The Beloved Wife of Mr. Lu

B City.

The man's hand never let go as they walked out of the civil affairs office.

Mo Nuan looked at the marriage certificate with their photos on it, still feeling it was unreal, like a dream.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became. "Mr. Lu, you're not divorced, are you? Or do you have some hidden illness?"

Given his incredible looks, women would surely flock to him.

She really couldn't understand why he was still unmarried in his early thirties and why he chose her, an ordinary woman. It didn't make sense.

Lu Chen paused, pursing his lips. "Isn't it a bit late to be thinking about that? Your name is already in my spouse column. Do you want to be a divorced woman?"

Mo Nuan had done the most unbelievable thing in her life, and now her whole body was tense, her mind in a fog, unable to think clearly.

Hearing his answer, she nearly choked.

Impulsiveness is the devil. She must have lost her mind today to inexplicably get a marriage certificate with a man she had known for less than a day!

However, on the path she chose, she had to walk, even if on her knees.

As if seeing through her worries, Lu Chen said, "Mrs. Lu, put away those wild thoughts and worries. I won't engage in domestic violence, I won't have affairs, and I'm not divorced. As for the hidden illness, I don't mind proving it with actions in the future."

Mo Nuan's face turned red. This man really knew how to be righteously shameless!

Wait a minute.

"What did you just call me?" She seemed to have heard "Mrs. Lu" just now.

"Mrs. Lu. Did I call you wrong?" The corners of the man's mouth lifted slightly.

Mo Nuan coughed lightly and turned her face away. He wasn't wrong; she had indeed taken his surname.

But the formal title felt awkward, no matter how she heard it. Calling her by her name felt more real.

"Give me your phone."

Mo Nuan knew what he was going to do and handed her phone to him. She watched as his long fingers quickly entered his number into her phone and then called himself.

"I have a business meeting tonight, and I'll be busy for the next two or three days. Once I'm done, I'll come to pick you up and visit your family to discuss our situation."

Mentioning this made Mo Nuan's head hurt. She really didn't know how to explain it to her aunt and uncle. Who gets married so randomly?

They'd definitely cause a storm when they found out.

"I live with my aunt and uncle. They are my only family."

Lu Chen didn't ask further and just responded, "Okay."

Mo Nuan inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn't know how to explain her messy past.

She wanted to go back on her own, afraid her aunt and uncle would find out.

But Lu Chen insisted on taking her back, his reason being perfectly legitimate: "You're a married woman now. If I let you go back alone late at night, what would people think of me as your husband?"

Mo Nuan was at a loss for words and couldn't find a reason to refuse.

This man always hit the nail on the head with just a few words, leaving her unable to argue. Mo Nuan wondered if she would be completely under his control in the future.

The car drove to an old neighborhood on the third-ring road. Lu Chen frowned at the deep alley. "Do you walk through here alone at night?"

Mo Nuan's hand tightened around her bag. "Not always. If I work late, my uncle or cousin will come to pick me up."

Mo Nuan stuck out her tongue. She liked this kind of nagging; it had the feel of her mother. "Aunt, I like living this way. Life feels fulfilling. Besides, your niece doesn't need to dress up to look beautiful."

"That's true. You got your looks from our Zhang family-naturally beautiful. But if your mom were still here, she would never let you live like this." A look of pain crossed Zhang Rui's face.

Her sister had been strong all her life but ended up with a tragic fate-betraying her husband and dying by suicide.

The smile on Mo Nuan's face froze. Uncle Bai Hesheng walked out of the kitchen, still wearing his apron. "You old lady, always bringing up the past. We should live in the present. You've lived most of your life; how can you still not understand that? It's getting late. Shouldn't you pour some soy milk for Xiao Nuan? If she gets scolded by her boss for being late, will you take the blame?"

Zhang Rui glared at her husband. "Alright, it's too early for your nagging. The older you get, the more annoying you become."

Mo Nuan looked at her aunt and uncle with admiration. She longed for a simple married life like theirs-two people sticking to their original commitment, growing old together. What tremendous happiness that must be!

Her mind inexplicably drifted to Lu Chen. Mo Nuan rubbed her temples and took the soy milk her aunt handed her, teasing Zhang Rui, "Aunt, you should be content. Look at how Uncle has cooked for you all these years."

"That's about his only use."

Bai Hesheng and Zhang Rui both taught at the same school, so their schedules were similar. However, Bai Hesheng took care of all the household chores. Every time Zhang Rui entered the kitchen, Bai Hesheng would kick her out, resulting in her cooking skills remaining abysmal even in her fifties. Their relationship had weathered little turmoil, with their affection remaining steady over the decades.

"Exactly. Our niece is so thoughtful. Some people just don't appreciate what they have. Where else can you find a 'Model Husband' like me?" Bai Hesheng chimed in, sitting down to breakfast and pushing a prepared plate toward Zhang Rui.

Zhang Rui lightly tapped Mo Nuan's forehead. "You cheeky girl, I'm your real aunt, you know."

Mo Nuan took a bite of a steamed bun. "I'm just stating the facts."

"Your heart is biased; don't think I don't know. Since you like men who can cook so much, I'll personally vet your future husband. If he can't cook, he's out."

"Yes, a good husband won't let his wife be stuck in the kitchen all day, turning into a haggard old woman. Xiao Nuan, you must find a man who can cook." On this point, Zhang Rui and Bai Hesheng were surprisingly in sync.

Mo Nuan's hand shook, almost dropping the bun. She couldn't help but think of Lu Chen. How could a man like that possibly cook? Her smile stiffened as she forced out a laugh. "There probably aren't many men who can cook these days."

Zhang Rui glared at Mo Nuan, her frustration evident. "Have some ambition, will you? Keep your eyes open and find one. You can't just settle. This is a lifelong matter.

I'm not the type of aunt to pressure you into marrying by a certain age. I'm not rushing you. If you find someone suitable, take your time to get to know him.

While you may not fully understand a man's nature, it's still better than rushing into a marriage."

"These days, flash marriages are all the rage, but they lead to flash divorces too, making divorce as common as buying vegetables. No wonder some representatives have proposed that couples shouldn't be allowed to divorce until their children reach a certain age. It's society's trends that have forced such proposals.

Men have it easy-they can just walk away and, if they're capable enough, still find a beautiful wife. But it's the women who suffer most, tied down by children, which impacts their whole lives.

Xiao Nuan, don't blame your aunt for talking too much. You have to be careful in this matter.

The more Mo Nuan listened, the more her scalp tingled. If her aunt found out she had already flash-married a man, she might faint from anger.

"Aunt, matters of the heart should just follow their course."

"I understand that, but with your uncle and me watching over you, I'm not too worried. Just don't act recklessly."

"You know Xiao Nuan's temperament. She's always been very measured in her actions. She won't act recklessly, so don't worry," Bai Hesheng said.

Mo Nuan felt the atmosphere around her grow stifling, making it hard to breathe. She hurriedly finished her breakfast at breakneck speed and left the house, unable to bring herself to tell them about her marriage to Lu Chen. Even after closing the door, she could still hear her aunt and uncle talking.

"This child is running off so quickly. She must think I'm too nagging."

"You are a bit too nagging."

Mo Nuan hadn't even reached the bus stop when she saw the number 12 bus already there. She ran to catch it and found a seat towards the back since it was the starting stop and there were still some empty seats.

As soon as she sat down, her phone rang. The name "Lu Chen" flashing on the screen made her heart skip a beat, and she felt a bit flustered.

If not for the red marriage certificate in her drawer, she might have thought she was dreaming. How could she become a married woman in just one day, and to a man she had only met once?

She had no idea why he was calling so early. Mo Nuan hesitated, but before the call could automatically end, she answered. Unsure of how to start, she used her usual manner with strangers: "Hello, this is Mo Nuan."

"There is no need for introductions. I know it's you, Mrs. Lu."

The man's voice was deep and slightly teasing, causing Mo Nuan to blush. She tentatively asked, "Why did you call me?"

"Of course, to communicate and build our relationship, to assert my presence, so you don't forget you're now a married woman, hesitating so long before answering your husband's call."

Mo Nuan was stunned. How could this man know she hesitated?

"Um, when you come over, please let me know in advance. Don't just show up. It's better if we go back together." Mo Nuan changed the subject.

"If Mrs. Lu misses me so much, I'll make sure to arrange my work and pick you up soon."

That wasn't what she meant. She was worried he'd show up unannounced and catch her off guard. Given her aunt's strong opinions against flash marriages, introducing him to her family needed careful planning.

This man seemed different from the elegant gentleman she met last night. Yesterday, he appeared cold and refined, but now he had a hint of roguishness.

They chatted back and forth, not realizing they had been talking for nearly half an hour, until Mo Nuan arrived at her office. Finally, they ended the call.

The first day of the year is generally the busiest time for accounting firms, with a large volume of annual audit business from listed companies concentrated during this period. Mo Nuan found herself working overtime almost every day, and before she knew it, a week had passed. Apart from that morning, Mo Nuan hadn't received any more calls from Lu Chen.

By the time the work was done, it was almost ten o'clock, and Mo Nuan's colleagues were also packing up to leave.

"Xiao Mo, are you leaving?"

"Yes, I'll leave right away." Mo Nuan shut down her computer and took the elevator with Zhang Jie.

"Oh, by the way, Xiao Mo, weren't you looking for a house the other day? I have a relative who works for a real estate company. They're currently having a promotion, and he has several properties available at internal prices. They're located near the boundary between the first and second ring roads, close to the subway for convenient commuting. The average price has just exceeded forty thousand. If you're interested, I can ask him to set aside some good options for you."

Mo Nuan smiled. "Thank you, Zhang Jie. My aunt is worried about me living alone, so I might have to postpone buying a house for a bit."

"No problem. It's not safe for a girl to live alone outside. Let me know when you need it, and I'll find out for you. We've been colleagues for many years; you don't need to be so polite to me."

"Okay."

Mo Nuan barely caught the last bus. After getting off at the bus stop, she walked towards the depths of an alley. After a few steps, she sensed something was wrong. It felt like someone was following her. Instantly, she tensed up and quickened her pace.

The footsteps behind her didn't stop, but instead grew closer. Mo Nuan quietly reached into her bag.

Someone tapped her shoulder, and Mo Nuan immediately pulled out her self-defense stick and sprayed pepper spray while swinging it.

"Mo Nuan, stop."

The familiar yet unfamiliar voice startled Mo Nuan. She turned on the flashlight attached to her self-defense stick and saw a handsome face, expressionless, staring at her.

Who else but her newlywed husband?

"Why is it you? Can't you stay at home? You scared me, coming out in the middle of the night like this." Mo Nuan was slightly annoyed. She lowered the self-defense stick, her hand still tense, showing she hadn't fully recovered from the tension just now.

Lu Chen looked at her with a wry smile. "You have quite the skill to turn the tables. But it's heartbreaking to see. In just over a week, I've roughly understood your past."

Lu Chen didn't speak but went over to take her bag. He was astonished by its contents-a variety of anti-wolf devices.

He casually picked up a circular keychain-like object with a button on it. Just as he was about to press it, Mo Nuan grabbed his wrist and shook her head gently. "Don't press this randomly. It will cause a disturbance at night."

Ignoring her, Lu Chen pressed the button, and immediately a loud alarm sounded, piercing the quiet night.

"Why are you like this? I told you not to press it casually." Annoyed, Mo Nuan took back her bag and walked away briskly.

Watching her stubborn back, Lu Chen felt a subtle wave of emotion in his heart, a bit sour and stifling. He couldn't quite define the feeling but felt uncomfortable, like scratching an itch.

Lu Chen caught up to her, placing one hand on her shoulder and vigorously rubbing her head with the other. His tone was full of helplessness. "Alright, you've got quite the temper. I haven't even scolded you yet, but you're already giving me attitude."

Mo Nuan struggled, but in terms of strength, men had the upper hand. Lu Chen's hand was as firm as a weld, and she couldn't move an inch. She turned her head away somewhat sulkily. "What's there for me to be scolded about?"

Lu Chen clasped her hand in his palm as they walked, explaining, "Now, let me enumerate the three major crimes you've committed. First, as a girl, you shouldn't be walking alone so late at night. Don't you know the security in these old neighborhoods is terrible? Second, you lack awareness of being a married woman. You have a husband, so when you finish work late, you should call your husband to come pick you up instead of pretending to be a female warrior. We are legally married. I am your husband. What does husband mean? It means being together. Your behavior today seriously challenges the legal bottom line of disregarding one's husband. Third, you shouldn't hide things from me. I remember asking you about this before. What did you say? You said your cousin and uncle would come to pick you up at night? What's going on now? You've prepared so many anti-wolf devices in your bag. This kind of thing has probably happened more than once, hasn't it? This time it's me you've encountered, but what if you meet a real thug? Don't give me excuses about not wanting to disturb my work. You never even thought of informing me."

Mo Nuan looked blankly at the man in front of her, her lips barely moving. Disregard for one's husband? What kind of term was that? She had heard of disregarding elders and disregarding rules, but she had never heard of such a saying.

Moreover, she had just walked a late-night road and carried a few anti-wolf devices with her. Which female white-collar worker nowadays doesn't have a few decent anti-wolf devices in her bag?

How had it become an unforgivable sin in his mouth, challenging the legal bottom line? What kind of confused logic was this?

She felt like she was being nagged at by her husband online.

However, one thing he had guessed correctly was that she was used to walking alone at night. How could she have thought about it when it was such a small matter? To her, he was just a husband in name, and they weren't that familiar with each other.

Being accused of three crimes like this, Mo Nuan felt unjustified.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Am I not right?" Although his tone was harsh and accusing, Mo Nuan felt strangely moved, and her voice involuntarily softened as she pointed to the devices in her bag, patiently explaining, "I have so many devices; I'm fine by myself."

The headache got worse as soon as Lu Chen brought up these things. "These broken things of yours might be able to deal with ordinary thugs, but they're completely useless against really dangerous criminals. It's as if everything I just said was in vain." This girl still thought she could sleep soundly with these broken things.

Mo Nuan pouted. "There are only some small thugs around here."

"Are you saying situations like tonight have happened many times before?" Lu Chen's gaze at Mo Nuan became even more dangerous.

Mo Nuan suddenly realized she had misspoken and changed the subject. "By the way, why did you suddenly want to come over today?"

"Mo Nuan, don't try to change the subject. Let's continue discussing the issue we just talked about." Lu Chen was not someone who could be easily deceived.