Just as curiosity struck, footsteps sounded behind her.
Turning her head, she saw Zhou Yueshen.
He placed the meal he was carrying onto the table, his fingers rough yet slender, veins faintly visible.
"Eat something."
Seemingly feeling the heat, Zhou Yueshen removed his neatly pressed military jacket and folded it carefully on the bed.
Beneath, he wore a shirt, the top two buttons undone, collar slightly open, his sharp brows and eyes exuding a cold aura.
He walked toward her, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, glancing at her briefly.
Si Nian was dressed in a red cheongsam, adorned with pearl hairpins, her features strikingly beautiful. Simply sitting there, she was breathtaking.
The next moment, the man approached, bent down, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. Si Nian froze as Zhou Yueshen guided her to sit on his lap, his gaze lowering to study her profile.
"What's wrong?"
Her back pressed against his broad chest.
Si Nian’s heart skipped a beat. Hurriedly, she pointed to the locked drawer.
"I just noticed this locked drawer. Are your things inside?"
Zhou Yueshen glanced where she pointed, his eyes flickering slightly. His palm pressed lightly against her slender waist. "Yes, it’s for keeping old belongings."
He gestured to the medals on his uniform. "These."
Si Nian nodded. "I see. No wonder I never saw them at home before."
Zhou Yueshen’s hand rested on her waistline, his touch scorching in the summer heat.
"Aren’t you eating?" Si Nian blushed under his intense gaze and quickly changed the subject.
Zhou Yueshen held her, humming in response. "I brought this for you."
"Then you should go back downstairs. Didn’t some important guests arrive? Is it alright for you to be up here?"
Si Nian wasn’t entirely familiar with local customs, but she remembered brides at weddings sometimes going hungry all day.
She didn’t quite understand it.
Still, Zhou Yueshen had thought to bring her food.
She wasn’t particularly hungry, having just sipped some soup brought by the eldest child.
Zhou Yueshen fell silent for a moment.
Si Nian added, "The Si family must have seen you earlier. They’re opportunistic—seeing you dressed like this and acquainted with Bureau Director Li, they’ll probably change their tune. Just ignore them and go back down."
Zhou Yueshen acknowledged but didn’t move.
Si Nian: "..."
His large hand reached for the curtains, pulling them shut, dimming the room instantly.
Si Nian’s eyelids twitched. Almost simultaneously, his fingers lifted her chin as he leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep kiss.
She was still seated in his lap, the position challenging yet undeniably intimate.
Her waist arched, delicate and slender.
His grip tightened slightly.
The kiss was relentless, leaving Si Nian powerless to resist. After what felt like an eternity, her neck ached, and she pinched his arm in protest. Only then did he pull back slightly, his thumb brushing over her swollen lips as he stared into her misty eyes, voice low.
"Tired today?"
Si Nian met his gaze. Thankfully, having spent enough time with Zhou Yueshen, she wasn’t as nervous as she might have been. She had slept early the night before and risen early, so she wasn’t exhausted.
Zhou Yueshen had even driven to fetch her—of course she wasn’t tired.
Though a hint of fatigue lingered.
She studied him for a few seconds before shaking her head.
Zhou Yueshen’s grip on her waist paused.
He raised a brow, then smirked.
Leaning closer, his breath brushed her ear, voice husky. "Not tired now? You will be tonight. Eat up."
Si Nian’s pulse quickened, her heart pounding.
Downstairs, the celebration roared, but the room was so quiet their breaths were audible.
She blinked, her clear eyes reflecting his image.
Zhou Yueshen’s Adam’s apple bobbed before he sought her lips again.
They lingered in the room until a knock interrupted them.
Outside, a clamor of voices approached.
Zhou Yueshen rose, wiping the smudged lipstick from his mouth before opening the door.
There stood his youngest son, Zhou Zehan, holding a bowl of rice, trailed by four little figures.
They stared up at him expectantly.
"Dad? What are you doing here?" Zhou Zehan asked, surprised.
Zhou Yueshen arched a brow. "Bringing your mother food?"
Zhou Zehan nodded proudly. "Yes! Mom hasn’t eaten yet—she must be hungry."
While everyone else feasted, only he had remembered to bring his mother a meal. He was the most considerate son.
Zhou Yueshen’s mood brightened. He ruffled the boy’s hair. "Good job. Go in, but don’t disturb her."
Zhou Zehan beamed, clutching the bowl as he hurried inside.
"Mom! Mom! I brought you some—" His words cut off as he spotted the untouched bowl already on the table.
Zhou Zehan: "..."
Zhou Yueshen returned to his seat, drawing knowing glances from those around him.
His expression remained indifferent—except for the lipstick smudge on his collar, betraying nothing.
Lin Sisi’s eyes widened in shock, her fingers trembling so violently she nearly dropped her chopsticks.
The Si family, however, greeted him warmly.
"Xiao Zhou, you brought Si Nian food? How thoughtful! She’s truly fortunate to have you."
Zhou Yueshen’s gaze sharpened at the words.
He turned to study them.
The once-haughty family now groveled before him.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, his voice icy. "Bringing her food is basic decency. If that’s ‘fortunate,’ your standards are pitifully low."
Si’s Father and Mother stiffened, their smiles frozen.
Bureau Director Li and others noticed Zhou Yueshen’s disdain. Recalling how the Si family had claimed they were only visiting their daughter’s adoptive parents—not attending the banquet—they pieced together the truth.
They must have looked down on Zhou Yueshen before, only changing their tune after realizing his status.
The Si family had once tried to bribe their way into his bureau, earning Director Li’s contempt long ago.
Seeing Zhou Yueshen mirror his disdain, Director Li smirked. "Alright, enough. Battalion Commander Si, shouldn’t you be eating? Weren’t you in a hurry to visit your real daughter’s adoptive parents?"
His loud remark drew stares.
Si’s Father and Mother flushed with humiliation.
The table was filled with Zhou family allies, who frowned upon hearing this.
Earlier, the couple had introduced themselves as the bride’s adoptive parents, here to see her off.
Yet no one had spotted them during the bridal procession.
So that’s how it was?
And Lin Sisi—how shameless! She’d broken off the engagement before, yet dared to show her face now?
The guests exchanged glances, ignoring the Si family entirely.
An awkward silence settled over the table.
Forced to endure the meal in disgrace, Si’s Father and Mother seethed.
After all, they’d raised Si Nian for over a decade.
Now that she’d married Zhou Yueshen, they were technically his in-laws!
How dare he treat them this way!
Zhang Cuimei fumed, "Go talk to Si Nian properly and ask her what’s really going on! How dare she hide such a huge matter from us—does she think she can defy the heavens?"
She believed that Si Nian had known all along about Zhou Yueshen’s hidden identity and deliberately kept it from them!
