“You’re finally here!”
Grandpa Shang had been waiting at the entrance of the main hall for quite some time. Like someone eagerly waiting for the stars and moon to appear, he had finally gotten the people he was waiting for back home.
His cloudy eyes first swept over Shang Hanzhou from head to toe. Seeing that there was nothing seriously wrong with him, he relaxed.
It seemed the accident had indeed been as minor as Shang Hanzhou had claimed.
“Did you go out of your way to pick up Little Xi?”
Shang Hanzhou intended to answer honestly and explain that he and Cen Xi had merely run into each other by chance.
However, Cen Xi spoke first.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Upon hearing that, Grandpa Shang’s smile widened, making the wrinkles on his face even more pronounced.
He had thought that after two years apart, it would be difficult for the young couple to develop any affection.
Now, however, it seemed there was still hope.
Cen Xi stepped forward and naturally linked her arm through Grandpa Shang’s.
When he was younger, Grandpa Shang had traveled extensively for business. Years of running around had left him with chronic leg problems. Occasionally, the pain became so severe that he could barely walk.
Cen Xi regularly accompanied him to the hospital for checkups.
Whenever she visited the old residence, she would also teach him methods to relieve the pain in his legs.
As a result, Shang Hanzhou was left standing by himself in the back.
After spending two years overseas, it seemed his marriage-alliance wife had become more like Grandpa Shang’s granddaughter.
He, on the other hand, appeared to be the outsider.
The Shang family had never been particularly prosperous in terms of descendants.
Shang Hanzhou’s parents had died in an accident together when he was six years old.
Afterward, he had been raised by Grandpa Shang and Grandma Shang. A few years later, Grandma Shang also passed away.
In a sense, Grandpa Shang had raised him single-handedly.
Aside from that, he had an aunt.
However, she had never married or had children. She had only adopted two children and usually visited the old residence during holidays to spend time with Grandpa Shang.
At the dinner table—
The atmosphere was unusually lively.
The chef at the old residence had prepared a table full of dishes. The spread was exceptionally lavish.
Grandpa Shang looked restless.
He wanted a drink.
However, instead of directly asking the head butler for alcohol, he first turned toward Cen Xi, who was sitting nearby, and cautiously asked,
“Little Xi, don’t you think that since Hanzhou has finally come home, Grandfather should be allowed a couple of drinks to celebrate?”
Cen Xi was a doctor.
When she gave medical advice, it wasn’t something people could easily dismiss.
The young woman immediately put on a serious expression and answered firmly,
“Not even a little.”
Grandpa Shang sighed and lowered his head.
He dejectedly took a sip of water.
Ah.
His granddaughter-in-law kept too close an eye on him.
He didn’t dare drink.
Watching the scene, Shang Hanzhou raised an eyebrow in surprise.
It wasn’t as if he had never tried to stop Grandpa Shang from drinking.
Every time he brought it up, the old man ignored him completely, treating his words like passing wind.
He had even considered using more forceful methods to help Grandpa Shang quit alcohol.
But every attempt ended with Grandpa Shang making such a fuss that he eventually had no choice but to back down.
Yet somehow, Cen Xi’s words carried such authority.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He casually reached for a spicy stir-fried dish containing chili peppers.
The Cen Xi who had barely spoken to him all evening suddenly stopped him.
“Avoid it.”
Her expression was exactly the same as when she had forbidden Grandpa Shang from drinking.
Grandpa Shang glanced over and immediately laughed.
“Hanzhou, now that you’re back, someone can finally keep you in line.”
Only then did Cen Xi realize what she had done.
Feeling embarrassed, she quickly added an explanation.
“I’m your attending physician. I have to be responsible for your recovery.”
It wasn’t for any other reason.
Cen Xi lowered her long eyelashes.
Her breathing tightened little by little.
She was afraid he might notice something.
After all, during their first meeting, Shang Hanzhou had made his position very clear.
“Miss Cen, I don’t want too many genuine emotions mixed into a marriage. The kind of marriage I want is one where we treat each other with respect and courtesy.”
Fortunately, Shang Hanzhou didn’t seem to overthink her actions.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he gave a faint acknowledgment.
After that, he never touched the spicy dish again.
Once dinner was over—
Shang Hanzhou accompanied Grandpa Shang to the chess room.
Normally, Cen Xi would occasionally play chess with the old man as well.
Unfortunately, her chess skills were terrible.
She had never beaten him once.
After a few games, Grandpa Shang had lost interest in playing with her altogether.
An opponent with no challenge wasn’t much fun.
Winning felt like bullying a child.
So Cen Xi simply stayed downstairs in the living room, lounging on the sofa and scrolling through her phone.
At least, that’s what it looked like.
In reality, she was watching surgical videos performed by other doctors.
She had only been working for two years and didn’t yet have extensive hands-on experience.
Watching surgical recordings after work had become her favorite way to learn and relax.
Today, however, she was genuinely exhausted.
After watching for half an hour, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
Soon, she drifted off to sleep.
When Shang Hanzhou left the chess room and entered the first-floor living room, he saw the girl curled up on the sofa, fast asleep.
Grandpa Shang stood beside him with his hands clasped behind his back.
They had played three games.
He had lost all three.
The old man was furious.
His grandson didn’t know how to go easy on him at all.
He was already over seventy years old.
Did they really need to compete so seriously?
The Grandpa Shang who had looked so pleased to see him earlier now seemed thoroughly annoyed.
His eyes weren’t eyes, and his nose wasn’t a nose.
With a cold snort, he said,
“I originally wanted you two to stay overnight at the old residence. But looking at things now, you’d better hurry back to your marital home.”
Shang Hanzhou didn’t respond.
His long legs carried him toward the sofa.
Behind him, Grandpa Shang continued lecturing.
“Little Xi is a good child, even though…”
He didn’t finish the thought.
Instead, he simply emphasized,
“You have to treat Little Xi well. After all, you’re husband and wife.”
On the sofa—
Cen Xi was a very light sleeper.
The moment that familiar bergamot scent approached, she woke up immediately.
Opening her eyes, she saw Shang Hanzhou’s handsome, cold face.
A beige blanket was in his hand.
Apparently, he had intended to cover her with it while she slept.
Cen Xi instantly sat upright.
Rubbing her eyes, she asked,
“Finished playing?”
“Mm.”
Shang Hanzhou answered calmly.
His hand remained suspended in the air for a brief moment, but he didn’t appear embarrassed.
He simply placed the blanket back where it belonged.
It was already late.
The two of them said goodbye to Grandpa Shang before heading out to the car.
When they had come earlier, Fang Nian had been present.
Now, only she and Shang Hanzhou remained.
And she was sitting in the front passenger seat beside him.
To be honest—
It felt extremely unfamiliar.
The moment she got into the car, Cen Xi had planned to pretend to sleep.
But after closing her eyes, she found herself unable to do so.
Her mind was far too awake.
Opening her eyes wide, she simply stared straight ahead at the road.
The Maybach gradually merged onto the main avenue.
A bright red traffic light appeared, and the black vehicle came to a stop.
Cen Xi lowered her gaze again and absentmindedly scrolled through her phone.
Then, amid the silence, Shang Hanzhou’s slightly hoarse voice sounded.
“How did you convince Grandfather to stop drinking?”
Cen Xi had been lost in thought.
A moment later, she finally realized what he had asked.
She smiled.
“It was simple. I took Grandfather on a tour of the hospital.”
Hospitals never lacked patients.
After witnessing several people who had suffered alcohol-related illnesses lying in hospital beds, crying out in pain, Grandpa Shang had naturally developed some fear.
The green traffic light reflected in Shang Hanzhou’s eyes.
He raised one eyebrow.
He had almost forgotten that she was a doctor.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Impressive.”
Cen Xi froze.
Her marriage-alliance husband, whom she hadn’t seen in two years, had returned to China and was complimenting her already?
The Maybach started moving forward again.
Suddenly, Cen Xi remembered something important.
“Wait.”
She immediately spoke up.