Naturally, the conversation at the table revolved around the two “newlyweds.”
Grandfather Li asked Wen Yan with concern whether she had adapted to her new job and if she was used to living in her new home.
Grandfather Wen inquired about the recent situation at Li Yanzhou’s company, reminding him to take care of his health no matter how busy he was.
Wen Yan and Li Yanzhou answered every question, cooperating seamlessly.
Wen Yan would quietly remind Li Yanzhou that a certain dish was a bit spicy, though she wasn’t sure if he avoided spicy food.
Li Yanzhou, in turn, would lean slightly toward her when she spoke, nodding in response, and would naturally refill her drink when her glass was empty.
The natural interactions between them, the subtle glances occasionally exchanged, and the unintentional closeness all created a harmonious atmosphere of “newlywed bliss” and “mutual respect”—even though it was all an act.
When the two grandfathers once again brought up the topic of “having a great-grandchild soon,” Li Yanzhou didn’t remain silent or change the subject as he usually did. Instead, he picked up his teacup, subtly blocking the topic, and said in a calm yet unusually gentle tone:
“Grandfather, there’s no rush for this. Let things take their natural course. Wen Yan has just moved to a new environment and needs time to adjust.”
This response not only reassured the elders but also showed consideration for his wife, immediately earning approving looks from Wen Yan’s parents.
Wen Yan, for her part, lowered her eyes at just the right moment, a blush spreading across her cheeks—half acted, half genuinely flustered—further cementing the image of a “shy young wife.”
The meal proceeded in an atmosphere of satisfaction from the elders, “affection” from the newlyweds, and overall harmony.
Only Wen Yan herself knew how forced her smile was, how much effort it took to perform each “interaction” with Li Yanzhou, and how hollow she felt inside as she listened to all the talk about the future and family life.
As for Li Yanzhou, he played his part more effortlessly and flawlessly than she did.
He precisely balanced his demeanor, avoiding excessive enthusiasm that might seem fake, while also not being too aloof to worry the elders.
He was like an excellent actor, perfectly portraying the role of a “considerate husband” on the stage called the “wedding banquet.”
As the banquet came to an end, Grandfather Li took Wen Yan’s hand and spoke earnestly:
“Yanyan, if Yanzhou ever dares to bully you, just tell Grandpa, and Grandpa will stand up for you!”
Then, turning to Li Yanzhou, he added, “Yanzhou, you must treat Yanyan well!”
Li Yanzhou nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, Grandfather.”
Grandfather Wen also reminded Wen Yan, “Yanyan, now that you’ve married into the Li family, you are part of the Li family. Be filial to Grandfather Li and live well with Yanzhou.”
“I understand, Grandfather,” Wen Yan replied softly.
Wen Yan’s father looked at Li Yanzhou, his tone gentle yet carrying the weight of an elder’s seriousness:
“Yanzhou, from now on, Yanyan is in your care. She’s a strong-willed child, always pushing herself hard at work and sometimes neglecting herself. You’re older and more experienced than her, so remind her and take care of her when needed.”
Li Yanzhou listened attentively and nodded. “You have my word, I will.”
Wen Yan’s mother couldn’t help but speak up as well, her tone filled with a mother’s concern:
“Yanyan, now that you’re married, you’re an adult. You can’t be as casual as you were at home. You must understand how hard Yanzhou works and put more effort into household matters. The most important thing in a marriage is mutual understanding and tolerance.”
She then turned to Li Yanzhou, her eyes earnest. “Yanzhou, Yan Yan can be straightforward at times and doesn’t beat around the bush. If there’s anything she overlooks, please be patient with her and guide her along the way.”
Wen Yan listened to her mother’s words, a pang of bitterness tightening in her chest. She could only reply softly, “Mom, I understand.”
Li Yanzhou responded earnestly as always, “Don’t worry. In our daily lives, we’ll gradually adjust to each other.”
At that moment, Old Master Li chuckled heartily and chimed in, “Just relax! I think Yanzhou and Yan Yan are a perfect match! Yanzhou is a responsible and dependable young man—he would never mistreat Yan Yan! And Yan Yan is both clever and sensible; she’ll surely be a wonderful support to Yanzhou in the future! As for us, we can just sit back, enjoy our peace, and look forward to seeing their little ones soon!”
The conversation shifted to the topic elders always delighted in—”urging for grandchildren.”
Old Master Wen joined in with a smile, looking warmly at the two young people.
Finally, the banquet came to an end. The two elders, still reluctant to part, made plans to meet again soon.
As they descended the steps at the restaurant entrance, Li Yanzhou naturally and gently placed a hand on the small of Wen Yan’s back to steady her. The elders watched, their smiles growing even more content.
Once back in the car, as the door closed, the cabin returned to a cold, stark silence, broken only by the low hum of the engine and the shimmering lights outside the window.
Li Yanzhou loosened his collar, and the deliberately restrained chill he had maintained in front of the elders began to seep back into the air.
He stared ahead, focused on driving, his expression detached, as if the considerate and attentive husband from earlier had merely been a temporary facade he had now casually discarded.
Wen Yan leaned back in her seat, feeling utterly drained.
Her face ached from the forced smiles, and her nerves, stretched taut for too long, now left her with nothing but deep exhaustion and a hollow sense of emptiness after the performance.
She watched the neon lights flash by outside, her fingers unconsciously curling until her fingertips brushed against the ring. Its cold touch made her shiver slightly.
Today, she had completed the legal change in her status, put on the symbol of marriage, played the role of a loving newlywed in front of the elders, and was about to step into the “home” where she would share a bed with her husband.
The car glided smoothly back to the quiet villa district and stopped in front of the cold, gray building.
“We’re here,” Li Yanzhou said, turning off the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt.
Wen Yan took a deep breath and unfastened her own seatbelt. What had to be faced would eventually come.
She pushed open the car door, and the cool night air rushed in, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees from the garden.
Li Yanzhou walked ahead of her and opened the villa’s front door.
He turned to look at Wen Yan, who followed behind him.
“Tomorrow,” he began, his voice cutting clearly through the silence of the spacious living room, “do you have work?”
Wen Yan looked up and met his gaze.
“Tomorrow is Saturday, so normally I wouldn’t have work. But since I took the day off today to get our marriage certificate…”
“Some of the tasks originally scheduled for today have piled up, so I need to go to the station tomorrow to finish them.”
After listening to her explanation, Li Yanzhou showed no particular expression on his face, merely nodding to indicate he understood.
“For your commute to work, do you plan to have a driver take you regularly, or will you drive yourself?”
“Actually, for work… I usually take the subway or bus most of the time.”
She paused slightly, seeming a bit embarrassed. “Where I lived before had very convenient public transportation, and it was close to the TV station. I… haven’t driven in a long time, so I’m a bit rusty and not too confident about driving.”
She was telling the truth. Before meeting Li Yanzhou, her life had been simple and routine, with a fixed commute. The subway and buses were the most efficient and economical options.
As for driving, after getting her license, she had hardly touched the steering wheel except for occasional emergencies.
She glanced up at Li Yanzhou, noticing his calm expression, and continued:
“But here… I checked the map, and it’s quite far from the nearest subway station. The bus routes don’t seem to go directly to the station either. So…”
She paused for a moment before making a decision: “It would be better to have the driver pick me up and drop me off. That would be more convenient.”
Li Yanzhou listened to her, nodded, and had no objections to her choice.
“Alright.” Li Yanzhou then took out his phone and tapped on the screen a few times:
“The driver’s surname is Wang. I’ll send you his phone number and license plate number. From now on, he’ll be responsible for your daily transportation. If you have any other car needs, you can contact him directly.”
A soft “ding” sounded as Wen Yan’s phone screen lit up with his message.
“Okay, thank you.” Wen Yan noted the information, feeling slightly reassured. Having a fixed transportation arrangement solved the most basic commuting issue.
“What time do you usually start work?” he asked, his voice steady.
Wen Yan was momentarily taken aback before replying, “Normally, I clock in at nine. If there’s no early live broadcast or meeting, I usually arrive at the station around eight-thirty to prepare.”
Upon hearing this, Li Yanzhou’s expression remained unchanged. He simply took out his phone and quickly tapped on the screen a few times.
“During morning rush hour, from here to Xijing TV Station, barring extreme traffic, the drive takes about thirty-five to fifty minutes. It’s safer to budget fifty minutes.”
“So,” he looked at Wen Yan and made the arrangement, “if you want to arrive at the station by eight-thirty, the driver will need to leave home no later than seven-forty. I’ll have the driver wait for you at the door every morning at seven-forty from now on. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine. No problem.” Wen Yan nodded immediately, finding the timing very reasonable.
“Mhm.” Li Yanzhou acknowledged. “If you need to leave earlier or later on a particular day, or have other arrangements, just contact the driver to adjust.”
“Okay.” Wen Yan replied, feeling reassured by this arrangement.
“Also,” Li Yanzhou added, “there are a few cars in the garage. The keys are in the drawer by the entrance. If you ever want to drive yourself or need to use one, you can take them anytime.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“It’s getting late. Go upstairs, freshen up, and rest early.”
Wen Yan nodded. “Mhm.”
She walked toward the stairs, and as she reached the staircase, she couldn’t help but glance back.
Li Yanzhou was still standing in the middle of the living room, looking down at his phone screen. The light from the screen illuminated his expressionless face.
He seemed to sense her gaze and looked up.
Their eyes met briefly in the air.
“There are new toiletries and bathrobes in the master bedroom’s bathroom,” he added.
“Mhm.” Wen Yan withdrew her gaze and turned to go upstairs.