Without Shen Liren’s family around, the house was quiet and fragrant. On the window sill, a vase held a few white chrysanthemums—Shen Li must have placed them there in advance for Shen Liren’s family.
Before going to bed, Shen Li deliberately entered her space to take inventory of her assets. Looking at the dazzling wealth, she rubbed her hands excitedly, ready to get down to work and carefully record everything.
Suddenly, her heart began to race uncontrollably, as if it had gone berserk.
Money truly has a way of enchanting the mind—the heartbeat sped up like this.
Shen Li drank another ten minutes’ worth of the Spirit Spring water and only after calming down did she start recording.
The next day
Outside the Western-style restaurant, a tall, upright figure stood beneath the sycamore trees. Firm as iron, mountain-like in presence, everyone’s gaze inevitably fell on him, unable to look away for a long time.
Shen Li was always punctual. She even arrived half an hour early, thinking she could have a cup of coffee first.
But to her surprise, Gu Zhaoye was already there.
Seeing him, she let out a full sigh of relief. She had worried he might regret this.
“Good morning, Comrade Gu.”
As Shen Li walked over, the other girls admiring Gu Zhaoye sighed with disappointment, but none left. After all, a face like that was worth looking at again and again.
Shen Li was extremely satisfied. Gu Zhaoye’s handsome face still commanded attention. When the divorce came, he wouldn’t have trouble finding a new wife.
She still worried about the effect of a second marriage on him—Shen Li didn’t like owing anyone anything.
Through her sharp gaze, she saw a dazzling smile: dimples, sparkling eyes, soft and obedient.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No problem.” Gu Zhaoye pulled out a small bundle of xiaolongbao wrapped in wax paper from his chest and handed it to her. “Eat something first to fill your stomach.”
She hadn’t had breakfast, thinking the marriage registration would be quick and that she could eat afterward. Who would have thought Gu Zhaoye had bought her breakfast—xiaolongbao, no less.
In this era, xiaolongbao were only available in state-run restaurants and very expensive.
Gu Zhaoye was just a peasant; how could he afford it?
Could it be with the money she had given him? After their first meeting, Shen Li had felt embarrassed about eating the foreign bread he offered, so she had sent fifty yuan through a middleman to repay him.
Now he spent on her again—Shen Li felt guilty.
But the food was already here. If she refused, it would embarrass him.
Shen Li beamed, praising him generously, “Wow, Comrade Gu, you’re so thoughtful! Luckily you’re here, or I’d be starving.”
“But I can’t eat that much. Could you share with me?”
The xiaolongbao in Shanghai were only fist-sized. He could normally eat more than a dozen at once; two wasn’t much.
He knew Shen Li was being shy and worried he’d go hungry.
She was like a little sun, making his ears blush slightly.
Gu Zhaoye quietly took the xiaolongbao Shen Li handed him—no fuss, no pretension.
Shen Li loved this straightforwardness. She liked people who weren’t coy.
Under the sycamore trees, the two quietly ate the buns.
The state-run restaurant’s xiaolongbao were delicious. Shen Li ate heartily, cheeks puffed like a little squirrel, so cute that Gu Zhaoye thought the buns tasted even better.
The civil affairs office was very close to the Western-style restaurant—just a five-minute walk.
Shen Li and Gu Zhaoye arrived early, and the office was relatively empty; no queue was needed.
They exchanged documents with each other. When the staff saw Gu Zhaoye’s paperwork, they straightened instinctively, full of respect.
But when they saw Shen Li’s documents, they were so shocked they forgot their tasks.
Impossible. Such a high-ranking officer, marrying a capitalist’s daughter?
He was giving up his career for this?
Although the movement hadn’t started yet, the general tone was clear—capitalists were looked down upon.
Gu Zhaoye had seen shocked and regretful faces many times before. When he had called the political commissar to approve the marriage application quickly, the commissar had initially refused, scolding and persuading him.
Later, during the political review, they found that although Shen Li’s mother was wealthy and her grandfather’s family were capitalists, her family was special. Their contributions to the country deserved recognition—they were patriotic capitalists, not ordinary capitalists.
Hence, the political review was approved.
Shen Li noticed the staff had paused. Worried, she asked, “Is there a problem?”
The movement hadn’t officially begun. Surely they could still get the marriage certificate.
“Please continue,” Gu Zhaoye said calmly. His tone was not blaming, but his military presence intimidated the staff slightly.
“Sorry, I’ll continue immediately.”
Finally, the stamp went down—the marriage certificate was in hand.
Thump… thump… her heartbeat was so fast it felt impossible to breathe.
Shen Li clutched her chest in discomfort.
[Lifespan remaining: one hour. Please complete the check-in task promptly to gain lifespan.]
What?
Getting married and then… die?
What was going on?
So that’s why her heart had been racing wildly these past nights—her lifespan was running out?
In the dream, her death was supposed to occur six months after relocation, after enduring suffering.
Now it had been moved up by over half a year?
[Bind the life-extension character: Gu Zhaoye.]
One bizarre message after another echoed in her ears.
The death countdown hung above her. Shen Li panicked. Could they just tell her what the check-in task was already?
[Detected intention to report and check in. Activating report function.]
[New life-extension check-in task: pat Gu Zhaoye’s head and say, “Husband, you’re amazing.” Gain three days of lifespan and three points.]
Three points?
No time to think. Life was more important. She’d research the points back in her space.
Her peasant husband was solemn and cold. How could she complete this check-in task?
Shen Li thought about it the whole way, half-dazed, as Gu Zhaoye led her along.
After leaving the civil affairs office, Shen Li was still considering her strategy.
Gu Zhaoye handed her the marriage certificate belonging to Shen Li. In this era, a marriage certificate was just paper. But what he gave her wasn’t just that—there was another paper tucked underneath.
“What’s this?”
Gu Zhaoye explained, “This is my wage certificate. I didn’t bring the passbook or receipts. I’ll give them to you when we get home.”
Submitting wages during marriage seemed natural to Gu Zhaoye. But Shen Li was shocked.
No—they were only in a fake marriage. She didn’t need to hand over her assets.
Shen Li also had no intention of letting him control her assets. After that dream, she knew that, no matter when or where, her wealth must stay in her own hands.
No matter how rich she was, only she would know.
Just as she was about to refuse, a bright idea struck her—wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?
She hurriedly took it, glancing symbolically. The marriage certificate was on top, the wage certificate below. She only looked at the marriage certificate.
Gu Zhaoye was a peasant. His asset proof had surely been prepared by the team leader. Shen Li didn’t want anyone else touching her property, nor would she pry into others’ worth.
“Comrade Gu, come over here.”