Chapter 3: Bringing the Newlywed Wife Home

Chapter 3: Bringing the Newlywed Wife Home

"You didn't run into some sugar daddy, did you?" Zhao Xiaomin asked, her tone laced with a hint of concealed displeasure.

Yuman quickly waved her hands. "No, it's fake. A guest asked me to help him act out a scene."

Thinking about how Huo Jingze had said he was just a regular worker, Yuman figured the ring must be glass. After all, how could he afford a diamond ring?

Zhao Xiaomin relaxed a little, picking up Yuman's hand to inspect the ring again. "This rock looks at least ten carats. Gotta be fake. No one's that lucky to land such a generous guy."

But then her eyes caught the love bite on Yuman's neck.

"And your neck—don't tell me you actually let him get to you on the first night?" Zhao Xiaomin tugged open Yuman's blazer.

"My clothes… why are they torn like this!" Yuman feigned composure. "It's for the role. I pinched my own neck, and the guest's fiancée tore my clothes."

She had no choice but to lie. If she told the truth—that the guest had been drugged and things went out of hand—rumors would flood the village.

Especially her cousin Ma Xin. He would definitely look at her differently.

"That's some intense acting. Like one of those scumbag guys staging a breakup by faking cheating." Zhao Xiaomin had seen plenty of shady stuff in the adult world—guys hiring girls to stage breakups, so her assumption wasn't far off.

Yuman nodded. "Once I get paid, I'll buy you a new outfit."

Looks like she couldn't quit the bar job just yet.

"Fine. Just be careful at work. Don't get played and end up with no money." Zhao Xiaomin gently fixed Yuman's blazer.

Seeing Zhao Xiaomin drop the issue, Yuman finally felt relieved.

If she had heard Zhao Xiaomin say "get played" before, she would have thought it meant drinking more alcohol for tips. But now, she knew it meant something deeper—and darker.

"Alright, you get some rest. I'm heading back to the dorm."

"Okay."

Yuman quietly closed the door behind her. Zhao Xiaomin lived in an old residential building, one hallway shared by over a dozen families.

As she walked down the long hallway, her mind was still spinning. She didn't know where to go next.

Then, her phone rang.

"I'm waiting downstairs."

That deep, composed voice—it was Huo Jingze.

Yuman hung up and quickly headed down the stairs.

Wait—her phone had been out of service. How did he manage to call? And how did he know she was here?

She slowed her steps, puzzled. Pulling out her phone, she noticed that someone had topped up her account with 100 yuan.

At the entrance of the residential complex, Huo Jingze stood leaning against the wall, a cigarette between his fingers. He had changed into a charcoal gray casual outfit.

"You recharged my phone?" she asked.

Huo Jingze stubbed out the cigarette and glanced sideways. "How else would I call you?"

"Than—"

Before she could finish her "thank you," Huo Jingze picked her up like a chick and dropped her into the car.

From a window upstairs, Zhao Xiaomin watched the whole scene unfold.

—

At Jiayun Residence.

Yuman followed Huo Jingze into the elevator.

They stopped at the 16th floor.

He led her to apartment 1608, opened the door, and ushered her inside.

A spacious, bright living room stretched out before her. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a stunning riverside view.

Yuman placed down her woven bag and looked around.

"This is your place?" she asked.

Huo Jingze nodded. "Rented."

Of course. A normal working man couldn't afford a place like this.

Still, the apartment was too fancy. Zhao Xiaomin's place wasn't even as big as this living room. No balcony, no real kitchen—just a bed in a box.

"While we're acting married, you'll stay here," Huo Jingze said, tossing her a set of keys.

She caught them swiftly.

"How much do I owe you for rent?"

She had noticed there were two bedrooms, and the living room alone could house an entire family. Based on what Zhao Xiaomin paid, this had to cost a fortune.

Huo Jingze replied calmly, "We're legally married now. No need for rent between husband and wife."

"And… about the 300,000…" Yuman hesitated, afraid to upset him.

Seeing her still clinging to the money, Huo Jingze lit another cigarette.

"What do you need that much for?"

Yuman hesitated, then softly replied, "To save someone."

Ma Xin had been scammed into taking a high-interest loan in Haijing. He ran back to their hometown to hide, begging her for help. Said he'd be crippled if he couldn't repay.

The smoke curled toward her face. Yuman waved it away and coughed.

"A parent? Sibling?" Huo Jingze asked, pressing the cigarette into the ashtray.

Before she could answer, her phone rang.

"Yuman, I've been trying to reach you for days! Did you get the money? They're about to come after me!"

It was a man's voice—young.

Yuman covered the receiver and stepped onto the balcony. "Not yet. Please give me a little more time."

Back inside, Huo Jingze stared at her back through narrowed eyes.

A young man. Not her father.

She returned after the call.

"Huo Jingze… can you give me the money tomorrow?"

It was her first time saying his name aloud—she had seen it on the marriage certificate. It sounded refined.

"I'll give you 50,000 now. You can use it first. I'll get the rest when I can." Huo Jingze lifted his gaze. "But…"

He trailed off, letting her wait.

"But what?" she asked seriously.

"You need to come shopping with me."

Huo Jingze gave her a once-over.

She looked decent, but her clothes… unbearable. If he kept looking at her like this, he'd start questioning his taste.

He walked behind her and pulled off the red hair tie she used to tie her hair.

Her long black hair fell loosely over her pale cheeks, suddenly giving her a soft, elegant glow.

"From now on, no tying your hair in front of me," he said, tossing the red tie back at her. "Go change into something clean. We're going out."

Yuman nodded, picked up her bag, and headed to the rooms.

The two bedrooms faced each other.

"Which one's mine?" she asked.

"The one on the right."

She quickly changed and came back out.

Huo Jingze looked over.

A white T-shirt with plastic beads, blue jeans that dragged on the ground…

He closed his eyes—he couldn't look.

He took her to a high-end mall, stopping in front of the HZ women's boutique.

"I'm not buying clothes," Yuman said and turned to leave.

Without asking her opinion, he dragged her inside.

The shop assistant saw him and started to say, "Huo—" (President Huo), but he cut her off with a sharp glare.

The Huo family owned most of the luxury fashion business in Haijing. All major clothing brands fell under their umbrella.

Huo Jingze never brought women shopping—too risky. It might reveal who he really was.

Yuman picked up a price tag and gasped.

A simple top, over 1,000 yuan?

"Let's go. Let's go now." She glanced at Huo Jingze and bolted out of the store.

He followed awkwardly, "Why are you running?"

（To be continued…）