We Married in a Flash After One-Night Stand

After returning home, Aunt Yue had just finished cooking. The meal consisted of four dishes and a soup, and the two of them ate while it was still hot.

"Honey, I have nothing else to do, I'm going off to the study," He Jinnan spoke gently to her.

Xia Zhi asked, "Would you like some coffee?"

"Yes, that would be great."

After Xia Zhi had made the coffee, she also brought the gift she had bought for him and went to the study.

She gracefully entered, gently placed the coffee on the desk, along with a small gift box covered in brocade.

Upon seeing this, Jinnan curiously asked, "What's this?"

"Thank you for standing up for me. I bought this while out today, just a small token of my appreciation," Xia Zhi said, slightly embarrassed as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and smiled at him.

Jinnan expressed his surprise with an "Oh," reached for the gift box, and opened it to find a pair of square cufflinks.

"It's pretty ordinary, I hope you don't mind," Xia Zhi said, a bit sheepishly.

Jinnan looked up at her, earnestly replying, "How could I mind? A gift from my wife is naturally the best. I really like it. I'll wear them tomorrow."

"I'm glad you like them," Xia Zhi said with a relieved smile, "You go on with your work; I won't disturb you."

Watching her leave the study, Jinnan glanced at the cufflinks again, his lips faintly curving into a smile before he closed the lid and tucked them into the drawer.

Xia Zhi went back to her room to quickly shower, then headed to the walk-in wardrobe, getting ready for work the next day. While she was busy, the video intercom at the door rang. She stopped sorting her clothes and hurried to answer it.

"Good evening, Mrs. He, there's a visitor here last name Xia," the guard said politely over the phone.

Xia Zhi paused, not recognizing who the visitor could be, then she heard Xia Shuyuan's voice over the intercom: "Xiao Zhi, it's dad. Your Aunt Yue and I have brought your mother's dowry."

How did they know where Jinnan's house was?

After her initial surprise, Xia Zhi felt dubious about his words. As she hesitated, Jinnan came out from the inside.

"Who is it?" he asked.

Xia Zhi replied, "It's my dad and my stepmother... I don't know how they found out where your house is... I didn't tell them."

Jinnan's brow furrowed slightly, but then he responded understandingly, "Don't worry. If they've come, they must have something to say, so let's let them in."

Xia Zhi thought for a moment, then said, "I'd rather go out and talk to them."

"It's okay to let them in; it's getting chilly as the season turns to autumn. Don't put yourself out by staying outside," Jinnan said, and then added, "You can talk in the living room; I won't disturb you."

As he turned and walked away, Xia Zhi felt a bit awkward. After all, declaring this place as her home still didn't come off as strong. Moreover, she didn't want to trouble him further.

Inside, upon hearing Jinnan's words, Xia Shuyuan hastily told the guard, "Did you hear that? Let us in quickly."

The guard drove them in a sightseeing car to the building's entrance, and soon the doorbell rang.

Xia Zhi opened the door, crossing her arms and blocking the doorway, asked coldly, "How did you know where this is? Who told you?"

Xia Shuyuan smiled sheepishly, "We spent some money and found out. Xiao Zhi, let us in, we've brought your mother's dowry."

Zheng Qiuyue craned her neck, standing on tiptoe to look inside, "Is Mr. He home? I don't see him."

Xia Zhi pushed them back slightly with her hand, then reached out, saying, "Just hand over my mother's dowry here."

"Xiao Zhi, we've come all this way to your door; can't you let us in? It doesn't look good standing here," Zheng Qiuyue insisted as she looked around, "If the neighbors across see this, they'll start gossiping."

Xia Zhi glanced down at the briefcase Xia Shuyuan was holding; contemplating the dowry list wasn't an easy conversation to have, and indeed, standing at the door wasn't proper. Subsequently, she stepped aside to let them in.

Sitting in the living room, Xia Shuyuan looked around and commented, "Xiao Zhi, your husband isn't home?"

"Let's stick to the point; why do you keep asking about him?" Xia Zhi responded irritably.

Now cautious not to upset his daughter, Xia Shuyuan begrudgingly held his tongue, reaching into his bag to pass her a sheet, "This is your mother's dowry list from before she passed. We've brought everything listed here; you should check it now."

Zheng Qiuyue feigned innocence, "When you were young, I kept these things for you. Now that you are grown and married, it's right to return them to you."

Xia Zhi looked at the list, a scornful smile flicking across her lips, "Ms. Zheng, you're quite the comedian."

She knew they were willing to return the dowry now only because they had learned about Jinnan's identity and wanted a favor from him, using her as an intermediary. As if they would have returned the dowry otherwise! What a joke!

Zheng Qiuyue's face stiffened, her lips pressed tightly in displeasure.

"Let's check the items first," Xia Zhi said.

Mrs. Xia had brought a substantial dowry when she married Xia Shuyuan, who, upon her sickness and subsequent death, left everything in the hands of Zheng Qiuyue, the stepmother. Xia Zhi had asked for it several times before without success.

The dowry included: two commercial properties, a two-bedroom apartment in the city center, several pieces of jewelry, three full sets of gold jewelry, and two original famous paintings.

Item by item, Xia Zhi checked, listening to her father pleadingly whisper, "Xiao Zhi, those two paintings are still in the bank's safety deposit box. We couldn't get them out. But look, Dad has brought you the deeds, the jewelry..."

He watched her reaction, continuing, "It's been tough raising you since your mom passed away; I admit I've been biased occasionally, which wasn't right. I will change from now on. After all, we're father and daughter, blood is thicker than water. Our family business is going through tough times, and we've offended Mr. Wang, surely you can't stand idly by, right?"

Looking at her mother's name on the property deeds, Xia Zhi was not moved by Xia Shuyuan's attempts to stir up emotions, and she directly asked, "What are you trying to say?"

"I mean since you're married to He Jinnan now, you could talk to him, help out the family. After all, we're already family," Xia Shuyuan pleaded with clasped hands, never having been so humble in front of his daughter before.

Xia Zhi closed the folder containing the deeds, packed up the jewelry as well, stood up with the bag, and told Xia Shuyuan, "All these items on the list are accounted for; I've taken them back. The rest, make sure to deliver them promptly."

"What? Everything is here, what else is there to deliver?" Zheng Qiuyue challenged.

Xia Zhi looked down on her disdainfully, a mocking laugh escaping her, "Ms. Zheng, can you swear that everything of my mother's is here? That you haven't taken over her estate? What about the stocks, the funds, and other financial products? Why haven't you brought those out? Also, these items are just one-third of what my mother owned; you really think I wouldn't know? Let me tell you, I have the original list in my possession!"