Xie Jingmo motioned for her to answer the phone first.
Yu Zhiwan’s expression suddenly lit up with excitement as she listened to whoever was on the other end.
After she hung up, Xie Jingmo asked with interest, “What happened? Why are you so happy?”
Yu Zhiwan was practically bursting with excitement.
“My aunt… Oh, right, that was my aunt calling. I mean my aunt from my adoptive family, not one of my relatives from the Yu family. She and my uncle were very good to me when I was living with my adoptive parents.”
Seeing that Xie Jingmo didn’t know much about her past, Yu Zhiwan specifically explained.
The man nodded after listening, but showed little surprise.
It was almost as though this wasn’t the first time he’d heard about her aunt.
Yu Zhiwan blinked suspiciously.
That can’t be right. I’ve never told Xie Jingmo about my aunt.
Could this be the composure of a truly powerful man? Nothing surprises him?
She didn’t dwell on it and continued excitedly.
“My aunt has a daughter who just started eighth grade this year. She was hospitalized because she got sick recently. The doctor scheduled her surgery last week, but after the operation, my cousin remained unconscious.”
“She just called to tell me that my cousin woke up! She’s doing well and is already out of danger!”
That was why Yu Zhiwan was so happy.
The surgery had cost a considerable amount of money, and her aunt’s family didn’t have much savings.
Fortunately, over the past few years, Yu Zhiwan had earned some money designing clothes under the name “Wanyan,” so she had helped cover the medical expenses as a way of repaying her aunt and uncle for all the care they had given her.
After all, her adoptive parents had treated her so poorly. Without her aunt and uncle looking after her, her childhood would have been even harder.
Now that she’d received the good news, Yu Zhiwan was so excited she could hardly sit still.
She looked at Xie Jingmo and eagerly grabbed his arm.
“You said you had something to do with me this afternoon, right? Is it urgent? If it isn’t, I’d like to go to the hospital first!”
Xie Jingmo glanced at the hand holding his arm.
Seeing her bright, expectant eyes, he couldn’t help reaching over to gently ruffle her hair, the corners of his lips lifting.
“It’s not urgent. I’ll go to the hospital with you first.”
Yu Zhiwan froze.
“Huh? You’re coming with me?”
She thought she could visit her aunt and uncle by herself. Why did Xie Jingmo need to come along?
Xie Jingmo glanced at her, his cool, slender fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel.
“I’m your husband. Isn’t it only natural for me to go with you?”
Yu Zhiwan: “…”
Seeing her hesitate, the man’s voice suddenly dropped, carrying a faint hint of disappointment.
“If you’re embarrassed by me, or think I’m not good enough to meet your family, then I don’t have to go. Really. You don’t need to worry about my feelings. I won’t make a fuss.”
Yu Zhiwan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“When did I ever think you weren’t good enough?”
If someone like Xie Jingmo isn’t good enough, then who possibly is?
How could he even think that?
Yu Zhiwan was both helpless and amused. She quickly explained and reassured him.
“I’ve never looked down on you. Really. Don’t overthink it! If you don’t believe me, then come to the hospital with me right now!”
Xie Jingmo’s peach-blossom eyes curved slightly.
“Fine. I won’t overthink it. I’ll go to the hospital with you.”
Yu Zhiwan: “…?”
Wait.
Something feels off.
Yu Zhiwan scratched her head in confusion.
Meanwhile, Xie Jingmo had already turned the car around.
He stopped to buy some gifts for the patient as well as presents for her aunt and uncle before driving toward the hospital.
When they reached the third-floor ward, they happened to run into her aunt in the hallway.
Yu Zhiwan hurried over.
“Auntie, how is my cousin?”
The moment Xu Yingzi saw Yu Zhiwan, her face lit up with delight.
“She was just asking about you! How did you get here so quickly?”
Then she noticed the unfamiliar man standing behind Yu Zhiwan.
“Eh? Zhiwan, who is this?”
Xu Yingzi couldn’t help staring.
The man was tall and exceptionally handsome. At first glance, it was obvious that he had an extraordinary presence. Every movement carried an innate air of elegance and nobility.
Hearing Xu Yingzi’s question, Xie Jingmo didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he lowered his gaze toward Yu Zhiwan, clearly waiting for her to introduce him.
Yu Zhiwan pressed her rosy lips together and quietly glanced at Xie Jingmo.
After less than three seconds of hesitation, she decided to be honest.
Otherwise, Xie Jingmo might really think she was embarrassed to introduce him to her family.
Seriously. I never knew he was this sensitive.
Now I have to carefully protect his fragile little heart.
Besides, there was nothing shameful about being married. There was no reason to hide it.
“Auntie, let me introduce you. This is my newlywed husband. We just registered our marriage—Xie Jingmo.”
Xu Yingzi’s eyes widened in shock.
What?
Zhiwan got married?
When did this happen?!
Hearing Yu Zhiwan call him her husband, Xie Jingmo couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his lips.
It was as though he had finally received official recognition.
His eyes and brows were filled with unmistakable happiness.
“Hello, Auntie. Zhiwan and I just registered our marriage. Because of our circumstances, we’re planning to hold the wedding a little later. We sincerely hope you’ll be able to attend.”
Yu Zhiwan: “?”
A wedding?
Who said we were having a wedding?!
At that moment, Xu Yingzi couldn’t help examining Xie Jingmo with the critical eyes of a protective relative.
The man clearly had an extraordinary bearing.
Although he was deliberately trying to appear approachable, the aura of someone from a powerful and prestigious family still showed through.
And his appearance…
He was far too handsome for comfort. A man like this would surely attract plenty of attention from women.
However, he was polite and respectful toward her, clearly treating her with respect because she was important to Yu Zhiwan.
Looks like he really cares about Zhiwan.
That’s good.
As long as he treats Zhiwan well, that’s all that matters.
Still, Xu Yingzi couldn’t shake the feeling that this man looked familiar.
Had she seen him somewhere before?
At that moment, Yu Zhiwan’s uncle heard the commotion and came out of the hospital room.
Yu Zhiwan smiled and greeted him.
Xie Jingmo followed suit.
“Hello, Uncle.”
The two of them were practically the perfect husband-and-wife team.
After Xie Jingmo and Yu Zhiwan entered the hospital room, Xu Yingzi grabbed her husband by the arm and whispered,
“Old He, take a good look at that man. He’s Zhiwan’s new husband. Don’t you think he looks familiar? Haven’t we seen him somewhere before?”
Old He studied Xie Jingmo carefully for a few moments.
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
“That… That man is the president of Xie Corporation! I’ve seen his picture in financial magazines!”
Xu Yingzi immediately shook her head.
“That’s not what I mean. I mean I feel like we’ve actually met him before. Not in a photograph—I mean in person! Maybe several years ago? Perhaps when Zhiwan was still in high school?”
Old He rubbed his chin.
“No way. How could we possibly have had the chance to meet someone as important as President Xie?”
Xu Yingzi still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
She desperately searched her memories.
I’ve definitely seen him somewhere before.
And maybe it had something to do with Zhiwan.
Come to think of it, the man seemed to care deeply about Zhiwan.
As her aunt, that made her feel a little more at ease.
Zhiwan had suffered so much as a child.
Her adoptive parents had never treated her well.
Xu Yingzi remembered when Zhiwan was eight years old.
One day, she had found a little stray puppy on the roadside that was nearly freezing to death.
Unable to bear watching it die, the eight-year-old girl had run home and asked her adoptive father if she could keep it.
He agreed.
Little Zhiwan happily carried the puppy home and raised it as her companion.
In that household, where her adoptive father was an abusive gambler and her adoptive mother favored boys over girls, that little dog became the only warmth Zhiwan had.
Then one afternoon, Zhiwan came home from school and saw a plate of meat sitting on the table.
Her adoptive father and several of his friends were drinking and bragging as they ate.
Zhiwan was about to return to her room when her adoptive father called her over with a smile.
He told her to eat the meat on the plate.