Ch 11: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan proposed, “I’ll take care of keeping your mother happy and maintaining the image of a respectable Mrs. Huo. You’ll play the role of a respectful and dignified husband to me. This stays confidential—just between us. To the outside world, we’re the perfect couple, and no third party can interfere in our marriage.”

“Of course, if you meet someone who truly moves you, you can bring it up directly. Pursuing true love after divorce would be better for both of us.”

This was reasonable and not difficult to achieve. Huo Siheng had no objections and nodded.

Shen Yunxuan added, “As for the living expenses and gifts… I don’t need them. I’d like to exchange them for connections and business opportunities instead.”

Huo Siheng raised an eyebrow. He recalled their previous encounter at the club, where she used the prospect of business profits to pressure her parents. Now asking for business opportunities—was this for the Shen family?

But based on Shen Yunxuan’s behavior at the wedding, she seemed to hold little regard for the Shen family. Unwilling to jump to conclusions again, he chose to ask directly, “Are you asking for this to help the Shen family? Since our families are now connected, I would naturally consider some appropriate collaborations with them even without your request.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Shen Yunxuan replied quickly. She had no intention of letting the Shen family benefit from her position. “The Shen family lacks capable business managers. Partnering with them won’t bring you any real value. Don’t waste your time. I’m asking for myself. I’ve started engaging in business and made some investments. I intend to expand further and would appreciate your support.”

This surprised Huo Siheng. He had heard about her alleged one-billion-yuan loss on a land purchase but hadn’t expected her to have other ventures. Even more surprising was her outright dismissal of potential benefits to the Shen family.

He suddenly recalled her words at the wedding: “Your family’s problem.” Her attitude had been clear—she no longer considered herself part of the Shen family.

Supporting his wife’s business wasn’t a big deal. Without much thought, he agreed. “Within reasonable limits, I’ll fully support you. As for the living expenses, keep them. As long as you fulfill your role, they’re yours by right.”

In just a few words, they laid the foundation for their marriage. After adjusting the terms of the agreement, Shen Yunxuan signed without hesitation. This arrangement far exceeded her expectations for married life. For the first time, she felt the tangible benefits marriage could bring, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.

Huo Siheng paused for a moment, surprised by how happy she seemed. It appeared their plans for the future aligned well, and communication had been exceptionally smooth. From this angle, the marriage was proving beneficial for him too. At least, he wouldn’t have to endure nagging about marriage, and he now had a capable and presentable wife.

Though they had just met, Huo Siheng felt confident that Shen Yunxuan could fulfill the agreement’s terms perfectly.

Since they were staying in the family’s old residence and Madam Huo was likely observing them, they had to share a bedroom. After washing up, Huo Siheng offered, “You can take the bed; I’ll sleep on the sofa—”

“No need to complicate things,” Shen Yunxuan interrupted. “Let’s keep up appearances. If we act out the charade completely, your mother or the staff won’t get suspicious, which would only create more trouble later. I’m sure we’d both prefer to focus on business rather than dealing with small misunderstandings. Besides, the bed is big enough; we won’t even touch.”

With that, she slipped into bed and lay down, clearly exhausted from the day’s events. Her eyelids were already drooping.

The bed was indeed spacious enough to fit three people comfortably. Lying on opposite sides wouldn’t affect either of them. Huo Siheng got into bed on his side and turned off the light.

Everything that day had gone against his expectations. Shen Yunxuan’s responses were entirely unexpected, shattering his preconceived notions of her. He now suspected that the Shen family harbored far more secrets than he’d initially thought, and her actions were merely a justified counterstrike.

Turning his head slightly to look at her in the dark, he said, “I apologize for misunderstanding you earlier. I’m sorry for judging your character without properly investigating.”

Shen Yunxuan opened her eyes. She didn’t care much about how the Huo family viewed her, but if they could get along well, all the better. She hadn’t expected Huo Siheng to be so straightforward and honest. His character gave her more confidence that her business plans would progress smoothly.

Smiling magnanimously, she replied, “It’s okay. I accept your apology. We’ll be living together for a few years; we can take our time getting to know each other. Let’s rest now.”

“Alright. Goodnight.”

Despite the day’s whirlwind of events—wedding, business discussions, and sharing a bed—there was an odd sense of comfort between them. Perhaps because both were content with their new partnership, they soon fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.

The next morning, Shen Yunxuan woke first. Groggily stretching, she accidentally hit something—or someone! Sitting up, she met Huo Siheng’s gaze, and only then did she recall her new marital status. Smiling, she greeted him, “Good morning, Mr. Huo.”

It was also Huo Siheng’s first time waking up with someone beside him. Instead of being annoyed by her accidental nudge, he smiled faintly. “Good morning, Mrs. Huo.”

They got ready and went downstairs for breakfast together. Madam Huo, initially worried about their reluctance to marry, had insisted they stay at the family residence for three days. Only after a customary visit to the Shen family would they move into their own home.

Finding the arrangement amusing, Shen Yunxuan slipped into her role immediately, linking her arm through Huo Siheng’s as they descended the stairs. Spotting Madam Huo, she greeted her warmly, “Good morning, Mom.”

Huo Siheng felt a bit unaccustomed but understood that Shen Yunxuan was fulfilling their agreement. He followed her lead and greeted, “Mom,” before sitting down together.

Madam Huo hadn’t slept well the previous night, dwelling on her regret for not choosing the right partner and lamenting the mess the Shen family had created. She felt she had burdened her son unnecessarily. But seeing the newlyweds looking refreshed and harmonious that morning, she felt a sense of relief. They seemed comfortable with each other, which was exactly what she hoped for.

At least they were willing to get along, she thought. No daughter-in-law is ever perfect, but this was good enough. Feeling reassured, Madam Huo encouraged them to eat more and even suggested that Huo Siheng take the day off to spend time with Shen Yunxuan.

Huo Siheng declined immediately. “Mom, I’ve got a backlog of work from yesterday’s wedding. I must go to the office today. I have a meeting soon.”

Madam Huo, still feeling guilty about pushing him into marriage with her health as leverage, didn’t argue. “Alright, but try to come back early if you can. Even newlyweds should get some time together. Work will always be there.”

“I understand, Mom. Yunxuan, I’m heading out.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded and said warmly, “Take care and don’t overwork yourself.”

Left alone at the table with Madam Huo, the atmosphere felt a little awkward. Madam Huo was about to excuse herself when Shen Yunxuan spoke up with a smile. “Mom, were the wedding dress and gown yesterday designed specifically for me? They suited me so perfectly! And I heard you even checked the lighting on-site to ensure everything was perfect. Organizing such a wedding must have been exhausting—thank you for putting so much care into it.”

Madam Huo’s heart softened at her words. She hadn’t mentioned any of her efforts to anyone, but her daughter-in-law had noticed and genuinely appreciated them. Pleased, she smiled. “I was upset and didn’t let the Shen family get involved in the wedding planning. Later, I felt it was too important an occasion to leave to chance, so I took extra care. It was nothing, really.”

She paused before adding, “The dress and gown did look amazing on you. I’ll ask the designer to create some more outfits for you in the future, especially for formal events. I also know a few excellent designers who can help with daily wear and jewelry.”

“That would be wonderful,” Shen Yunxuan said, her eyes lighting up. “I’ve never worn custom-made clothes before—this feels like such a blessing.”

Thinking of the Shen family, Madam Huo couldn’t help but ask, “I heard you and your sister are twins? Why were your parents so blatantly biased? Was there a reason?”

Shen Yunxuan gave a helpless smile. “As far as I recall, Yunrui was often sick as a child, so my mom spent a lot of time taking her to the hospital. My dad and grandfather were busy with the company, so I was mostly left with the household staff. Over time, they started to believe I had taken all the nutrients in the womb, leaving Yunrui weak and frail.”

She sighed before continuing, “Yunrui’s sweet and charming personality only made them dote on her more, while they thought I was too aloof. But looking back, Yunrui’s health issues weren’t severe—she just wanted to stay thin and would secretly disobey the nannies’ care plans. This led to frequent colds and fevers, making her seem weaker than she was. Over time, she became more petite, which only reinforced their favoritism.”

Madam Huo frowned. “I could tell yesterday that her character wasn’t right. From childhood, she played games behind people’s backs, and even now, she tries to manipulate situations. She’s lucky you didn’t fall for her act. If you had, she would’ve made you feel indebted to her for life. And your family’s bias—over something so ridiculous—is absurd!”

Shen Yunxuan had struggled with her family’s favoritism in her past life but had since let it go. “Maybe it’s just fate. Though I was born into the Shen family, I never felt like I belonged. We’ve always been at odds. Now that we’re going our separate ways, we’ll all be more at ease.”

She smiled. “Mom, you don’t need to treat them as in-laws. The Shen family is their own entity; I’m my own person. If they make any unreasonable requests, feel free to ignore them.”

This candid declaration shocked Madam Huo. For most women, their birth family was a significant support system, especially in high-society marriages. Without that backing, it was often hard to maintain a position in their husband’s family. Madam Huo had assumed the Shen family’s unpleasantness would create problems, but now it seemed Shen Yunxuan intended to sever ties altogether. That meant the Huo family wouldn’t need to engage with the Shens either!

Madam Huo asked cautiously, “Are you sure? Or are you just upset with them right now? Decisions made in anger can lead to regret later. Aren’t you worried that Siheng or I might look down on you without your family’s support?”

Surprised by Madam Huo’s unexpected concern, Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “The Shen family owes me and has already compensated me with a generous dowry. It’s enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life. Wherever I go, I’ll be fine. It’s much better than staying entangled with them and being mistreated.”

Her words implied she wasn’t overly attached to her role as the Huo family’s daughter-in-law. If things didn’t work out, she could leave and live freely on her own.

Madam Huo laughed. “I like someone with such a carefree spirit and clear head. Come on, since Siheng is busy, I’ll take you out. I’ll introduce you to a few places and help you join some clubs. That’ll make future socializing much easier for you.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll arrange for us to head out.”

---

On the other side of the city, in a hotel, Shen Yunrui furiously scrubbed clothes in the bathroom sink. Despite the hotel offering laundry services, Mother Lin insisted on following “family traditions,” claiming that a new daughter-in-law must be hardworking, diligent, and capable of enduring hardship. This meant Shen Yunrui had to wash clothes by hand and personally clean their room.

If it weren’t for the inconvenience of using the hotel kitchen, they might have made her cook as well!

When Shen Yunrui argued with Mother Lin, Grandma Lin scolded her, calling her a “troublemaker” and claiming that a quarrelsome new wife brought bad luck to the family. She even declared that if Shen Yunrui couldn’t handle it, she should divorce and return to her family.

As someone who had been reincarnated, Shen Yunrui was naturally superstitious. The grandmother’s remarks made her fear that arguing might disrupt the Lin family’s fortune and hinder Lin Huaizhi’s future success. Unwilling to return to her parents in disgrace, she had no choice but to endure. Thankfully, this “hardworking diligence” would only last three days. After returning to her family for the customary visit, life would supposedly return to normal. She could bear it until then.

As she scrubbed the clothes and her hands turned red and raw, Shen Yunrui silently cursed, blaming everything on Shen Yunxuan. If Shen Yunxuan hadn’t made her deal with the servants, how could she have kicked out Aunt Qin and caused the whole recording debacle?

Still, she believed Shen Yunxuan wouldn’t have it easy either. After such a scene at the wedding, it wasn’t just her who lost face—Shen Yunxuan was humiliated too! In her past life, when she had successfully married into the Huo family, Madam Huo had only been kind for two days before revealing her sharp tongue, criticizing her for everything. That old witch was insufferable.

As for Huo Siheng, he was a cold, emotionless workaholic. On their wedding night, he had her sign a divorce agreement before sleeping on the sofa. The next morning, he left for the office before she even woke up, then stayed at work for several days before flying abroad for business. He didn’t even show up for her three-day family visit, sending only a few gifts instead.

She had once suggested that the Huo family collaborate more with the Shen family, but Huo Siheng had coldly refused, only tossing a couple of small projects their way. His stinginess had earned her a scolding from her own family.

One by one, all these grievances came flooding back. Shen Yunrui didn’t believe Shen Yunxuan could fare any better. In a few days, when they returned for the customary family visit, at least she could flaunt her happiness with Lin Huaizhi. But Shen Yunxuan? She’d probably be exhausted and haggard from lack of sleep.

The thought made Shen Yunrui chuckle aloud. She couldn’t wait to see Shen Yunxuan scolded and humiliated during the family visit. Only by witnessing Shen Yunxuan’s misery could she ease her own suffering!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆