He Jun walked around to the driver’s seat, got in, and started the car.
Liang Muxi thought about asking to be dropped off at Wanbo Haoting, but remembering that Song Jinchuan also lived there now, she kept her mouth shut.
She turned to look at Song Jinchuan. “Did you need something from me?”
Song Jinchuan’s gaze remained fixed on his tablet, where he was reading an English document.
Without lifting his head, he said, “Going back to the old residence for dinner.”
Liang Muxi understood.
Now that Song Jinchuan was finally back, the Song family would certainly want to have a meal together.
During the year Song Jinchuan had been away, she had only visited the Song family’s old residence twice.
Once for last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, and once during Chinese New Year.
Grandma had sent a car to pick her up.
On ordinary days, Grandma often called to invite her over, but she always felt uncomfortable going, so she made up various excuses to decline.
Old Mrs. Song eventually seemed to catch on and stopped pushing her, though she would still have the kitchen prepare delicious food every few days and bring it over to Wanbo Haoting herself.
Aside from Grandma, she wasn’t very familiar with the rest of the Song family.
She figured her relationship with Song Jinchuan was that of business partners—once the term was up, they’d divorce. There was no need to have too much contact with the Song family.
But now that Song Jinchuan was back in the capital, these social obligations would be unavoidable. In front of the Song family, they’d need to act like a normal married couple.
But what exactly counted as a normal married couple?
She had no experience with that. Would she slip up later?
She pulled out her phone, opened the little pink book app, and searched.
A bunch of random content popped up.
She scrolled through it but couldn’t make heads or tails of any of it.
The car was too quiet. Bored, Liang Muxi glanced to the side.
Song Jinchuan’s pale, elegant hand glided lightly over the tablet, his knuckles clearly defined. It immediately caught her attention.
What a perfect pair of hands!
Unlike hers…
She lowered her gaze and tugged at her shirt sleeve, pulling it down to cover the scar on the back of her hand.
Seeing Song Jinchuan’s hands reminded her of what Yang Zhenzhen had said about him wearing a wedding ring.
Her eyes darted toward Song Jinchuan’s left hand, but due to the angle, she couldn’t see his ring finger.
She sat up straighter, stretching upward, trying to get a better look.
“What are you looking for?”
Song Jinchuan looked straight at her.
Liang Muxi awkwardly ran a hand through her hair and let out a couple of laughs. “Nothing. I’m not looking for anything.”
Song Jinchuan’s gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds before he lowered his head to continue working on his documents.
In the end, Liang Muxi never got to see Song Jinchuan’s left ring finger.
Half an hour later, a massive traditional Chinese residence appeared before them, with two stone lions flanking the entrance.
The gate slowly opened, and the car glided in.
Song Jinchuan set down his tablet and got out of the car.
Liang Muxi followed.
A corgi came running over, its round belly wobbling, and rubbed against Song Jinchuan’s pant leg. When he ignored it, it turned and nuzzled against Liang Muxi’s leg instead.
Liang Muxi crouched down and reached out to stroke its fur.
“Chuichui, long time no see!”
Song Jinchuan looked down and caught a glimpse of Liang Muxi’s profile—soft lines, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Chuichui really liked her, rubbing its head against her palm.
Old Mrs. Song came out to greet them.
“Muxi’s here.”
Liang Muxi stood up and affectionately took the old lady’s arm, her eyes curving into a smile. “Grandma, it’s hot outside. Let’s head in quickly.”
“It is hot. It’s been especially hot this year. Let’s go inside.”
Old Mrs. Song glanced at her grandson. “You did well today. At least you remembered to bring my granddaughter-in-law.”
Song Jinchuan’s expression remained unchanged as he unbuttoned his cuff and walked inside.
Old Mrs. Song couldn’t help but scold him. “This child is good in every way except he talks too little. He’s been away for so long and doesn’t even know to come be close to his grandmother.”
She patted Liang Muxi’s hand. “My granddaughter-in-law is the best. Such a sweet talker.”
“Muxi, for my sake, don’t hold it against him.”
Liang Muxi smiled. “I won’t.”
She wouldn’t hold anything against her sugar daddy.
The two walked in chatting and laughing. When Liang Muxi saw Wang Shulan sitting on the sofa, she tucked away her smile and greeted her politely. “…Mom.”
Yeah, every time she had to say that word, it felt incredibly awkward.
Of course, it had nothing to do with her mother-in-law—it was her own issue.
Wang Shulan didn’t particularly like her, but she never showed it. That was simply her upbringing—the refinement ingrained in her bones wouldn’t allow her to speak harshly to Liang Muxi or make things difficult for her.
Wang Shulan gave a slight nod. “Have a seat.”
Liang Muxi followed Old Mrs. Song over and sat down.
She didn’t see her father-in-law, Song Jiancheng. He must have gone upstairs with Song Jinchuan—probably to discuss work.
Liang Muxi sat stiffly on the sofa, hands pressed flat against the cushions at her sides, back ramrod straight.
Old Mrs. Song glanced at Wang Shulan and sighed inwardly.
But there was nothing she could say.
Wang Shulan swirled her teacup and took a sip, sensing the old lady’s gaze on her.
She finally set down her cup and looked at Liang Muxi.
“How’s work lately?”
Liang Muxi answered with a mix of nervousness and deference. “It’s fine. Not too busy.”
Wang Shulan said, “If you need help, just say the word.”
“No need, no need. There’s nothing I need help with.”
Wang Shulan nodded, lowered her eyes, and picked up her teacup again.
Within moments, Liang Muxi’s palms were covered in a thin layer of sweat.
The mother-in-law’s sudden concern was quite startling.
Fortunately, Old Mrs. Song picked up the conversation and started chatting with her, which helped her relax a bit.
When it was time to eat, Song Jiancheng and Song Jinchuan came downstairs. The father and son bore a five or six-tenths resemblance to each other.
Though Song Jiancheng was sixty years old, he was well-preserved and looked to be only in his early forties.
Both of them had that stern, unsmiling disposition.
Occupying high positions, they both exuded an air of pressure.
Liang Muxi stood up to greet Song Jiancheng: “Dad.”
Song Jiancheng looked at her, reining in his cold aura, and said gently, “Sit down, don’t be nervous.”
Liang Muxi sat to Song Jinchuan’s right, and happened to catch sight of the wedding ring on his left ring finger.
She was taken aback.
He actually wore it!
Had he deliberately put it on because he knew they were coming to the old residence for dinner today? To show the Song family.
That must be it.
Why didn’t he tell her, so she could wear hers too?
Now she didn’t even dare to raise her left hand.
Noticing her staring at his hand,
Song Jinchuan turned his head, his eyes asking: What’s wrong?
Liang Muxi leaned closer to him and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Why didn’t you tell me you were wearing the wedding ring? I didn’t wear mine—will Grandma and the others overthink it?”
Song Jinchuan felt a sweet scent of jasmine drift into his nostrils.
It was the same scent as on the pillow last night.
It came from Liang Muxi.
He hadn’t caught what she said and asked again: “What did you say?”
Liang Muxi repeated what she had just said.
Song Jinchuan paused for two seconds, didn’t explain much, and simply said: “It’s fine. If you don’t want to wear it, then don’t.”
Liang Muxi: “Next time, remember to let me know in advance. I’ll cooperate.”
Old Mrs. Song watched them whispering intimately to each other, grinning from ear to ear.
Across from them, Wang Shulan looked away, feeling uneasy in her heart.
This daughter-in-law wasn’t the one she had chosen; the old lady had forced her son to marry her, and it had caused quite a stir back then.
No matter how unwilling she was, it was useless—her son had agreed to the marriage.