“Yun Manxia, how are you planning to go back? Don’t tell me you’re taking a taxi?”
“No way, no way—does your husband not even have a car??”
Hearing their mocking tone, Yun Manxia lazily lifted her eyelids.
“Whether my husband’s family has a car or not, what does it have to do with you? Don’t you have boyfriends of your own? Why are you so concerned about someone else’s husband?”
Just then, someone happened to pass by and, upon hearing this, gave Yun Yiyi and the others a strange, meaningful look.
“You!” The girl who spoke flushed red, whether from embarrassment or anger. “Who cares about your husband? A husband like yours—who can’t even be brought out in public, who’s not presentable, who doesn’t even have a car—who would want him?!”
Yun Manxia’s lips twitched, her expression briefly turning odd.
—Bai Ninth Master can’t be brought out, isn’t presentable, and doesn’t even have a car?
If the person involved heard that, who knew what his reaction would be!
She glanced at Yun Yiyi.
These people didn’t know who she had married, but Yun Yiyi wasn’t mute. How could they still misunderstand? And they seemed so certain she had married some short, poor, and ugly man. There was no way Yun Yiyi wasn’t behind this!
It seemed her stepsister really couldn’t stand seeing her live well.
“Let me clarify,” she lifted her chin slightly, looking proud and confident. “My husband is very handsome, more presentable than anyone, and as for how many cars he has, I don’t know—but definitely more than what’s in your family garage! Of course you don’t want him, because you’re not qualified to!”
“Hah, what a joke!” the other side scoffed. “If he has that many cars, why doesn’t he come pick you up? Aren’t you still taking a taxi home?”
Yun Manxia was about to reply when suddenly—
“Madam.”
A voice cut in from behind.
Yun Manxia turned abruptly and saw Lin Shen standing respectfully behind her.
She was surprised. “Why are you here?”
“Of course, to pick you up,” he said, gesturing toward the car behind him.
Yun Manxia followed his gesture and immediately widened her eyes in delight.
The car window wasn’t fully closed. She could vaguely see a figure in the back seat and instantly recognized it—it was Bai Hedu!
Amid her surprise, her cheeks suddenly flushed.
She had spoken so loudly just now… did he hear it?
“Madam, please get in,” Lin Shen said.
The girls across from her were all stunned, looking at the well-dressed and respectful Lin Shen, then at the car.
“My husband is here to pick me up. Goodbye!” Yun Manxia said without hesitation.
With light, quick steps, she walked toward the car.
Lin Shen opened the door for her.
Just as she was about to get in, Yun Manxia suddenly stopped and turned back. “Second Sister, you’ve clearly met my husband and know who he is and what kind of person he is. So why did you let them say those things?”
After saying that, she got into the back seat, and the door closed.
Watching the car drive away, the girls were left uncertain and shocked.
Yun Yiyi, however, was filled with shock and jealousy.
If she wasn’t mistaken, that was Ninth Master in the back seat!
He actually came personally to pick Yun Manxia up?
What right did she have?!
“What did she mean just now? Did you lie to us?” The others suddenly questioned Yun Yiyi with unfriendly expressions.
After already doubting the dress incident, their trust in her had dropped sharply.
“No…” Yun Yiyi hurriedly denied.
“No? Do you think we’re stupid? Didn’t you say her husband was poor? Does that look poor to you?!”
They might not know everything, but that car alone wasn’t something money could easily buy!
“I never said he was poor,” Yun Yiyi said, sounding wronged and helpless. “I only said his situation isn’t convenient to disclose…”
Her eyes flickered. “I can’t tell you the details, but I can say he can’t appear in public, and his reputation isn’t very good. Many people don’t want to marry him. Manxia only married him because of the engagement.”
The others were led by her words again.
Could it be that Yun Manxia’s husband was wealthy but either ugly or disabled?
Very possible! Otherwise, why didn’t he get out of the car just now?
Inside the car.
“Why did you come pick me up? I could’ve taken a taxi back myself. It’s not that far.”
Yun Manxia looked at the man beside her, feeling both shy and happy.
“It’s fine. I was on the way,” Bai Hedu said.
“When did you get here?” she asked cautiously.
Bai Hedu was silent for a moment, then said tactfully, “When you were refuting them.”
Boom—
Yun Manxia felt like her head was about to explode. Her cheeks burned as she looked up in panic.
“Y-you heard everything?!”
“Mm.”
Bai Hedu’s deep eyes fixed on the girl beside him. Thinking of her proud little expression earlier, something faintly tickled in his heart—it was indescribably cute.
Yun Manxia didn’t dare meet his gaze. Pretending to be calm, she said, “I wasn’t wrong. My husband really is very handsome…”
Not wanting to continue the awkward topic, she quickly opened the box she had been holding, revealing a thick stack of documents, and showed them off—
“Look, my achievement today!”
Seeing her embarrassment, Bai Hedu cooperated. “What is this?”
“These are shares of the company my mom left me. I got them back from my stepmother!” she said proudly, looking at him expectantly.
Bai Hedu somehow understood what she wanted. After a pause, he nodded. “Mm, very good.”
Wanting praise was instinctive, but when she actually heard it, Yun Manxia’s ears turned warm again. She looked away shyly. “It’s not that good… I was stupid before and got tricked out of everything…”
Bai Hedu’s deep gaze traced her beautiful profile. “But now you’re not. You’re very smart.”
The atmosphere in the car quietly became thick and intimate.
Lin Shen in the front passenger seat: “…”
He shouldn’t be in the car—he should be under it.
Blushing from his praise, Yun Manxia solemnly placed the box into his arms.
“For you.”
“Hm?”
“Consider it my dowry.” Her cheeks were flushed. “I want to give you something else too… but this is the most valuable thing I have right now.”
Her voice grew softer toward the end.
Jiahuang Entertainment was a well-known company in the industry, but compared to Bai Hedu’s wealth, it was nothing. This gift, coveted by many, wasn’t even considered valuable to him.
“For me…?” Bai Hedu was slightly stunned.
In his twenty-seven years, he had received countless gifts, but none had ever moved him like this stack of papers.
Because this was almost everything she had.
And she gave it to him without hesitation.
Seeing him silent, Yun Manxia patted her chest and promised, “When I make more money in the future, I’ll definitely give you something even better!”
If anyone else had said that to Bai Hedu, it would’ve only been laughable.
Money? It was the one thing Bai Ninth Master lacked the least.
But looking into the girl’s sincere, clear eyes, he didn’t find it laughable at all—he was instead quietly shaken.