Chapter 6: Chunjiu Town

Near the town’s entrance, villagers had not yet dispersed, chatting loudly and creating a noisy atmosphere. Yet the man’s voice was calm and steady, clear even amidst the clamor.

However, Ye Rui was shy. The way he addressed her as “sister-in-law” made her face flush, a warm blush spreading across her fair cheeks. She had not yet formally married into the Zhou family; she wouldn’t even call him “eldest uncle,” so how could he already call her “sister-in-law”?

Biting her lip in secret, she instinctively looked up and earnestly whispered, “Big brother, I haven’t officially married Qingyuan yet.”

Huo Fang had been living in a distant province for years, thousands of miles away from Chunjiu Town. Communication here was especially inconvenient. Although he had rushed back to attend his cousin’s wedding, he was unaware of the progress between the two families regarding the marriage. He simply assumed the young couple had already registered their marriage and were now holding the wedding ceremony.

Hearing this, Huo Fang pondered, “You haven’t registered yet?”

Ye Rui’s cheeks reddened slightly, and she shook her head. The young woman had a delicate, oval face, with moist eyes, a slender graceful neck, soft and refined features, and skin as pale as spring snow. Now lightly flushed, she appeared gentle and charming.

Huo Fang’s expression remained calm as his gaze landed quietly on her. He murmured, “I was presumptuous.”

At that, Ye Rui’s breath lightened; she wondered if she had overreacted earlier. Looking at the tall, imposing man before her—his face stern and unsmiling—she stumbled over her words, “No, it’s nothing. Big brother, just call me Xiao Rui.”

As she spoke, Zhou Qingyuan quickly laughed and chimed in, “For now, I’m ‘Xiao Rui.’ After the engagement ceremony, when we register the marriage, big brother will have to change how he addresses you.”

At the same time, Zhou Qingyuan winked playfully at Ye Rui. “Xiao Rui, right?”

Ye Rui smiled, her eyes bright with amusement. “Right. By then, big brother will truly be ‘eldest uncle.’”

As they exchanged smiles, Huo Fang’s gaze casually swept over the intimate gestures between his cousin and fiancée. Narrowing his sharp eyes, he turned his head toward the nearby villagers still gathered around, his voice steady, “It’s late. Get in the car. I’m going to see uncle and aunt.”

At this, Zhou Qingyuan’s attention snapped back. Eyeing the imposing black SUV with its high chassis, he was eager to get inside. Nodding quickly, he said, “We knew you’d be here tonight. My parents are waiting at home.”

Huo Fang acknowledged with a grunt.

At home, Ye Tang was guarding the door, and it was about time Ye Rui returned. She blinked lightly, offering Huo Fang a polite smile, dimples showing faintly. “Big brother, I’m heading back now.”

Zhou Qingyuan grinned and waved. “Xiao Rui, see you tomorrow morning. We’ll head to the county with big brother early.”

Ye Rui nodded with a smile, then prepared to turn away.

Just as she took a step, a calm and steady male voice came from above: “Get in the car together. I’ll take you home first.”

Startled, Ye Rui looked up to meet Huo Fang’s gaze. His features were sharp and cold, his eyes dark and unreadable. Though no emotion flickered across his face, his natural aura was dangerous and reserved, yet somehow carried an undeniable authority.

Ye Rui hesitated, pressing her lips together, then quietly agreed.

---

Huo Fang withdrew his gaze, said no more, and opened the rear door of the SUV.

Zhou Qingyuan eagerly climbed in first, then called to Ye Rui with excitement, “Xiao Rui, come on, get in.”

She nodded, bending to enter and sitting beside Zhou Qingyuan.

Once seated, Huo Fang silently closed the door, strode around to the driver’s seat, opened the door, and got in smoothly.

---

Under the rural night sky, the roar of the SUV’s engine echoed. The villagers gathered, witnessing the impressive vehicle rolling into town, began murmuring again.

“Looks like a relative of the Zhou family! This is the first time I’ve seen him! Not sure what relation he has to old Zhou, but he’s impressive!”

“Hey! I just remembered! Over twenty years ago, didn’t the Zhou family foster a poor boy who lost his parents? He was their cousin’s son, raised for a few years before being taken away. Could this be him?”

“Now that you mention it, I recall that too! I think it’s the same boy!”

“Such a fancy car—he must be making big money out there! Coming back for his brother’s wedding, he’s probably giving a huge red envelope!”

As they spoke, someone gestured a number with their fingers.

One nearby gasped, “Thousands? Would he really give such a big gift?”

“Definitely! Maybe even more!”

The villagers buzzed with gossip, some growing envious. “The Zhou family’s lucky—once they fed him, now he’s come back to repay the favor.”

But not everyone was pleased. An auntie snorted and retorted sharply, “I say, respect appearances before respect souls—this saying truly holds.”

“I remember when the Zhou family fostered their cousin’s son, some mocked them for being foolish, raising another family’s child. Now they’re envious, without shame!”

Many older villagers had heard of the Zhou family fostering their cousin’s son two decades ago and some had even secretly ridiculed it. After all, times were tough then, and raising an outsider’s child seemed foolish.

Those who were mocked fell silent and slunk away.

With a burst of laughter, the crowd dispersed.

---

Meanwhile, inside the SUV, Zhou Qingyuan marveled at the luxury interior, pointing out directions with unabashed envy.

Ye Rui sat quietly, glancing sideways at her fiancé, sensing his thoughts.

Yet, compared to Zhou Qingyuan’s envy, Ye Rui felt somewhat restrained despite the soft, high-quality leather seat beneath her.

After all, in Chunshui Town, she had only ever ridden the county bus. The seats were cold and hard, and the bumpy mountain roads left one sore and exhausted after hours. The bus was always crowded, especially when villagers brought chickens and ducks to sell in the city, filling the air with unpleasant odors.

So this was her first time riding in such a clean, tidy private luxury car—a world of difference that left her feeling a little awkward and out of place.

She lifted her eyes and instinctively glanced at the driver beside her.

His sun-kissed arm rested on the steering wheel, his side profile sharp and stern, expression serious and unwelcoming—one glance made it clear he was not to be trifled with.

Ye Rui pressed her lips together, her lashes fluttering, quickly averting her gaze.

Inwardly, she was glad he wouldn’t be staying long in town.

Otherwise, once she married into the Zhou family as “sister-in-law,” she wouldn’t know how to get along with this cold, distant “eldest uncle” so different from the townsfolk.

With that thought, she exhaled softly.

Just then, the car stopped by the roadside near her home.

It took more than ten minutes to walk from the town entrance to Ye’s house, but by car, it was merely a moment’s drive.

As the vehicle halted, Ye Rui politely thanked him, “Thank you for seeing me home, big brother.”

Huo Fang leaned back in the driver’s seat without turning, merely glancing at the rearview mirror. “Tomorrow, when we go to the county, how are you planning the timing?”

Zhou Qingyuan replied promptly, “Big brother, we’ll leave town at seven in the morning—early to avoid the rush.”

Huo Fang nodded. His tall frame shifted slightly, his dark eyes turning to Ye Rui in the back seat. “Should I come pick you up in the morning?”

Ye Rui hesitated briefly, then smiled and shook her head. “No trouble. I’ll go on my own.”

Huo Fang’s expression was calm and silent as he nodded.

Blinking, Ye Rui added, “Big brother, Qingyuan, I’m heading home now.”

Zhou Qingyuan smiled, “Rui’r, see you tomorrow!”

Her eyes curved in a gentle smile, a small dimple appearing on her pale cheek. She reached out to open the car door.

However, it was her first time in such a car. Her fingers touched the door, fumbling to find the door handle but to no avail.

After several tries and some noise, the door wouldn’t open.

Her delicate fingers pressed against the door, her long lashes trembling, her face growing ever warmer with embarrassment.

It was almost mortifying.

Biting her lip, she looked to her fiancé for help, but he was still staring at the car’s interior, completely unaware of her plight.

She opened her mouth to speak.

At that moment, the driver’s door opened sharply.

Ye Rui blinked in surprise as the tall, long-legged man stepped out silently, walking swiftly around the front of the car.

The next second,

With a click, the rear door was smoothly opened from the outside.

The tall, upright figure stood beside the door.