Li Yanxing snapped back to reality and opened the car door, letting the young girl get in first.
He glanced back at the Old Madam still standing there in a daze, let out a cold laugh, and drove away from the Old Residence of the Li Family.
The Old Madam trembled, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Frowning deeply, she heaved a heavy sigh. “Qingqing seems like a good child, but… but she ultimately comes from a humble background and doesn’t understand how important face is for a great family.”
“A Yan’s situation is different from others. He wandered outside for so many years and almost lost his inheritance rights.”
“Now that he’s finally managed to establish himself in the company, if he disregards his father’s dignity like this, what will become of him in the future?”
“The Li family’s business must never fall into the hands of that woman Yao Meizhu!”
“The Li family is too complicated. Qingqing is just a naive young girl who doesn’t understand anything. I’m worried…”
The naive young girl the Old Madam was referring to was currently wailing in the car.
“Husband, I returned all the gifts Grandma gave me.”
Her voice sounded quite pitiful.
“Feeling heartbroken about it?”
“Well, I am a bit heartbroken about losing so many things.”
“I really liked one of the bracelets in particular.”
Lu Chiwan looked down at her bare wrist, then touched her empty neck, pouting unhappily.
“Just say what you want directly. I don’t like guessing what girls are thinking.”
Li Yanxing, seeing her suddenly become quiet, felt somewhat unaccustomed to it. His dark eyes studied her intently.
Lin Mu, who was driving, couldn’t help but think to himself: What ‘don’t like guessing’ – he simply can’t guess! How could someone who’s never had a woman in his life possibly know how to guess women’s thoughts?
“Then buy me a bracelet.”
“Husband, did I not like wearing jewelry before? Why don’t I have any jewelry on me?”
“No necklace, no bracelet, no ring, not even earrings…”
Lu Chiwan’s voice grew softer as she spoke, eventually muttering to herself, “I think I actually quite like dressing up.”
Although she had forgotten everything, her bodily instincts remained – preferences and habits were things that couldn’t be changed.
“Hmm, it’s not that you didn’t like it. You were poor.”
“Ah?”
Lu Chiwan widened her eyes. “So you never bought me any either?”
She thought… if money was tight, she didn’t need to wear real gold and silver – small accessories would look pretty too.
Did her husband not even buy her those?
And it wasn’t like her husband was broke or anything.
Li Yanxing had no interest in guessing what she was entangled about. He reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Lu Chiwan frowned. “Husband, what’s wrong with you? You’re acting like a pervert!”
“Why did you say those things to Grandma earlier? Aren’t you afraid she’ll get angry and make things difficult for you next time we visit?”
“Because you don’t love this family either. Grandma talked about preserving the family’s dignity and asked me to be tolerant, but obviously you’re the one who cares least about this family’s face.”
“I don’t care about great families or whatever. All I know is that I’m your wife, I should be of one mind with you, on the same side. There’s no reason for me to help others.”
“If you cared about the family’s dignity, you wouldn’t have set the dogs on Li Zhining today. You caused such a scene to stand up for me, and then I’m supposed to criticize you for the sake of family dignity? Am I stupid?”
Li Yanxing froze, his dark eyes fixed on the young girl, remaining silent.
Husband and wife being of one heart…
It sounded so ridiculous. She was just bait he was keeping.
But why did he enjoy listening to her speak so much? What kind of problem was this?
Lin Mu, who was driving in the driver’s seat, jolted, nearly crashing the car into the flowerbed beside them.
Did Yan Ge pick up bait to take home?
It seemed Yan Ge had picked up a mermaid instead—he might end up being the bait himself, devoured by the mermaid.
“Yan Ge, shall we go to the south of the city…”
“Back to Brocade Creek Bay.”
“?”
Lin Mu was stunned.
Back where?
Brocade Creek Bay?
Hadn’t Yan Ge arranged a temporary three-bedroom apartment in the south of the city for the girl?
Why were they going back to Brocade Creek Bay?
“Hubby, is the place we live called Brocade Creek Bay?”
“Mm.”
“Oh, I’ll remember that then.”
Lu Chiwan leaned against Li Yanxing’s chest, her small hands restlessly grabbing here and touching there, completely acting as if she belonged.
Brocade Creek Bay was Li Yanxing’s private residence.
He preferred quiet and disliked noise, so he had purchased several surrounding properties and converted them into his private manor.
Although it didn’t have the astonishing size of the Old Residence of the Li Family, it was more than sufficient.
However, the decor of Brocade Creek Bay made Lu Chiwan feel utterly uncomfortable.
What kind of straight-male aesthetic industrial style was this?
Such a fine manor, yet the moment you stepped inside, it felt oppressive and suffocating, making her whole body uneasy.
That huge garden, with nothing planted in it, was even barer than a balding man’s head.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Lu Chiwan ran off to explore on her own. When she returned, her little face was twisted in displeasure. “Hubby, is there something wrong with my brain or yours?”
Li Yanxing: “…”
“Our home doesn’t feel like a home at all—it’s like a rundown factory!”
The heavy industrial style, with walls designed to look as if they were damp and partially collapsed.
She even saw chains and similar items in many of the rooms.
Anyone who didn’t know better would think her husband was involved in murder and robbery.
“Mm, I like it.”
Li Yanxing lit a cigarette, looking at her with some impatience.
Although he had been a bit kinder to this bait on a whim, his patience was limited, and he had never indulged anyone like this before.
“I don’t like it. Can’t you change it for me?”
“No.”
Li Yanxing refused without a second thought.
Lu Chiwan was taken aback at first, then stared at him foolishly. “Wh-what kind of attitude is that?”
He had been so fiercely protective of her that morning.
Now he was acting like a stranger.
Did he love her or not?
Li Yanxing didn’t answer her.
“Cough, cough, cough.”
Lu Chiwan coughed violently from the smoke.
Only then did Li Yanxing remember she couldn’t stand the smell of smoke. Expecting her to domineeringly snuff out his cigarette again, he grew increasingly irritated.
She was just bait, after all. Why should he inconvenience himself for a woman?
Yet…
He waited until his cigarette was almost finished.
The girl didn’t make a move.
Li Yanxing sensed something was off and glanced down to see the girl’s hand, which had been clutching his clothes, slowly slip away.
Then she turned and walked off, her slender back looking somewhat desolate.
He froze for a moment before striding over and pulling her back. “Where are you going again?”
Only after asking did he notice the girl was crying, her eyes red like a rabbit’s.
Crying again, crying again, fucking crying again!
Li Yanxing reached his limit, furiously tossing the unfinished cigarette to the ground and crushing it.
He opened his mouth to curse but held back, unconsciously softening his tone. “Why are you crying?”
“Hubby, do you… not love me at all?”
Lu Chiwan sniffled, looked up at him, her damp eyes tinged with a faint chill. “I think there might be some problems in our relationship.”
“Do you dislike me for being incompetent and uneducated? Are you tired of me already?”
“It’s fine. Just say the word, and we can divorce. I’ll leave right now without overstaying my welcome.”
Even with her amnesia, she could clearly see Li Yanxing’s volatile temper.
“I…”
Li Yanxing was still fuming, wanting to curse.
But seeing the girl biting her lips, clutching the hem of her clothes, and silently weeping, a corner of his heart suddenly softened. He found himself unable to be cruel.
“No, I’ve just had a lot on my plate recently. It’s made me irritable.”
“If you don’t like this style, I’ll have them change it later.”
“Really?”
“Then say you love me.”
Again…
“I love you.”
“Then kiss me.”
Li Yanxing could only lower his head and gently kiss the corner of her lips.
But one kiss wasn’t enough.
It felt like an addiction he couldn’t quit, something utterly intoxicating.
Li Yanxing bent down, pulled the girl into his arms, and kissed her fiercely.
Their little disagreement instantly vanished.
The girl finally cheered up, waving her hands excitedly. “It must be my amnesia making me overthink! My husband still loves me very much!”
However, when they went upstairs, Lu Chiwan noticed something wrong again.
“Husband, I want to change clothes, but… why is there nothing of mine in our house?”
“No clothes, bags, shoes, toothbrush, mug, towels—nothing at all.”
“There isn’t even the slightest trace of my existence here. Only men’s belongings, nothing a woman would use.”
Lu Chiwan suddenly realized, turning to glare at Li Yanxing angrily. “Have you been deceiving me all along? You…”
Li Yanxing raised an eyebrow, surprised. She figured it out already?
Was this “picking up a wife” charade coming to an end?