Volume 1, Chapter 4: I Will Treat Her Well

Lu Xiuyi scrutinized Jiang Yuan silently, his gaze profound, as if he could perceive all her innermost thoughts.

Enduring his intense pressure, Jiang Yuan shuffled her feet back and forth. Though she was terrified, she braced herself and refused to back down. This palpable pressure only began to dissipate once they reached her grandparents' house.

"Is our little girl back?"

"Grandpa, Grandma, I’m back to see you!" Jiang Yuan took her grandmother’s arm, leaning affectionately against her shoulder.

"Hello, Grandpa, Grandma," Lu Xiuyi greeted the elderly couple politely.

"Good, good," the grandparents nodded in satisfaction.

When rumors of the "bride swap" first emerged in the village, the old couple had been so enraged they nearly fainted. Had it not been for the fact that their granddaughter’s husband turned out to be this young man, Grandpa Jiang would have surely broken his own son’s legs. To treat marriage like a commodity for money—was that something a parent should ever do?

Grandma smiled warmly and said, "Nannan, Xiuyi, have a seat. I’m going to make lunch."

"Grandma, I’ll go help you."

"That’s a good girl, you’re so thoughtful."

In the humble courtyard, only Grandpa Jiang and Lu Xiuyi remained.

"Come, sit," Grandpa Jiang said, leaning on his cane as he sat on a stone stool and gestured to the seat opposite him.

Lu Xiuyi understood, nodding slightly as he sat down.

"Xiuyi, I want to know how you feel about this marriage," Grandpa Jiang said, his deep gaze fixed on him. In the end, he knew the boy was a victim of this arrangement as well. While they felt that marrying Nannan was a decent choice for her, he wondered what the young man’s own thoughts were. A good marriage relied on mutual affection; if they were forced together, he feared it would only lead to resentment in the long run.

Lu Xiuyi’s expression was calm. Just as he was about to answer, the memory of Jiang Yuan saying, "We can't let Grandpa and Grandma worry," flashed through his mind. He changed his tone.

In a cool, detached voice, he said, "Grandpa, since Jiang Yuan and I are already married, I will treat her well."

Grandpa Jiang stared at him, probing for any hint of insincerity. After a brief pause, he spoke again. "Xiuyi, I don't ask that you treat Nannan exceptionally well, but at the very least, promise not to hurt her, alright?" It was the most sincere plea an elderly man could make for his granddaughter’s happiness.

Lu Xiuyi remained silent for a long moment. His eyes held a maturity that belied his age as he gave a firm nod of commitment.

When lunch was ready, it included Jiang Yuan’s favorite egg drop soup. She brought it to the table happily and sat down right next to Lu Xiuyi.

Grandma, walking behind her, teased, "Such a loving young couple. Look how long they’ve been apart, and already Nannan is missing him."

"Grandma!" Jiang Yuan feigned shyness, leaning softly against Lu Xiuyi and burying her face in his neck.

As she pressed into him, Lu Xiuyi’s fingertips stiffened, and a flush of red spread across the back of his neck. His heartbeat seemed to echo directly into Jiang Yuan’s ear. She turned her head slightly, blew a soft breath against his ear, and whispered, "Hubby, your heart is racing."

This ambiguous remark caused Lu Xiuyi to stiffen even more. He reached up to gently lift her by the shoulders, creating some distance between them.

Jiang Yuan was displeased. She let out an "mmph" and tried to lean back against him.

"Ahem, ahem..." Grandpa Jiang coughed a few times, reminding them that the elders were present and to mind their behavior. Jiang Yuan pouted, feeling indignant but forced to comply for the moment. *Just wait,* she thought, *I’ll capture you tonight.*

"Let’s eat, let’s eat," Grandma said, enthusiastically ladling a bowl of egg drop soup for Lu Xiuyi. "Xiuyi, try this. It’s Nannan’s favorite. See if you like it."

"Grandma, I’ll help myself," Lu Xiuyi stood up and served a bowl for Grandma, and then one for Grandpa. When he sat back down, he noticed a pair of expectant eyes fixed on him.

Lu Xiuyi looked over.

"Hubby, what about mine?" Jiang Yuan gestured to her empty bowl with her eyes. Grandma and Grandpa both had theirs; it was surely her turn now.

Lu Xiuyi withdrew his gaze coolly and replied, "Serve it yourself."

Jiang Yuan puffed out her cheeks, mentally crushing her beloved husband a thousand times over. With no other choice, she served herself the soup. *Mmm*, it tasted as delicious as ever. After finishing one bowl, she went back for two more. Lu Xiuyi simply watched as her chubby little hand traveled back and forth in front of him.

After lunch, Jiang Yuan brought out the gifts she had brought from her parents' house. Grandma waved them away, saying, "Nannan, keep them for yourself. We’re old, we don’t really need these things."

Jiang Yuan took her grandmother’s hands and pressed the items into them. "Grandma, this is a return gift from my wedding. You know how things are with my parents—you and Grandpa are my real family."

As soon as she finished, Grandpa Jiang stepped in. "Old woman, take it. From now on, this is Nannan’s home. She can come back whenever she likes."

"Grandpa, Grandma," Jiang Yuan couldn't help but act spoiled; she suddenly didn't want to leave.

"Go on back now," Grandma said, glancing at the time and patting Jiang Yuan’s head with a kind smile.

Jiang Yuan left reluctantly, looking back every few steps with a pitiful pout.

On the road, Lu Xiuyi suddenly remarked, "You can come back again in the future."

Jiang Yuan was stunned for a moment before realizing what he meant, her heart swelling with joy. She blurted out, "Hubby, are you worried about me?"

"No," Lu Xiuyi replied coldly, a trace of annoyance flashing across his face. Why had he said that?

Back home, since it was still early, Lu Xiuyi decided to go work the afternoon shift in the fields. He told Jiang Yuan, "You stay at home this afternoon." Although she was his wife, he had never made any demands regarding her working in the fields; she was free to choose.

"Hubby, let me go with you," Jiang Yuan blinked, her chubby cheeks revealing a pair of small dimples. Despite being a bit plump, her features were quite pretty.

Lu Xiuyi neither agreed nor disagreed. He glanced at her, went into the room to change his clothes, and walked out.

Jiang Yuan took his silence for consent and followed him as a matter of course. When they reached a deserted area, she tried to take his arm. Although he pulled away every single time, Jiang Yuan was like a cockroach that couldn't be crushed—he pulled, she grabbed; he pulled again, she grabbed again. *If I want to win my husband over, I have to be thick-skinned,* she thought to herself.

After this happened several times, Lu Xiuyi grew annoyed. He sped up his pace, leaving her behind so she wouldn't have the chance to grab his arm again.

Jiang Yuan made a pained face in the back, but she quickly recovered, jogging to catch up. "Hubby, slow down! Wait for me!"