Qiu Qiu sat at the front desk, deep in thought.

“Qiu Qiu, what are you waiting for?”

Qiu Qiu pointed to the two people not far away and asked Lin Mu, “Are those two really rivals?”

Lin Mu glanced at them and smiled faintly. “Not all rivals get worked up when they meet. Zeyang should be discussing something with your brother-in-law.” Lin Mu then looked at Qiu Qiu. “What about your sister?”

“She’s not in the courtyard anymore?”

“She’s not. I just came from the back.”

Qiu Qiu said, “Then she might have gone to her room.”

She knew that when her sister was in a bad mood, she usually hid in her room.

In fact, Zhou Zuizui was indeed in her room.

It was still daytime, and sunlight streamed in through the window.

Zhou Zuizui lay on the bed trying to forget what had just happened and fall asleep, but she couldn’t.

She stared at the sunlight coming through the window, blinking her eyes, her emotions showing.

Shen Nan’s sudden return and his intention to take her back had disrupted her calm and enjoyable life.

For some, Zhou Zuizui and Shen Nan’s marriage was a good match, but for them, it wasn’t necessarily so. At least, it wasn’t for her at the beginning.

When she met Shen Nan, she had just graduated from university a year prior.

Zhou Zuizui’s entire life had been meticulously planned out from childhood—what school to attend, which class to be in, even what friends to have and what time to come home. She had never had any say in her own life.

Yet, she had a soul that yearned for freedom. She wanted to live freely and do whatever she wanted.

At first, Zhou Zuizui had pretended well at home because she wanted to fight for her own freedom and the life she wanted after graduation.

But she had underestimated some people’s determination and means, and overestimated her own abilities.

After graduating from university, Zhou Zuizui wanted to move to the ancient town to live with her grandmother, but was stopped. Even her work location was strictly arranged by certain people.

She thought she would have a chance to leave eventually.

But when arranged for a blind date repeatedly, no matter what threats she used, it was useless. They never listened to her opinions or ideas, only followed their own plans.

Until an unexpected turn of events led her to meet Shen Nan. Even then, Zhou Zuizui had no intention of staying in the big city.

At that time, she had only met Shen Nan a few times and shared a few meals, all arranged by their parents.

Zhou Zuizui sensed that Shen Nan wasn’t interested in her, and she felt the same way about him. She preferred being single and returning to the ancient town.

So after a few meals, Zhou Zuizui wanted to go back to the ancient town. This suggestion was met with strong opposition from her family, especially her father, who even locked her up to prevent her from returning.

Later, they threatened her with things she couldn’t bear.

Eventually, she compromised and married Shen Nan because he promised to help her.

They got their marriage certificate in a muddled fashion, and Shen Nan persuaded both her parents and his relatives, sent Zhou Zuizui back to the ancient town, and then took a mission to the frontier, not returning for two years. Zhou Zuizui enjoyed a peaceful life alone in the ancient town.

She didn’t have to face relatives or deal with messy affairs and wasn’t confined in a cage. Everything was neatly arranged.

Shen Nan, as he promised before the marriage, allowed her to do whatever she wanted and go wherever she wished.

Thinking about it, Zhou Zuizui couldn’t help but smile lightly.

The reason she agreed to marry Shen Nan was probably for this. She knew that without marrying Shen Nan, she would never have such a quiet and free two years.

And now that Shen Nan had come to the ancient town, part of her willingness to help him was to repay him.

Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside.

Zhou Zuizui was startled and said lazily, “The door isn’t locked.”

Shen Nan pushed the door open and entered. The room hadn’t changed since he last left. As soon as he walked in, Zhou Zuizui smelled the alcohol.

She frowned and looked at Shen Nan. “Are you drunk?”

“No.” Shen Nan raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze falling on her face. He paused, then walked forward and leaned in. “What are you thinking about?”

“Why didn’t you come back after five or ten years.”

Shen Nan looked at her in surprise.

Zhou Zuizui raised an eyebrow and said proudly, “That way, I might even forget what my husband looks like.”

She was quite cheeky and wasn’t afraid of Shen Nan at all.

Shen Nan watched her for two seconds in silence. After a while, he asked, “Did they call you?”

“They did in the past, but I didn’t answer any of their calls.” She had even blocked all the numbers.

Hearing this, Shen Nan couldn’t help but smile, his expression softening a bit. He nodded and said, “That’s your personality.”

Headstrong and a bit stubborn. Once she was set on something, no force could change her mind. Just like the dramatic things she did back then.

Zhou Zuizui took this as a compliment, shrugged, “Of course.”

She didn’t want to associate with those who saw her as a mere tool.

The room fell silent for a while. Shen Nan then sat on the sofa, legs open, looking at Zhou Zuizui without urging her or making any other moves.

Zhou Zuizui got up from the bed and looked at him. “Shen Nan, do the things you said still count?”

“Mm?” Shen Nan raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes fixed on her, deep and mysterious.

Zhou Zuizui lowered her head, a hint of mischievous amusement in her eyes, then looked up and asked softly, “Does it still count if you said you would protect me for a lifetime?”

**

Author’s Note:

Captain Shen: My wife is definitely plotting something messy again.

Zhou Zuizui: Otherwise, why would she suddenly bring up what you said when you tricked me into marrying you!

Captain Shen: What can I do? I have to pamper my own wife.