Married – Feng Shaofeng, Cai Wenjing

Ning Yue is a lawyer, an honorary employee at her law firm, and a constant winner in the courtroom—a rising star with boundless potential. Initially destined to be the protagonist of a successful career-oriented life, four years later, she became a wife, with her daily responsibilities revolving around managing household tasks. Ning Yue's husband, Hu Cheng, is also a successful professional.

They have a clear division of labor—Ning Yue focuses on taking care of the home and supporting her husband so that Hu Cheng can fully concentrate on his career. Now that their child has grown up, Ning Yue is ready to return to her career path. During her time away from formal work, she never gave up her professional skills.

She continued offering online legal consultations and, with Hu Cheng's support, took on pro bono cases, maintaining a steady work rhythm. Ning Yue received an offer from a company. When Hu Cheng found out, he wasn’t pleased. He had been planning for a second child, but Ning Yue had made her career decision without discussing it with him, which upset him. Hu Cheng persistently attempted to manipulate Ning Yue emotionally, claiming he was worried about her old health issues recurring.

However, no matter what he said, Ning Yue stuck to her own plans. At this point, Hu Cheng decided to let it go. While working as a community lawyer, Ning Yue took on a divorce case. The husband in the family had cheated, and the wife wanted evidence to proceed with the divorce. However, their child found out about the situation.

In the child's eyes, his father was the best dad in the world, and he couldn’t believe his father would betray his mother. Instead, he blamed Ning Yue, thinking she had ruined his parents’ relationship. The child, Congcong, had classmates whose parents divorced, and after the father remarried, his classmate lost the fatherly love he once had. Congcong was determined not to let his parents divorce.

In desperation, Congcong threatened to jump from a building to force his mother to return home. Tragically, he accidentally fell, sustaining serious injuries and ending up hospitalized. When Ning Yue visited the hospital, she learned that photos of Congcong’s father’s affair had been posted online. Congcong’s mother accused Ning Yue of leaking the photos and blamed her for harming her child.

Fortunately, Hu Cheng arrived in time to shield Ning Yue, telling Congcong’s mother that it was her husband’s actions that had hurt the child and that she shouldn’t place the blame on someone else. Ning Yue looked at the online photos in confusion, as she was the only one who had access to them. However, she hadn’t shared them online, as basic professional ethics forbade such actions.

When Ning Yue questioned Hu Cheng about the photos, he avoided answering directly, turned off his phone, and prepared a glass of water with sleeping pills for her to drink. Ning Yue didn’t suspect him. Hu Cheng explained that when he couldn’t reach her, he contacted the service station to learn what had happened, which allowed him to rush to the hospital in time. Ning Yue believed him without question.

Because of this incident, Ning Yue became the target of online harassment and ended up losing the job she had secured. Her mental state began to deteriorate, and she started having nightmares. Worried that her depression was resurfacing, Hu Cheng took her to see a doctor. Throughout the consultation, Hu Cheng subtly guided the doctor to suggest that Ning Yue wasn’t fit to work. However, the doctor remained professional and refrained from making absolute statements.

Later, Hu Cheng insisted that Ning Yue take medication, and although she felt it wasn’t necessary, she complied. Ning Yue discovered that the consulting service station was funded and sponsored by Hu Cheng, but she didn’t blame him. Hu Cheng, meanwhile, was secretly pleased that Ning Yue had lost her job, feeling that his goal had been achieved. Although Ning Yue never doubted Hu Cheng’s love for her, she began to sense that something was changing.

Ning Yue’s son, Hu Ziyuan, had a classmate who lived next door. This led Ning Yue to be dragged into gatherings with other mothers, something she didn’t particularly enjoy. One day, she overheard a conversation between two of the mothers and realized that everything—her involvement in these gatherings and more—had been orchestrated by Hu Cheng. Feeling increasingly uneasy, Ning Yue started to feel like a puppet under Hu Cheng’s control.

The photos of Congcong's father’s affair were indeed uploaded online under Hu Cheng’s arrangement. Everything Hu Cheng did was to ensure that Ning Yue remained under his control. He trusted no one, not even Ning Yue, and relied solely on his own judgment. He even taught his son this way—no matter who says something, even parents, trust only yourself. One day, Ning Yue gave Hu Cheng a dark-colored tie to wear, but he didn’t like it.

On his way to work, he secretly switched to a light-colored tie he preferred. At work, a senior employee commented on how Hu Cheng looked better in the dark-colored tie, which irritated Hu Cheng. Using the employee’s prior surgery as a pretext, Hu Cheng dismissed him under the guise of letting him rest and recover.

To maintain his image, Hu Cheng staged a dramatic performance in front of the other employees, claiming the senior employee no longer contributed to the company, misused company funds, and was essentially a parasite. He presented this as a painful but necessary decision to protect the company. Hu Cheng’s goal was to solidify employee loyalty while protecting his reputation. Although Lao Song left the company, he didn’t give up on fighting for his rights.

Hoping for higher compensation, he decided to hire a lawyer—Ning Yue’s former colleague, Qin Can. Confident in his skills, Qin Can agreed to take on Lao Song’s case, provided his claims were true. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhu, who had worked at the service station under Hu Cheng’s orders, no longer needed to stay there since Ning Yue was no longer involved. As Lao Song’s legal representative, Qin Can met with Hu Cheng.

Despite his youth, Qin Can showed no fear in front of the cunning Hu Cheng and firmly rejected any offers of settlement, advising Hu Cheng to prepare for a legal battle. This left Hu Cheng in a sour mood. Meanwhile, Tian Qiuzi, Hu Cheng’s mistress, visited his office under the pretense of discussing legal contracts but was actually there to accompany him. The two became intimate in the office.

Elsewhere, Ning Yue went to the hospital and happened to see Xiao Zhu giving a sum of money to Congcong’s mother. She confronted Congcong’s mother for an explanation, but the latter refused to discuss the matter further and asked Ning Yue not to come again. After leaving the hospital, Ning Yue followed Xiao Zhu’s car and was surprised to discover him returning to Hu Cheng’s company. To her shock, she witnessed Xiao Zhu speaking with Hu Cheng.

Even more startling, she saw Hu Cheng behaving intimately with Tian Qiuzi and personally driving her away. When Ning Yue returned home, she directly questioned Hu Cheng about Xiao Zhu. Hu Cheng launched into his usual manipulative rhetoric. Ning Yue didn’t press further but instead asked if there was anything else he needed to confess. Hu Cheng avoided mentioning anything about the woman in question. Knowing Hu Cheng wouldn’t tell the truth, Ning Yue chose not to ask further.

Hu Cheng and his senior colleague signed a major project deal, which made him ecstatic. To ensure it wouldn’t disrupt the company’s plans for going public, they decided to resolve Lao Song’s case by paying him off. Lao Song accepted the money and agreed to a settlement. This outcome took Qin Can by surprise, leaving him feeling that all their efforts during this time had been in vain.

Frustrated and self-doubting, Qin Can began questioning his ability to protect his clients’ rights. He tendered his resignation, but his leader refused to accept it, encouraging him to reconsider. The leader reminded him not to view situations too narrowly and to take a broader perspective.

Ning Yue decided that she would no longer let Hu Cheng manipulate her. She was determined to take control of her own life in her own way. Her first step was to go to the service station where she had previously worked, hoping to retrieve some information from the computer. However, she found that the computer had been reformatted.

Undeterred, she secretly took the hard drive and sent it off for data recovery, hoping to restore some of the lost files. Ning Yue’s mother was receiving treatment in the hospital, and Hu Cheng would check in on her daily. Ning Yue’s mother treated Hu Cheng very well. One day, Hu Cheng called to ask about Ning Yue’s presence at the hospital, which allowed him to feel at ease and spend time with Tian Qiuzi.

Knowing that Ning Yue wasn’t at home, Tian Qiuzi volunteered to drop Hu Cheng off downstairs. As luck would have it, Ning Yue arrived home just as they were getting out of the car. Hu Cheng was visibly nervous, but Ning Yue remained calm. She complimented Tian Qiuzi’s hairstyle, using the opportunity to ask for the name of her hairstylist and even adding her on WeChat.

Hu Cheng was suspicious of Ning Yue’s sudden return home, but Ning Yue explained that she had to leave because of a sudden medical checkup at the hospital. Later that evening, Hu Cheng secretly contacted the hospital to confirm her story, which eased his worries. Nevertheless, Hu Cheng remained cautious and told Tian Qiuzi not to contact him for the time being. The next day, Hu Cheng had planned to take Tian Qiuzi to see a movie that she liked.

However, because of the sudden events, Tian Qiuzi went alone. She intentionally posted on her social media, and Ning Yue saw it. In response, Ning Yue decided to take Hu Cheng and their son to see the same movie and also posted about it. Tian Qiuzi was furious, but Hu Cheng knew exactly how to soothe her, and she quickly calmed down. He enjoyed the sense of control he had over others while still being loved by them.

The fifth wedding anniversary of Ning Yue and Hu Cheng arrived, and Ning Yue purposely reminded him. Wanting to maintain his image as a loving husband, Hu Cheng enlisted his senior colleague to help organize a ceremony, inviting all the employees of the company. There had been rumors circulating in the office about Hu Cheng’s ambiguous relationship with Tian Qiuzi, so this gesture was also meant to silence any gossip.

At the ceremony, Hu Cheng made a passionate declaration of love to Ning Yue, and some people took photos and videos. Tian Qiuzi saw the post on social media, which left her feeling both hurt and angry. She decided to break up with Hu Cheng. Ning Yue noticed that something seemed off with Hu Cheng. She suggested that they leave early after dinner, and surprisingly, Hu Cheng immediately agreed.

Ning Yue, sensing that Tian Qiuzi had likely sent him a message, told Hu Cheng to stay busy while she took a taxi home. Knowing that Hu Cheng would go to meet Tian Qiuzi, Ning Yue secretly followed him. As she suspected, she confirmed her doubts. Tian Qiuzi, upset with Hu Cheng, slapped him, but Hu Cheng kissed her, and she immediately stopped protesting.

Meanwhile, the hard drive that Ning Yue had sent for repair was returned to her, and inside, she found divorce documents for Mrs. He. As she looked back, she remembered having asked Xiao Zhu to help fix a computer in the past. It occurred to her that the leak of Mrs. He’s private information must have been orchestrated by Hu Cheng through Xiao Zhu.

Ning Yue learned from Sister Xia that Xiao Zhu was leaving and decided to see him off at the airport. There, she subtly prompted him to reveal that it had been Hu Cheng who had arranged for Mrs. He’s information to be leaked. Ning Yue, being a lawyer, had recorded the entire conversation. Determined to divorce Hu Cheng, Ning Yue contacted a lawyer friend.

This divorce wouldn’t just be about Hu Cheng’s infidelity; it would also address the issue of him leaking confidential client information, which had led to a tragic incident where a client’s son had jumped from a building. Hu Cheng would have to take responsibility for the consequences of his actions.

Hu Cheng felt that Ning Yue had been out for quite some time, so he decided to take their child to the supermarket to look for her. After meeting with her lawyer friend, Ning Yue immediately went to the supermarket. She knew that Hu Cheng would be suspicious, so she made sure to play her part. Ning Yue bought a lot of things, and when Hu Cheng saw her in the supermarket, his stern expression finally relaxed a little.

That evening, Hu Cheng had prepared a candlelit dinner. He wanted a second child, but Ning Yue didn't want to confront him directly. Instead, she took out her pregnancy check-up report. Given her age and the fact that their son Hu Ziyuan had often been sick after his birth, she felt it was better to be cautious and wait until her health allowed her to have another child. This way, Hu Cheng couldn't really argue.

To cooperate with Hu Cheng's desire for a second child, Ning Yue began to take action. She made an appointment at a urology clinic for Hu Cheng and bought some medication. She also began researching ways to conceive a second child. This way, Hu Cheng wouldn't be suspicious and would gradually abandon the idea of having another child.

Sure enough, when he saw that Ning Yue was preparing medication for him, he didn't cooperate and wasn't interested in going to the hospital. However, Ning Yue knew she couldn't give up trying to persuade him, or he would start to notice something was wrong. Ning Yue knew that Hu Cheng was cautious, so she figured she wouldn’t find any evidence of his infidelity directly from him. Instead, she decided to focus on the people around him.

Previously, she had noticed that Hu Cheng didn’t know how to book hotels on his phone, so she found an excuse to invite Hu Cheng’s assistant, Xiao Ma, to her home and try to extract information. To her surprise, she was able to get it. Hu Cheng had gone to the seaside that day, and Ning Yue saw a video of the seaside on Tian Qiuzi’s social media.

It was a place she, Hu Cheng, and their child had visited before. Today was Tian Qiuzi’s birthday, and she had deliberately taken Hu Cheng there because she had seen Ning Yue’s post and was angry, so she did it on purpose. Ning Yue soon found out which hotel Hu Cheng and Tian Qiuzi were staying at, so she immediately sent the information to her lawyer.

The lawyer sent someone to take photos of Hu Cheng and Tian Qiuzi embracing by the seaside. Later, Tian Qiuzi spent 200,000 yuan to get a membership card for that hotel. When Ning Yue found out, she understood it was intentional. The place held special significance for both Hu Cheng and her, and Tian Qiuzi wanted Hu Cheng to associate the seaside with only their memories.

Tian Qiuzi gave the membership card to Hu Cheng as a gift, clearly marking her possessiveness. Hu Cheng, afraid of angering Tian Qiuzi, reluctantly accepted it. Ning Yue intentionally cut off the internet at home and contacted her child’s kindergarten teacher to have Hu Ziyuan’s water bottle sent to the house, asking for it to be cash on delivery. When Hu Cheng returned home, the delivery person arrived at the same time.

Ning Yue used the lack of internet as an excuse and paid with Hu Cheng’s cash. She then noticed the membership card and intentionally asked Hu Cheng about it. Hu Cheng lied, saying that he had been discussing business with a client there and had been persuaded by the client’s manager to get the card. After all, the place held special meaning for both of them.

Ning Yue began to recall past events, including when Hu Cheng had once said he was her family. She let some tears fall in front of him, and the two of them embraced.

Hu Cheng attended a reunion with his former classmates. Most of them actually didn’t like him very much, as they saw him as a "phoenix man" who got his startup capital from divorcing his ex-wife. Back in college, Hu Cheng had even been falsely accused of stealing a classmate's watch. However, life has its ups and downs, and now Hu Cheng has become the owner of a company on the verge of going public.

At the reunion, he gifted each classmate a watch worth 7,000 to 8,000 yuan and even helped one of them solve their son's schooling problem. Consequently, everyone was now eager to flatter him. One classmate, who used to look down on him, tried to mock him but ended up embarrassing himself. Hu Cheng, however, still carries emotional scars from these past events, which have shaped him into who he is today.

During the reunion, Hu Cheng's former crush even volunteered to add him on WeChat, but she never approved his request. After the gathering, Hu Cheng went to see Tian Qiuzi. He needed her to provide him with emotional validation—in other words, he sought the feeling of admiration from her. Ning Yue went to pick up her child and noticed a girl named Jiaojiao, who is Hu Ziyuan’s classmate. Jiaojiao was upset and crying because she was waiting for her mother.

Ning Yue and Hu Ziyuan stayed to play with Jiaojiao to cheer her up. Jiaojiao’s mother is a career-focused woman who is often too busy to care for her child. When Ning Yue heard the teacher speaking admiringly about Jiaojiao’s mother, she felt a sense of disdain directed at herself. Back at home, she expressed to Hu Cheng her desire to return to work.

Hu Cheng did not want Ning Yue to become a lawyer, so he gave her information about becoming a professional organizer, offering to arrange everything for her. Ning Yue did not outright refuse and pretended to agree, but deep down, she still wanted to pursue a legal career. However, due to the incident involving Ms. He, Ning Yue’s reputation in the legal industry had been tarnished, and no one was willing to hire her.

Determined not to fall back into Hu Cheng’s carefully curated “Truman Show,” she decided to start over from the ground up. Ning Yue visited a law firm and asked the director for a job opportunity. The only position available was as an assistant lawyer, and Ning Yue agreed to take it, willing to restart her career. She was assigned to assist Qin Can.

Ning Yue had once been Qin Can’s senior, and although Qin Can respected her greatly, he was surprised that she would be willing to work as his assistant. At the moment, Qin Can was working on legal matters and coincidentally received a contract from Hu Cheng’s company, as Hu Cheng’s firm was preparing to collaborate with Qin Can’s client. To expedite the signing of the contract, Hu Cheng offered to host a dinner.

To his surprise, Qin Can was the one who showed up. Qin Can was cold toward Hu Cheng and left the dinner without even eating. Hu Cheng’s company was hosting a large event, which Ning Yue learned about through a lawyer friend. The lawyer arranged for Xiao Nie to attend the event, hoping to gather information about Hu Cheng and Tian Qiuzi.

Ning Yue stated this would be the last time she did anything like this, as she had already found a new apartment and planned to sign the lease and pay the deposit next week. However, during their previous encounter at the seaside hotel, Hu Cheng had noticed Xiao Nie. Given Hu Cheng’s personality, he had likely memorized Xiao Nie’s face. If he spotted him again, he would surely pay extra attention.

At the evening gala, Hu Cheng spotted Xiao Nie and simultaneously learned that Ning Yue had not gone to the job he had arranged for her. He tried to contact Ning Yue, but she deliberately ignored his calls. Instead, she spent her time getting dressed and putting on makeup. Without informing Hu Cheng, she took the initiative to attend the gala. Just as Hu Cheng was about to introduce Tian Qiuzi to everyone, Ning Yue appeared.

Hu Cheng had to change course abruptly, announcing instead that his most important business partner was his wife, Ning Yue. Ning Yue even gave a speech on stage, which visibly upset Tian Qiuzi. Ning Yue praised Hu Cheng for protecting and supporting her, emphasizing his admirable qualities. She expressed her hope that their son would grow up to be like Hu Cheng.

Although Ning Yue’s compliments flattered Hu Cheng, they also made him feel uneasy, as though he was losing control of the situation. Seizing the moment, Ning Yue told Hu Cheng that she had found a job that would allow her to fight alongside him for their family’s future. To expedite the contract approval process, Hu Cheng decided to cater to Qin Can’s interests. He took the initiative to visit the fishing spot where Qin Can spent his time.

Their conversation was filled with subtle tension, as both men carefully chose their words. Hu Cheng tried both persuasion and veiled pressure, outwardly expressing his hope that Qin Can would not get himself or Ning Yue involved in matters related to him. Recently, Tian Qiuzi wanted to meet Hu Cheng, but Hu Cheng intentionally avoided the hotel where she had made arrangements. Frustrated, Tian Qiuzi reflected on everything that had happened recently and decided to assert her presence.

She sought Hu Cheng out and suggested introducing him to her nearly 90-year-old grandmother, with whom she is especially close. Tian Qiuzi wanted her grandmother to meet the man she liked. Hu Cheng was surprised that Tian Qiuzi would bring him up to her family. Although she claimed her grandmother was senile, Hu Cheng was still reluctant to let their relationship become public knowledge. When Ning Yue went to pick up her child, she ran into Qin Can.

To her surprise, she discovered that he was Jiaojiao’s uncle. Initially, she had mistaken him for Jiaojiao’s father and even suggested he pay more attention to the child, only to realize her assumption was wrong. Qin Can was straightforward and asked Ning Yue why she had chosen to work at Zhongzhi, given that her qualifications didn’t necessitate starting from the bottom. Ning Yue explained that she couldn’t afford to wait any longer and needed to seize every opportunity available.

Qin Can, however, felt she wasn’t being entirely honest. Fate brought enemies together when Tian Qiuzi visited Zhongzhi for work-related matters and ended up being handled by Qin Can and Ning Yue. Tian Qiuzi took the initiative to invite both of them to dinner. Qin Can politely declined, but Ning Yue accepted. Qin Can was puzzled, as Ning Yue could have refused. Ning Yue simply remarked that she had to eat anyway.

During the dinner, Ning Yue subtly probed while maintaining her composure, matching Tian Qiuzi’s energy in a battle of wits, with neither giving an inch. While reviewing photos from the evening gala, Hu Cheng noticed Xiao Nie in one of them and instructed his assistant to investigate him. Meanwhile, Ning Yue messaged Hu Cheng, saying she wanted to introduce a new friend to him. Before Hu Cheng arrived, Ning Yue asked Tian Qiuzi if she had a boyfriend.

Tian Qiuzi replied that she did and that her boyfriend, like Hu Cheng, was an entrepreneur. Tian Qiuzi further mentioned that her relationship faced a major issue—her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend kept entangling with him. Ning Yue clearly understood that Tian Qiuzi was alluding to her. Despite Tian Qiuzi’s attempts to belittle her, Ning Yue remained composed. She told Tian Qiuzi that she should marry her boyfriend, as that would prevent the ex-girlfriend from clinging on. After all, no one would want to become a third party in such a situation. Tian Qiuzi’s expression visibly darkened.

Tian Qiuzi wanted to show off a unique gift her boyfriend had prepared for her in front of Ning Yue, but before she could, Hu Cheng arrived. From that moment, the focus shifted to Ning Yue. Ning Yue mentioned that Tian Qiuzi had been very considerate of her and insisted that this meal was on her. Hu Cheng casually wiped some food off the corner of Ning Yue’s mouth, and the tacit understanding between them made Tian Qiuzi visibly uncomfortable.

Ning Yue, knowing Hu Cheng well, deliberately repeated Tian Qiuzi's earlier remarks, saying that Tian Qiuzi could completely control her boyfriend both in love and at work. This made Tian Qiuzi nervous. Instead of asking about the so-called unique gift, Ning Yue pulled out a hotel membership card, claiming it was a gift from Hu Cheng to her. Ning Yue emphasized that she and Hu Cheng were one, referencing Tian Qiuzi's comment about being soulmates with her boyfriend.

She then asked Hu Cheng if they shared the same connection. Unable to bear the conversation any longer, Tian Qiuzi chose to leave, unwilling to face reality. Hu Cheng found Ning Yue’s behavior unusual, as she typically disliked public displays of affection. Ning Yue directly confronted him, asking if he was Tian Qiuzi’s boyfriend. Hu Cheng continued to deny it, insisting their relationship was purely professional.

He even offered to replace Tian Qiuzi with a male project manager if Ning Yue was concerned. Ning Yue decided to stop pretending. She told Hu Cheng that from the moment he started hiding things from her, she stopped trusting him. Not wanting to spend another moment with him, she got up and left without looking back. That night, Ning Yue decided to sleep in her son’s room.

Meanwhile, Tian Qiuzi came to their house and waited downstairs for Hu Cheng. Hu Cheng went down to meet her, but this time Tian Qiuzi was not so easily pacified. She was deeply hurt because she had believed that Ning Yue was just a placeholder in Hu Cheng’s life. Instead, she realized she was the one who had been foolish, and Hu Cheng had never intended to have a future with her.

Ning Yue came downstairs and saw the two of them together. Hu Cheng reacted quickly, telling Tian Qiuzi to act professionally and that he would no longer collaborate with her. He warned her not to disrupt his family again. Hu Ziyuan’s school organized a weekend camping trip. Ning Yue didn’t let Hu Cheng join, which upset Hu Ziyuan. However, as children’s moods quickly change, he became happy again upon seeing Jiaojiao and Qin Can fishing.

Later, Hu Ziyuan got into an argument with another child for bullying Jiaojiao, which led to a scuffle. The other child’s father made a scene, and during the commotion, Ning Yue was pushed. Fortunately, she wasn’t seriously hurt. The next day, while dropping Hu Ziyuan off at school, Ning Yue learned that Li Xiaohu’s father (the child Hu Ziyuan fought with) had been reported for economic crimes and taken in for investigation.

Parents gossiping about the matter quickly avoided Ning Yue when they saw her. Suspecting Hu Cheng’s involvement, Ning Yue confronted him. Hu Cheng admitted he would never let anyone bully his wife or child. After receiving a promotion, Tian Qiuzi transferred to Guangzhou. A senior colleague advised Hu Cheng to let her go and focus on his marriage with Ning Yue. He pointed out that Ning Yue had been incredibly composed and dignified, choosing not to escalate the situation publicly.

One day, Hu Ziyuan went to play at the senior colleague’s house but ended up in the emergency room that evening. Ning Yue and Hu Cheng rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news. The doctor recommended further tests to rule out the possibility of a blood disorder. This devastated Ning Yue, who began to worry that her son might have leukemia.

Ning Yue and Hu Cheng stayed at the hospital to take care of their son. Hu Cheng's love for his son was genuine, and he also truly felt sorry for Ning Yue. At this moment, they had no choice but to support each other and move forward together. Fortunately, the test results ruled out the possibility of leukemia. Hu Ziyuan's condition was not severe, and with two to three weeks of treatment, he would fully recover.

Meanwhile, Hu Cheng's company successfully secured Series B funding and established a partnership with a major corporation. The next goal was to secure Series C funding and go public. However, Hu Cheng’s pace was too aggressive, and both his senior colleague and the financial director advised him not to rush, warning that haste could backfire. After experiencing Ziyuan's illness, Hu Cheng realized he hadn’t done enough.

He felt the need to work even harder, aiming to make his company a leader in the industry and provide the best life for his family. Ning Yue's in-laws visited the hospital to see their grandson and happened to see Ning Yue with Qin Can. Her in-laws, coming from a rural background, were dressed modestly despite having a son who was a successful businessman.

Her father-in-law blamed them for not taking good care of the child and refused to listen to Ning Yue's explanations. They brought lots of meat and fish, but since Ziyuan’s fever hadn’t subsided, he couldn’t eat such foods. No matter how much Ning Yue tried to reason with them, they wouldn’t listen. Fortunately, a nurse intervened, advising them against giving such food to the child. Only then did they put the food away.

With her in-laws in town, Ning Yue planned for them to stay at a hotel. Her father-in-law was furious and called Hu Cheng to complain. Surprisingly, Hu Cheng didn’t say much and followed Ning Yue’s arrangements. This incident made Ning Yue recognize Hu Cheng’s dedication to their child. She didn’t know how to proceed. As a lawyer who had handled divorce cases, she understood the harm divorce could cause to a child.

She decided to have an honest conversation with Hu Cheng, hoping to give their marriage one more chance. When Ziyuan was discharged, he insisted that his grandparents stay at their house. Left with no choice, Ning Yue and Hu Cheng brought the two elders home. Noticing Ning Yue’s unhappiness, her father-in-law asked Hu Cheng if she had some leverage over him. Hu Cheng denied it.

Meanwhile, the in-laws kept pressuring Hu Cheng to arrange a position for their nephew, Hu Zibo, at his company. The elders didn’t understand the complexities of running a company and assumed it was easy to bring in family members. Hu Cheng didn’t want to refuse outright, as the relatives were watching, so he personally interviewed Zibo. He promised to do his best to find an appropriate role to satisfy both his parents and the relatives. Hu Zibo, however, wasn’t completely unqualified.

He admired Hu Cheng and considered him an idol. After graduation, Zibo had joined Xunda Technology, a publicly traded company where Hu Cheng had also worked years ago. Zibo had essentially followed in his uncle’s footsteps. Hu Cheng didn’t want to appear biased, but he also couldn’t deny Zibo entry into the company. To address this, he planned to be extra strict with Zibo, ensuring that others couldn’t accuse him of favoritism.

Hu Cheng assigned Zibo to work as an assistant to his senior colleague. The senior colleague thought this was a good arrangement, as it gave Zibo the chance to prove himself and show Hu Cheng his abilities. However, the senior colleague felt that Hu Cheng might be overdoing it. After all, Zibo had already reached a junior leadership position at Xunda, and placing him in an assistant role seemed like a waste of talent. Hu Cheng, however, did this deliberately.

He believed Zibo was overly ambitious and needed to develop patience and maturity through experience. Zibo overheard some colleagues gossiping about him and felt uncomfortable about the situation.

Ning Yue's father-in-law held very traditional views, believing that men should never enter the kitchen. When he found out that Hu Cheng had been cooking, he was upset, insisting that men shouldn’t cook. He argued that even if Hu Cheng lived alone, he had the means to get food without stepping into the kitchen. One day, Ning Yue felt discomfort in her shoulder.

When Hu Cheng learned about it and couldn’t find any medicinal patches at home, he drove out to buy some. On the way, he got into a car accident. Upon receiving the news, Ning Yue rushed to the hospital immediately. She mistakenly thought a critically injured patient being resuscitated was Hu Cheng, and she almost lost all hope. It wasn’t until Hu Cheng approached her that she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Ning Yue realized that if something truly happened to Hu Cheng, she would be deeply hurt. Back at home, the couple had an open and heartfelt conversation. Hu Cheng apologized sincerely, expressing his determination to change and earn back Ning Yue’s trust. He promised to work hard to give their family a good life and protect their small family unit.

Ning Yue’s mother was brought back to live with them as Hu Cheng had canceled her stay at the nursing home. However, Hu Cheng’s parents weren’t entirely pleased. His father, in particular, thought Hu Cheng should bring Hu Zibo home instead of having him stay in the employee dormitory and not giving him a high-ranking position. He felt it would be embarrassing to face relatives back in their hometown. Hu Cheng took Ning Yue and their son to the mall.

Knowing that Ning Yue didn’t like wearing qipaos, he encouraged her to pick clothes she liked instead. Ning Yue couldn’t refuse his kindness and did as he suggested. However, deep down, Hu Cheng still hadn’t fully let go of Tian Qiuzi. While Ning Yue was trying on clothes, he overheard someone inquiring about a bag and mistakenly thought it was Tian Qiuzi.

When Ning Yue noticed his distracted state, Hu Cheng quickly lied, saying he thought he had seen a former colleague and had simply mistaken the person. By the end of the month, Ning Yue would become a permanent employee. She told Hu Cheng that she wanted to continue working and asked him not to restrict her. Hu Cheng, trying to improve lately, agreed with her wishes.

Seeing his good behavior, Ning Yue allowed him to sleep in the same bed again. However, she made it clear that to truly return to how things were before, she still needed more time. Qin Can was assigned to lead an internal investigation at the company. His subordinates knew this task was thankless—it would offend many people and tie him up for a long time, leaving little chance for lucrative opportunities.

Ning Yue approached Qin Can to volunteer for the internal investigation. In fact, Qin Can had already considered her for the role, recognizing her abilities, and had made arrangements for her to join. Hu Cheng picked up Ning Yue from work and noticed her ankle was chafed. He carefully applied a band-aid for her, and in that moment, Ning Yue felt that emotional wounds, like physical ones, might also slowly heal. She was beginning to accept Hu Cheng again.

During dinner, Hu Cheng received a call from his senior colleague, who informed him that a potential investor, Mr. Hu, had been arrested for money laundering. This meant their investment deal had fallen through, and they would also need to explain the situation to Mr. Chen, the CEO of Zhongzhi. As Hu Cheng and Ning Yue’s extended family spent more time together, her in-laws' issues became increasingly apparent. Even Ning Yue’s mother couldn’t tolerate the situation anymore.

She found Hu Cheng’s father disrespectful—while Hu Cheng’s mother was busy from early morning until night, her only break being trips to the bathroom, Hu Cheng’s father did nothing but bark orders from the sofa while watching TV.

Hu Cheng decided to use his own money to fill the financial gap in his company. At the same time, he reached out to Xianbin Capital for assistance. However, their chairman, Lao Mo, was known to be difficult to deal with. Hu Cheng believed that as long as he put enough effort into it, there was no such thing as "difficult. " True to his belief, Hu Cheng successfully won over Lao Mo.

Initially, Zhongzhi’s Manager Chen had doubted Hu Cheng’s reliability and worried that the loan they provided might go to waste. But upon seeing Lao Mo, Manager Chen’s attitude immediately shifted, and he began to view Hu Cheng in a completely different light. Meanwhile, Pan Jie returned home to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday, where she encountered her half-sister, Tian Qiuzi.

Pan Jie had always admired her sister and sought her approval, though her colleagues believed that Pan Jie had been brainwashed by Tian Qiuzi. Unexpectedly, Hu Zibo’s family visited, catching both Zibo and Hu Cheng off guard. When Hu Cheng returned home, he was surprised to see them. He pulled his father aside for a private conversation. Hu Cheng’s father, who was somewhat intimidated by his son, hurriedly explained the situation.

Apparently, Zibo’s mother had come to town for medical treatment, and Zibo’s uncles, upon hearing they could meet Hu Cheng, were delighted and decided to tag along. His father assured Hu Cheng that they wouldn’t stay long and would leave after having a meal. To save face, Hu Cheng’s father asked him to reimburse their hotel and travel expenses. Additionally, he requested that Hu Cheng provide a car and driver to take them sightseeing in the city.

He assured Hu Cheng that Ning Yue wouldn’t mind, as she was kind-hearted and amiable, unlike Hu Cheng’s ex-wife. The relationship between Tian Qiuzi and Pan Jie wasn’t good. Tian Qiuzi still harbored resentment from their difficult childhood. However, due to their blood ties, when she noticed that Pan Jie didn’t even own a decent outfit, she invited her sister to visit her and offered to buy her new clothes.

During their conversation, Tian Qiuzi learned that Pan Jie’s supervisor was Qin Can. Tian Qiuzi couldn’t help but marvel at how small the world was. When Hu Cheng’s relatives visited, Ning Yue prepared a large table of dishes. Hu Cheng noticed her effort and, after the relatives left, apologized to Ning Yue. However, he firmly stated that this would be his last apology. Later, Hu Cheng started cooking at home himself, which upset his father.

In his father’s traditional mindset, men should never spend time in the kitchen. To his dismay, Hu Cheng not only cooked but seemed to genuinely enjoy it. Hu Cheng’s assistant, Xiao Ma, uncovered some information about Xiao Nie, who turned out to be Mu Xiao’s assistant. Mu Xiao specialized in cases related to marriage and divorce. Once Hu Cheng pieced things together, he instructed Xiao Ma to keep the information confidential. Coincidentally, Mu Xiao arranged a meeting with Ning Yue.

However, by that time, Ning Yue had decided against pursuing a divorce. She wanted to give her relationship with Hu Cheng another chance to rebuild trust. Mu Xiao, recognizing that Ning Yue still loved Hu Cheng, respected her decision. As Mu Xiao walked Ning Yue out, Hu Cheng was watching them from a distance without being noticed. Later, Hu Cheng asked Xiao Ma to contact the company’s best engineer.

That night, while Ning Yue was asleep, Hu Cheng secretly restored some deleted data on her computer, as instructed by the engineer. To his shock, he discovered photos of himself with Tian Qiuzi. Realizing that Ning Yue had been quietly investigating him all along, Hu Cheng was filled with anger.