Leaving Han Yan in the living room, Bai Peiwen ran up the stairs, stopping right in front of his mother′s door. He stood there for a few seconds. After taking a few deep breaths, he shook his head, lifted his hand, and knocked on the door.

  From inside, Old Madam Bai's authoritative voice came through: "Come in!"

  He pushed the door open and walked in, immediately seeing Old Madam Bai standing by the open window. The window faced the garden, offering a clear view of everything in it. His heart raced. So, there was no need for any expnation—Old Madam Bai had already seen him and Han Yan in the garden.

  He looked at his mother, whose face was pale with anger.

  "Is there something you want to tell me?" Old Madam Bai asked, her voice cold and stern.

  Bai Peiwen closed the door behind him and took a few steps forward, standing before his mother. He lowered his head and said,

  "I've come to ask for your forgiveness. And to ask you to accept your daughter-in-w."

  "You've finally married her!" Old Madam Bai whispered, her voice trembling with fury. "And you didn′t even inform your mother." She grated her teeth, her body shaking with anger. "You're not here to have me accept her; you're practically forcing me to meet her!"

  "Mom!" Bai Peiwen said, his voice filled with fear. "I know I was wrong, but please forgive me!" He raised his head and looked at Old Madam Bai, his eyes deep and intense, fshing with a strange light.

  Old Madam Bai couldn′t help but shudder. Suddenly, she felt like she didn′t recognize this child anymore. He was no longer the little boy who had once sat at her feet. He had grown up and was now a completely independent man. He exuded an aura of independence, masculinity, and forceful determination. Though his tone was gentle and respectful, it carried an undeniable strength that left no room for rebuttal.

  "Mom, you don′t understand. She means more to me than anything in the world. I couldn′t let anything happen. I was afraid of losing her, so I did this! I would rather come to you and apologize after the fact than risk you rejecting me beforehand."

  Old Madam Bai stared at Bai Peiwen; the words were painfully blunt! Yet, they clearly revealed a harsh truth—he could lose his mother, but he couldn′t lose that woman!

  Was this the inevitable path that every grown child must take? One day, the position of the mother would be pushed aside, moved back, all the way to a corner... leaving all the space for another woman. In his life, she would no longer matter, no longer hold authority, and she would lose him. Now, this child looked at her with such open eyes, as though he had already given her an order: there was no other option. She had no choice but to accept one path.

  "She is more important than anything else in the world, even more important than your mother!" she murmured. "You no longer care about a mother's pce and dignity! What a good son you are!"

  "Mom!" Bai Peiwen called out, his voice filled with emotion. "If you accept her, you'll like her. You'll find that you'll have gained another daughter!"

  "I′m not lucky enough to have this daughter-in-w!" Mrs. Bai said coldly. "Maybe I should move out. What′s her name?"

  "Han Yan."

  "Ah, yes, Hanyan Vil! You put up such a sign at the gate, and this pce has become her world. I′ll move out as soon as possible to avoid being a stumbling block between you two."

  Bai Peiwen stepped forward, his hand tightly holding his mother′s. His beautiful eyes were warm, gentle, and sincere. His voice was kind, solemn, and earnest.

  "Mom, you've always been a good mother. I don′t believe you don't have the grace to accept a daughter-in-w! When Dad married you, his world centered around you, didn′t it? You understand love, Mom! You've never been an old-fashioned, stubborn woman. Why don′t you meet her first? Once you meet her, you′ll understand me! As for you saying you′ll move out, I know that's just out of anger. Please, Mom, don′t stay mad at me!"

  "I′m not angry, Pei Wen, I′m just sad." She looked at him. "I′ve never opposed you marrying. On the contrary, I′ve actively helped you search for and introduce women. Now, the way you′re speaking, it almost sounds like I′m a typical mother-in-w trying to steal her son away! Am I?"

  "No, you′re not," Pei Wen replied. "Then you′ll be able to accept Han Yan, won′t you? Even though she wasn′t your choice, she′s the one I love deeply!"

  "A female worker!" Old Madam Bai said with contempt.

  "A female worker!" Bai Peiwen replied, a bit agitated. "Yes, she was a female worker. So what? Anyway, now she's my wife!"

  "She finally earned this position, huh?" Old Madam Bai stared at her son. "Didn't you once say that her position wasn′t extraordinary? How is it that she ended up marrying you?"

  "She′s not extraordinary!" Bai Peiwen′s face turned pale. "You don′t know how hard I worked to persuade her, to win her over."

  "Yes, I imagine so." A cold smile appeared at the corner of Old Madam Bai′s lips. "It must have been difficult! That goes without saying. Fine, it seems I must face this reality. Take her upstairs! Let me see what kind of person she really is."

  Bai Peiwen stared deeply at his mother, his feet rooted to the ground, unwilling to move.

  "Why are you still not going? I told you, bring her upstairs! Do you expect me to go downstairs to meet her?"

  "I will bring her upstairs," Bai Peiwen said, his gaze fixed on his mother, his voice deep and firm. "But, Mom, I ask you not to embarrass her. She is delicate and fragile, unable to endure any storms. She has suffered a lot in her life, and I hope I can provide her with a shelter. I also hope that you can offer her a mother's embrace! She is very timid; please treat her well! Mom, for my sake, I will be grateful to you! Mom, I think you are the greatest mother!"

  Old Madam Bai stood there in a daze. Bai Peiwen's words surprised her. She had never seen such deep affection on her son's face or such a shining light in his eyes. How much did he love her? It was obvious; he gave her a final hint: treat her well, or you will completely lose your son! She clenched her teeth, quickly weighing the pros and cons in her mind. After a moment of hesitation, she softly said, "Bring her here."

  Bai Peiwen turned around and left the room. He went downstairs, where Han Yan was anxiously waiting in the living room, still wearing her wedding dress, wrapped in a snow-white gown, like a fairy in a colorful robe! Upon seeing Bai Peiwen, she said worriedly, "Is she angry?"

  "No, don't worry! Han Yan," Bai Peiwen smiled as he took her hand. "She will like you. Go upstairs; she wants to see you!"

  Han Yan gnced at Bai Peiwen with some doubt, but his smile helped calm her a bit.

  Leaning on Bai Peiwen, she slowly walked up the stairs and stopped in front of Old Madam Bai's door. She knocked lightly, but before waiting for a response, Bai Peiwen opened the door. Han Yan peered inside, and Old Madam Bai was sitting in a zitan wood chair, her back to the window and her face towards the door. The eyes of the two women met immediately, and Han Yan instinctively stiffened—what sharp eyes! But Old Madam Bai flinched slightly. What kind of eyes were those? Light and dreamy, as clear as water!

  "Mom, this is Han Yan!" Bai Peiwen closed the door and led Han Yan to His Mother.

  Han Yan stood there with her hands lowered, looking timidly at Old Madam Bai. She softly called out, "Mom!"