We Married in a Flash After One-Night Stand

Two days passed, and the weekend arrived. Xia Zhi's facial injury had healed, and He Jinnan took her back to the old mansion.

On their way back, Xia Zhi felt uneasy. Despite having signed a one-year marriage contract between them, she wanted to hope for the best without accidents. Xia Zhi was concerned that the He Family elders would not approve of her and feared causing trouble for He Jinnan.

"Wife, don't be nervous, just be confident," He Jinnan said, seeing her tense little face as if facing a great enemy, he couldn't help but offer encouragement.

Xia Zhi said, "I don't come from a significant background, and it doesn't match your status. It would be understandable if they disapproved of me. I'm just worried it might put you in a difficult position."

A spark of light flashed in He Jinnan's eyes, unexpectedly warmed by her words.

"You're underestimating yourself before even meeting them. You are so well-behaved, they will surely like you."

"Hopefully," Xia Zhi exhaled, trying to relax herself.

The old mansion was located in a hillside villa, and with autumn in full swing, the scenery was picturesque.

Every two weeks, the He Family descendants would gather at the old mansion to visit Old Mr. He and bond as a family.

Old Mr. He had been the leader of the He Family. The He Family ancestors made their fortune through maritime shipping. However, as the shipping industry declined, they turned their focus to real estate, commerce, and biopharmaceuticals, among other large industries. By Old Mr. He's generation, the family business had stabilized, waiting to be passed down to the next generation of descendants. However, he was not very satisfied with his two sons; instead, he favored his eldest grandson.

As the car passed through the deep shadows of trees, a beautiful white building peeked through the woods in the distance, partially hidden like a beauty shyly holding a pipa.

The driver stopped the car in front of the building, and Xia Zhi stepped out, taking a deep breath. The crisp air rushed into her lungs, soothing her nerves.

He Jinnan walked over, took her hand, and entered together.

"Wife, relax, you're squeezing my hand too hard," he said with a smile.

"Ah, sorry," Xia Zhi replied awkwardly, loosening her grip on his hand.

From afar, they could hear laughter coming from the old mansion.

At the open window sat a girl around eighteen or nineteen years old, who waved happily at them, shouting, "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law!"

This affectionate address made Xia Zhi feel a bit shy but also confusedly asked, "Is that your sister?"

"Yes, my youngest sister, you two should get along well," He Jinnan smiled and waved back.

In the living room, Mrs. He Fang Peiqing listened to her sister-in-law Shen Fangqi saying, "Big sister, your second son really makes things easy for us. Ever since he was brought home as a child, he never caused you and your husband any trouble. Solving such a big life event before thirty, he's really sensible."

Fang Peiqing slightly curved her lips in response, "Indeed, the second one does give us less worry."

Old Mr. He had three children, two sons, and a daughter: the eldest, He Zhanting; the second, He Zhanxiao; and the youngest, He Huizhu.

He Zhanting had four children: the eldest He Jinhong, the second He Jinnan, the third He Jinxing, the youngest He Jiarui, three sons, and a daughter.

He Zhanxiao had a daughter and a son, the eldest He Jiabi, and the second He Jinyan.

His youngest sister, He Huizhu, remained unmarried.

Despite the He Family appearing harmonious on the surface, the underlying deceit between them was no secret.

As they were talking, He Jinnan entered with Xia Zhi, and everyone's gaze instantly focused on her like a spotlight.

"Mom, Aunt, let me introduce you, this is Xia Zhi, my wife."

He Jinnan pulled Xia Zhi into his embrace and continued, "Xia Zhi, this is my mom and this is my aunt."

Xia Zhi smiled graciously at them and politely greeted, "Mom, Aunt, hello."

Fang Peiqing looked at her indifferently and nodded slightly, giving a very distant impression.

She turned to He Jinnan and said, "Your father and the others are in grandfather's study listening to his lecture. You should go up too."

"Alright, I'm heading up now."

He Jinnan gently pressed on Xia Zhi's shoulder comfortingly and whispered in her ear, "Wait for me," then turned and went upstairs.

The Aunt Shen Fangqi was quite enthusiastic and took Xia Zhi's hand, making her sit next to Fang Peiqing.

Fang Peiqing asked about her background, and indeed saw a flicker of distaste pass across her mother-in-law's face.

"The temperament of my second brother is really good, you two living together definitely won't fight," He Jiarui said.

Shen Fangqi introduced her, "This is your sister-in-law, Jiarui. I guess you two are about the same age? Now the young miss has someone to accompany her."

"Hello," Xia Zhi courteously nodded.

He Jiarui, on the other hand, spoke quite casually, "Oh, sister-in-law, no need to be so polite, we are all family now."

As she spoke, she saw her mother glowering at her disapprovingly; she faltered, wondering if she had said something wrong?

Xia Zhi, head slightly bowed, caught that look too; perhaps because "family" wasn't a word her mother-in-law liked to hear? Her heart couldn't describe the feeling, and sitting there she felt like a clown, embarrassed.

Upstairs in the study, Old Mr. He finished lecturing and asked others to leave, keeping He Jinnan alone.

Old Mr. He sat behind his desk, took a sip of tea, lifted his eyelids and looked at He Jinnan, asking, "Did you bring her back?"

"Yes, Grandfather," he replied with a light smile.

Old Mr. He scoffed, put down his tea cup, and said slowly, "I have seen that girl's background check, and I am not pleased. Your parents probably feel the same."

"Xiao Zhi's family background is rather ordinary, which I don't really mind. It's her as a person that I like."

He Jinnan pondered for a moment and continued, "Grandfather, I'm aware that I'm not as capable as my big brother, and I've got no interest in competing. The company will thrive under his leadership, with my support on the side. I don't have any extravagant dreams; having someone I love to spend my life with is enough."

Old Mr. He had always favored the eldest grandson He Jinhong as his successor; this was no secret.

Old Mr. He remained silent, his gaze sharp as a hawk's on him. This child, brought back a few months earlier, had always harbored a relentless spirit; he did not believe that he lacked the ambition to fight for the company!

"I've raised you four brothers, each distinguished in your own right," Old Mr. He said proudly, "I do favor your elder brother, but none of you lack ability. Don't you want to try, take a chance? Becoming the leader of the He Family, you could discard that unsavory status!"

He Jinnan was slightly startled, perhaps not expecting his grandfather to say that, hesitated for a moment, and replied, "Grandfather, I believe that being happy is the most important thing in life. The status of a bastard has indeed troubled me before, but as I cannot change the past, why not accept it openly? With a broadened heart, it no longer bothers me."