Campus Ace Girl

Afterwards, the atmosphere remained somewhat subtle. Chu Ci had to attend a meeting at noon so he didn’t eat lunch and left for the company first, leaving behind Zhao Mo Ran. She got up wanting to leave with him, but he lightly pressed her down: "You stay here. I’ll come to pick you up after work in the afternoon."

Zhao Mo Ran pressed her lips together, giving a faint smile.

Chu Changhe frowned: "It’s only the second day since the wedding, why are you going to the company?"

He paused for a moment and then said to his son, "Mo Ran is young and also needs someone to accompany her."

Chu Ci had already picked up his coat and said offhandedly, "Then leave her to bond with you all too."

Chu Changhe wanted to say something else but he had already walked out, very swiftly. When he turned back to look at Zhao Mo Ran, there was some guilt: "Chu Ci’s work is quite busy, don’t mind it, young couples have plenty of time in the future."

Zhao Mo Ran said softly, "It’s okay."

Chu Changhe sighed: "Mo Ran, you are quite sensible."

He hesitated slightly and then said, "Give him some time, I believe Chu Ci will be a good husband."

Zhao Mo Ran said yes.

He liked her quite a bit, thinking that the girl was obedient and accommodating, without much temper, and could really tolerate Chu Ci, which at that moment seemed like a good choice. So he casually chatted with her, and halfway through the conversation, Chu’s wife came back after taking medicine. Seeing them chatting happily, she sat down with a smile: "What are you talking about?"

"Just chatting casually." Chu Changhe took a sip of tea and changed the subject: "What’s for lunch?"

Chu’s wife said leisurely: "I’ve already asked the servants to add some dishes."

As she spoke, she suddenly looked at Zhao Mo Ran, asking kindly: "Mo Ran, do you know how to cook?"

"I know a little." Zhao Mo Ran knew she was being put in a difficult position, but still maintained a smile on her face.

Chu’s wife seemed quite happy: "As long as you can. Let me tell you, to win a husband’s heart, you have to win his stomach. How about this, you cook a few of Chu Ci’s favorite dishes for lunch, and I’ll have a look."

With that said, Chu Changhe became displeased: "There are servants at home, why should Mo Ran have to do it?"

Chu’s wife was instantly a bit unhappy: "It’s not such a big deal to cook a meal, Chu Ci doesn’t even worry about you as his father, yet you’re worrying now."

Chu Changhe was too angry to speak, not wanting to make things difficult for Zhao Mo Ran. She got up and gently said: "Mom is quite right too."

Chu’s wife was pleased again: "See, Mo Ran is very sensible."

She then asked rather kindly: "Do you know which dish Chu Ci likes?"

Fortunately, Zhao Mo Ran had overheard the servants talking at home, so she could easily say it, and Chu’s wife was quite satisfied as she watched her enter the kitchen.

After she left, Chu Changhe said: "What’s the point of this! Chu Ci finally agreed to marry, and you’re making things uneasy for the young couple."

Chu’s wife sneered: "What’s this! Do you think I don’t know that Chu Ci spent three billion to marry her? Three billion and she comes into our house not knowing how to cook, wouldn’t the Chu family be the fool?"

Chu Changhe was displeased: "As long as Chu Ci likes her, it’s fine. We shouldn’t interfere in their matters."

"Do I, as a mother-in-law, not even have the right to say a word?" Chu’s wife covered her face: "I’m doing this for Chu Ci, wanting to teach him an adequate wife, do you think I’m so bad?"

Chu Changhe was extremely helpless, "I didn’t mean that, you’re overthinking."

Chu’s wife continued saying: "Moreover, I want to invite Yan Yan back for a meal, we are all one family now."

Chu Changhe was stunned for a moment, then said: "Yan Yan might not be free today, the Bai family is going to Maple Mountain."

Sighing, he said: "Besides, there’s no need to involve her, Yan Yan now... don’t you understand, she is considered under the Gu family in Anxi."

Chu’s wife was displeased: "We raised the child, and now someone else gets to pick up a bargain."

These words were unpleasant, Chu Changhe suppressed his anger: "What do you mean picking up a bargain? Don’t you know Anxi’s temperament? This recognition of Yan Yan going back meant that the Gu family couple had to pay another dowry, she would not let Yan Yan be wronged. Ultimately, her actions make me feel ashamed to my face, the child is ours, but others are worrying about her lifelong events."

As Chu Changhe spoke of his sorrow, his heart was filled with sadness. In his heart, Chu Yan was still his child, and he was reluctant. But this feeling of his was not understood by Chu’s wife, who felt otherwise: "This is nothing for Gu.

As she said this, Chu Changhe immediately responded: "Yes, yes, it is nothing, but you are costing Chu Ci’s life, have you seen him smile at all these years? He waited all this time and now it’s chaos."

Just after he said this, he inadvertently raised his eyes and froze.

At the door, stood Zhao Mo Ran.

It seemed she had heard.

Chu Changhe cleared his throat and was about to explain, when Zhao Mo Ran smiled and said: "I wanted to ask if Chu Ci likes sweet and sour fish or steamed fish."

Chu’s wife also smiled awkwardly: "Steamed fish is fine."

"Alright, I’ll get it done." Zhao Mo Ran turned and left.

After she left, Chu Changhe sighed a long sigh, and Chu’s wife snorted softly: "What happened to you? So what if she knows, she’s still acting oblivious!"

Chu Changhe was in a daze for a while before he said softly: "She probably already knows! But she doesn’t seem to care much, after all..."

The rest of the words he did not say, and Chu’s wife followed up: "After all, it’s just about the money isn’t it?"

Chu Changhe gave her a look, sighed again, and swallowed back his words.

In the end, it’s just... that she doesn’t love Chu Ci!

Chu Changhe felt sad inside, but he didn’t complain in front of Chu’s wife; after all, Chu Ci and his wife’s marriage still needed to go on... In the kitchen, Zhao Mo Ran silently handled the ingredients, and when the servant saw she seemed absent-minded, they whispered: "Young Madam, let me do it, you with your delicate hands haven’t done this before."

Zhao Mo Ran came back to her senses, and said lightly: "Let me do it."

The servant felt quite sympathetic, although Miss Zhao married into the Chu family, the lady of the house had a difficult personality, and look, it’s only the first day and she’s being tormented like this, so it’s said that wealthy people aren’t necessarily happy.

The servant glanced at the door and cautiously said: "I’ll do it, Madam won’t know, don’t worry."

"No need, thank you." Zhao Mo Ran looked up, gave a slight smile: "I can handle it."

The servant saw her movements were fairly proficient and was somewhat relieved: "Alright, then I’ll go do other things, if there’s a problem, just call me."

Zhao Mo Ran made a noise of agreement, continuing to handle the ingredients at hand. She was somewhat absent-minded, and while slicing the fish, she accidentally cut her hand, the cut was quite bad... She cried out lightly in pain, the servant heard it and immediately ran over, exclaiming, "Young Madam, press it quickly, there’s a lot of blood."

The servant was quite capable, quickly taking some tissue from nearby to press on it, but the bleeding was a bit much, Zhao Mo Ran lightly frowned, and the servant said: "You’ll have to go to the hospital."

At that moment, Chu’s wife came over, "What happened?"

"Young Madam injured her hand, it’s pretty serious, needs to go to the hospital." The servant looked up.

Chu’s wife looked over, nearly fainted, she covered her nose and said repeatedly: "Quick, have the driver take her to the hospital."

As she said this, she went out to call, muttering to herself as she walked: "Bleeding on the first day, that’s not a good sign."

Zhao Mo Ran remained silent.

The servant comforted her, "Young Mrs., you and the young master seem well-matched, you’ll definitely grow old together."

"Really?" Zhao Mo Ran smiled faintly, pressing her hand, "It’s okay even if we don’t."

What she was most concerned about was, if they had a child... who would get the child? If they divorced, would Chu Ci agree to give her the child?

The servant accompanied her to the parking lot, and the driver Old Lin came over enthusiastically, "Young Mrs., your hand is seriously hurt. The madam asked me to accompany you to the hospital."

"Thank you." Zhao Mo Ran tilted her head to let the servant help her get the bag, the servant immediately went over to get it, but when returning, was a bit worried, "Should I go with you?"

"No need, go about your tasks." Zhao Mo Ran knew very well that since Madam Chu did not instruct Chen Auntie to accompany her, doing so would certainly result in being blamed later. Not due to any wrongdoing or lack of people here, but due to the woman’s control. Zhao Mo Ran was insignificant to Chu Ci’s mother, just a woman Chu Ci could marry with money, she was quite self-aware.

Chen Auntie hesitated a bit, and finally said, "Then be careful on your own."

Zhao Mo Ran nodded slightly, turned around, and got into the car.

Looking at the car driving away, Chen Auntie murmured to herself, "I don’t know if this is a blessing or a curse."

Sighing, she turned to the kitchen, shortly after, Chu Changhe came over asking about the young Mrs.’s situation, turns out Chu Changhe received a call leading to some incident, before finishing the call, a trip to the hospital was already in progress.

Chen Auntie softly said, "Only Old Lin went along, wonder if he can help with any procedures smartly."

On further thought she added, "The young Mrs. is hurt, should we call the young master?"

Chu Changhe pondered and said, "I’ll talk to Chu Ci."

After saying this, he sauntered out, Chen Auntie sighed gently, "Thankfully, sir is quite good, otherwise the young Mrs.’s days wouldn’t be easy."

Outside, Chu Changhe directly dialed Chu Ci, over there, Chu Ci was indeed in a meeting, saw the phone ringing and picked it up casually, "Dad? Something wrong?"

Chu Changhe’s voice was deep, "Mo Ran hurt her hand moments ago, seems to have lost quite a bit of blood, she’s off to the hospital now, you should go see her if you have time."

He paused briefly and added, "I know you don’t have much affection for her, but after all, you’re married, don’t let outsiders gossip, furthermore, life has to go on, being too estranged isn’t good."

Chu Ci held the phone, pondering slightly, "I’ll go soon."

Coincidentally, the meeting was almost over, and he was willing to give his father some face, mainly because his father had been worried tirelessly about him and Chu Yan over the years, he didn’t want to add to his father’s worries now.

Chu Ci ended the call, dispersed the meeting, and returned to his office to assign tasks to Secretary Yin.

Secretary Yin was surprised, "How did Miss Zhao get injured? And lost so much blood?"

Chu Ci frowned, then recalled his father’s words.

Zhao Mo Ran ended up cooking at his house, he knew it was his mother’s difficulty, but she sure went overboard, usually not touching household chores, but when at the old mansion, trying to please...

His mood was unpleasant, but he still drove to Yunxi Hospital.

When he arrived, Zhao Mo Ran had just finished bandaging, he found her leaning to the side, she raised her eyes and saw him, somewhat surprised.

Chu Ci looked at her, after a while, spoke lightly, "How did you get injured?"

She held her bandaged hand, said softly, "Accidentally hurt myself."

"Cutting veggies?" He looked at her, smiled lightly, "The Chu family doesn’t need servants, you don’t have to follow my mother’s every word."

Zhao Mo Ran laughed lightly, somewhat self-deprecating.

He said this quite naturally, yet she couldn’t do it, she had no status in the Chu family, he left her there alone, she wouldn’t dare assume Madam Chu’s words were to be ignored, she couldn’t assume he must protect her, thus she truly had no resentment for his disregard of her circumstances.

Chu Ci saw her expression, somewhat displeased, "What, you think it’s my fault?"

"No." She was honest, "It was my own carelessness."

Chu Ci looked at her deeply, "Alright, let’s go eat."

Zhao Mo Ran silently followed him, it wasn’t until getting into the car at the parking lot that she softly said, "Thank you."

He made no sound, fastened the seatbelt and started the car, it didn’t take long for her to realize they weren’t heading towards the Chu mansion, rather a different route, she prompted, "Are we going the wrong way?"

"How can I not recognize my own house?" He lit a cigarette, took a puff, spoke calmly.

She then stopped speaking, lowered her head to look at her injured hand. Chu Ci followed her gaze briefly, then said, "My mother isn’t easy to deal with, in the future don’t go alone if she calls, find a way to decline."

She nodded, said okay.

Chu Ci chuckled faintly, "I thought you’d be obedient, turns out you don’t want to serve her either."

Zhao Mo Ran felt a bit embarrassed, turned her face away. He knew he was excessive, stopped talking, just drove to a luxury villa area.

She was a bit surprised, "What is this place?"

"Meeting friends for a game, first let’s have a meal." He helped her unfasten the seatbelt, then did his own and got out of the car.

Zhao Mo Ran followed out, couldn’t help but say, "I’ll take a cab back."

"You’re not a shameful sight." He looked at her, then wrapped his arm around her shoulder entering a garden restaurant.

The reserved table already had two men and three women, the girls were all young, and one saw him impulsively and adorably called out, "Mr. Chu."

Chu Ci glanced at her, the girl wasn’t foolish, seeing the person next to him understood quickly—

He brought his wife.

Zhao Mo Ran wasn’t foolish either, upon seeing the setup she understood, if not for this accident he would be spending noon outside, three men, three women playing golf, hugging young girls, maybe other activities if feeling excited.

Saying she wasn’t bothered would be dishonest, after all she was now married to Chu Ci, and yet she was to have lunch with these girls! She knew she should feign ignorance, as she was just a decoration he brought home, decorations weren’t supposed to have emotions, but today’s events left her feeling wronged, bursting completely at this moment...

"I’ll take a cab back." She turned her head to Chu Ci, "You all enjoy."

Chu Ci grabbed her arm, "Don’t be so headstrong. You’re already here."

She shrugged him off, stepped back, "I don’t want to eat, no appetite."

He stared at her, said each word distinctly, "Finish the meal, I’ll send you back."

Zhao Mo Ran shook her head, "I’ll go back myself."

Her voice was soft, murmuring, "Sorry, I can’t do it."

As she spoke, she turned and left.

Turning away, she couldn’t help but cry, not because she cared about his involvement with other women, but... for the lack of control over her life, for being bullied wherever she goes, without even the right to struggle.