Chapter 20: The Warehouse Key

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Shen Mengli was utterly speechless inside. Who doesn’t like money? That’s the real problem, isn’t it? Besides, today was her return visit; if she didn’t dress up elegantly and splendidly, was she just waiting for her stepmother and the others to mock her? This heir apparent’s mind was unlike anyone else’s.

“Who doesn’t like gold, silver, and jewels? I think you’re the only one who doesn’t,” Shen Mengli rolled her eyes silently.

“Since you like these things so much, I have plenty in my storeroom. You can go there and pick some out as compensation from me,” Qi Yunyan said.

Shen Mengli’s eyes widened. “You’re not joking?”

“I never joke,” Qi Yunyan said seriously.

“So, I really can take them? No limit on how much?”

“Take as much as you want. Those things just gather dust in the storeroom anyway.”

“Aren’t you very fond of Miss Qingyu? Didn’t you give her some?”

“Qingyu always regards money as dirt and despises such worldly things.”

Really? Is there truly such an extraordinary person in the world? Does she genuinely not love money, or is she just pretending?

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If it’s pretending, then Lin Qingyu hides it quite well.

Qi Yunyan continued, “Here’s the key to the storeroom. Keep it safe.”

He handed her a copper key. Shen Mengli quickly smiled and took it. This noble heir’s mind really was different from ordinary people. Who else would treat money as if it were nothing? This was clearly a glittering god of wealth. She must maintain this favor carefully, so she could often come to his private storeroom to move gold later.

Seeing her radiant smile, Qi Yunyan’s mood lightened considerably.

“Giving you these doesn’t mean I like you. I promised my mother to give you compensation. Don’t think too much. My heart belongs only to Qingyu. This lifetime, it must be her alone. There’s no room for anyone else. I will give you the dignity of a legitimate wife, but nothing more — no more gifts, no children. I will only let Qingyu bear my child. I hope you understand your place and have no unrealistic hopes.”

Right now, Shen Mengli’s mind was filled only with thoughts of the gold and treasures in Qi Yunyan’s private storeroom. His words went in one ear and out the other. She nodded perfunctorily, “Okay, okay.”

Qi Yunyan saw that he had spoken himself dry, yet Shen Mengli showed no reaction, her eyes fixed only on the storeroom key. He felt a bit frustrated. Could it be that, as the noble heir, he was no match for a simple key?

Did she even understand what he meant? He would never have a real marital relationship with her. This life, she could only live as a widow in name, never bearing his child, losing the right to be a mother.

Of course, Shen Mengli understood the meaning behind his words.

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No need to serve a man, yet able to wear gold and jewels—who wouldn’t want such a life? Besides, she had no obsession with children; being a mother or not meant little to her. Childbirth was always dangerous for women, a matter of life and death. Compared to children, she valued her own life more.

The carriage slowly stopped at the gate of the Shen residence. As the couple dismounted, they saw Shen Tao leading a large group of servants waiting outside.

Shen Mengli glanced around, feeling a little strange. Where were her stepmother Liu and half-sister Shen Yuqing? Normally, when the noble heir’s wife returned to her natal home, the Shen family would respectfully welcome her at the gate to show their respect for the prince’s manor. Why were those two absent?

What Shen Mengli didn’t know was that Shen Yuqing was currently sitting in the main hall, eating grapes while teasing Liu.

“Tell Father not to wait for them outside. Qi Yunyan won’t come. Waiting is pointless. I can already imagine the bitter face Shen Mengli will make when she returns alone.”