"Darling, you're finally back," said Su Ningxi. "Granny gave me a check and told me to leave you, but I can't bear to do it. I don't want us to be apart."
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and her voice was sour and aggrieved.
Huo Yuchen frowned when he heard this, glancing at the check on the table, then at Su Ningxi. He knew what was going on - this woman had instigated Granny to come and make a scene.
Su Ningxi lowered her head guiltily, not daring to meet Huo Yuchen's eyes.
Huo Yuchen looked away, walked over and picked up the check from the table and put it in front of Granny. "Ningxi is my wife now. I can support my own wife," he said politely.
His words gave Granny face.
But Granny would not let it go. "What kind of wife is she? In my heart, your only wife is Ling Yin. You two grew up together, and she likes you - I've thought of her as my daughter-in-law for a long time. Divorce this woman immediately and marry Ling Yin."
When Ling Yin heard this, she was thrilled. She looked up at Huo Yuchen to see his reaction.
Huo Yuchen's brows were furrowed - he was clearly displeased with what Granny had said.
Granny said, "What's with that look on your face? What's wrong with Ling Yin? She's beautiful and talented - better than this country bumpkin in every way."
Huo Yuchen's face darkened and his tone turned cold. "Ningxi is my wife. I hope Granny will respect her."
Granny went from shocked to furious. "Respect her? Does she even deserve it? Where did you pick up this wild girl? You must get rid of her today and marry Ling Yin."
Huo Yuchen's frown deepened. "Granny, if you don't like my wife, you don't need to come here anymore. Not seeing her won't offend your eyes."
Granny pounded her cane angrily on the floor. "Disobedient! Just married a few days and already defying me for this woman?"
Meanwhile, Su Ningxi acted dead, wishing she could turn invisible and avoid getting caught up in their fight.
Huo Yuchen's brows were knotted tightly. He felt Granny was being unreasonable and directly ordered her to leave. "I'll arrange for someone to take Granny home," he said, calling Butler Zhang over.
"You're kicking me out?" Granny yelled, hopping with rage. Her unfilial grandson was making her leave as soon as she arrived, just to get rid of this country bumpkin. She had planned to stay a few days - her luggage was already here!
Ling Yin was also shocked. She had barely persuaded Granny back from abroad to deal with this woman, and now Granny was being sent away. How could she accept this?
Huo Yuchen remained aloof. "It's not that I'm kicking Granny out, but Ningxi doesn't know any better and might anger you if you stay. It's best if you leave."
Granny was so angry she was panting and glaring. It wasn't that she was afraid of being angered by that woman - it was that he was afraid of Granny bullying his wife! Just married a few days and already protecting her with all his heart. This woman really had tricks up her sleeve.
Just then, Butler Zhang came in. "Young Master," he said respectfully.
"Send Granny home," Huo Yuchen said.
"Yes," Zhang Butler replied. He gestured for Granny to come with him. "Madam, please."
Granny got up angrily, leaning on her cane. "Good, very good. You won't listen to me - you'll regret this someday," she huffed resentfully, shooting a deadly glare at Su Ningxi.
Su Ningxi kept her head down, fiddling with her fingers. She sighed to herself - no wonder people said marriage was a grave. On just the first day, someone already wanted her gone.
After they left, the living room quieted down.
Seeing Su Ningxi curled up like an ostrich, Huo Yuchen thought Granny's words had hurt her self-esteem. "Don't take Granny's words to heart," he said.
"Huh?" Su Ningxi looked up, thinking she had misheard. Was he comforting her?
Huo Yuchen didn't explain further, just turned and headed upstairs.
Ignoring people again - what a bad habit! I ought to...
Su Ningxi swung a fist at his retreating back. Unluckily, Huo Yuchen seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He stopped and said, "Want to lose that paw?"
Su Ningxi...
That night, at the Mo Yu Club
The 'Mo Yu Club' was a famous club on par with Mei Lan, but with a very different decor. Where Mei Lan was airy and open, Mo Yu was dark and shadowy, with lights silhouetting people creepily.
In a private room, Su Ningxi sat facing a row of drinks, with Shen Zhilan and Feng Xiaoxiao staring at her from across the table. Next to them was Lan Ling - they all knew Su Ningxi had gotten married, and to none other than the famous Huo Yuchen, a legendary figure in Beijing!
Su Ningxi was quite calm under their stares.
No one spoke.
Finally, Lan Ling couldn't hold back. "Surname Su, don't you owe us an explanation?"
How could she get married without telling them, her good friends? It was infuriating.
Su Ningxi shrugged. "I already told you, you just didn't believe me."
Seeing Su Ningxi's confident look, Lan Ling racked her brains but couldn't remember when she had said anything. Could she have forgotten?
She asked the other two, "Did she say anything?"
Shen Zhilan nodded. "She mentioned it in the group chat a couple days ago."
Lan Ling remembered now. "That counts as telling us? Who would think a runaway bride would turn around and marry a man she just met?"
Then - "Ah! I get it now."
Lan Ling exclaimed as if she had discovered some secret.
Everyone looked at her. "What do you understand?" they asked in unison.
"Don't tell me you secretly loved Huo Yuchen all along and that's why you ran from your wedding? You've had this planned for a long time! No wonder you went to work at Mei Lan - you had ulterior motives!" said Lan Ling.
Feng Xiaoxiao chimed in, "I can see that - how else could she snag the King of Beijing so easily?"
Su Ningxi rolled her eyes. "Could your imaginations be any more active?"
Lan Ling: "So it's not true?"
"Of course not. To be precise, he's the one who snagged me," said Su Ningxi.
Feng Xiaoxiao had just taken a sip of water and spat it out when she heard this. "Cough cough... what? You mean he pursued you?"
Su Ningxi nodded. That's right! He even sent bodyguards after her.
"He's seen your real appearance?"
The only possibility Feng Xiaoxiao could think of was that he had seen her real beauty.
