However, their belated determination still couldn’t escape the interrogation. After breakfast, Si Yiyuan was ordered to stand obediently in front of Mother Li and be questioned: “I heard that you made Qianqian cry last night. What happened?”
Hua Yaoyao, who was listening nearby, hurriedly explained for her husband: “Mother-in-law, please don’t misunderstand. It was my fault. I accidentally bumped my knee on the corner of the cabinet. It hurt so much that I lost my composure…” As she made up the story, she recalled how her husband had described her wild antics from the night before, and the little woman blushed silently.
When her daughter-in-law spoke up, Mother Li—without suspecting a thing—easily let Si Yiyuan off the hook: “Then let it go this time, Ah Hao. Although it’s a misunderstanding, I still have to remind you: a wife is meant to be cherished. You can’t bully her…”
The young couple reluctantly endured a morning of lectures on the principles of loving one’s wife. Luckily, lunchtime arrived—otherwise, the nagging might have continued all day!
Still shaken, the young couple finished lunch and retreated to their room for a nap, hoping to recover the energy they’d lost after being scolded by their mother-in-law all morning. After sleeping a full hour, Hua Yaoyao was being dressed and attended to by servants, and she sighed inwardly.
It was so easy to go from frugality to extravagance! She, a self-reliant modern woman, had only been in this world for less than a month, yet she’d already grown accustomed to being waited on hand and foot, living a life of luxury! No wonder modern women all dreamed of marrying into wealthy families!
“Wife, are you ready yet?” Si Yiyuan’s excited voice interrupted her sigh, brimming with joy as if something wonderful had happened! Hua Yaoyao was naturally curious: “Almost done—what’s making you so happy?”
Si Yiyuan grinned and said, “It’s nothing. A good friend of mine is coming to the capital!” What he didn’t mention was that Li Hao was finally returning. He’d no longer have to impersonate anyone and could openly bring his own wife home!
But then he remembered the messy situation at home, and Si Yiyuan wisely kept quiet. It seemed best to hide his identity a little longer and let Li Hao handle things at home first before coming back to retrieve his wife.
Otherwise, what if his wife got angry and refused to have him anymore? With that thought, the man turned and left: “Wife, I’ll be back soon!”
In the evening, Li Hao—who was only one day away from the capital—received a message from Si Yiyuan via carrier pigeon. The man, in a very good mood, turned pale after reading Si Yiyuan’s request!
That bastard taking advantage of a favor! He actually wanted Li Hao to take his place and pretend to be him for Hua Yaoyao for a few days! Was this revenge? Hua Qianqian noticed Li Hao’s darkening expression and asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”
After a long, hesitant explanation, Li Hao—looking utterly dejected—recounted the whole story of Hua Yaoyao and Si Yiyuan’s doubles: “I was in a hurry to catch up with you and didn’t want our families to fall out over this, so I asked Yiyuan for a favor. Who knew those two impostors would actually fall in love with each other!”
Hua Qianqian nodded knowingly: “This isn’t your fault. I didn’t expect my parents to make Yaoyao take another bride’s place. In the end, it was all because I ran away from the wedding. Fortunately, they love each other now, so it didn’t ruin Yaoyao’s life. Otherwise, how would she face us when we return?”
Li Hao nodded. He knew Hua Qianqian wouldn’t be jealous, but if he didn’t clear things up now, she might hold it over him later. Li Hao had always been a cunning man—just look at how passionately he’d confessed his love to Hua Qianqian in the carriage earlier, all to win her over. It showed just how calculating his heart could be!
This aloof-seeming man had suddenly poured out his affections so intensely, all to deeply move Hua Qianqian and get her to hurry home with him—or at least keep her from leaving his sight! A possessive and cunning man never acted without a purpose!
Little did he know that after spending over half a month luring his little wife back, just as they were about to start their blissful married life, Si Yiyuan had beaten him to the punch!
“Just ‘a few days’ is putting it nicely! How long will it take him to rush home, sort things out, and rush back?” The cunning Hao began mentally calculating how to get Hua Yaoyao to leave quickly and willingly.
After pondering for a while, the cunning man made up his mind. He told Hua Qianqian to go home first and wait a few days to appease the Hua family elders. He’d then visit Si Yiyuan to discuss the marriage after returning himself.
Since the day they poured out their hearts to each other in the carriage, Hua Qianqian stopped worrying about behaving like a proper young lady. She was someone who dared to love and hate—though she had a bit of a spoiled young lady’s temper, she was never unreasonable.
Hua Yaoyao’s willingness to step in for the marriage had protected the relationship between the Li and Hua families while preserving her reputation. Hua Qianqian was already grateful to her half-sister, whom she had often neglected in the past. Besides, Li Hao’s explanation made perfect sense, so she naturally agreed. Thus, the two hurried back to the capital before each returning to their own home to face their mothers.
In the past few days, Hua Yaoyao had noticed her husband acting very strangely. Ever since she mentioned that a friend had come to the capital, he seemed like a completely different person—at least when he was with her.
He remained taciturn in front of his parents-in-law but grew serious around her. He stopped joking around, showed less affection, and no longer gazed at her with that familiar tenderness. He even used work as an excuse to sleep in the study at night.
Her mother-in-law asked several times if they had quarreled, but Hua Yaoyao always brushed it off nonchalantly: “It’s nothing, Mother-in-law—don’t overthink it. My husband has just been too busy lately and doesn’t want to disturb my sleep if he comes back too late.”
Despite her reassurances, Hua Yaoyao knew better than anyone that Li Hao’s behavior was unusual—but why? She couldn’t figure it out. After racking her brain, only one possibility emerged: he had discovered her identity as a substitute!
But could a mere change in status truly alter his feelings? Were all those previous sweet moments just an illusion? Hua Yaoyao didn’t think so—she had been right there in the midst of his affections and knew full well how much love and tenderness he had shown her!
Perhaps the man was simply angry that she hadn’t been honest from the start? With her thinking veering further off course, the woman grew more convinced of her theory. She couldn’t wait to prove her sincerity through her actions!
That night, Li Hao received tender, considerate care from his friend’s wife. She added extra dishes to their meal, and in the evening, she brought him tea, water, pastries, and even ground ink in his study—leaving Li Hao feeling utterly embarrassed!
He knew his own personality well and realized his attitude would arouse Hua Yaoyao’s suspicions, but he never expected her to respond like this!
Clearly, the young woman didn’t suspect his true identity. Instead, she assumed he was angry, which was why she was trying so hard to please him. Caught off guard and unsure whether to accept or refuse, he reluctantly went along with it in the end—to avoid giving himself away.
Hua Yaoyao naturally sensed the man’s reluctance, but to her, his willingness to accept meant there was still hope!
For the past two weeks, the man had pampered and cherished her like a treasure. She was grateful for his sincerity. Though she couldn’t claim to love him deeply yet, she wasn’t ready to give up so easily.
Perhaps their relationship was still too new and unstable, needing to weather some ups and downs—but she was willing to work hard to overcome these hurdles. Love was never a smooth path; it always involved trials and tribulations, and she was naturally fearless! Refusing to abandon love lightly was the core reason Hua Yaoyao tried so hard!
For the next few days, Li Hao lived in turmoil, constantly being pampered and fawned over by his friend’s wife. If he refused her, his elderly mother’s earnest pleas would come knocking—but if he accepted, he felt guilty toward his own young wife waiting at the Hua residence, and his conscience gnawed at him!
Li Hao deeply understood the hardships Si Yiyuan had endured as his stand-in, yet he also resented Hua Yaoyao—the substitute—for being so proactive. Couldn’t she just calm down and wait quietly for a couple of days?
Hua Yaoyao proved with her actions that she couldn’t let up! She refused to relax her efforts to win back her husband! After Li Hao accepted her tea and snacks, she decided to push even further!
She appeared in Li Hao’s study again the following evening. This time, she not only served tea and water but also offered to massage his shoulders—claiming that after a hard day’s work, it was only right for a wife to serve her husband!
Li Hao dared not accept. If that petty Si Yiyuan found out his wife was massaging him, he’d rush back and cause a scene!
The cunning Hao rolled his eyes and said, “Thank you for your kindness, my wife. However, my neck has been quite uncomfortable these past few days. The doctor said it needs proper massage therapy—I can’t have it rubbed casually.”
Hua Yaoyao didn’t truly believe he was unwell, but since the man was unwilling, she respected his feelings and didn’t press. She only gently urged Li Hao to return to their room early to rest and not overwork himself while feeling under the weather. Li Hao could only agree and send her away.
After being pampered and fawned over by his friend’s wife for days on end, Li Hao grew increasingly restless. Besides, Hua Qianqian was still at home, waiting for him to discuss their marriage! He couldn’t waste time here with Hua Yaoyao!
Figuring Si Yiyuan should be back home by now, the cunning man hatched his plan to reveal himself. After days of probing, he had a good sense of Hua Yaoyao’s feelings for Si Yiyuan—the reveal should go smoothly! Of course, it wouldn’t be a straightforward confession!
After all, he couldn’t predict her reaction. He couldn’t very well tie her up and ship her off to Si Yiyuan. So he planned to drop subtle hints, letting Hua Yaoyao uncover his identity on her own before Si Yiyuan returned. Then he could guide her to seek out Si Yiyuan actively, freeing him up to reunite with his own little wife sooner!
The cunning Hao considered himself relatively merciful. However, he had miscalculated—not only could he not predict Hua Yaoyao’s reaction to his true identity, but he also couldn’t foresee what she would do the very next day!
Author’s Note: I’m really sorry—there may not be many readers left, but I’m truly apologetic. These past few days, I’ve been swamped with home matters like getting the property certificate and handling renovations, leaving little time to write. Updates might be irregular, but I’ll post at least one chapter every four days at the latest. If any readers are still here, I hope you’ll keep supporting me!