Hearing her question, Huo Jingnian’s dark, starry eyes were touched by a trace of amusement. “This is our marital home.”
By the time Qiao Zhiwei processed this, she heard Qiao Zhilan’s surprised voice: “So does that mean after you get married, my sister won’t have to live at the Huo residence anymore?”
Huo Jingnian nodded. “Yes.”
Hearing the confirmation, Qiao Zhilan felt her heart leap with joy, and yesterday’s unhappiness vanished entirely.
Huo Jingnian took a few steps forward and pushed open the iron gate at the entrance of the courtyard.
Aunt Wen, hearing the noise, immediately came out. Seeing Huo Jingnian, she quickly greeted him: “Young Master, you’re here!”
After responding, he looked at Qiao Zhiwei and Qiao Zhilan. “My wife and her sister, I’ll leave you in your care from now on.”
Aunt Wen walked up to the sisters and warmly invited them in. “Come inside quickly; I’ve prepared breakfast for you.”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled politely and followed them inside.
As she walked, she took in the house. It had clearly been refurbished and tidied; every corner was spotless. The bonsai bonsai pine on the pearwood shelf complemented the art on the walls, creating a harmonious aesthetic.
A Tiffany-style glass table lamp on the tea table blended Western elegance with traditional charm.
The décor made Qiao Zhiwei realize that the previous owner was not only wealthy but also possessed extraordinary taste.
Huo Jingnian had let her live here?
Aunt Wen smiled. “After breakfast, I’ll show you your marital home. If there’s anything you don’t like about the setup, you can let me know.”
Both she and Huo Jingnian naturally addressed her as “madam,” but Qiao Zhiwei felt a little shy. “Please just call me Weiwei from now on.”
Aunt Wen glanced at Huo Jingnian, who nodded. She immediately corrected herself. “Weiwei, let’s go eat breakfast first.”
She led them to the dining room.
The breakfast on the table was abundant: shrimp and rib porridge, kelp soup, osmanthus sugar cake, and boiled eggs.
“I didn’t know what you liked, so I just made a guess. If you want something else, let me know, and I’ll make it for you tomorrow.”
Before Qiao Zhiwei could reply, Qiao Zhilan said with a smile, “My sister especially loves osmanthus sugar cake. Thank you, Aunt Wen.”
Aunt Wen smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”
Huo Jingnian stood at the table. “Everyone, sit down and eat.”
Once seated, Huo Jingnian placed the sugar cake in front of Qiao Zhiwei.
“Thank you,” she said politely, and Huo Jingnian’s fingers tightened around his chopsticks slightly.
He pursed his lips without speaking, served himself a bowl of porridge, and peeled an egg.
Qiao Zhilan also served herself a bowl of porridge. She took a sip and immediately widened her eyes. “Aunt Wen, how is your porridge so delicious? I haven’t eaten such fresh shrimp in a long time.”
Aunt Wen laughed. “If you like it, I’ll make it for you again tomorrow.”
Qiao Zhilan nodded emphatically. “Great! Thank you, Aunt Wen.”
Qiao Zhiwei picked up a piece of sugar cake and bit into it. Aunt Wen quickly asked, “Is it good?”
Seeing her nervous expression, Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Very good.”
Aunt Wen’s eyes welled up at her response. Flustered, she asked, “Weiwei, what’s wrong? Did something upset you?”
Huo Jingnian looked up sharply, seeing a thin veil of moisture over her sparkling eyes.
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Nothing upset just moved.”
Qiao Zhilan nodded. “Yes, my sister wouldn’t cry even if she were wronged.”
Aunt Wen felt slightly at a loss. “It’s just breakfast. If you two like it, I can make it every day.”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Thank you.”
Since her father’s bankruptcy, all kindness around her had turned to indifference and hostility.
She hadn’t felt this casual care or respect from ordinary people for a long time.
Even though she knew part of Aunt Wen’s kindness came from work, she couldn’t help but feel moved.
She suppressed her emotions and lowered her head to eat.
After breakfast, Huo Jingnian spoke. “Weiwei, I’ll take you to see our marital home.”
Qiao Zhiwei nodded. “Okay.”
Aunt Wen understood and smiled at Qiao Zhilan. “Why don’t you come to the kitchen and help pick some ingredients? We can see what to make for lunch.”
Qiao Zhilan nodded. “Sure!”
Cheerfully agreeing, she stood to help Aunt Wen clear the bowls.
Qiao Zhiwei followed Huo Jingnian into the room.
Inside, she saw two photo frames on the table. One was their wedding photo: she was smiling, leaning on his shoulder, and he looked down at her with gentle warmth.
Next to it was a photo of another young woman extremely beautiful, graceful, with a lively, playful charm.
Though she had been praised all her life, Qiao Zhiwei was stunned by this woman in the photo. She couldn’t help but sigh, “She’s truly a great beauty.”
“That’s my mother,” Huo Jingnian said.
Qiao Zhiwei looked at him again. Their features and aura were indeed similar one bold and heroic, the other graceful and elegant.
She smiled. “No wonder you look so handsome, Brother Jingnian.”
Huo Jingnian’s dark eyes flickered. “Handsome?”
Qiao Zhiwei nodded. “Yes.”
He suppressed a small smile and took a box from the cabinet. Using a key, he opened it and showed her a wooden case. “This was left by my mother for the future bride she would marry my son.”
Inside were a pair of jade bracelets and a pair of gold bracelets with a dragon and phoenix motif. The earrings were also jade and gold.
She thought this was already valuable, but when she saw the necklace, she froze. A platinum frame encased a convex aquamarine, flanked by long-step diamonds.
Having seen the world, she recognized this necklace as priceless.
She wanted to ask what her mother’s status had been, and why she would marry someone like Huo Bo.
These two clearly came from entirely different worlds.
But respecting their privacy, she held back.
After a moment of silence, she said, “You should keep this for your future real bride.”
She then symbolically took a gold ring. “This is enough.”
Huo Jingnian froze, holding the wooden box.
Seeing the light in his eyes dim, Qiao Zhiwei felt a little awkward. “What’s wrong, Brother Jingnian?”
“Don’t you like these?” he asked.
Quickly, Qiao Zhiwei shook her head. “No, it’s just too valuable.”
Huo Jingnian was silent for a moment, then put everything back.
Looking at the ring in her hand, Qiao Zhiwei thought: in this era, wedding rings weren’t essential, and men rarely wore them especially soldiers. So she couldn’t possibly give Huo Jingnian a ring in return.
“What are you thinking?”
Hearing the voice, she withdrew her thoughts. “Actually, I prepared a gift for you too… not sure if you’ll like it…”
“I will.”
“I haven’t even said what it is yet.”
Huo Jingnian looked at her steadily. “Whatever it is, I’ll like it.”
Caught off guard by his sudden gaze, Qiao Zhiwei lowered her head slightly, a little flustered. “I left in such a rush and forgot it. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”