Warm Marriage in a Rich Family: Mr. Huo's Spoiled Wife Will Turn the World Upside Down - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Golden Age

“Cough, cough, cough…” Zhou Lai choked, suddenly realizing that her entire rambling speech must have been heard by him.

Oh heavens, was there anywhere she could just lie down and disappear?

Seeing her coughing fit, Huo Ya handed her a tissue. She took it, wiped her mouth, then lowered her head to drink her soup without saying a word.

Huo Ya asked again: “Did you have fun going out tonight?”

Zhou Lai’s hand trembled slightly as she gave an awkward smile: “Yes, the art museum is quite a peaceful place. It’s uplifting for the spirit, and I learned a lot from several seniors! If I hadn’t heard you were back, we would have gone to Qian Ruizhen’s concert instead.”

This wasn’t exactly lying she really did go to the art museum today, and she really did receive news of his return. Peeking at his expression through the rim of her bowl, he still wore that look as if someone owed him millions.

He revealed that obscure smile again and asked if she was free tomorrow at noon.

Zhou Lai instinctively wanted to refuse: “Tomorrow noon might not work. The Tea Art Class students are having a meal together. Everyone’s going it would seem antisocial if I didn’t attend.”

Huo Ya pondered thoughtfully, “Is the Tea Art Class you attend taught by so-and-so?”

He mentioned a name, and Zhou Lai nodded, feeling a sense of foreboding rising within her.

“Oh, then you probably won’t be able to gather tomorrow. There’s a Tea Art Festival being prepared in Haicheng, and the place you attend has been temporarily appointed as the organizer.” Oh, then where does Brother Huo Ya want to take me tomorrow at noon?” She drank her soup, blinking at him very obediently, looking as docile as one could possibly be.

“Let’s arrange for both sets of parents to have a meal together tomorrow with both families.”

Now she didn’t even dare to make excuses. With her mother Master making an appearance, how could she possibly rebel? A meal with both families would inevitably involve exchanging pleasantries, with Huo Ya being everyone’s role model while she was just the little white flower following beside him.

Poor little white flower like her, getting married so young, Zhou Lai sighed silently.

After finishing her soup, she made a quick escape upstairs because she suddenly remembered a problem tonight, she would be sharing a bed with Huo Ya!

On the night they got their marriage certificate and had dinner with both families, she followed the marriage certificate back to his home. Clutching the corner of her clothes, thinking something might happen, he only said one thing: “Good night.”

Then he turned his back to her and went to sleep.

Could she escape tonight? But even if she escaped tonight, what about tomorrow night and the night after? Zhou Lai covered her burning cheeks and hesitantly walked to the edge of the bed.

Huo Ya had already changed into pajamas and was leaning against the headboard looking at his phone, his eyebrows occasionally slightly furrowed. He looked extremely handsome.

Seeing her approach, Huo Ya put away his phone. Just when she thought she couldn’t escape his clutches tonight, he did exactly like that night said, “Good night,” then lay down and went to sleep!

Leaving Zhou Lai standing bewildered by the bedside…

This shouldn’t be right. He’s only twenty-eight, in his prime years, the golden age for men. How could it be…

Or… had he played too wildly in that romantic capital Paris and become drained?

It must be that. How could a normal man remain unmoved seeing someone of her caliber? The more she thought about it, the more she felt this speculation was correct.

Although she held no fondness for Huo Ya, as the eldest grandson and sole male heir of the Huo family across three generations, continuing the family line was inevitable. If he proved incapable, she would suffer alongside him. To have children between them, marital relations were unavoidable, and she couldn’t possibly seek someone else, was she supposed to live as a young widow?

Being inherently proud and fiercely protective of his dignity, he would never broach such intimate matters with his family. Thus, the responsibility fell to her, his wife, to find a solution. Major hospitals were out of the question, small clinics lacked reliable expertise, leaving only folk remedies as a potential recourse.

Yet she knew no unconventional healers whom she could possibly consult?

Beside her, Huo Ya turned over, his back facing her. Having slept alone for over twenty years, she now found herself stiff and motionless, limbs curled tightly, barely sleeping until dawn.

Waking the next day to an empty bedside, the clock showed 9 a.m. Facing Madam Huo required thorough preparation. She washed her hair, applied a face mask during her bath, then selected a pale purple dress from her packed wardrobe.

Surely this refined, elegant attire would satisfy even Lin Jing’s scrutiny. To help Lin Jing save face before the Huo family, she was going all out.

After grooming herself, she waited in the room for Huo Ya, who appeared just before departure, already impeccably dressed. He glanced at her and merely said, “Let’s go.”

Remarkably, both Lin Jing and Father Zhou attended the meal, granting Zhou Lai immense honor. Lin Jing prioritized career above all, while Father Zhou remained notoriously elusive. Since their relationship soured, they’d never appeared together Zhou Lai had no memory of seeing them simultaneously. Only Huo Ya could possibly compel their joint attendance.

The Huo family arrived nearly in full, three generations gathering in warm camaraderie, chatting about domestic affairs over the meal.

While elders conversed, Zhou Lai focused on eating, occasionally offering an awkward yet polite smile when addressed.

“Lailai, your brother Huo Ya has returned. Are you happy?”

Heh. She nearly laughed aloud but restrained herself, instead lowering her head in feigned shyness glancing at Huo Ya before demurely looking down, perfectly measured.

“Happy.”

Her performance amused everyone who mistook it for genuine bashfulness.

Internally, she mocked the entire tables such elementary acting came effortlessly to her.

As she quietly ate, Lin Jing periodically cast meaningful glances from across the table.

Zhou Lai attempted to ignore them, but Lin Jing’s formidable presence made defiance impossible, a sparrow couldn’t challenge an eagle.

Spotting a plate of foie gras sashimi, she instinctively served him a portion. “Brother Huo Ya, I remember this is your favorite.”

Before retracting her chopsticks, Madam Huo exclaimed in surprise, “Lailai, you’re mistaken. He dislikes offal.”

“Ah?… Oh!”

Chopsticks suspended mid-air, she felt too embarrassed to retrieve the offering. As a plate of beef rotated before her, she compensated by adding beef to his bowl while attempting to remove the foie gras.

Huo Ya was quick with his chopsticks. Before she could pick it up, he had already grabbed the foie gras and stuffed it into his mouth, saying nonchalantly, “Mom, I don’t eat offal, but I do like foie gras.”

Mother Huo chuckled awkwardly, “Oh, my memory isn’t what it used to be.”

Internally, she thought, how could I possibly misremember my own son’s preferences?

Zhou Lai sighed quietly to herself. This wife of hers was truly incompetent, failing to make a good impression and now stuck in an awkward situation. Lin Jing’s face instantly darkened.

“This is your favorite,” Huo Ya said as he piled a heap of dishes into her bowl. Among all the dishes on the table, she only disliked fish and conveniently, he hadn’t served her any.