CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: SHE’S MY WIFE

He Chen is a large man, and although the clothes he wears are clean, it’s clear they are quite old. His skin is darker from years of working in the fields.

Standing next to the fair-skinned and beautiful Ye Manman, the two don’t quite look like a married couple.

Moreover, He Chen keeps a respectful distance from Ye Manman, making them seem more like a farming brother and a student sister.

The meal was quickly finished. Ye Manman has a small appetite and was full after half a meat bun and some vegetables, leaving the rest for He Chen to handle.

Just as the two were ready to leave the restaurant, the two young men at the next table finally couldn’t hold back.

One of them stepped forward, nervously adjusted his collar, and asked in the most polite tone.

"I’m very sorry to disturb you, but is this young woman your sister?"

After speaking, sensing he might have been too abrupt and worried that Ye Manman would be offended, he hurriedly explained.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it, I just wanted to get to know this young woman."

The young man was well-dressed in the latest menswear, his hair neatly cut, and his skin several shades fairer than He Chen’s, clearly from a privileged background.

He Chen’s face turned as dark as a pot bottom, and he subtly angled his body to put some distance between the young man and Ye Manman, his tone stiff.

"She’s not my sister, she’s my wife."

"Please step aside, we’re leaving."

Indeed, the outside world is too dangerous, with predators everywhere, all eyeing his wife.

Away from Ye Manman, He Chen’s hand clenched into a fist, then relaxed, only to clench again, feeling incredibly anxious inside.

He’s afraid Ye Manman might actually fancy someone else.

Especially when seeing that the young man’s conditions are obviously excellent, feeling like a rustic nobody in comparison, nowhere near worthy of Ye Manman.

However, Ye Manman wasn’t interested in anyone else at all; she just wanted to shop around.

The young man, although momentarily disappointed, saw Ye Manman remain silent, seemingly thinking of some remarkable idea, and plucked up his courage again to speak.

"No worries, I just want to get to know this young lady. Let’s be friends, and if you ever need anything, come find me, Zhao Zicheng. Our family has some influence in town."

He extended his hand politely towards He Chen again, full of confidence in his voice.

He believed firmly that a beautiful woman like this young lady couldn’t have genuinely wanted to marry such a big oaf of a country bumpkin, and He Chen must have used some underhanded tactics to force her into it.

Now, as he offered an olive branch and showed his capabilities, if she were wise, she’d eventually come seek him out.

He Chen saw this and clenched his fist again, but before he could say anything, Ye Manman suddenly smiled gently.

"No need, my husband is super capable, he doesn’t need your help. Thank you for your kindness."

"Thank you, please move aside."

These two people had been blocking the door, and Ye Manman was annoyed, but following the principle of making less noise, she still smiled and led He Chen away.

"Ugh, this person is so annoying, always blocking the door. Really, doesn’t he know that good dogs don’t block paths? If it weren’t for worrying he’d make trouble for you in town, I’d have given him a piece of my mind."

"Hmph, who wants to be friends with him? For men like him who take a liking to what they see and flirt with someone’s wife right in front of their husband, I’ll scold every single one I meet."

"He looks like an educated person, but who knows where his education’s gone? His mind’s full of nonsense, and he loses his way when he sees a pretty woman, ridiculous."

Ye Manman chatted away, immersed in her world, without noticing He Chen’s face had once again taken on a mysterious smile.

She praised me!

She called me husband!

She’s worried about me!

She’s wonderful!

He Chen occasionally looked at their clasped hands, and occasionally at Ye Manman’s expressive face, feeling elated to the point of floating.

All the negative emotions generated from the confrontation with the young man had vanished the moment she grabbed his hand.

But he still needs to work harder, earn more money to better establish a foothold in town.

"Eh? There’s a menswear shop over there, let’s go check it out."

Ye Manman dragged him into a clothing store, happily beginning to pick out clothes.

He Chen stayed protectively by her side, cautiously moving among the racks, worried he might knock over the closely arranged clothes.

The shop owner, seeming a bit unobservant, seeing Ye Manman dressed fashionably and He Chen looking rustic behind her, immediately asked.

"Miss, picking out clothes for your brother? He’s quite large; only these styles will fit him."

She pointed to a row of simple-designed clothes placed further in and laughed.

"I can tell you’re an educated city-dweller, back home for break from school? Your skirt looks really nice, we don’t have that style here, must’ve cost quite a bit?"

The shopkeeper, being a woman herself and in the clothing business, naturally knew how to appreciate the fabric and cut of clothes. She seized Ye Manman, showering compliments on her for her attractiveness, poise, and fashionable style.

However, Ye Manman wasn’t pleased at all, instead, setting aside the dowdy shirt the shopkeeper offered disdainfully.

"This isn’t pretty."

"Also, he’s my husband, not my brother, thank you."

Ye Manman pulled He Chen to leave, still fuming as they went out.

"What’s with everyone thinking you’re my brother? Do they think we look alike?"

She touched her face and then looked at He Chen’s, puzzled.

"Doesn’t seem like it, I’m way better looking."

"Hmph, let’s check out other stores. Clothes make the man, and the horse is judged by its saddle; your old clothes are probably so worn and ugly, making you look bad."

"No way, I need to pick out some nice outfits for you."

Ye Manman refused to lose and couldn’t bear anyone saying anything bad about her possessions. Although He Chen wasn’t entirely hers, he was pretty much that way.

Anyway, she just thought he belonged to her now.

Seeing her confidently dragging him off to another store, He Chen couldn’t help but smile again.

Though he didn’t think it necessary to waste money on new clothes, if it made her happy and if she found them attractive, it was worth it.

So until heading home, He Chen kept trying on clothes and shoes from one store to another, with Ye Manman commenting on each set, leaving him weary and sweaty.

Goodness, He Chen felt like he’d changed clothes today more than he had in his entire twenty-plus years so far.

In the end, Ye Manman picked out three outfits from over a hundred, still grumbling about the limited styles and shoe designs, saying these three sets only barely went together nicely.

"Indeed, the air outside is so much better, those clothing stores are stifling."

Riding the bike, He Chen sighed inwardly but couldn’t help glancing at his new clothes again.

"Next time, for the marriage certificate, you’ll wear that black and white set I picked for you, and no one will think you’re my brother again."

"Hmph, look how nice you clean up; every day wearing those two old shirts, they’re about to fall apart, so ugly, no wonder people say you look old."

Ye Manman clung to He Chen’s waist. The night was so dark, she was scared, leaning her body against his back.

He Chen, feeling her warmth and the pressure on his back, felt nervous but mostly indescribably pleasantly touched, warm and romantic.

He obediently replied "Mm," said "As you say," then hearing her yawning, sped up a bit.

Just wanting to get home quickly for her to rest properly, he didn’t expect to find the necessary road ahead blocked with a row of big rocks in the dim night.

He Chen had just stopped the bike when three men emerged from the run-down houses on both sides.

Robbers?

He Chen looked down coolly at them, fists clenching.

Ye Manman was feeling sleepy in the evening breeze, and when they suddenly stopped, she was a bit dazed, rubbing against his back before softly asking.

"What’s wrong?"