Wen Zhi met Mo Tingyan's gaze and said stubbornly,
"Yes. Marriage, to me, is something that can exist—or not."
Mo Tingyan felt an inexplicable irritation rise in his chest.
But remembering how Wen Zhi had repeatedly emphasized that he was not to ask about her mother, he forcibly suppressed his anger.
"Do you know why my name is Mo Tingyan?" he asked suddenly.
Wen Zhi didn't know why he brought this up, but she could guess—it was a wound he rarely showed.
After all, anyone who saw the last character of his name, 'Yan'—meaning disgust—would inevitably think something of it.
Mo Tingyan continued, his voice calm but deep.
"I once heard that there are no mothers in this world who don't love their children. But I never had such a mother. That's why I always ask friends close to me how they get along with their mothers, what stories they have, what warmth they've experienced…"
Wen Zhi finally understood the source of his obsession.
The anger in her eyes gradually faded.
"My parents divorced when I was eight," she said quietly.
"I was awarded to my father. I never lived with my mother, so I don't know the things you're asking about either."
Mo Tingyan nodded.
"Alright. Then I won't ask anymore. And you should stop bringing up divorce every other sentence."
He looked at her seriously.
"Even if our marriage is just two people living together, we're still husband and wife. Okay?"
Wen Zhi nodded.
Mo Tingyan placed a hand on her shoulder, as if nothing unpleasant had happened at all. He wrapped an arm around her and guided her toward the car.
"Let's go. It's time to attend the wedding."
Wen Zhi glanced sideways at him.
If they were a real couple, a fight like that—even if it didn't lead to a breakup—would probably cause days of cold war.
Yet the two of them could make peace so quickly.
Perhaps… this was the advantage of a loveless marriage.
They drove to the wedding venue, which turned out to be Jin Guolun's private villa.
The Jin family children opposed their father remarrying, so although Jin Guolun had already chosen not to hold a grand wedding out of consideration for them, none of the Jin family members showed up.
On the Wen family's side, however, Wen Renhao and Su Nanying, having secured the money, treated this "wedding" with great importance.
Dressed festively, the two stood at the entrance welcoming guests.
The moment Wen Renhao saw Wen Zhi appear in black and white attire, his face darkened.
Lowering his voice, he scolded angrily,
"Did you do this on purpose? On such a joyous day, you not only brought this bastard with you, you even dressed like this!"
Mo Tingyan wrapped an arm around Wen Zhi's waist and replied with a lazy, roguish smile,
"President Wen, that's not very nice. My Zhangzhu and I are husband and wife—of course we stand together at all times."
Wen Renhao snapped,
"This is none of your business!"
Wen Zhi cut in coldly,
"I went to pay respects to my mother. If I didn't dress like this, should I have worn red and green like you? I still have some shame."
"You—!"
Su Nanying walked over, linking arms with Wen Renhao, her voice gentle and aggrieved.
"Alright, dear. Xiao Zhi has always gone against you since she was young—you should be used to it by now. After all, she's not like our Xiao Xue…"
Wen Zhi narrowed her eyes and smiled.
"Indeed. I'm not her. I can't do something as shameless as climbing into an old man's bed just for money."
Su Nanying's face stiffened.
"Wen Zhi!"
Wen Zhi raised an eyebrow indifferently.
"Well, it makes sense. Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes to phoenixes. A rat's child digs holes. A woman surnamed Su who steals other women's husbands—of course the daughter she raises surpasses her teacher. Truly a perfect inheritance."
Su Nanying's chest heaved in anger. She leaned against Wen Renhao and burst into tears.
"Dear, Xiao Xue isn't your biological daughter, but the sacrifices she's made for the Wen family aren't small. How can Xiao Zhi say such things about her?"
Wen Renhao also flared up.
"Wen Zhi! Are you here to cause trouble?"
"Not at all," Wen Zhi replied calmly.
"I'm sincerely here to congratulate Xiao Xue. Madam Su was generous enough to sell her daughter to an old man—I truly wish her a long life together with Uncle Jin."
Su Nanying: "..."
She was about to explode.
Wen Zhi flashed a bright smile, looped her arm through Mo Tingyan's, and walked into the villa.
In the courtyard, Mo Tingyan looked at Wen Zhi's smug expression and chuckled.
"My Zhangzhu's combat power is impressive."
"I should thank them for giving me the opportunity."
After all, it was Wen Renhao who had insisted she come back.
The two exchanged a knowing smile.
On the lawn not far away, Mo Tingjue stood in a tailored suit, distractedly looking at Wen Xue.
Wen Xue said pitifully,
"Tingjue, I didn't expect you to really come. I actually… didn't want you to see me like this."
She thought his appearance today meant he still cared about her.
Was he here… to steal the bride for her?
Even though Wen Zhi held evidence over her, forcing her to marry Jin Guolun—if Mo Tingjue was willing to help…
She would leave with him.
After all, Mo Tingjue's family background was solid, and he was far better than Jin Guolun in that regard. She didn't want to become a young widow in all but name.
But Mo Tingjue failed to notice the hope burning in her eyes.
He took out a red envelope and handed it to her, speaking unusually calmly.
"This is my gift. About what you mentioned before—I asked Xiao Zhi. It's true she set you up. That was wrong of her. I'm apologizing to you on her behalf."
Wen Xue froze.
He… was apologizing for Wen Zhi?
Before she could respond, Mo Tingjue spotted Wen Zhi arriving together with Mo Tingyan.
The two were chatting happily.
His eyes darkened.
Without sparing Wen Xue another glance, he strode toward them.
Wen Xue snapped back to her senses and grabbed his wrist, her eyes reddening.
"Tingjue, if I tell you I truly love you, that I don't want to marry Jin Guolun—would you take me away?"
Mo Tingjue pulled his hand free.
"Wen Xue, I'm sorry. I don't like you. I came today because I knew Wen Zhi would be here. I came to see her."
With that, he turned and walked decisively toward Wen Zhi.
Wen Xue stared at his retreating back, fury exploding inside her.
So he wasn't here for her at all!
Why did every man revolve around Wen Zhi?
Today was her wedding, yet everyone's attention was on Wen Zhi!
Damn it!
She clenched her fists, glanced at Mo Tingyan, then looked back at the villa the Wen family could never afford in a lifetime.
Her heart hardened.
She turned and walked back into the hall.
So what if Mo Tingyan was handsome?
He was still a poor nobody.
When it came to marital wealth, Wen Zhi would always be beneath her.
She was the real winner in the end.