After resolving the matter of Xia Jianyong potentially benefiting from her connections, Xia Yuhuan returned home in high spirits.
Just as she entered the door, she encountered Xia Zhuyu, who was dressed flamboyantly and heading out.
Xia Yuhuan raised an eyebrow and remarked, “Oh, dressed like a peacock showing off its feathers—who are you trying to charm?”
“None of your business! Stay out of my affairs,” Xia Zhuyu snapped, glaring at her.
Li Rouyue, standing nearby, tugged at her to stop her from saying more, then turned to Xia Yuhuan with a gentle smile. “I’m taking Zhuzhu to the department store to buy some things for her to take to the countryside. We’ll be on our way now.”
With that, she led Xia Zhuyu out the door.
Xia Yuhuan felt a twinge of disappointment.
She had thought Li Rouyue would, for the sake of appearances, invite her to join them. If Li Rouyue had asked, Xia Yuhuan would have shamelessly tagged along.
Unexpectedly, Li Rouyue seemed to have anticipated her thoughts and didn’t even bother with the usual polite gestures.
Watching the two leave, Xia Yuhuan thought for a moment and decided to go out as well.
She also planned to visit the department store.
She had just obtained a bicycle voucher and was determined to use it—better to spend it now than let Xia Zhuyu covet it.
At the department store, Xia Yuhuan looked around but didn’t see Li Rouyue and Xia Zhuyu.
She realized then that Li Rouyue’s excuse for going out had been a lie.
Xia Yuhuan didn’t dwell on it and headed to the bicycle section.
There weren’t many bicycles on display, and the styles were limited. Xia Yuhuan picked a Phoenix brand bicycle and asked the salesperson for the price.
“One hundred eighty yuan, plus one bicycle voucher.”
Xia Yuhuan clicked her tongue in surprise—Xia Jianyong had only given her one hundred twenty yuan. To buy this bicycle, she’d have to cover the remaining sixty yuan herself.
Fortunately, she had the money and could afford it.
So, Xia Yuhuan paid for the bicycle.
Pushing the bicycle out of the department store, she tried riding it.
Luckily, she had known how to ride a bicycle in her previous life, so it wasn’t difficult to get the hang of it.
As she happily pedaled along the road, her gaze inadvertently drifted to the side street, where she spotted two familiar figures sitting in a roadside teahouse—Chi Zhenghao and Xia Zhuyu.
Xia Yuhuan braked with one foot on the ground and backed up slightly to confirm she hadn’t been mistaken.
“How did these two get tangled up together?” she muttered, utterly puzzled.
Before she could figure it out, she saw Chi Zhenghao and Xia Zhuyu stand up and leave the teahouse.
Xia Yuhuan initially thought about following them.
But Chi Zhenghao had a car, so she abandoned the idea.
With only two wheels, powered by her own legs, even if she pedaled furiously, she couldn’t catch up to Chi Zhenghao’s four wheels.
“Who knows how these two ended up together? I just hope it doesn’t affect me,” Xia Yuhuan frowned and muttered.
After all, Chi Zhenghao was a member of the Chi family. If he started causing trouble for her, marrying into the Chi family would no longer be a favorable arrangement but a headache.
However, time didn’t give Xia Yuhuan a chance to regret her decision, for the very next day was her wedding day into the Chi family.
Since Xia Yuhuan had insisted on no wedding ceremony, the nuptial festivities were canceled accordingly.
To demonstrate the Chi family’s regard for Xia Yuhuan, Chi Shaokang—the head of the Chi family and Chi Yanzhou’s father—personally carried Xia Yuhuan out from the Xia residence, then pushed her on a bicycle around the compound for a full circle. This public declaration affirmed her status as the Chi family’s daughter-in-law before bringing her back to the Chi home.
“Yuhuan, now that you’ve married into our family, consider this your home. If anything arises, just speak to me or your mother. As long as you’re in the right, we will stand up for you,” Chi Shaokang said solemnly. “No one in the Chi family tolerates bullying.”
“Your father is right. Never keep troubles bottled up—tell us, and we’ll handle them for you,” Zhang Xianya added.
Xia Yuhuan had already grown fond of her decisive, straightforward, and sincere future mother-in-law during their previous interactions. Now, truly married into the family, hearing these words stirred her emotions. She intended to build a good relationship with Zhang Xianya—if treated with sincerity, she would reciprocate wholeheartedly, never allowing her inevitable divorce from Chi Yanzhou to affect their bond.
“Thank you, Auntie. I will. I’m not one to endure unfairness,” Xia Yuhuan replied cheerfully.
Zhang Xianya chuckled and reminded her, “Silly child, it’s time to change how you address me.”
Xia Yuhuan froze, lips parting slightly, unable to utter the words immediately. Like her original self, she had grown up without parental guidance. As someone who had lived two lifetimes without parents, suddenly having to call someone “Mom” and “Dad” felt profoundly strange. For a moment, the words stuck in her throat.
Chi Shaokang seemed to sense her discomfort and gently intervened, “It’s alright if Yuhuan isn’t used to it yet. She can take her time.”
“True, let Xiaohuan follow her heart,” Zhang Xianya agreed amiably without pressure.
“By the way, Xiaohuan, though we aren’t holding a wedding banquet, the family should still share a meal together. Your grandparents and second uncle are waiting downstairs. Prepare yourself—we’ll go down shortly for introductions.”
“Okay, Mom,” Xia Yuhuan responded obediently.
Zhang Xianya looked at her in surprise.
Xia Yuhuan smiled and explained, “I’ll have to adjust eventually, so now is as good a time as any. Besides, I’m happy to have parents.”
Though Chi Shaokang and Zhang Xianya were considerate about her hesitation, addressing them as “Uncle” and “Aunt” in front of other family members would undermine their dignity. While unsure about the rest of the Chi family, she noted Chi Zhenghao’s apparent hostility toward Chi Yanzhou. She refused to give anyone leverage to attack her parents-in-law, who had treated her kindly so far.
“Good child,” Zhang Xianya murmured, patting Xia Yuhuan’s shoulder with moved eyes.
The trio descended together to the lively main hall. Upon reaching downstairs, Zhang Xianya guided Xia Yuhuan to the elders.
Both Grandpa and Grandma Chi were warm, offering greeting gifts and speaking to her with evident affection.
Master Chi said, “With Yanzhou in his current state, we’ve wronged you by bringing you into this marriage. If you need anything, tell your mother. If she can’t resolve it, come to me—I’ll handle it.”
“That’s right, now that you’re married, we’re all one family. Speak freely and don’t stand on ceremony with us,” Grandma Chi chimed in.
“Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma. I will.” Xia Yuhuan accepted the red envelopes from them with a clear, cheerful response.
“Xiaohuan, this is your second uncle, second aunt, this is Zheng Hao whom you’ve met before, and this is your younger sister Wenhong.” Zhang Xianya led Xia Yuhuan to Chi Shaoning’s family and made introductions one by one.
“Hello, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, younger brother, younger sister.” Xia Yuhuan greeted each in turn.
Both Chi Shaoning and Li Cuiwei gave Xia Yuhuan meeting gifts.
Looking at Chi Zhenghao and Chi Wenhong, Xia Yuhuan felt a headache coming on.
As their sister-in-law, should she have prepared meeting gifts for these younger family members?
But she hadn’t paid much attention beforehand, hadn’t inquired about the Chi family’s specific circumstances, and had completely forgotten to prepare any gifts.
Just as Xia Yuhuan was wrestling with this dilemma, Zhang Xianya beside her handed each of them a small item.
“Your sister-in-law prepared these little gifts for you. Take them to play with,” Zhang Xianya said.
Xia Yuhuan looked at Zhang Xianya, surprised that she had prepared gifts on her behalf without her knowledge.
That Zhang Xianya had considered things so thoroughly for her touched Xia Yuhuan deeply.
Throughout the entire event, Xia Yuhuan stayed by Zhang Xianya’s side, following her lead in interacting with the family members.
By the end of the meal, Xia Yuhuan had gained a fairly good understanding of the Chi family’s basic situation.
After dinner, when Xia Yuhuan offered to help clean up, Zhang Xianya shooed her back to her room to rest.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Xia Yuhuan looked down at Chi Yanzhou lying quietly on the bed, sighed, and muttered under her breath.
“Now I’m starting to regret marrying you and relying on your family’s influence. Your family doesn’t seem peaceful either. If I get dragged into your family’s whirlpool, I’ll be in even bigger trouble.”