Vesna looked around the mansion, feeling surprised at how beautiful this place was. It was grand, even bigger than the Xiao villa but she had never cared about the size.
In her previous life, she too had a mansion on the outskirts of the capital city. It was huge and equipped with everything one could imagine—a wine cellar stocked with rare vintages, a private movie theater, and even a luxurious spa for relaxation. To the world, it had everything. Every comfort, every luxury at her fingertips. Yet, despite its opulence, that place had always felt cold. The walls were adorned with expensive art, but they seemed barren of any real warmth or emotion. It was a showcase, not a home.
This mansion, however, was different. It was a harmonious blend of ancient history and modern architecture. The exterior was adorned with traditional wooden latticework, and the sloping rooflines.
Surrounding the mansion was a vast expanse of lush, green grass that stretched out like a soft carpet. The manicured lawn was broken only by winding stone paths. In the corners of the garden, vibrant flower beds burst with color - reds, purples, yellows, and pinks blending together in a natural masterpiece. Near one corner of the garden stood an ancient willow tree, its long, graceful branches swaying gently in the wind.
There were servants working around the mansion but they all paused when they saw their master of the house had finally returned. Some even stopped to bow and greet him before looking at the woman who was by his side. This was the first time they had seen their young master with a woman so they could not help but question who she was, especially seeing how beautiful she was.
To the onlookers, the sight of the two together seemed like a perfect match—one that could be described as a match made in heaven. One was a woman with ethereal beauty, other was a man with a presence that commanded attention.
A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blossoms, and Vesna closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. It was a world away from the smog and noise of the city. A world of peace and serenity.
"Do you like it?" Ziyan questioned.
Vesna opened her eyes and turned to stare at Ziyan, "I love it."
Xiao Zhan smiled. It was small, barely visible but it was there. "This used to be my grandparents' home. Yeye gifted it to Nainai on their first anniversary. Later, Nainai gave me this place, and it's been mine since then."
"I didn't know old Master Luo was a hopeless romantic," Vesna joked.
"Not many people know," Ziyan shrugged. "Would you like to see the rest of the place?"
"I'd love to." Ignoring the humans who were staring at her, Vesna grabbed Ziyan's hand and pulled him towards the mansion. This action alone is enough to earn a couple of gasps from the nearby servants but neither Ziyan nor Vesna paid them any attention.
While Vesna was looking around in amazement, Ziyan had an aloof expression on his face. He would occasionally steal a glance at Vensa as she explored the inside of the mansion.
Vesna abruptly stopped when they reached a large window that framed a view of the garden outside. At a distance, she could see a pond, its surface shimmering in the sunlight. A wooden bridge arched elegantly over the pond, leading to a beautiful pergola that seemed to float in the middle of the water.
"It's beautiful," Vesna murmured in awe.
"It is," Ziyan answered, his eyes fixed on Vesna.
Through his glasses, he could make out the blurry outline of her features, but the details eluded him. He pressed his lips into a thin line, a quiet frustration building inside him.
He resisted the urge to adjust his glasses, knowing it wouldn't help. This was one of those frustrating moments where he wished he did not have day blindness. He yearned to see her face clearly, to capture every detail, the curve of her lips, the sparkle in her eyes.
He wanted to see the woman he had married.
He wanted to see the woman that was his.
Unaware of the thoughts that ran in Ziyan's mind, Vesna continued to explore the mansion before they finally arrived at his room—their room. She finally let go of his hand and looked around. The room was dominated by shades of black and gray.
"This is nice," Vesna remarked.
She went into the walking closet and was surprised to find the left side of it filled with women's clothes. They were even of her size.
"Not bad," While she familiarized herself with the room, Ziyan went to take a shower. When he came out, Vesna was lying on the bed like a starfish, staring at the selling. Beside her was a thick book of astronomy that she had picked up from the bookshelf.
She turned to face him and rested her hand on her palm, "I didn't know you were interested in astronomy?"
She had already seen the advanced telescope that was on the balcony attached to their room. In addition to that, the room had a large, detailed star map pinned on one wall along with framed constellations on the walls. There were even models of the solar system on a shelf.
"There is a lot you don't know about me," Ziyan answered as he sat at the edge of the bed.
Vesna hummed in response, "true."
She sat up and moved closer to Ziyan before resting her chin on his shoulder. Ziyan's body tensed at the unexpected closeness, his breath hitching slightly. His heart began to race, but he forced himself to remain still.
Vesna did not notice his reaction or perhaps she chose to ignore it, and continued speaking. "It seems like I need to spend more time with my husband to get to know him better."
Ziyan turned his head slightly, their noses brushing together, their lips almost touching. For a moment, neither of them moved. Ziyan's eyes were fixed on Vesna's face, trying to make out her expression through his limited vision. This was the second time Vesna was seeing his eyes without glasses. His eyes, warm shades of brown, seemed to pierce through the haze of his day blindness. For a fleeting moment, she felt as if he could truly see her, but she quickly pushed the thought aside.
"Is that something you're interested in?" she murmured softly, her eyes flickering toward his lips before returning to meet his gaze. "Spending time with me?"