Chapter 3 Claiming Territory
His father was superstitious and insisted on waiting for an auspicious date to register the marriage.
Shen Zhiye acted like he was afraid I'd run away, following me everywhere and refusing to go home.
"Don't overthink it," he said, hands in his pockets, trying to sound casual.
"I just figured you're new here, don't know anyone. As your fiancé, it's my duty to keep you company."
I glanced at my parents, who had just seen his father off, and at my adopted sister who never spared me a proper look.
"You know them well?"
Before Shen Zhiye could answer, Gu Qingqing cut in, voice sickly sweet.
"Brother Xiaoye used to come over all the time when we were kids."
She reached to link her arm with his.
Shen Zhiye dodged lightning-fast, ducking behind me instead and yelling dramatically.
"Who are you, lady? I'm a married man!"
Then he deliberately burrowed into my arms, tilting his face up like a spoiled puppy.
"Wife, I only play with you."
Gu Qingqing's face cycled between white and red.
In the end she could only stiffly take my father's arm, forcing a smile.
"Dad, Sister and Brother Xiaoye are really close..."
My father hurried to smooth things over.
"Xiaoye, Qingqing isn't an outsider..."
But Shen Zhiye clearly wasn't having it.
"Sorry, I don't talk to women who aren't my Wife—especially not pointless chatter."
Then he grabbed my hand and dragged me upstairs.
He clearly knew the Gu house well.
He went straight to my bedroom on the second floor.
But once he pushed the door open, his brows knitted tight.
My heart jumped to my throat.
Had I offended this young master?
"How is the Gu family this broke?"
"Huh?"
I was completely confused.
He looked disgusted as he nudged the sofa with his toe.
"Fake leather."
Then pointed at the plush toy on the bed.
"Knockoff."
Finally his gaze landed on the slightly worn bed.
"This broken bed—was it scavenged from a junkyard?"
Well...
I looked around carefully.
Everything seemed fine to me...
Back with my foster parents, I'd slept in the storage room.
"I'm easy to please, you don't have to—"
"What!"
He cut me off sharply.
"My Wife, Shen Zhiye's Wife, living like this!"
Then he stormed downstairs in a rage.
Less than an hour later, my father led a huge team of workers inside, face twisted in pain.
In no time, my room was transformed.
Shen Zhiye proudly took my hand, eyes sparkling like a big dog waiting for praise.
"How is it?"
His palm was scorching.
My brain short-circuited and I blurted, "So hot..."
Seeing him freeze, I flushed and hurried to correct myself.
"I mean the room is really nice!"
From the corner of my eye I caught his huge grin.
I awkwardly turned away—just in time to meet Gu Qingqing passing the door.
She stared at the new furniture, face awful, and when her gaze swept over me I felt real hatred.