---

Chapter 41

Lin Keying’s newlywed life didn’t seem to have changed much.

Yesterday, they registered their marriage and obtained a marriage certificate — one that she didn’t even hold in her own hands. Relying on their prenuptial agreement, she refused Cheng Wanting’s suggestion to move in together, choosing to string him along for another three months.

Oh, well — the only obvious changes were two things: the three companies and a 15-story property unit they visited yesterday afternoon.

With a dowry valued at tens of millions, Lin Keying now possessed several property ownership certificates. As she carefully admired them in her hands, her gaze unconsciously fell on the wedding ring on the ring finger of her left hand.

A simple silver band, minimalist and elegant, with a subtle row of small diamonds embedded around it, shimmering brightly at certain angles.

This was the wedding ring Cheng Wanting had bought — not the ostentatious engagement diamond ring for display at a wedding, but a simpler, more solemn piece.

Just this thin circle slipped onto her finger, as if binding her for a lifetime.

Lin Keying gently twisted the ring but found it fit perfectly and wouldn’t come off easily. She wondered how the man had known her finger size so well that the custom fit was flawless.

Since the wedding ceremony hadn’t taken place yet, the night before — after registering their marriage — the two had celebrated with dinner at the top-floor restaurant of the Peninsula Hotel. Yet, Lin Keying didn’t really feel much different.

It seemed only the ring on her hand reminded her of her married status.

The day after registering, Cheng Wanting promptly asked her to fulfill her wifely duties — choosing clothes for him and even personally tying his tie.

The man was very polite and, sticking to their agreement, asked:
“Mrs. Cheng, can you help me tie my tie?”

Lin Keying suspected he was being sarcastic. In the past, when he occasionally had her tie his tie, he would order her around assertively — where was all this politeness and courtesy then?

When leaving, Cheng Wanting also fulfilled his husbandly role, gently kissing Lin Keying’s forehead and saying:
“Wait for me to have dinner together tonight.”

“Okay.” After seeing him off, Lin Keying felt like registering their marriage hadn’t changed much at all — life was still life as usual.

In the mid-level villa, the servants seemed to feel the reality of the marriage more than she did. Everyone’s way of addressing her had changed, from “Miss Lin” to “Madam.”

“Madam, good morning. Do you have any preference for lunch?”

“Madam, your clothes are ironed and placed in the wardrobe.”

“Madam, the young master said his clothes are under your care too. What should we do with these…?”

At first, Lin Keying felt a little uncomfortable with it all, but after hearing it often enough, she gradually got used to it.

Aunt Hua was brewing soup in the kitchen with Amei helping her. Pork bones, a few slices of dried pear, ophiopogon root, figs, and sea coconut simmered together in an earthenware pot. After bringing it to a boil over high heat, it was left to stew gently, releasing fragrant steam.

With nothing to do, Lin Keying waited nearby, listening to Aunt Hua “chatter” enthusiastically about her soup.

“Madam, you should drink more nourishing soup. I’ve been making soup for decades — good for health and beauty, and it tastes great too.”

Amei chimed in to confirm:
“Really, Madam. When I first came here, I was skin and bones. Aunt Hua always left a bowl of soup for me, and that’s how I gained weight.”

Smelling the delicious fragrance from the kitchen, Lin Keying’s appetite was stirred, and she asked curiously:
“Amei, why were you so skinny before you started working here?”

Aunt Hua lifted the lid, stirred the bottom of the pot with a ladle, then covered it again and began recounting Amei’s past:
“She used to live in Kowloon Walled City. Her father passed away early, and her mother had a severe illness. Her family was too poor, and she almost sold herself to get money for treatment. You know how many gangsters were in the Walled City — this girl was naive and surrounded by lechers! Luckily, the young master met her while negotiating territory for the family business and saved her life.”

Amei’s eyes sparkled — at only sixteen, she was deeply grateful.
“The young master rescued me from Brother Biao and even gave my mother money for treatment. Although she passed away two years later, I wanted to repay the kindness, so I asked Secretary Yang to help arrange a job here as a maid.”

Though she said it was to repay the favor, Amei hadn’t expected that life at the villa would be so easy, with money for doing nothing. At first, she couldn’t even sleep well out of guilt.

Lin Keying had thought the young master was cold and indifferent — she hadn’t expected he could be so compassionate.
“I didn’t realize the young master was so kind.”

Amei went out to prepare other dishes. In the kitchen, Aunt Hua sighed lightly.
“The young master was reminded of his mother when he saw how Amei was desperate to save hers.”

Mentioning her late mother-in-law stirred some melancholy in Lin Keying’s heart.
“Why did the young master’s mother pass away so early?”

Aunt Hua sighed again.
“That year, both the madam and the young master were kidnapped…”

“Kidnapped?!” Lin Keying stood up straight in shock. She had heard that before the year 2000, there had been numerous kidnappings of wealthy businessmen in Hong Kong — all for huge ransoms, and even if the ransom was paid, many victims were still killed.

Aunt Hua had worked for the madam and, after her passing, followed the young master when he took over the Cheng family and managed the mid-level villa.

She knew all about the young master and madam’s past.

“Sigh, that was many years ago. The young master was only thirteen back then.” Aunt Hua saw that the nourishing pork bone soup was ready and busied herself dishing it out.
“Now that the young master is finally married, I’m sure the madam’s spirit in heaven will be happy.”

…

That evening, as promised, Cheng Wanting returned to the villa to have dinner with his new wife.

Lin Keying quietly observed her husband, but it was difficult to see any trace of a boy who had been kidnapped and ransomed at thirteen on his perpetually stern face.

After dinner, the two discussed the wedding preparations. Cheng Wanting didn’t understand the details and had left everything to his secretary, except for the diamond ring.
“There’s an international maritime exchange conference in Paris in four days. I have to go. Do you want to come with me? There’s an auction there for diamond rings — maybe you’ll see something you like.”

Luxury auctions were popular in Paris, with sky-high prices for antiques, pink diamonds, and blue diamonds — a pastime for the wealthy elite.

A trip to Paris and a diamond ring auction?

Lin Keying was tempted but had to decline.

“These days I need to oversee Xitian’s restructuring. Most importantly, I promised my godfather and godmother that I’d help sort out their assets — that’ll take a few days.”

Cheng Wanting coolly remarked:
“Your godparents aren’t blood relatives — just sworn ones.”

The implication was clear.

Feeling slightly guilty, Lin Keying clung to his arm and said:
“Honey, of course you’re the closest person to me. But I have to keep my promises — I agreed to help them first. Since you’re going for work, I won’t disturb you. Next time, we’ll travel together~”

Hearing her call him “honey,” Cheng Wanting no longer minded. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and he softly hummed in agreement.

---