### Chapter 47: Marry and Have Children

### Chapter 47: Marry and Have Children

In early August, Sheng Ai set aside a day to take a walk on Zhongshan Mountain with several business partners.

As they walked along the avenue lined with plane trees, the bosses couldn't help but marvel at the beautiful scenery, agreeing that it was indeed different having important figures residing there.

Sheng Ai was the youngest among them; the other bosses were mostly in their forties or fifties and had families of their own.

After discussing the weather and the scenery, these bosses turned their attention to Sheng Ai.

A boss surnamed Lin couldn't resist asking Sheng Ai, "Mr. Sheng, you're twenty-five this year, right?"

Sheng Ai smiled slightly, "I'm twenty-five in traditional age."

The boss surnamed Lin clapped his hands, "Twenty-five is great, right in your prime."

The other bosses nodded in agreement with smiles.

The boss surnamed Lin had an ulterior motive and said to Sheng Ai with a smile, "Mr. Sheng, your generation of young people is truly accomplished. At our age, we were busy with work and had already married and had children. If not for the wind of change blowing our businesses up, we would still be doing manual labor in the countryside."

Sheng Ai continued to smile warmly.

Indeed, what Boss Lin said was true; even Mr. Sheng had come from similar circumstances.

Seeing that the other bosses remained silent, Boss Lin gathered his courage and spoke, "Mr. Sheng, I have a daughter who is... particularly... rebellious. She doesn't like doing women's work and goes to school every day, saying she wants to be someone accomplished in the future. I told her that women can't achieve much, but she wouldn't listen. She even said she admires Mr. Sheng greatly, becoming the head of a business at such a young age, and wants to be like you. She also mentioned... if there's a chance, she'd like to meet Mr. Sheng."

Boss Lin chuckled awkwardly, "She's just a naive girl, not knowing her limits."

The warmth in Sheng Ai's eyes dimmed for a moment but quickly returned to a polite smile, "Your daughter, Boss Lin..."

Boss Lin immediately added, "Well, she's not young anymore, eighteen or nineteen, and should have been married by now. But she keeps talking about new eras and movements, saying girls should be independent and strong." He paused and looked at Sheng Ai several times, "If Mr. Sheng is willing... would you like to meet my daughter? She's idle at home lately, with nothing to do."

The other bosses kept their eyes downcast.

Boss Lin tried to find a way out, "But don't mind what she says."

Then, he took on the demeanor of an elder and patted Sheng Ai's shoulder, "Xiao Sheng, don't blame me for meddling, but honestly, at your age, you should settle down. They say establishing a career and starting a family go hand in hand. Just having a career isn't enough; you need a family too, a wife and children..."

"Boss Lin," Sheng Ai finally interrupted him with a gentle smile, "the current situation is unstable, with turmoil everywhere. Even if I were to start a family, I wouldn't be able to take care of it. Who knows how we might be separated during wartime. So, while I have the intention, I lack the ability."

Although Boss Lin had already found a way out, he couldn't hide his embarrassment and said to Sheng Ai, "Xiao Sheng, regarding the incident with your secretary, everyone understands. We all have our youthful indiscretions..."

Sheng Ai's brow furrowed slightly.

He said, "Boss Lin, why bring that up?"

The other bosses exchanged glances but remained silent.

However, Boss Lin became more enthusiastic, "Getting married and having children now would be a good way to dispel rumors. What does it look like being with a man? Play is one thing, but ultimately, you need to get married..."

Sheng Ai's chest rose slightly, and the warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a hint of darkness.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard someone call out, "Brother!"

Sheng Ai's figure froze.

He and the other bosses turned around and saw several students walking down the avenue, with Sheng Xiyang running ahead, smiling and waving at him.

The plane trees in August were lush and dense, casting a green canopy over the avenue, but some sunlight still filtered through the leaves.

The scattered sunlight fell on Sheng Xiyang's smiling face.

Sheng Ai gazed at Sheng Xiyang for a long time.

Sheng Xiyang ran up to Sheng Ai, "Brother, what a coincidence! You're also here on Zhongshan Mountain?"

Sheng Ai didn't speak. In front of the other bosses, he reached out to smooth the stray hair on Sheng Xiyang's forehead, then softly replied with a nod after a moment.

"Sorry, Boss Lin," Sheng Ai turned back to Boss Lin with a gentle smile, "I already have someone I love."

Author's note:

Boss Lin: Who else can help push for marriage like me?