They lived off that compensation money.
Her mother was lazy and did not work. She played Mahjong until late every night.
In the mornings, she would not get up to make breakfast. Fang Xihe would wake before sunrise to cook, eat, and then carry her schoolbag to walk to school.
Getting up to find ready food waiting for her felt so good.
Fang Xihe could not help but curve her lips slightly.
After breakfast, she washed the dishes and tidied up.
The washing machine held the dirty clothes from last night that she and Shang Chenzhou had changed out of.
She took out her clothes, intending to wash them separately.
Squatting there and thinking for a moment, she felt it was too fussy and put her clothes back.
She added detergent and pressed the power button.
The laundry would take over fifty minutes.
Fang Xihe changed into fresh clothes and prepared to go downstairs for a walk.
Opening the door, she saw the neighboring door also open.
A short, chubby man stepped out.
Fang Xihe glimpsed the lower half of his body and immediately ran back inside, slamming the door.
Damn it.
The man was wearing only underwear.
He seemed to be going out to pick up takeout.
Even if it was just takeout, he should put on pants. It would not take much effort.
Fang Xihe fumed for a moment and only reopened the door after hearing the sound of the neighbor closing it.
She walked around the nearby area. There was a vegetable market.
She bought some vegetables and fruits, along with a pound of ordinary pork leg.
Ordinary pork was much cheaper than native pork.
Since she and Shang Chenzhou were currently poor, this was all they could afford.
Last night, Shang Chenzhou had cooked several dishes with both fish and meat.
It must have cost quite a bit.
This man did not know how to live frugally. He owed a huge debt yet spent freely.
If she did not know he would succeed in the future and was an heir lost outside the top-tier wealthy family, she would have worried herself to sleeplessness as his wife.
Carrying the two bags back, Fang Xihe considered whether she should go to Jing City to find someone from the top-tier wealthy family and confirm Shang Chenzhou’s identity.
However, the novel mentioned that it was not easy for him to return to the family and that he faced three assassination attempts.
If she rushed up there, she might put Shang Chenzhou in danger.
It was best not to rush this matter.
Back at the apartment, Fang Xihe hung the freshly washed clothes.
For lunch, she cooked a simple bowl of noodles with vegetables and shredded meat.
After eating, she took a nap.
She was woken up by a phone call.
Without checking the caller ID, she answered, saying, “Hello.”
“It is so late and you are still sleeping. You should get used to waking early. If you marry into a wealthy family, your in-laws might complain.”
Hearing the voice, her sleepiness vanished. She moved the phone to look at the screen.
It was indeed the original owner’s mother.
Zhang Junhua asked, “Have you filled out the profile on the matchmaking site I asked you to?”
Fang Xihe sat up, cleared her throat, and replied, “Yes, I have.”
Zhang Junhua asked, “Any matches?”
Fang Xihe lied, “No.”
In reality, the original owner had already gone on several blind dates.
Her looks were a big advantage, and she was young.
After sending out the profile, many men competed to meet her.
Among them were second-generation rich and company executives.
The original owner had a keen eye and immediately liked the abusive man. He was the most handsome among the candidates and pursued her vigorously, sending flowers to her workplace frequently.
All women were vain.
Being pursued so fervently, the original owner quickly felt moved.
She was ready to break up with Shang Chenzhou and throw herself into the abusive man’s arms.
If Fang Xihe had not transmigrated, the original owner would already be involved with the abusive man.
Speaking of which, the abusive man sent her a message inviting her for dinner and a movie tonight.
Fang Xihe ignored the message.
Zhang Junhua sighed on the other end, “Why no news? Try filling out another matchmaking site and cast a wider net.”
Fang Xihe replied perfunctorily, “Okay, I will fill it out.”
Zhang Junhua said, “Hurry up. A woman’s youth only lasts a few years. If you miss it, your value drops.”
Fang Xihe kept up the perfunctory replies, “Got it, got it.”
“I am hanging up.”
Before Zhang Junhua could say more, Fang Xihe ended the call.
She went to the bathroom, and her phone rang again.
This time it was Wang Yuan.
Fang Xihe remembered she had moved but had not told Wang Yuan or Zhan Feifei yet.
She answered.
Wang Yuan’s voice came through, “Xihe, have you moved out?”
Everyone returned to their own small places.
She and Zhan Feifei worked at the same company and had a gathering last night, coming home late. They assumed Fang Xihe was asleep.
Today, seeing her not come out, they knocked but got no answer. Pushing open the door, they found the apartment empty.
Fang Xihe had just moved and was still adjusting to her two roommates. She had forgotten to tell them.
She said, “I moved in with Shang Chenzhou. I forgot to tell you.”
Wang Yuan exclaimed, “You are living with Shang Chenzhou?”
“Kind of.”
She had married Shang Chenzhou and was now his legal wife.
Instinctively, she hid the marriage from them.
Wang Yuan said, “So sudden. You never mentioned this before.”
Fang Xihe replied, “I did not expect it to be so sudden either. It was just decided yesterday. Sorry, I forgot to tell you.”
Wang Yuan could not say much.
Since Fang Xihe had moved out, she and Zhan Feifei would need to find a roommate quickly, or the rent burden would be too high for just the two of them.
Fang Xihe thought of this as well.
“My single room still has a month of rent left. You can find a roommate in the meantime. I will ask my colleagues if anyone wants to share.”
Wang Yuan said, “Okay, that is the only way.”
“But Xihe, you were going to break up with Shang Chenzhou, right? Why did you suddenly change your mind and move in with him?”
Fang Xihe knew her change was drastic.
The original owner never hid her feelings in front of Wang Yuan and Zhan Feifei. She often showed disdain for Shang Chenzhou, saying it was just for fun.
She had even told them in advance about breaking up.
Now it had come to this, so Wang Yuan’s confusion was normal.
Fang Xihe could not say she was no longer the original Fang Xihe.
She could only smile and say, “I did not realize Shang Chenzhou’s good qualities before. Now I know. I do not want to break up.”
Wang Yuan said, “Shang Chenzhou is handsome, yes, but he is poor and has a weak, sickly mother. Don’t you mind?”
Fang Xihe frowned slightly, feeling Wang Yuan was too focused on her relationship with Shang Chenzhou.
She had already explained. Wang Yuan kept dwelling on it.
She was a bit impatient.
“I do not mind. Shang Chenzhou is capable. I believe he will succeed one day.”
Wang Yuan smiled awkwardly twice.
“Xihe, you have changed. You were not like this before. You used to disdain Shang Chenzhou.”
Fang Xihe said, “You said it yourself. That was before. Now I have a high opinion of him.”
Wang Yuan was about to say more, but Fang Xihe interrupted, “Shang Chenzhou is almost home. I need to cook for him. We will talk another day.”
Wang Yuan could only say, “…okay.”
After hanging up, Wang Yuan frowned.
She had not misheard. Fang Xihe said she was going to cook for Shang Chenzhou.
Impossible.
Fang Xihe acting capable? Cooking? She probably did not even know how to use the stove.
She had no idea what Fang Xihe was up to now.
Fang Xihe checked the time. It was four in the afternoon.
She sent a message to Shang Chenzhou: What time will you be back?