The most important things between a husband and wife are mutual respect and trust. Since Mu Tingshen treats Shen Xingling with enough respect, it is believed that in the near future, the two will be able to truly cherish one another.
Mu Tingshen walked over to Shen Xingling’s side, took her hand, and said to Father Shen and Mother Shen, "Dad, Mom, we’re heading to the Civil Affairs Bureau now."
Shen Xingling hugged her parents. "Dad, Mom, I’ll be back tomorrow. Please remember to make more of the dishes I love!"
She then turned to Uncle Lin. "Uncle Lin, please take good care of my parents, and take care of yourself, too. I’m leaving now, but I’ll be back tomorrow."
"Understood, Miss," Uncle Lin replied. "You take care of yourself as well."
"Uncle Lin," Shen Xingling sighed, "I’ve told you so many times, don’t call me 'Miss.' Just call me Xingling."
"Understood," he said.
An hour later, at the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Shen Xingling glanced at the sign for the Civil Affairs Bureau and suddenly felt a bit nervous.
Mu Tingshen looked at the young woman who had been stunned for quite a while and teased, "What’s wrong? Are you scared?"
"No... not at all," Shen Xingling denied. "I’m just a little nervous."
Mu Tingshen took her hand. "Let’s go. With me here, don’t be nervous."
"Okay," Shen Xingling replied.
Twenty minutes later.
With the two red marriage certificates now in her possession, Shen Xingling could hardly believe she was married. She flipped through them repeatedly on the way back.
Mu Tingshen watched her several times before finally taking both certificates from her hands.
"I haven’t finished looking at them yet," Shen Xingling protested.
"Mrs. Mu," Mu Tingshen said, "you’ve looked at them so long you could probably recite them by heart. I’ll keep both of them safe."
Shen Xingling had never heard him call her that before; it actually sounded quite nice!
Shen Xingling would never admit that she only agreed because he called her that. "I suppose I’ll reluctantly let Mr. Mu keep them. I’m afraid I might misplace them."
Mu Tingshen smiled. "Mrs. Mu, I look forward to the rest of our lives together!"
Shen Xingling smiled back. "Likewise, Mr. Mu, I look forward to the rest of our lives together!"
Mu Tingshen lifted an arm, and Shen Xingling linked her arm with his, just as she had done before, and they walked toward the car. Mu Tingshen opened the passenger door as usual.
"Thank you, Mr. Mu," Shen Xingling said.
Mu Tingshen smiled. After getting in the car, he looked at Shen Xingling.
Her seatbelt was fastened.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Baisheng Mall.
Shen Xingling felt a surge of joy: *Is he going to buy me clothes and bags?!*
She still played along and asked, "What did you bring me here for?"
"You'll find out once we go inside," Mu Tingshen said.
Shen Xingling thought: *He’s playing coy, isn't it obvious?*
They made their way to the fifth floor. Baisheng Mall was a Mu Corporation property with seven floors in total. The first floor focused on jewelry and diamond rings; the second floor featured famous eateries; the third floor sold cosmetics and bags; the fourth and fifth floors were primarily men’s apparel; and the sixth and seventh floors were for women’s brands. Mu Tingshen held her hand and led her into a pajama shop called DerekRose.
Shen Xingling looked at Mu Tingshen in confusion. "Why did you bring me here?"
"I was worried you wouldn't be used to the pajamas we have at home," Mu Tingshen explained. "From now on, every season, I’ll have someone send the new collection of clothes, bags, shoes, and jewelry to the house. Consider today a small compromise."
When Mu Tingshen had gone to the walk-in closet last night, he’d seen the pajamas the household staff had prepared for Shen Xingling—they were all low-cut, thin-strapped camisoles—so he decided to bring her today to buy some comfortable loungewear.
*So, he noticed last night,* Shen Xingling thought. *I was planning on coming to buy some myself, but... oh dear, I’m actually a little touched! Besides, this shop is a titan in the world of sleepwear! A compromise? No way, this isn't a compromise at all! If I had to 'suffer' this kind of compromise every day, I’d be perfectly happy. Hehe! Who doesn't want to wear nice clothes?*
"It's not a compromise at all," she said. "Not even a little."
As soon as they entered, a sales associate came to assist them.
"How may I help you and your wife today, sir?" the clerk asked.
"Wrap up all the pajamas in the store that fit my wife’s size and have them sent to the Mu Family Manor," Mu Tingshen ordered.
"Don't we need to try them on?" Shen Xingling asked. "What if I don't like them?"
"If you don't like them, you don't have to wear them," he said. "There will always be ones you do like."
*Gosh,* Shen Xingling mused, *does this man have too much money to spend? He could just give it to me! He really has that 'dominant CEO' vibe.*
Mu Tingshen handed a black gold card to the clerk. After settling the bill, he took Shen Xingling to other shops.
After the couple left, the sales associate immediately shared the news with her coworkers.
"Oh my god," the clerk said, "that man was so handsome, and his wife was so beautiful and elegant. He just swiped his card and bought every single pajama that fit his wife. And that was just for sleepwear! I’m so jealous!"
"Girl," her coworker replied, "I’m already tired of the word 'jealous.' Let’s just work hard. Isn't it satisfying to spend your own hard-earned money?"
Afterward, Mu Tingshen took Shen Xingling to buy many more clothes, shoes, and bags.
When they were finished shopping, the couple walked hand-in-hand toward the parking lot. Mu Tingshen walked to the passenger side to open the door for her as usual. Even though it had only been half a day, they didn't look like a couple who had just had a whirlwind marriage; they looked like a pair of lovebirds in the heat of a new romance.
"Do you want to go home now?" Mu Tingshen asked.
Shen Xingling thought for a moment. "Could you drop me off at Chenxing Entertainment?"
"Did you find an internship?" he asked.
"No," she said. "Chenxing Entertainment is my company. My brother gave it to me for my birthday the year before last, saying it would be good practice for me."
Shen Xingling had studied business management, so Shen Mingxuan let her practice. Although he said it was for practice, she hadn't really been to the office since after the New Year. She had become addicted to playing games with Han Xinyue and Jun Wanwan, and when she wasn't in class, she was striving to rank up. As a prideful little fairy, how could she be defeated by a game? She was even frequently mocked for it by Ms. Xia Lan.
"What time do you get off work?" Mu Tingshen asked. "I’ll come pick you up."
Shen Xingling was a bit surprised. "I get off at five."
No sooner had she spoken than her WeChat voice call rang. The screen lit up with the name: *Xinyue Baby*.
Mu Tingshen noticed the "baby" part in particular. Do girls nowadays all save each other as "baby"?
Shen Xingling answered the call, but before she could say a word, she heard Han Xinyue’s booming voice.
"Baby! How was your wedding night?! You’re a married woman now, unlike me, still a single dog working for you! Tell me, is your President Mu strong? Is he in good shape? Xing, why aren't you saying anything? Are you shy?"
Before Han Xinyue could finish, Shen Xingling cut her off.
"Shut up," Shen Xingling said, blushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "I’ll see you at the office in half an hour."
She hung up, her face flushing even deeper.
*Damn it, how can a best friend be this treacherous? Talk about choosing the wrong friends!*
Mu Tingshen was still right there—he didn't hear everything, did he?!