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Wei Ting clearly hadn’t expected that answer. But when he saw Jin Zhao’s eyes suddenly light up with excitement, so genuine it didn’t seem like an act, he flipped through the documents in his hand and asked casually,
“You’re that short on money?”
He remembered that when they got married, the Jin family had allocated her a good number of assets. On top of that, the Wei family’s old master had gifted her a generous dowry. No matter how recklessly she spent, she shouldn’t be strapped for cash.
Unless she had done something behind his back.
Jin Zhao suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She wasn’t exactly broke, but most of the original Jin Zhao’s money had been lost under the persuasion of others, thrown into ventures destined to fail. Coupled with her usual extravagant spending, her funds had taken a serious hit.
She still wanted to open a studio to continue her design career—and that kind of investment was no small matter.
“Who’d be stupid enough to complain about having too much money…” Jin Zhao muttered under her breath. “I knew it—men like you, all these so-called domineering CEOs, are stingy to the bone.”
Just like that Lu Sichen. When it came to risking your life, he made it sound so simple. But the moment cars, houses, designer bags, or watches were mentioned, he’d start accusing women of being gold diggers.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the phone on the coffee table chimed with a crisp ding-dong. Jin Zhao picked it up and saw a new bank transfer notification.
“Twenty-two million, two hundred twenty-two thousand, two hundred and twenty…” Jin Zhao stared at the long string of twos. There was no doubt in her mind—Wei Ting was mocking her.
But honestly, who would get mad at a mockery like that?
“Just say the word. I promise to be obedient today.” She immediately sat primly in the chair, letting the makeup artist work freely on her face.
Wei Ting glanced at the set of clothes beside him and raised his brow slightly. “Have them change your outfit in a bit.”
Jin Zhao wasn’t stupid. Clearly, he wanted to examine her body—to check if there were any moles, implants, or other surgeries. But as long as there was money involved, she was willing to play along.
“Husband, I promise I’ll be good,” Jin Zhao said, flashing an OK sign before following a few staff members into the side room to change.
There were only servants at home, so they didn’t bother closing the door—just pulled a curtain across. Sitting outside, Wei Ting could still hear the conversation inside.
“Miss Jin, you have such a great figure.”
The voices of the women inside were loud and lively.
“Totally natural. Want to give it a squeeze?”
“The butt is natural too—authentic, no fake, a real beauty!”
“How does it feel?”
Outside, Wei Ting’s expression remained cold. He had only asked the staff to check for scars or signs of plastic surgery.
Instead, she had been way too generous.
And way too clever.
A crowd surrounded Jin Zhao as she stepped out. Wei Ting glanced at the faces of the staff, intending to see if any of them had noticed anything unusual, but instead, Jin Zhao came out blushing.
Why was she blushing?
He slightly shifted his position, and only then did the people gathered in the middle reveal their true faces.
She wore a red dress that reached her ankles, its V-neck cut boldly and elegantly. Her fair skin moved with the rhythm of her steps, the narrow waistline sharply defined.
“How is it?” Jin Zhao walked straight up to Wei Ting, spun around, then sat on the armrest of the sofa. Lowering her gaze toward him, she asked, “Am I ready to go out?”
Wei Ting’s eyes flicked toward the makeup artists standing nearby. It seemed they hadn’t found any problems.
“I’m going to the company. Are you coming too?” Wei Ting stood up, and the height and power dynamic between them instantly shifted. Now it was Jin Zhao who was being scrutinized under his lowered gaze.
“Going on a date at the company?” Jin Zhao thought for a moment. It seemed that once he had achieved his goal during the wardrobe change, he no longer needed her.
She still had to be a third wheel, though. “I’m not familiar with the routes. Where’s your driver? Let me borrow the car for two days—I’ll return it once I find a new one.”
She wasn’t used to the roads in the New World, and the original driver had just been fired. If she got lost and missed important scenes, that would be a disaster.
“Assistant Qin can’t lend you the car,” Wei Ting said, feeling it was time to keep an eye on this “new” wife. “I’ll drive you today.”
Jin Zhao was naturally happy about this. She had wanted to get on Wei Ting’s good side anyway, so she could make a splash in the capital city.
She strode ahead casually, tossing a light reminder over her shoulder to the person following behind.
“Don’t forget the bag.”
A sharp, dangerous glare swept over her back. “Who are you talking to?”
Only then did Jin Zhao realize the person behind her wasn’t the little assistant from her old world. Now she was the one who needed to cling to power. She timidly replied, “Talking about myself…”
Clutching her beloved bag, she followed Wei Ting eagerly. “Will you pick me up tonight? Or should I come to the company to find you?”
“Whatever,” Wei Ting said with a slight frown. Ever since they got in the car, the person beside him hadn’t stopped talking.
He had just been thinking that if she had no hidden motives and was only after wealth and status, then she was no different from the previous Jin Zhao—just another pawn kept in the Courtyard as a shield for their alliance, blocking those unwanted people who came knocking for him.
Then, in the next moment—
He caught the sly little glances she kept throwing at his computer.
“What are you trying to look at?” Wei Ting asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
Jin Zhao showed no guilt at being caught; she had wanted to ask this question for a long time.
“Husband, can you tell me which stock I can invest in that’s guaranteed to earn steady profits? Ideally, one that can double my returns.”
Wei Ting lifted his chin and studied her carefully. “What did you buy before?”
“Lu Corporation…” Jin Zhao was too embarrassed to say more. How could the original Jin Zhao be so foolish—loving someone meant buying stocks in his company, as if she were cheering for her idol.
Besides, idols would say thank you, big sister. But Lu Sichen was the kind who would just say, “Stay away from me, woman.”
“I’ve never heard of it,” Wei Ting scoffed, disbelief clear in his eyes. “What obscure little company is that? Looks like you really have become smarter?”
Jin Zhao heard this and felt a bit defiant, leaning closer. “Of course, what else? Isn’t it obvious?”
Clearly, the most obvious change should be that she had become prettier. Now she looked like a fair-skinned, beautiful but wicked supporting female character. She tilted her head and waved it in front of Wei Ting’s eyes.
Before he could answer, an iPad was suddenly placed between them.
Jin Zhao held the iPad with a puzzled expression. “Are you asking me to look in the mirror myself? Well, I already look beautiful.”
Wei Ting ignored her.
She lowered her head to look at the screen filled with dense numbers and English words mixed together. She let out a disbelieving cold laugh. “Is this… English and math cheating on each other?”
“Not smarter?” Wei Ting thought it was time to stay quiet for a moment. “Do it.”
Jin Zhao doubted she heard correctly. “That’s all?”
Wei Ting didn’t even look at her, only glanced at the documents in his hand. “Problems.”
Jin Zhao stared at the dizzying array of problems. After all, she had graduated from a prestigious university—who could look down on her? She muttered softly to herself as she worked through the questions.
“I’ve only ever heard of people doing calligraphy with the character for love at the end, never of adults doing riddles with characters.”
Is this even possible?
Assistant Qin, who was driving, was already drenched in sweat. Carefully, he raised the divider between the front and back seats to avoid overhearing anything he shouldn’t.
Only when they got out of the car did silence finally fall. Wei Ting looked out at the restaurant, decorated with an unusually girlish charm, and suddenly remembered today was Valentine’s Day.
He glanced over at the person still absorbed in the tablet.
“Get out.”
Jin Zhao returned the tablet with a bit of deflation. “Sorry, I couldn’t solve it.”
Without even glancing, Wei Ting closed the screen and said flatly, “If you actually solved the world’s unsolved problems, I’d have to send you for human experiments.”
The moment Jin Zhao heard “human experiments,” every hair on her body stood on end. She definitely had some research value right now, but without looking back, she grabbed her bag and got out.
“Hello, husband. Goodbye, husband.”
What a terrifying man. Never again, ahhh!