When Shang Chi knocked on the door, he also took a quick look around the surroundings.
After all, it was an older neighborhood. Even with the property management diligently cleaning daily, time had left its indelible marks on the white walls and floor tiles.
Two households lived across from each other on the same floor.
He lowered his gaze slightly, studying the heavy reddish-brown security door before him, already beginning to think about how to improve it.
Install a peephole doorbell.
Add facial recognition linked to a small speaker in the entryway—it would announce visitors automatically.
If an unfamiliar face appeared, it would beep twice as a warning.
Click.
The security door opened from the inside.
Mingzhu peered out halfway, her cheeks flushed pink and her nose tip glistening with sweat from whatever she'd been doing. Her gaze unfocused in midair, she whispered, "Shang Chi?"
Shang Chi: "It's me."
Recognizing the familiar deep, magnetic voice, Mingzhu's lips curved into a faint smile as she swung the door wide.
She hurriedly turned back, fumbling to open the shoe cabinet door and pull out a pair of light gray slippers.
"I prepared these for my master's father-in-law earlier, but he never came. They've been sitting unused—they're clean."
Shang Chi pushed open the door and stepped into the small apartment with two suitcases in tow.
The living room lights were on, casting a warm glow that bathed everything in sight in a soft, hazy hue.
The white-apricot wood furniture featured rounded edges, some of which were covered with soft foam bumpers.
A small fringed blanket lay on the soft leather sofa, and near the armrest sat a plush stuffed animal. One could easily imagine a young girl lounging on the sofa, wrapped in the blanket and leaning against the toy.
Braille sheet music lay neatly stacked on the coffee table. In the corner, a slender plastic vase held several white roses and jasmine, quietly releasing their fragrance.
Though somewhat sparse, the space was clearly kept crisp and tidy, possessing a certain charm.
Shang Chi glanced around briefly before shifting his gaze back.
Noticing Mingzhu standing nearby, looking somewhat nervous, he curved his lips into a smile, his tone light. "Your face is all flushed. What were you busy with just now?"
Mingzhu touched her burning cheeks and gave an embarrassed smile.
"Just tidying up the guest room," she replied honestly.
"...?"
Shang Chi's smile faltered.
Ming Zhe couldn't see the complex expression on his face.
She only asked tentatively, "Do you need to unpack first? The guest room is over here, but it might be a bit small..."
She took the lead, walking a few steps to a half-open wooden door. Pushing it open, she turned back and said, "There's only a small wardrobe inside, and half the space is reserved for winter quilts. If you don't have room for your clothes, you can store them in my room."
The space was indeed tight.
The entire eighty-square-meter house allocated essential living areas and a piano room, leaving little for the master bedroom and guest suite.
The guest room housed a floor-to-ceiling off-white wardrobe and a 1.8-meter bed, leaving a narrow hallway barely wide enough for two people to pass.
Young Master Shang had likely never stayed in such a cramped space before.
"...Isn't it too small?"
She'd been following Zhao Xi's instructions while packing, rushing about until now, standing at the guest room door. Only then did her overheated brain finally cool down.
Ming Zhuo realized.
Shang Chi was so much taller than her. What felt just right to her must be cramped for him.
A wave of regret washed over her.
Ming Zhu blinked rapidly, her voice dropping.
"I didn't realize... Why don't you take the master bedroom? It's a bit larger..."
Guilt spread unabashedly across her face, her delicate brows knotting in concern.
Shang Chi gave a lazy chuckle, cutting her off. "No need. It's perfectly fine. Xiao Zhu is letting me stay here instead of sleeping on the floor at the office. I'm already incredibly lucky."
No matter how many times she heard it, the lazy drawl in Shang Chi's voice when he said "Xiao Zhu" always made Ming Zhe's heart skip a beat.
A nickname shared only with those closest.
Yet when Shang Chi spoke it, the sound glided into her ears with an extra layer of tenderness.
Or perhaps it was because... her heart leaned toward him.
Shang Chi entered the guest room to pack his things.
There was no rush to tidy up. Mingzhu had already prepared the bedding—simple solid colors spread across the large bed, looking soft and inviting.
Shang Chi placed his everyday clothes into the wardrobe, closed the doors, and tilted his head slightly. He could see the figure standing by the doorway.
She stood perfectly straight, her delicate features softly outlined in the light. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide and round, radiating an obedient readiness to await instructions.
Just as she was now.
Shang Chi remained motionless for a while.
Mingzhu shook her head, as if testing for signals like an antenna atop her head. Finding none, she spoke softly.
"Shang Chi?" asked the bright-eyed Mingzhu. "Is there anything I can help with?"
Shang Chi silently lifted the corners of his mouth, reopening the suitcase he'd just closed. He casually selected two long coats and gladly accepted Mingzhu's assistance.
"There are two items that won't fit. Can I put them in your room?"
Like a kindergarten child who'd waited ages to be assigned a task by the teacher.
Little Green Bamboo stood even straighter, her tone light and cheerful, her voice rising at the end.
"Sure~"
She turned and pushed open the door to the master bedroom next door.
Shang Chi followed in, clothes in hand.
The master bedroom mirrored the living room's layout—straight lines and maximum open space.
The bed was covered in a soft, pale green quilt. A bulge beneath it revealed a white shark plushie, neatly positioned on the pillow in a sleeping pose.
Adorable.
Shang Chi's expression softened as he watched Mingzhuetap-tap across the room in slippers. Her calves beneath the skirt were smooth and fair, her ankle bones delicate beneath the sock cuffs.
She pulled open the wardrobe door with practiced ease, then gestured toward the hanging clothes inside. "Just hang it here."
Shang Chi nodded, stepping forward to hang his coat on a hanger.
The pushed-aside clothes swayed slightly.
The hem of the light beige dress swayed back and forth, brushing against the corner of the black coat.
Once, then again.
-
By the time he finished hanging the coat, it was already six o'clock.
Shang Chi unlocked his phone and ordered dinner.
While waiting for the delivery, Mingzhuo slipped back into the bedroom. She retrieved a spare key and pulled a thin, square card from the bedside drawer.
She shuffled across the living room in slippers and handed both items to Shang Chi, who was seated on the sofa.
"...What's this?"
Shang Chi paused, his gaze falling on the pale card pressed beneath her soft white fingers. The all-too-familiar design made his brow twitch.
The next moment, Mingzhu obediently explained, "This is the house key. This is my bank card. The PIN is... Aside from some money in a fixed deposit, everything I've earned these past years is in there. You can use it."
Shang Chi: "?"
Shang Chi asked curiously, "Why are you suddenly giving me your card?"
Mingzhu felt a bit embarrassed. After hesitating, she spoke softly.
"You just spent your savings on the car, and today you bought those wedding rings. There can't be much left, right?"
"I can't keep letting you foot the bill forever."
After all, Shang Chi only made five or six thousand a month.
Mingzhu pushed the card forward again, her tone softening.
"Now that we're married, everything is joint property. There's about a hundred thousand yuan in this card. Take it for emergencies."
"..."
Shang Chi stared at the rectangular plastic, hesitating to speak, his expression inscrutable.
So now...
He was being kept by his wife?
He'd become a kept man?