Slow to mature after marriage

Mu Siwan looked up at the people in the room—Grandpa was reading the newspaper, Grandma was holding her hand, her second uncle and aunt were smiling at her, her cousins ​​were sitting properly, and Bo Ning was squeezing next to her, laughing.

And there was Bo Yan, leaning back on the opposite sofa, his gaze casually falling on her.

They're all here because of her.

This scene was different from when she went to the Mu family; there were some things she couldn't explain.

Mu Siwan lowered her eyes and nodded gently.

"Thank you, Grandma."

The voice was soft, but very earnest.

-

The old lady patted her hand, her smile gentle.

"This child, why are you being so polite with your grandma?"

As she spoke, she waved behind her.

An auntie in a cheongsam walked over carrying a tray with several brocade boxes on it.

The old lady opened them one by one.

The first item is a pair of jade bracelets with excellent translucency; the green color is so vibrant it looks like it's about to drip.

"This is what Grandma wore when she was young. Here, take it."

The second item is a set of ruby ​​headdresses, with exquisite setting, clearly an antique.

"This was passed down from Grandma Bo Yan's grandmother, and it will belong to you from now on."

The third item was a sandalwood box. When opened, it contained several yellowed land deeds.

"Grandma is reserving that piece of land next to this house for you. You can build whatever you want on it in the future."

Mu Siwan looked at those things and instinctively pushed them away.

Bo Yan walked over from the opposite side, sat down next to her, and glanced at the brocade boxes.

"Keep it." He said casually. "Why not take it if it's free?"

The old lady glared at him.

"Shut up."

Bo Ning was laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

Mu Siwan looked down at the things, then looked up at the old lady.

"It's too expensive."

"What's so precious about it?" The old lady slipped the bracelet onto her wrist. "You're a daughter-in-law of the Bo family; these things should have been yours anyway."

The bracelet's cool touch pressed against my skin.

Mu Siwan lowered her eyes, looking at the green on her wrist, and could only say...

"Thank you, Grandma."

The old lady smiled with satisfaction, then turned to look at Bo Yan.

"And you? Just stand there and watch?"

Bo Yan leaned back on the sofa and raised an eyebrow.

"I gave it to you."

The old lady was taken aback.

"What did you send?"

"Gold," he said.

Bo Ning burst out laughing from the side.

"Brother, are you delivering gold?"

"Um."

"This is too much..."

Bo Ning wanted to say "rustic," but when she met her brother's somewhat threatening gaze, she swallowed her words.

The old lady was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

"Okay, gold is good, very practical." She patted Mu Siwan's hand. "Keep the gold, buy whatever you want."

Mu Siwan thought of the heavy bag of gold bars, and then looked at the bracelet on her wrist.

Since Bo Yan returned, she seems to have received quite a lot more from the Bo family.

She wasn't sure if this still fell within the scope of "treating each other with the utmost respect".

-

"What are you thinking about?"

Bo Yan's voice came from the side.

She looked up and met his gaze.

"It's nothing."

Bo Yan looked at her for two seconds, but didn't ask any questions. He just leaned closer to her and gently placed his fingers on her waist.

"Grandma is watching." He said in a very low voice.

Mu Siwan glanced over out of the corner of her eye—the old lady was staring at them with a smile, her eyes filled with satisfaction as if she had seen some rare sight.

She looked away and didn't move.

Bo Ning muttered quietly beside him, "What's wrong with my brother today? Did he take the wrong medicine?"

Nobody paid any attention to her.

The old lady chatted with Mu Siwan for a while, asking her if she was busy or tired at the appraisal center, and whether Bo Yan had taken good care of her.

Mu Siwan answered each question in turn, not saying much, and occasionally pausing when she was stuck.

Then, subconsciously, he turned his head to look at the thin inkstone.

Answering these questions, which were simply out of concern, was a foreign concept to her.

He leaned down, whispered in her ear.

"Well said, go on."

Mu Siwan paused for a moment, turned back, and continued speaking.

The old lady watched this scene, and the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out, and she couldn't stop smiling.

-

Having finally escaped from the main hall, the two walked back along the corridor.

As dusk settled, the lanterns under the eaves were lit, casting a warm yellow glow that shone through the bluestone path.

Mu Siwan walked ahead, her pace slower than usual.

Bo Yan followed beside her, casually reaching into his pocket, his long legs slowing down to match her pace.

They didn't rush us at all.

She suddenly stopped at a secluded corner of a corridor.

Bo Yan also stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Mu Siwan turned around and looked at him.

The light from the corridor shone from the side, casting half of her face in shadow.

"What happened just now," she paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "was it also within the scope of mutual respect?"

Bo Yan was stunned.

He looked at her serious expression, and the look in his eyes changed several times.

"You've been thinking about this?"

"Um."

She nodded, her gaze fixed on his face, waiting for his answer.

Bo Yan leaned against a pillar in the corridor, his arms crossed.

"Those things are what you deserved after marrying into the Bo family."

"It's just that I've been away for the past three years, so this gift is only now reaching you late."

He paused, then smiled.

"Come to think of it, it seems like I'm the one who should apologize to you."

Mu Siwan looked up at him.

"So, don't treat it as a burden, Mu Siwan."

Over the course of their few days together, he noticed that she didn't seem to be very good at handling these unexpected gifts.

They might even show some unease.

Like a bewildered baby rabbit suddenly fed, not knowing what to do.

She prefers to stay in her own professional and safe zone.

Bo Yan slowly frowned.

What kind of family could raise someone like this?

Mu Siwan lowered her eyes, slowly processing his words.

It's a bit strenuous.

This was beyond her comprehension.

She is used to others giving to her and expecting something in return.

After a long while, she looked up again.

"But--"

"But what?"

She opened her mouth, unsure how to express herself.

Bo Yan looked at her and lowered his voice.

"Do you feel this is beyond the scope?"

She nodded.

He straightened up and took a step forward.

"Okay then."

He looked down at her and patiently talked to her.

"You send me a gift in return."

Mu Siwan looked up.

"No need to rush, and it doesn't need to be expensive," he said. "You can give it to me when you feel like it."

She looked into his eyes, as if trying to confirm something.

"So," he added, "we're even now."

She lowered her eyes and carefully calculated the rationale behind the plan.

After a few seconds, she nodded in agreement.

"it is good."

Bo Yan gave a slight smile and turned around.

He took two steps, then stopped.

"Mu Siwan".

She looked up.

He stood at the other end of the corridor, his back to her, the lantern light outlining a rough edge to his silhouette.

"Those things are what you deserve."

"Not for any other reason, but simply because you are my wife, Bo Yan's wife."

He paused.

So—don't be so anxious.