Chapter 6

Su Ruo watched as Wu Guizhi sat down.

She simply sat there quietly without saying a word. She knew Wu Guizhi was not the kind of person who could stay calm for long.

Sure enough, as soon as Wu Guizhi sat down, she darkened her face and gave Su Ruo a once-over from head to toe with her eyes like knives. Then she said, “Second daughter-in-law, I already went to the party secretary and told him not to let you register for that so-called college entrance exam. You should already understand what I meant.”

“But now you went behind my back and persuaded Second to sign you up anyway. I can’t control that anymore. If you want to take the exam, go ahead. But I’ve made my stance clear—if you look down on the Han family and are dead set on going to college, then don’t expect to stay in this household. You can just go ahead and sign the divorce papers with Second. That way, you get exactly what you want, don’t you?”

Su Ruo was stunned.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, knowing this mother-in-law didn’t like her, she hadn’t expected her very first words to be about forcing her to divorce her “husband.”

This wasn’t just dislike—this was deep-rooted hatred.

She didn’t say a word but lifted her eyes slightly to look at her.

Wu Guizhi was met with Su Ruo’s clear, unflinching gaze.

Her eyes were so bright they tugged at one’s heart. Her delicate, slender neck was so pale it almost hurt to look at.

Another woman’s face flashed across Wu Guizhi’s mind.

In reality, the two women didn’t look alike at all. But in Wu Guizhi’s eyes, they were the same.

Both were pale. Both looked like they’d topple over with a gust of wind. Both only knew how to seduce men!

If that wasn’t being a vixen, what was it?

She had worked herself to the bone at home, helped Han Hehuai take care of the old woman, bore sons, raised sons—and in the end, got nothing.

That other woman? She only had to marry him after he became an important official to live a life of luxury, never having to suffer a single day.

She had endured hardship to give birth to and raise a son, only to have that fox spirit in front of her reap all the benefits—coddled and protected, held delicately in the palm of her son’s hand—while she, the mother, didn’t even get a spare glance.

Wu Guizhi was seething with anger and resentment as she said, “Don’t put on that look like I’m bullying you! All these years you’ve been married to our Second, the Han family owes you nothing—Second owes you nothing!”

“If you hadn’t seduced him back then and made him marry you against the family’s wishes, do you think someone with your background could’ve become a teacher at the village school? Could’ve lived such a good life these past few years? With a face like yours, you’d have been ruined long ago. It’s questionable if you’d even be alive today! So don’t act like you’re owed anything. If you want to leave, then leave cleanly. Don’t stay attached to Second if your heart isn’t with him—stop clinging to him, stop using him, stop sucking the life out of him!”

“You’ve drained him for years, that’s enough. Since you can go to college now and will have a bright future, then for the sake of the Han family, for Second who’s treated you decently all these years, do us all a favor—stop dragging him down.”

Su Ruo’s face went pale in an instant.

What did she mean by “you’d have been ruined long ago, might not even be alive”?

She wasn’t stupid—of course, she understood the insinuation.

And she was being accused of marrying Han Zecheng not because she liked him, but because she wanted to escape her own situation—seducing him, using him, draining him.

Then she remembered that line in her notebook: He is a very good man.

Su Ruo’s mind was in chaos.

But even though Wu Guizhi’s words had left her stunned and she didn’t know the full truth of the past, she was definitely not someone who would let herself be scolded into silence.

She had her own pride.

She gritted her teeth and didn’t ask her, “Mom, what do you want?” Instead, she looked up at her and said, “If you have an issue, shouldn’t you talk to your son about it?”

“I have my own salary, whose blood have I sucked, whose blood have I drunk? I’m not living off anyone’s money.”

She simply stated the most basic fact.

But the speaker was unaware, while the listener took it to heart.

Wu Guizhi was stunned by Su Ruo’s retort, almost jumping up in anger.

This fox spirit—what does she mean by that?

Is she relying on her son not supporting his own mother, but siding with this fox spirit?

And what’s this about “not living off others’ money”? Is she implying that she and the Lao Han family are living off the second son’s money, surviving on her little bit of cash?

Wu Guizhi’s eyes turned red with anger.

She shouted, “Your salary—where did it come from? Can you be a teacher if not for my son…”

“Then it’s still not because of you.”

Su Ruo was also furious.

Regardless of how things really were, she wasn’t going to just take it. She stood up and said, “If you want your son to scold me, let him. As for divorce, as long as your son agrees, I have no objections.”

How is she supposed to live like this?

She really didn’t understand how she’d spent the past five years!

Wu Guizhi was nearly driven mad by anger.

Su Ruo’s head was pounding. She was furious too and didn’t want to deal with her anymore. She directly lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over herself, and said, “If you want a divorce, have your son come tell me. Once I agree, it’s done.”

Wu Guizhi glared at Su Ruo, who was lying on the bed with her back turned. She was so furious, all she could manage was a trembling “you wait!” before she stormed off.

Han Zecheng went to the village to submit Su Ruo’s college entrance exam registration form.

It didn’t take long, but after arriving at the village, he chatted with the cadres for a while, and didn’t return until before dinner. As soon as he returned, his mother grabbed him, crying, and told him that his wife had no intention of staying with him anymore, urging him to hurry up and handle the divorce paperwork…

Han Zecheng returned to the room with a dark face.

Su Ruo was lying on the bed, thinking about things.

Her body still hadn’t fully recovered, and the argument with Wu Guizhi had drained a lot of her energy.

So, she lay on the bed, trying to piece together everything, trying to understand what had happened.

Although many details were unclear, from her notebook, the account books, and Wu Guizhi’s words, she managed to get a general sense of what had happened over these five years.

There was a result, but no details, and the reasons were unknown.

She saw Han Zecheng entering the room with a dark expression, and recalling that he hadn’t looked that bad when he left, she guessed that his mother must have said something to him.

She thought to herself, she wasn’t sold to this man… cough.

No matter whether she had “sucked his blood” or “used him,” she was probably only able to live smoothly and without trouble because of these forgotten five years… At this point, she could see that he wasn’t as tense and defensive as before. In fact, he seemed a little guilty… If what his mom said was true, that she didn’t like him and only married him for his money, then what had he said earlier about “if you meet someone suitable, we’ll discuss the divorce”? What would that make her?

She coughed and said, “I’m sorry, earlier your mom came over. She gave me such a headache with her yelling. With the way she was acting, if I didn’t agree to the divorce, she probably wouldn’t have left. I couldn’t convince her, so I just said, if you agree, I won’t object… I just didn’t want her to keep going on about it.”

Han Zecheng glanced at her and noticed her cautious demeanor, even… he wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but there seemed to be a hint of appeasement in her manner.

His expression softened slightly.

But he didn’t want to say much about the matter. He only said, “The paperwork is already done. The village will submit it, and once the exam admission ticket arrives, I’ll bring it to you. You just need to go to the county to take the exam.”

Su Ruo responded with an “Mm.”

She needed to figure out the situation as soon as possible.

For dinner, Han Zecheng served her food in the room.

Even though they ate in the room, it was just separated from the main room by a wall, and she could still hear the noise outside.

The sounds were mixed, and it made Su Ruo’s head spin, giving her a headache.

She ate the porridge with no taste at all.

But she wasn’t one to indulge in self-pity. Given the situation, her mind was already in turmoil, and her body couldn’t afford to be a problem either, or she’d be completely passive.

So, she forced herself to finish the bowl of porridge.

However, when he asked if she wanted more, she shook her head.

In the evening, Han Zecheng also brought her water to wash up.

Su Ruo felt a bit embarrassed, but she couldn’t refuse. She couldn’t go out and get water like a headless fly… And she didn’t even know where the toiletries or water were, let alone how to address him.

So she had no choice but to accept his kindness in silence.

After washing up, Su Ruo tried to calm herself down. She told Han Guo a story, but after a while, Han Guo fell asleep.

She touched the child’s head and looked at how tired he was. She didn’t know how long he had been guarding her.

Suddenly, she felt that having a son wasn’t so bad.

At least, in her current situation, it seemed like only this son could make her fully relax, offering a special kind of comfort.

“I’ll carry him to his room to sleep.”

While Su Ruo was lost in her thoughts, Han Zecheng suddenly spoke.

Su Ruo was stunned.

Carry him to sleep?

In his room?

Wasn’t her son supposed to sleep with her?

But before she could react or say anything, Han Zecheng had already silently picked up Han Guo and walked to the next room.

She watched his back as he left, and after he was out of sight, she lay down in a flurry of confused thoughts.

She lay there, staring at the top of the mosquito net for a while, then closed her eyes. In her heart, she wondered, if she fell asleep, would she wake up and find herself back in her own room, with everything she was experiencing now being just a nightmare?

Yes, it was very likely just a nightmare.

But before she could fall asleep, her wish was shattered.

She heard someone enter the room. Opening her eyes, she saw that Han Zecheng, who had left earlier, had returned.

He was standing silently by the bedside, staring at her.

He’s back…

Wasn’t he supposed to be with their son, putting him to bed?

In a daze, Su Ruo suddenly realized something…

The man now before her was her husband, and he was going to sleep with her.

It was only then that she realized, her sudden change in circumstances was leading her to face something else she couldn’t avoid, something she couldn’t cover up…

However, seeing him so serious and cold, after previously mentioning discussing divorce, maybe she had been overthinking things.

Her mind was a mess as she stared at him, not speaking for a while.

Han Zecheng noticed her gaze, which was filled with caution and unease, like a startled deer. Beneath her clear, moist, beautiful eyes, there was a look of anxiety that tugged at his heart.

He quickly averted his gaze, muttering, “Sleep,” before turning to the table, blowing out the oil lamp, then, in the darkness, removed his outerwear and climbed into bed.

Su Ruo had no experience sharing a bed with a man.

In the dark, she vaguely saw him climb into bed. Then, the bed beside her sank, as half of it was now pressed down.

She could also smell a faint fragrance of soap—though not strong, it made her feel a little suffocated, and her heart began to race.

Her hand gripped the blanket tightly.

They remained silent for what felt like an eternity. She thought she should say something, anything, to calm herself down.

She also needed to ask him some questions.

As she was about to take a careful breath and speak, the man beside her suddenly turned toward her, pulling her into his embrace.

Su Ruo was so startled that she almost cried out.

Fortunately, she bit her lip, managing to suppress the sound.

His arm was strong and powerful, and being held by him felt like being locked in a steel vice.

Su Ruo’s heart raced, and she instinctively tried to grab his forearm, attempting to break free from his hold. But she heard him whisper in her ear, “A’Ruo.”

His warm breath washed over her, and she was now pressed completely against his chest.

He was so tall, and in his arms, she felt like a small fish trapped in a net, with no way to escape.

Su Ruo was on the verge of tears.

Then, she heard him say in a low voice, “A’Ruo, when we got married, you promised me you would live a good life with me. Does that still count?”

Su Ruo was stunned for a moment.

Had she really said that to him?

In that brief moment of confusion, she stopped struggling.

He then propped himself up, leaning over to look at her. He saw her wide eyes staring at him in helplessness, and some emotion stirred within him. He lowered his head and kissed her on the eyes.

Su Ruo instinctively closed her eyes, and his kiss moved from her eyes to her slightly dry, red lips, caused by her illness.

Su Ruo’s head was spinning.

She opened her mouth to say something, but it only gave him an opportunity to deepen the kiss.

At first, it was gentle, restrained, and careful, as if trying to comfort her. But the sweetness soon overwhelmed him, and he kissed her desperately, as if wanting to swallow her whole.