Chapter 348: Chapter 348: Holding On for a Little Longer
’Dear, did you see that? All our children and grandchildren are so happy. It probably won’t be long before we get another promotion and become great-grandfathers.’
After dinner, Qin Jiao tried to help with the dishes but was shooed out of the kitchen by her mom and the others. As she came out, she saw her dad, Qin Zhonghui, pulling Shen Yi aside for a game of chess.
Although Shen Yi wasn’t exactly thrilled about playing chess with his father-in-law, he still nodded in agreement.
Watching Shen Yi patiently play chess with her dad, Qin Jiao suddenly recalled the Shen Yi from her past life. Back then, he wouldn’t even deign to address her parents, treating them like complete strangers the few times they met.
Of course, the Shen Yi of that era was rude to everyone. Not even his own father was spared his impolite treatment.
But this life, it seemed, was different.
Qin Jiao turned and went into their new room, picking up the world classic she was halfway through: *The Three Musketeers*.
The sounds of her family talking and laughing drifted in from outside every now and then. Inside, the lightbulb cast a gentle glow. Qin Jiao looked up, the light a little dazzling to her eyes. ’But this feeling... it’s so comforting.’
She rubbed her aching neck and remembered that she hadn’t entered her space in a long time. Setting the book down, she vanished in a flash and reappeared inside it.
And then, Qin Jiao was dumbfounded.
’I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t come in... and the space completely transformed as a result?’
It had gone from being an apartment to a small, two-story house!
Qin Jiao walked to the door and looked out at the yard, which had expanded considerably. Beneath a grapevine, the Spiritual Spring Well was bubbling away, and a smile spread across her face.
’So the space’s upgrades really are related to Shen Yi.’
’Now that I’m married to Shen Yi, even if it’s a fake marriage, it still triggered an upgrade for the space!’
Since the house was bigger, with the second floor added on top of the first, Qin Jiao had some organizing to do.
The second floor had a better view, so Qin Jiao decided to turn it into a lounge, study, and activity room. That would free up the first floor for storage.
Or, even simpler, she could just use it as a dedicated storage space.
However, some of the large furniture pieces were quite heavy; she and Xiao Shi had once had to move them inch by inch. ’But now I have Shen Yi, right? It’d be a waste not to ask for his help.’ For now, Qin Jiao just organized some of the lighter items. She felt like she was playing a life-simulation game and was actually having fun.
Besides, the space had another advantage: she could store any of her valuables here. It was far safer than anywhere else.
Qin Jiao spent a little over an hour tidying up and was starting to get tired. She decided to leave and finish organizing next time. But the moment she stepped out of the space, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace!
On reflex, Qin Jiao almost kicked her captor, but then she heard Shen Yi’s panicked voice, "Jiao Jiao, where did you go?"
In her past life, he had a temper like a firecracker, but in this one, he was more like a big, loyal wolfhound. Even after all this time, Qin Jiao still hadn’t quite gotten used to the change.
Still, she could sense that Shen Yi was genuinely afraid she would suddenly disappear without a trace.
In the end, Qin Jiao held back the kick. Instead, she reached up and patted his back. "Where else would I go? I was in my space, of course. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t gone in for a while. You won’t believe it, Shen Yi, my space has gotten bigger again."
In truth, the moment Shen Yi heard the word "space," he’d already realized what had happened.
His worry had simply clouded his judgment.
’It’s so late. Qin Jiao wouldn’t go anywhere else. Since she wasn’t in the house or outside, she must have gone into her space.’
His anxiety finally subsided, but Shen Yi had no intention of letting go. ’I finally get to hold her, and Jiao Jiao doesn’t even seem to mind. I’m going to hold on for as long as I can!’
