My husband wanted to rent them a house, but his aunt said:

"Aren't you renting out an empty house? We can just live there."

I suddenly felt like I'd been tricked. So their visit was planned in advance— they even knew where they were going to live.

"Honey, anyway, that house is already rented out. Why not let mom and the others live there?"

Looking at my husband's embarrassed face, I couldn't bear to say anything else.

After they left, I hired a housekeeper to thoroughly clean the house from top to bottom. Only then did I feel relieved.

Xu Cuicui was a hardworking and eloquent person, so she was quite popular at the hospital.

She was also very kind to us, always bringing us some food, but I didn't like the taste.

My husband was polite, though— he always said it was delicious.

This was the first time I went to their place two months after they moved out.

"Xintong, Zhuangzhuang will go to primary school next year. Your mother and I discussed it— transfer the ownership of this house to your eldest brother. That way, we can settle the household registration, and the child can go to school smoothly next year."

My husband didn't notice my unhappy expression. He was holding Zhuangzhuang in his arms,

and he seemed to like this nephew very much— every time they met, he would hold him and not let go.

"Auntie, that's a great idea! Zhuangzhuang really needs to go to a good school. This house is in a good school district— it's perfect."

My anger flared up. Had they forgotten that this house belonged to He, not Hu?

"Auntie, your plan is so obvious, even the United Nations could hear it. This house doesn't have the surname Hu— it's my pre-marital property, He Fei's. How dare you say it should be transferred to eldest brother just with your mouths?"

What made me even angrier was that Hu Xintong actually agreed!

He was a popular backbone doctor in the department— his talent was unquestionable.

But in front of his stubborn aunt, he became obedient?

"We're all family. How can we let Zhuangzhuang not go to school?"

"Shut up, Hu Xintong! For school, a temporary residence permit is enough— there's no need for a house at all."

I started to suspect that they had ulterior motives when they came to the city, but I had no evidence.

Seeing my firm attitude, they didn't say anything else.

His aunt then said she had an announcement to make.

"The reason we asked you two to come today is that there's something else we want to tell you— your sister-in-law is two months pregnant."

I said congratulations to my sister-in-law, but Xu Cuicui looked at my husband with a joyful face.

"This time, I hope it's a girl. Having both a son and a daughter would be perfect— no regrets."

Her words were confusing, but I didn't pay much attention to them.

His aunt cleared her throat again and said:

"Your mother and I discussed it. After this child is born, we'll adopt it to you two."

I looked at her in shock.

"Auntie, what are you saying? Let us raise eldest brother's child?"

"That's right. Can't you have children? How can you not have a child?"

I looked at my husband, asking with my eyes what was going on.

"I told auntie that you have polycystic ovaries and it's not easy for you to get pregnant. But I never thought she would ask us to raise eldest brother's child. Honey, believe me." Hu Xintong explained in a low voice.

"Auntie, it's not that I can't have children— it's just not easy. If we really want one, we can do IVF."

"IVF? What's that? It's not a child you gave birth to yourself— it's against heaven's will. This child is family, so what's wrong with raising it?"

How ridiculous! An IVF baby wouldn't be mine, but Xu Cuicui's child would be?

Xu Cuicui just sobbed quietly. I guessed she was reluctant to give up the child.

"Sister-in-law, are you disgusted with this child?"

No— was she crying because I didn't want the child? Shouldn't she be reluctant?

"Sister-in-law, do you agree too? That's your biological child."

"We're all family. I believe you'll treat him well."

"Hu Xintong, do you agree?"

My husband bowed his head and rubbed his hands. After a long while, he looked up.

"He Fei, anyway, we don't have children. Let's raise him first. If we have one of our own later, we can send him back to brother and sister-in-law."

My head was buzzing. What kind of mindset did this family have?

"So you discussed this beforehand and are just informing me? Send him back if we have another one? Do you think he's a cat or a dog? Even cats and dogs can't be thrown away casually!"

"That's right— we're just informing you. Either you have a child for Xintong, or you agree. I don't know what Xintong sees in you— you can't even have a child..."

"It's none of your business whether I have a child or not! Do you live in the Pacific Ocean that you meddle in everything?"

"To think you're an educated person— you keep swearing. Do you have any manners?"

"Auntie, stop talking." My husband interrupted her and pulled me out the door.

"Let go of me! Didn't you hear her call me rude? Why didn't you let me curse back? She's not your mother— why does she have to control everything?"

I was so angry that I punched him a few times to vent my anger.

I didn't go home with him— instead, I went back to my parents' house.

"How wronged you must be, crying like this?"

My mother patted me gently, looking distressed. I didn't tell her the truth, afraid she would worry.

"It's nothing. Just work stress. I'll feel better after crying."

I never thought Hu Xintong would have such an attitude. He was completely different from before.

Although he had always been indecisive, he had never been so unprincipled and obedient to others.

For the first time, I had the idea of getting a divorce.