Chapter 20

She said, “Since we’re going to be husband and wife soon, calling you this should be okay, right?”

“Of course.”

The corners of the man’s mouth lifted ever so slightly—but it was fleeting, gone almost as soon as it appeared.

Perhaps it was pure exhaustion, but before Song Qingdai could say another word, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

For the first twenty years of her life, she’d always slept in a storage room—damp, stuffy, plagued by mosquitoes, rats, and snakes. Winters were even worse—cold and wet.

This was the first time she was sleeping in such a spacious room and on such a large bed.

In her past life, after marrying Zhang Shaoxing, he took joy in tormenting her. To outsiders, she was the glamorous Mrs. Zhang, but only she knew what kind of pain she endured whenever he came home—how he used every method to break her down.

“Qingdai?”

The man called out softly, only to realize she had already fallen asleep.

The person beside him breathed gently, evenly. Her body still carried the clean scent of soap, and the fragrance of her hair lingered in the air.

Strand by strand, it drifted into his senses—soothing and intoxicating.

Gao Han turned to his side, watching her sleeping face under the moonlight streaming in from the window.

He reached out and gently touched her cheek, as if handling a priceless treasure.

Very soon…

Very soon, he and Song Qingdai would be husband and wife.

Legally bound.

Meanwhile, over at the Zhang household, Zhang Shaoxing had changed into dry clothes along with a few children. The youngest one hadn’t stopped crying.

The kids piled on, exaggerating their stories and telling Grandma Zhang (their paternal grandmother) all about what Song Mingshan had done.

Song Mingshan stood pale in the living room, her eyes flickering as she looked toward Zhang Shaoxing.

Zhang Shaoxing remained silent, saying nothing.

The atmosphere in the room was stifling, unbearably heavy.

It was the peak of summer, and yet Song Mingshan was drenched in cold sweat, a chill running down her back.

“Auntie, I…”

“That’s enough, no need to explain. I believe you. It’s your first time in our home. I’m sure you didn’t mean for this to happen. I understand.”

To her surprise, Grandma Zhang wasn’t angry. Her voice was calm, even warm.

No scolding, no accusations—just kindness. Yet it made Song Mingshan feel deeply unsettled.

Because she hadn’t done anything wrong.

And yet somehow, she had ended up being the one at fault.

Especially the way Grandma Zhang spoke… it made Song Mingshan start to doubt herself. Was it really my fault?

“Shaoxing, dinner is ready. Bring it out.”

“Oh, and dear, it’s getting late. Why don’t you just stay the night? Shaoxing can take you home tomorrow morning.”

Grandma Zhang smiled kindly at her.

Song Mingshan blushed and looked toward Zhang Shaoxing.

Right then, he looked up, and their gazes met mid-air. Embarrassed, she quickly looked down, her ears turning red.

“My mom’s right. It’s not safe this late. Too many thugs out there. Just stay the night.”

Seeing how warm and welcoming they were, Song Mingshan didn’t feel right refusing. So she nodded and agreed.

After dinner and washing up, Grandma Zhang gave her a guest room—right next to Zhang Shaoxing’s.

Lying in bed, her face still flushed, Song Mingshan thought to herself: If I can get pregnant with Zhang Shaoxing’s child soon, my position in this household will rise dramatically.

In her past life, Song Qingdai had never managed to give Zhang Shaoxing a single child.

Grandma Zhang used to complain to everyone that Song Qingdai was barren, a useless hen that couldn’t lay eggs.

To Song Mingshan, Song Qingdai was a useless hen.

But she was different. Even her mother praised her—slim waist, wide hips—clearly built to bear sons.

Especially in wealthy families like Zhang’s, sons were everything. Only sons could carry on the family name.

If she could give birth to a boy, that would be the best outcome possible.

“Shaoxing-ge, I… I’m a little afraid of the dark. Can I sleep with you tonight?”

Song Mingshan showed up in the sleepwear Zhang Shaoxing had prepared for her, long hair cascading over her shoulders, revealing her bare collarbones. Her cheeks were tinged with blush.

She had lived one life already. She knew exactly how to seduce a man.

Before she left home, her mother had even given her some tips.

Show just enough, but not too much—be mysterious, tempting. That’s what draws men in.

Men like Zhang Shaoxing—older, with money—loved young, pretty girls.

And she checked every box. That gave her the ultimate advantage.

So this golden opportunity—it was hers for the taking.

Zhang Shaoxing stood at the doorway. When he looked down, the cleavage was deep and tempting.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly—a subtle, almost imperceptible reaction that Song Mingshan caught instantly.

Inside, she was delighted. I knew it. No man could resist this.

Not even someone like Zhang Shaoxing, who’d seen everything and already had three sons.

Only someone like Song Qingdai, stiff as a log and utterly boring, who couldn’t even have children, would go for a man like Gao Han—someone with no prospects.

“Xiao Song, if you’re afraid of the dark, you can sleep with the lights on. But we’re not married yet. Sleeping together might not be good for your reputation.”

Zhang Shaoxing said this with a straight face.

But it wasn’t her reputation he cared about.

It was that he couldn’t perform.

He was no fool. He knew exactly what Song Mingshan was thinking.

Still, with a pretty young girl willingly throwing herself at him, of course he wouldn’t say no.

But only after marriage—when he had her locked in.

What Song Mingshan didn’t realize was that she had already become prey—targeted by Zhang Shaoxing to satisfy a very particular taste.

She was deeply touched. Even now, he’s thinking about my reputation.

What a good man! Those other women must’ve been blind to think the Zhang family was some kind of wolves’ den.

Luckily, those stuck-up women all thought they were too good for an older man like Zhang Shaoxing—so the opportunity had landed in her lap.

“But… but I’ve never slept alone since I was little…”

“Xiao Song, I’m just next door. Go to bed now. I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow—there’s still wedding stuff to plan. Didn’t you say you wanted the grandest wedding in all of Hongxing Town?”

“Really? You mean it, Shaoxing-ge?” Her eyes sparkled at once.

In her past life, when she married Jiang Zhaoyun, their wedding was so pitifully simple. The dowry was only 800 yuan.

And he acted like she was the one who married up. What a joke!

“Mm,” Zhang Shaoxing nodded.

“Then I’ll go sleep now! Goodnight, Shaoxing-ge!”

Filled with joy, Song Mingshan couldn’t stop tossing and turning in bed. Finally, I’m taking back control in this life.

“Hmph! What woman dares try to seduce our dad?!”

In the shadows, several pairs of eyes had been watching Song Mingshan’s every move.

“Xiao An, Xiao Ming—are you two ready?”

The eldest, Zhang Zezhi, asked, his eyes filled with malice—not a trace of the innocence a child his age should have.