Falling After Marriage - Chapter 79

Chapter 79: You Are My Wife

Hearing her daughter’s abrupt introduction, Lin Zhen’s gaze turned toward the tall figure who had burst through the door, his expression filled with shock.

He had never met Cheng Sangluo, nor did he know her background, but this young woman’s skin was somewhat tanned, and her attire didn’t suggest she was a lady from any prestigious family. This mismatched news of a marriage became the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Cough, cough… cough cough… You…” Lin Zhen clutched his oxygen mask, a heart-wrenching fit of coughing seizing him. Whatever he wanted to say, good or bad, was trapped in his windpipe. “Cough… I’m not… dead yet… cough…“

The endless sound of coughing echoed through the ward, as if he had to cough up his entire lungs to alleviate the pain.

“The doctor said you shouldn’t get agitated… you…” Ruan Jinxian rushed to the bedside in a panic, stroking the old man’s back while weeping. “You can’t talk anymore…”

No matter how much emotion was in that sobbing voice, to Lin Jin’s ears, it was nothing but a hypocritical act.

A sharp scream erupted from Ruan Jinxian, and Lin Sheng hurried in from outside. He shot a cold glance at Lin Jin before rushing to the bedside to press the call bell.

Lin Zhen’s coughing fit wouldn’t stop; eventually, he began to vomit large amounts of blood, staining the mask and his face with a mixture of crimson and saliva.

Lin Jin showed no trace of concern. She merely cast a frigid side-glance at her dying father and signaled for the “puppy” to wheel her away.

Lin Jin knew this look would be the last one in this lifetime. Her emotions were indescribably complex—a bit of sadness, a bit of schadenfreude, but not a single ounce of relief. Even at the end, she didn’t point at Lin Zhen’s nose and curse him; the twenty years of pent-up resentment in her heart could no longer be cleared through words.

“Why aren’t the doctors and nurses here yet? Don’t just stand there, go push them!” Ruan Jinxian snapped at the bodyguards, then glared viciously at the indifferent Lin Jin. “Lin Jin, you will get what’s coming to you! Retribution will find you!!”

In an instant, the ward turned into a chaotic mess. Hearing the poisonous curses, Lin Jin did not turn back.

“Ruan Jinxian, open your eyes and see for yourself—who is the one actually facing retribution?” Facing away from the “family” of three, she let out a scoffing retort. “Lin Zhen, you sacrificed me and my mother to fulfill the wishes of another disgusting family. Did you ever think you wouldn’t die a peaceful death? You were at the center of all this trouble, yet you lived comfortably for so many years without a hint of apology or regret. How can you die so easily? You’re getting off too light.”

Cheng Sangluo had never heard Lin Jin speak in such a tone—a soft accusation, a futile malice; no matter how much hate was there, it sounded like helplessness.

“Let’s go,” Cheng Sangluo whispered. She pushed the wheelchair without stopping for a second, afraid Lin Jin would spiral into a morbid mood and fearing that the predatory Lin Sheng might pull another trick.

Following Lin Jin’s wishes, Cheng Sangluo drove them back to the mid-mountain villa. After such a scene, neither of them had an appetite for a seafood feast. There was no communication throughout the journey home.

It wasn’t until she parked the car in the villa garden that Cheng Sangluo turned to look at Lin Jin, who was resting with her eyes closed. “Are you okay?” she asked cautiously.

“Today is a good day, of course I’m fine.” Lin Jin flashed a weary smile, feigning indifference, then leaned her weight against the puppy. “Can I lean on you for a bit?”

“Okay.” Cheng Sangluo held the somber woman, her palm gently patting Lin Jin’s shoulder. She coaxed softly, “I know you’re sad. If you want to cry, just cry.”

“Why would I cry?” Lin Jin looked up, laughing bitterly. “Do you think I’m pathetic because I’m about to lose a father? When someone like that is gone, he’s gone. He’s not worth shedding tears for; we should be celebrating.”

At this moment, the madwoman was covered in thorns. Mentioning Lin Zhen was like lighting a fuse on a firecracker. To Cheng Sangluo, this display of toughness looked like a poorly acted disguise.

She gave a bitter smile in return. Who could truly be heartless? Who could be 100% indifferent when losing a parent? It was just like her—she hated her parents for giving all their love to her useless brother, yet back at Pier 17, she had to mentally prepare herself so much to say those words of severing ties.

They were the same. No matter the hate, they couldn’t escape the childhood longing for a parent’s love. Cheng Sangluo pouted; she wanted to respond, but being at a loss for words, she remained silent.

“Last time we left in a hurry, I didn’t get to show you around our new home. Come on, let’s take a look.” Lin Jin changed the subject, turning to open the car door and waiting for the puppy to bring the wheelchair.

Autumn was deepening. The meticulously trimmed greenery in the garden looked sparse. This season was always full of melancholy, yet it didn’t lack a romantic, faint sadness.

Cheng Sangluo pushed Lin Jin through the front yard. The evening mountain breeze was chilly, blowing yellowed leaves everywhere. She quickly took off her suit jacket and draped it over Lin Jin, asking softly, “Are you cold?”

Lin Jin pulled the warm jacket close, took a sniff, and smiled. “Not bad. You’re starting to act like a wife.”

“You really love bringing that up!” Cheng Sangluo’s face flushed. The word “wife” sounded more serious than “wifey,” making her heart tighten. She realized that even though this was a sham marriage, Lin Jin was her wife, and that was an unchangeable fact.

She steadied her nerves and looked up at the three-story villa. From a distance, it didn’t look huge, but up close, the mansion looked like a small castle. The exterior featured beautiful plaster carvings and marble pillars; this lavish European style must have been incredibly expensive to decorate. Yet, no matter how magnificent it was, it stood alone on the mountainside, looking quite lonely.

The villa’s front door was thick and made of unique materials. Cheng Sangluo touched it and noticed it was the standard thickness for bulletproof and blast-resistant doors. She shot a puzzled look at Lin Jin but didn’t ask.

Lin Jin scanned her fingerprint on the electronic lock and turned to smile at the puppy. “The password is 20190629. When you have time, record your own fingerprint. We’ll be living here long-term, so it’ll be more convenient for you to come and go.”

Cheng Sangluo pondered the meaning of that date. Hearing they would live here long-term, she voiced a small protest: “Honestly, I think the security at Linxi Tower is much higher. Have you thought about it? If Lin Sheng’s people come looking for trouble or we encounter robbers—forget the fact that a big house has more security risks—just the remote location alone means if you call the police, they’d have to climb a mountain to get here.”

“If you can think of that, do you think I haven’t?” Lin Jin laughed at the puppy’s simple mind, then called out softly to the air: “Cheng Sangluo.”

‘I am here. What are your orders, Master?’

The voice of the smart home butler didn’t just surround the room in high fidelity; it had a voice extremely similar to Cheng Sangluo’s, even the tone was identical.

Cheng Sangluo looked around the empty living room, her eyes wide as saucers. “What is that? Why does it have my voice?”

Lin Jin knew the puppy would make this silly, nervous expression. She clapped her hands again. “Cheng Sangluo, tell ‘Puppy Cheng’—what is your function?”

‘Certainly, my dear Master.’

‘Hello, Puppy Cheng. I am your exclusive smart butler, Cheng Sangluo. My core mission is to protect your home security and improve your quality of life in all aspects.

Security is my primary duty. Through a 24-hour uninterrupted smart monitoring system, I keep watch over every corner of the villa area to strictly prevent unauthorized intrusion. Once a potential threat or emergency is detected, I will instantly activate the highest alert state, link to the security network, analyze the situation for you, and formulate the most effective response plan.

I seamlessly manage all electrical devices in your home. I will learn your living habits and automatically adjust settings to your favorite states. You only need to focus on living; leave the chores to me.

I have successfully operated in many five-star hotels and elite families, and I will serve more in the future.’

After hearing the introduction, Cheng Sangluo squatted in front of Lin Jin in disbelief. “Are you saying this giant villa relies on an AI manager? Is that really reliable?”

Though she was dismissive out loud, she secretly marveled at how far modernization had come during her years in prison. She clicked her tongue and changed her tune: “Wait, that’s not the point!”

Lin Jin watched her shake her head and couldn’t help but pat her face. “Then what do you think is the point?”

The puppy flared up as usual, grumbling: “First, can this thing not be called Cheng Sangluo? Second, what the hell—how is it using my voice? When did you record it? Do you know how embarrassing it is to hear my own voice calling you ‘Master,’ and ‘dear Master’ at that?!”

“My AI butler has always used your voice. It’s been years; it can’t be changed,” Lin Jin answered truthfully, but she didn’t explain exactly how she had collected Cheng Sangluo’s voice.

“Years? I’ve only known you for a few months.” Cheng Sangluo squinted at her suspiciously. “I asked you before if we knew each other a long time ago, and you never gave me a straight answer. Lin Jin, what exactly are you up to?”

“Do you really want to know?” On this topic, Lin Jin’s answer was always a question, keeping the puppy in suspense.

Cheng Sangluo thought about their life ahead—they would be seeing each other every day. This question would have an answer eventually; there was no rush. She rubbed her nose sheepishly. “Whatever. Asking you is a waste of time anyway.”

Lin Jin changed the subject: “There’s a home elevator. I’ll take you to the top floor first.”

“Whoa, there’s an elevator?” The puppy was surprised, then felt her own lack of experience—in a house this big, an elevator was a logical existence. She pushed Lin Jin into the elevator, curious: “Is the top floor some kind of secret base? Why are you being so mysterious?”

“Yes, it’s my secret base,” Lin Jin sighed with a smile. As the puppy pushed her into the hallway, she looked at the heavy steel door protected by multiple layers of security. “It’s filled with my treasures. I want to share my secret base with you, because…”

Because you are my treasure too, and I want to keep you hidden in there.

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