His grandfather once forcefully arranged a blind date for him and he brought the woman to this place. However, after she entered the house, she started to complain about the lack of elevators in this old neighborhood and criticized the outdated interior decoration of the apartment. Then, she told him bitterly that she could not tolerate living here for a day.
He, on the other hand, had his own principles and, in the end, they parted ways.
Yan Shu smiled gently. "This place is located in the city center with easy access to all modes of transportation. It's also close to where I work. It would be nice to live here."
She was not being polite. Before this, she could accept Gu Yucheng who had no house or car. Now her considerate husband went to the extent of preparing a matrimonial home for her. She was already very content with that.
Bo Su said, "Let's go in and take a look."
After entering the house, Yan Shu realized that Bo Su's worries were not unfounded. Not only was the house old on the outside, the interior design was also very outdated. The walls were covered in traditional printed wallpaper and the ceiling was painted with white latex paint. The television wall was protected by integrated panels and the mahogany furniture was intricately carved with traditional patterns.
Although the decorations were old, the layout was very stylish. The couplets on the doorways were elegant, and there was a garden connected to the living room balcony. There was a tranquil and refined ambiance about the place.
Ever since Bo Su entered the house, his gaze had been fixed on a painting hanging at the entrance. Above the painting was a family photo encased in an oval frame.
It was the only harmonious and happy family photo in Bo Su's memory. Back then, his father was handsome, his mother was charming and gentle, and he was cradled in his mother's arms, looking delicate like a sculpture.
His thoughts drifted off for a moment. He still remembered the time when his mother held him tightly before the accident. She must have been most concerned about him back then.
At that time, she spoke incoherently, expressing her fears that he might face the consequences of a broken family, be afraid of marriage, or lose his ability to choose a suitable partner like she did, resulting in an unfortunate and tragic fate.
Bo Su's eyes welled up with tears inexplicably. He mumbled to himself, "Mom, I brought your daughter-in-law here. I think you'll like her. She's unlike you. She's strong, optimistic, and confident."
Yan Shu's gaze, however, was focused on the calligraphy masterpiece written with a soft brush below the painting: "Be like the plum blossom, smiling in the face of frost and snow, with an unyielding spirit that never breaks."
Those words were powerful and imposing.
Yan Shu praised sincerely, "The owner of this piece of calligraphy looks a little like me."
Bo Su's face turned slightly pale. He looked at Yan Shu in a daze. Deep down, he was resistant to any similarities between Yan Shu and his mother. When he was looking for a wife, he deliberately avoided his mother's traits.
Hence, Yan Shu's words shocked him. "Shushu, you don't look anything like her."
Yan Shu smiled.
She was the best person to judge if there was any resemblance between them.
Yan Shu used her fingers to brush away the dust on the table and realized that there was a thin layer of dust settled on the surface. Hence, with the poise of the lady of the house, she entered the bathroom and came out shortly with a mop and a rag.
Bo Su looked at Yan Shu with a dazed expression on his face.
Yan Shu was wearing a white sleeveless cotton dress. Her long silky hair was casually braided to one side. A beaded hair-tie was attached to the base of her braid, making her look intellectual, elegant, and youthful.
She started mopping the floor and wiping the table like a virtuous housewife.
She looked so much like his mother.
Bo Su suddenly walked over and hugged Yan Shu's waist gently from behind. He said in a shaky voice, "Shushu, you don't have to do such dirty and tiring work. I'll call a housekeeping auntie over to clean up later."
Yan Shu's forehead was already covered in sweat and her obsidian eyes were glowing. "Bo Su, I sit in the consultation room all day. Just let me do something."
Bo Su stared into her eyes, which were looking as bright as the galaxy. They looked so pure without a trace of impurity.
Bo Su thought of his mother again. She was kind, innocent, and hardworking.
A firm voice suddenly seemed to emerge from Bo Su's heart. "Bo Su, you must protect her well."
"Do you like it here?" Bo Su asked.
Yan Shu smiled and gave her objective opinion happily, "Although the decoration looks a little old, there's a rich scholarly aura about this place, especially this calligraphy painting and the garden. I love them very much."
Bo Su smiled.
His smile was like a spring breeze that was blowing at the peach blossoms. It was beautiful and warm.
He turned around and took out an exquisite box from the drawer, before handing it solemnly to Yan Shu.
"Shushu, I called you here today to give you this."
Yan Shu took the box and opened it.
Inside, there was a set of keys, a bank card, a set of emerald jewelry, and a gemstone ring. From the color and luster, it was obvious that the jewelry was expensive. However, Yan Shu did not know how to identify luxury goods so she only looked at Bo Su curiously.
"Why are you giving me such a valuable gift?"
Bo Su flicked her forehead. "Silly girl, this is my betrothal gift."
Yan Shu smiled in embarrassment. "But I don't have a dowry."
Bo Su said, "I don't want anything."
Bo Su's dark eyes sparkled as if a lamp had been lit inside them, and his gaze at Yan Shu was as intense as the scorching sun in June. "Shu Shu, I only want you."
Under his affectionate gaze, Yan Shu felt like she was about to turn into a ball of flames. Her body temperature was rising rapidly, and she felt that her slightly warm body was already drenched in sweat.
Yan Shu turned her head away and changed the subject. "Can I take a shower?"
Then she hurriedly fled into the bathroom. Bo Su watched her with a tender smile, admiring her delicate emotions which was similar to that of a young girl, waiting to bloom with just a bout of spring rain.
In the bathroom.
Yan Shu lay in the steaming bathtub, her blood rushing through her veins. She couldn't tell if it was the hot water or the teasing from Bo Su that made her feel this way.
How could there be such affectionate eyes in the world? They were clearly strangers who had only met a few times.
Why was he so nice to her?
Yan Shu couldn't think of a reason and finally tried to reassure herself—perhaps all those years of bad luck with Gu Yucheng had brought her a responsible and caring person like Bo Su.
After Yan Shu took a shower, she sadly realized that she had no clothes to change into. She remained lying in the bathtub, not knowing what to do next.
Bo Su noticed that she was taking a long time in the bath and was a little worried that something had happened to her. He walked over and knocked on the bathroom door a few times. "Shushu, are you alright?"
After the last knock, Shushu braced herself and told him, "Bo Su, I have no change of clothes."
Bo Su was speechless.
"Is that why you're staying in the bathtub?"
How could there be such a shy person? Other girls would prefer to wear as little as possible in front of him.
"I'll get you my bathrobe."
After a while, Yan Shu came out with a towel wrapped around her. Bo Su handed her the bathrobe, but Yan Shu stood rooted to the ground in embarrassment.
If she changed into the bathrobe, she would expose herself.
Bo Su reminded her, "Shushu, we're husband and wife."
Yan Shu's face had turned completely red.
She didn't know where she got her courage from, but she suddenly took off the towel and pressed herself against Bo Su.