Even as the receptionist repeatedly praised Shang Chi's looks,
Qi Kejing nearly lost her voice the moment she saw him in person.
His sharp facial contours were softened by the way his dark bangs fell over his forehead.
His eyes were double-lidded, yet the outer corners flared wide. When those jet-black orbs met hers with a smile, they radiated a languid, detached air—a noble aloofness that suggested nothing truly mattered.
His jacket hung loosely draped over his arm, while the faint outline of his sturdy, sculpted muscles was hinted at beneath the light gray shirt, neatly tucked into tailored trousers—a figure of broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
...He looked like trouble.
How could the gentle and kind Sister He have such an imposing son?
Qi Kejing took a few steps before turning back.
Shang Chi carried his jacket in one hand while holding Mingzhu's with the other—their fingers interlocked. As they walked, the wedding band at his knuckle glinted.
He tilted his head to speak to Mingzhu, his lowered eyes brimming with warmth.
Mingzhu followed obediently, step by step.
Having run a bit too hastily earlier, the necklace around her neck had slipped free from her shirt collar. The delicate platinum chain dangled the matching wedding ring, swaying gently and catching the light, making it particularly noticeable.
Qi Kejing turned her head and quickened her pace back to the lounge.
The receptionist girl was peeking through the door crack.
Spotting Qi Kejing enter, she lowered her voice and made exaggerated expressions at her.
"Boss, isn't Mr. Shang gorgeous? He and Mingzhu make such a perfect pair!"
"No wonder the Wolf-Rabbit CP stays so popular. Just look at that height difference and body contrast—it's got so much visual tension."
The girl slurped her drink, utterly smitten.
Qi Kejing stubbornly replied, "He's just okay."
But glancing back outside, she saw Shang Chi slightly bent over, leaning close to listen to Ming Zhuo's words.
...He was actually not bad.
Qi Kejing's expression softened.
He was barely worthy of their little Zhuo.
Meanwhile.
Mingzhuo, the focus of their attention, murmured softly and quickly, "Just act in front of them. Otherwise, Jingjing will worry about me."
Shang Chi's lips curved slightly. "Listen to my wife."
Mingzhuo: "...Okay."
Damn it.
How could Shang Chi be so good at this?
Kissing, hugging, and tenderly calling her "wife."
Forget Qi Kejing—even she, the person involved, was starting to believe it!
Especially after they sat down to eat.
While serving her food, Shang Chi answered Qi Kejing's questions with refined politeness.
"I work at Yueshen Group. The salary and benefits are decent, so I don't plan to switch jobs for now."
"Yes, I can cook. The kitchen at home will be mine from now on."
"Xiaozhu doesn't like scallions, ginger, or garlic. She dislikes winter melon but loves carrots..."
Mingzhu listened in stunned silence.
Such an unexpected turn of events left no time for rehearsal, yet Shang Chi rattled off these details with such familiarity.
Had he really discovered all this after just two meals together?
When Qi Kejing asked about their reasons for marriage,
Shang Chi placed peeled shrimp into Mingzhuo's bowl with a gentle smile. "It was a bit rushed. But both Xiao Zhu and I believe we're meant for each other. Timing isn't an issue. I trust we can build a strong marriage."
His demeanor was steady and gentle, his speech measured and considerate. He even took care to remove seasonings from Mingzhuo's food.
By the end of the meal, Qi Kejing had transformed from her initial wariness and scrutiny into praise and warmth.
She even proactively shared photos she'd taken of Mingzhu with Shang Chi.
Shang Chi peeled an orange, patiently removing the white pith before handing it to Mingzhu.
He glanced up at Qi Kejing's phone screen.
"This is Xiao Zhuo playing at Jincheng Grand Hall. She wasn't even an adult yet, but she wasn't the least bit nervous on stage. It was me sitting below who was terrified."
"This is when Xiao Zhuo helped out at the Du City Folk Orchestra. Their guqin soloist had gastroenteritis and couldn't perform, but tickets were already sold. They called in Xiaozhu at the last minute to save the show... The theme was Twelve Flower Goddesses. They even did a flower goddess makeup on her, with floral hairpins. Pretty, right?"
Shang Chi looked at each photo in turn and nodded.
"Xiao Zhu looks good no matter what."
Mingzhu sat there with ears flushed bright red, absentmindedly eating a cool, sweet-and-sour tangerine.
Just as Qi Kejing was about to flip to her awkward photos from years ago, she finally couldn't help but sit up straight, trying to protest: "Jingjing—"
It was one thing for Qi Kejing to keep gushing.
But why was Shang Chi chiming in with compliments too?
And with such earnestness.
Ming Zhuo felt like she was about to turn into a kettle, steam practically hissing from her head.
Shang Chi gazed at her with a gentle smile, obediently stopping the viewing.
But he turned and pulled out his phone, politely asking, "Ms. Qi, may I add you on WeChat? I'd like copies of all the photos of Xiao Zhu you have."
Ming Zhuo: "Shang Chi—"
The front desk girl cupped her face and giggled, "Sis Mingzhuo, aren't you going to call him hubby?"
Mingzhuo: "..."
All she could hear was the beep of a successful QR code scan beside her ear.
Qi Kejing readily agreed, "I'll send you everything in my album."
Then she leaned close to Mingzhuo's ear and whispered, "Don't worry, they're all gorgeous photos of you. They'll make your husband swoon."
Ming Zhe, too exhausted to resist, could only muffle a groan and bury her face.
Finally, Shang Chi led Ming Zhe away, his phone filled with pictures of his beautiful wife and a bag of plump, greenish-yellow oranges in tow. They bid farewell to Qi Kejing and left.
The front desk girl had been chatting nonstop all evening. Satisfied to the point of dizziness, she leaned against the doorframe, smacking her lips.
"Wow, Sister Mingzhuo's husband drives a pretty cool car too."
Qikejing watched from afar and guessed, "It must be an SUV."
Neither of them knew anything about cars. They watched the vehicle start up and drive away before exchanging a knowing smile. They prepared to tidy up, close the shop, and head home.
Meanwhile.
Inside the SUV.
A cool evening breeze seeped through the window crack. Mingzhu raised her hand to rub her slightly flushed cheeks, murmuring indistinctly, "You sure can talk."
And he'd said it with such conviction, not a trace of guilt in his voice.
Shang Chi chuckled lazily, shedding his usual polite reserve for a more relaxed, casual demeanor.
"What? Did I get something wrong?"
Just as they hit a red light, Shang Chi tapped the brakes. He casually turned his head and, seeing Mingzhu rubbing her cheeks, couldn't resist reaching out to give them a gentle squeeze himself.
Soft and plump.
"..."
Mingzhu's movements froze.
She'd been trying to cool her cheeks with his slightly cool fingers.
But after Shang Chi's touch...
It felt even hotter.
As for Shang Chi's question...
"That's why I complimented your eloquence," Ming Zhu murmured softly.
He hadn't said anything particularly special—not even a single romantic line. It was all plain conversation, yet somehow it created the illusion of deep affection.
As if the reason they got married was truly because they liked each other.
Shang Chi hummed in acknowledgment, his voice rising at the end. "So, Xiao Zhu, are you satisfied with my performance tonight?"
Ming Zhu nodded in admiration.
"Satisfied," she emphasized, "super satisfied."
She was almost convinced it was true.
Not to mention Qi Kejing—she'd definitely be able to relax now.
Just as she was thinking of Qi Kejing, the phone on her lap vibrated. It was a message from her.
Mingzhu tapped play.
She'd forgotten she'd cranked the speaker to full volume earlier so Qi Kejing could hear the voice message clearly.
Now, Qi Kejing's clear voice blared throughout the entire carriage.
"I forgot to ask during dinner—Xiaozhu, you're going to Beijing for Hua Yu's assessment at the end of the month. Does your husband have time to accompany you? If he's busy, I'll rearrange my schedule to go with you."
Ming Zhu fumbled frantically, her fingertips scrambling for the volume button on the side. She pressed down hard on the decrease key, managing to lower the volume to the absolute minimum just as the voice message ended.
But Shang Chi had already heard the most crucial part.
His eyebrows lifted slightly. His gaze swept indifferently across the empty night street before shifting sideways.
"Going to the capital?"
Mingzhu frowned slightly, her nose wrinkling in annoyance. "Yes... it's the Huayu National Orchestra's audition."
She let out a soft sigh and briefly explained the orchestra's status and circumstances to Shang Chi.
After her last word faded, only the man's shallow breathing filled the air beside her.
Silence lingered for a long moment.
...Why isn't he speaking?
Mingzhu blinked uncertainly.
Unable to see Shang Chi's expression, she had no clue about his mood.
Her fingers curled into her palm as she cautiously called out, "Shang Chi?"
"You..." she hesitated, "Are you upset?"
The atmosphere had felt fine just moments ago. Mingzhu could only guess at his mood. Remembering Qi Kejing's voice message, she hurriedly explained, "Actually, I can go alone. I don't need anyone to accompany me. Kejing just worries too much about me, always thinking I'm still too young..."
"Hold on."
His deep voice cut her explanation short.
Shang Chi smoothly parked the car, unbuckled his seatbelt, and turned toward Mingzhu.
"I'm not upset. I was just thinking earlier—from the way you sounded, it seemed like you didn't plan on telling me about this."