Meng Ning went downstairs to the supermarket to buy groceries. Fu Tingxiu had been delayed all day, receiving several calls from his assistant and needing to review and approve several documents. He busied himself with work in the study and convened a video conference with several senior executives.
An hour later, after finishing his tasks, Fu Tingxiu emerged from the study to find two home-cooked dishes set on the dining table, while Meng Ning was still busy in the kitchen. Seeing Meng Ning bustling about and the steaming dishes, Fu Tingxiu felt a touch of warmth in their life.
This was the routine of an ordinary couple: the wife managing household chores, cooking and keeping everything orderly at home, while the husband earned money to support the family, each fulfilling their role.
"You're done," Meng Ning brought out a soup and smiled, "We can eat now. Are you hungry? I'll serve the rice."
Earlier, Meng Ning had returned from grocery shopping and heard Fu Tingxiu in the study conducting video meetings, so she hadn't disturbed him.
At a company like that, listed on the stock market, he must be very busy. He had spent the whole day with her today, and she felt a bit guilty thinking about it.
Meng Ning served the rice and the two sat down to eat. Fu Tingxiu looked at the meat dish, the vegetable dish, and the soup on the table and said, "You cook well."
"You're definitely busy at work. I'll cook at home from now on. Do you need me to pack lunch for you? I can prepare it in the morning and you can take it to the office," Meng Ning said, "I see many people bring their own lunches to work—it's clean and hygienic, and saves money."
Fu Tingxiu didn't want Meng Ning to work so hard and said, "No need. We have a cafeteria at the company, and we eat for free."
"Oh, I see." Meng Ning nodded and took out the bank card Fu Tingxiu had given her earlier, saying, "Here's this back to you. It's your money, so you should keep it."
Earlier, in front of Meng's mother, Meng Ning didn't want to offend Fu Tingxiu, so she accepted it temporarily. The money here was all hard-earned by Fu Tingxiu. They had only known each other for a short time, and she really didn't dare to take it.
Fu Tingxiu didn't expect Meng Ning to return it to him and said, "This is the family fund. There will be many expenses in the future. You just bought a car and probably don't have much money left. It's only natural for husbands to earn money to support the family. You keep it. We'll need money for groceries and daily necessities. I'll have my salary deposited into this card every month."
Meng Ning indeed didn't have much money left, but she also didn't have the habit of spending a man's money. "Then I'll keep track of our expenses every day. I have a budgeting app. We'll split the expenses equally each month as we agreed before, and I'll deduct my share from this card."
Fu Tingxiu sighed, "As you wish."
Only by sharing expenses equally could Meng Ning avoid feeling burdened.
Meng Ning felt reassured: "Alright then, it's decided. By the way, how much is the rent here per month?"
Fu Tingxiu wasn't entirely sure but estimated based on market rates, "Eight thousand five hundred per month."
For a three-bedroom apartment in Beijing, just over eight thousand a month was indeed quite reasonable.
Meng Ning nodded, "Okay, I'll pay three thousand towards the rent from now on."
She wanted to contribute half, fearing she might otherwise end up relying solely on Fu Tingxiu's income. It seemed she needed to increase her own earnings.
Fu Tingxiu frowned and looked at Meng Ning, "Meng Ning, I didn't marry you to share the financial burden with me, nor do I want you to feel economically pressured after marrying me. I earn more than you do. Let me handle the rent; you don't need to worry about it."
This time, Fu Tingxiu didn't back down. This girl was too meticulous—always insisting on splitting everything equally. With her monthly salary, if she really paid half the rent and split living expenses, what would be left?
Fu Tingxiu's tone was firm. Before Meng Ning could say more, he continued, "Meng Ning, marriage requires nurturing, not tallying up every expense. Responsibilities won't always have a clear boundary of fairness. It's like when you give birth in the future—I won't be able to share the hardship of pregnancy with you."
Giving birth... This was the second time Meng Ning had heard this today, stirring up an indescribable feeling inside her.
"Alright then," Meng Ning sensed Fu Tingxiu's anger and didn't push further. "Let's eat."
Meng Ning wasn't a gourmet chef, but her cooking wasn't bad either. Fu Tingxiu had two bowls of rice and they finished both dishes.
Staring at the empty plates, Meng Ning muttered to herself, "Next time, I need to make more."
Fu Tingxiu got up to collect the bowls.
"I'll do it," Meng Ning offered.
"I'll do it," Fu Tingxiu insisted, holding the bowls. "As you said, it's about splitting things equally. You cook, I'll wash dishes. Fair and reasonable."
Economic split should mean splitting household chores too.
Meng Ning thought about how she hadn't paid for the house herself, and felt like she was getting a free ride, so she wanted to do more chores. She also worried that being so meticulous might hurt Fu Tingxiu's pride. In the end, Fu Tingxiu washed the dishes, and Meng Ning stole a glance at him in an apron washing dishes by the sink.
A man doing chores definitely added to his charm. She found that living with Fu Tingxiu wasn't that bad. If the employees of Shengyu Group and the elites of high society saw the person in charge of the Fu family, who could cause a financial storm with a stomp, and his new wife living in such a small house and washing dishes, they would probably be shocked.
Meng Ning looked away and at that moment her phone rang. It was a call from Qin Huan. Meng Ning picked up on the balcony. "Huan, what's up?"
"Teacher Li wants to see you," she said. "