Chapter 5: Regret? Too Late!

The courtyard was bustling with the excited voices of the neighbors from the alleyway, and the sound of Pan Hehua knocking on the door urging them to hurry.

 looked up at the man who was staring intently at her, her heart still a little afraid. But she couldn’t show her fear, so she forced herself to look directly at him and nodded.

“I won’t regret marrying you.”

Zhou Yu clenched his jaw in frustration, his unruly face contorted with anger. He ran his hand through his short, stubby hair in annoyance.

The urging sounds from outside the door and the cheering from the courtyard came again.

Finally, the man impatiently spoke, “Let’s go.”

He turned to leave, but a moment later, his sleeve was pulled back.

He turned around fiercely, his thick eyebrows furrowed, and he growled, “What, do you regret it?”

He saw the woman standing beside him, her hand, which looked like it could snap with a single squeeze, wrapped around his arm.

Zhou Yu’s throat bobbed, and before he could push her away, Xu An whispered, “Let’s go.”

Zhou Yu felt uncomfortable, his entire body stiff. He stared at the woman’s porcelain-white profile, thinking, “If you dare to marry me, don’t regret it later.” He opened the door, allowing Xu An to lead him out into the sight of everyone.

As the door opened, the onlookers in the courtyard crowded around, their faces pressed against the doorway. The previously boisterous courtyard was now silent, every eye focused on the newly married couple standing in the dim light.

The woman’s skin was as delicate as jade, her updo revealing her exquisite and delicate features. Her red lips curved into a captivating smile.

The sky had darkened early, and under the dim light, her skin glowed white, as if shrouded in a soft mist.

Zhou Yu, who was always carefree and nonchalant, now stood beside the bride in a suit, making people forget about his injured leg. His physique was tall and strong.

The couple, who everyone expected to be a laughingstock, unexpectedly looked perfect together.

No one had imagined that the supposed country bumpkin would grow into such a beautiful woman, a beauty that even city dwellers couldn’t match.

Those who had come to laugh were now the ones being laughed at.

Zhou Yu impatiently pulled at his lips, “Finished watching? If you’re finished, then scram.”

Hearing her second son’s irritating voice, Pan Hehua came back to her senses. She frowned and said, “Second, how do you talk like that!”

“Alright, take your wife out and have some tea.”

Zhou Yu, with a cold expression, led Xu An step by step to the main room. It was only then that everyone noticed Zhou Yu’s limp, and they felt a pang of pity for the young bride.

Watching Xu An and her second brother enter the main room, Zhou Dandan couldn’t believe her eyes. She poked her sister-in-law, Feng Yirou, with a look of disbelief.

“Sister-in-law, that country bumpkin actually looks like this!”

“And she knows how to put on makeup!”

Moreover, even if she didn’t want to admit it, she couldn’t deny that Xu An’s makeup looked good, and her hair was also beautifully styled. It was even better than the hair her sister-in-law had gotten done by a professional stylist for her wedding. Zhou Dandan even felt like learning how to do it herself.

Feng Yirou, usually gentle and kind, had a cold look on her face. Her little sister was like a fly buzzing in her ear.

Her gaze fell on the bright red color, and she noticed her husband looking at Xu An and the second brother’s backs, his palms already starting to sweat.

Zhou Shuwen snapped out of his daze and said softly, “Let’s go in.”

He went first, followed by Zhou Hongguang, and Feng Yirou, her arm linked with Zhou Dandan, entered the room.

In the main room, Zhou Youlu and Pan Hehua were already seated in the main seats, with two cushions in front of them.

Xu An and Zhou Yu stood side by side in front of them, and Zhou Shuwen brought the tea from the table to them.

Xu An and Zhou Yu each took a cup of tea and were about to bend down to offer it to their father and mother.

Zhou Youlu slammed his hand on the table, staring at the newly married couple and said in a deep voice, “Kneel down and offer tea.”

Xu An stood silently beside Zhou Yu, her eyes fixed on her nose and her nose on her heart. Zhou Yu didn’t move, and she didn’t move either.

Zhou Yu lazily raised his teacup, looking like he didn’t care whether he drank it or not. “I can’t kneel, I got a leg injured in prison.”

“Second!” Zhou Youlu shouted, “Don’t think that just because you went to prison, you can do whatever you want at home. I’m your father!”

Zhou Yu glanced at him sideways, unconcerned, “You didn’t mention it, I almost forgot.”

Zhou Youlu was so angry that he wanted to grab a cane and beat him. Zhou Shuwen stepped forward to calm him down.

Everyone in the room watched this farce unfold. Pan Hehua still had some face left. She knew her second son was a wild one, capable of causing any amount of trouble for the Zhou family. She patted Zhou Youlu’s arm and said, “Husband, it’s our second son’s wedding today. If he can’t kneel, then let it be. We have other things to do after the wedding.”

Zhou Youlu understood her meaning and looked coldly at Zhou Yu. “Hurry up and offer the tea.”

Zhou Yu and Xu An finally handed the tea to them, and their father and mother, with cold faces, took a sip as a formality.

Seeing Xu An staring straight at her, Pan Hehua almost spat out a mouthful of blood. She handed Xu An the prepared red envelope.

“You two, live a good life together.”

Xu An took the red envelope and gently rubbed it with her fingertips, feeling its thickness. The dowry money should be enough.

She smiled at Zhou’s mother and said sweetly, “Thank you, Mom.”

Pan Hehua was furious but could only accept it.

Zhou Yu turned to look at the woman’s greedy expression as she held the red envelope, and he let out a sneer.

After the tea ceremony, the crowd dispersed, and the courtyard began to fill with the sounds of eating.

Xu An’s body finally felt like it was no longer a corpse, and she realized she was hungry.

She reached out and tugged on Zhou Yu’s sleeve, and when he looked at her, she whispered, “I’m hungry.”

Zhou Yu glanced at the woman’s hand pulling on his clothes and said gruffly, “Wait.”

Xu An found a chair to sit on and lowered her eyes, staring at the ground.

The surrounding gazes fell on her, but she pretended not to notice.

Zhou Dandan ran to Xu An and said, in a still unpleasant tone, “Second sister-in-law, you didn’t damage my makeup, did you?”

Xu An looked up and shook her head.

Zhou Dandan stared at Xu An’s red eye shadow and the seductive eyeliner, and couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do your eyes?”

She didn’t remember having anything that could create such an effect.

Xu An gently stroked her fingertips along her eye shadow, “I used eyebrow pencil and lipstick to blend it.”

Zhou Dandan suddenly realized. She had never thought of doing it this way. Looking at Xu An’s makeup, Zhou Dandan touched her own face, wanting Xu An to teach her, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask a country bumpkin for help.

Just as Zhou Dandan was about to say something, she saw Zhou Yu walk in with a cold expression, holding a bowl in his hand. He handed it to Xu An.

Xu An took it, her eyes fixed on the meat on top. She looked up at Zhou Yu and said softly, “Thank you.”

Zhou Yu, uncomfortable, said coldly, “Eat quickly.”

Xu An was genuinely hungry, so she ate the food in the bowl, even the less appealing dishes tasted delicious.

Zhou Yu stood with his arms crossed, watching her. Noticing the gazes from others, he glared coldly at each person, eventually standing in front of Xu An, blocking them completely.

After everyone finished eating, Zhou Yu didn’t ask Xu An to toast. The people in the courtyard gradually left, and the lively courtyard became quiet, leaving only the remnants of the festive atmosphere.

Zhou Yu took Xu An’s empty bowl after she finished eating. She sat on a chair, wondering where she would sleep that night.

After entertaining the guests, the family returned to the main room. Pan Hehua stared at Xu An’s face. This daughter-in-law from Nancheng was indeed beautiful and didn’t embarrass her, but she was too eye-catching, and Pan Hehua still wasn’t satisfied.

It was getting late, and Pan Hehua looked at Zhou Yu, “Second, you two will sleep in the west room tonight.”

“Shuwen will sleep in the same room with Hongguang tonight.” When she said this, Pan Hehua hesitated and looked at Feng Yirou, “Rou Rou, you and Dandan will make do for one night.”

Feng Yirou felt she had already endured enough. Since Zhou Hongguang, this troublemaking brother who had been in prison, came back, the entire Zhou family had to give way to him. It was as if the Zhou family owed him something.

He was a scum, a hooligan who had been in prison, and now he married a wife who wasn’t any better.

“Mom, I can’t sleep in Dandan’s room.”

Pan Hehua was in a difficult position. Originally, the second son had his own room, but it was small and had become a storage room after he went to prison. Now, even standing inside was difficult.

After the second son came back, he shared a room with Shuwen, and both brothers were unhappy. Now, the second son was married, and the storage room had to be cleaned up.

She also knew that her eldest daughter-in-law was definitely upset about this, but the wedding had to be completed.

There was no other way, so Pan Hehua could only wink at Zhou Hongguang.

Zhou Hongguang pulled Feng Yirou aside and said calmly, “Mom, I’ll take Yirou back to the dormitory tonight.”

Feng Yirou shook off his hand, “I’m not going. It’s so late, if you want to go, go yourself.”

Zhou Hongguang pulled her hand and took her aside, avoiding Xu An’s gaze. He whispered to her, “It’s your second brother’s wedding today. After the wedding, we’ll separate. You’ve always wanted to separate, right? Just endure one more day.”

Feng Yirou was still a little angry, but she did want to separate. She didn’t like any of the people in this family, especially Zhou Yu, who had been in prison.

“I’m only enduring this once.”

Zhou Hongguang put his arm around her shoulders, “Don’t worry.”

Feng Yirou finally stopped arguing.

Zhou Hongguang smiled and said, “Mom, it’s okay, let Yirou sleep with Dandan, and I’ll sleep with Shuwen.”

His eldest son was always resourceful, and Pan Hehua was finally satisfied.

Since everything was arranged, Pan Hehua urged everyone to go to rest.

“Alright, alright, you’ve all worked hard today. Go to rest. There’s still a lot to do tomorrow.”

Xu An followed Zhou Yu and went to the west room.

As soon as they entered the room, Xu An saw books and a desk, all neatly arranged. She sat on a chair, glanced at the book on the desk, and saw Zhou Shuwen’s name on it.

She looked around the room. The only things that belonged to Zhou Yu were the red window decorations and the bed sheets he was changing.

Zhou Yu silently changed his clothes and went out. After a while, he came back with a basin of water, his face cold.

Xu An washed her face first and sat on a stool to take off her shoes.

Zhou Yu stared at the woman’s plain face. Under the light, her skin was so white it was almost blinding. He silently washed his face, changed the basin, and brought the hot water into the room.

After Xu An finished washing her feet, she sat on the bed and opened the red envelope Pan Hehua had given her. She took out the money and carefully counted it, then handed it to Zhou Yu.

“Here, exactly one thousand six.”

Zhou Yu glanced at it indifferently, not taking it. He said casually, “You’re married to me now, right? It’s your dowry, keep it.”

One thousand six was no small amount. This man didn’t even bother to look at it?

Xu An blinked, “All for me?”

Zhou Yu turned back, carefully locked the door and checked if the windows were closed, preventing any cold wind from entering.

He didn’t even bother to answer Xu An, as if she had said something stupid.

Xu An pursed her lips and silently put the money away. Zhou Yu might be mean with his words, but he wasn’t greedy.

The room was silent. Xu An climbed onto the bed, lay down, and turned her head, looking at the man who blocked most of the light from the room. The fear and anxiety that had been buried in her heart finally emerged. She clutched the bed sheet and swallowed nervously.

Zhou Yu turned his head and saw the woman on the bed, only her eyes visible. He accurately caught the fear in her eyes and sneered.

Scared now? It’s too late.

He turned off the light, walked over to the bed, and climbed in.

Xu An’s heart pounded wildly, but she didn’t think about retreating. Since she had already married this man, if he really wanted to do something, she wouldn’t resist.

In the darkness, Xu An could only hear her own heartbeat. She felt the man’s slightly warm touch on her arm and waited for him to make a move.

After waiting for a long time, the man didn’t do anything. Xu An couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

She didn’t know if the person beside her was already asleep, but Xu An tentatively whispered in the darkness, “Zhou Yu.”

Zhou Yu smelled a strange fragrance, making him feel hot and restless. His throat bobbed repeatedly, and his craving for cigarettes seemed to be acting up. He said irritably and coldly, “I’m not interested in you.”

The man’s rough and gruff words startled Xu An, but hearing his meaning, she relaxed and whispered a low “Oh.”

She finally allowed herself to relax and fell asleep.

Zhou Yu clenched his teeth angrily. He couldn’t understand why he had to suffer like this. He cursed under his breath and closed his eyes. He didn’t fall asleep until late at night.