After calming herself down, Wen Zhi said to the chief steward, "We don't plan on having children."
The chief steward looked surprised. "A DINK lifestyle?"
Wen Zhi nodded.
Even more astonished, the chief steward asked, "And Captain Mo agrees to that too?"
Wen Zhi didn't answer.
When she had made that request back then, Mo Tingyan had agreed without hesitation. He said he didn't like children either.
But Wen Zhi wasn't sure whether he truly never wanted children—or whether he simply didn't care if she would ever bear him one…
Seeing her fall silent, the chief steward assumed Mo Tingyan might not fully agree and continued,
"Look, I don't think the captain would really want that. Someone who grew up in a family like his, lacking warmth—if he had a child connected to him by blood, he'd probably cherish them deeply. Besides, having a child at home calling you 'Mom' and 'Dad' every day—it brings so much liveliness. You're still young. This is something you really need to think about carefully."
Wen Zhi looked at her, momentarily dazed.
Was that really so?
She had never seriously thought about children before, yet now, her heart began to waver for no apparent reason.
Only when you truly like someone would you be willing to have a child for them, right?
So her feelings for Mo Tingyan—there was no doubt about it anymore.
It was love.
In the kitchen, Mo Tingyan watched the tall, broad-shouldered man skillfully stir-frying dishes at the stove and couldn't help but remark,
"Brother-in-law, has your cooking always been this good?"
Peng Ping'an shook his head. "Not at all. I was spoiled by my parents growing up too. But my wife can't cook a thing and loves junk food. I was worried she'd ruin her health, so I had no choice but to learn."
Mo Tingyan raised his brows slightly, clearly surprised.
"You must really love our chief steward."
Peng Ping'an looked at him and smiled shyly.
"Our generation doesn't have arranged marriages. Most people get married for love, don't they? I'm no exception. Being able to marry Xinran—I wake up laughing in my dreams every night."
As he spoke, he nodded toward the living room.
"The woman you're with looks exquisite too. You must love her very much as well."
Mo Tingyan fell silent for a moment.
He didn't love Wen Zhi—not at the beginning, at least. Their marriage hadn't started with love.
He smiled faintly and replied evasively,
"But I don't think I'll ever meet your standard of being a good husband."
"There's no single standard for a good husband," Peng Ping'an said seriously.
"As long as you treat her sincerely, keep her in your heart at all times, and do everything you can for her—you're already the best husband. Being competent at work is responsibility. Taking care of your wife at home—that's real ability. You're a smart man. I think you'll do even better than I do in marriage."
Peng Ping'an's words left Mo Tingyan silent for a long while.
For a fleeting moment, he found himself envying marriages built on love.
If he and Wen Zhi had come together because of love… perhaps things would look very different.
But alas, they had been different from the very beginning.
A marriage without love was easier to manage—less exhausting, at least.
At that moment, Mo Tingyan had no idea how naïve that thought was, or how brutally the future would prove him wrong.
During lunch, the four chatted casually while eating.
Freed from work, the chief steward turned out to be quite the gossip. She asked curiously,
"So, Xiao Zhi, who chased whom first—you or the captain?"
Wen Zhi was momentarily speechless.
Between them… there had never been any chasing.
Seeing her hesitation, Mo Tingyan calmly stepped in.
"I chased her. Fell for her at first sight."
With a smile in his eyes, he smoothly changed the subject.
"What about you and brother-in-law?"
At the mention of this, Peng Ping'an lit up immediately.
"We met through a blind date. The moment I saw her, I lost my soul. She didn't like me at first, but I knew she was the one. I didn't want to give up, so I kept shamelessly pursuing her…"
He went on and on—from courtship, to dating, to marriage.
Wen Zhi listened with great interest, while the chief steward rolled her eyes and scolded him lightly.
"Enough already. It's the same story, and you've told it eight hundred times. Aren't you tired of it?"
"Tired?" He laughed cheerfully and said to Mo Tingyan and Wen Zhi,
"Do you know the secret to why Xinran and I haven't argued once in ten years of marriage? Every time she upsets me, I think about how hard it was to chase her back then. After that, I don't dare act out. She can scold me, hit me if she wants. Winning an argument but losing her—that's not winning. That's ripping my heart out."
The chief steward shoved a piece of meat into his mouth.
"Alright, alright. Eat. Even food can't shut you up."
They exchanged a smile, eyes filled with tenderness.
Wen Zhi had never known that a couple married for ten years could still be so loving and happy.
Their life was ordinary, yet rich with warmth—and she felt genuine envy.
How nice.
She secretly glanced at Mo Tingyan.
Both of them had grown up in broken families.
She wondered whether, in the future, they could ever have a happiness like this.
After lunch, they didn't stay long and soon took their leave.
Peng Ping'an enthusiastically packed several jars of homemade pickled vegetables and chili sauce from the fridge for them to take home.
On the drive back, Mo Tingyan said,
"Visiting someone else's home wasn't that hard, was it?"
Wen Zhi nodded. It really was easier than she had imagined.
He continued,
"Seeing the chief steward's husband today—were you surprised?"
"Yes," Wen Zhi replied.
"I always imagined brother-in-law would be a gentle, refined type. I never expected such a complete reversal. I never thought a man who looks so rough and burly could be so gentle and attentive. It really surprised me. The chief steward truly found a good home."
"Right?" Mo Tingyan chuckled.
"Brother-in-law even gave me quite a few lessons on being a model husband today."
Then, as if recalling something, he added,
"When we came out of the kitchen, I saw you whispering with the chief steward. What were you two talking about?"
Thinking of the warmth she had felt in their home, Wen Zhi's heart stirred as she looked at him.
She was certain now—she truly liked the man in front of her.
But… what about him?
Feelings only mattered if they were mutual.
After hesitating for a moment, she tested the waters.
"We talked about her child. She also casually urged us to have one."
Mo Tingyan laughed.
"Really? You must've said no. People like her probably can't understand DINK families like ours."
Wen Zhi nodded.
"She couldn't understand. She said a family isn't complete without a child."
She paused, then asked softly,
"Mo Tingyan… if I hadn't insisted before marriage that we wouldn't have children—would you want one?"