Su Zhi’s family background wasn’t exactly perfect.
When Su Zhi was very young, her father was imprisoned for stealing scrap metal and tools from others. She was raised single-handedly by her mother. During her childhood, many classmates mocked her for having a father who had been in prison. Su Zhi fought with classmates more than once because of this and changed elementary schools several times.
Su Zhi was very sensitive to the word “family” and had always yearned for a warm, loving, happy home.
Afraid of getting hurt and hesitant to reveal her less-than-ideal family background to potential partners, Su Zhi had never had a boyfriend and was quite resistant to the idea.
She had imagined what her future spouse might be like, but she never expected that before she could even find someone to date or marry, she would be forced to transmigrate to this place, directly marrying a stranger and becoming a newlywed wife.
Yue Chunhan was almost the complete opposite of the spouse she had imagined—worlds apart, with no similarity whatsoever.
If she had encountered someone like him in real life, she would have stayed far away, with no connection whatsoever. What Su Zhi had always liked and hoped for was a man who could understand her, be patient with her, gentle and considerate—not someone with Yue Chunhan’s cold, violent, and aggressive temperament, ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
She had once told herself, “since you’re here, make the best of it,” thinking she should be cautious and try to get along with Yue Chunhan in this unfamiliar place. But she hadn’t expected him to be completely indifferent to her, not even caring when she was harassed by someone else.
Thinking of this, tears welled up in Su Zhi’s eyes. A deep sense of grievance gathered in her chest as she looked up at Yue Chunhan, her vision blurry with tears. “Why didn’t you help me earlier outside? Instead, you just left?”
There was still a strong fear of Yue Chunhan in Su Zhi’s heart, but in that moment, her grievance overwhelmed that fear. Though tears still glistened in her eyes, Su Zhi stubbornly bit her lip, meeting Yue Chunhan’s gaze squarely, unwilling to look away.
Yue Chunhan hadn’t expected Su Zhi, who had been pulling and tugging with another man outside, to come home and boldly confront him. Shouldn’t he be the one questioning her? Su Zhi’s skill in turning the tables and blaming others had certainly improved.
He should have been angry. But when Yue Chunhan snorted, lowered his cold face, and met Su Zhi’s eyes, he couldn’t help but frown slightly.
Su Zhi was crying. Tears fell like pearls, one after another. Her bright eyes, washed by tears, appeared exceptionally clear and pure. Her thick, curled lashes were damp, her nose slightly red from sniffling, her brows furrowed with grievance.
Like an expensive, pedigreed cat caught in the rain, drenched and pitiful.
Her face still bore several red scratches from cutting corn stalks during the day. These marks accentuated Su Zhi’s fragility, making her appear even more vulnerable and heart-wrenching.
Yue Chunhan paused, turned, and sat on a chair, keeping his cold face averted, his voice icy and devoid of warmth. “You two were chatting just fine. Why should I have interrupted?”
Su Zhi understood the implication in his words. Her tear-streaked face scrunched up with grievance as she carefully walked over and sat on a chair opposite Yue Chunhan, explaining earnestly, “We weren’t chatting! He was harassing me!”
Yue Chunhan looked up, his expression ambiguous.
Su Zhi thought of the original host’s notorious romantic scandals. Gritting her teeth, she continued, “I’m not close to him. He was the one pestering me. I wanted your help, but you…”
Su Zhi paused, her voice still nasal from crying, eyes red and swollen, but her attitude was very serious. “Yue Chunhan, next time something like this happens, don’t leave me behind. You should help me because we’re husband and wife, aren’t we?”
Husband and wife?
Yue Chunhan was very surprised. He looked up and saw Su Zhi’s red, swollen eyes and tear-streaked face full of grievance. His dark eyes gradually deepened.
…Would someone like Su Zhi care about so-called marital bonds? Wasn’t she always selfish and materialistic?
Yue Chunhan still remembered Su Zhi’s reaction when they were forced to marry after villagers witnessed them falling into the water together. Back then, she cried and made a scene right in front of him, as if she wanted to bite him, her face full of resentment and fear, blaming him for ruining her life and despising his poor family background and cold personality.
Could such a Su Zhi change her nature in just a few days? Or was the current Su Zhi also putting on an act?
Thinking this, Yue Chunhan’s expression not only didn’t soften but grew even colder. He stood up, his dark eyes looking down at Su Zhi from above, his expression cold and inscrutable.
Su Zhi had initially hoped Yue Chunhan would apologize or show some softening of attitude. Instead, she was met with Yue Chunhan’s icy voice.
“Su Zhi, I have no special demands of you. Just take good care of Tiantian. Other than that, we can stay out of each other’s way.”
Yue Chunhan looked at the beautiful, alluring Su Zhi before him, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion.
He had never expected Su Zhi to do much. As long as she behaved and didn’t cause trouble, he would be satisfied. As for her romantic scandals and ambiguous rumors, he could pretend not to see them.
Yue Chunhan paused, his expression indifferent. “If you have any… ideas, at least don’t do it in front of Tiantian. Outside, do whatever you want, just don’t bring anyone home. If you have other plans in the future, you can tell me anytime. If you want a divorce, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
His words effectively isolated Su Zhi, drawing a clear boundary between them, truly embodying what a marriage of convenience should be, treating Su Zhi as a fickle, promiscuous woman.
Su Zhi lifted her misty eyes to look at him, biting her lower lip hard. An overwhelming sense of grievance enveloped her. She suddenly understood what it meant to be unable to defend oneself despite having a hundred mouths.
Su Zhi realized Yue Chunhan hadn’t taken her earlier explanation to heart at all. Instead, due to past events, his prejudice against her had deepened, leading him to draw a clear line.
Because the original host’s image was too deeply ingrained, no matter what she said now, Yue Chunhan wouldn’t easily believe her.
Su Zhi felt an intense tightness in her chest, frustrated and unsure how to explain further. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Fine! Stay out of each other’s way—you said it! Then let’s do as you say!”
Since Yue Chunhan hated her so much, there was no need for her to force her affection where it wasn’t wanted. Let Yue Chunhan be with whoever he liked—Widow Liu, Widow Zhang, or anyone else. From now on, they would indeed stay out of each other’s way.
Full of grievance, Su Zhi stood up, opened the door, and left. Only Yue Chunhan remained in the room, sitting on the chair, his long legs sprawled out. His dark eyes stared unblinkingly at the spot where Su Zhi had left, before eventually looking away and down at the floor.
This was for the best. No matter what schemes Su Zhi might have, he wouldn’t pay attention anymore.