Using power to force marriage

"Miss, these flowers are different varieties and require different care methods. Some like light and some like shade, some are drought-tolerant and some like moisture, so they are not easy to take care of."

Aunt Sun explained with a smile, "The plants your husband grows only need watering once a week, which is very convenient. But the flowers you grow are very delicate, unlike the plants."

If she had grown them the way she would have grown green plants, they would have died.

"My dad didn't know how to grow flowers at first, but because my mom liked them, he learned how to grow them and he's grown them really well."

Love is like growing flowers. Ruan Zhengyang and He Shu were a young couple who have been in love for many years. His wife likes to fill their home with beautiful flowers, so he learned how to take care of them for her.

But Zhao Jingnian and she had no feelings for each other; it was purely a business marriage. Could she really expect him to love her like Ruan Zhengyang loved He Shu?

"Stop dreaming, Ruan Fu." She pouted and tapped her head in disappointment.

While reminding herself not to fantasize, she also felt that Zhao Jingnian seemed to have changed recently, and their marital relationship had become much more harmonious.

He queued up to buy her wontons and brought her pastries. When she said her feet hurt, he carried her away from the party early and even personally applied medicine and massaged her feet.

"I thought we would gradually become like Mom and Dad."

Aunt Sun didn't hear what she was muttering. "Miss, what did you say?"

"It's nothing." Ruan Fu was not in a good mood and buried her head in her food.

"By the way, miss, does your foot still hurt?"

Aunt Sun knew her feet were blistered and her ankles were swollen, and asked with concern, "Do you need me to apply some medicine for you?"

If Aunt Sun hadn't mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten that she had an injury on her foot.

"It doesn't hurt at all anymore, I can't feel anything at all."

Zhao Jingnian massaged her ankle last night, and this morning the swelling was gone. He applied medicine to the chafed area, and it no longer hurt.

"It seems that you are better at taking care of me than I am."

Aunt Sun smiled knowingly, "Miss, you've married a good husband. He loves you very much."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Fu's eyes suddenly brightened. "You think he loves me?"

"Yes, he takes everything you say to heart, and he will fulfill any request you make."

If this doesn't count as love.

"Before you married your husband, I heard rumors that he was cold and ungrateful, unromantic, and not the kind of person who would care for others. I was worried for you then, afraid that you would suffer mistreatment and neglect after marrying him."

Aunt Sun beamed and kept praising Zhao Jingnian, "It turns out I was overthinking it. Your husband is very caring towards you, even taking great care of your daily diet. Miss, you married a good husband."

Ruan Fu slowed her eating. "I'm his wife, of course he has to treat me well."

Ruan Fu had never suffered any grievances since childhood. She was loved and pampered by her whole family. She got whatever she wanted. As a young lady raised in the golden age, she had an innate confidence and pride in her bones.

She deserves to enjoy the best of everything in the world, to be pampered and cared for by everyone, and naturally she should be just as happy after getting married.

"Zhao Jingnian is good to me, so I will be good to him in return."

Children who grow up in love will naturally not be stingy in expressing their love.

For some reason, the thought of divorce in Ruan Fu's heart seemed to have faded a lot.

"Aunt Sun, the Dragon Boat Festival is in a couple of days. Please prepare some ingredients so I can make zongzi for Zhao Jingnian myself."

Back when they were at home, the whole family would make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and mooncakes together during festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.

He Shu would also prepare sachets for the whole family, filled with natural Chinese herbs such as mugwort, calamus, cloves, and mint, saying that they could ward off evil spirits and disasters and bring good health.

Zhao Jingnian's relationship with his family seems to be bad, so there's no way anyone would make him zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) or prepare sachets for him.

"We're already husband and wife, so naturally I should celebrate the holiday with him and prepare a sachet for him, filled with Chinese herbs that can help him relax and sleep."

Ruan Fu gradually learned to treat Zhao Jingnian the way He Shu treated Ruan Zhengyang.

"But Miss, the rice dumplings you make every year are ugly, and they always break when you put them in the pot to cook."

"It's okay, Zhao Jingnian shouldn't mind."

The most important thing is not the taste or the appearance, but the sentiment.

-

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Ruan Fu invited several ladies who owned pets to have afternoon tea.

She specially booked the most prestigious art tea room in the northern part of the city, where the dining table was set with various exquisite tea snacks such as macarons and black truffle cheese tarts flown in from France.

They also thoughtfully provided additive-free pet treats for their pets to enjoy.

"Ladies, I've invited you all here today for two reasons: first, to catch up, and second, to share my pet medical and care center with you."

She raised her hand and handed the gold-embossed membership booklets to each person.

"Today, we are offering a limited-edition lifetime membership of only 20 seats for all the ladies, with a membership fee of just 800 million."

"800 million? That's so expensive!"

"Oh, this price is only after a 20% discount, considering how good you ladies are to me. We offer top-tier luxury bespoke services; I'll explain the specific benefits to you ladies in detail later."

Lifetime members of "Fuller Premium Pet Medical and Care Center" can enjoy two comprehensive premium physical examinations per year, with a dedicated 24-hour medical team on call to customize a health management plan for each pet.

Enjoy premium coat care and a full-service pet spa, chauffeured transportation, star-rated boarding, upscale social salons... plus pet birthday planning, regular health check-ups and dedicated customer service, providing comprehensive and attentive care for your beloved pet.

She had a sweet tongue and a charming way of speaking, praising the wealthy young ladies present and their pets. Plus, the offer was indeed enticing enough—spending 800 million for a lifetime of premium service seemed like a good deal.

After reading the membership manual, a generous and wealthy woman immediately approached her to complete the registration.

Ruan Fu opened a rescue station and a pet hospital. Some wives advised her, "The Ruan family is very powerful, and the Zhao family is even richer than a country. You can just lie down and enjoy life. Why make yourself work so hard?"

"Exactly, Mr. Zhao loves you so much, why do you still have to go out and earn money yourself?"

Ruan Fu explained with a smile, "This is my own business, and I want to do something I'm interested in."

She enjoys interacting with small animals. She's studied for so many years and learned so many skills, not to just stay at home and enjoy a life of leisure.

If you can't do anything earth-shattering, then do the little things around you well.

For example, ensuring every stray animal has a home, and providing excellent service to each of her clients, offering the most professional care for their pets.

"Oh dear, don't work too hard. If you get too tired, Mr. Zhao will definitely feel sorry for you."

Those present were on good terms with Ruan Fu and had a close relationship with her, so they joked around in a relaxed tone.

"Mr. Zhao's reputation for loving his wife has spread far and wide. He even carried Miss Ruan to leave early when she had a few blisters on her feet. If she were really exhausted, he would be heartbroken."

What happened at the party last night is already common knowledge, and everyone is praising Zhao Jingnian for cherishing his wife.

Ruan Fu's ears turned slightly red; she felt a little embarrassed by being teased by so many people.

He was just throwing a little tantrum at Zhao Jingnian, yet it caused such a big commotion.

"Sisters, please don't laugh at me, you're making me blush."

"We're not laughing at you; we're just envious of you."

"That's right, that's right. Anyway, my husband isn't as good at taking care of people as Mr. Zhao, and I'm not as lucky as Miss Ruan."

The ladies looked at each other with kind eyes, without a trace of mockery or criticism. They genuinely regarded last night's party as a wonderful story.

The socialites and ladies she invited today were very supportive, and one after another they signed up for lifetime memberships.

After finishing their business, Ruan Fu chatted with them while playing mahjong.

"Isn't it said that Mr. Zhao is aloof, cold, and unapproachable? I've never seen him so tender and affectionate towards any woman in all these years."

"Oh my, other women aren't his wife, why is he being so affectionate with them?"

The group chatted more and more enthusiastically, and Ruan Fu's lips were always turned up in a smile.

It turns out that Zhao Jingnian's kindness towards her was not only something she could feel, but also something that bystanders could sense.

"So, Mr. Zhao isn't incapable of caring for people; he just hasn't met someone he truly wants to care for."

The elegant lady sitting next to Ruan Fu nudged her with her elbow, asking with a playful look, "Miss Ruan, guess who Mr. Zhao wants to pamper?"

-

(Princess princesses, please give me some encouragement to update! If you think this book is good, please give this old servant a five-star review. Only when I see a review can I update like an ox plowing the fields! Thank you all for your hard work!)