Li Yanzhou walked to the bedside, his gaze calmly sweeping over the large bed before turning to Wen Yan. His tone was as matter-of-fact as if he were assigning work tasks:
“Since we’re married, you’ll sleep here from now on.” He pointed to one side of the bed. “I’ll sleep on the other side.”
Wen Yan’s heart skipped a beat, her fingertips tightening slightly.
Sharing a bed? Even if it was just “one half each”?
Seemingly noticing her momentary stiffness and the flicker of resistance in her eyes, Li Yanzhou continued explaining, his voice calm and steady:
“Sleeping in separate rooms could easily lead to unnecessary speculation, especially from family elders and potential visitors. Maintaining an appropriate sense of intimacy helps uphold our image as a ‘harmoniously affectionate’ couple, which benefits both of us.”
He paused before adding, “The bed is large enough that we won’t disturb each other. I have good sleeping habits and won’t make any overly intimate moves. You can rest assured.”
Wen Yan looked at the large bed, then at Li Yanzhou’s expressionless face.
He stood there, posture relaxed, as if discussing not sleeping arrangements but the seating layout in a conference room.
A sense of absurdity washed over her.
What could she say? Object? On what grounds? Fear? Modesty? That would only seem ridiculous.
She remained silent for a few seconds before finally giving an almost imperceptible nod.
“Alright.” Her voice was dry.
“The walk-in closet is over there. There’s plenty of space—you can put your clothes inside.” He pointed toward a concealed door on one side of the bedroom. “The bathroom is shared, but it has separate sinks and showers, so we won’t interfere with each other.”
Having finished his instructions, he said nothing more and turned to leave the master bedroom, seemingly off to attend to his own matters.
Wen Yan stood alone in the vast, cold room, staring at the bed she was about to share with a stranger, feeling as if the air had grown stagnant.
She slowly walked to the window, gazing out at the meticulously landscaped courtyard.
The sunlight was bright, the scenery beautiful, yet she felt only as if she had been locked inside a gorgeous, silent cage.
After a while, the sound of rolling suitcase wheels echoed from downstairs.
She turned to see Li Yanzhou carrying her suitcase upstairs and placing it by the walk-in closet door.
“Do you need help unpacking?” he asked from the doorway, his tone still flat.
“No, thank you. I can manage on my own.” Wen Yan hurried over.
Li Yanzhou didn’t insist, nodding instead. “Then go ahead and unpack. I’ll go downstairs to handle some work.”
He left. Wen Yan entered the walk-in closet, which was indeed exceptionally spacious.
One side was already neatly hung with his clothes—mostly dark tones, shirts, suits, and coats arranged like soldiers in formation. The other side was empty, reserved for her.
She silently began hanging her clothes one by one, placing her toiletries on the vacant sink in the bathroom.
She didn’t have much, so she finished quickly.
In the walk-in closet, her light-colored clothes and few accessories stood in stark contrast to his deep, somber garments on the other side.
Once she was done, the faint sound of Li Yanzhou talking on the phone drifted up from downstairs.
His voice was low and steady, the words indistinct.
Not long after, he hung up, and footsteps sounded again as he came upstairs.
He stood at the master bedroom door, still holding his phone.
“All unpacked?” he asked.
“Yes,” Wen Yan replied.
“Grandfather just called,” Li Yanzhou said, looking at her, his tone unchanged. “He asked if we’ve finished getting the marriage certificate. He, along with Grandfather Wen and your parents, would like to have dinner together tonight to celebrate.”
Celebrate?
Wen Yan was taken aback. Right, in the eyes of the elders, today was their joyous occasion—it should indeed be celebrated.
“You…” Li Yanzhou paused, as if carefully choosing his words. “Do you need some time to prepare? Or can we leave now?”
Wen Yan glanced at her outfit.
For the marriage registration, she had dressed appropriately and formally, but for meeting the elders to celebrate their “new marriage,” perhaps she could be a bit more… festive? Or at least change into something else?
“I need to change my clothes. It won’t take long,” she said.
“Alright,” Li Yanzhou nodded. “I’ll wait for you downstairs. The restaurant is already reserved. We can leave once you’re ready.”
With that, he turned and went downstairs.
Wen Yan reopened her wardrobe and looked at her collection of elegant, professional attire, feeling somewhat at a loss.
In the end, she chose a soft, light apricot-colored knit dress. Its design was simple yet elegant, and the color was gentle, adding a touch of feminine softness compared to her previous shirt and trousers. It seemed more suitable for the occasion of “meeting the family to celebrate the new marriage.”
She quickly changed, tidied her hair, and touched up her makeup.
In the mirror, she saw herself—her makeup was flawless, her attire was appropriate, and the diamond ring on her ring finger sparkled brilliantly.
The image of a perfect bride.
She picked up her handbag and went downstairs.
Li Yanzhou was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, his back to her, gazing out at the courtyard. Hearing her footsteps, he turned around.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment—from the dress she had changed into, to the more refined makeup on her face, and finally, settling on the conspicuous ring on her left hand.
He offered no comment, only gave an almost imperceptible nod, as if confirming she was ready for the “celebration dinner.”
“Let’s go,” he said.
Once again, the two of them got into the black Maybach. This time, their destination was a top-tier Chinese restaurant in Xijing, renowned for its service and privacy.
The car drove out of the villa area and merged into the evening city traffic.
The lingering glow of the sunset painted the horizon in warm shades of orange and red, casting a soft, warm hue over the cold interior of the car.
But the warmth remained only on the surface.
Wen Yan watched the passing scenery outside the window, her fingers unconsciously tracing the ring on her finger. A cool sensation transmitted through her fingertips.
Next, she would face a celebration dinner in front of her closest elders, centered around her “new marriage.”
And the man beside her would be the “husband” with whom she needed to “act” harmoniously affectionate during the dinner.
The private dining room was elegant and secluded, with a rosewood round table, warm yellow lighting, and a faint scent of sandalwood and food lingering in the air.
The two grandfathers were clearly in high spirits, their faces glowing with joy, their laughter continuous.
Wen Yan’s parents also wore smiles, though their expressions held a lingering trace of worry and complexity.
The arrival of Wen Yan and Li Yanzhou pushed the atmosphere to its peak.
“Ah, you’re finally here!”
Grandfather Li was the first to stand up. His sharp eyes immediately fell on the diamond ring on Wen Yan’s left ring finger, which sparkled with fragmented light under the glow of the lamps. His eyes lit up, and his smile deepened. “Excellent! You’re already wearing the ring! You two look perfectly matched!”
Grandpa Wen also beamed as he looked over his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, growing more satisfied the longer he looked. “Yanyan looks lovely in that outfit today! Yanzhou is looking sharp too! Come, sit, sit!”
“Grandpa Li, Grandpa, Dad, Mom,” Wen Yan greeted each in turn, her voice obedient, her face wearing a perfectly appropriate, slightly shy smile.
Li Yanzhou also gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, greeting everyone with impeccable manners. Though he remained a man of few words, he seemed slightly less cold and rigid than usual.
Servers began bringing out the dishes, and exquisite cuisine soon covered the table. Old Master Li was in high spirits and opened a bottle of his treasured fine wine.
“Today is a joyous occasion!” Old Master Li raised his glass, his voice booming.
“Our two families are now bound even closer by marriage! Old Wen, our long-held wish has finally come true! Yanzhou, Yanyan, Grandpa wishes you a happy marriage. May you live in harmony and let me hold a great-grandchild soon!”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Grandpa Wen also raised his glass with a smile.
“Yanyan, Yanzhou, from now on, you’re family. Be understanding and supportive of each other. Yanzhou is busy with work, Yanyan, you take good care of the home. Yanzhou, Yanyan is still young and may be willful at times, so be patient with her.”
The elders’ blessings and advice were sincere and earnest, filled with beautiful hopes for the younger generation’s married life.
Every word felt like a tiny needle, gently pricking Wen Yan’s heart.
She lifted her wine glass, maintaining a proper smile on her face, while her peripheral glance drifted toward Li Yanzhou beside her.
He had also raised his glass, his profile appearing somewhat softer under the light.
He leaned in slightly, his arm naturally drawing closer to hers, their sleeves brushing lightly.
This subtle gesture, in the eyes of the elders, undoubtedly appeared intimate and harmonious.
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Li Yanzhou spoke, his voice gentler than usual. Though still not exactly warm, it was enough to make Old Master Li beam with delight. “I will take good care of Wen Yan.”
He didn’t say “Yanyan,” but used the more formal address “Wen Yan.” In this context, however, it came across as respectful.
His use of “take care” suited his steady, reserved nature, making the elders feel even more assured of his reliability.
Wen Yan quickly followed up, “Thank you, Grandpa. We will be fine.”
Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of shyness. Her gaze swept briefly over Li Yanzhou, meeting his calm eyes for a fleeting moment.
To outsiders, it looked like a glance of mutual understanding between husband and wife.
“Good, good, good! Cheers!” The two old masters happily drained their glasses.