Zhan Yunduan secretly felt relieved. Fortunately, her uncle was mysterious and low-key, never showing his face in public, so not many people knew him.
“How could that be! You’ve met all the little monkeys in my family, Qingjie.” Zhan Yunduan racked her brains for the right words. “The ring was bought during a discount period! The Rolls-Royce was arranged by me!”
From now on, she wouldn’t be called Zhan Yunduan anymore—she’d be Zhan·Tool Person, Scapegoat·Yunduan.
Zhan Yunduan spoke with such conviction that Yan Qing didn’t doubt her.
Yan Qing teased her by lifting Zhan Yunduan’s chin playfully. “Duanduan, you really are the girl I’ve set my sights on. The little puppy you sent me fits my aesthetic perfectly, right down to my heart. You’re the ultimate bestie—you deserve a place in the ancestral temple!”
“Of course, just look at who I hang out with.” Zhan Yunduan’s guilt eased a little as she linked arms with Yan Qing, asking casually, “Qingjie, was yesterday the first time you met your husband?”
“Yes.”
Zhan Yunduan thought to herself: Uncle really did plan this for a long time, playing hard to get.
“You married him on your first meeting?” Zhan Yunduan smirked mischievously. “Did you fall for him?”
Yan Qing leaned thoughtfully against the table. Zhan Yan Chen looked like an unattainable flower, had a gentle voice, but a wolf-like personality.
“Falling for someone I don’t even know—what if he’s a player, a mama’s boy, or what if he’s after my money and locks me in a cage at the bottom of the sea? Where would I go to regret it then?” She felt good about Zhan Yan Chen, but it wasn’t quite love yet.
“Qingjie, I wouldn’t dare send him to you without investigating three generations of his family.” Zhan Yunduan patted her chest in assurance.
“Zhan Yan Chen is not a player, and definitely not a mama’s boy! He’s only interested in you as a person, never your money! Qingjie, you can like him boldly and without worry!”
Thinking about last night’s events, Yan Qing chuckled. “Just joking. After five years in society, your Qingjie still has an eye for people. Zhan Yan Chen isn’t the type to be greedy for money.”
Zhan Yunduan secretly patted her chest in relief. Finally, she’d managed to convince her aunt.
Yan Qing was busy all afternoon. Just before getting off work, as she was worrying about how to regain her financial freedom, she received a call from Mr. Yan.
“Yan Qing, come home right now!”
Yan Qing moved the phone away from her ear and rubbed it. “Dad, what’s wrong?”
“You got married without even telling us? Get back here now!” Without giving Yan Qing a chance to speak, Mr. Yan hung up.
Yan Qing was puzzled. How did her parents know she’d gotten married?
Could there be a spy from Mr. Yan in the company?
Yan Qing grabbed her bag and rushed out of the office, speeding all the way to the Yan family villa.
As if marching to her doom, Yan Qing pushed the door open and walked to the entrance. When she saw the people sitting on the living room sofa, she was stunned.
Sitting on the sofa weren’t just her parents—there were also Zhan Yan Chen and a middle-aged police officer in uniform.
She had seen this police officer on TV before—he was at the bureau chief level.
Why would a police bureau chief come to their home? Could it be that Zhan Yan Chen had done something wrong, and the police were here to hold her, his wife, responsible?
Yan Qing panicked, feeling unsteady on her feet.
“Qingqing.” Zhan Yan Chen stood up and walked over quickly, naturally taking her hand. “My parents haven’t returned to the country yet, so I brought my uncle to meet my father- and mother-in-law first.”
“Uncle?” Yan Qing’s panic turned to surprise as she quickly greeted him. “Hello, Uncle. I’m Yan Qing. You look just like you do on TV—full of noble spirit and dignity.”
The stern-faced uncle instantly beamed, discreetly sizing up Yan Qing. With her radiant beauty and graceful, orchid-like demeanor, she truly lived up to being the girl his nephew had set his heart on.
“Xiao Qing, it’s Yan Chen’s good fortune to marry you,” the uncle declared authoritatively. “If Yan Chen ever treats you poorly or dares to bully you in the future, just go straight to the Capital Branch and find your uncle. I’ll haul him off to the station and teach him a lesson.”
“Thank you, Uncle!” Yan Qing said gratefully before daring to look at her parents.
Seeing them smiling like blooming flowers, Yan Qing couldn’t help but think to herself: When she excelled in her studies and built a successful career, her parents had never been this happy.
But the moment Zhan Yan Chen showed up at their door, her parents seemed like different people—their eyes only for Zhan Yan Chen!
Feeling a pang of sourness, Yan Qing glanced at Zhan Yan Chen, who was pouring tea for the elders. When she noticed the long row of expensive gift boxes in front of the coffee table, her eyes instantly welled up with tears.
After buying the ring and all these gifts, his scholarship money must be nearly gone, right?
Amid her gratitude, a twinge of heartache struck her. Spending money so lavishly—could she really afford to keep this extravagant little puppy?
Having completed his mission, the uncle set down his teacup and stood up. “You all enjoy your family dinner. There’s still work at the bureau, so I’ll head back now.”
The two of them saw the uncle off, and the family began their dinner.
Ruan Ning, looking at her son-in-law with a mother-in-law’s fondness, couldn’t be more pleased. “Xiao Qing, today’s dinner was all prepared by Yan Chen himself.”
Yan Qing realized it indeed wasn’t the usual fare from the household staff and raised her eyebrows in surprise.
This little puppy was no ordinary guy—impressive in public and skilled in the kitchen.
He really made her proud!
“Dad, Mom, isn’t the son-in-law I found for you amazing? Handsome, a graduate student, and a great cook…”
The two of them spoke in unison: “Our son-in-law is the best!”
Zhan Yan Chen looked at the smug Yan Qing and smiled elegantly. “Dad, Mom, the best thing about me is that I get to marry Qingqing.”
The two immediately showered him with praise, singing the praises of their son-in-law.
Yan Nan Shuo, who had only learned about his son-in-law’s family background earlier, asked his daughter, “Xiao Qing, how did you and Yan Chen meet? How long have you been together?”
Yan Qing: (⊙o⊙)…
Her best friend gave her a little puppy, and she pounced on him… Could she really tell her parents that?
Yan Qing picked up the wine glass in front of her. Worried about getting drunk again, she took a small sip and was about to make something up when she heard Zhan Yan Chen speak.
“Dad, I’ve had a crush on Qingqing for ten years and only managed to win her over yesterday.”
Yan Nan Shuo and Ruan Ning exclaimed in surprise, “A crush for ten years?”
Yan Qing thought to herself: Keep making it up, go on.
Zhan Yan Chen gazed at Yan Qing, his eyes deep and inscrutable. “I started liking her back when Qingqing won the middle school debate championship.”
Yan Qing frowned. Had Zhan Yunduan even told him about that?
Yan Nan Shuo asked, “You liked Xiao Qing that early? Why didn’t you confess back then?”
“Qingqing was still young at the time, and I wasn’t mature enough.”
Yan Nan Shuo nodded inwardly, thinking his son-in-law was truly steady and reliable.
Ruan Ning smiled warmly as she looked at her daughter and son-in-law, finding them a perfect match and feeling utterly satisfied.
Her daughter had been a top student, entering university at fifteen and, within less than five years of entering society, co-founding a jewelry company renowned throughout the capital with her best friend.
But her love life had been rocky. During university, a senior had pursued her, only to vanish after just a few days, even dropping out of school.
After graduation, every blind date she went on fell through. The only time it seemed successful, they made it all the way to the civil affairs bureau, only for the other person to abandon her and disappear without a trace.
Little did they know, the gears of fate had started turning ten years ago, and the person involved was so outstanding.
Ruan Ning asked with a smile, “Yan Chen, where do you work?”
Yan Qing had already prepared her response, “Mom, he’s… a part-time graduate student, currently working at… Zhan Corporation!”
Zhan Yan Chen smiled and nodded to the elderly couple, confirming that what Yan Qing said was true.
The old couple immediately became even more satisfied—his family background was clean, he was outstanding and steady, academically accomplished, and worked at Asia’s top corporation.
Their daughter marrying Zhan Yan Chen was something they were satisfied with and even more reassured about!
The two were asked to stay overnight.
Zhan Yan Chen went back to Yan Qing’s room first. After Yan Qing finished discussing Xia Jin’s matter with her father and reclaimed her financial freedom, she quickly returned to her own room. Pushing open the door, she was met with a breathtaking scene that sent a rush of blood to her head.
Freshly showered, Zhan Yan Chen stood shirtless by the bed, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her. He was not only dazzling but also a bit overwhelming.
Faced with such a breathtakingly handsome face, who could remain as calm as ice?