Chapter 56 She is my wife, you should call her…
Today is not a special day, so there aren't many people in the Civil Affairs Bureau.
When her number was about to be called, Jiang Shiyuan realized that her palms were wet and her heart was racing.
Huo Lan grasped her hand, feeling the warmth and moisture of her palm, and then asked Shi Teng to fetch a glass of warm water, trying to ease her tension.
"It's normal to be nervous the first time."
Huo Lan took the water that Jiang Shiyuan had left and drank a few mouthfuls himself. After sitting down, he didn't know how to position his hands and feet to make it more natural.
"I'm not nervous," Jiang Shiyuan said softly. "I just don't want to get married yet..."
She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and said, "Huo Lan, how about we come another day? I'm not ready yet."
Jiang Shiyuan's words relieved most of Huo Lan's tension, but he was not angry. He simply held her hand again.
"It'll be our turn soon. You look beautiful today, and the photos will definitely turn out great."
Huo Lan gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips, coaxing her, "If you marry me, half of all the shares and assets under the Huo family name, including Huo Garden, will belong to you."
"You won't lose out, Shi Yuan."
As soon as the words were spoken, the announcement of their queue numbers came from inside the hall.
Huo Lan straightened his collar and gently supported her waist. "It's our turn. Let's go."
Jiang Shiyuan nodded and followed Huo Lan to sit down at the counter.
A deluge of forms and documents flew over like snowflakes. She didn't know how much she filled out or how many names she signed. It wasn't until she sat down with Huo Lan and saw the camera lights flashing across the room that she suddenly realized she was about to become Huo Lan's wife.
Wishing the newlyweds a long and happy marriage, and may their hearts be forever united!
The staff handed the couple two marriage certificates, already stamped with an official seal and a red stamp, and offered their blessings.
The marriage certificate contained a photo of them snuggling together, with hydrangea flowers blooming brightly on their chests.
Huo Lan stared at it for a long time, almost to the point of tears.
He closed the marriage certificate, looked down at Jiang Shiyuan, and asked in a sensitive and fragile voice, "You won't leave me again, will you?"
Not receiving a response from Jiang Shiyuan, Huo Lan didn't press the issue, but simply pulled her into his arms.
Back in the car, Huo Lan took out a pair of platinum wedding rings, put one on himself, and then carefully put the other on Jiang Shiyuan's ring finger.
The ring is very simple, without much decoration, except for a simple twist design on the band, with half a circle of small diamonds set in it.
Huo Lan held Jiang Shiyuan's hand and stared at it intently for a long time, so long that she felt her arm getting stiff.
Her hand unconsciously pulled back, which brought Huo Lan back to his senses, and he released his hold on her.
Are you a little tired?
Huo Lan looked down at her ankle. She had sprained it a few days ago and had been waiting in the lobby for a long time in high heels. It must have been very tiring for her.
"Let me massage it for you."
Huo Lan bent down and took off Jiang Shiyuan's shoes.
Her ankle was only sprained from jumping; there were some bruises, but no serious injuries. After applying the ointment, it was almost healed. However, Huo Lan still rubbed it carefully, afraid of touching the bruised areas.
Jiang Shiyuan was indeed a little sore from standing for so long, but she didn't want to continue in that position. Just as she was about to pull her foot back, he forcefully pressed it onto her leg again.
"Don't move, it'll be fine in a bit."
When a warm palm covered her ankle, Jiang Shiyuan felt a jolt of relief.
He always does this: just when she starts to hate him, he deliberately shows his tender side to soften her heart and make her reluctant to let go.
With only a few days left until the completion of the Jingyuan restoration project, Mengkong Studio has begun preparing a summary report and is ready to conclude the project.
After obtaining their marriage certificate, Jiang Shiyuan and Huo Lan drove back to Huo Garden. After a quick lunch, they went to the studio to process their resignations.
In fact, she was using the identity of Jiang Zhiyu, and she did not have a direct working relationship with Mengkong. However, out of politeness and because Huo Lan also wanted her to say goodbye to the people in the studio, he chose to bring her back one more time.
“I’ll wait for you in the car. You have an hour to deal with it.”
Huo Lan looked at the watch on her wrist; she had even planned how long she would talk to the studio.
Jiang Shiyuan silently hummed in agreement, opened the car door and got out, but before she could take two steps, Huo Lan called her back.
He strode out of the car and came to her side, his face showing undisguised anxiety. "No, I can't rest easy without seeing you. I'll go with you."
Jiang Shiyuan had no chance to refuse, so she simply didn't waste any more words and let him lead her into Qiwu Pavilion.
The Jingyuan project has been fully restored. The remaining time is spent in the museum doing the final data processing and summarizing.
Several tables were temporarily set up in the lobby of Qiwu Pavilion for office use. Several people sat at their computers with focused expressions, unaware that two people had entered from outside.
Tang Tang stretched her aching neck and saw the two people standing at the door holding hands, her eyes lighting up.
"Sister Shiyuan! You're back!"
In an instant, everyone in the studio looked up from their work, their excitement quickly subsiding when they saw Huo Lan.
Noticing the awkwardness and tension in the workspace, Huo Lan said, "I'm accompanying Shi Yuan back to complete her resignation procedures. We can catch up while I'm at it. I won't disturb you."
Old Chen walked out of his seat, gave Huo Lan a few simple compliments, and looked at Jiang Shiyuan with eyes full of reluctance.
"Actually, there aren't many procedures to go through, and the studio isn't a big company."
Ignoring the oppressive presence of Huo Lan beside her, Tang Tang was so upset she was about to cry. "Sister Shi Yuan, although I knew you were leaving soon, it still feels so sudden... I haven't even prepared a farewell gift for you yet!"
Her words broke the oppressive atmosphere at work, and Qiao Wei quickly stood up to lighten the mood.
"It's not like we'll never see each other again. Shi Yuan has her own things to do. As for the severance gift, she can send it over later."
Qiao Wei glanced at Huo Lan, who was almost always by Jiang Shiyuan's side, and vaguely sensed that something had happened.
During the Huo family banquet, many dignitaries and powerful figures came to the garden, so they were given a three-day holiday.
They only learned from news reports that the main characters at the Huo family's engagement banquet had become Huo Qi and Shen Chuqing.
Others may not know, but everyone in the studio knows that the person who is to be engaged to Huo Lan is Jiang Shiyuan.
She disappeared for half a month, and now she's back at the studio and about to resign. It's hard not to wonder what went wrong between the two of them.
Qiao Wei, always observant, quickly noticed the platinum wedding rings on Jiang Shiyuan and Huo Lan's hands, and understood what was going on.
"Shi Yuan and Mr. Huo, is this...?" Qiao Wei asked tentatively, "Is good news on the horizon?"
Seeing that Qiao Wei had discovered their rings, Huo Lan didn't intend to hide it anymore. He put his arm around Jiang Shiyuan's shoulder and announced to everyone, "Yes, Shiyuan and I have already registered our marriage. As for the wedding, it is still being planned. We will invite everyone to a banquet at that time."
One sentence shocked the entire studio. After realizing what had happened, they quickly offered their blessings to the couple on their marriage.
"I have also prepared a farewell gift. After the project ends in a few days, I will have Butler Shi bring someone to deliver it to thank everyone for taking care of my wife this past year."
Huo Lan made meticulous arrangements for Jiang Shiyuan, preparing everything she could think of and even things she hadn't thought of, but this thoroughness made her feel incredibly suffocated.
And there will be many more days like this in the future.
Upon hearing about the gift, Tang Tang burst into laughter through her tears, wiping away the moisture from the corners of her eyes. "Sister Shi Yuan is so lucky to have such a wonderful husband like Mr. Huo, who still thinks of us even after resigning from his job!"
Huo Lan was pleased with Tang Tang's words, and his mood improved somewhat.
The resignation procedures were completed quickly, taking only about ten minutes, but she was about to leave Mengkong forever.
Old Chen asked earnestly, "Shiyuan, what are your plans for the future? Will you continue with your cultural relic restoration work?"
Jiang Shiyuan shook his head and said, "I am preparing for the entrance exam for Beijing University, hoping to engage in academic research related to archaeology."
She didn't say those words according to Huo Lan's previous arrangement; rather, that was her own plan.
Old Chen was somewhat relieved. He was also afraid that Jiang Shiyuan would lose her original ideals after becoming Mrs. Huo.
When the two walked out of Qiwu Pavilion, there was still a long time before sunset.
Huo Lan was worried that Jiang Shiyuan's foot injury would flare up again, so he didn't let her walk too far. He specially arranged for a painted boat to be brought back to Lingdang Xiaozhu from the nearby river.
Summer is almost over, and the breeze that brushes across the water carries a slight chill, making Jiang Shiyuan feel a little cold.
Huo Lan took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, then pulled her close, gradually transferring his warmth to her.
"Don't be sad, there's a better life waiting for you ahead." He gently stroked the top of her head. "From now on, the entire Huo family is yours, and so am I."
At Bell Pavilion, Anna, the head of the maternity team, had been waiting for a long time.
The maternity center in Huo Garden is basically complete, and all the equipment is ready and available for immediate use. They will soon conduct the first physical examinations on Jiang Shiyuan and Huo Lan to establish a preliminary physical database.
“Mr. Huo, Ms. Jiang, we’ve finally waited for you to return.” Anna smiled politely and appropriately. “Our equipment has been tested and the pregnancy plan can be put on the agenda. Before that, we need to have our first pre-pregnancy check-up.”
Hearing Anna address Jiang Shiyuan, Huo Lan was slightly displeased. "She is my wife, you should call her Mrs. Huo. If you address her incorrectly again, your performance bonus will be deducted accordingly at the end of the month."
Anna gasped, her pent-up complaints finding no outlet.
It was Huo Lan who specifically corrected her, telling her not to call her Mrs. Huo. And it's only been a day, hasn't it?
Sure enough, yesterday it was just the young couple arguing.
But it's her who will have her wages docked; what a despicable capitalist!
Anna suppressed her frustration and, with her exceptional professionalism, continued to smile politely, "Understood, Mr. and Mrs. Huo."
“We are married, and she is my wife in the legal sense, so I must be careful about how I address her from now on.”
Huo Lan held Jiang Shiyuan's hand and showed Anna their wedding rings. If it weren't for the fact that it was inconvenient to show their marriage certificate, he really would have liked to show it off.
Anna thought to herself, "So she's not a lover, she's a wife. It seems I still need to practice judging the relationships between wealthy couples."
Not forgetting the purpose of her trip, Anna continued, "The main reason for coming here is to inform you that the equipment and instruments needed for the prenatal checkup have been installed, and we can have our first prenatal checkup at any time."
Jiang Shiyuan felt annoyed and ignored Anna's words.
Huo Lan knew she was tired after a long day and didn't want her to go through any more trouble.
Huo Lan said, "Let's check it when we have time in a few days. You guys go back and prepare first."
The Bell Pavilion fell silent, but Jiang Shiyuan received a phone call from Cheng Yinghua at that moment.
Although she returned to the Huo family, she hadn't had time to change the phone that Shen Yiyi had given her.
Huo Lan, however, looked wary, fearing that she might come up with some other way to leave him. "Whose call was that?"
Jiang Shiyuan answered honestly, "It's from Professor Cheng at the Institute of Archaeology. He probably needs to talk to me about something."
Her answer eased his mind a little, but he was still afraid. "Okay, but you have to pick me up."
Jiang Shiyuan did not refuse, since she had few secrets left in front of Huo Lan anyway.
The phone was answered, and Cheng Yinghua's concerned voice came from the other end, "I've been quite busy these past few days, that's why I'm only calling now. How are things going on your end? Have you already gone home?"
Jiang Shiyuan told her the truth about her situation, "Yes, I've already gone home."
Fearing that Cheng Yinghua would worry, she glanced at Huo Lan and explained, "I'm doing well now. My family has agreed to let me study archaeology."
Cheng Yinghua didn't have anything specific to ask her; she was just worried about her recent situation. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Shiyuan hung up the phone, only to find that Huo Lan seemed somewhat unhappy.
She asked, "What's wrong?"
Huo Lan was sitting on the sofa when he suddenly hugged her waist and buried his head in her chest. "You didn't admit our relationship just now."
Jiang Shiyuan said helplessly, "Because Teacher Cheng didn't ask."
Huo Lan looked up, her eyes filled with a hint of grievance. "But we've already registered our marriage, and we're still wearing our wedding rings. You should tell her."
Jiang Shiyuan sighed softly and had no choice but to continue answering him, "I definitely will next time."
She thought of Cheng Yan and asked, "Cheng Yan doesn't know about our marriage certificate yet. I haven't seen her in a long time. Can we invite her to Huo Garden? I miss her and want to talk to her."
Huo Lan tightened his grip on her, pressing his ear close to her lower abdomen, "Do you think it's possible that there's already something here...?"
Jiang Shiyuan took a deep breath and said, "Anna said that you need to be in a good mood when trying to conceive, and I don't want to be under too much pressure."
Huo Lan remained silent for a long time before saying in a deep voice, "I know that letting nature take its course is the best approach. But I really want to have a child with you, someone who connects our lives."
"As for Cheng Yan, of course she can come anytime." His raised eyes gradually became veiled with grievance. "Tell me, who is more important to you, me or Cheng Yan?"
Jiang Shiyuan looked down at the man who was holding her waist. She had never seen so many fragile expressions in his eyes in a single day.
They really shouldn't be together, because they're torturing each other.
Jiang Shiyuan had no chance to escape again, so she lost interest in deceiving Huo Lan and finally just said two words coldly.
"Cheng Yan".
Cheng Yan is more important to her; she is a rare and dear friend in her life, someone who has been with her since college.
Therefore, when planning to escape from the Huo family, she did not reveal a single piece of information to Cheng Yan, for fear that Huo Lan would take action against her.
Huo Lan was in so much pain that he didn't know what to say. He just lowered his head and almost forgot how to breathe.
The arm across her waist tightened involuntarily, making her feel painfully constricted.
"Huo Lan, stop straining, it hurts..."
Jiang Shiyuan struggled for a while, but he still held her tightly.
"It's okay, you'll love me in the future." He then gradually loosened his grip. "Go ahead, go invite Cheng Yan. I also need to go to the study to take care of some work. I've been quite busy these past few days."
His steps were heavy as he got up and went back to his study. When he reached the corner of the stairs, he turned back and warned her, but his tone was unreadable.
"I've replaced your bodyguards with a new batch of four carefully selected men. They will definitely protect you well."
After Huo Lan returned to his study, he finally gave Jiang Shiyuan a moment to breathe, even though she knew perfectly well that she was still trapped in a gilded cage, and he doubled his control over her.
Since she was found, Huo Lan has almost never let her out of his sight. No matter how urgent and busy the affairs inside and outside the Huo family are, watching over her and keeping her company seems to be the most important thing.
He turned down all work and finally got his marriage certificate. Only then did he dare to relax for a moment before going to his study to deal with the mountain of major projects that had piled up.
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