The drive to Zhang Wei's home was calm.
Too calm.
Lian Hua sat stiffly in the back seat, her hands resting neatly on her lap as she tried to maintain her composure. The soft leather beneath her felt unfamiliar—too smooth, too refined… too expensive.
"Uncle… are we close?" she asked quietly.
"You said it wasn't far from the shopping center."
Zhang Wei chuckled lightly.
"It isn't far when you walk," he said.
"But with traffic… everything feels farther."
A faint voice came from beside her.
"You seem to be in a hurry, Miss Lian."
Lian Hua turned slightly.
Gu Yichen was watching her.
Her heart skipped.
"Oh—no," she replied quickly, forcing a small smile.
"It's just… my first time in the city. I'm a little nervous."
Gu Yichen nodded slightly, his gaze calm but observant.
"Teacher," he said, shifting his attention briefly,
"this is really her first time?"
Zhang Wei nodded.
"Yes. She's been in the village all her life—"
"Sir," the driver interrupted gently from the front.
"You have a call."
A brief pause.
"It's Madam."
Gu Yichen's expression changed—just slightly.
He picked up his phone.
"Hello, Mother."
The voice that responded was sharp, composed, and commanding.
"Yichen," Madam Gu Lifen said, not bothering with pleasantries.
"I met a young lady today at the shopping center."
A pause.
"You will like her."
The car fell into an awkward silence.
"I spoke with her mother," she continued,
"And I've already taken their details."
Another pause.
"They were quite taken with you… even from your photograph."
Gu Yichen's grip tightened slightly around the phone.
His voice lowered.
"Mother… we already discussed this."
"I know what we discussed," she replied sharply.
"But I will not sit and watch your father's other wife's son take the position meant for you."
Lian Hua's eyes shifted slightly.
She didn't mean to listen.
But she couldn't help it.
"You need a stable wife," Madam Gu Lifen continued.
"And if you cannot secure one yourself… then I will."
Gu Yichen exhaled slowly, trying to remain composed.
"I want that position too," he said quietly.
"But not like this."
A pause.
"You're only drawing attention."
"Good," she snapped.
"Then perhaps you'll act faster."
Silence.
Then—
"You will go on a date with her tomorrow evening," she said firmly.
"I'll send you her contact and address. Go see her today."
The line went dead.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Even Zhang Wei remained silent.
Gu Yichen leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable.
Then—
He sighed.
The car slowed to a stop.
"We're here, sir," the driver, Chen Rong, announced.
Lian Hua looked out the window, blinking as the world outside came back into focus.
But her thoughts… were elsewhere.
"So this is how it is…" she murmured quietly within.
"The first man I notice…"
A faint pause.
"…and he's already being pushed into marriage."
Lian Yue's voice came immediately.
"You got attached too fast."
Lian Hua didn't respond.
"Let it go," she whispered to herself.
"This won't work."
Zhang Wei stepped out first.
Lian Hua followed, offering a polite nod of thanks.
Gu Yichen stepped out last.
For a brief moment—
Their eyes met again.
Then he reached into his coat and pulled out a card.
"Since you're new to the city," he said calmly, extending it toward her,
"you might need help."
Lian Hua hesitated.
Then took it.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Gu Yichen nodded once.
Then turned—
And returned to the car.
As it drove away—
Lian Hua stood still.
The card still in her hand.
And something about the moment…
Refused to leave her.
"No one came to welcome us… you don't have a wife?" Lian Hua asked, looking around as she followed her uncle inside.
Zhang Wei chuckled as he unlocked the door.
"I have someone," he said casually, pushing it open,
"but not a wife."
He stepped in first, then turned slightly and spread his arms.
"Welcome… to my little apartment."
Lian Hua froze.
Her eyes moved slowly across the space—
The polished floor.
The neatly arranged furniture.
The soft lighting.
"This is… little?" she asked in disbelief.
She turned to him, eyes wide.
"This is bigger than my mother's entire compound."
A small pause.
"…I guess this is what 'little' means in the city."
Zhang Wei laughed.
"You'll get used to it."
He gestured for her to follow.
"Come. This is your room."
He pushed the door open, revealing a clean, modest space with a bed, wardrobe, and a small window overlooking the street below.
Lian Hua stepped in slowly.
Taking it all in.
"And," Zhang Wei added, leaning against the doorframe,
"there are a few rules in this house."
Her expression shifted immediately.
"First," he began, raising a finger,
"you need to get a job. You're no longer a child."
Lian Hua nodded quickly.
"Second," he continued,
"by the time you're twenty, you should be able to afford your own place."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"And third—" he paused briefly, his tone firm now,
"no secrets."
Silence.
"Let me know where you go, who you meet… everything," he said.
"That's for your safety."
Lian Hua straightened.
"These are fair rules," she said calmly.
"I'll follow them."
"I'm not," Lian Yue's voice snapped inside immediately.
"What do you mean no secrets?"
Lian Hua kept her face steady.
"It's only for two years," she replied quietly within.
"Just endure it."
She didn't realize she had whispered part of it aloud.
"I like that," Zhang Wei said suddenly, smiling.
"'It's just two years, calm down.'"
He chuckled.
"Sounds like someone already planning to make a fortune."
Lian Hua blinked.
Then laughed awkwardly.
Zhang Wei waved a hand.
"Settle in. I'll be in the living room."
He stepped out.
Lian Hua let out a quiet breath.
Within minutes, she arranged her belongings—folding her clothes neatly, placing them into the wardrobe, and organizing her small space with care.
It didn't take long.
Soon—
It felt like hers.
She stepped out into the living room.
"What kind of job do you think I can get?" she asked.
Zhang Wei glanced at her briefly.
"Did you do anything in the village?"
"Yes," she replied immediately.
"I helped my mother take care of our pigs."
Silence.
Zhang Wei stared at her for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Right."
A short pause.
"I'll find you something simple," he said.
"There's a coffee shop near my workplace."
He leaned back into his seat.
"You can work there for now until you find something better."
Lian Hua's face lit up.
"Really? Thank you, Uncle!"
Then she hesitated.
"…How much does it pay?"
Zhang Wei thought for a moment.
"About 3,000 yuan a month," he said.
Lian Hua froze.
Then—
Her eyes widened in shock.
"That's more than my mother earns in a year!" she exclaimed, jumping slightly in excitement.
Zhang Wei chuckled.
"Welcome to the city."
"When do I start?" she asked eagerly.
"Tuesday," he replied.
"I'll speak to the owner on Monday."
Lian Hua nodded quickly, still smiling.
Then her gaze shifted to the glowing screen in front of him.
"…That thing you're watching," she said slowly,
"it's called a television, right?"
Zhang Wei glanced at it.
"Yes. Why?"
"In Qingshui," she said softly,
"only the village head and a few wealthy families have one."
Zhang Wei looked at her for a moment.
Then back at the screen.
"You'll see a lot more of what you've been missing," he said quietly.
Lian Hua didn't respond.
But deep inside—
Lian Yue smiled.
The city was already changing everything.
I