Volume One, Chapter Six: It Seems... She Chose the Wrong Person...

“My company still has some matters to attend to. You go back and pack your things first. I’ll come pick you up when I’m done, okay?” Cheng Zhengchu’s gentle voice stirred Yu Yaxuan back to reality, and she immediately nodded.

Of course, someone with a job is different from an unemployed wanderer like her.

He probably squeezed time out even for the wedding.

In fact, she was quite grateful that he agreed so readily to marry her.

Yu Yaxuan took a taxi back to her former residence and packed her few belongings.

She had thought that living in this home for twenty-five years would mean having a lot of things, but laughably, aside from what she and her best friend had bought in the past couple of days, it barely filled a small suitcase.

She looked at the house where she had spent over a decade and felt a flood of emotions.

At first, after marrying Lin Jingsheng, they lived in a thatched hut; then things gradually improved to a modest three-bedroom apartment, and now a place over 150 square meters.

Every detail of this house was a testament to her hard work.

The only pity was that the house belonged to Wang Guihua, and she had no share in it.

She was guarded tightly, never truly regarded as family.

Wiping the tears from her aching eyes, Yu Yaxuan turned and left.

“Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

Just as Yu Yaxuan stepped out with her luggage, she received a call from Lin Jingsheng.

“Xincheng Garden.”

Cheng Zhengchu paused for a moment. His assistant had just bought a house in Xincheng Garden too.

Could this woman be investigating him? Or was her motive for getting close to him something less than pure?

At the thought, Cheng Zhengchu’s expression darkened.

“Wait for me.”

Half an hour later, the car slowly pulled up.

Cheng Zhengchu spotted the slender figure by the door at once and strode over to her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

He skillfully took the suitcase from Yu Yaxuan’s hands and quickened his pace.

Seeing his slightly cold demeanor, Yu Yaxuan hurried to keep up. Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt he was not in a good mood today.

“Did your boss scold you?”

Cheng Zhengchu was taken aback, then nodded as if recalling something.

Seeing his admission, Yu Yaxuan said no more.

It was better to wait until he was in a better mood before speaking.

They traveled in silence until Cheng Zhengchu brought Yu Yaxuan to the villa district, where she stopped in her tracks.

She had seen the neighboring area before; although it was the same complex, this was the prime location with villas, costing at least ten thousand more per square meter than her previous home.

The smallest unit was no less than 180 square meters.

How could a mere laborer afford such a house?

“Up ahead is the villa area. You really didn’t have to go to such lengths,” Yu Yaxuan said.

“What?” Cheng Zhengchu looked puzzled.

It seemed this woman was quite familiar with the neighborhood.

She must have done some homework beforehand.

Her slightly uneasy expression caused Cheng Zhengchu’s gaze to harden.

Was the fox’s tail finally about to be revealed?

“The houses across the street are thirty-one thousand per square meter, the cheapest costing over five million. I know your situation—we’re both on our second marriages. I told you I don’t care much about the residence. You really don’t have to put on airs.”

“How much is the rent for this place?”

Cheng Zhengchu was stunned. She actually thought he was renting this house?

He had bought the entire building for peace and quiet; why would he rent?

But seeing her anxious face, his irritation immediately faded.

Apparently, he had misunderstood her.

“Eight thousand...” Cheng Zhengchu made up a number casually.

Yu Yaxuan frowned and looked at him sharply. “Tell the truth. A 180-square-meter house here rents for at least ten thousand a month. How did you rent it for eight thousand?”

“The... landlord was in a hurry for money.”

Yu Yaxuan sighed softly. “How many months have you rented it for?”

“One year.”

Yu Yaxuan’s eyes widened, and she suppressed the pounding in her chest. “Let’s ask the landlord to cancel the lease.”

“Forget it, the contract’s signed. Don’t make a fuss.”

Before even living there, the rent for a year was already over a hundred thousand. Yu Yaxuan felt the sting deeply.

There were older, cheaper neighborhoods nearby.

Given the circumstances, Yu Yaxuan had no choice but to accept it.

Cheng Zhengchu led Yu Yaxuan into the residence, and she was astounded.

Besides the all-wooden furnishings, the space was particularly spacious and bright, twice as large as where she used to live.

In addition to three reserved bedrooms, there was a study, a gym, and a sunroom.

The living room was wide and luminous, and just looking at it lifted her spirits.

Getting such a place for eight thousand a month was a real bargain.

She hadn’t expected this man to enjoy life so well.

Cheng Zhengchu watched Yu Yaxuan’s reactions closely and saw her faint smile of satisfaction.

It seemed Yu Yaxuan was easy to please; he casually bought a modest house, and she was this happy.

If only she knew about his estate...

“We’ll go buy some daily necessities later. Since I’m living in your house, I’ll take care of the daily supplies.”

Though Lin Jingsheng hadn’t left her any marital property, she still had a thousand yuan in her WeChat wallet, enough to cover some purchases.

“This is my payroll card. Since we’re married now, you’ll manage my salary from now on.”

Yu Yaxuan looked at him in surprise.

It was the first time she’d seen someone on a second marriage hand over their salary card to the spouse, especially when they had a daughter.

That took a lot of trust.

“Has your daughter married?”

“Not yet,” Cheng Zhengchu replied instinctively.

“Has her dowry been saved up?” Yu Yaxuan pressed.

Cheng Zhengchu’s face darkened further.

Was this woman already eyeing his daughter’s dowry?

“A little has been saved, but...”

“Then we’ll save the dowry for your daughter together from now on. What she has already saved is hers to keep. Tomorrow I’ll look for a job.”

“As parents, we can’t let our child suffer, right?”

Hearing this, Cheng Zhengchu stared at her in shock.

The invisible bias favoring sons was still strong. Many ordinary families wouldn’t save a dowry for their daughters, and yet she wanted to save one together?

Was this an act or genuine?

Cheng Zhengchu studied her carefully and found her eyes pure and sincere.

Fine, he’d trust her for now.

“The house was rented before. This card will have twelve thousand every month for you to manage as you see fit. Whether you work or not doesn’t matter to me.”

“Also, there’s two hundred thousand in this card. Though you didn’t ask for it, I insist on giving it to you as your bride price.”

Cheng Zhengchu handed Yu Yaxuan another card.

Overwhelmed, Yu Yaxuan looked at him. “What are you doing? I don’t want a bride price! I just want someone to share life with...”

“I know, but tradition must be respected.”

Seeing his insistence, Yu Yaxuan had no choice but to accept.

Her nose prickled, but warmth blossomed in her chest.

The last time she married, Lin Jingsheng gave her thirty yuan as bride price and thought it was too much.

Compared to this man who willingly gave a bride price, it was like heaven and earth.

“Keep the money with me for now. If you ever run into trouble, you can take it out.”

A laborer entrusting her with most of his life’s savings showed how much he valued her.

She definitely wouldn’t touch the money; it would stay safe until Cheng Zhengchu needed it.

Just as she felt moved, her phone rang. On the other end, her best friend’s sharp voice pierced through: “Xuan Xuan, what’s going on? You didn’t go to the blind date yesterday? I just got back and my phone has been blowing up!”

Yu Yaxuan was puzzled. “Of course I went. The person you set me up with was really good.”

Not only had she gone, she had gotten married.

From what she saw so far, this man was perfect.

“No, Old Li said he never saw you and said he’ll never trust me again! You don’t know, he scolded me for ages!”

Old Li?

But the man she married seemed to have the surname Cheng...

A bold thought crept into her mind.

Listening to her friend’s account, that notion became clearer.

She might have... mistaken the person.