"Who knows, maybe he has too many sins, and Heaven is coming to collect." Ruan Tiantian curled her lip, "Thinking about it now, I feel like you got a raw deal marrying him. If Lin Hao had gotten into this mess earlier, your crisis would have been automatically lifted, and there'd be no need to mess around with a marriage certificate."
"If you hadn't rushed to get the certificate, you wouldn't have offended your family, and now you have a home you can't return to. After all, it's all because of that damn Lin Hao, insisting on marrying you and not doing anything decent!"
When it came to Xu Ningxi being forced into marriage, she clenched her teeth with resentment towards Lin Hao.
Xu Ningxi sighed softly.
"Life is unpredictable, but I still hope he can recover soon. No matter how evil and aggressive Lin Hao is, he's still a human being."
"As for me and Fu Hanzheng, maybe it's fate that brought us together. Everything is fine with me now; I should just roll with the punches."
Ruan Tiantian worried about her future, "Can you really rely on this man? Especially since he's someone you haven't known long. People can be treacherous; you have to be cautious. Why don't you just move out from there? I'll give you some money, and you can..."
Xu Ningxi cut her off, not letting her continue.
"Tiantian, I appreciate your concern, but I'm also aware of your difficult position at home and Aunt Qin's hardships in the Ruan Family. My dad definitely wouldn't want you helping me. By acting so ruthlessly, if you help me, it could affect you and Aunt Qin."
"After thinking it over, I've decided not to take your money. Don't worry, I have a husband now. My husband might not be a powerful or influential man, but he can definitely support me. I'll just need to readjust and then find a new job. With my talents, I'm not afraid of going hungry."
Aunt Qin is Ruan Tiantian's mother, who entered the Ruan Family as a stepmother.
Aunt Qin is a kind-hearted and capable woman, yet she is looked down upon by members of the Qin Family, who consider themselves superior, because of her background.
And Ruan Tiantian had to scratch out a living under her stepfather's control. How could it be easy?
Over the years, the mother and daughter have lived their lives in resignation.
It was only because I fell from grace and was too anxious and helpless that I forgot about all this and approached Ruan Tiantian to borrow money.
The knocking sound in Ruan Tiantian's phone call that I heard earlier pulled me back to reality in an instant.
I absolutely can't seek support from Ruan Tiantian anymore; otherwise, it would only drag them down with me.
"You're too clever, guessing it right away. I can't hide anything from you." Ruan Tiantian's voice was forlorn. "Just now, my stepfather came over and commanded me not to help you. He even tried to probe me about who you married. I said I didn't know. That old fox is quite sly, keeping on asking me, determined to get an answer."
"And Xu Huanyan keeps sending me WeChat messages, pretending sisterly affection, saying she's worried about you. She keeps calling me 'dear' to wheedle information about who you married and what his status is."
Upon hearing this, Xu Ningxi curled her lips in irony.
"My dad sees me stubbornly resisting him, refusing to divorce, and wants to know who I've married. He's probably looking for something he can exploit. "
"Too bad, Fu Hanzheng is just an ordinary person, of no use to the Xu Family. His scheme is bound to fail no matter how he calculates it."
Ruan Tiantian: "Xu Huanyan is so eager to get information from me because she's probably afraid that you've married well. If you do, it'll upset her. We really can't let her know the truth. If she found out you married a... a 'specialist,' she'd be overjoyed. She would definitely spread it around, making everyone laugh at you."
Xu Ningxi smiled, "Yeah, that's exactly what Xu Huanyan is thinking. You can guess her intentions without even thinking."
"However..." Her tone changed as she spoke, "Tiantian, I still need to trouble you with something. Tell Xu Huanyan the truth about me marrying a 'duck.' Let it get through to my father through her mouth. This information is useful to me. It'll also save you and Aunt Qin from their harassment."
Ruan Tiantian was shocked beyond belief.
"Sis, I must be hearing things wrong. You actually want to expose yourself for marrying a 'duck.' This... It's not exactly a positive event, you know; many people will mock you. You'll have to live with your head down. Does it have to be so miserable? My heart aches for you."
Xu Ningxi was very calm as she laid out her analysis point by point.
"Look, if they're keen, they'll find out about Fu Hanzheng's background and status sooner or later. It might as well come through you, so they just have a general idea and won't dig further into Fu Hanzheng's family's secrets. Fu Hanzheng's mother is still sick; I don't want him to be probed in such a way, involving his family, and have everything exposed to the Xu Family. Tell them the truth; it's like doing them a favor, and you might get something out of their hands in return. Such a good deal should definitely go to my sister."
"Furthermore, you don't need to worry about people in our circle finding out. My dad is very concerned with face, and upon knowing the truth, his first thought will be to hide it and not let such a scandal spread. I guess he also wouldn't want others to learn about it through me. Maybe he'll even beg me."
"If he does beg me, I'll ask him for this apartment. I bet he'll weigh the pros and cons and give it to me."
She had already planned her every move and assured Ruan Tiantian to go ahead.
Ruan Tiantian understood what she was asked to do and agreed.
"Alright, I'll do as you say."
Xu Ningxi finished her chat with Ruan Tiantian.
She glanced at the clock, and Fu Hanzheng had not yet returned home.
The night was deep, and she should have been asleep.
But being alone in a strange environment, she couldn't sleep no matter what.
She lay alone on the living room sofa, with a table lamp on, lost in thought.
She didn't know how long had passed when there was a noise at the door.
Then someone pushed the door open.
Xu Ningxi's figure stiffened as she sat up, her body on high alert.
Fu Hanzheng turned on the light and saw her sitting forlornly on the edge of the sofa.
Their eyes met
A pair of clear, distinct pupils stared unblinkingly at him.
There was a startled shimmer in the depth of her eyes.
She looked a bit like a frightened, fluffy little animal.
Fu Hanzheng took off his coat and approached her, "Why haven't you gone to sleep?"
Xu Ningxi opened her mouth, but suddenly didn't know how to respond.
At that moment, the man's tall figure bent down, his hands bracing on either side of her body.
His eyes held a teasing smile.
She heard him whisper in her ear, "Were you waiting for me?"
His breath, hot on her earlobe.
Xu Ningxi's heart pounded fiercely.
She subconsciously tightened her chest, and pushed back hard with her hands, her body shrinking away.
Trying not to be so close to him.
"No... It's not that."
Her voice was hoarse with her reply.
Fu Hanzheng's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Then what is it?"
His voice was magnetic and crisp, especially as his unique pheromone scent brushed against her face.
Xu Ningxi's memory drifted back to that night.
Although they were acting, their bodies were so tightly pressed together, almost entwined.
Her little black dress had barely clung to him.
Their skin touched in places, or was separated only by a thin layer of fabric.
He teased her with the warmth of his palms.
This man was just so good at flirting.
Just as he was doing right now.
His ambiguous closeness made her whole face burn hot.
And her mind could hardly think.