Chapter 22: Her Little Husband, Belonging Only to Her

Du Wanchun smiled, her brows curving gently. “Mother, I’ve always been your daughter.”

Madam Zhou suddenly realized this and reached out to touch Du Wanchun’s cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a smile. “Yes, you’re right. You have always been my daughter.”

“Mother, my dear wife, are you ready yet?” Zhou Ruiyuan slowly pushed his wheelchair as he emerged from the house.

Although he could now stand on one leg, it was still difficult for him, so he spent most of his time seated.

Du Wanchun turned around and saw that today, Zhou Ruiyuan had combed back all the hair from his forehead and secured it with a simple hair crown.

With his sharp, defined features and deep, expressive eyes fully revealed, he looked even more striking.

Du Wanchun had always known that her husband was handsome, but she had never expected to be so mesmerized by the sight of him.

To be honest, at this moment, she had the sudden urge to hide him away so that no one else could see him.

Her little husband—he belonged only to her.

Suppressing this little thought in her heart, she walked over to Zhou Ruiyuan’s side and helped push his wheelchair. “Husband, today when we visit my family, you don’t need to be wary of my father or my stepmother. From the moment I married you, they ceased to have anything to do with me.”

Zhou Ruiyuan looked ahead and said slowly, “We’re not going back today to visit them. We’re going to take back what rightfully belongs to you.”

“What?” Du Wanchun was taken aback. She had never mentioned anything about this to Zhou Ruiyuan before.

Zhou Ruiyuan gripped the arms of his chair and slowly stood up, enduring the pain in his legs. Turning to face her, he looked at her seriously. “The things your mother left for you.”

Du Wanchun quickly stepped forward to support him, confusion evident in her expression. “How do you know about that, husband?”

With her help, Zhou Ruiyuan gradually sat down in the carriage. “Madam Liu, the matchmaker, told me. She said your stepmother is ruthless and must have withheld much of your dowry.”

“I figured that the things your mother left you must be very important to you. You shouldn’t have to give them away for nothing.”

After finishing his words, he adjusted himself in his seat, then reached out and wrapped his arm around Du Wanchun’s waist, pulling her onto the carriage beside him. He took hold of the reins and urged the horse forward.

Du Wanchun leaned against his chest, tilting her head up to glance at his defined jawline, warmth filling her heart.

The carriage rolled forward at a steady pace. The spring breeze, fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers, brushed softly against their cheeks.

Leaning against his shoulder, Du Wanchun gazed at the lush greenery and the delicate pink peach blossoms of early March passing by.

A peaceful feeling washed over her—a tranquility so deep that it felt as if this moment could last forever, as if they could accompany each other for a lifetime.

Changliu Village was quite a long walk from Du Wanchun’s home in Xiangtan Village, but by carriage, they arrived at the village entrance in no time.

When Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan reached the house, they noticed that a luxurious carriage was already parked outside the courtyard gate.

Unlike their own simple carriage, this one was lavishly decorated, clearly belonging to a wealthy household.

If she wasn’t mistaken, it must mean that her stepsister, Liu Lanzhi, had returned with the eldest son of the county magistrate’s family.

Du Wanchun slowly got off the carriage and helped Zhou Ruiyuan as they made their way toward the house.

Before coming, she had originally planned to bring a chair for him, but Zhou Ruiyuan had firmly refused.

He insisted on walking, using the leg that had only just begun to recover, taking careful, deliberate steps toward the Du family home.

As she supported him, Du Wanchun could feel how much effort each step cost him. Holding onto his arm, she asked, “Husband, do you want me to find a chair for you to sit on?”

Zhou Ruiyuan shook his head, enduring the discomfort in his legs as he persisted in moving forward. “It’s fine. I can manage.”

Seeing his determination, Du Wanchun understood—he was doing this so that she wouldn’t lose face in front of her stepmother and stepsister.

At that moment, Liu Shi, her stepmother, noticed Du Wanchun approaching.

With her large, pregnant belly, Liu Shi waddled over to the doorway, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, Wanchun, so you actually came.”

Du Wanchun ignored her, supporting Zhou Ruiyuan as they walked past her straight into the house.

Zhou Ruiyuan happened to pass right by Liu Shi.

She lifted her head and finally got a good look at his face—instantly stunned.

Wasn’t the eldest son of the Zhou family supposed to be crippled?

How was he not only incredibly handsome, but also walking just fine?!

Shocked, she quickly stepped forward, her tone turning harsh. “Du Wanchun! Don’t you see your mother standing here?”

Du Wanchun stopped in her tracks, her voice cold as she replied, “My mother is buried in the ground—she is not in this house.”