RPAGF Chapter 289 The Heroine of an Old-Fashioned Romance Novel 9
Chapter 289 The Heroine of an Old-Fashioned Romance Novel 9
Not long after the meeting ended, Huo Chen called.
"The Civil Affairs Bureau hasn't closed yet. I've already made an appointment. I can go there now to get my marriage certificate and still have time for a business trip."
Ji Xiaosong held her phone, stunned for a moment, not expecting Huo Chen to be so decisive.
She looked out the window; sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, mirroring her somewhat troubled state of mind.
"So urgent?"
Ji Xiaosong tried to keep her voice steady, "I'm not mentally prepared yet."
"It's just a formality, the sooner the better. We already talked about it when we met yesterday. Getting the marriage certificate is inevitable, so we might as well finish it sooner."
Huo Chen's voice came through the receiver, as cold and decisive as ever, without the slightest hesitation.
Ji Xiaosong bit her lower lip, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table. After a moment's thought, she said, "Before we get our marriage certificate, I want to talk to you. About a prenuptial agreement, shouldn't we..."
"The Huo family did not have a prenuptial agreement."
Huo Chen interrupted her, his tone firm and unquestionable, "In the Huo family's view, marriage is a lifelong contract. There is no divorce, only widowhood. Once you step into marriage, there is no turning back."
Ji Xiaosong was startled, and almost dropped the pen in her hand.
She opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but then became speechless.
The rules of this wealthy family were completely different from what she had originally thought about marriage, and their resolute attitude put her under immense pressure.
"But we..."
Ji Xiaosong tried to say something, but swallowed the words back down.
She wanted to say that there was no love between them, and they were only bound together because of the child; such a marriage was inherently full of uncertainties.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I will take full responsibility for the child’s affairs, and you will also have the status and corresponding rights of the young mistress of the Huo family.”
Huo Chen seemed to see through her thoughts and continued, "The Huo family's resources can provide you and your child with the best protection, without a doubt."
Ji Xiaosong took a deep breath to calm the turmoil in her heart.
She understood that from the moment she crossed paths with Huo Chen, her fate had quietly changed.
Today, this choice may be for the sake of the child, and also to secure a stable life for oneself.
"Okay, I understand. I'll get ready right away," Ji Xiaosong said slowly.
After hanging up the phone, Ji Xiaosong stood up and straightened her slightly wrinkled skirt.
She looked closely at her face in the office mirror.
Before long, Ji Xiaosong arrived at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Huo Chen's car was already parked there. He was dressed in a sharp dark suit, standing tall and straight beside the car, like a cold and austere sculpture.
Upon seeing Ji Xiaosong, he nodded slightly, his face remaining calm and composed.
The two walked into the Civil Affairs Bureau side by side, barely exchanging a word along the way.
During the process of completing the formalities, the staff asked some routine questions with a smile, and Ji Xiaosong and Huo Chen answered them in an orderly manner.
As the staff smiled and congratulated them on their "happy marriage," Ji Xiaosong secretly glanced at Huo Chen beside her. He looked calm, as if he were just handling an ordinary work matter.
Finally, two bright red marriage certificates were handed to them.
"I'll take you back."
Huo Chen said, his tone still calm.
"No need, I can go back by myself. Aren't you going on a business trip? The driver will take me back. You just go about your business. I can take care of myself perfectly well."
Upon hearing this, Huo Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, a subtle, unsettling glint in his eyes.
In his past impressions, Ji Xiaosong was somewhat awkward and cautious when facing him, but her words of refusal at this moment revealed a sense of determination and independence.
He couldn't help but take a closer look at the woman in front of him. Her hair was neatly tied back, she wore a simple and capable business suit, her posture was upright, and her eyes showed a newfound determination. She was completely different from the girl he had first met who had been overwhelmed by his aura.
"It seems you're adapting quickly."
Huo Chen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile, and his voice, unusually warm, said, "Alright, contact your assistant anytime if you need anything."
His already stern face appeared even more profound in the sunlight. After speaking, he turned and walked towards his car.
After getting into the driver's seat, Huo Chen did not start the engine immediately.
Through the car window, he saw Ji Xiaosong standing at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau, sunlight shining on her, outlining her slender yet strong figure.
He thought to himself that perhaps this woman who had unexpectedly entered his life was more resilient than he had imagined.
However, Huo Chen simply regarded this as a change that Ji Xiaosong made to adapt to her status as a wealthy young mistress, and did not think much of it.
After Huo Chen left, Ji Xiaosong went home.
I had just changed my shoes and was about to rest when the housekeeper came over to tell me that Grandma Huo had arrived.
As soon as the housekeeper finished speaking, Grandma Huo walked in with a smile.
She wore an elegant cheongsam, her silver hair neatly styled. Although she was over seventy, she was in good spirits, and her eyes revealed both kindness and shrewdness.
"Xiao Song, let me see your marriage certificate!"
As soon as Grandma Huo entered the door, she waved eagerly, her face beaming with undisguised joy.
Ji Xiaosong quickly stepped forward, took out the brand-new marriage certificate from her bag, and handed it over with both hands, "Grandma, why did you come in person?"
Grandma Huo took the marriage certificate, carefully examined the photo and seal on it, and smiled from ear to ear, "Great! That's wonderful! Our Ah Chen is finally settled down!"
She gently stroked the document, a tear welling up in her eyes. "Now that my old man is in heaven, he can rest in peace."
Seeing this, Ji Xiaosong's heart softened.
She helped Grandma Huo sit down on the sofa and then asked the housekeeper to make tea.
"Xiao Song, now that you've registered your marriage, why don't you move to the old house?"
Grandma Huo held her hand, her voice gentle yet firm, "You're carrying the Huo family's child now, and I really don't feel comfortable letting you live outside. The old house has a nutritionist and a doctor, so it's more convenient to take care of you."
Ji Xiaosong gently stroked the rim of the teacup with her fingertips, feeling the delicate touch of the warm porcelain.
She looked up at Grandma Huo, a gentle smile spreading across her eyes.
"Grandma, I understand your good intentions."
Her voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness, "It's just that I've only just moved in, and everything isn't settled yet. Besides..."
She paused, her fingertips unconsciously touching her lower abdomen. "The doctor said that it's important to maintain emotional stability during early pregnancy. I'm worried that a sudden change in environment might make me uncomfortable."
Grandma Huo frowned slightly, clearly not expecting her to refuse.
The old man patted the back of her hand: "Silly child, the old house has everything, and the servants will take good care of you. Why do you need to worry? Besides, Ah Chen also lives in the old house, and you two are newlyweds..."
Ji Xiaosong did not interrupt, but listened quietly.
Grandma Huo continued, "It's convenient for you newlyweds to live together and take care of each other."
Xiao Song waited until Grandma Huo finished speaking before speaking softly: "Grandma, Huo Chen and I both need time to adjust to this relationship. You see, we haven't even had a wedding yet, and suddenly living together is more likely to cause gossip."
She gently placed the teacup back on the coffee table, the porcelain clinking together with a crisp sound. "How about this, we can discuss it properly when Huo Chen returns from his business trip, okay?"
Grandma Huo stared at her for a while, then suddenly laughed out loud: "You little rascal, you know how to talk. I'm already making preparations for the wedding, and it should be fine within a month. We should get this done sooner rather than later, otherwise your belly will start to show, and you won't look good in your wedding dress."
She paused, then continued, "I, this old woman, won't interfere too much in your affairs. However, after the child is born, we must move back to the old house. The heir of the Huo family must grow up in the ancestral home."
Ji Xiaosong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded obediently: "I will do whatever Grandma says."
Just then, the housekeeper came in with a fruit platter, and Grandma Huo suddenly seemed to remember something: "By the way, does Ah Chen know that you have a prenatal checkup in a few days?"
“He knows.”
Ji Xiaosong took the orange from the housekeeper, her fingertips slightly fragrant. "It's just a routine check-up, there's no need to delay his work."
Grandma Huo frowned in disapproval: "How can that be? I'll call him right now."
Ji Xiaosong quickly pressed down on the old woman's hand, touching the warm jade bracelet on her wrist: "Grandma, Huo Chen is already working very hard on his business trip, there's no need to make him work so hard. Besides, we've already agreed to give each other some space."
Grandma Huo gave her a deep look, then suddenly sighed, "You children..."
She stood up, straightened the hem of her cheongsam, and said, "Fine, I'll have the kitchen send you nourishing soup every day. You must drink it on time."
"Thank you grandma."
Ji Xiaosong got up and helped the old man walk towards the door.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting overlapping shadows on the two of them.
After seeing Grandma Huo off, Ji Xiaosong stood in the entrance hall and let out a long sigh of relief.
She turned to look at the living room, where the sunlight slanted across the red marriage certificate, the gold lettering shimmering faintly.
The phone suddenly vibrated, and Huo Chen's name lit up on the screen.
She swiped to answer the call, and a deep male voice came through the receiver: "Did Grandma come looking for you?"
"Well, just left."
She walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window, where the shadows of the trees in Central Park swayed gently.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end: "She asked you to move to the old house?"
I declined.
Ji Xiaosong traced a watermark on the glass with her fingertip. "I said we need time to adjust."
Unexpectedly, Huo Chen seemed to chuckle lightly: "Well done."
He paused, then continued, "I'm going back to China next week, and then..."
"Let's talk about it then."
Ji Xiaosong interrupted him, noticing her own blurry reflection in the glass. "You go ahead with your work, everything's fine here."
When the call ended, Ji Xiaosong realized that she had been holding her breath the whole time.
She slowly exhaled and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
A prenatal checkup appointment slip was pasted on the refrigerator, and next to it were unopened prenatal vitamins.
She reached out and took the vitamin bottle; the metal cap felt cool in her palm.
living together?
She didn't have that idea.
If you're married, you can live a single, wealthy life just like you're not married. What's the big deal about wanting to be controlled by someone else?
Once she moves to the old house, she won't have so much freedom anymore.