Zhong Yi was so exhausted that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She didn’t even notice when Jin Chen went to bed, sleeping soundly until dawn.
She opened her eyes and stretched lazily.
Staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above her.
???
Where was this?
Her mind took a moment to catch up.
Oh, right—she was married now, and her husband was her boss, Jin Chen.
It really wasn’t a dream.
The bed beneath her was large and soft. Zhong Yi finally understood why Jin Chen had called her rented apartment a slum.
Waking up in such a comfortable bed was pure bliss!
What kind of tough life had she been living before?
Outside, Jin Chen was having breakfast with his parents.
Jin’s Mother had personally prepared fish soup for Jin Chen and brought it over this morning. As soon as she stepped inside, her face twisted with disapproval.
“Look at this place—it’s so lifeless. Everything is either gray or white. It feels cold just walking in.”
Jin’s Father chimed in, “You really should have someone by your side. Take advantage of your free time now to get married and have children. Once I fully hand over the company to you, you’ll be even busier and won’t even have time for a family.”
Jin’s Mother added, “We’re not rushing you for grandchildren. It’s just that you have some free time these years. Getting married would give you a chance to build a relationship with your wife. Otherwise, you’d both be too busy after marriage, living like you’re not even married. And if you have children, your wife will have company, and you’ll have something to look forward to at home.”
Over the years, Jin’s Father and Mother had been urging Jin Chen to get married, but he had always flatly refused. After a couple of attempts, they had given up—until Zhong Yi appeared. The couple’s hopes were rekindled, and they wanted to strike while the iron was hot, urging him to settle down.
Jin Chen remained calm and composed. “Don’t worry, everything will happen this year.”
Jin’s Mother’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Jin’s Father shot her down. “Impossible. He’s just lying to buy time.”
“I’m not lying,” Jin Chen said calmly. “I got married yesterday afternoon. We already have the marriage certificate.”
His words were like a depth charge.
A deafening explosion.
Jin’s Father and Mother nearly fainted, exclaiming in unison, “Who did you marry?”
Jin Chen smiled. “Exactly who you hoped for—Zhong Yi.”
Jin’s Mother shot to her feet. “Did you threaten her?”
She knew her son all too well.
He was domineering and stubborn, never one to play by the rules.
Forcing himself on Zhong Yi wasn’t out of the question.
Seeing his own mother question his character, Jin Chen rubbed his temples. “I didn’t force her. She married me willingly.”
“She’s still resting. I’ll introduce you to her when she wakes up.”
The dining table fell silent for a moment. Then, Jin’s Mother quickly snatched back the fish soup she had prepared for Jin Chen.
“What are you drinking it for? I’m saving it for my daughter-in-law.”
Jin Chen: ?
Was he already an outsider?
Jin’s Father instinctively checked the corners of his eyes for sleep crust, then straightened his collar nervously. “Do I look presentable today?”
“Yes, yes, very presentable,” Jin’s Mother replied, patting her hair. “Is my hairstyle messy?”
“No, not at all. It looks great.”
The couple, who had been frowning just moments ago, now beamed at Jin Chen.
“Son, after all these years, you’ve finally done something right,” Jin’s Mother said, clearly pleased with Zhong Yi.
“What about a gift? I didn’t even prepare a gift for her,” Jin’s Father said, patting his empty pockets, unsure what to do.
Jin Chen replied, “I was planning to take her to meet you at noon today. I didn’t expect you to show up so suddenly.”
“Ah Chen, why did you two get married so suddenly? How did Yiyi agree to you?” Jin’s mother asked her son curiously.
Jin Chen curled his lips proudly: “Of course, it was my sincerity that moved her.”
“You wait here, I’ll go see if she’s awake.”
Jin Chen leisurely returned to the bedroom.
Zhong Yi was just about to take off her pajamas when she heard the noise, startling her into hurriedly putting her clothes back on: “I… I’m changing.”
Jin Chen didn’t miss the glimpse of that fair, full figure just now. Seeing the blush on her cheeks deepen, his gaze darkened slightly: “Mom and Dad are here. I told them about the marriage, and they’re very happy.”
Zhong Yi instantly widened her eyes: “They know?”
Jin Chen suppressed a laugh: “It’s just a few hours earlier. They’re waiting for you. Shall we go out together?”
Zhong Yi had promised Jin Chen to go back and meet his parents. Since they were already here, she couldn’t refuse.
She was led out by Jin Chen, holding his hand.
Jin’s Father and Jin’s Mother stood up.
Zhong Yi greeted them one by one: “Chairman Jin, Mrs. Jin.”
“Yiyi, you’re married now, why still call me Mrs. Jin? You should call us Mom and Dad.” Jin’s Mother smiled kindly, genuinely fond of her beautiful and well-behaved daughter-in-law.
Zhong Yi flushed red. Under their expectant gazes, she changed her address: “Dad… Mom…”
“That’s right!” Jin’s Mother was overjoyed, taking off the bracelet from her wrist: “We didn’t know about your marriage when we came today, so your dad and I didn’t prepare anything. This bracelet was passed down to me by your grandmother. Although it’s not worth much, it carries the blessings of the Jin family through generations.”
Jin’s Mother helped Zhong Yi put on the bracelet, then led her to the dining table: “This is the fish soup I made. It’s very fresh and tender. Try it.”
As soon as the lid was lifted.
The fishy smell rushed into her nostrils. Zhong Yi’s stomach churned, and she hurriedly covered her mouth, running to the bathroom to vomit.
Jin Chen’s expression changed, and he quickly followed her inside.
Outside, Jin’s Father and Jin’s Mother were confused.
“Did my fish go bad? No, it didn’t?” Jin’s Mother sniffed repeatedly, confirming there was nothing wrong with the fish soup.