Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 2

Zhong Yan opened the door and looked at the crowd of people, young and old, standing outside with “concern.”

The old lady, supported by someone, stepped forward to ask with a flurry of concern, “How is she?”

Zhong Yan wrapped his arm around Ji Tanyuan’s waist and walked out. “She’s not pregnant, just having trouble adjusting to the climate.”

“But, Grandma, Tanyuan has weak knees. From now on, I’ll serve the tea in her place.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

The old lady asked, “What did you say?”

Zhong Yan chuckled, his expression a bit roguish and entirely irreverent. “I said, my wife has weak knees. I’ll kneel for her from now on. Is that acceptable?”

“In my opinion, filial piety shouldn’t fall on women. You haven’t raised her, after all. The ones who should kneel are the men in this family. Dad, don’t you agree?”

Zhong’s father, who had just come downstairs, was caught off guard by the question. “What?”

The old lady pointed at Zhong Yan. “Ungrateful child! I’m just following the traditions of our ancestors. Are you saying my request is unreasonable? So, you think I’m bullying your wife? If she’s so delicate, why did she even get married?”

Zhong Yan glanced at Ji Tanyuan’s expressionless face, then at the ring on her finger, a top-grade, flawless VS2 diamond with 3EX cut and unparalleled brilliance, a piece that was priceless and rare. She certainly had the capital to be delicate.

He thought about her bags, her cars, and her private designers. Without money, it would be hard to keep up with her lifestyle. Luckily, he was in business and could afford the whims of this young lady.

“We can’t let her suffer. She was pampered in her own family, why should she endure hardship in her husband’s? Are the Zhongs living in a slum?”

“I’d be too ashamed to let that happen.”

No wonder they said Second Young Master Zhong had a sharp tongue. He’d criticized his elder brother and now his own father. He had always despised the weekly ritual of paying respects.

He wondered how the two men felt watching their women kneel every week. He had tried to stop it once, but it was useless, and he’d been scolded for it.

The old lady let out a couple of distressed sighs as someone supported and comforted her.

Zhong’s father scolded Zhong Yan, “Shut your mouth!”

He couldn’t bring himself to say anything to Ji Tanyuan, so he directed every word of reprimand at Zhong Yan.

Ji Tanyuan moved closer to Zhong Yan, wrapping her hands around his arm. Her voice was gentle as she took the initiative to yield:

“It’s my fault for not understanding the customs. I didn’t expect such traditions in Yanjing. Please don’t be angry, Father. As a wife, I follow my husband’s lead. I’ll do my best to adapt.”

She spoke these words while looking directly at Zhong’s father, her attitude earnest. Yet, he sensed an underlying meaning in her words.

It was as if she were pointing out the irony of someone who preached modernization in public but upheld feudal practices at home.

Zhong Yan hadn’t expected to be betrayed so quickly. He pulled his arm away and let out a cold laugh. “Fine. If you want to kneel, go ahead.”

Ji Tanyuan was left speechless, glaring at him. Couldn’t he act? Did he not understand teamwork? Was she supposed to stand by and cheer him on? He was the biological grandson, she wasn’t!

This newlywed couple truly had no tacit understanding.

In Zhong Yan’s eyes, her reproachful look came across as blame. To him, it felt like betrayal.

They were the youngest in the room, married for only two months, not even a full year. Zhong Yan was no gentleman; his sharp tongue spared no one, not even his own father. Expecting him to coax his wife? Before the two could start arguing, Zhong’s father quickly waved his hand. “Enough, enough. Both of you, go back to your room.”

He couldn’t let them argue and risk Ji Tanyuan storming back to her family in anger, that would be a laughingstock.

A flicker of mockery passed through Zhong Yan’s eyes. The Ji family’s influence really carried weight.

Everyone present, except for Zhong Jing and Zhong Yan, was utterly shocked, extremely so.

The old lady’s heartache vanished, her voice cracking slightly, “What did you say?”

Who would undermine their own authority like this? How could she maintain her dignity in this household from now on?

Zhong’s father was somewhat annoyed and waved his hand dismissively. “Tanyuan, let it pass this time, but the Zhong family tradition remains as it is.”

In other words, this ritual was unavoidable. This time might be overlooked, but next time, kneeling would still be required.

The old lady was the first to object. “No! How can we let it pass this time?”

Zhong’s father’s expression turned stern. “Mom, they’re still adjusting to each other. Let’s not interfere.”

He could turn a blind eye to minor squabbles, but when it came to matters affecting fundamental interests, he would never stand idly by.

Discipline must be instilled gradually. Being too impatient and forceful would only backfire and strain relationships.

Once the head of the household put on a stern face, many people grew fearful.

Wen Yi’an had yet to process what had happened. So, breaking this annoying rule was that easy? And she had foolishly adhered to it for two years, playing along with the old lady’s charade.

She glanced at her husband. His younger brother had stood up for his wife like this, why had he remained indifferent back then?

Zhong Jing felt his wife’s gaze and reached out to grasp her hand. Then, he looked at Ji Tanyuan’s retreating figure. If minor matters were met with leniency, what awaited them in the future would be far more consuming.

He should consider himself fortunate that his own marriage hadn’t been overly manipulated by his father.

The alliance between the Zhong and Ji families involved significant interests. If the Ji family compromised for their daughter’s sake, things might be manageable. But if they didn’t, Zhong Yan’s marriage was bound to end badly.

As Zhong Yan and his wife stepped out, it was clear that both were accustomed to lavish lifestyles, pampered young master and young lady, exuding an air of nobility. When silent, they appeared quite compatible, but in daily life, they found fault with each other.

Ji Tanyuan believed she was easier to get along with than this young master, a difference that manifested in their lifestyles.

The second young master of the Zhong family, Zhong Yan, was fastidious, extremely private, and lived by his own whims.

The household staff earned more than double the average wage because, although there were fewer of them, their workload was heavy. The upside was that they didn’t have to stay overnight and were never allowed into the master bedroom, which the owners cleaned themselves.

Occasionally, if the master felt like cooking on a whim, the staff could leave early.

But Ji Tanyuan was different. She believed a slightly messy home didn’t affect anything; on the contrary, it gave off a warm, lived-in feeling. Mostly, though, she was just lazy and used to having servants tidy up after her.

Thus, the two had reached a slight, unspoken agreement: each thought the other was too demanding.

Ji Tanyuan complained inwardly, but outwardly, she maintained her gentle and considerate demeanor, striving to embody the perfect, virtuous wife.

In a soft, melodious voice, she said, “Thank you for earlier.”

Zhong Yan turned to look at her, his eyes fixed on hers. “Are you really that naive, or are you pretending?”

Ji Tanyuan’s smile stiffened slightly, and then Zhong Yan reached out and pinched her cheek.

“In wealthy families, being too naive will get you devoured without a trace. You should know that better than I do. Or have you spent over 20 years up in an ivory tower without ever coming down, Princess Ji?”

Ji Tanyuan pressed her lips together. “Couldn’t we discuss things calmly instead?”

If it came down to who could shout louder or who was older, she truly stood no chance.

Zhong Yan withdrew his hand. “Alright, you really are naive.”

He seemed bored. “I’ll have someone pick you up tonight. There’s an event.”

Ji Tanyuan nodded in acknowledgment.

They weren’t each doing their own thing, she had to fulfill her duties as Mrs. Zhong, and they had to do everything a married couple should.

Like sharing a bed and putting on appearances when necessary.

Speaking of which, Ji Tanyuan couldn’t help but complain: the former was utterly exhausting, it ought to qualify for workplace injury compensation.

But Zhong Yan didn’t see it that way. He was 26, and Ji Tanyuan was 23, both at the peak of their physical prime. Desire wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Though they had some differences in their daily lives, as long as they were physically compatible, that was enough. Wasn’t that what marriage boiled down to anyway?

In Zhong Yan’s view, as long as he wasn’t physically repulsed by Ji Tanyuan, their marriage could work.