Grandfather Zhong was momentarily stunned. An Yanqing followed suit, raising her eyes and briefly meeting his gaze.
The old man stroked the handle of his cane, deep in thought for a moment. “Chuchu, Yanqing’s career is currently flourishing; it’s a critical time for her upward trajectory. You mustn’t cause trouble for her at such a pivotal moment.”
Zhong Chu stepped out from behind Grandfather Zhong, tilting her chin up slightly. She cast a proud glance at An Yanqing and said to the old man, “Grandpa, over these years, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to interact with stars in the entertainment industry. I’m not exactly a stranger to that circle.”
As a highly sought-after fashion designer in recent years, Zhong Chu naturally had no shortage of opportunities to collaborate with celebrities. Their circles overlapped; it was just that in the past, she had deliberately avoided any intersections related to An Yanqing.
“Besides, precisely because An Yanqing is there—and since we are already wives,” she stammered slightly at that word. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw An Yanqing’s lips curl into an unfathomable smile, making her chest suddenly feel tight. “…We are family now, so things will be somewhat more convenient to handle.”
This time, Zhong Chu’s attitude wasn’t as fiercely resistant as before; she had softened considerably. The old man couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. However, remembering the tangled and messy history between her and An Yanqing, he couldn’t resist looking at An Yanqing again.
An Yanqing understood his meaning and took the initiative to speak: “I have been at Galaxy Media for a long time; I have a fair understanding of the company’s situation.”
She spoke subtly, indicating her agreement. Zhong Chu had originally wanted to see her look troubled, but unexpectedly, her calmness made Zhong Chu feel rather bored instead.
The old man looked at An Yanqing’s face, pondered for a moment, and said to Zhong Chu: “You are very clear about the twists and turns within the entertainment industry, and with Yanqing assisting you from the side, Galaxy Media is indeed the most suitable industry for you to practice your hand.”
“Yanqing is part of Galaxy Media. She has tempered herself in the family business before; she understands the company’s situation and its management style. Her experience is richer than yours. If there is any problem you are unsure about, she can help you.”
He paused here and said warmly, “You and Yanqing are family now, Chuchu.”
Zhong Chu heard the implication in his words and nodded reluctantly, muttering childishly, “Grandpa, I know, I know.”
Family. Does getting a marriage certificate make them family? She stared blankly at An Yanqing’s profile, her gaze sweeping over those familiar features, suddenly feeling a sense of absurdity.
A thin little booklet, a few simple lines of small text—could they truly turn into invisible chains, binding two people who detested each other? Could it transform them into a relationship even more intimate than blood relatives?
Less than a day had passed. The dull thud of the machine stamping the marriage certificate still echoed in Zhong Chu’s ears, interspersed with An Yanqing’s shallow, emotionless voice calling her name over and over.
The sound swirled and blurred in her ears. The memory of the machine pressing down shattered like a mirror, immediately turning into the face currently before her: An Yanqing’s face.
The window was open, and light poured in from outside. The dazzling sunlight enveloped An Yanqing; as she was bathed in the light, the coldness surrounding her was suppressed by the brightness. Her features softened for no apparent reason, and even the fine peach fuzz on her face became distinctly visible.
The change in relationship had come so abruptly—from rivals who fought whenever they met, to an intimate “wife” status defined by society and law. It was so fast it caught Zhong Chu off guard.
She wasn’t sure what kind of attitude she should use to face An Yanqing.
An Yanqing’s expression remained calm. Seeing her look over, she even gave her a faint smile. It was as if she wasn’t at all panicked by the fact that her rival had suddenly “parachuted” in as her big boss.
Zhong Chu lowered her head slightly, turning her gaze away from An Yanqing, and said to the old man, “Grandpa, there are some important things I need to pack myself. I’m going back to my room first.”
Grandfather Zhong, being a shrewd old fox, naturally saw her restlessness. “Go ahead. Yanqing and I will talk a bit more.”
As she walked up step by step, she could feel two gazes resting on her back. Her grandfather’s gaze was gentle and doting, while the other was, as always, as calm as water. She suddenly had an impulse to look back, to see what expression An Yanqing had at this moment.
But in the next instant, she gripped the stair railing tightly, quickened her pace, and soon disappeared at the end of their line of sight.
Grandfather Zhong sighed, his cane thumping heavily on the ground. With a nostalgic and melancholy tone, he turned his head to An Yanqing and said, “Chuchu is very much like her grandmother, isn’t she?”
An Yanqing moved half a step to the side. The sunlight flickered across her body, and the smile on her face was like ice melting in water—still a polite smile, but one that had lost its warmth.
She said, “Zhong Chu is Zhong Chu.”
Grandfather Zhong struck the handle of his cane and laughed in spite of himself. “You, oh you… that stubborn temper of yours is just the same as before.”
“At a time like this, you should follow my lead in conversation, not pour cold water on me.”
As soon as Zhong Chu was gone, the atmosphere in the hall changed instantly. At first glance, there was nothing unusual—both were smiling—but the previous lightheartedness was completely covered by an indescribable heaviness.
Grandfather Zhong sat back down in his chair. As a junior, An Yanqing took the initiative to lean over and support him. The movement was natural and smooth, purely out of politeness and respect for an elder, without any intention of currying favor.
The old man gave her a smiling glance and did not refuse her kindness.
Once settled, he leaned his cane against the back of the chair, gripped the armrests with both hands, leaned forward slightly, and stared into her eyes. He said casually, “Yanqing, do you think Jingshen and Wanyi are truly busy?”
His aura of a decisive and ruthless businessman from his days in the corporate world had returned.
The old man had been dominant his whole life; even if his voice was gentle, his eyes couldn’t hide that sharp, blade-like scrutiny. The pressure was immense.
An Yanqing stood tall under the pressure of his gaze, offering a light smile, her demeanor still composed. “Uncle Zhong and Auntie Zhong are busy, and it’s true they can’t find the time. But the most important reason is that they don’t like me and don’t want to see me.”
Grandfather Zhong then smiled. “It’s good that you understand. Even if the fault isn’t yours, heart-knots aren’t that easy to untie. It’s true for Chuchu, and it’s true for them.”
He leaned back against the chair, his hands folded, eyes slightly closed, seemingly lost in a certain memory. “Chuchu was a premature baby, born with deficiencies. She was frail and sickly as a child; she spent more time in the hospital than at home.”
“At that time, the family business had just been handed over to her parents. The young couple was spinning in circles, overwhelmed and frantic, trying their best to prove themselves to me.”
“They loved Chuchu, but they didn’t have much time to accompany her. Most of the time, I was the one taking care of Chuchu.”
He opened his palm to gesture to An Yanqing. “A little darling only as big as a palm, her skin all red, so fragile she looked like she could be blown away by the wind. Her body was covered in tubes, just lying there in the incubator, her little mouth open, breathing with difficulty.”
“Many times, so many times, we thought she wouldn’t make it. She grew from a palm-sized infant into a charming young girl, but major and minor illnesses never stopped.”
“I don’t know how many times she went to the hospital; we signed critical illness notices until we were almost numb. Chuchu’s life was always a thread hanging over our family’s necks.”
He withdrew his hand, his palm clenching into a fist, resting it lightly on the armrest. An Yanqing’s gaze was almost frozen on his movement, staring blankly along his vein-lined arm all the way to his tense face.
Grandfather Zhong raised a hand to wipe the corner of his eye, but his hand was dry.
He himself was startled for a moment, and as he withdrew his hand, he gave a faint smile. His emotions were stirred, but his tone remained peaceful. Years of composure and steadiness had already become an instinctive habit.
“Chuchu is a treasure bestowed upon us by heaven, but unfortunately, when the angel descended to earth, she suffered too much wind and rain. So much so that when she appeared in this world, her wings were covered in scars.”
“We are her guardians in this world, striving to prop up a space free of danger for her. When she was little, we asked for nothing else but for her to grow up safely and peacefully. This is the most basic wish every parent and relative in the world has for a child.”
He picked up his cane again, and the elderly man’s brief moment of vulnerability vanished. The cane braced against the ground, propping up his authority and toughness as the head of the Zhong family.
“So, you should be able to understand that our worry and care for Chuchu can never be too much. The young couple’s attitude might be a bit excessive, but it is only out of love for their only treasure.”
He gazed deeply at An Yanqing, his tone shifting as his eyes suddenly turned cold. “But Chuchu has been protected too well; her personality has been nurtured to be naive and simple, to the point where she can’t even distinguish between goodwill and malice. This is my fault; I spoiled her too much, and I take full responsibility.”
“But as I told you, her nature isn’t bad. Although she is a bit willful, she is essentially a naive and kind-hearted child. She just needs someone to help guide her direction, to take her to see the outside world. To shelter her from the wind and rain and pull her along to grow together.”
He tapped the ground with his cane, eyeing An Yanqing’s expression. “An Yanqing, it’s a mutual benefit. My Zhong family has already shown its sincerity in this deal.”
“I have been watching you.”
He said slowly, “It’s time for you to show your sincerity as well.”
An Yanqing had been looking down, but upon hearing this, her gaze did not waver. She met his eyes and said in a calm voice: “Old Master, we only just got the certificate yesterday. You have to give me some time.”
She turned her head to look upward, hearing the sound of a door opening and closing, and lowered her voice: “Furthermore, Zhong Chu is a person, not a tool to be used for a deal.”
Grandfather Zhong’s expression froze. Before he could react, a series of hurried footsteps came from the second floor, and then Zhong Chu’s figure appeared at the railing. She looked down and said hurriedly: “Grandpa, are you done talking? I’m borrowing An Yanqing for a bit.”
An Yanqing looked up and instantly met her gaze. Zhong Chu was frowning, seemingly angry about something unknown. Even though she was angry, her delicate and lovely appearance only made one unable to stop feeling a sense of pity.
She gripped the railing and called her name, her voice soft and endearing: “An Yanqing, come and help me with something quickly!”