Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

"Which…which thing are you talking about?"

Mei Fang's instinctive playing dumb made Xiang Xiaoxia immediately furious. She pinched his arm hard, causing him to grimace in pain and hastily apologize:

"Alright alright…I understand what you mean now."

While rubbing his arm, Mei Fang said pitifully, "But we're not kids anymore…"

He was actually very curious how his mother had deduced this secret through conversation, but now wasn't the time to investigate.

"Was it just while dating, or are you still—"

"Huh?"

The moment Mei Fang hesitated, Xiang Xiaoxia seized his ear with lightning speed. "I knew it! There's no way you'd break up with both for no reason!"

"Ow mom, stop, it hurts…your son's a CEO now, have some respect…"

After much effort, Mei Fang finally calmed Xiang Xiaoxia enough to release his ear. "Don't think Mom doesn't know what's in your heart. Yuan-yuan and Youxi grew up with you—your bond runs deep. I know you three are inseparable, but that's no excuse to waste their youth."

"Waste their youth? We're fighting for our dreams together!"

"I don't understand business matters and won't interfere. As partners, of course continue working together. But emotionally, you can't keep dragging this out."

Xiang Xiaoxia admonished, "Yuan-yuan and Youxi are both wonderful girls. Since last time, I've thought long and hard. I know you're now a billionaire CEO with hardened wings, starting to think like those bosses who keep a main wife and concubine, right?"

"Mom, how could you think that of me?"

Mei Fang suddenly appeared both wronged and angry. "Main wife? Concubine? Who would you have me choose between Yuan-yuan and Youxi? Huh?"

"Precisely because they're equally important that I'm so torn! If I choose Yuan-yuan, I can't abandon Youxi—she suffered so much as a child, struggles with communication, and needs me. If I choose Youxi, I can't let go of Yuan-yuan—she's kindhearted and naive. How could I trust someone else not to hurt her?"

"If you think I should discard one, tell me which to abandon. If your reasoning convinces me, I'll obey."

"……"

Xiang Xiaoxia was rendered speechless by this rebuttal. After a long silence, she continued, "Of course I can't bear to lose either girl either. But society won't permit your fantasy. They'll suffer greatly."

"Even if our family agreed, what would we tell Yuan-yuan and Youxi's parents? They each have only one precious daughter—why should they share a husband? Our Mei family has always lived with clean conscience if not prosperity. We can't start moral decay with your generation."

Between scolding and lecturing, Xiang Xiaoxia poured out her heart. Mei Fang now fully understood his mother's actual stance on the triad relationship.

Emotionally, she maintained perfect neutrality like him—having watched both girls grow up, she showed no favoritism and thus wouldn't push him toward either.

(He'd previously worried about bias since she'd slightly favored Youxi during childhood, but clearly held no such fixation now.)

However, rationally she opposed Mei Fang being with both. Traditional and conservative, Xiang Xiaoxia wouldn't fully support her son even when it benefited their family.

Because Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi were also her darlings—she couldn't bear seeing them wronged.

But this was his mother's true character…

"In short, I want you to resolve this messy relationship within the year. Whomever you choose, I'll support you. The other I'll adopt as a goddaughter so we remain family—just with changed roles."

Knowing his mother's good intentions, Mei Fang couldn't stay angry. Exiting the kitchen, he encountered Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi playing with Mei Ya.

Already looking troubled, Xia Yuan grew more worried seeing Mei Fang's expression. When he sat beside her, she whispered:

"Did you argue?"

Mei Fang smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry…I'm used to it…"

"It's my fault—I slipped up."

Xia Yuan confessed quietly, "While chatting, I accidentally mentioned how you always trap my hair in the mornings. Mom Xiang's expression immediately changed."

Tearfully she asked, "Does Auntie think I'm shameless for sleeping with you before marriage?"

"That's not the main…never mind. Just act normal for now."

Meanwhile, Lin Youxi observed their gloomy faces while deep in thought.

With all these troubles, Xiang Xiaoxia remained in low spirits. During the tense dinner—unlike previous years' cheer—only Lin Youxi and Mei Lijun's small talk lightened the mood slightly.

Afterwards, Mei Fang suggested walking with both girls. En route, he fully disclosed his mother's position.

"Just as expected…Auntie Xiang is truly a mother."

To their surprise, Xia Yuan seemed relieved. "So she thinks A-Fang is wronging us and wants him to commit to one person."

Lin Youxi stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Then A-Fang could choose Yuan-yuan. I'd happily be Mom's goddaughter."

"Impossible! Becoming sisters would make your relationship illegitimate."

"That's exactly Mom's plan," Lin Youxi pointed out. "By fixing one relationship, the other becomes taboo. Even if we tried annual spouse rotation, the resistance would be overwhelming."

"Auntie planned that far ahead? I didn't even realize…if Youxi becomes a sister, A-Fang marrying or having children with her would be socially unacceptable…"

Xia Yuan clutched her head in distress. "What do we do then? Should we confess everything to Auntie? Maybe complete honesty—"

"No good. I practically laid everything bare and she still refused." Mei Fang shook his head as they sat on the embankment watching sunset. "Mom's moral standards are too high. What mother wouldn't want two daughters-in-law?"

"Her morals aren't high—she's just a feudalistic traditionalist clinging to outdated norms, refusing modern perspectives."

The sudden voice startled all three.

Mei Ya stood behind them, skipping stones across the river.

"I've always wanted two sisters-in-law since childhood. I don't want any 'sisters'."

"Xiao Ya, how long have you been there?"

"I followed when you left for your walk."

Perching on her brother's shoulders, Mei Ya declared, "Frankly, just don't register the marriages. Once the rice is cooked, what grandparent would reject grandchildren?"

"You…always full of shady ideas."

Though pretending to scold her, Mei Fang treated his sister as a confidante—she'd participated in most of his life's crossroads, long since discerned the triad plan, and often provided perfect assists.

"That might work, but would strain family relations—which we want to avoid." Mei Fang murmured, "We seek not just to be together, but with parental blessings. That's the hardest part."

"Greedy people stay unhappy." Mei Ya stuck out her tongue at the sunset.

Leaning on Mei Fang, Lin Youxi finally spoke her thoughts:

"Actually, I've long considered this…I think we should apply 'Window Theory'."

"Window Theory?"

"The famous writer Mr. Xun had a saying about our people's compromise nature—if you propose opening a window, everyone opposes. But threaten to tear off the roof, and they'll accept the window."

"You mean—"

Lin Youxi smiled. "Mom's stance assumes A-Fang has choices and initiative to pick one wife."

"But what if…circumstances changed?"

"Changed circumstances?" Xia Yuan blinked in confusion.

Lin Youxi explained, "If we make A-Fang lose all options and initiative—reducing him to a single dog—Mom might compromise."