One and Only

Chapter 16: The Eighteen-Bead Rosary (2)

The sound of an argument soon rose from downstairs—sometimes loud, sometimes soft. The words were sharp, yet the tones remained restrained.

The old-fashioned building wasn't particularly soundproof. She could vaguely make out that he was being reprimanded by his mother, while his uncle's tone was equally severe. Soon, a woman's sobbing joined the fray. After some thought, she realized the only younger woman present would be Tong Jiaren—but why would she be crying?

Liansui handed her a warm, damp towel.

As she accepted it, she noticed Liansui was also distracted by the voices downstairs, suddenly recalling what the maid had said that day. Could Tang Xiaofu's premature birth be related to Tong Jiaren? And that prosecutor had mentioned a murder case—she must be involved somehow.

Her thoughts swirled with these conjectures.

The four family physicians, however, remained expressionless, as if completely unaware.

One Western-trained doctor finished dressing her wound, while the other three meticulously double-checked everything. The minor knee injury received more attention from them than the murder case downstairs.

Suddenly, the shattering of porcelain rang out.

Downstairs fell silent for a moment before the argument gradually transformed into his uncle's monologue. The words were indistinct, but after straining to listen, she gathered the gist: such large-scale counter-market investments would span twenty to thirty years, violating family rules. Moreover, Tang Xiaofu's accidental death had angered the Tang family, forcing the matter into public scrutiny rather than private settlement.

"The Zhou family has remained withdrawn from worldly affairs for centuries—it cannot be destroyed by your hands."

She heard this sentence with perfect clarity.

Her heart raced painfully fast.

She knew little about his family's rules.

But from his words, she vaguely understood this was a family that valued tradition above individuals. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed into an engagement with her to achieve his goals. Now the mourning period that delayed their wedding had escalated into a homicide case. While she understood diplomatic immunity would shield him from criminal charges, it couldn't prevent deportation.

Zhou Shengchen.

What exactly are you trying to do?

"Miss Shi Yi, you seem tired—would you like to rest awhile?" Liansui asked softly.

She nodded, feeling the need for quiet.

Downstairs gradually grew silent. A breeze slipped through the window carrying damp, oppressive heat—rain was coming. She remembered Tang Xiaofu's face, even recalling her soft words of compromise and discomfort about living in this gloomy old residence.

Soon someone entered and closed the window.

Curled sideways on the chaise lounge, she opened her eyes.

Zhou Shengchen had perched himself on the edge of the glazed coffee table to face her directly—fortunately, the antique rosewood base could support such a tall man.

"I've never asked—is voice acting interesting?" he began, unexpectedly launching into casual conversation.

She smiled. "It's fun, but requires great imagination. Like when sound engineers say, 'Teacher Shi Yi, imagine you're walking through pouring rain after a breakup—you want to cry but can't.'" Her voice dropped as she reminisced. "Those moments were frustrating. While actors perform opposite each other, I only had scripts and a microphone—pure imagination to convey that choked-back sorrow."

Shi Yi gave several such examples.

Zhou Shengchen listened attentively.

Gradually, rain began pattering outside. She could picture lightning and thunder beyond the curtains he'd drawn when closing the window.She picked up her teacup, took a sip to moisten her throat, then heard him ask, "Do you feel uncomfortable being with me?"

"There are some moments," she replied, pouring him a cup of tea and handing it over. "There are many things I don't understand, and I worry that if something unexpected happens, I won't know how to handle it." Zhou Shengchen took a small sip, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Are you afraid?"

She smiled but didn't answer the question.

Life, death, and reincarnation—she didn't even find death mysterious. What could she possibly fear?

If she were to be truly honest, the only thing she feared was never seeing him again.

"You mentioned," she changed the subject, "that you changed my nationality."

Zhou Shengchen nodded. "I apologize for not discussing it with you beforehand."

"It's alright." She thought there must have been a necessary reason.

"As for your parents and family, I'd like to do the same for them, but they are elders after all," he hesitated slightly. "What do you think?" She looked at him. "Is it absolutely necessary?"

"Just as a precaution."

After a moment's thought, she said, "Let's wait until we come up with a good reason. If you're doing this to... well, circumvent legal issues, they might..." She trailed off, unsure how to phrase it.

Zhou Shengchen chuckled softly. "I am indeed trying to avoid certain things, but," he glanced at her, "Shi Yi, I would never do anything improper."

"I know."

"You know?"

"I mean, I trust you."

"Even after all the accusations tonight, you still trust me?"

The sheer number of accusations tonight would be unimaginable for an ordinary person.

Silently, she studied his hand—well-proportioned, the palm significantly larger than hers. A man's bones were always broader and longer than a woman's. At first, she had thought his hands were different because, as a scientist, they must be as unique as his mind. But tonight, she realized the difference went beyond that—the power these hands wielded was something she could scarcely comprehend.

He could switch identities at will, making him impossible to pin down. Yet he faced those terrifying accusations with unshaken composure.

She was terrified that one day she might wake up to find Zhou Shengchen vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed.

He noticed her slender fingers resting on the back of his hand, lightly gripping him.

An unfamiliar emotion quietly flowed between them.

He raised his eyes to meet hers.

Shi Yi returned his gaze and softly gave her answer: "As long as you let me stay with you, I will trust you unconditionally."

A flicker of fear crossed her mind—the fear that he might suddenly leave her.

So for the first time, she truly voiced her innermost thoughts.

With some trepidation, she told him just how important he was to her.

The less she understood about the true background of this family, the more afraid she became, as if she had already been pushed to the edge of a whirlpool.

No one understood better than her how easily the bond between two people could be severed—sometimes, just a turn at a crosswalk could mean eternal separation... She even wondered if letting go of his hand would make her the next Tang Xiaofu in this old mansion. After all, to this family, she was also a newcomer, just as out of place.

And clearly, even his mother harbored hostility toward her.

Shi Yi held onto his hand, unwilling to let go."Shi Yi," he was visibly moved, gently patting her hand that was clutching his with his right hand. "You... have always been an unexpected presence in my life. I never seem to handle our interactions well, nor do I know how to answer your questions," he paused slightly, his voice lowering, "Thank you for believing in me."

It was an extremely formal response, almost like a standard thank-you email.

She withdrew her hand and leaned back into the recliner, exuding a sense of frustration mixed with amusement. With a soft laugh, she muttered a cliché line often heard in dramas: "Really... I offered my heart to the bright moon, but alas, the moon shines upon the gutter."

Her voice was truly melodious.

He chuckled. "Wrong. There's no gutter. You're my lawful wife now."

If he hadn't mentioned it, she would have completely overlooked that fact.

"Oh," she murmured, curling her legs and pressing her cheek against the rattan chair. Her heart, which had just settled, began to flutter again. The chair was cushioned with soft white fox fur, similar to the one he used to favor. She remembered how she would quietly climb onto it while he was reading, writing, or even reprimanding his subordinates beyond the beaded curtain, listening quietly.

His voice used to be incredibly soothing.

She had rehearsed in her mind countless times how to mimic his tone, from the rise to the fall of his speech. Back then, she had thought that if she could ever speak, the first name she would utter would be Zhou Shengchen.

"Zhou Shengchen," she called him.

"Hmm?"

"Zhou Shengchen," she called again, altering her tone.

"Hmm," he responded, catching onto her intention.

"Zhou Shengchen," she insisted, calling once more.

"Hmm," he humored her little game.

She felt overwhelmingly happy, almost deliriously so. Rubbing her face against the fox fur, she squinted at him—this man who was now her lawful husband. Tonight, he wore a light blue shirt, solid-colored, with dark blue cufflinks and silver-gray trousers—a very comfortable palette. It would have matched her stockings perfectly, but now she was left bare-legged, her knees wrapped in white gauze.

"It's May 11th," he told her.

"What is?" she asked, puzzled.

"Our future wedding anniversary. It's a play on the pronunciation of your name—easy to remember."

She felt dazed, as if it were unreal. "Easy to remember? As if you'd ever forget?"

"Never. I'm very good with numbers. Besides," he paused, smiling faintly, "there are certain important dates one must remember."

That night, all she remembered was being incredibly happy.

Looking back later, she could only recall the joy, devoid of any extravagant words. Across two lifetimes, her truly happy moments were few—galloping through Chang'an City and this night when he called her his lawful wife stood out the most.

Shi Yi remembered how her conversations with him afterward lacked coherence, as she couldn't help but laugh incessantly. Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared, with rain pouring down, but inside the room, warmth enveloped them. After he bid her goodnight and left, she noticed an ancient carved sandalwood box with coiling dragons beneath the fox fur on the recliner.

Carefully opening it, she found two rings nestled side by side.

An emerald ring and a very simple yellow diamond ring. She thought he must have prepared these long ago.

A note was tucked inside the lid of the box.His handwriting simply read: The emerald is the engagement ring, respecting family tradition. The yellow diamond is the wedding ring, convenient for daily wear. I hope you like them.

At the end, he had even flamboyantly written four more words: Happy New Marriage.

Well, presenting rings in such a manner and wishing his legally wedded wife a happy new marriage—perhaps only he in this world could pull off something like that. She held the box, pondering for a long time, before finally slipping the yellow diamond ring onto her own finger.

For a man who could calmly transfer materials and continue working in another lab after an explosion in front of him, she thought, she really couldn’t ask for much.

Just the date alone—May 11—was more than enough.

May 11, 511, my Shi Yi.

At five in the morning, she heard him leaving and rushed to open the door, asking if he wanted her to join him for breakfast. Standing at the top of the stairs, he hesitated briefly before telling her today wasn’t the right time. Shi Yi understood his meaning, chiding herself for being so carried away by happiness that she’d forgotten these were troubled times.

Noticing her disappointment, Zhou Shengchen walked back from the stairs. “Don’t overthink it. I just don’t want you to feel too awkward,” he said softly. “Because this morning, I’ll be facing some awkward situations myself.”

“I know, I know,” she repeated, affirming her understanding. “I’ll wait here for you to return. If you can’t eat there, come back, and I’ll have breakfast with you.”

He nodded. “Alright.”

After he left, Shi Yi reflected on her earlier behavior—she had acted like such a doting wife… She felt both embarrassed and worried. Though she hadn’t witnessed last night’s heated argument, she had caught most of it. Just from listening, she could already imagine how “awkward” the scene he mentioned would be.

In her room, she alternated between sitting and standing.

The sky shifted from the dim darkness of five o’clock to the bright light of dawn, and before she knew it, an hour had passed. Liansui asked three times if she should prepare breakfast, but Shi Yi kept saying to wait. Unexpectedly, a message arrived from his mother, summoning her to accompany her for prayers.

When Liansui relayed the message, Shi Yi could hardly believe it.

But she quickly realized her status had now changed.

She almost asked Liansui about the madam’s clothing preferences but stopped herself just in time. Zhou Shengchen’s warning was clear in her mind: This estate has 68 courtyards and 1,118 rooms, with many people—and many complications.

Her empathy didn’t come from some drama but from real experience.

Yesterday’s events weren’t hard to understand. He, too, was trapped in this intricate web, treading carefully. So here, apart from him, Shi Yi reminded herself to be cautious with everyone.

Her leg wound, still bandaged, made it impossible to wear a skirt or tight pants.

Among the clothes she’d brought, only sportswear would fit.

But thinking of his family rules, she gritted her teeth and put on a qipao, removing a few layers of bandages to squeeze into opaque black stockings. It worked, though she couldn’t wear high heels, making the outfit look a bit odd.

The process of adjusting the bandages and carefully putting on the stockings took some extra time.She arrived outside the grand mansion to the sound of car doors opening and closing one after another, yet no engines started. Zhou Shengchen stood by the second car in the distance, waiting for her. When he saw her attire, a fleeting look of surprise crossed his face.

"Sister," the passenger door of the first car was pushed open, and Zhou Shengren, dressed in a black suspender suit, leaned out. "My mother wants you to ride with us." Shi Yi had only taken two steps before stopping to look at him.

Zhou Shengchen remained expressionless, giving a slight nod.

Her heart uneasy, she quickened her pace to the car. Zhou Shengren jumped out and opened the door for her. As it swung open, she saw his mother sitting alone in the back seat, wearing a dark-patterned qipao with a deep purple shawl draped over her shoulders. Her makeup was impeccable, and her smile carried an air of refinement. "Miss Shi Yi, please get in."

The distant form of address.

Did his mother not know that Zhou Shengchen and she were legally married? Or... was she truly refusing to acknowledge it? Her unease grew as she glanced at Zhou Shengchen, still standing by the car, before stepping inside.

The convoy soon departed. Sitting beside his mother, the silence between them was palpable. After a while, it was his teenage brother who turned from the front seat to look at her. "Sister Shi Yi, I never had the chance to tell you—you're very beautiful."

She smiled. "Thank you."

Zhou Shengren also grinned.

She could sense that this seemingly quiet boy was trying to ease the tension in the car. Perhaps their brief exchange worked, because his mother finally shook her head lightly and said with a smile, "Xiao Ren, one must not judge people by appearance alone. Have I not told you, 'Luxurious beauty and the music of Zheng and Wei, indulged in for pleasure, are called axes that hack away at one's nature'? Do you remember?"

She froze.

Zhou Shengren subtly gave Shi Yi a reassuring look but answered his mother seriously, "I remember. You said that beauty and vulgar music can corrupt the mind, and one must avoid indulgence."

The boy's angle allowed him to exchange glances with her.

Shi Yi quietly curled her lips in gratitude for Zhou Shengren's kindness.

The rest of the journey passed in silence.

Sitting rigidly upright, she thought perhaps his mother was truly angry—after all, Zhou Shengchen had not married according to the family's arrangements. Maybe, like mothers-in-law from prestigious families, she wanted to assert dominance over her future daughter-in-law. Shi Yi comforted herself: at least in such a family, no matter how eccentric his mother was, she would never openly humiliate her, maintaining proper decorum.

Maintaining the same posture for so long, her knees began to ache faintly.

Just a little longer, she told herself, enduring another twenty minutes. Finally unable to bear it, she shifted her legs slightly and saw the scenery outside—ancient temples nestled among mountains and forests—and sighed in relief. When the car stopped, Zhou Shengren was the first to jump out and open the door for his mother.

"Miss Shi Yi," his mother spoke as the door opened, "regarding your legal marital status, the Zhou Sheng family will not recognize it. I hope you will carefully consider whether you truly wish to stay with my son."

Caught off guard, the woman beside her had already stepped out and left.

(End of Chapter)