Chapter 7: The Former Zhenjiang (Part 2)
Moreover, after that late-night snack and today's gift, she could roughly guess what kind of family he came from. A very traditional one, perhaps even bound by many restrictive rules, like the aristocratic families from history.
Everything—food, clothing, residence, and daily necessities—followed a set pattern. It wasn’t about being particular; it was simply tradition.
Shi Yi found it very strange that such families still existed in modern society.
As if detached from the world.
Perhaps she would soon learn the answer.
She gladly accepted his suggestion. The two middle-aged women who had accompanied Zhou Shengchen began methodically unpacking a qipao from their suitcases, along with modern equipment they had brought with them. As Shi Yi watched them iron the dress, she couldn’t help but whisper to Zhou Shengchen in admiration, "Such high standards."
Zhou Shengchen smiled faintly but said nothing.
He soon left the room to give her space to change.
While one of the women helped her into the dress, she suddenly remarked with a smile, "Miss Shi Yi, please don’t mind too much. This time was too rushed. At home, if we ironed so hastily, the housekeeper would deduct our wages." She then began checking the fit along the side of the qipao—after all, measurements and actual wear always differed slightly.
Shi Yi asked curiously, "Then what’s it like at home?"
"As the old saying goes, 'Three parts sewing, seven parts ironing,'" the woman replied with a smile. "It’s very particular."
She fell silent again, expertly tightening the slightly loose waistline. Meanwhile, the other woman carefully opened a dark-red wooden box and began adorning Shi Yi with jewelry.
A jade pendant for her chest, a gold-inlaid jade bracelet for her wrist, two rings—all of them antique in style. Shi Yi wasn’t particularly fond of jewelry, wearing only a pair of small diamond studs in her ears. The woman helping her asked tentatively if she’d like to change them. Shi Yi didn’t mind. "Do his parents dislike these things?"
The two women exchanged glances and smiled. "They dislike this kind of thing."
"Then I’ll change them." She removed the sparkling studs herself and replaced them with emerald earrings so vivid they seemed to drip with color.
Earlier, when Zhou Shengchen had been in the room, he had insisted that she wouldn’t be forced into anything. The two women had assumed Shi Yi would be difficult to handle, but to their surprise, she was quite accommodating. Once fully dressed, she looked at herself in the mirror.
It was as if she had stepped back a hundred years in time.
When she left the bedroom and entered the living room, even her mother was stunned. Fortunately, she was understanding and didn’t press for an explanation.
Zhou Shengchen rose from the sofa. Gone was her earlier ease—now she watched him nervously, lacking confidence. Her cousin, however, muttered under her breath, as if afraid to speak too loudly, "I’m going crazy. This is absolutely breathtaking."
Shi Yi shot her an amused glance, prompting her cousin to tease, "Not you, beauty—it’s the things you’re wearing. They’re worth half the kingdom."
This remark made everyone chuckle.
But what Shi Yi noticed was Zhou Shengchen’s gaze—unmistakable and full of admiration.Once in the car, Zhou Shengchen personally handed her a pure gold necklace with a longevity lock attached. Though its value clearly paled in comparison to any of the other items she wore, one could sense this object held great significance. Shi Yi put it on, lightly fingering the small golden lock around her neck as she softly asked, "Does your family work in government?"
He shook his head. "The Zhou family rules state that direct lineage cannot enter politics."
"Direct lineage? You mean immediate family?"
"The scope is narrower," he explained simply. "Only the eldest son of each generation's direct line can bear the surname Zhousheng."
"What about collateral branches?"
"They take the surname Zhou."
"So if your father had two sons, and you were the eldest, you'd be Zhousheng while your younger brother would be Zhou?" His expression flickered momentarily before he smiled. "Essentially, yes."
She made a small sound of understanding. "Then is it business? A family of merchants through generations?"
How else could they have accumulated such substantial wealth?
Unexpectedly, he shook his head again. "The older generation holds traditional views—they don't approve of descendants going into business."
She couldn't fathom any other possibilities.
"It's complicated," he said with a quiet, slow smile. "Mostly ancestral wealth accumulated by previous generations. The descendants don't need to do much, so most choose pursuits they enjoy."
"Like you?"
"Is my profession that unusual?" He chuckled. "Among those I'm close with, there's an adopted younger brother who's a nuclear engineer—one who doesn't pledge allegiance to any country. A dangerous yet legendary figure. Our family has many eccentric members, though I'm unfamiliar with most. Since entering university at fourteen to study chemistry, I've spent most of my time in laboratories—a rather monotonous existence."
Shi Yi found this fascinating. Despite Zhou Shengchen's modest description, she still considered him the most extraordinary. To her, he was singular—whether in past lives or this present one.
Though Zhenjiang was her father's ancestral hometown, their family rarely visited. Like most Jiangnan cities, it boasted lakes, temples, undulating hills, and rich histories. As their car passed the lakeside, the distant Jinshan Temple appeared hazy through the rain's curtain.
The morning's overcast skies now threatened a downpour. Would they stop nearby? Or continue driving? Every few minutes, she wondered if the car might halt at any moment. Yet they traveled steadily southward, entering mountainous terrain without any sign of stopping. The rain-misted mountain roads were utterly enchanting.
"My mother," Zhou Shengchen suddenly spoke, "might seem somewhat indifferent toward you."
Hearing his serious tone, Shi Yi tensed. "Because my family background is too ordinary?"
"It's not about you. My family is... particular."
That much was evident.
Shi Yi unconsciously twisted the gold-inlaid jade bracelet on her wrist. "Are there any taboos I should know? Things your mother dislikes hearing? Or special etiquette for meeting her?"
"No particular taboos," he assured. "My family aren't wild beasts. It's just... you're not the girl she envisioned. She may need time to understand you."
She nodded thoughtfully, recalling his earlier words. "You mentioned having complete records about me? Even my family's?"
"Extremely detailed," he stated simply. "Detailed enough to include documentation of every year of your life."Shi Yi found it somewhat hard to believe.
“We—” He seemed to recall the day they first met and smiled slowly. “Our acquaintance was rather unusual, so some necessary procedures are needed to understand you better.”
She hadn’t expected such a romantic matter to be phrased by him as if it were intentional closeness.
But after a few seconds, she let it go—she really had approached him deliberately. If she claimed it was unintentional, even she wouldn’t believe it.
He rested his elbow on the wooden armrest, leaning slightly as if to remove his coat. His tall frame made the car’s interior a bit cramped for the motion, and the act of taking it off appeared slightly awkward. Shi Yi instinctively reached out, tugging at one sleeve to help him out of it.
Between the two of them, one was simply freeing himself from discomfort, while the other had merely lent a casual hand.
With her assistance, the coat ended up in her grasp.
Still carrying a trace of warmth, she held it for a moment, suddenly feeling a little lightheaded.
“I’ll take it.” Zhou Shengchen had already reached over, placing it on his lap.
This small interlude inexplicably brought a hint of intimacy between them. Her heartbeat grew restless, and she turned her head to gaze at the rain-veiled mountains again. For her, he was truly unforgettable and inescapable—but what about him? Why had he suddenly proposed? If, as he said, he “needed to get engaged to someone,” what exactly was the reason?
She pondered these questions belatedly.
She had no idea how she and he were supposed to act as an engaged couple.
Zhou Shengchen noticed her distraction but didn’t disturb her. Accustomed to solitude, he was equally accustomed to not intruding on others.
When she finally spotted scattered buildings emerging through the rain, she also heard Zhou Shengchen say, “In time, you’ll understand—I’m not questioning you. These are just necessary formalities.” His tone was calm and gentle, devoid of any particular inflection, yet clearly meant to put her at ease. Shi Yi turned back and smiled at him. “In time, you’ll also understand that I’m quite magnanimous. I rarely take offense over trivial matters.”
The car stopped in front of an ancient-looking mansion, where someone stood waiting at the entrance.
As he stepped out, Zhou Shengchen handed his suit jacket to the young man at the door. Holding an umbrella, he glanced back at Shi Yi and gestured lightly, crooking his arm. “Is this alright?”
She nodded, feeling as though the two of them were putting on a performance.
Zhou Shengchen slightly hunched his shoulders to accommodate her height as she exited the car. Shi Yi extended one leg, stepping onto the damp stone tiles, and quickly looped her arm through his. She wore a long-sleeved qipao, while he was clad in a thin shirt. Despite the two layers of fabric between them, the warmth of their bodies was still palpable.
Her thoughts wandered distractedly as they walked a dozen steps before she finally took a proper look at the sprawling courtyard within courtyards.
Though an old residence, its drainage was excellent.
Despite the heavy rain, not a single puddle had formed along their path.
“Did you grow up here?” She discreetly surveyed the surroundings.
“I lived here for a while before I turned fourteen,” he said. “Not for long.”
She nodded.
Hearing that he had once resided here, the ancient, rain-shrouded mansion suddenly felt three shades more familiar.She often encountered people hurrying past, all coming through side doors or small paths. Whenever they spotted Zhou Shengchen, they would pause, bow slightly, and if they were close enough, address him as "Young Master." Hearing such an intriguing term, Shi Yi stole a glance at him, but he remained indifferent, showing little reaction most of the time.
He only spoke to the young man leading the way, instructing him to take them directly to see the Madam.
The Zhou Shengchen who had been in a rush at the airport, the one who occasionally joked at Qinglong Temple, the slightly mysterious one in Shanghai—none of them bore any resemblance to the man before her now.
This feeling only grew stronger as they entered the rain shelter, where someone carefully wiped the water from their shoes. Inside, a dozen or so middle-aged women and young girls had been chatting and laughing softly, but as soon as the two entered, they naturally stood up or straightened their postures.
All eyes subtly turned toward Shi Yi.
Yet Zhou Shengchen exchanged no pleasantries with anyone, as if he barely knew them.
Only the woman seated in the northwest corner on a rattan chair remained unchanged.
Just from her demeanor and posture, Shi Yi could roughly guess that this poised middle-aged woman was Zhou Shengchen’s mother. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the woman spoke: "And who might this young lady be?"
"This is Shi Yi," Zhou Shengchen said, clasping her hand where it rested on his arm and giving it a gentle squeeze.
The expressions around them shifted in surprise, some even clearly confused.
Shi Yi felt her heart pounding violently against her chest—uneasy, restless.
Zhou Shengchen’s mother studied her for a few seconds before slowly smiling. "Miss Shi Yi, hello."
"Auntie, hello," she replied.
Her soft voice gently reached everyone’s ears.
She forced herself to smile as humbly as possible, enduring his mother’s scrutiny.
The heavy rain outside amplified the tension in the air.
For some reason, she sensed that his mother wasn’t merely "indifferent," as he had described—she genuinely disliked her.
What followed confirmed this suspicion.
Zhou Shengchen’s mother kindly asked if she had eaten lunch yet. Upon learning she hadn’t, the woman naturally softened her voice and said, "Miss Shi Yi, my apologies. These days are Qingming, and it’s also the Cold Food Festival for the Zhou family. We don’t cook with fire during this time, so I won’t be able to invite you to stay for lunch. Instead, let my son fulfill his duty as host and take you to a suitable place in Zhenjiang for a meal. How does that sound?"
A very tactful dismissal.
She had no choice but to nod politely and say, "Thank you, Auntie."
Then she watched as his mother, supported by an attendant, rose gracefully from the rattan chair and adjusted her shawl. "My apologies again, Miss Shi Yi." Still smiling, she gave Shi Yi a slight nod before lightly patting Zhou Shengchen’s right arm. "After you see Miss Shi Yi off, come talk with me. It’s been so long—we’ve grown distant, mother and son."
Zhou Shengchen’s voice was devoid of emotion. "I might not return tonight."
"If not tonight, then tomorrow morning."
Mother and son exchanged glances before she left the rain shelter, leaving behind a room full of unrelated people who continued to eye Shi Yi with varying expressions. Zhou Shengchen tightened his grip on her hand. "Let’s go."
Even though she had prepared herself, the humiliation still stung.Such a meticulously prepared and eagerly anticipated meeting had ended so abruptly—this was something Shi Yi had never imagined.
Later, the two of them left the place by car, moving from the historically rich old residence into the modern city.
They had lunch in a private room on the second floor, with a view of the lake outside the window.
She didn’t eat much, merely sipping hot tea while watching him eat.
The more she observed, the more she could tell that his upbringing must have been impeccable from a young age. Even the way he held his chopsticks and his habits while picking up food were remarkably precise. There was a casualness within the discipline—likely a reflection of his personality.
"I thought I had warned you about her reaction beforehand, so you’d be prepared," Zhou Shengchen remarked lightly, taking a small sip of tea. "At least enough to not feel so upset."
She gave an awkward smile. "I didn’t expect your mother to reject me so strongly."
"In her eyes, my engagement is a matter of great importance. She’s been selecting suitable candidates for my wife since I was in my teens," he leaned back slightly in his chair, his tone earnest. "Imagine someone preparing a gift for over a decade, only to find it completely useless in the end. Disappointment is inevitable."
She suddenly understood. No wonder his mother had looked at her with skepticism and regret.
Still, selecting a wife from such a young age was truly unheard of.
"So she picked a few, and then left the final choice to you?"
He took another sip of tea, deliberately avoiding the question.
She lowered her head, wondering why his background always made him seem so distant.
Yet, perhaps only this kind of upbringing could truly match him.
"Still upset?" he asked her.
Shi Yi pressed her lips together, wanting to smile but failing. Instead, she joked, "No, just curious—how does your family expect you to choose your wife?"
"Very curious?"
"A little," she teased deliberately. "If you’re willing to tell me, maybe I’ll find it interesting enough to stop being upset."
He seemed to consider it. "If it’ll cheer you up, I might let you take a look."
He soon turned and called in the middle-aged driver waiting outside, saying something to him.
The driver couldn’t help but smile, giving Shi Yi a curious glance.
Before long, the driver returned with an extremely thick portfolio—apparently fetched on short notice. When Shi Yi opened it, she found it contained highly detailed profiles. Perhaps the person who compiled it disliked high-definition photos, as the accompanying images were all hand-drawn portraits.
"Are there really people willing to have their daughters printed in here for you to browse?" She felt awkward just flipping through it, let alone imagining Zhou Shengchen holding these while someone pressed him about his preferences.
"They’re all family friends of the Zhousheng clan," he replied.
She let out a soft "oh," too embarrassed to continue flipping. "You really are like nobility from the past, with such elaborate rules for marriage."
Selecting daughters from prestigious families, matching birth charts—such orthodox methods.
But in the 21st century, wasn’t it all a bit too surreal?What kind of family background must he have, to make these young ladies from wealthy families willingly offer their portraits? Although Shi Yi had heard that many family-owned enterprises nowadays had extensive family networks, with daughters raised in seclusion specifically for marriages of equal social status. Though it was just hearsay, she understood that such matches required absolute financial attraction.
The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to see him.
Zhou Shengchen shifted his gaze to her hands instead. "Do these two rings fit you well?"
Shi Yi lightly twisted the rings with her fingers and answered honestly, "A little loose, but they won't fall off."
He nodded.
"What is it?"
"Now that I roughly know your size, I won't make major mistakes when choosing the engagement ring."
(End of Chapter)
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