Mo Nuan stuck out her tongue. She liked this kind of nagging; it had the feel of her mother. "Aunt, I like living this way. Life feels fulfilling. Besides, your niece doesn't need to dress up to look beautiful."
"That's true. You got your looks from our Zhang family—naturally beautiful. But if your mom were still here, she would never let you live like this." A look of pain crossed Zhang Rui's face.
Her sister had been strong all her life but ended up with a tragic fate—betraying her husband and dying by suicide.
The smile on Mo Nuan's face froze. Uncle Bai Hesheng walked out of the kitchen, still wearing his apron. "You old lady, always bringing up the past. We should live in the present. You've lived most of your life; how can you still not understand that? It's getting late. Shouldn't you pour some soy milk for Xiao Nuan? If she gets scolded by her boss for being late, will you take the blame?"
Zhang Rui glared at her husband. "Alright, it's too early for your nagging. The older you get, the more annoying you become."
Mo Nuan looked at her aunt and uncle with admiration. She longed for a simple married life like theirs—two people sticking to their original commitment, growing old together. What tremendous happiness that must be!
Her mind inexplicably drifted to Lu Chen. Mo Nuan rubbed her temples and took the soy milk her aunt handed her, teasing Zhang Rui, "Aunt, you should be content. Look at how Uncle has cooked for you all these years."
"That's about his only use."
Bai Hesheng and Zhang Rui both taught at the same school, so their schedules were similar. However, Bai Hesheng took care of all the household chores. Every time Zhang Rui entered the kitchen, Bai Hesheng would kick her out, resulting in her cooking skills remaining abysmal even in her fifties. Their relationship had weathered little turmoil, with their affection remaining steady over the decades.
"Exactly. Our niece is so thoughtful. Some people just don't appreciate what they have. Where else can you find a 'Model Husband' like me?" Bai Hesheng chimed in, sitting down to breakfast and pushing a prepared plate toward Zhang Rui.
Zhang Rui lightly tapped Mo Nuan's forehead. "You cheeky girl, I'm your real aunt, you know."
Mo Nuan took a bite of a steamed bun. "I'm just stating the facts."
"Your heart is biased; don't think I don't know. Since you like men who can cook so much, I'll personally vet your future husband. If he can't cook, he's out."
"Yes, a good husband won't let his wife be stuck in the kitchen all day, turning into a haggard old woman. Xiao Nuan, you must find a man who can cook." On this point, Zhang Rui and Bai Hesheng were surprisingly in sync.
Mo Nuan's hand shook, almost dropping the bun. She couldn't help but think of Lu Chen. How could a man like that possibly cook? Her smile stiffened as she forced out a laugh. "There probably aren't many men who can cook these days."
Zhang Rui glared at Mo Nuan, her frustration evident. "Have some ambition, will you? Keep your eyes open and find one. You can't just settle. This is a lifelong matter.
I'm not the type of aunt to pressure you into marrying by a certain age. I'm not rushing you. If you find someone suitable, take your time to get to know him.
While you may not fully understand a man's nature, it's still better than rushing into a marriage."
"These days, flash marriages are all the rage, but they lead to flash divorces too, making divorce as common as buying vegetables. No wonder some representatives have proposed that couples shouldn't be allowed to divorce until their children reach a certain age. It's society's trends that have forced such proposals.
Men have it easy—they can just walk away and, if they're capable enough, still find a beautiful wife. But it's the women who suffer most, tied down by children, which impacts their whole lives.
Xiao Nuan, don't blame your aunt for talking too much. You have to be careful in this matter.
The more Mo Nuan listened, the more her scalp tingled. If her aunt found out she had already flash-married a man, she might faint from anger.
"Aunt, matters of the heart should just follow their course."
"I understand that, but with your uncle and me watching over you, I'm not too worried. Just don't act recklessly."
"You know Xiao Nuan's temperament. She's always been very measured in her actions. She won't act recklessly, so don't worry," Bai Hesheng said.
Mo Nuan felt the atmosphere around her grow stifling, making it hard to breathe. She hurriedly finished her breakfast at breakneck speed and left the house, unable to bring herself to tell them about her marriage to Lu Chen. Even after closing the door, she could still hear her aunt and uncle talking.
"This child is running off so quickly. She must think I'm too nagging."
"You are a bit too nagging."
Mo Nuan hadn't even reached the bus stop when she saw the number 12 bus already there. She ran to catch it and found a seat towards the back since it was the starting stop and there were still some empty seats.
As soon as she sat down, her phone rang. The name "Lu Chen" flashing on the screen made her heart skip a beat, and she felt a bit flustered.
If not for the red marriage certificate in her drawer, she might have thought she was dreaming. How could she become a married woman in just one day, and to a man she had only met once?
She had no idea why he was calling so early. Mo Nuan hesitated, but before the call could automatically end, she answered. Unsure of how to start, she used her usual manner with strangers: "Hello, this is Mo Nuan."
"There is no need for introductions. I know it's you, Mrs. Lu."
The man's voice was deep and slightly teasing, causing Mo Nuan to blush. She tentatively asked, "Why did you call me?"
"Of course, to communicate and build our relationship, to assert my presence, so you don't forget you're now a married woman, hesitating so long before answering your husband's call."
Mo Nuan was stunned. How could this man know she hesitated?
"Um, when you come over, please let me know in advance. Don't just show up. It’s better if we go back together." Mo Nuan changed the subject.
"If Mrs. Lu misses me so much, I'll make sure to arrange my work and pick you up soon."
That wasn't what she meant. She was worried he'd show up unannounced and catch her off guard. Given her aunt's strong opinions against flash marriages, introducing him to her family needed careful planning.
This man seemed different from the elegant gentleman she met last night. Yesterday, he appeared cold and refined, but now he had a hint of roguishness.
They chatted back and forth, not realizing they had been talking for nearly half an hour, until Mo Nuan arrived at her office. Finally, they ended the call.