oh, are you jealous of someone?"
Liu Rushuang concealed the anxiety deep in her eyes even further upon seeing her daughter, replacing it with a teasing smile as she approached and gently opened her arms: "Come here, let Mom hug you too."
Yao Mingyue huffed, but still went over and hugged her mother: "Mom, you should also come back early this year, don't wear yourself out alone."
"Alright, alright, I remember everything. You take care of yourself too; when I come back we'll go soak in the hot springs together."
Liu Rushuang smiled, gently patting her daughter's head: "Alright, it's about time, get in the car, be careful on the road."