Gu Jia smiled awkwardly and reached out. "Give him to me."

Chen Cheng raised an eyebrow and gestured toward her son. "He's asleep. I'll hold him for now and give him back once we're in the car."

Gu Jia thought for a moment, nodded, and reached out to press the elevator button.

"Phew~"

Then, she let out a heavy sigh.

The elevator arrived quickly, and the two of them stepped inside.

Once in the enclosed space, some stray thoughts began to surface in Gu Jia's mind.

She glanced at Chen Cheng holding Xu Ziyan and, for some reason, felt they looked like a family of three.

She immediately shook her head, forcing herself to snap out of it.

"Ahem," she coughed lightly and gave a faint smile. "I'm sorry, I must have made a fool of myself."

Chen Cheng was taken aback, not following her train of thought. "A fool? How so?"

Gu Jia pursed her lips. "I'm thirty years old and still getting into physical fights. It's a bit undignified."

Chen Cheng countered, "Since when was dignity more important than your son?"

"Uh..." Gu Jia was momentarily speechless. She gave a sheepish smile. "I suppose it isn't."

Chen Cheng shrugged. "Then that's all that matters. If it were me, I might have called the police on the spot."

"Whether it's abduction or illegal detention, I would have made sure she was tied up in lawsuits."

Gu Jia shook her head. "You might be able to do that."

"I can't."

"In a kindergarten like De Pu, none of the parents are simple."

"Even though Muzi's Mother still covets small kickbacks and lacks the poise of a great family..."

"...getting her involved in a lawsuit would mean a fight to the death."

"Backing someone into a corner over such a small thing might actually put the child in danger."

Chen Cheng nodded. "Forgive and forget whenever possible?"

Gu Jia gave a rare, relaxed smile. "Yes!"

Before long, they left the residential area. Chen Cheng waved over his Bodyguard, and they got into the car to return to Junyue Mansion.

Neither of them spoke on the way.

Gu Jia held the sleeping Xu Ziyan and looked out the window, watching the scenery flash by.

She began to feel a bit guilty toward her son and her husband.

Her son being detained was a consequence of her own reckless actions.

The psychological trauma this caused her son wouldn't disappear overnight.

And now, she was rushing home in the car of the man she was having an affair with.

Holding Xu Ziyan, a sense of shame filled Gu Jia's heart.

She was deeply self-reproachful, blaming herself for actually feeling a bit lighthearted and excited before going upstairs earlier.

Soon, the black Yukon drove into the underground garage of Junyue Mansion and stopped in front of the lobby of Block A.

Just as Gu Jia stepped out of the car holding Xu Ziyan, she suddenly heard...

"Hey, honey~"

Hearing that familiar voice, Gu Jia immediately shuddered.

Her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed onto the ground.

She caught her breath and barely managed to stay upright. Turning around, she met Xu Huanshan as he ran over, forcing a smile onto her face.

"Husband, you're back."

Why did she have to force it? Because she couldn't truly smile.

She had just gotten out of her lover's car only to be spotted by her husband.

Who could smile in such a situation?

Chen Cheng heard the voice and saw Xu Huanshan running over in a football kit.

Looking at the face that bore a striking resemblance to Tao Junhui, a smile unconsciously played on the corners of his mouth.

He turned and waved to the Bodyguard in the passenger seat, and the black GMC Yukon immediately drove away from the lobby entrance.

Xu Huanshan ran over and reached out to take Xu Ziyan from Gu Jia's arms, asking, "Why are you back so late?"

Gu Jia looked at him in his French national team jersey, drenched in sweat with his clothes soaked through, and frowned.

She spoke up to remind him, "You're all sweaty..."

"Oh, right, I forgot," Xu Huanshan said with a sheepish laugh.

Only then did he look at Chen Cheng, his expression guarded. "And this is?"

Gu Jia feigned composure. "Oh, this is the neighbor I told you about, Mr. Chen from upstairs."

"When I went to pick up Ziyan earlier, I'd had some wine and originally planned to walk back."

"I didn't expect to run into Mr. Chen on the way."

Chen Cheng's lips curled slightly. Gu Jia, you're quite skilled at lying.

Xu Huanshan glanced at his son and didn't suspect a thing.

His eyes darted around, and he immediately took two steps toward Chen Cheng, extending his hand with great enthusiasm.

"Mr. Chen, hello, hello."

Chen Cheng didn't take his hand. Never mind Gu Jia, who was fixated on high society and elegance, even Chen Cheng found the sweat repulsive.

Seeing Chen Cheng ignore him, Xu Huanshan started to frown but quickly felt Gu Jia's gaze.

He immediately realized and withdrew his hand. "Oh, sorry, I just came from a football match."

"It's hot in the summer, and I'm covered in sweat."

Gu Jia also spoke up to introduce him, "Mr. Chen, this is my husband, Xu Huanshan."

Chen Cheng had to give Gu Jia some face, so he flashed a bright smile. "Hello, hello."

As he spoke, he glanced at the number 10 jersey Xu Huanshan was wearing. "Mr. Xu, you like Mbappé?"

Hmm?

Xu Huanshan's eyes instantly lit up.

He walked toward the elevator hall with Chen Cheng, ignoring Gu Jia. "Mr. Chen, do you like football too?"

Someone who could recognize a player's jersey at a glance must surely like football.

At least, that's how it seemed to Xu Huanshan.

To his surprise, Chen Cheng shook his head. "I actually play basketball."

"As for football... to be honest, my village didn't even have a football pitch when I was a kid, so I never really got into it."

Chen Cheng laughed. "Perhaps I could learn a thing or two from you, Mr. Xu?"

"One never stops learning, after all."

Xu Huanshan was very excited and laughed heartily. "Sure, sure! With your height and long legs, Mr. Chen, I'm sure you'd have no problem playing as a striker."

Seeing how Xu Huanshan got so worked up at the mention of football, Gu Jia's lips twitched.

They entered the elevator, swiped the card, and pressed the floor button. Chen Cheng nodded. "Then... how about we try it out some day?"

Hearing that he might have a new teammate...

...he was very enthusiastic and nodded firmly. "Yeah! When should we set a date?"

"Anyway, I think with your build, height, and long legs, Mr. Chen, you could definitely deliver a powerful volley and score with a single kick."

Listening to talk of powerful volleys and scoring with a single kick...

...Gu Jia's feet stumbled, and she nearly fell.

Fortunately, Chen Cheng was quick and caught Gu Jia by the arm.

Xu Huanshan, who was in high spirits as if he'd found a soulmate, only then noticed Gu Jia had almost fallen.

He hurriedly asked, "Honey, are you okay?"

Gu Jia smiled awkwardly and shook her head. "I'm fine, I'm fine."

Before Chen Cheng withdrew his hand, he even used his middle finger to lightly scratch Gu Jia's bicep.

She was wearing a sleeveless dress, so the touch made Gu Jia shudder in fear.

She didn't dare react. She shot a wary glance at Xu Huanshan, and seeing he hadn't noticed anything unusual, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing her holding the child and already becoming unsteady after just a few steps...

...he immediately showed off his masculinity and reached out. "Why don't you give our son to me?"

"I have to shower when we get back anyway."

Gu Jia immediately understood his psychological need and handed Xu Ziyan over to him.

"Don't wake him up."

The elevator soon reached the twelfth floor. Xu Huanshan glanced at the panel and turned back to Chen Cheng. "So, Mr. Chen, shall we set a date another time?"

Chen Cheng chuckled. "Sure."

"But since we live on different floors of the same building as neighbors, let's drop the 'Mr.' titles."

"Just call me by my name, Chen Cheng."

Xu Huanshan's smile was radiant. "In that case, don't call me Mr. Xu either. Call me Old Xu or Huanshan."

"Alright, Old Xu!"

"Hey, Old Chen."

The two laughed. Xu Huanshan then stepped out of the elevator. "Then it's a deal. When shall we go try out the ball?"

Chen Cheng nodded. "Gu Jia has my contact information. Let's set a time in advance."

Gu Jia had already exited the elevator. Watching the two of them acting like close brothers, she gritted her teeth in shame.

Try out the ball?

Your wife's 'balls' have already been thoroughly tested by him.

What 'balls' are left to test...