Chapter 8: This Is What It Means to Marry In

Chapter 8: So This Is What It Means to Marry Rich—Hell Yeah!

"Then when you say you know him, is it because he's an actor?"

Lu Hechi was silent for a long moment before asking.

Shen Lanxue hesitated, then explained, "I know him because he's friends with a friend of mine. We've met a few times at gatherings."

Lu Hechi hadn't expected that kind of "knowing."

What the hell had happened during those seven years he'd lost?

Everything had changed.

"He and I used to be really good friends," Lu Hechi said, looking down with a hint of sadness in his voice. "Can you help me get his contact info?"

"I need to know what happened between us."

Lu Hechi racked his brain trying to remember, but those seven years of memories seemed to have been erased from his mind.

Just a blank void.

Shen Lanxue's fingers twitched, itching to reach out and hold his hand, to comfort him.

When Lu Hechi didn't get an answer, he looked up at him with a pitiful expression.

Shen Lanxue pressed his lips together but ultimately didn't reach out.

He nodded.

"..."

That evening, he still dropped Shen Yixing off at home first, then came to the hospital to stay with Lu Hechi.

At night, Lu Hechi would hold Shen Lanxue, foreheads touching, listening to his breathing until he drifted off.

Over the week, they'd both gotten used to holding each other.

Lu Hechi had been cooped up in the hospital so long he was practically rotting. Finally, after the doctor gave him the all-clear, he was discharged.

It just so happened to be a Saturday—clear and sunny.

Shen Lanxue didn't have work, and Little Star didn't have school. The two of them dressed up extra fancy to pick him up.

Lu Hechi changed into the clothes Shen Lanxue had brought from home and instantly looked refreshed.

He wore a gray hoodie and washed-out jeans, looking tall and lean. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off the cast held by a black sling.

He looked like a college kid who hadn't even started working yet.

Little Star held his hand and looked up at him. "Daddy's cool."

Lu Hechi puffed out his chest: "Daddy's always been cool."

Little Star blinked. "Daddy, I meant it's cool that the cast has my sweetheart's name on it."

Lu Hechi was at a loss for words.

All week, his son had made it his mission to sass him.

"You little brat—I didn't even get my wife's name on it, but you let your little girlfriend write hers, and then you diss your old man? That's a bit much, don't you think?"

Little Star's eyes darted around. "Daddy's coolness speaks for itself—there are tons of pretty ladies sneaking looks at you."

Lu Hechi's face turned red, and he quickly glanced at Shen Lanxue, only to find the man turning his head to look back at him at that exact moment.

Shen Lanxue was carrying his hospital bag, walking right next to Little Star.

The three of them walked side by side, Little Star in the middle—a picture-perfect family of three.

"Bro, don't listen to our son's bullshit. I wasn't trying to flirt with anyone."

Shen Lanxue's skin was almost translucent in the sunlight, like white porcelain jade, as if an invisible barrier separated him from everyone else.

He let out a quiet chuckle.

"Mm, I know."

With that, Shen Lanxue suddenly stopped. "We're here."

Lu Hechi stopped right behind him, staring at the black Maybach before them.

The car had sleek, elegant lines and a Beijing plate with consecutive numbers.

Quite a few passersby had stopped to gawk.

Shen Lanxue popped the trunk, tossed the luggage in, then lifted Little Star into his car seat.

He told Lu Hechi, "You sit in the back with the little guy."

Lu Hechi nodded excitedly, eyes fixed on the car.

Not many men could resist a luxury car.

And eighteen-year-old Lu Hechi was no exception—getting his C1 license had been at the top of his summer to-do list.

As Shen Lanxue backed out of the spot, Lu Hechi asked curiously, "Bro, do I have a driver's license right now?"

Shen Lanxue nodded. "You got it three years ago, but if you want to drive now, you'd have to retake the test."

Lu Hechi was secretly thrilled. That meant he wouldn't have to waste time at a driving school.

"Then, bro, can you teach me sometime?"

Shen Lanxue stopped at a red light, the corners of his lips curling up slightly. "Sure, once the cast comes off, I'll teach you."

Little Star piped up, "What about me? Can I learn too?"

Shen Lanxue thought for a moment. "If you want, we can get you a little model car to play with around the house."

Little Star cheered with joy.

The black car cruised down East Street, through the bustling city, weaving through traffic before turning onto a wide boulevard.

This area was private property—manicured lawns on both sides, and the air even felt fresher than downtown.

They passed three security checkpoints, and the guards waved them through the moment they saw the plate.

The car finally stopped in front of a villa.

After they got out, a middle-aged man in his forties walked over, bowing his head slightly:

"Young Master, Mr. Lu, Little Young Master."

Shen Lanxue nodded, handed the keys to him, and then led Lu Hechi and Shen Yixing inside.

Lu Hechi was completely stunned.

He knew Shen Lanxue was wealthy and distinguished. His clothes and way of speaking were nothing like an ordinary person's, but he never imagined it would be to this extent.

The villa before him was more like an estate.

From the main gate, there was a garden filled with podocarpus trees, their shade thick and lush.

Further in, there was a lake where colorful koi swam around.

Lu Hechi's jaw almost hit the floor.

He looked at Shen Lanxue, his shock plain to see: "This is our home?"

Shen Lanxue's breath caught at the question. He raised his eyes to read his face, then nodded: "Yes, this is our home."

He stressed the words "our home" especially hard.

Along the way, servants paused their work to nod in greeting as the group walked by.

Even when they stepped into the villa, Lu Hechi felt like he was in a dream.

He was just an ordinary person—his parents worked regular jobs, earning about thirty thousand yuan total per month.

And this house? Even a lifetime of savings from his parents probably wouldn't be enough.

Now Lu Hechi was starting to think his sister was right about him being a "simp."

If he hadn't groveled enough, how could Shen Lanxue have ever taken a liking to him?

He figured that when Shen Lanxue said "no one chased anyone," he was just trying to let him down easy.

What kind of luck did heaven give him, letting him marry into money at such a young age?

Hell yeah. This was awesome.

Once they got home, Shen Yixing ran off to play in the garden.

Lu Hechi seized the chance to hog Shen Lanxue, eagerly pushing him onto the sofa. Using his good hand, he massaged Shen Lanxue's arm, fawning like a loyal dog:

"Brother, if you ever need anything, just give the word. I'd go through fire and water for you, no questions asked."

Shen Lanxue laughed at his antics, turned to him, took his hand, and said: "What's all this about dying for me? This is your home too—our marital home."

Before he lost his memory, Lu Hechi had never set foot in this house.

After buying it, Shen Lanxue had lived there alone at first, and later Little Star moved in with him.

He had always hoped that Lu Hechi would one day come here too, but he'd figured it would never happen.

He never expected that just when he thought their marriage had hit a dead end, heaven would throw him this curveball.

If this was a dream, Shen Lanxue hoped he'd never wake up.