Ever since becoming pregnant with her second child, Zhang Yuxi had begun to enjoy the quiet. Without the quadruplets' constant mischief, things were peaceful, and she liked it.

A stool had been placed in the kitchen specifically for her. When Lin Feng cooked, she would sit nearby and watch, feeling a sense of deep comfort. She could no longer remember what she used to do when she was pregnant with the quadruplets; all she knew was that it had been a pitiful time.

An Lan had brought her sons, Guo Guo and Cai Cai, over to play with the quadruplets. Her two boys were little terrors, giving her a headache that lasted all day. She had originally considered letting their grandmother help with the kids, but An Lan had raised them herself and couldn't bear to let them go. So, she endured her two sons' antics during the day, only to gaze at their sleeping faces at night and find herself overwhelmed with love all over again. It was a vicious cycle that left her looking completely haggard.

It was better when they were in school, but now that it was vacation, An Lan was teetering on the edge of madness. She and Liu Bo had tried their best, playing the roles of the strict mother and the kind father. They cared deeply about their children's education and well-being. So how on earth did they end up with two little rascals?

Cai Cai had been better when he was younger—cute and well-behaved. She had even fantasized that Cai Cai would grow up to be a sweet, warmhearted man. Reality proved she had been far too optimistic! Led astray by his older brother, Cai Cai had gone completely off the rails and was now even more of a handful than him.

An Lan reflected on this deeply. The conclusion she reached was that it didn't come from their father; Liu Bo had been a well-behaved child. It came from her! What a painful realization!

"So the quads went out to play, huh? In that case, I'll send my two off to Modu tomorrow…" An Lan said, slumping onto the sofa in despair.

Since her second pregnancy, Zhang Yuxi's personality had become unbelievably pleasant, and she was exceptionally gentle with children. However, that also meant that when she did get irritated, she felt especially annoyed.

"I think Guo Guo and Cai Cai behave quite well here," An Lan said, her expression showing no trace of attachment. "Why don't you raise them? I'll even pay for their living expenses every month."

The two boys were indeed well-behaved and sensible whenever they were at Zhang Yuxi's home. Could this place have good feng shui or something?

Zhang Yuxi smiled faintly. "We don't need your money. You should raise your own children."

An Lan vented her frustration. "It used to be manageable, but now the older one has tutoring and the younger one has taekwondo. I'm running all over the place every day…" She covered her face. "Oh, my boys… they're like debt collectors from a past life…"

Just then, the two brothers came downstairs. An Lan immediately lowered her hands, her face transforming into the perfect picture of a loving yet stern mother. The quick-change act was simply incredible.

"By the way, that roast duck you guys gave me last time was delicious. Where did you buy it?"

Zhang Yuxi couldn't help but smile at the memory. "The quads brought that back from Jingcheng. They filled one large suitcase and one small one. They've already given them all away, and we ate the two we kept for ourselves."

An Lan clicked her tongue in admiration. "Wow, impressive. The quads are true foodies; that's some impressive dedication."

An Lan couldn't help but sigh. "I haven't really traveled at all since Guo Guo was born. What do you say? After your baby is born, how about we go on a trip somewhere?"

Zhang Yuxi asked, "Just the two of us?"

"That would be great! We'll let the men stay home and watch the kids while we go and relax."

An Lan was far more exhausted than Zhang Yuxi. Liu Bo was at work most of the time, leaving her to manage everything on her own. Zhang Yuxi, on the other hand, had lived a life completely opposite to An Lan's since getting married and had never felt the need to go out on adventures.

Home is wonderful. My husband is considerate and gentle, and the quads are very understanding. The entire family is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new baby. Once the little one is born, her older brothers and sisters will love her so much that they'll definitely take good care of her. And Shen Linfeng dotes on me so much, he wouldn't let me lift a finger with the baby either. She could already picture how easy her future with the new baby would be.

"You should go, then," Zhang Yuxi said. "I've still got this one in my belly. Who knows when she'll be old enough for me to travel."

An Lan snorted. "Traitor!"

Looking at her two sons, An Lan was filled with envy for Zhang Yuxi. Word was that she was having another daughter. I want a daughter so badly, but I've never been able to conceive one. It's so frustrating! If I had another son, my whole life would just be bleak. The thought alone was terrifying.

Due to all the emotional fluctuations, coupled with symptoms like insomnia, An Lan's period hadn't come for three months. At first, she thought she was pregnant, but the test was negative. She decided to wait a bit longer, but after another week, a doctor's visit confirmed she wasn't pregnant. The doctor explained it was due to excessive stress and anxiety and prescribed medication like Diane-35. Finally, her period came.

After that, no one brought up the topic of having more children around An Lan again. She had come to terms with it and decided to just let things be.

The quadruplets returned in the afternoon. Watching the handsome boys and beautiful girls walk toward her, so youthful and vibrant, An Lan felt a renewed sense of determination. Damn it, I have to have a daughter! Every single one of them has off-the-charts looks, don't they? Especially the third quad—my god, he's already so gorgeous. I wonder what kind of devastatingly handsome man he'll become when he grows up.

The moment Guo Guo and Cai Cai saw the quadruplets, they transformed into perfect little angels, calling out "Big Brother!" and "Big Sister!" with incredible sweetness. An Lan felt a sudden urge to have her two sons fostered here. She was sure the two brothers, Guo Guo and Cai Cai, would be more than happy with that arrangement.

The quadruplets were all quite tall. The second and third of them were already much taller than their female classmates. This was even more true for the boys—even the third quad, who had never liked sports, was tall like Lin Feng.

After they played for a while and had dinner, An Lan prepared to take her two sons home. As expected, Guo Guo and Cai Cai were reluctant to leave. An Lan wasn't troubled by this in the slightest. "I'll just leave these two here with you for a few days," she announced. "I'll come back to get them later."

On the way back, An Lan felt wonderfully relaxed. She stopped by a stall to eat her favorite street food, then went and bought herself a few new outfits.

When Liu Bo got home, he asked, "Honey, where are the kids?"

An Lan leaned against the doorframe. "They're staying at Yuxi's for a few days…" After so many years of marriage, how could he not understand what that look in her eyes meant? Ah, without their two little troublemakers, they could finally have some time to themselves again.

Guo Guo and Cai Cai had a wonderful time at the Lin family's home, and they were both on their best behavior. Whenever the quadruplets went out to play, they always took the two brothers with them.

One day, an unexpected guest arrived at the house.

It was Xiao Rui.

Xiao Rui attended the same middle school as the quadruplets and was in the same class as Tian Tian. In the recent exams, Xiao Rui had ranked in the top ten, which was an excellent result. He could have stayed on at Yangcheng No. 5 High School, but his family had chosen to send him abroad instead. The school was already picked out, and all the arrangements had been made.

He had come today to say his goodbyes, and he brought gifts with him. He still carried himself with a maturity that was well beyond his years. After sharing a meal with the family, he left his new address and departed.

Xiao Rui used to visit them from time to time. They knew that his family had very high expectations for him, and the boy was under a great deal of pressure. Lin Feng always made a lot of delicious food for his visits, and this time was no exception.

Each of the quadruplets gave Xiao Rui a gift, wishing him a bright future and happiness in the days to come.

Sitting in the car, Xiao Rui looked at their gifts, a warmth spreading through his heart.

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