"The contract is very clear."
"Clear about what?"
"About our relationship."
Zhan Jingchen knew what she meant. Seeing that she had misunderstood, he deliberately teased her.
"I know, husband and wife. As a man, you wouldn't... say it in advance, would you? I don't mind, but you have to..."
Pei Kexin grabbed the pillow beside her and threw it at him. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhan Jingchen caught it steadily, blinking his innocent big eyes.
"What am I saying? Didn't you say..."
"Jiang Jingchen, does your mouth hurt if you're not being obnoxious for a moment?"
As they were bickering, the phone in her bag buzzed.
Pei Kexin, who had intended to scold him properly, had to temporarily stop.
She took out her phone, and it was Fu Duoduo calling.
She pressed the answer button, and Fu Duoduo's giggling voice came through.
"Bride, what are you busy with? Tonight is your wedding night, and I didn't expect you to still be in the mood to answer my call. Hehe, did I disturb you?"
Another one with a glib tongue asking for a scolding, Pei Kexin replied irritably.
"If you knew it would disturb me, why did you still call?"
Fu Duoduo was rarely speechless.
"What the heck, are you serious? Gu Wei said you and that guy weren't... What the heck, a barren tree has bloomed, Pei Kexin, you wouldn't..."
Pei Kexin didn't have the mood to listen to her nonsense. "Do you have something to say? Why are you calling so late to talk about this? If not, I'm hanging up."
"Are these trivial matters?"
Fu Duoduo exclaimed with exaggerated emotion.
"My best friend, the barren tree for a thousand years, has bloomed. It's truly a cause for celebration. I'm so excited just thinking about it. I know you're in a hurry, but please be patient and let me say a few more words."
"Um, cough, you're inexperienced. How is he? Let me tell you, if you don't plan to have children yet, then you must... I'll give you a suggestion..."
Zhan Jingchen was still listening nearby, and Pei Kexin almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
"Thank you, Sister Fu. It's so late, and you're too concerned. Are you done? If you're done, I'm really going to bloom. Worry more about yourself when you have time!"
Fu Duoduo almost burst out laughing on the other end of the phone. "Don't, don't, don't hang up in a hurry. I haven't said the important thing yet."
Pei Kexin rolled her eyes at her through the air. "I'm particularly tired today. If you have something to say, hurry up. Are you annoying or not?"
Fu Duoduo finally got serious.
"Tomorrow night is that person and Xia Tiantian's first wedding anniversary. They're inviting everyone to help give Xia Tiantian a surprise. Are you going?"
So that's what all the fuss was about...
Pei Kexin's heart sank. She sat at the foot of the bed, striking a strong and domineering posture.
"Did he ask you to tell me?"
Fu Duoduo: "He didn't specifically name you, just said the date was special and hoped everyone would come... Several people have already responded in the group, saying they'll go. You used to be close to Xia Tiantian, and I was afraid that if I didn't tell you and you didn't show up, those nosy people would gossip about you again."
Pei Kexin knew all of this too well.
In high school, she, Xia Tiantian, and Zhou Ruyu were the closest.
Zhou Ruyu often courted her, and Pei Kexin was indeed moved. She thought they were just one step away from becoming a couple, but before graduation, he was rumored to be involved with Xia Tiantian.
Pei Kexin was greatly shocked and distanced herself from them.
When the two of them got married earlier, all their classmates attended, except for her, who used the excuse of being busy and didn't show up.
She heard that it had already caused quite a bit of speculation. If she didn't go this time...
It was just Zhou Ruyu; she no longer cared.
There were thousands of men in the world, and she, Pei Kexin, was not lacking. She wouldn't have remained single for so many years because of him.
Even if she had been moved by him in her youth, she didn't want to be criticized repeatedly because of him now.
So, without much hesitation, she replied.
"Since I have time, and the old classmates are inviting, why wouldn't I go? Can I bring a plus-one? Tell Zhou Ruyu that I'll bring a plus-one tomorrow."
After hanging up Fu Duoduo's call, the troublesome day finally ended.
Pei Kexin got up, smoothed her hair, and walked towards the bathroom.
"I'm going to take a shower and remove my makeup now. Zhan Jingchen, you're a smart person. I hope you'll be sleeping on the floor honestly by the time I come out."
It was clear that she was indeed tired, and there had been too many unpleasant things today. Zhan Jingchen was sensible and didn't want to add to her troubles. He gave an OK sign, rummaged through the wardrobe, found a quilt, and threw it onto the carpet.
On their first night as a married couple, they each slept on the bed and the floor, and so the day passed.
The next morning, Pei Kexin was woken up on time by her biological clock.
She first went out to check on the old man, then came back to kick Zhan Jingchen.
He was sleepy but also alert, instantly opening his eyes and sitting up. "What's wrong?"
"Get up."
"What time is it?"
"Just get up when I tell you to, less nonsense. Fold up the quilt and put it away, be careful someone sees it."
Zhan Jingchen got up to collect the quilt.
Since he hadn't brought pajamas or clothes to change into, he had slept in his underwear last night.
At this moment, he emerged from the quilt.
His broad and strong chest, his long and powerful legs, and a certain area that was particularly dazzling in the morning, appearing unexpectedly, stunned Pei Kexin.
Heaven knows, in her entire life, this was the first time she had seen such a scene outside of television.
With just one glance, she was so embarrassed that she quickly averted her gaze.
"You, why aren't you wearing clothes when you sleep?"
Zhan Jingchen thought she was faking it.
She was an adult of a certain age, especially a beautiful one like her, who must have been pursued by many people. Who didn't know who? Was it necessary to be like this?
"I know I have a good figure. If you want to look, just look. I'm not charging you."
Pei Kexin, "Who wants to look at you? I'm afraid I'll get styes if I look too much. And you boast about your good figure, you're really overly confident."
"Absolutely." Zhan Jingchen shamelessly put on his clothes in front of her. "Otherwise, how could Miss Pei Kexin fall in love with me at first sight?"
"Do you have a misunderstanding of the term 'love at first sight'?"
Zhan Jingchen buttoned his shirt and raised an eyebrow. "Never mind how it happened, I've confirmed my status as Pei Kexin's ex-husband."
"After we divorce, Miss Pei, you're not allowed to avoid me."
After both were dressed, Pei Kexin got straight to the point and instructed him that his task for today was to take care of the old man here.
"Call me if anything happens. I'll pick you up after work tonight."
Thinking about last night's call, he asked knowingly, "Pick me up? We're not staying here tonight? Where are we going?"
"We'll talk about it then. You stay here honestly and don't cause trouble."
The two of them helped the old man get up and wash. In front of him, they acted like a loving couple for a while, and then Pei Kexin went to work.
The day passed quickly while she was dealing with matters. As work was about to end, Fu Duoduo sent her a photo via WeChat.
"Zhou Ruyu is quite good at playing. He's actually holding a masquerade ball tonight. Do you think I'll be too attention-grabbing if I wear this?"
She sent a photo of a short, wine-red evening gown with an open back, which was very bold and exaggerated in style but suited her personality.
Pei Kexin looked at it and felt that standing next to her, she would look like a country bumpkin. That was good.