Chapter Three: Illicit Cohabitation

After leaving the wedding venue, the cold wind outside sobered Xu Xu completely.

“Xu Xu.” Suddenly, the man at her side spoke, breaking through her reverie.

She looked up at him, and the next moment, he handed her a bank card.

Xu Xu was taken aback. “This is…”

“I have something to take care of later and can’t go shopping with you,” Huo Hanshen said, his gaze steady on hers. “There aren’t any women’s belongings at my place. If you move in, it will be inconvenient.”

His words left Xu Xu utterly bewildered. “Your place? Shopping for things?”

Were they moving in together already?

Moments ago, she’d sounded so resolute at the wedding, but in truth, she had only just met this man.

“Isn’t this too hasty? We only just got married…”

“So you don’t intend to move in with me?” Huo Hanshen’s lips curved ever so slightly, an ambiguous, teasing smile in his eyes as he noted her hesitation.

“Or were those just words spoken in the heat of the moment?”

“Of course not!” Xu Xu answered immediately, without thinking.

She met his gaze, her voice firm. “I meant every word I said. I can stand by what I promised.”

“Then that settles it,” Huo Hanshen said with a soft laugh, and then took her hand, leading her onward. “Come on, let’s go home.”

His car was parked nearby, and they reached it after only a few steps.

The car looked utterly ordinary, and Xu Xu surmised that her new husband was most likely not a wealthy man.

“To hand over all the finances to me just like that… Aren’t you afraid I’ll run away with your card? What a fool,” she thought, unable to suppress a silent complaint. Yet, to her surprise, a faint warmth flickered in her heart.

After all, they had only just met, had only held a ceremony, not even registered their marriage, and yet he was already giving her his bank card.

Before getting into the car, Xu Xu hesitated, then returned the card to Huo Hanshen.

“I have enough money to buy what I need. You should keep this.”

Over the years, she had saved quite a bit from various competition prizes and from her own investments—enough to live comfortably.

There was no need to spend his money.

“This is a husband’s duty, to provide for his wife,” Huo Hanshen said, looking at the extended card but making no move to take it back. “The card has no password. You can use it freely.”

Seeing how insistent he was, Xu Xu felt a headache coming on. “This fool, does he not understand what I’m implying?”

Her tastes were expensive, and she suspected buying everything she needed would cost quite a sum. Her new husband, for all his good looks, had a car and clothes that were nothing special—he probably didn’t earn much in a year. There was no need for him to put on airs.

She was only trying to help him save money, after all.

“But we haven’t even registered our marriage yet. Isn’t it inappropriate to use your money?” she said, trying once more to be tactful.

Huo Hanshen opened the passenger door and gestured for Xu Xu to get in.

She glanced at him, then finally took the seat beside him.

He got in shortly after, fastening his seatbelt as he spoke in a calm tone. “You said yourself, what you said at the wedding wasn’t a whim. We’ve already had the ceremony. Even if we haven’t registered, we’re already husband and wife. Providing for you is only natural. There’s no need for you to feel uneasy.”

Xu Xu was about to protest further, but he paused, then added,

“Or… would you prefer to register our marriage first?”

He looked at her, that teasing smile playing on his lips, making his meaning all too clear.

Xu Xu flushed, uncertain whether from embarrassment or irritation.

“Of course not!” she retorted. “If you insist, then I’ll accept it.”

She tucked the card away without further argument.

This annoying man… Well, she could just not use the card.

Seeing her finally put the card away, Huo Hanshen’s lips curved in satisfaction as he started the car.

“I need to go back to the Xu house first.”

Huo Hanshen paused. “To the Xu house…”

“My household register and ID card are there. Without them, how can I register our marriage with you?” Xu Xu said with some annoyance. “Unless you want us to live together illegally?”

“Alright.” This time, Huo Hanshen didn’t tease her further, but agreed naturally, and drove toward the Xu house.

As they neared her family’s villa, Xu Xu fell silent again at the thought of facing her parents.

Huo Hanshen didn’t disturb her, letting her stare quietly out the window.

Soon, the car stopped in front of the Xu family villa.

Xu Xu collected herself, took a deep breath, and reached for the door.

“Do you want me to go in with you?”

She paused, looked back at Huo Hanshen, and gave a small smile. “No, I can handle it myself.”

Seeing this, Huo Hanshen said nothing more.

Once Xu Xu got out, he prepared to drive away. Through the window, Xu Xu hesitated before calling out to him.

He looked at her, a silent question in his eyes.

“Drive slowly, and be careful,” Xu Xu said hesitantly.

Now that they were husband and wife, a little concern seemed only natural.

“Alright,” Huo Hanshen replied with a soft laugh and a gentle smile before driving off.

Watching the car disappear, Xu Xu felt a strange, indescribable emotion.

Why did this feel so much like a long-married couple?

“No, we are married—just not officially registered yet,” she muttered, patting her cheeks to clear her head. “What am I thinking?”

She walked toward the villa. Just as she opened the door, even before she entered, laughter rang out from inside.

“Brother Yunzhe, you’re so clever! I’ve been trying to solve this riddle for ages and still couldn’t get it!”

“You just don’t play these games often enough. I’ll teach you next time.”

In the living room, Xu Yaru was cozily leaning against Huo Yunzhe on the sofa, both of them holding a tablet as they watched something together, while on the other side, Xu’s mother was sipping tea, her face wreathed in smiles.