From Broken Family to Life Winner: A Reborn Mother's Journey

”This is how we’ve always eaten watermelon.” Quick as a flash, Wu Sheng’s hand rose and fell. With a dull THUD, the watermelon... split open.

It split right down the middle, breaking into several perfect pieces.

”Nice and red,” Wu Sheng commented with a satisfied glance. He picked out the biggest, reddest piece first, gesturing for everyone to eat as he took it. ”Come on, help yourselves.”

”You’re amazing, Big Bro.” The three young guys were won over by Wu Sheng splitting the watermelon with his bare hands, their eyes shining.

”Haha, it’s all from practice.” Wu Sheng laughed heartily, not a hint of modesty in his voice.

He turned to the side and handed the piece he’d picked out first to Su Li. After she took it in a daze, he turned back to the others.

”When you’re splitting a watermelon, it’s not about strength, but technique. You need just the right amount of force—not too much, not too little.”

”Right, right.” Because of Wu Sheng’s friendly attitude, the three young guys relaxed and each picked a slice. They nodded repeatedly as they ate their watermelon, listening patiently to his lesson.

Wu Sheng casually grabbed one of the remaining slices, took a big bite, and nodded.

”Watermelon tastes sweeter when you smash it open instead of cutting it, right?” Wu Sheng asked, glancing at Su Li.

Su Li was still holding the large slice of watermelon, stunned. She hadn’t taken a bite yet.

Wu Sheng leaned closer. ”Why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like it?”

”No... I’m afraid I can’t finish it all...” Su Li replied, snapping out of her daze.

”Don’t worry, just eat. If you can’t finish it, I’m here,” Wu Sheng said in a low voice. He had specifically picked the biggest, reddest, and tastiest piece for her.

Su Li: ”...”

Su Li took a huge bite!

The next second, her eyes lit up.

This wasn’t one of those sugar-injected, artificially red watermelons from later generations. This one was genuinely ripe—grainy, juicy, sweet, and cool. It was absolutely delicious.

Her eyes sparkling, Su Li took another bite. ’I could eat two more slices of a watermelon like this!’

Wu Sheng watched her eat, a happy smile on his face.

”Where did this watermelon come from? How is it still so juicy and sweet?” Su Li couldn’t help but ask as she ate.

Wu Sheng answered, ”It was stored in a cellar. The owner was just taking it out when I saw it, so I bought it.”

The five of them quickly finished the watermelon. The three young guys were especially satisfied and happy after eating.

”Thanks, Big Bro. We’re heading out now.”

Then they said goodbye to Su Li. ”Bye, Sister-in-law.”

Su Li, who had just claimed she couldn’t finish it but had then polished it off in no time, felt like she’d just eaten her own words. Staring at the cleanly-gnawed rind with some embarrassment, she could only manage: ”...Huh?”

’Sister-in-law?!!’

’Weren’t they just calling her ’Big Sis’ a moment ago? How did that suddenly become ’Sister-in-law’?!’

”Hey, wait...” Su Li wanted to call out and explain, but the young guys walked away so fast.

”’Sister-in-law’... those guys are so adorable. If I’d known, I would’ve splurged on three more watermelons to give them, one for each. I love those guys.”

Wu Sheng was delighted by them calling her ’Sister-in-law’ and felt like bestowing a great reward.

Su Li: ”...When did you get here?”

”Just a moment ago. I saw you looking so capable and imposing, like you could handle it yourself, so I went to buy something to reward them.”

Wu Sheng leaned close to Su Li with a smile. ”So? I’m doing a pretty good job as a supportive husband, right?”

’Supportive husband... What the heck is that?’

Wu Sheng huffed. ”You should praise me and say I’m amazing, too. It’d be nice if you were more like them. Don’t just keep it to yourself.”

”I’m not keeping anything to myself,” Su Li declared.

”Really?” Wu Sheng said, then suddenly drew out the word as he mimicked them, ”Sister-in-law~”

Su Li: ”...Don’t just call me that.”

’It’s one thing for those guys to say it since they don’t know the situation, but for him to call me Sister-in-law too!’

Su Li’s face felt a little hot.

”Why can’t I? I want to.” Seeing the blush on Su Li’s face, Wu Sheng felt a mischievous urge and called out again, ”Sister-in-law.”

Su Li: ”...Stop calling me that!”

”I’m gonna call you that. I’m going to do it just because you told me not to. And I’ll keep doing it until you answer,” Wu Sheng said with a wicked hehehe laugh.

Su Li gritted her teeth. ”...I’m not going to answer, so stop it.”

The moment she finished speaking, her ears were assaulted by a barrage of ”Sister-in-law.”

”Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law...” Wu Sheng really did as he said, calling out nonstop.

”Can you please stop?” Su Li was going crazy, her face beet red from a mix of anger and embarrassment.

”Nope. Unless...” Wu Sheng paused.

Su Li asked hurriedly, ”Unless what?”

Wu Sheng grinned and uttered a few words that almost made Su Li cough up blood.

”Unless you... beg me!”

Su Li: ”...”

’Beg him?!’

’I must have been hearing things.’

’A classic domineering CEO line like ”beg me” shouldn’t exist in this simple and honest era!’

Su Li’s face went blank as she told herself she had misheard.

”What’s with that expression? I’m just teasing you.” Seeing Su Li’s constipated look, Wu Sheng couldn’t stop laughing. ”Alright, alright, I won’t call you Sister-in-law anymore. Smile, relax.”

Su Li: ”...”

She couldn’t relax.

She was sure of it. Wu Sheng was toxic.

He was seriously toxic.

He was probably afflicted with some kind of ”domineering CEO” poison, and he’d spray a bit of its toxic gas at her from time to time.

Wu Sheng had come specifically to pick Su Li up. After looking around the factory workshop, clucking his tongue in amazement and praising Su Li for being so capable, they headed back together.

”Now that your work is done, tomorrow...” Wu Sheng began to say on the way.

Su Li cut him off. ”I still have something to do tomorrow. Let’s... let’s go see your mom the day after tomorrow.”

Wu Sheng’s brow had furrowed when he heard Su Li still had things to do tomorrow, but his eyes lit up the moment he heard the second half of her sentence.

”It’s a deal, then!”

Su Li nodded firmly. ”Mhm!”

”Aiya, you finally agreed. I was afraid you were going to...” Wu Sheng chuckled. ’She really doesn’t need to be so nervous,’ he thought to himself. ’It’s not like my mom is a tigress.’

He thought for a moment, then asked curiously, ”What do you have to do tomorrow?”

”I just have things to do.” Su Li glanced at Wu Sheng, not expecting him to understand.

’What else could it be? Of course, I need to prepare.’

’I’m not just meeting anyone; I’m meeting Wu Sheng’s mother. How could I not prepare at all?’

The next day, Su Li spent the entire day getting a haircut, buying skincare products and makeup, and also shopping for shoes, clothes, and so on.

Of course, there was also the important matter of buying a gift.

’Whatever Wu Sheng bought was his own gift. He knows his mom, so he’ll definitely buy something she likes. But I can’t just show up with nothing, right?’

’No matter what, I have to be thoroughly prepared and meet his mother with the sincerest heart.’

After delaying it time and time again, she was finally going to meet Wu Sheng’s mother. And it just so happened that this was also the day of Little Tang Mo’s final exams.

’Mother and son are both facing their own tests on the same day.’

After dropping Little Tang Mo off at school, Su Li rushed home and immediately got busy.

’Hmm, the shirt... the pants... the shoes...’

She picked things out, tried them on, then tried on something else, all while trying to recall the ”how to meet your future mother-in-law” guides she had seen on TV and in books.

Half the day flew by just like that.

At two in the afternoon, Wu Sheng came to pick up Su Li.

Wu Sheng, who had also dressed up nicely, looked refreshed and energetic, but he was completely outshone by Su Li.

When he opened the door and saw Su Li, Wu Sheng was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with amazement.

”Su Li, you...”

Su Li grew nervous. ”What’s wrong? Is something not right?”

”Nothing.” Wu Sheng shook his head, still in a daze. ”You’re just... too beautiful.”

Wu Sheng was telling the truth. He had always thought Su Li was pretty and had a good sense of style, but he never expected that when she really dressed up, she could be this dazzling.

”Let’s go.” Wu Sheng was very happy that Su Li was taking this so seriously.