On the way out of Golden Crest Properties, Wu Qingyi suddenly asked, puzzled, "Why did you rent so many cars and bodyguards just to pick me up?" Wang Hao froze for a split second. Her words made him realize something he had completely overlooked - in her eyes, their young master was poor. How could a poor man afford armoured vehicles and a full security detail? These cars were specially customized, bullet-proof from glass to body, and the men escorting them were elite, hand-picked guards who followed the master day and night. There was no way he could let her think they were rented.
An idea flashed through his mind. He quickly composed himself and replied calmly, "These cars belong to my young master's father, and the bodyguards were also arranged by him. Even though young master is not wealthy now, he is still the son of CEO Wang Shenghao. When we attend banquets or official events, we can't possibly use rented cars and after the young master survived a life-threatening accident, his father insisted on assigning personal protection for his safety."
Hearing Wang Hao's explanation, a trace of worry slowly crept onto Wu Qingyi's face. Her fingers tightened unconsciously in her lap, and after a brief hesitation, she asked softly, "Is my husband's life… always in danger?" Wang Hao's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, countless answers rushed through his mind. If he said yes, she might be frightened beyond measure and if he said no, she would surely question the presence of so many bodyguards. Carefully choosing his words, he replied in a calm, reassuring tone, "Not always. Only occasionally, mostly due to business rivalries. They won't go as far as risking his life. At most, they try to interfere with our projects or create obstacles that could cause losses." Wu Qingyi listened quietly, her anxious gaze slowly easing. After a moment, she nodded in understanding, as if silently accepting the weight her husband carried.
At last, the convoy stopped before the arranged old, single-room house. They had been fortunate as this place belonged to one of the bodyguards and had been vacant for years, making it perfect for their hurried plan. The moment they stepped inside, an elderly woman stood waiting near the doorway, her posture straight despite her age, her eyes filled with quiet warmth. Wang Hao quickly stepped forward and introduced her respectfully, "Young Madam, this is Aunt Qiao Fen. She has been by Young Master's side since his birth and has taken care of him all these years." Then he turned slightly and gestured toward Wu Qingyi, his tone equally solemn, "Aunt Qiao Fen, this is our Young Madam - Wu Qingyi, Young Master's bride."
Aunt Qiao stood frozen at the doorway, her thoughts in utter chaos. None of this was supposed to happen this way. She had long been informed of the young master's original plan to compensate the bride handsomely and send her away quietly. Yet one instruction after another had overturned everything she knew.
First, she had been told to move into this cramped, aging single-room house with the young master and behave as though he had been living here for months. Then came the warning to conceal his true identity at all costs and just minutes ago, she was instructed to stand by the door and formally welcome the bride as if this modest dwelling were truly their home. But what unsettled her the most was Wang Hao.
She had served the Wang family for decades and knew him as a man who bowed to no one except the young master. Yet now, he addressed this young woman with unquestionable respect, calling her Young Madam without the slightest hesitation, his demeanour no different from how he treated Wang Lingxuan himself. Aunt Qiao could not make sense of it. Who exactly was this girl… and how had she, in such a short time, changed everything?
Wu Qingyi stepped forward and bowed deeply before Aunt Qiao. The sudden gesture startled everyone present - Aunt Qiao stiffened in shock, Wang Hao's eyes widened, and even Wang Lingxuan, who had been quietly watching from inside, was taken aback.
Her voice was gentle yet sincere as she said, "Thank you, Aunt Qiao, for taking care of my husband all these years. Thank you for not abandoning him when he became poor, when he could no longer give you a proper salary, and when his life was at its lowest." She straightened slightly, her eyes shining with quiet determination. "But don't worry," she continued softly, "from now on, I will take responsibility. I will make sure you are paid well, and together, we will take good care of my husband."
For a brief moment, silence engulfed the small room. Aunt Qiao had initially intended to stop the bride after all how could a young madam bow to a mere household servant? But the moment Wu Qingyi's words reached her ears, all thoughts vanished. Her mind blanked. She subconsciously thought of her bank balance, then frowned in confusion. When did the young master ever fail to pay me properly? Then another thought struck her even harder, since when did the young master become poor? Unable to figure it out, Aunt Qiao turned to Wang Hao for answers. He simply blinked at her, neither denying nor explaining, as if silently telling her that everything Wu Qingyi had said was exactly what she heard.
Aunt Qiao had lived through countless storms in the Wang household. In that instant, she finally understood, the move to this old house was not because the young master had fallen from grace, but because his bride believed he had. The realization left her caught between laughter and tears. Suppressing her complicated emotions, Aunt Qiao gently smiled at Wu Qingyi and replied warmly "I am only doing my duty. I have always treated the young master as my own son. Please… come inside."
They stepped inside the cramped house, and at that moment, Wang Lingxuan rolled forward in his wheelchair, his figure shrouded in a dark coat, a mask covering most of his face. For the first time in his life, Wang Lingxuan felt his breath hitch. He had prepared himself to meet a stranger, perhaps a woman forced into this marriage by circumstances but he had never imagined this. Wu Qingyi stood there like a beam of light that did not belong in such a dim space, her beauty so pure and striking that it left him momentarily stunned, his thoughts completely blank.
The moment Wu Qingyi saw him, her eyes curved into a radiant smile. Without hesitation, she hurried toward him, her steps light and eager, as if she feared even a second's delay. "Hello, my handsome husband," she said sweetly, her voice clear and warm. "I am your bride, Wu Qingyi." Everyone present there froze. She bent slightly to meet his gaze, her eyes filled not with pity, but with certainty. "From now on, I'll take care of you," she continued softly, yet firmly. "I'll protect you."
Then, as if remembering something crucial, her expression turned serious. "By the way… when can we get our marriage certificate?" she asked anxiously. "I'm worried about it. It would be best if we could do it today." Her grip tightened on the armrest of his wheelchair, her eyes shining with determination. "I don't want anyone else to steal you from me." She straightened, her gaze unwavering, her tone resolute. "You're mine," she declared. "Only mine. I won't let anyone snatch you away." Wang Lingxuan sat frozen in his wheelchair, his heart pounding wildly beneath the mask, utterly unprepared for the fierce, unwavering devotion that had just claimed him.
Everyone was taken aback by her boldness and by the unwavering resolve in her eyes to obtain the marriage certificate without delay. After a brief pause, Wang Lingxuan's lips curved into a faint smile. In a calm, gentle voice, he said, "Alright. We'll register our marriage today. Go rest in the bedroom for a while. Wang Hao will make the necessary arrangements, and once everything is ready, we'll head to the Civil Affairs Bureau." Wu Qingyi beamed at him, nodded obediently, and turned to leave. In a house that consisted of only a single room, finding the bedroom required no effort at all.
Once she disappeared into the bedroom, Wang Hao finally spoke, his voice low but serious. "Master… are you truly going to marry her?" Though joy stirred in his heart at the thought of Wu Qingyi becoming their young madam, he still needed certainty. He wanted to know that those words were not spoken merely to placate her but were a decision the young master had made with full resolve.
Wang Lingxuan understood Wang Hao's concern. A faint smile curved his lips as he replied calmly, "Of course I'm marrying her. After all, she vowed to take care of me and protect me… didn't you hear her? I belong to her only." With that, his expression turned decisive. He instructed Wang Hao to prepare all the necessary documents immediately and to inform the officers at the Civil Affairs Bureau to make the arrangements. Then he turned to Aunt Qiao and said gently, "Aunt Qiao, please prepare lunch" as by the time Wang Hao brought Qingyi here, it was already past noon.
Before Wang Hao could leave to make the arrangements, Aunt Qiao stopped him, her brows tightly knit. "Wasn't the bride supposed to be Miss Liu Wuxin?" she asked in a low voice. "Then who is this, Miss Wu Qingyi? Don't you feel… something is wrong with her?" Wang Hao paused, then sighed softly. He knew Aunt Qiao would be the one staying closest to both master and madam and she deserved to know the truth. So, he told her everything about how the Liu family had switched the bride at the last moment, the humiliation they had endured, and how Wu Qingyi had stepped into the marriage without fear or complaint.
He also explained her condition, speaking carefully. "Young Madam has some mental challenges. That's why she isn't afraid of young master like others are. Instead… she truly cares for him." After a brief pause, he added quietly, "She even believes master is poor. With what little savings she has, she's already planning to buy him a house." Aunt Qiao fell silent. The doubts in her eyes slowly softened, replaced by something warm and complicated. If what Wang Hao said was true, then this girl whether foolish or not, had a heart purer than most so-called normal people. Seeing her expression change, Wang Hao knew his purpose was achieved. He wanted Aunt Qiao to understand one thing clearly that the young madam might not be perfect, but she was kind, sincere, and genuinely devoted to their master.