The Female Lead Insists on Being My Wife [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Stealing the Wife in a Stand-in Novel (Part 9)

Ever since the competency exams ended, Chen Suihe had been pondering one thing: What major should she choose? What direction should she take?

Although she had received an admission notice once before, that major had only been a safe tactic to secure a spot at a good university; it wasn’t a profession she liked or wanted.

“Is there anything you want to try?” Shen Chuli set aside her work, walked over to her side, and suggested, “How about trying out various industries?”

“But… but re… vision.”

Chen Suihe was a bit conflicted. After all, there were only two months left until the Gaokao. Although she had put 100% of her effort into studying, she still lacked confidence in her grades.

“It’s fine,” Shen Chuli ruffled her hair. “Your private tutors can continue working.”

Chen Suihe went to bed feeling a bit conflicted, but when she woke up, all that hesitation vanished. Because Shen Chuli had gone behind her back! She had secretly submitted the materials for “home-based revision” to the school! And it had already been approved!

Chen Suihe was so angry her teeth itched. Like a little puppy, she lunged at Shen Chuli and began to nibble and bite at her fair skin. After a long bout of playing around, Chen Suihe was exhausted and sat panting in Shen Chuli’s lap to rest.

At the right moment, Shen Chuli pulled out a “One-Day Career Experience Plan,” which she had specifically curated for Chen Suihe. She had long ago contacted the places for these vocational experiences. The list was densely packed with many professions, making Chen Suihe’s head spin.

“Why… is there… no finance, or things like that?” After reading through it once, Chen Suihe voiced her question, tilting her head as she waited for Shen Chuli to explain.

“Do you like the finance industry?”

Chen Suihe thought about it carefully. She didn’t seem to like it, nor did she hate it. In the environment of the orphanage, the love and money everyone received were very limited; they could only barely ensure they were fed and clothed. Hobbies and youth palaces were places they had never stepped foot in throughout their lives.

Chen Suihe shook her head. “Don’t… know.”

The answer was within Shen Chuli’s expectations. She smiled. “Then let’s try them all.”

Chen Suihe became busy. During the day, she experienced various industries, and at night, she studied. Every day, the moment she hit the bed, she would fall asleep and snore softly. Although her body was tired every day, her spirit was very excited, and her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Because she frequently interacted with people, her speech slowly became less stumbling. As long as she didn’t speak quickly, it was hard to notice any stuttering.

One day, after coming home, Chen Suihe looked at Shen Chuli with exceptionally bright eyes. “I’ve decided… the career!”

Her gaze was burning; her eyes had never been so luminous. Chen Suihe pulled Shen Chuli to sit on the sofa and showed her the photos she had taken today: “Speech-language pathologist, just like the previous teacher.”

As she spoke, she flipped through the photos for Shen Chuli to see. Having found her goal, Chen Suihe studied even harder, often staying in the study until late at night. In the end, Shen Chuli had to play the “villain” and forcibly carry her back to the bedroom.

Shen Chuli had never thought about hiding Chen Suihe’s existence, but with the exams approaching, she feared Xu Hao might do something desperate. Consequently, she had to send Chen Suihe to her parents’ place first.

Although she had done plenty of mental preparation, Chen Suihe still felt weak in the knees on the day she was to meet Shen Chuli’s parents. The self-introduction she had rehearsed countless times in her head wouldn’t come out when she officially met Shen’s parents. Her mouth opened and closed for a long time before she flushed red and gave the elder Shens a deep bow.

Shen’s parents were startled by her action and hurriedly stepped forward to help her up.

“Chuli said before that you were far too well-behaved, and I didn’t believe it. Now I truly do.” Seeing her nervousness, Mother Shen took her hand and spoke softly about everyday things. “I heard from Xiao Li that you’re taking the Gaokao soon. Have you chosen your major yet?”

To welcome Chen Suihe, Shen’s parents had taken it upon themselves to learn everything about her. In conversation, they skipped over sensitive topics and talked about her future career to bridge the distance.

Speaking of majors, Chen Suihe relaxed significantly. She slowly and happily shared what she had seen and heard during her “internship” and her future career plans with Mother Shen. As a professional woman, Mother Shen actually didn’t know these technical terms at all, but after studying them in advance, she could understand a bit. With Mother Shen actively closing the distance, it wasn’t long before a silly Chen Suihe blurted out all the embarrassing things she had done in primary school.

This was the scene Shen Chuli saw when she returned with fruit. She couldn’t help but shake her head, stepping forward to shield the girl behind her: “Mom, stop fishing for information.”

Mother Shen laughed happily, but Chen Suihe was a bit confused, tugging at Shen Chuli’s sleeve: “She wasn’t fishing…”

That dazed look made Mother Shen giggle. When Shen Chuli was young, her parents had been too busy with work and missed the stage of building a bond with her. By the time they finished their business and looked back, Shen Chuli was already grown. Annoyed by a classmate’s pursuit, Shen Chuli had chosen to transfer schools and handled all the procedures herself. By the time Mother Shen found out, she had already been enrolled abroad for a week. Mother Shen always felt she owed her daughter a lot.

“Suihe, come here. I have photos of Chuli when she was little. Do you want to see?” Ignoring her daughter’s cold gaze, Mother Shen beckoned to Chen Suihe. Little Shen Chuli was too big a draw for Chen Suihe; she shook off the adult Shen Chuli’s hand and ran toward Mother Shen like a happy puppy. The two huddled together, heads touching, to admire a thick photo album.

To welcome Chen Suihe, Father Shen donned an apron and showcased his skills in the kitchen. A moment later, Shen Chuli entered with a cold face. She walked silently to the sink to help Father Shen prep vegetables. After a long while, she said gloomily: “Can you please control your wife?”

Father Shen’s hand tossing the wok paused slightly. He peeked at Mother Shen, who was laughing and chatting with Chen Suihe in the living room. “Ever since you went abroad without a word, she has always felt guilty. She loves you very much.”

The water for washing vegetables rushed out, and the range hood hummed in the kitchen.

“…I know.”

For dinner tonight, Father Shen used everything he had ever learned, leaving Chen Suihe with a stomach as round as a drum. She lay contentedly on the bed in her bedroom, patting her full belly and letting out a sigh. It all felt like a dream. The days of being locked in that villa seemed to have passed a long time ago—so long that she could no longer clearly remember her thoughts back then.

Maybe it was self-destruction? Or a “jade and stone burned together” kind of end? Chen Suihe thought to herself as she dizzily fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, it was broad daylight. Mother Shen, wearing soft loungewear, came in with a glass of warm water. Seeing she was awake, she walked over and handed it to her. While Chen Suihe drank the water, Mother Shen smiled and pulled back the curtains: “Wake yourself up and let’s go down to eat together. You were so supportive last night that your uncle was overjoyed. He started simmering the soup as soon as he got up this morning.”

Mother Shen’s words and actions were so natural that Chen Suihe momentarily felt like she truly was a part of the Shen family. Seeing her dazed expression while holding the water glass, Mother Shen’s heart softened. Last night, after Chen Suihe fell asleep, Shen Chuli had stated her stance to her parents and briefly mentioned Chen Suihe’s experiences. Mother Shen had always liked well-behaved kids like Chen Suihe. Originally, she had some disagreements about Shen Chuli decoupling from the Xu Group, but after hearing Chen Suihe’s story, she raised her hand in support of all of Shen Chuli’s decisions.

Mother Shen asked softly: “Is there any fruit you like to eat? I’ll go down and cut some.”

Chen Suihe snapped back to reality and realized she had neglected her elder. Smiling shyly, she scrambled out of bed to wash up. By the time she went downstairs, Father Shen had already brought out the food.

Everything was perfect, but Chen Suihe looked left and right and couldn’t find Shen Chuli.

“Chuli went to the office to handle some work,” Mother Shen explained gently, noticing her unease. “Your teachers have been notified of the change in location; they should arrive this afternoon.”

Chen Suihe had an infinite amount of goodwill for the gentle Mother Shen. Hearing this, she gave her a radiant smile and focused on eating. In the Shen household, Mother Shen was constantly dieting to keep her shape, Shen Chuli didn’t come back many times a year, and Father Shen’s skilled cooking had always been in a state of having no one to appreciate it.

But then Chen Suihe arrived. Father Shen’s exquisite cooking was perfectly to Chen Suihe’s taste, so she gave plenty of positive feedback. Upon receiving it, Father Shen continued to research Chen Suihe’s palate.

Thus, when Shen Chuli returned, she found that her “home” had been stolen. It was within her expectations that Mother Shen would like Chen Suihe, but that Father Shen also liked her so much was a bit of a surprise.

Mother Shen went out to shop with her friends and, by the way, scout out the situation of speech-language pathology departments at various schools, leaving only Father Shen and Chen Suihe at home.

“Thank you, Uncle.” Chen Suihe held a portion of nougat packed with ingredients and thanked Father Shen with a smile. Father Shen said nothing, standing there in silence, while Chen Suihe happily leaned her head into his palm.

The clever little Chen Suihe had already discovered that Shen’s parents took great pleasure in stroking her hair. As if making up for something, every time they stroked her head, they would treat her twice as well the next time.

Seeing that no one had noticed her, Shen Chuli coughed twice, finally waking the “paternal love and filial daughter” duo. Father Shen merely lifted an eyelid; his image as a strict father prevented him from treating Shen Chuli with the same attitude he showed Chen Suihe.

Chen Suihe, however, was exceptionally happy and ran over clutching her nougat.

“For you!” Giving a gift upon meeting to block the upcoming interrogation for not thinking about her, Chen Suihe took the initiative to act cute. “Why… didn’t you… call me? I missed you so much.”

Seeing her turn the tables like that, Shen Chuli couldn’t help but laugh out of exasperation. She didn’t know which heartless little thing hadn’t replied to messages, hadn’t picked up the phone, or let Mother Shen answer instead, all while burying her head in books and ignoring everything outside the window.

But seeing her blinking her eyes and acting cute, Shen Chuli couldn’t bring herself to settle old scores. “Have you decided where to go and play after the exams?”

Chen Suihe thought for a bit, shook her head, and asked back: “Are you… finished… being busy?”

“Almost.”

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