Chapter 346: What a Generous Husband Should Do

**Chapter 346: How a Considerate Husband Should Behave**

"Our workplaces are too far apart. I'm busy with the military cultural troupe, sometimes rehearsing and performing for days on end."

Ye Xiaoxiao brought her back to reality. "Do you think a doctor’s job is easy? Right now, both of you are swamped. If one of you quits work to stay home, that person’ll be stuck home alone."

Bai Mengan was stunned. "*It’s not that bad, is it?*"

"I think you should really think it through. If you leave the cultural troupe, what would you even do? You’d need to find something to do."

Besides, Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t think Bai Mengan was the type who did housework.

*Sigh.* "That’s exactly why I’m torn."

But Bai Mengan was easygoing by nature. As she talked about her own problems, she quickly switched gears to Ye Xiaoxiao.

"How’ve you been lately? How’s married life? When are you having kids?"

Ye Xiaoxiao covered her face and scooted away from Bai Mengan.

"Quit prying. It's pretty much the same as before, and he isn’t home often anyway."

Bai Mengan blurted out, "Then doesn’t that mean you can’t get pregnant?!"

Ye Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. "You sound just like a meddling mother-in-law pushing her daughter-in-law to have a baby."

Bai Mengan went to cover Ye Xiaoxiao’s mouth.

"You actually said that about me! Xiao Xiao, you’ve gotten nasty!"

The two started roughhousing.

...

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t in any rush about getting pregnant.

But in our compound, someone *had* received good news.

Hao Yanyan had gone to the hospital because of nausea and found out she was one month pregnant.

Doing the math, she must’ve conceived during the time she spent recovering at home after her injury.

Had they really spent so little time together before?

These past few months, she put in more effort—and now she was successfully pregnant.

Both her mother-in-law and her own mother were thrilled. Now there was even less chance she’d go back to work.

Hao Yanyan simply announced that she had sold her shop.

Zhao Hongxia couldn’t care less whether Hao Yanyan earned money anymore—she was solely focused on making sure her grandson turned out well.

While a granddaughter would be nice, the one-child policy was strictly enforced, and cadre families had to set the standard.

So Zhao Hongxia still wanted only a grandson.

"Yan Yan, the first three months are crucial. Just stay home. I’ll cook for you."

Hao Yanyan didn’t want to live with her mother-in-law. "Mom, then Jianwen’d be by himself. I’d rather be home with him."

Zhao Hongxia wasn't thinking about her son right now and said directly, "He's got hands and feet—he can take care of himself."

Xu Jianwen looked at his mother helplessly.

At the same time, his mood wasn't that cheerful. His recent investigations showed that Hao Yanyan had indeed kept many things from him.

He had also sent people to investigate in Baishi Village, but no rumors seemed to circulate about the Ye family mistreating children.

On the contrary, villagers all said the Ye family were good people—proper, upright, and kind.

This wasn't at all what he'd expected.

Originally, he wanted to meet the Ye family in person, but seeing his mother beaming with joy and his gentle, refined wife, he didn't have the heart to spoil this happy scene.

"Jianwen, don't you agree?"

Zhao Hongxia suddenly spoke up.

Xu Jianwen jolted out of his reverie and nodded vaguely.

"Right."

Zhao Hongxia patted Hao Yanyan's hand. "See, even Jianwen agrees. You should stay here with us—the big courtyard is close to the hospital, so it'll be convenient for checkups."

Hao Yanyan seldom got this kind of fussing and affection from her mother-in-law, so she went along with it and nodded.

"Then I'll do whatever Mom says."

Zhao Hongxia: "That's my good girl. Your pregnancy is great news—I need to call Grandpa and Grandma to give them the happy news and let them share our joy."

Saying this, Zhao Hongxia turned to Xu Jianwen again. "You should tell Jianli too."

Xu Jianwen: "He won't pick up now—he's studying."

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, Xu Jianli was already in his final year of university.

However, he had decided to pursue graduate studies, so he didn't have to think about jobs yet.

For once, Zhao Hongxia wasn't pestering him to bring a girlfriend home.

Ever since her younger son started college, she'd been on his case about it.

Especially after his asthma improved significantly, she'd gotten even more insistent that he settle down and start a family.

"Don't tell him for now. It's not like he pays attention to family stuff anyway."

It wasn't that Xu Jianli didn't care about family matters—he just couldn't be bothered with his brother and Hao Yanyan’s business.

When it came to his brother's choices, he had nothing more to say.

Xu Jianwen didn’t stay home long before saying he needed to get back to the office.

As he left the compound, he bumped into Ye Xiaoxiao, who was going to her car.

Their cars were parked near each other.

Since Xu Jianwen’s marriage, Ye Xiaoxiao had seldom seen him around the compound.

"Fancy meeting you here."

Xu Jianwen took the initiative to greet her.

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded politely, but didn’t want to say much.

The original male lead seemed to be a complete failure—he hadn't achieved anything remarkable, which left her a little disappointed.

But then again, it was understandable. Even the female lead hadn’t accomplished anything extraordinary, let alone the male lead in a women’s empowerment novel.

Unexpectedly, Xu Jianwen said, “Thank you for helping Jianli with his illness. I know it was you who treated him before—it worked wonders.”

Ye Xiaoxiao chuckled lightly. “If it’s about this, there’s no need for you to thank me. I see Jianli as a little brother, and I’m happy to help.”

Xu Jianwen sensed her standoffishness and felt somewhat dejected.

Though he couldn’t place why, he still asked abruptly, “Xiaoxiao, your attitude toward me feels really cold.”

Ye Xiaoxiao thought to herself, *This guy takes forever to catch on.*

She hadn’t just started being cold to him—she’d been giving him the cold shoulder for years now.

And now he had the nerve to ask with that whiny, guilt-tripping tone?

Did he think he was Lu Hanchuan, someone who could melt her heart?

Ye Xiaoxiao replied bluntly, “We’re both married now. Keeping our distance is the right thing to do, don’t you think?”

Xu Jianwen looked as if it had just dawned on him. “Right… You’re married. Is he treating you well?”

Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t quite wrap her head around his logic.

But when it came to this topic, she had plenty to brag about. “Of course he treats me well. Look at my gold necklace—Lu Hanchuan bought it. My white jade (moonlight-white) bracelet—Lu Hanchuan bought it. My car—Lu Hanchuan bought it…”

She made sure to highlight every detail from head to toe, leaving no doubt about how happy she was.

And then there was Xu Jianwen.

Although she wasn’t close to him personally, she knew from reading the book.

The original female lead had grown up with Xu Jianwen for years, yet the most expensive gift he ever gave her was three hair ties for pocket change.

And even that was only because the original female lead had nagged him into buying them for her birthday when she was a teenager.

Even though the original character was a villain, Xu Jianwen was cheap as hell.

With that thought, Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t be bothered to listen to whatever else Xu Jianwen wanted to say—she simply drove off.

Xu Jianwen could only watch as Ye Xiaoxiao’s car vanished down the road.