004: Shen Jichuan, I Must Marry You
Sister Ling was two or three years older than Shen Jichuan. She had originally been a child bride in another household.
After her husband passed away, she came to the city to work and entered the Shen family, but she had always stayed at the old Shen residence.
Later, she came to Shen Jichuan’s side, but she never married, which was why everyone called her Sister Ling.
After Shen Haiyang was brought to the Shen family by Shen Jichuan, as a young cadre, Shen Jichuan was busy with military unit affairs and couldn’t spare time to take care of Shen Haiyang’s daily life.
He had originally intended to hire a nanny, but the old lady at the old residence suggested letting Sister Ling take care of him.
It could be said that after Shen Haiyang arrived at the Shen family, he was practically raised entirely by Li Ling.
There was even a time when Shen Haiyang fell ill and Li Ling was taking care of him. In his delirium, he called out “Mom.”
Li Ling was deeply moved when she heard this and grew even fonder of Shen Haiyang, treating him like her own son.
In the Shen family, Shen Jichuan was the father, Shen Haiyang was the son, and Li Ling played the role of the mother.
Wen Qiao sat at the dining table, watching Li Ling’s attentive care for Shen Haiyang, lost in thought.
It seemed that Li Ling’s hostility toward her might not necessarily be because of Shen Haiyang.
It was very likely because of Shen Jichuan.
Shen Haiyang, having drunk alcohol, was not in a clear state of mind. Hearing Li Ling’s incessant nagging, he irritably said, “Leave me alone.”
Li Ling stood anxiously at the door, watching him slam it shut.
“When did you become so temperamental, child?”
“This matter isn’t settled yet. Why are you so anxious and angry? Let’s wait until Mr. Shen returns before deciding anything.”
Wen Qiao listened to Li Ling’s words to Shen Haiyang, a cold smile curling at the corners of her lips as she calmly ate her cold dinner.
After eating her fill, Wen Qiao went straight back to her room to rest.
From the countryside to the city, she had spent a day and a night on the train.
After arriving in Beicheng, she had searched everywhere for clues and Shen Haiyang’s address.
Shen Haiyang had been adopted by Shen Jichuan after his parents passed away when he was seven or eight years old.
However, the letters Wen Qiao and her mother received still had the address given to them before Shen Haiyang’s parents passed away.
Wen Qiao went to the old address but couldn’t find him.
She inquired everywhere before finally learning the address where Shen Haiyang lived after being adopted.
She spent two or three days searching all over Beicheng before finally arriving at the Shen family.
During these days, she hadn’t been able to rest properly.
Now, temporarily settled in the Shen family, she lay in bed, wondering what to do next.
What if Shen Jichuan refused to marry her, just like in her past life, and forced her back to her hometown? What would she do then?
No, she absolutely couldn’t go back.
The ignorance in the countryside—even a single drop of spit from each person could drown her.
She had to make Shen Jichuan let her stay. If he truly didn’t want to marry her, perhaps she could find another way.
Lying in bed, Wen Qiao tossed and turned until she fell into a deep sleep.
It wasn’t until the middle of the night—she didn’t know the exact time—that she vaguely heard the sound of a car and Sister Ling getting up to speak.
Her voice was gentle, as if she had become a different person, yet it was still incessant and annoyingly noisy.
Wen Qiao was a light sleeper, especially when she heard people talking, which would instinctively startle her awake.
She heard a man’s low, slightly hoarse voice refusing.
“No need, I’ve already had dinner.”
“Then let me bring you some hot water so you can freshen up,” Li Ling approached and asked.
Shen Jichuan pinched the bridge of his nose and gave a faint “Mm” in response.
Heading straight for the second floor, he noticed the light was on in the room opposite his bedroom—a faint glow from a desk lamp.
Frowning, he stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Startled by the sudden knock, Wen Qiao immediately rose from the bed.
She opened the door and met the man’s deep gaze.
His crisp military uniform remained impeccably neat even after work, worn with precision.
The man was tall, likely around 188 centimeters.
Standing before him at just 160 centimeters, Wen Qiao appeared quite small.
She wore an old-fashioned floral tank top favored by country women, knee-length shorts, and a patched jacket draped over her shoulders.
Her fair skin glowed like jade under the light.
"You’re back."
Seeing he didn’t speak, Wen Qiao politely greeted him.
Unexpectedly, Shen Jichuan’s voice came cold as ice. "Who said you could stay here?"
"I agreed to marry you, but that doesn’t make you the lady of the house. You’ll stay downstairs."
Wen Qiao frowned. "Then where do you want me to stay?"
"Wherever you like. Just not upstairs."
After speaking, Shen Jichuan remained standing there, not leaving.
Wen Qiao said calmly, "I’ll move downstairs. You don’t need to keep watching me."
"When are we getting the marriage certificate?" she suddenly asked.
Shen Jichuan habitually frowned. "If you can drop the idea of marrying me, I’ll add more to the conditions I offered during the day."
Wen Qiao looked up at Shen Jichuan.
"Then cut ties with Shen Haiyang, kick him out of the Shen family, and let him go. If you do that, I’ll agree."
Shen Jichuan didn’t understand why Wen Qiao made such a demand.
"Why do that? What good would it do you if I cut ties with him?"
Wen Qiao said earnestly, "The reason Shen Haiyang looks down on me is because he now has a powerful adoptive father, attends military academy, and has climbed the social ladder. Naturally, he doesn’t want a burden like me from the countryside."
"If Shen Haiyang had nothing, he wouldn’t have the right to look down on me."
Shen Jichuan didn’t speak, only sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.
Indeed, this woman was cunning. Even if she spoke sweetly now, once he really cut ties with Shen Haiyang, she would likely make even more demands.
Moreover, the only reason he agreed to marry Wen Qiao was for his adopted son, Shen Haiyang.
He never intended to marry in the first place.
And Shen Haiyang was practically raised by him—their father-son bond ran deep. After over a decade of raising him, how could there be no affection?
He certainly wouldn’t sever ties with his adopted son just because of Wen Qiao’s words.
Shen Jichuan thought Wen Qiao’s words were nonsense.
Seeing Shen Jichuan remain silent and turn toward his room, Wen Qiao softly reminded him from behind.
"Uncle Shen, I can move downstairs, but only after we get the marriage certificate. Of course, you could force me. Then I’ll go to your workplace and personally tell your superiors about us two…"
"Shut up."
Shen Jichuan coldly snapped before turning back to his room.
When Li Ling came upstairs, she overheard Wen Qiao’s words and muttered under her breath, "Shameless."
Just because she’s young and pretty, she thinks she can seduce anyone.
Li Ling knocked and asked Shen Jichuan if he needed hot water, only to be sharply told to leave. She replied, "I’ll leave the hot water by the door."
Wen Qiao closed her door and returned to her room to sleep.
Since she was already living here, she had no intention of going back downstairs to sleep in the storage room.
The next morning, Wen Qiao woke up feeling groggy and heavy-headed.
It dawned on her belatedly that it must have been the cold shower she took the night before—no wonder she had been alternating between chills and fever.
Hearing a knock at the door, Wen Qiao got up to answer it.
Disheveled as she was, she came face-to-face with the impeccably dressed and upright Shen Jichuan.
His frown was visibly deepening.
Leaning against the doorframe, Wen Qiao spoke weakly, her whole body limp. "Don’t even think about sending me back downstairs to that stuffy, sweltering storage room. I refuse to stay there."
No sooner had she finished speaking than her legs gave way, and she could no longer stand.
Shen Jichuan frowned and caught her, only to be startled upon touching her—her entire body was burning hot.
"Are you sick?"
Wen Qiao mumbled drowsily, "I took a cold shower last night. The water in the city is colder than in the countryside."
"Shen Jichuan, I have to marry you."