Extra: Modern Times 4

She then scoffed, "I'm pretending not to remember to give you a chance. If you get tired of me, wouldn't it be perfect to find someone else and start a new life while I can't remember?"

The couple had been together for nearly eighty years in their past life, and their feelings remained fresh, thanks to Xu Xi's occasional antics. If the river of time flowed by without a single ripple, wouldn't it be as bland as plain water?

Sensing that familiar, pretentious vibe, Xiao Ke wore a helpless smile.

He reached out from under the covers and took Xu Xi's hand. "I think that's what you're thinking, isn't it? Tell me, are you tired of me and want to find someone else?"

"Absolutely. When I close my eyes, you're all white-haired; when I open them again, I'm alive again, and the image of you with white hair is still in my mind. I'd better find a young, handsome man in this lifetime."

"You dare!" Xiao Ke said, "I'm telling you, stop harming others and go after me instead, really. No matter who you go to, they'll be ruined, believe it or not?"

Xu Xi burst out laughing.

She leaned in and kissed Xiao Ke, then asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

Xiao Ke held her hand tightly. "I'll marry you first, then I'll start a company. I was a superior person my whole life in ancient times; I can't stand being bossed around like this anymore."

"Besides, spending too much time in ancient times would probably take me a long time to regain my feel for design. However, I do gain a lot of experience in personnel management. So, I think I'll stick with being a CEO. That profession suits me better."

He then asked, "And you?"

If it were anyone else, the two of them would have traveled back in time, gotten married, and perhaps opened a business together. But he knew Xu Xi wouldn't.

Even in ancient times, Xu Xi would still be an independent woman. Not to mention back in modern times.

Sure enough, Xu Xi said, "I want to start a company too." She reached out and touched Xiao Ke's face. "Let's compete and see who does better."

Xiao Ke was an emperor in ancient times, ruling the entire country. Although she lacked some in that respect, she held a high position, having served as the empress for over twenty years, so managing a company was no problem for her. Moreover, she had never neglected her design skills.

After becoming Empress Dowager, she had plenty of free time. Thinking about traveling back to the modern era, she had the system transfer design knowledge and concepts from various countries that she could find online to the ancient world, which she then studied silently in her mind. This study lasted for more than thirty years.

Now, with a solid foundation of knowledge, advanced design concepts, and plenty of inspiration, she is far more capable than Xiao Ke, who has been away from the design industry for decades. She believes that she is no less capable than those international design masters.

So it's still uncertain who will win between her and Xiao Ke.

No matter which life she lives in, no matter where she is, she will never be a parasitic vine.

"Alright, let's have a competition then," Xiao Ke said with a smile. "However, we need to get married first, and then find time to have a child. Don't worry, whether it's having a child or raising one, I'll share the burden with you and I'll never let you suffer alone. Our competition will also be fair."

He and Xu Xi both had excellent grades in school, and they each bought houses after working on projects with their advisor. After graduation, they both gained international reputation and accumulated some savings.

Even if they don't have much money, they can each open a studio first. With their abilities, they can afford the costs of having and raising children, and they can hire people to do all sorts of daily chores.

He believed that in a few years, their lives would get better and better.

Xu Xi had no objections to Xiao Ke's plans.

A woman's prime childbearing years are limited. She's 29 now; she can't wait until she's successful in her career to have children.

She believed that with her and Xiao Ke's abilities, they could manage to balance their careers and families if they planned their time well.

Having lived together for many years, we understand each other's meaning without needing to say anything.

At this point, Xu Xi stood up. "Then I'll head out first."

Xiao Ke needs to clarify their relationship first before everyone can get along.

Xiao Ke understood the situation. Besides, he and Xu Xi had a lifetime together, so a temporary separation was nothing.

Xu Xi went outside, she saw Xiao Family's parents and Yun Xin standing at the door. Xiao's mother and Yun Xin were chatting and seemed to be Gao Xing.

Hearing the door open, all three turned to look in their direction.

Xu Xi nodded to Xiao's parents. "Uncle, Aunt, I'm going back to the ward."

"Okay." Whether it was because of her son's attitude or because she had a Gao Xing chat with Yun Xin earlier, Xiao's mother's attitude became more familiar, and she nodded in agreement with a smile.

After watching Yun Xin return to the ward with her niece, Mr. and Mrs. Xiao went into Xiao Ke's ward.

"Son, what did you two just talk about?" Xiao's mother asked expectantly.

Xiao Ke is a year older than Xu Xi, and he's thirty this year. Although it's not a big deal for a man to be a little older, his son has always had high standards since he was little. Girls have been pursuing him one after another, but Xiao Ke hasn't taken a liking to a single one of them.

He has never been in a relationship since he was a child.

When her son was in junior and senior high school, Xiao's mother was quite Gao Xing to see him like this. But as he went on to university, graduate school, and doctorate, he still didn't bring home a girlfriend. Xiao's mother became anxious, fearing that her son would remain a bachelor for the rest of his life.

Her dislike for Xu Xi stemmed from the fact that Xu Xi had looked down on her son before the car accident.

But if Xu Xi could really become her son's girlfriend, Xiao's mother would not only give her a warm welcome, but would be willing to treat her like royalty.

However, she always felt that she was being a bit wishful. Xu Xi clearly didn't fancy Xiao Ke.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Xiao Ke said, "I confessed to her, and she agreed to be my girlfriend."

Xiao's mother. "..."

Mr. Xiao opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but after glancing at his wife, he closed his mouth again.

"Son, although I've always hoped you'd bring a girlfriend home, we can't take advantage of a favor. If Xiaoxi doesn't truly like you, and only agreed to be your girlfriend because you saved her, I don't think that's right," said Xiao's mother.

A forced relationship won't be sweet.

Although Xu Xi is also very outstanding, if she doesn't like her son, there's no need for him to be so humble.

Their son is excellent, and their family is well-off; why bother?

"No," Xiao Ke said, "Actually, she also has feelings for me. It's just that our mentors don't get along, and we've always been like mortal enemies. When we went on the blind date, she thought it was a prank, that I was playing a trick on her, so she turned around and left."

As he spoke, he recounted his grievances with Xu Xi.

Upon hearing this, Xiao's mother's expression immediately changed, and she said happily, "Oh, that's wonderful. No, I have to go see Xiaoxi."