After asking passersby for directions, Yang Chen slowly made his way to Longjing Garden as written on the card. Once there, he truly grasped just how wealthy his beautiful wife was.
Longjing Garden was an upscale suburban villa complex. Each villa stood at least half a kilometer apart, surrounded by pavilions, clear water, and lush greenery. Designed in classic European style, it exuded an air of profound elegance and luxury.
The guards at the gate eyed the unfamiliar Yang Chen with confusion—wondering why a wealthy man would walk in. But seeing his expensive suit, they let him pass without question, saving him the trouble of explaining.
Once inside the complex, Yang Chen walked over two kilometers to reach Villa 89. The villa spanned over 400 square meters, not including the outdoor swimming pool and massive garage. Built in Baroque style with heavy marble, it was impossible to fathom the cost of such a residence.
After ringing the doorbell, the intricately carved red wooden door opened quickly. A middle-aged woman in house clothes and an apron stood there—her face bore faint traces of age but was well-maintained, looking no older than her late forties. Her eyes lit up with joy as she greeted warmly, "You must be Mr. Son-in-law! Miss said you'd come today. Please come in!"
Seeing her familiar demeanor, Yang Chen relaxed, smiling as he entered. "What should I call you, ma'am?"
"My name is Wang Yulan—call me Auntie Wang," she beamed. "Don't call me 'Big Sister.' I've raised Miss since she was little. 'Auntie' is more fitting."
"Auntie Wang, you don't look old at all—you'd turn heads on the street," Yang Chen said sincerely.
No woman dislikes compliments, and Auntie Wang, though middle-aged, was no exception. She beamed, gesturing for Yang Chen to sit. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll finish up in the kitchen and welcome you properly. Too bad Miss has a meeting and can't be here."
"Auntie Wang, do only you and Lin… Ruoxi live here?" Yang Chen looked around. The three-story villa was fully equipped with modern appliances—white leather sofas, black marble floors, rosewood furniture, and several famous paintings on the walls. Blooming orchids by the window added a simple, elegant touch. But staring at the numerous doors on the second and third floors, he felt the space was eerily empty.
Auntie Wang sighed sadly. "Just us two women. It's so lonely. Miss is busy with work and rarely home. I'm stuck here alone most days. But now that you're here, Mr. Son-in-law—we have a man in the house. Finally, it feels like a real home."
Seeing her content expression, Yang Chen asked curiously, "Auntie Wang, aren't you surprised Ruoxi married me out of the blue?"
Auntie Wang chuckled. "Mr. Son-in-law, I've watched Miss grow up. She's never dated anyone, though countless men have pursued her. But if she's marrying you, you must be special. She's smart—I trust her judgment. No surprise there."
Yang Chen nodded in understanding, but thought to himself: She has no idea our marriage is a contract.
After a lavish lunch, Yang Chen burped contentedly, patting his full stomach. "Auntie Wang, your cooking is amazing—better than any fancy restaurant."
Auntie Wang beamed. "Really? Then eat here more often. Miss often cancels last minute, and I end up throwing away food. Such a waste."
"She's wasting good food—ignore her. Save the good stuff for me," Yang Chen said, patting his chest.
Auntie Wang laughed, knowing he was joking.
Once cleaned up, Auntie Wang removed her apron. "Mr. Son-in-law, let me show you your room. Tell me if you need anything—I'll buy it right away."
"My room?" Yang Chen froze, remembering he'd agreed not to share a room with Lin Ruoxi.
Auntie Wang led the way, explaining, "Miss thought of everything. She said you prefer sleeping alone, so she prepared a large separate room for you—filled with new clothes."
"Is that so… Ruoxi is quite thoughtful," Yang Chen said, scratching his nose—even he found the lie unconvincing.
"She's never cared this much about any man. And she said you're busy with work—we'll have the wedding later when you're free. She's always thinking of you," Auntie Wang said, smiling.
Yang Chen broke out in a cold sweat. That girl had covered all her bases, blaming everything on his "busy work." As if selling kebabs kept him that busy!
Entering his room, Yang Chen was surprised—it was enormous, bigger than his entire rented apartment. White sheer curtains fluttered by the floor-to-ceiling windows. A low king-size bed, a 42-inch Sony LED TV, an Apple computer on the nightstand, a classic table lamp, and glossy wooden floors filled the space. In the corner, a huge two-story wardrobe was stuffed with new suits, ties, and shoes.
Yang Chen smiled to himself. His beautiful wife wasn't skimping—she'd prepared all the props for their act.
"How is it, Mr. Son-in-law? To your liking?" Auntie Wang asked eagerly.
"Perfect—better than I imagined. Thanks, Auntie Wang," Yang Chen nodded.
"Thank Miss— I just ran errands." Auntie Wang was already eager to bring the couple closer.
Yang Chen didn't point out her matchmaking. "Auntie Wang, I have some things at my old place. I need to go get them—be right back."
"Of course. Some things you just can't replace."
"But…" Yang Chen smiled awkwardly. "Auntie Wang, do you have any transport here? A car or even a bike—anything to get there faster."
Auntie Wang stared at him in shock, as if seeing a ghost. "Mr. Son-in-law—you walked here?"
"Unfortunately, you're right," Yang Chen said, spreading his hands.
Auntie Wang laughed in disbelief. "Miss shouldn't have let you walk! You can't be so casual living here—you need a car. Come with me. We have a few unused cars—take whichever you like."
Yang Chen's eyes lit up. He'd craved driving since seeing Lin Ruoxi's Bentley Mulsanne, but couldn't afford a car. Could he get one for free now?