After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Playing the Part

“Dad, Mom, I will take good care of Mingzhu.”

Perhaps because of Rong Zhao’s presence beside her, Mingzhu, who usually fell into a deep slumber after drinking, suffered from insomnia. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The last time she checked the clock was 4:00 AM. Counting Rong Zhao’s breaths, she finally drifted off. Once Mingzhu’s breathing grew heavy, Rong Zhao opened her eyes. In the dim light, she saw a wet tear track running from the corner of Mingzhu’s eye to her temple.

Mingzhu’s eyes twitched restlessly in her sleep. Tears pooled at her lashes, eventually rolling down into her hair. Rong Zhao lay on her side, watching the woman who only dared to cry in her dreams, staying awake until dawn.

Mingzhu had set an alarm for 9:10 AM, planning to head to the Civil Affairs Bureau at 10:00. When it rang, she burrowed under the covers. She hadn’t slept enough—and she blamed it all on Rong Zhao’s breathing!

When the housekeeper came in, she saw a white-and-gold silk bundle on the bed, looking like a little animal’s snow den. A muffled “woo” sound came from within.

“Miss Mingzhu, it’s time to get up,” the housekeeper said with a smile. “Sleeping with your head covered causes oxygen deprivation and headaches.”

Mingzhu poked her head out, messy-haired and squinting. “Good morning, Auntie Guan. What time is it?”

“9:15, Miss.”

Only five minutes of lingering. She wouldn’t be late. Mingzhu hopped out of bed and stretched. “What is Rongrong doing?”

The housekeeper’s smile faltered slightly. “Your mother is here. Miss Rong is speaking with her… Miss, the floor is cold. Please put on your slippers.”

Mingzhu froze as if standing on a needle-thin precipice. “Why is my mom here? Did Rong Zhao call her?” she asked, her voice turning cold. She remembered back in the seventh grade, after Rong Zhao told her her skirt was too short, her parents forced her to wear uniform trousers the next day. Rong Zhao was a notorious snitch.

“Please wear your slippers, Miss,” the housekeeper urged, placing them before her. “It seems your mother found you by asking the taxi driver who dropped you off. She arrived at 8:00 AM. Miss Rong didn’t want to disturb your rest, but since your father just arrived as well, she asked me to come get you.”

In the living room, Rong Zhao was elegantly brewing tea for Uncle Bai and Auntie Shao.

“My mother only likes jasmine tea, so my father and I picked up the habit. It’s the only tea I have to offer you both,” Rong Zhao explained. She remembered her parents mentioning that Uncle Bai liked Longjing, hence the explanation.

Shao Simian replied, “You’re too kind, Mingyue. We’re the ones intruding.” (Mingyue was Rong Zhao’s childhood nickname).

Rong Zhao smiled. “If you like it, I’ll send some over when the new tea comes out this year.”

Shao Simian didn’t usually drink tea, but she looked at Bai Zhaolin, who took a sip. He noted that while the tea flavor was light, the floral aroma was exquisite and sweet. “It’s delicious,” he said instinctively. “Has Mingzhu tried it? If she likes it, honey, we should…”

He stopped mid-sentence as he saw his wife’s eyes turning red. His own eyes welled up, and he lowered his head to hide it. Shao Simian wiped her tears and tried to smile. “It really is good. I’ve heard jasmine tea described as ‘rock candy sweet.’ Mingzhu loves sweets; she’ll definitely like this. Please save some for me, Mingyue.”

As she spoke, tears began to fall in clusters. She bit her lip and turned away. Bai Zhaolin hurriedly handed her tissues. Rong Zhao lowered her eyes, excused herself to “make a phone call,” and gave them space to compose themselves.

“Dad, Mom!”

Lively footsteps and laughter came from the stairs. “Why are you guys here?”

The three looked up to see a radiant Mingzhu. She was still in last night’s pajamas, red hair flowing, looking as relaxed as if she were in her own home. She sat down beside Rong Zhao and grabbed her arm. “Have you two had breakfast?”

The couple stared in shock at the intimacy between the two.

“Oh, right,” Mingzhu explained. “Dad, Mom, Rongrong and I have already registered for marriage. I wanted to tell you yesterday, but Rongrong insisted on waiting for the weekend. I didn’t expect you to find me so soon.”

Mingzhu purposefully pinched Rong Zhao’s cheek. “See? You were rude to my parents.”

Rong Zhao: “…”

She calmly took Mingzhu’s hand off her face and tucked it behind her own back. Regardless of whether it was a ruse, she wasn’t used to such public displays of affection. Mingzhu took the hint and wrapped her arm around Rong Zhao’s waist instead, surprised by how soft it felt. She gave Rong Zhao a fawning smile.

Shao Simian looked at Rong Zhao in disbelief. “Mingyue? You didn’t mention…”

“Sorry, Dad, Mom,” Rong Zhao said, addressing them as her in-laws for the first time. She held Mingzhu’s hand and gently stroked her thumb over it. “I didn’t want to bring it up until I knew how Mingzhu felt.”

The couple and Mingzhu were all stunned by Rong Zhao calling them “Dad and Mom” so naturally.

Rong Zhao stood up. “Mingzhu hasn’t eaten yet. I’ll warm up her breakfast. You can chat while I’m gone.”

As she stepped away, Mingzhu gripped her wrist. Mingzhu’s eyes and nose were turning red. She looked up with a desperate, pleading smile. “No rush, Rongrong. Stay and sit with me a little longer, okay?”

Rong Zhao looked at her for a few seconds, then suddenly leaned down and cupped Mingzhu’s face with both hands. Mingzhu’s pupils contracted like a startled cat. Then, Rong Zhao vigorously rubbed Mingzhu’s cheeks until the tears were wiped away.

“What are you doing to my face!” Mingzhu yelped.

Rong Zhao sat back down and handed her tea. “You looked cute.”

Mingzhu’s anger vanished instantly. “…Oh.”

The parents watched, comforted yet heartbroken. Mingzhu bickered with Rong Zhao for a moment before turning to them. “Actually, Dad, Mom, we’ve been dating for two years. I kept it a secret because I was worried Rongrong would dump me. She has high standards, and I was afraid I’d be rejected. It would have been embarrassing.”

Rong Zhao: “…”

Mingzhu squeezed Rong Zhao’s arm tightly, fighting back her emotions. “But now we’re married and have our own little home. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. Focus on your own things. Rongrong will take care of me. Right, Rongrong?”

Rong Zhao patted Mingzhu’s hand. “I will take care of her. Dad, Mom, please don’t worry.”

Shao Simian wept into her husband’s arms. Bai Zhaolin held her, smiling through his own tears as he repeatedly said, “Good, good, good.”

The couple left without staying for breakfast. They left car keys, house keys, and credit cards for Mingzhu, which she accepted but secretly slipped back into her mother’s bag as she walked her to the car.

“Mom, take care of yourself. Don’t cry so much, or you’ll end up in the hospital again. Dad, drink less. Stay with Mom and watch her blood pressure… and your own blood sugar,” Mingzhu whispered.

After the parents left, Mingzhu bolted to the first-floor bathroom and locked the door. Outside, Rong Zhao stood by the window, the sunlight reflecting in her amber eyes like unshed tears.

In the car, Bai Zhaolin and Shao Simian were exhausted. They had spent the night searching for Mingzhu based on the taxi driver’s description: “Red hair, white trench coat, beautiful as a goddess.”

“Mingzhu and Mingyue…” Shao Simian sighed.

They had loved Mingzhu for twenty-two years; they knew when she was lying. They knew she wasn’t a “secret lesbian” and they had never seen her look like a woman in love. They were simply playing along to make their daughter’s life easier during this transition.

“Rong Zhao is a good kid,” Bai Zhaolin comforted his wife. “If she said she’ll take care of Mingzhu, she will. We’ll let Mingzhu stay there for a month or two until we settle things with Yining, then we’ll bring Mingzhu home.”

Shao Simian reached into her bag for a tissue and found the keys and cards Mingzhu had returned. “She won’t accept our things anymore…” she sobbed.

“It’s just too sudden for her,” her husband said. “It will get better. We will bring both Yining and Mingzhu home.”

Back at the villa, Rong Zhao instructed the staff not to open the door for anyone—especially not her own parents. She knew her mother, Lady Ji Yue, would have heard the news by now.

Indeed, a message popped up in a group chat from Ji Yue: “@Mingyue, darling, I heard Mingzhu is at your place?” Rong Zhao replied: “In a meeting,” then muted the group.

Rong Zhao began wiping the leaves of a Bird of Paradise plant near the bathroom. About thirty minutes later, the door opened. Mingzhu appeared, seemingly recovered. Seeing Rong Zhao’s back, she pounced on her. “Rongrong, were you waiting for me?”

She hit Rong Zhao so hard the taller woman stumbled forward two steps. So soft, Mingzhu thought. Rong Zhao felt like a marshmallow.

“I was just wiping leaves.”

“Oh… anyway, thanks for playing along today. You’re the best.”

Mingzhu knew her parents could now focus on their biological daughter without worrying about her. She understood their feelings; she just couldn’t bear to watch them love their “real” daughter yet. It wasn’t jealousy—it just hurt.

She hugged Rong Zhao from behind, feeling her warmth through her thin shirt. “I owe you a huge favor. If you ever need anything, just say the word.”

Mingzhu assumed the news of her family secret was spreading—her uncle and aunt were gossips. Rong Zhao likely knew she wasn’t the Bai heiress anymore, yet she lied to help her. This meant Rong Zhao must really need her for something big.

Rong Zhao looked down at Mingzhu’s soft hands wrapped around her waist. She wanted to pat them, but instead, she grabbed Mingzhu’s wrist and pulled her away. “You didn’t feel like you owed me a favor when you were pinching my face and telling your parents I was ‘picky’ and might ‘dump’ you.”

Mingzhu grinned sheepishly. “My bad. But for the sake of the act, we couldn’t just be polite, right?”

Rong Zhao looked at her. Mingzhu’s face was damp from the sink, and her eyes were still red and swollen. “Forget the favors. We are partners; we should look out for each other.”

“Are you okay?” Rong Zhao asked, seeing through the forced smile.

Mingzhu rubbed her eyes. “You know everything, don’t you?”

“I know some of it.”

“And you don’t mind? I’m not the Bai daughter. I lied…”

“I don’t mind,” Rong Zhao interrupted gently. “I told you—it’s about us knowing each other for years, and your beauty.”

Mingzhu felt relieved. She flashed a bright smile. “I’m fine! I’m very resilient. I’ll be looking forward after a couple of naps.”

She knew Rong Zhao’s concern came from her innate kindness. Rong Zhao would care for anyone in this situation. She wasn’t caring for “Bai Mingzhu,” she was caring for a pitiable person.

“Why did you come to me?” Rong Zhao asked suddenly, then immediately felt it was a redundant question.

“You’re rich!” Mingzhu answered without hesitation. “Besides Jiang Jiang, I trust you and He He the most. But He He’s family isn’t as rich as yours, and neither is he. So I didn’t hesitate. I’m so lucky you happened to need a wife!”

Lucky? If she wanted to call it luck, so be it.

Rong Zhao handed her an ice pack for her eyes. “You and your parents need time and space. Stay here and rest. I’ll have my parents call them often.”

“Are you going to tell your parents?” Mingzhu asked nervously.

“They’ll find out eventually,” Rong Zhao said. “They won’t judge you… are you afraid of meeting the in-laws?”

“Of course not!” Mingzhu huffed. “Only ugly brides are afraid. I’m beautiful, and no one in this world could dislike me.”

“Mhm.”

“?”

“…”

Mingzhu’s heart skipped a beat. Rong Zhao didn’t argue? They locked eyes—amber versus black. Something flickered between them.

“Rong Zhao… you don’t… you don’t like—”

Rong Zhao turned toward the dining room. “What are you thinking? We’re already late for the registration. Eat your breakfast, ice your eyes, and once the swelling goes down, we’re going.”