Chapter One, He Jin (01)

Tan Ruyi immediately put on her coat and followed. As she walked, she lowered her head to remove the flower pinned to her qipao. When she passed by the trash can at the hotel entrance, she raised her hand intending to throw it away, but upon looking up, she saw Shen Zizhuo just getting into the driver's seat

Tan Ruyi glanced at her hand, indifferently pinching both ends of the card, breaking it into pieces one by one, then opened the vent window and leaned out to throw it out forcefully. She supported herself on the dirty windowsill, remained still for a while, and then retreated, closing the window with a loud "bang".

Tan Ruyi was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and greeted, "Good morning"

Tan Ruyi poured a handful of hot water over her face, squinting as she glanced at the towel rack, where a row of neatly hung white towels was displayed. She did not dare to use them recklessly, so she had to pull out a few pieces of facial tissue and wipe her face haphazardly. When she looked at the tissue, it was smeared with dark mascara. She quickly turned on the hot water and closed her eyes, rinsing vigorously. After a long time, she still felt her face was greasy and sticky. Her luggage would not arrive until tomorrow, and apart from a lip balm, there was nothing else in her bag. After hesitating for a while, she had no choice but to pick up the men's facial cleanser that Shen Zizhe had left on the sink. After washing for a long time, she still felt her face was greasy and sticky. Her luggage would not arrive until tomorrow, and apart from a lip balm, there was nothing else in her bag. After hesitating for a while, she had no choice but to pick up the men's facial cleanser that Shen Zizhe had left on the sink.

After finishing the meal, Tan Ji called to say that the luggage had arrived at the entrance of the community

Tan Ruyi patted him on the shoulder and asked with a smile, "Have you had breakfast?"

Tan Ruyi let out a sigh of relief, raised her head to glance at the spotless white floor tiles in the living room, and then lowered her gaze to her red high heels, which were stained with wine, quickly retracting her feet. She cautiously took a step back, removed her shoes, and placed them with the toes facing outward at the entrance. Turning her head, she noticed Shen Zizhe's two shoes askew and tidied them up as well.

Twenty minutes after taking a shower, Tan Ruyi still put on the qipao she wore during the day, tiptoed to turn off the lights in the living room, and then walked to the bedroom. At the bedroom door, she paused and glanced at the sofa.

A shadow curled up in the darkness, indistinct, with only a roughly undulating outline visible

Shen Zizhuo's gaze finally settled on Zou Li, "Mom, no one can force me to do anything"

Good morning. Shen Zizhuo spat out the foam from his mouth and gargled.

Zou Li did not speak, first opening her bag and taking out a few cards to hand to Tan Ruyi. "Zi Zhe is someone who never wastes time and energy on things he does not like. Once you spend enough time with him, you will understand this, and there is no need to go out of your way to please him... To put it bluntly, who knows when the old man will pass away? After all, you two are not really a couple; a bit of pretense is enough. Here are my beauty and fitness cards from Chongcheng, the annual fees are quite high. I no longer live in Chongcheng and cannot use them, so I am giving them to you. There is also a gold card, the password is Zi Zhe's birthday, the amount is not large, just consider it a red envelope from me... To put it bluntly, who knows when the old man will pass away? After all, you two are not really a couple; a bit of pretense is enough. Here are my beauty and fitness cards from Chongcheng, the annual fees are quite high. I no longer live in Chongcheng and cannot use them, so I am giving them to you. There is also a gold card, the password is Zi Zhe's birthday, the amount is not large, just consider it a red envelope from me... It is hard work for you to act with Zi Zhe and to please the old man, so just accept these and buy some new things..." Zou Li's gaze inadvertently glanced at her, "Buy some new clothes; on the surface, you are now considered a member of the Shen family, so it would not be good to appear too shabby." It is hard work for you to act with Zi Zhe and to please the old man, so just accept these and buy some new things..." Zou Li's gaze inadvertently glanced at her, "Buy some new clothes; on the surface, you are now considered a member of the Shen family, so it would not be good to appear too shabby.

Xiao Baiyang smiled at her as she ran over, revealing a row of neat teeth

Shen Zizhuo came out of the bathroom, and Tan Ruyi hurriedly spoke: "Mr. Shen, come over for breakfast." Shen Zizhuo was heading towards the bathroom, paused for a moment, glanced at the dining table, and said, "I usually have milk and bread for breakfast, so you don't need to worry about it in the future." His tone remained flat, devoid of any emotion.

Shen Zizhuo had already entered the elevator, and Tan Ruyi steeled herself to follow him in. She gripped the handle of her bag tightly, straightened her back, and fixed her gaze ahead, slowing her breathing to an extreme, fearing that even the slightest sound would draw Shen Zizhuo's attention to her presence

The corridor is connected to a pitifully small window, through which a few rays of light seep in, struggling alone under the bright fluorescent lights

Not long after, the sound of water in the bathroom suddenly ceased, and Tan Ruyi instinctively sat up straight, straightening her back

After finishing the meal, several people gathered for a card game, while others accompanied Mr. Shen in conversation. Tan Ruyi was among the latter group, and when Zou Li returned from the restroom, she waved at her and called her to come out

Alright, you should also rest early

Due to her biological clock developed over many years, Tan Ruyi woke up at 7 o'clock. She tiptoed outside, and in the faint morning light, Shen Zizhuo was curled up, still not awake.

I will take a taxi myself

Tan Ruyi quickly replied: "Alright"

After hanging up the phone, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Shen Zizhuo from the corner of my eye. He still stood upright, gazing straight ahead, with an expressionless face, as if he had not been disturbed in the slightest.

Tan Ruyi quietly clenched her fingers and then slowly released them, forcing a smile onto her face, "Living under the same roof will inevitably disturb you."

What is wrong with arranged marriages? My grandmother and I had an arranged marriage! We have been together for sixty years! You all, one after another, are in free love, experiencing separation, divorce, and engaging in immoral behavior outside...

Tan Ruyi hung her removed coat on the rack at the entrance, tiptoeing in oversized slippers to the living room where she sat down. As soon as she sank into the soft and comfortable sofa, the tension that had been taut in her mind finally snapped. She allowed herself to lean her entire body against it, letting out a long, slow sigh.

Tan Ruyi's head buzzed with noise, her anger causing her heart to pound violently. She wished she could have 200,000 in her hands right now, to slam a whole stack on the table and sever ties with this entire family.

Zou Li smiled, pulled her hand over, and inserted the card. "I will leave first, catching the afternoon flight. Please say a word to the old man for me."

I will stay with you for a few days, and once I find a suitable place, I will move out. The tone has been considered several times, still leaning more towards discussion than notification

Mr. Shen, having gained the upper hand in this round, immediately broke into a smile, all his anger dissipated, "You all... listen carefully, this is... self-drinking... self-speaking."

When the elevator in the apartment building is unoccupied, it usually stops on the first floor. Shen Zizhuo had just pressed the button to go up when the elevator opened in response. Tan Ruyi was startled, glanced around, and found it quiet, with no other residents present.

Tan Ruyi was momentarily taken aback and averted her gaze

Dad, please don't be angry," Shen Zhixing immediately reassured, "Zou Li doesn't mean anything else, she just hopes that she can marry someone she is willing to...

Tan Ruyi listened in silence, not uttering a word

Shen Zizhuo entered the room, took a pair of flip-flops from the shoe cabinet in the foyer and changed into them, walking straight towards the bathroom while taking off the coat he was wearing and casually tossing it onto the sofa

Mr. Shen was thoroughly enraged, using his only movable right hand to lean on his cane, he stood up unsteadily, his piercing gaze fixed on Shen Zizhuo, "Zizhuo, you tell me yourself, are you doing this willingly?"

It is only at this moment that she begins to feel a vague sense of reality—this "shadow" before her will henceforth be her nominal husband

Tan Ruyi hesitated for a moment, curled her fingers, and stuffed the inferior plastic red flower into the pocket of her thin wool coat, quickening her pace in the night.

As the last batch of guests walked out the door accompanied by Shen Zizhuo, Tan Ruyi finally let out a sigh of relief, feeling as if she had just been pulled out from the depths of water, with exhaustion seeping into her bones. She propped herself up on the table and took her feet out of the constricting high heels. After standing all day, her feet were swollen and numb; at this moment, taking off her shoes and letting them air out for a while allowed her to regain some sensation. Just as she was about to liberate her other foot, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure flashing at the door.

Shen Zizhuo tore off the boutonniere labeled "Groom" from his chest, casually picked up the coat draped over the back of the chair, and said softly, "Let's go"

Zou Li took a sip of tea and smiled, saying, "The wedding was still held too hastily; I haven't even had the chance to get to know my daughter-in-law yet"

Is there a shortage of money

The door closed, and Tan Ruyi's shoulders slumped as well; she stood there with her head down, feeling dejected.

Tan Ruyi moved the box inside the door, while Shen Zizhuo was standing by the window making a phone call. After placing the box at the entrance, Tan Ruyi stood still waiting for Shen Zizhuo to finish. She walked up behind him, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke: "Mr. Shen."

Sister, will your luggage be delivered to you tomorrow?

She never discussed the reasons and consequences of her marriage to Shen Zizhuo with Tan Ji. The number of people who know the specific details does not exceed five, and even Shen Zizhuo's grandfather, Old Master Shen, was kept completely in the dark.

Tan Ruyi immediately straightened her body

Mr. Shen's descendants and grandchildren are scattered in various places, and currently, only Shen Zizhuo, Shen Zizhuo's uncle, and Shen Zizhuo's father, Shen Zhixing, are present. If it were not for the old gentleman Shen's illness, gathering everyone would not be an easy task

However, contrary to expectations, the mobile phone suddenly rang, its shrill sound piercing the silence like a dove's whistle. Tan Ruyi hurriedly reached into her bag to take it out and glanced at the screen; it was her younger brother, Tan Ji, calling.

Tan Ruyi instinctively nodded and was about to say "good" when Shen Zizhuo had already lain down on the sofa, pulling up a fleece blanket over himself. The sofa was quite short, and his legs, which were resting on the armrest, extended far beyond it. The fleece blanket also seemed small; he kicked at it vigorously, yet half of his foot remained exposed.

The younger generation, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren filled the table to capacity. Tan Ruyi was pulled to sit beside Mr. Shen, while Mrs. Shen introduced her to each person one by one. Tan Ruyi was so nervous that her palms were sweating; she only followed Mrs. Shen's introductions and did not properly remember many of the names.

Tan Ji shook his head and said, "I will go back to school to eat," then asked, "Where is my brother-in-law?"

The family banquet officially commenced, and everyone was in a harmonious and joyful atmosphere, as if the awkward opening moments had never occurred.

She brushed off the dust from her hands and turned around, only to be startled to the point of almost screaming—Shen Zizhuo was standing at the door of the private room, quietly watching her

11 o'clock

Shen Zizhuo did not look at her, tossed the towel he had used to dry his hair onto the coffee table, and then walked into the bedroom. A moment later, he came out with a blanket and a pillow. Tan Ruyi saw him walking towards her direction and involuntarily stood up to give up her spot on the sofa. Shen Zizhuo threw the pillow and blanket onto the sofa and looked at her, saying, "I will sleep on the sofa"

Shen Zizhuo emerged from the bathroom wrapped only in a bath towel, drying his hair as he did so. Tan Ruyi's gaze swept over his bare upper body, and she immediately averted her eyes as if struck by an electric shock

After Tan Ruyi quietly finished her morning routine, she went out to buy breakfast. When she returned, Shen Zizhuo was standing in the bathroom brushing his teeth

Tan Ruyi was well aware that Tan Ji would never ask her for a single cent. During his first year of university, it was Tan Ruyi who helped pay his tuition fees. Later, after receiving the national first-class scholarship, he returned all the money to Tan Ruyi, both in full and in parts. Since then, he worked to earn money and never once asked her for tuition or living expenses.

Shen Zizhuo turned around to look at her. He had already changed into formal attire, and the shirt and trousers made his expression appear more serious, creating a greater distance between them.

All eyes at the table were focused on Shen Zizhuo, as if his speech were as significant as the Normandy landing, capable of completely altering the course of the war

Her heart was filled with a sense of grandeur, as if she were soaring down a waterfall three thousand feet high, having already passed through countless mountains in her light boat. Yet at this moment, when faced with Shen Zizhuo's gaze, she still cautiously retreated into her safe shell. She forced a smile at Shen Zizhuo that was more pitiful than crying, and then she bypassed him, returning to that realm of false laughter that did not belong to her.

Everyone inexplicably fell silent at the same time, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. To the left of Old Lady Shen, a young woman had a child in her arms who was reaching out to tug at the tablecloth, only to be softly scolded by the young woman. The room became eerily quiet.

Only the mother of Shen Zizhuo, Zou Li, was remembered—Shen Zizhuo's pair of eyes resembled those of his mother, always carrying a hint of detachment and indifference when looking at others. It is unclear whether this is due to the light color of their eyes or if both of them are inherently cool and aloof by nature

She opened the shoe cabinet following Shen Zizhuo's method, searched around but only found another pair of men's cotton slippers. The sound of running water came from the bathroom; after hesitating for a moment, she still took out the cotton slippers and put them on

Tan Ruyi stood there with a sense of restraint, unsure of what Zou Li would say to her

But where did she get the 200,000? Even the qipao she wore for her wedding yesterday was rented for 51 days.

Tan Ruyi watched as Tan Ji's figure ran out of the community gate, and only then did she drag her suitcase and turn back.

Then you should rest early, and I will call you before I come over tomorrow

I am having breakfast. Since I will be having lunch with his parents today, I won't call you up to sit with us. Wait until I start my job, and then you can come over to play.

By the time the guests had all departed, it was already 11 PM. Tan Ruyi had never imagined that getting married could be so exhausting; it felt as if her ears were filled with a concrete mixer, rumbling incessantly.

Tan Ruyi's family situation, when placed in any forum's emotional and romantic section, can lead to numerous typical conclusions: she has a younger brother, her father is an alcoholic and a gambler, and she comes from a single-parent family. When someone introduces her to potential partners, others often hesitate upon hearing that she has a younger brother, fearing that after marriage, she might use her family's resources to support her brother in marrying and starting a family.

Tan Ruyi felt a sense of guilt and wanted him to return to his room to sleep, but his breathing was steady, and she could not tell if he had already fallen asleep. Tan Ruyi stood quietly beside the sofa for a moment, repeatedly opening her mouth but still unable to call out to him. Finally, she sighed silently, took off her slippers, and tiptoed quietly to the bathroom to wash up

Tan Ji is in her second year of university, and her score in the college entrance examination was better than that of her older sister. At nineteen years old, she has long legs and feet, standing in the morning sunlight like a tall young poplar.

Tan Ruyi, frightened, hurriedly stuffed her foot back into her shoe, stood up straight, and then raised her eyes to look.

After sitting for a moment, the waiter began to serve the dishes

Zou Li stepped aside to allow the waiter to bring out the last main dish, "I was just telling my sister-in-law that these days, arranged marriages are quite rare."

In such a tense moment, Shen Zizhuo remained calm and composed. He slightly raised his eyes and glanced at Tan Ruyi's face—Tan Ruyi was so tense that every hair on her body stood on end, unsure whether she hoped he would say "willing" or "unwilling." She was merely a tool to be manipulated at will, never wanting to be embroiled in the internal conflicts of the Shen family.

Zou Li's footsteps gradually faded away, leaving the corridor in complete silence. The laughter from the private room came through the door, faint and indistinct, as if it belonged to another world

Tan Ruyi had already portioned out the youtiao and soy milk, planning to fry two eggs. However, upon opening the refrigerator, it looked as clean as an unfurnished house that had yet to be renovated. Looking at the range hood and the gas stove, both appeared brand new, suggesting that Shen Zizhuo had never cooked at home.

Tan Ruyi did not know how long Shen Zizhuo had been out. If she were to see her throw away all of Zou Li's "good intentions," what would she think? But Zou Li was right; since it was merely a pretense, why should she feel obliged to show him a good face?

Shen Zizhuo put his phone into his pants pocket, picked up the coat from the sofa, and seemed unwilling to continue arguing with her on this matter. He stepped towards the door, saying as he walked, "I will go to the company for a while and will come back to pick you up later"

Tan Ruyi had anticipated that this family banquet would be difficult to endure, but she never expected it to turn out to be a banquet of Hongmen.

Tan Ji shook his head, "You are already married, think more about yourself." As he spoke, he tucked his hands into the pockets of his coat and took a step back, "Then I will take my leave, call me if you need anything"

Shen Zizhuo paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on Tan Ruyi's face for half a moment, "No need."

"Done." Tan Ji nodded

"In the future... there will be plenty of time to get to know each other slowly." Mr. Shen, who is half-paralyzed, speaks with great difficulty; nevertheless, this does not diminish the dignified demeanor that belongs to the head of the family.