Chapter 4: Dispel the Thought of Leaving Him
Wang Shulan looked at the man in front of her, tall and clean with features as handsome as those male stars on television, and an extraordinary presence.
He held Qiao Zhiyi in his embrace, his eyes tender as water, brimming with love.
By the standard of a mother-in-law assessing her son-in-law, his external conditions were simply beyond standard.
Then she looked at Qiao Zhiyi, whose face wore a smile uglier than a cry.
"Jingzhou, Auntie doesn't ask for much, just wants to know why you two got married," Wang Shulan was sharp, she could tell whether they were compatible with a single glance.
Shi Jingzhou drew Qiao Zhiyi closer into his arms, "Naturally, it's because of love."
Qiao Zhiyi's heart trembled, not with affection but shock at his breezy words.
Wasn't he afraid of biting his tongue saying that?
Wang Shulan heard this and looked again at Qiao Zhiyi's hands, which were both empty.
If married for love, it wouldn't make sense to have nothing at all.
Everything else aside, there was no sign of anything related to love between the two of them.
Wang Shulan could see that it wasn't Qiao Zhiyi who carelessly entered this marriage; it was this man named Shi Jingzhou who wanted it.
"Our Zhiyi is not one who knows how to cherish others, but since you've married her, I hope you'll treat her well. If one day you two fall out of love, I hope you can part on good terms."
Wang Shulan actually hoped that Shi Jingzhou truly loved Qiao Zhiyi, so she could be at ease.
"Mom, don't worry. I may not have other strengths, but I am indeed steadfast when it comes to love."
...
Qiao Zhiyi sat in the car, her mind full of Shi Jingzhou's words about being steadfast in love.
At that moment, she admitted that she was a little moved.
Only a little, and only for an instant.
If this man were to fall for someone, he'd certainly make a very good boyfriend or husband.
When he uttered those words, he must have had someone in mind who made him capable of saying them.
Back at home, Shi Jingzhou pulled Qiao Zhiyi upstairs.
"What are you doing?" Qiao Zhiyi struggled, but his grip was like iron pliers, the more she struggled, the more it hurt.
Shi Jingzhou closed the door and pulled her into his embrace.
Qiao Zhiyi, caught off guard, collided with his chest, her nose reddening.
Before she could push him away, she heard the sound of a button snapping.
A warm sensation on the neck followed by a bite-like pain.
Just as she raised her hand to strike this shameless man, her wrist was lifted high.
Feeling powerless and ashamed, Qiao Zhiyi's eyes filled with tears as she glared at him bitterly.
This was his true face.
Her skin was so fair and tender that a light suck was enough to achieve Shi Jingzhou's desired effect. He looked satisfied at the red mark on her neck and gently stroked it, "Go change and meet your in-laws."
Qiao Zhiyi stood in front of the mirror, the woman inside wearing a simple, snow-white off-shoulder long dress, but the red mark on her neck stood out like a bright plum in the snow, conspicuously seductive.
He did it on purpose.
In the blink of an eye, that ugly face reappeared in the mirror.
Even though it wasn't her first time seeing it, it was still frightening.
He placed a box in the drawer and locked it.
So, the handsome face he wore before was nothing more than a mask.
He turned and approached her, standing behind her—the image in the mirror could be described as beauty and the beast.
Qiao Zhiyi's breathing hastened, his hand reaching around from behind to the red mark; her body stiffened and goosebumps sprang up on her smooth, pale arms.
"So afraid of me, how will you bear my child?" His low, sensual voice sounded like a call from hell to Qiao Zhiyi.
Qiao Zhiyi tensed, swallowing nervously, she mustered her courage, "Mr. Shi, do you know the saying, 'A melon forced off its vine is not sweet'?"
Two people without feelings for each other, together, they're a mismatch.
Shi Jingzhou's hand rested on her shoulder, and he leaned down slightly, staring at her face, which was clearly terrified yet tried to appear calm.
"Just enough to quench my thirst."
His warm breath was close to her ear, making her face flush with heat.
She dodged.
He pinched her chin from behind, forcing her to lift her eyes to meet his, "Dispel the thought of leaving me, and slowly get used to me."
The eyes reflected in the mirror were as if they were poisoned, sinister, and when paired with that terrifying face, they seemed to constrict her throat, making breathing difficult.
The moment he released her, Qiao Zhiyi felt as if she had come back to life.
Under his oppression, she didn't know how long she could hold on.
She also realized one thing, unless he initiated a divorce, she couldn't leave.
Sitting in the car, Qiao Zhiyi's heart grew increasingly uneasy.
It wasn't until the car stopped that she stared at the grandeur ahead, her stomach cramping with nervousness.
She couldn't believe she had reached this point.
No matter what the future held, everything she was experiencing now would mark deep scars in her life.
Shi Jingzhou opened the car door very gentlemanly, extending his hand to her.
Qiao Zhiyi hesitated as she looked at his distinct, long, and clean hand.
Shi Jingzhou's patience seemed to fade, his deep eyes grew darker, and he grabbed her hand, taking a ring from his pocket and slipping it onto her right ring finger.
The cold touch made Qiao Zhiyi's finger quiver.
Shi Jingzhou held her hand firmly and pulled her out of the car.
As they stepped through the gate, Shi Jingzhou wrapped his arm around her waist, and to the unknowing, they might appear deeply in love.
"Cooperate a little," Shi Jingzhou whispered in her ear, "Behave well tonight, and I won't touch you."
It was both a negotiation and a threat.
...
Qiao Zhiyi sat in the living room, as resplendent as a palace, enduring the scrutinizing gazes of the Shi family, struggling to restrain herself from impulsively leaving.
"Sister-in-law, did you marry my brother of your own free will?" Shi Lanting's eyes twinkled with mockery.
Qiao Zhiyi forced a smile, "Of course."
"What do you like about him?"
"He...is good to me."
Shi Lanting raised her eyebrows slightly, noticing the kiss mark on Qiao Zhiyi's neck and the ring on her finger, her sarcasm undisguised, "It must be his money that you're after."
Qiao Zhiyi couldn't deny that indeed interests were involved initially. Both Qiao Shengli and she herself needed a relationship with Shi Jingzhou.
Her silence was taken as an affirmation by others.
Shi Jingzhou said nothing, letting her be embarrassed.
"Lanting, this is your sister-in-law, show some respect." Madam Shi gently chided her daughter.
"Miss Shi is right, I am indeed after his money," Qiao Zhiyi suddenly said, shocking everyone present.
She wanted to add, what else was there to desire apart from money?
Shi Jingzhou slightly raised his eyebrow, glancing at her sideways, his eyes filled with amusement.
Qiao Zhiyi dared not look at Shi Jingzhou.
This way, she wasn't sure if she was cooperating or not.
If his family knew what kind of person she was, maybe they would pressure Shi Jingzhou to divorce her.
"Heh, at least you're honest," Shi Lanting snorted.
Madam Shi looked at Qiao Zhiyi with a smiling gaze, "That's all he's worth, and you noticing him is his fortune. Otherwise, he would have been destined to remain single his whole life."
Qiao Zhiyi felt something was off.
They, were they actually rejoicing?