"Alright, I'm married to you. Whatever they do, I'll act like a good daughter-in-law. You don't have to worry about that."
"Okay, thanks."
"How soon will you be moving in tomorrow?"
"I still need to ask my sister for leave."
"Come over earlier, and I'll talk to her."
"Alright."
"I see you have a lot of stuff. Will you need a truck? I can call one."
"No need, I won't be giving up my place here yet. I'll just bring some clothes. I'll take a taxi over."
"Oh, never mind, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."
"Thank you."
Sun Zhewen closed WeChat, his heart still a mess. He thought of his parents' calloused hands, remembering their weary figures, toiling to support his education. He knew what this wedding meant to them, and understood Li Zhiyan's helplessness and determination. Yet, he still felt a lump in his chest, as if a large stone were weighing him down.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Sun Zhewen was still tossing and turning in bed, the previous night's dream still fresh in his mind. He was just considering whether to sleep a little longer when his phone suddenly rang, shattering the morning quiet.
"Hello, are you up? I'm already downstairs." Li Zhiyan's crisp voice came from the other end of the line.
Sun Zhewen rubbed his eyes, inwardly marveling at Li Zhiyan's efficiency. He quickly got dressed, grabbed his already packed luggage, and hurried downstairs. Downstairs, Li Zhiyan was leaning against her car, holding a steaming cup of coffee, looking radiant.
"You're here so early, no need to rush, right?" Sun Zhewen joked as he put his luggage into the car's trunk.
On the way, Li Zhiyan drove while Sun Zhewen leaned back in his seat, gazing at the rapidly receding scenery outside the window, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The car passed through the bustling city center and entered the quiet Villa District, where Li Zhiyan stopped in front of a luxurious villa.
"We're here, get out of the car," Li Zhiyan said.
Sun Zhewen followed Li Zhiyan into the villa. The spacious and bright living room was filled with all sorts of furniture, making it feel especially warm and inviting. Li Zhiyan led him upstairs to a room that was simply decorated but still comfortable.
"You'll live in this room from now on," Li Zhiyan said. "You're not allowed in my room. He sometimes comes, so you need to avoid him, understand?"
Sun Zhewen nodded, "Understood."
"You can use anything in the house except for my personal belongings. We're basically living together now. Once the child is born, we can get a divorce," Li Zhiyan continued, her tone tinged with a hint of helplessness and determination.
Sun Zhewen's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't asked about the time limit yesterday. If it was only a year, that was actually quite good. He nodded, "Alright, whatever you say."
Li Zhiyan glanced at him, her eyes seeming to hold a complex emotion. "Are you going to work today?"
Sun Zhewen nodded, "Yes, I am."
Li Zhiyan looked at Sun Zhewen, a slight smile playing on her lips, a glint in her eyes. "Alright, I'll give you a ride to work," she said, her tone light and teasing.
Sun Zhewen scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "You don't need to go to all that trouble."
\n\n
On the way to Sun Zhewen's workplace, Li Zhiyan suddenly asked, "Do you have a driver's license?"
Sun Zhewen nodded. "Yes, but I don't drive very often."
Li Zhiyan thought for a moment, then said, "You definitely can't drive this car as a civil servant. I'll bring another car back tonight, and you can drive it from now on."
Sun Zhewen waved his hand quickly. "No need, don't bother, I'm used to it."
Li Zhiyan rolled her eyes, her tone tinged with a hint of helplessness. "It's not about whether you're used to it or not. As my husband, not having a car... we'll be the laughingstock of everyone."
Sun Zhewen was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Oh, is that how it is? Then I'll go buy one myself."
Li Zhiyan shook her head firmly. "The company has plenty of cars. I'll get you a Sagitar; it suits you right now."
Sun Zhewen smiled wryly. "Alright, thanks."
Li Zhiyan patted his shoulder lightly. "Just play the part of my husband well, that's thanks enough."
Back at the office, Sun Zhewen had barely sat down when Fang Ping, the office director, a woman in her forties who always wore a flowered apron, bustled over. She had one hand on her hip, the other holding a file, and a slightly envious smile on her face.
"Oh, our big shot Sun is back!" Fang Ping said in a half-joking tone. "The leader's looking for you. You're really something now; we didn't even know you were out on business. The leader had to tell us personally."
Sun Zhewen stood up quickly, a hint of apology on his face. He hastened to explain, "Director Fang, I'm really sorry. It was a last-minute arrangement by the leader, so I didn't have time to tell you."
Fang Ping waved a hand, her eyes twinkling with a touch of teasing. "Just kidding! You're the leader's favorite now; I wouldn't dare say anything. Go on, don't keep the leader waiting."
Sun Zhewen gave a somewhat helpless smile, but he felt a little nervous inside. He quickly straightened his clothes and hurried towards the Chairman's Office. At the door, he took a deep breath and knocked softly. "Chairman Chen, it's Sun Zhewen."
"Come in." A clear, feminine voice echoed from within.
Sun Zhewen pushed the door open and entered. He saw Chen Qingyan standing beside her desk, holding a document. She glanced up at him, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. "Close the door."
Sun Zhewen's heart clenched. He quickly shut the door. As he turned, Chen Qingyan was already in front of him, her arms wrapping around his waist. Her eyes were filled with regret and pain. "Zhewen, I regret it."
Sun Zhewen was taken aback, a sense of unease rising within him. "What's wrong?"
Chen Qingyan's voice trembled slightly, her eyes brimming with jealousy and helplessness. "I regret letting you marry Li Zhiyan. Every time I think about you two living together as husband and wife, I'm consumed by jealousy. I wish I could replace her."