The woman was flustered and exasperated. The person beside her could not hold her back. Cen Shuang raised her head and looked at the familiar woman in front of her. She was the prettiest girl in the English department. Two months ago, she forced someone to marry her because she got pregnant. This kind of person still had the gall to laugh at her. "Am I shameless or are you shameless? You hit second young master Lin's child and climbed into the bed of that security company's boss. You could stomach that? I heard that the head of the security firm is over forty years old and wants to have a son. What if you can't give birth to a son?"
Cen Shuang's voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Mu Sensen held back her laughter and tugged on Cen Shuang's arm. "Is he really forty years old?"
"Probably a few years older than your father. His wife has four daughters and he really wants a son."
"It can't be. Doesn't that mean she will give birth to his child? If she gives birth to his child, the child will be illegitimate."
Cen Shuang was from a wealthy family. In the past, a small security company like this was nothing to the Cen family. However, this information was not a secret.
"You're just one of his possessions. If he's unhappy with you, you will have nothing. You're shameless."
"You are talking about yourself, right? If you can't give birth to a son, you will have nothing." Cen Shuang sized up the young woman. When she saw the diamond necklace around her neck, she sneered.
"Cen Shuang, you're no longer a rich young lady. You think you're much more noble than me. To put it bluntly, we'll just wait and see. Let's see who will have the last laugh."
The woman left after uttering her vicious words. She left with her lackey. Cen Shuang looked at the woman's retreating back and suddenly saw some traces of herself in her.
"Ugh, you're so vain. Yet, you bad-mouth other people..."
"She's right. In essence, I'm no different from her." Wasn't she marrying Zhuang Hong for the life that the Zhuang family could give her? What else could she be after? Could it be that she was only interested in the person lying in bed even though he only knew how to breathe?
"How can it be the same? You're married, she's someone's lover."
Cen Shuang cautioned her with a glance, afraid that others would hear her. She could not help but laugh. "Alright, I'm married. No matter what, it's a legitimate marriage." In reality, there had not even been a wedding. She had been quietly brought into the Zhuang family.
When night fell, Cen Shuang changed Zhuang Hong's clothes and took off her own clothes. The best thing about Zhuang Hong's situation was that she could pretend that this person did not exist whenever she wanted. In this room, she could do whatever she wanted. Right now, she even took off her clothes in front of him. She did not have to worry that the person on the bed would peek at her. When she was angry, she could use Zhuang Hong as a punching bag. If she wanted to hit him or scold him, she could do so. The half-alive person on the bed would definitely not return the favor. Cen Shuang took a shower and lay in bed next to him. She held a small book and swung her legs in the air without showing any restraint. She glanced at Zhuang Hong beside her and said, "Today, I'll read you 'The CEO's bride'!"
Every day, under Lan Yibai's supervision, she would read the news for Zhuang Hong although it contained data she was unfamiliar with, and difficult words. Each time, it was mentally torturing for her. Only at night, when the door was closed, did the husband and wife have any privacy. He would listen to whatever she wanted to read. He had no choice but to listen. In their room, she read the book aloud, taking him through each scene and each plot point. The soft sound of her reading was like the gentle breeze blowing through the willows outside the window.
In the dark of night, they leaned against each other. Cen Shuang looked at her phone and yawned. In the end, she ended up leaning her weight on Zhuang Hong. "Zhuang Hong, I'm too tired. I'll read more to you tomorrow."
As the girl spoke, she pulled the blanket over her body. She curled up and leaned against the man's body, muttering, "Your body is so warm."
He was a vegetable, but his heart was still beating. His body was warm, which made Cen Shuang feel safe. Perhaps they had been together for long enough that he felt familiar to her now.
In the study, Lan Yibai took something from Old Master Zhuang's hands with a surprised expression. "Dad, you..."
"Take it, give it to Cen Shuang." Old Master Zhuang sat in the chair, looking at the box with a nostalgic expression.
Lan Yibai looked at the sandalwood box in her hand, her eyes slightly red. These were too valuable. "Don't give it to her. She... may not intend to stay married to Zhuang Hong."
The Zhuang family knew that Cen Shuang had a motive for marrying Zhuang Hong. Lan Yibai and Old Master Zhuang knew why she was still here, safe and sound in the Zhuang family's home. It was because of the Cen family's house. If Cen Shuang managed to obtain it, the only thing that could keep her here was the flimsy marriage contract between her and Zhuang Hong. Lan Yibai knew that the box was filled with the dowry left behind by her mother-in-law. It contained Old Master Zhuang's most precious possessions. Even she had not had the chance to touch it after all these years. But now, Old Master Zhuang actually wanted to give everything in this box to Cen Shuang. Lan Yibai had not expected this.
Old Master Zhang waved his hand dismissively and asked her to put the things away. "Whether she is good of heart or not, we'll find out soon enough. Just give these things to her."