Chapter 12

Arriving at the villa entrance, Wen Jingyi saw Xie Jinnan’s assistant, Mo Chen, waiting by the car, with Bai Heng standing beside him, clearly having just arrived as well.

One appeared fresh and capable, the other expressionless.

Wen Jingyi was about to ask Bai Heng how he had come when Xie Jinnan stepped ahead of her, opened the rear car door, and his gaze fell on her.

She had no choice but to get in first.

After closing the door, Xie Jinnan turned around and met Bai Heng’s eyes.

His gaze was so indifferent it seemed devoid of any warmth. His posture was straight, his face stern and formal, giving off a cold atmosphere, somewhat fitting for a bodyguard.

This was Xie Jinnan’s first time seeing Wen Jingyi’s bodyguard. He had expected a tall, burly man, but instead found a youthful, refined-looking young man, likely no older than thirty.

Perhaps because his gaze lingered too long, Bai Heng slightly nodded and greeted respectfully in a clear voice, “Son-in-law.”

Son-in-law?

Mo Chen instinctively glanced at his boss’s face, seeing his indifferent expression and no reaction as he got into the car, his own face twisting into something strange.

Sure enough, he was a bodyguard brought along with the bride.

Usually, people would address him as Young Master or at least Young Master Xie. But calling him son-in-law clearly marked his identity as different from the Xie family, signaling that he belonged to the Wen family’s side.

Mo Chen opened the driver’s door and, before getting in, looked at Bai Heng, recalling how the boss’s wife was intercepted by him last night. Now, since the boss’s wife was in his car and he was driving her, he finally felt a surge of pride.

Bai Heng: “…”

The Maybach slowly pulled out of the villa compound. Wen Jingyi glanced at the man beside her; since getting in, he had not spoken, eyes closed in rest. His aloof, detached aura gave off an unapproachable vibe, making one hesitant to get close.

Wen Jingyi looked out the window, watching the fleeting scenery. Though she was somewhat nervous about meeting the elders soon, she remained fairly composed.

She had already met many Xie family elders at the wedding, but this time it was at the Xie family’s ancestral home. With no familiar faces around and facing the entire family alone, she felt like a lone soldier.

“Nervous?” Xie Jinnan opened his eyes and noticed her fingers slightly curling, an unnatural gesture.

Compared to her usual poised and dignified demeanor, this felt more genuine.

Wen Jingyi turned to meet his deep gaze and saw the concern in his eyes. She smiled faintly to reassure him, “It’s okay. Just a little unfamiliar.”

Xie Jinnan looked at her and hummed in acknowledgment.

After a moment, he added, “Very beautiful.”

Wen Jingyi did not immediately catch on. “What?”

Xie Jinnan, unusually patient, probably trying to ease her tension, spoke softly, “This outfit suits you very well.”

He was complimenting her.

Realizing this, Wen Jingyi was somewhat surprised.

They had known each other for nearly half a year. She had dressed up meticulously many times before him, and each time he remained expressionless, appearing especially indifferent. This was the first time she had heard him praise her beauty.

Even on their wedding night, he had refrained from touching her at all, willingly acting like an old-fashioned gentleman.

Today, he had rarely complimented her.

She had thought that in his eyes, all women were the same, without distinction.

For a moment, she felt unaccustomed and softly replied, “Thank you.”

---

Xie Jinnan frowned. “No need to be so formal with me.”

Wen Jingyi smiled gently. “Okay.”

Her smile was exceptionally bright and charming. Xie Jinnan glanced away after just one look, sitting upright, closing his eyes to rest again.

…

Upon reaching the ancestral home, the butler, He Ru, who had been waiting at the door, immediately came forward.

He Ru’s face beamed with warmth as he thoughtfully opened the car door for Wen Jingyi, smiling, “Young madam, you’ve finally arrived. The old master has been talking about you all along.”

Wen Jingyi smiled softly.

“Come inside quickly,” He Ru urged, leading the way.

Just as Wen Jingyi was about to follow, the man beside her reached out and suddenly grasped her wrist.

“Let’s go.”

The warmth from his palm spread to Wen Jingyi’s palm, causing it to flush slightly. She instinctively curled her fingers and looked up at him.

In the soft morning light, the curve of the man’s profile was strikingly handsome, though his face showed no emotion. Only his restraint in not holding her hand more firmly revealed his unfamiliarity.

Wen Jingyi understood he was putting on a show for the people in the ancestral home, not genuinely wanting to hold her hand, thus maintaining a gentlemanly distance.

He Ru noticed this and his smile grew even brighter.

Yet, the interaction still felt somewhat stiff.

As if to cooperate with the act, Wen Jingyi gently linked her arm around his, a light gesture, though she felt his momentary stiffness.

She couldn’t help but curve her lips slightly, feeling as if she had caught the man off guard.

There were already many people seated in the front hall, waiting for Xie Jinnan and Wen Jingyi. He Ru, leading the way, did not hurry toward the front hall but instead bypassed it to first visit the study where Old Master Xie practiced calligraphy.

At the study door, just as Xie Jinnan was about to release her wrist and create some distance, Wen Jingyi, still linked to his arm, stepped ahead, slowing her pace slightly to follow behind him.

Xie Jinnan said nothing and entered the study first, letting Wen Jingyi follow.

Old Master Xie had been waiting long ago. The moment he saw them enter, a smile lit his aged face, his eyes sparkling as if rejuvenated by years. Sitting in his chair, he beckoned them over.

“Xiao Yi, come here quickly.”

In recent days, Old Master Xie had suffered from intense gout, mostly sitting and resting, occasionally receiving leg massages and herbal baths.

Seeing Wen Jingyi seemed to ease his pain.

Wen Jingyi obediently approached. Old Master Xie was delighted and tried to stand with his cane, but she quickly reached out to steady him.

“Grandpa, please sit.”

Old Master Xie patted her hand with satisfaction. “Our little Yi is still so sensible and filial. Jinnan is lucky to have married you. I don’t know how many incense sticks I burned in my past life.”

Wen Jingyi blushed slightly. “I’m the lucky one to marry into the Xie family.”

It was not about marrying Xie Jinnan, but about the family itself.

---

He marrying her was Old Master Xie’s blessing, but Wen Jingyi’s fortune lay in marrying into the Xie family.

Xie Jinnan seemed to grasp this partly, understanding why Wen Jingyi had agreed so quickly to his proposal last night. He pressed his thin lips.

Old Master Xie asked with concern, “Are you accustomed to life here?”

Wen Jingyi nodded and replied warmly, “Jinnan takes good care of me. There’s also Sister Jiang and Uncle He helping with things. I don’t find it uncomfortable.”

“That’s good.”

Their exchange was harmonious, with Xie Jinnan seeming like an outsider.

Wen Jingyi sensed that Old Master Xie was deliberately sidelining Xie Jinnan. She intended to ease the atmosphere but saw that Xie Jinnan had already taken a seat, calmly accepting tea from a servant and sipping it leisurely.

This appeared to be a regular occurrence.

Both of them were used to it.

Wen Jingyi gave up on meddling.

After all, as the genuine grandson, Old Master Xie’s own feelings were even more intense than hers.

Soon, Old Master Xie shifted his gaze to Xie Jinnan. Seeing him casually drink tea as if uninvolved, Old Master Xie restrained his anger because Wen Jingyi was present and sternly said, “Xiao Yi has just come here and is still unfamiliar with many things. Even after the wedding leave ends in a few days, don’t just focus on work. Spend more time with her.”

Without hesitation, Xie Jinnan replied, “Understood.”

Old Master Xie then looked at Wen Jingyi, his sharp gaze softening into warmth, voice unusually gentle, “Don’t be reserved. This is your home now—just as if you were in Nancheng. If this brat dares to bully you, tell me. I’ll be the first to deal with him!”

Wen Jingyi smiled with her eyes. “I understand, Grandpa.”

“All right,” Old Master Xie picked up a document from the desk and handed it to Xie Jinnan. “Go to the front hall now. Your mother has been waiting a long time.”

Xie Jinnan’s fingers moved slightly as he flipped through the document, brows furrowing a little. He looked up at Old Master Xie and, understanding the message in his eyes, closed the file. “I’ll go now.”

Wen Jingyi spoke softly, “Grandpa, we’ll head there now.”

Old Master Xie waved a hand with a smile. “Go ahead.”

They left the study one after the other. Outside the door, Mo Chen was waiting. Xie Jinnan handed him the document. “Prepare the notarization by tomorrow.”

Mo Chen did not ask further. “Understood.”

After hesitating for a moment, he glanced at the poised young woman beside him and added, “Take Bai Heng with you.”

Huh?

Wen Jingyi looked up in confusion.