“What’s wrong? Has he been mistreating you?” Cheng Li immediately sat up straight, looking serious.

“Not really…” Chu Yi found it hard to articulate, hesitating before speaking.

“Well… you know, he’s very busy with work, and I sleep in every day. I only get to see him when he comes home, and sometimes we don’t even have a chance to talk.”

“And I don’t understand much about his work. There are a lot of confidential matters, so we don’t have many common topics.”

Chu Yi hung her head, feeling dispirited.

Cheng Li listened, resting her chin on her hand, and after a moment of thought, she looked at Chu Yi seriously.

“Darling, when you were still in the courting phase, Qiao Anchen was already like this. So, you should have been mentally prepared before marrying him. Besides, marriage is different from dating.”

“Dating is full of novelty and excitement, while marriage is mostly about living together and enjoying each other’s company.”

“Marriage can be calm, mundane, and sometimes even tedious.”

“Of course—” Cheng Li’s tone shifted as she looked at Chu Yi with a sly smile.

“If you don’t like it, just end it and return to our single life. I have a bunch of fresh meat resources to keep you happy every day and partying all night!”

“…… Thanks, but no thanks.”

On the bus ride home, Chu Yi couldn’t stop thinking about what Cheng Li had said. She understood the logic, but reality always seemed to fall short of ideal expectations.

For example, she had received a message from Qiao Anchen saying he wouldn’t be home for dinner.

It was like a routine report, without any extra words or emotions. Indeed, Qiao Anchen didn’t seem like the type to use emotional expressions. It was probably rare for him to take a moment out of his busy schedule to send her a message.

On the bright side, Qiao Anchen finally had some time off that week.

Before going to bed, Chu Yi, full of anticipation, discussed plans for the next day with him.

“Several new movies have been getting great reviews lately. Should we go watch one?”

“Or we could go hiking. How about Little South Mountain? It has a cable car, and the view from the top is great and cool.”

“Oh, or we could go shopping. I noticed you don’t have many clothes in your closet. Want to buy a few new outfits?”

Chu Yi waited expectantly for Qiao Anchen’s response.

“Chu Yi, we might need to go home tomorrow.” For some reason, Qiao Anchen found it hard to speak under her gaze.

“It’s been half a month since we last visited my parents.”

“Oh.” Chu Yi’s mood immediately dropped but soon lifted without any dissatisfaction.

“We should indeed visit my parents. I was being inconsiderate, only thinking about having fun.”

“Let’s go out again when I have time off next.” Qiao Anchen comforted her by ruffling her hair. Chu Yi’s slight disappointment vanished instantly, and she looked at him with a bright smile.

This was the first time they visited Qiao Anchen’s parents after marriage. Both elders were very well-preserved. Qiao Anchen inherited the best traits from both of them, with his mother’s exquisite and beautiful features and his father’s dignified demeanor.

Tian Wan was a very gentle person, with the tolerance and wisdom unique to older individuals. Her personality was very different from Wen Fang’s, and she liked Chu Yi a lot.

From a young age, Chu Yi seemed to be well-liked by elders. Her appearance was cute and obedient, her personality lively and cheerful, and her temper soft and gentle.

When the four of them sat together, most of the conversation was between Chu Yi and the two elders. The atmosphere was happy and relaxed. In contrast, Qiao Anchen seemed like an outsider, sitting silently by himself, unable to join the conversation.

He showed no interest in the topic, merely paying occasional attention to Chu Yi while listening to their conversation.

“Next time Qiao Anchen is on vacation, let him bring you back here again. I’ll make you sea cucumber soup. Let me know what you want to eat in advance, and I’ll make it for you.”

Before they left, the elders saw them off. Tian Wan held Chu Yi’s hand, as if reluctant to part with her own daughter.

Even the way they addressed her was distinct.

Chu Yi was so moved that her eyes were filled with tears. She clung to Tian Wan’s arm, nuzzling her shoulder.

“Thank you, Mom—”

They bid farewell reluctantly for a long time. Qiao Anchen stood aside, feeling a bit impatient, and his father noticed, giving a snort.

“What’s this, jealous?”

Qiao Anchen frowned, feeling puzzled. “Jealous of what?”

Qiao Father snorted again. “Jealous that Chu Yi is more likable than you. You’ve always been like this, you stubborn kid. Luckily, Chu Yi doesn’t mind and is willing to marry you.”

Qiao Anchen: “……”

Plans never go as expected. The following week, Chu Yi didn’t get to taste Tian Wan’s sea cucumber soup because Qiao Anchen had to visit someone in the countryside.

He had been working intensely lately, dealing with a difficult case and often working late. He looked exhausted and spoke much less.

Chu Yi tried not to disturb him, and time passed day by day. Before they knew it, it had been a month since their marriage.