Hello, Heir

Silence fell in the car again, and the air in it seemed to have frozen.

The driver in the front seat took slow quiet breaths, wishing for himself to be invisible and out of this awkward situation.

In the backseat, Si Zhengting turned his head slowly, fixing his dark gaze on Zhuang Nainai. She could not distinguish any emotion from his pitch-black eyes.

She then heard him ask in a controlled, nonchalant voice, “What do you want to say?”

What did she want to say?

She wished to ask if he still liked her!

If his affection was five years late, did it mean that the three years she’d spent pursuing him had not gone to waste?

Zhuang Nainai opened and closed her mouth. She could not bring herself to say what was on her mind.

Zhuang Nainai’s face flickered with the passing street lights in the dimly lit car.

Si Zhengting looked at her and smiled in a self-mocking way. He turned again to look out of the window. “Gu Qingyan, let me remind you, I have no intention of getting a divorce.”

Zhuang Nainai paused. She did not know why, but everytime he called her “Gu Qingyan,” she would feel as if her heart had been torn from her and she was in excruciating pain.

She looked at him in a daze, puzzled as to why they were suddenly on this topic.

Si Zhengting continued, “So, what’s wrong with knowing my wife’s preferences?”

Zhuang Nainai held her hands in a tight fist.

So… he remembered her dislike for ginger just because she was his wife, like how he had treated her well years ago, because she was his girlfriend?

Everything was just… for show.

Zhuang Nainai did not know what to feel.

What was she still hoping for? Why was she still unsatisfied?

She did not reply; the car fell silent again.

Si Zhengting looked at her and creased his brows.

Was she unhappy?

It appeared that his words were too harsh.

Looking at her that way, he became flustered and tried to loosen his necktie. He did not understand why he said those things. Was it to torment her, or himself?

Watching her dispirited face, Si Zhengting suddenly sighed and spoke again, not bearing to hurt her any longer. “Let’s forget about the past.”

Zhuang Nainai looked up abruptly. What did that mean?

She looked at Si Zhengting, her unperceptive brain finally catching on what was happening.

Was he saying that he wants to let go of all the past and to start over anew with her?

Was he also implying that he would try to like, and even love her?

Zhuang Nainai’s heart soared with elation, and she was on the verge of happy tears.

She calmed herself and finally found her voice after a while. Biting down on her lips, she nodded and promised, “Yes, I will… work hard to be a good wife, let’s start over”

With that out of the way, everyone relaxed in the car and the atmosphere became evidently more jovial.

Zhuang Nainai’s heart thumped wildly. This must be the happiest and most relaxed moment she’d had since their reunion.

The change of mood lifted Si Zhengting’s spirits too.

But the silence in the car was still uncomfortable.

Chatty as Zhuang Nainai was, she had to say something. “It’s Saturday tomorrow and there’s no work, what will you be doing?”

Tomorrow?

Si Zhengting looked like he thought of something, and he replied in a cool but even tone, “We are going home tomorrow. My mother wants to meet you.”

Zhuang Nainai froze at his words.

Meet his… mother?

Her eyes narrowed, a fearful expression forming on her face.