Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 195: 108 Reasons

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: 108 Reasons

Marriage contracts can be of two types. The first one involves the two families hiring a matchmaker to sign the contract. Even though the marriage contract exists, the officials are not quite willing to acknowledge it. If a man wants to divorce his wife, he only needs a divorce paper. It is also referred to as a private agreement.

The second type involves both parties going to the government office to get the official marriage document. Both the groom and the bride get their own copy of it. In this case, a divorce paper loses its meaning. If they want to divorce or separate, they need to visit the government office to sign the documentation.

Most people in this world choose to hire a matchmaker for a marriage contract. Even "herself" and Shen Wenchen did the same initially, following a private agreement.

As Nanzhi looked into his eyes, she suddenly hesitated and was unable to say anything for a long time.

Following her daughter’s feelings, Lin’s mother decided to wait until they were officially registered as a household to discuss such matters.

Knowing that his in-laws all had their own businesses, Shen Wenchen bade them farewell and left.

After the adults had left, the three children were again left with Nanzhi at home.

"Mother?"

Nanzhi was lost in thought all this while, her fingers rubbing against each other till they turned red. It was only when she heard Zhiyu calling her that she came back to her senses.

"Hm? Zhiyu, what’s wrong?"

It was only when she looked towards the little ones that she noticed they were all staring at her with wide eyes, not just Shen Zhiyu, but also Lin Zihan and Lin Jian.

"Mother, don’t you like father?" Zhiyu’s tiny eyebrows were knitted together, his innocent face sporting a worried look, which was somewhat amusing.

"Why would you ask that, Zhiyu?" Nanzhi looked at her son, slightly baffled.

She had merely refrained from accepting Shen Wenchen’s "proposal" on the spot. How did that make it seem as though she didn’t like him?

"Why didn’t Mother agree then?" The little one found it strange. In his view, weren’t his father and mother supposed to be together? Why wasn’t Mother willing to marry Father?

"Mother was just a bit shy." Nanzhi laughed awkwardly. She definitely wouldn’t admit that she was suddenly a bit afraid.

Afraid that Shen Wenchen might regret it in the future.

And afraid that she herself may regret it.

"But Aunt has already had a baby with Uncle." Lin Jian remarked, pointing at Shen Zhiyu.

"The little brother is so big already. Why is Aunt still being shy?"

As soon as Lin Jian finished speaking, Lin Zihan slapped him on the forehead.

Knowing that he had spoken out of turn, Lin Jian embarrassingly closed his mouth, refraining from questioning why his brother had hit him, even though his eyes were still directed towards their aunt.

Although he wasn’t supposed to phrase it that way, it was true nonetheless.

"You guys are too young, you don’t understand." Nanzhi couldn’t exactly tell everything to these little ones, so she tried to dodge the question cheerfully.

"I’m going to be nine this year!" Lin Zihan shook his head. At almost nine, he was not a little kid anymore.

Nanzhi was choked up.

Shen Zhiyu seemed deep in thought, even when Lin Zihan and Lin Jian called him to go play, he seemed indifferent.

"What’s the matter, Zhiyu?" Lin Jian circled Shen Zhiyu, unable to comprehend why his brother was so listless.

"The little one is probably thinking about his Aunt and Uncle." Lin Zihan guessed, shaking his head.

"Don’t worry, Zhiyu. I’m sure Uncle can successfully woo Aunt." Lin Jian patted the little one’s shoulder, adding confidently.

Uncle is certainly capable!

He believed, it won’t take more than three days for Uncle to successfully woo Aunt!

While the three kids were playing in the yard, Nanzhi remained seated in the hall, lost in her thoughts.

Two sets of memories intertwined, giving her a headache.

One was from when she had just turned eighteen, and the other was from the seven years after she got married to Shen Wenchen.

She wasn’t able to distinguish which one was her real self or which part of these two lives she could actually choose for herself.

She couldn’t make a decision even after a whole day of thinking. It was late at night when a cool breeze blew, and Shen Wenchen, still in his black clothes, stood in front of Nanzhi. The sight of him somehow snapped Nanzhi out of her overthinking state.

The almost twenty-five-year-old Shen Wenchen appeared a bit more mature than he did two years ago. It was unclear whether it was due to his official duties or Nanzhi’s earlier hesitations, but he looked a bit tired.

"Nannan."

Shen Wenchen wanted to take her in his embrace and ask her why she was reluctant to agree but held back.

What if...what if Nannan didn’t like it?

"Why are you reluctant to agree to me? Please don’t reject me." As Shen Wenchen spoke, his otherwise solemn aura dissipated. Even his pleading tone felt a bit pitiful. It was reminiscent of how Zhiyu looked when he used to fawn on Nannan.

"....."

Nanzhi was dumbfounded.

Was this Shen Wenchen?

She was aware that he could be childishly naive at times, but could this person, who was now cooing like a puppy, be the big villain from the novel?

"Do you have someone else in your mind?"

As Shen Wenchen continued speaking, he felt increasingly wronged. But his words only gave Nanzhi goosebumps, making her body hair stand on end.

"No, it’s just...it all happened too quickly." Nanzhi answered truthfully, fearing that Shen Wenchen might say anything else in that tone.

"So, are you willing?"

"Hm..."

Only when he heard her soft agreement did Shen Wenchen feel as though his heart had started beating again. As he breathed a sigh of relief, he pulled something out of his pocket.

"This is the bride price, Nannan. Wait for me to return and marry you." Shen Wenchen quickly stuffed the item into her bosom and lightly kissed her forehead before hurriedly leaving.

He departed so quickly, as though he feared that Nanzhi might reject him. By the time she came to her senses, Shen Wenchen was nowhere to be seen.

The small wooden box in her bosom still held some warmth from Shen Wenchen’s body, which made Nanzhi’s face turn a bit red.

However, unlike before, the blush this time was full of anticipation.

Perhaps life was always better than expected.

She entered her room with the box. Under the dim light, Nanzhi opened the wooden box.

The box contained a stack of banknotes. The dim candlelight was enough for her to make out that they were marked for 100 taels and 50 taels.

She counted the notes in the box and was stunned; it felt as though she was dreaming.

The total amount was 1350 taels. There was also a deed for a neighboring two-compartment room that was worth around 200 taels. Additionally, there were deeds for three shops on North Street in Yan City, all in prime locations.

The bundle of deeds also included a manor and three hundred acres of land outside Yan City.

Though the tiny wooden box wasn’t heavy, Nanzhi felt a weight of a thousand pounds on her hands.

Shen Wenchen was currently at the sixth rank and though he had been made the city lord of Yan City, his appointment was only within the past year. It was unlikely that he had received any gifts by this time. So, where did these banknotes and deeds come from?

Could it be... could it be that Shen Wenchen had done some other job to earn the money?

Murder?

Arson?

Or robbery?

After giving away the gifts, Shen Wenchen’s mood noticeably lightened; even his smile was brighter.

Unbeknownst to him, his "fiancée" was currently contemplating the 108 possible reasons for his imprisonment.