Fearing 'Punctuality' (Rule No. 1), Anya had practically sprinted back to the mansion. It was 7:25 PM as Anya stepped over the threshold of the house. She quickly wrapped up her household chores and began the dinner preparations in the kitchen. Amidst the silence and calm, Zain's sudden presence altered the very air of the room.
Zain held a golden bag in his hand. He looked directly into Anya's eyes and, thrusting the bag toward her, commanded, "Get ready."
Anya was slightly taken clean aback, "But I was just about to leave..."
"Go, quickly," Zain interrupted, his voice dropping a heavy command. "I have hand-picked these clothes for you. Wear this today."
The Preparation and The Dream
When Anya opened the bag, her eyes went wide with shock. Inside was a priceless long top paired with an elegant long waistcoat. The shimmer of the fabric and its "brand" spoke volumes of its exorbitant price.
Inside the room, Anya donned the attire. Standing before the mirror, she brushed her silk-like hair that reached her shoulders. She looked like nothing less than a princess. But suddenly, a mischievous thought danced into her mind.
'If Zain is this stern, how terrifying must his mother be?' she wondered.
Her mind began racing like a scene from a Chinese or Korean drama. She envisioned an imposing 'Mother-in-law' sitting before her, tossing a blank check and saying: "Take this 1 Crore Rupees and get out of my son's life!"
Anya's Diabolical Smirk
Standing before the mirror, Anya began 'acting' out the scene. There was a playful yet devilish glint on her face.
"Ma'am, please increase the price a bit more," she spoke to the air with a suppressed giggle. "Keep your son to yourself! I'm off to Korea!"
She took a deep breath, her eyes shimmering with dreams of becoming wealthy.
"I'll leave China for Lu Wei and open a new café in Korea. I'll marry someone handsome there and live a life of absolute luxury!"
She became so lost in her imaginary world that her wicked laughter began to echo throughout the room. She was laughing heartily at the prospect of being rich, completely forgetting that Zain was waiting outside.
The Scene of the Atmosphere
Anya began to laugh loudly at her own conspiracy to 'become rich.' She sat on the bed, pretending to count imaginary notes, a greedy sparkle in her eyes.
Without knocking, Zain pushed the door open. His intention was merely to see if Anya was ready, but the sight before him made his steps falter.
Anya, who moments ago was playing with imaginary millions, was throwing her head back and laughing like a madwoman. The 'diabolical' glint and the obsession with wealth were clearly visible on her face.
Zain's cold, deep gaze fell upon her. The air in the room instantly grew heavy. The moment Anya sensed his presence, her laughter choked in her throat. She shifted her demeanor in an instant, behaving as if nothing had happened at all.
The Silent Clash
Anya quickly smoothed her disheveled hair with her fingers and picked up her glasses from the table to put them on. A mask of innocence and 'seriousness' now covered her face, but the frantic pace of her heartbeat betrayed that she had been caught.
Averting her gaze, she asked softly, "I... I'm ready. When will your Mom and Dad arrive?"
Zain didn't avert his gaze from her face for even a second. His face was flat, but there was a question mark in his eyes—as if he were trying to decipher Anya's bizarre behavior. He thrust his hands into his pockets and took a step forward.
"They have already left," Zain replied in a calculated tone. There was a warmth in his voice that was making Anya incredibly restless.
The Allure of the Scene: Anya's eyes held the fear of 'being caught red-handed,' while Zain's eyes scanned her every move.
A strange silence had blanketed the room, exactly like a scene from a Chinese Novel where the male lead catches the female lead's mischief but chooses not to express it.
Movement: Anya's flustered act of putting on her glasses and Zain standing motionless at the door created an intense tension.
Zain didn't ask her anything, but his one deep breath signaled that he had heard Anya's 'wicked laughter.' Anya simply lowered her head, wondering what would happen next.
The Family Encounter
The heavy, intricately carved door of the mansion swung open, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. Anya still had that 'cat-like' cunning smile on her face, and as she smiled, a deep dimple appeared on her left cheek, enhancing her innocence and beauty tenfold.
Anya was still dreaming of 'checks' and 'becoming rich' when Fengning came running like a gust of wind and threw her arms around Anya.
"Sister-in-law! I knew my brother would ultimately choose you!" Fengning's voice was a chaotic mix of joy and cunning. She gripped Anya so tightly that Anya's breath hitched. "Now our relationship is 'double.' I am your sister-in-law, you are my Bhabhi... and now no one can keep Lu Wei away from me! He's practically family now!"
Anya's eyes went wide. She thought Fengning would humiliate her, but here she was, becoming Anya's 'fan' just to get closer to Lu Wei.
The Scene: The Stern Gaze of the Yan Family
Just then, the sound of two pairs of stern shoes and heels echoed in the hallway. Zain's mother, Madam Xuyana, and his father, Zhenyu, stepped forward with their regal gait.
Madam Xuyana's eyes scanned Anya from head to toe like an X-ray machine. Her face was as stiff as a stone, reminiscent of a 'cruel mother-in-law' from an old Chinese drama.
Only one word echoed in Anya's mind— "Check... check... now comes the check!" She was waiting for Xuyana to shove her out so she could activate her 'Korea Plan.'
Then Xuyana fixed her icy gaze on Zain and then looked at Anya. The stern expressions on her face suddenly melted away.
Xuyana: (In a sweet and surprised voice) "Zain... my son! Where did you find such an innocent and lovely daughter-in-law? There is so much simplicity in her eyes!"
It was as if someone had poured cold water over Anya's aspirations. She was so shocked that she blurted out loudly:
"What?!"
The Banquet of Lies
The silence in that grand hall of the mansion was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Anya's "What?!" echoed so loudly that the old paintings on the walls seemed to shiver.
Zain, who had always seen his mother as stern and ruthless, froze in his tracks. Fengning was still hugging Anya, but her mouth, too, hung wide open. The "icy coldness" in Xuyana's eyes had now transformed into a motherly "lake" of affection.
The Scene of Shock
Anya realized her mistake. She quickly covered her mouth with both hands. Her pupils were darting back and forth.
'No, no, no! This isn't going according to the script!' she screamed internally. 'They were supposed to slap me, humiliate me! Where did this love come from?'
Zain cast a sideways glance at Anya. One of his eyebrows was raised, as if asking— 'What is this madness?'
Anya tried to handle the situation. She took a deep breath, nudged her glasses a bit higher on her nose, and donned a fake, shy smile to hide the mischievous dimple forming on her cheek.
The New Tactic: 'Mom'
Xuyana and Zhenyu were still stunned by Anya's loud outburst. Seeing the mood sour, Anya immediately switched to 'Actress Mode.' She slowly lowered her lashes and folded her hands with great grace.
"Mom..." Anya's voice was now as soft as cotton, "I meant... am... am I really that fortunate that such a beautiful and graceful lady is praising me? I thought perhaps I wasn't worthy of your standards..."
She tried to bring a bit of moisture to her eyes—just like an innocent heroine from a C-Drama.
Zain's father, Zhenyu, who had been silent until then, had a faint smile appear on his face. He placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Xuyana is right, Zain. This girl's simplicity is her greatest beauty."
Anya's Broken 'Millionaire' Dream
The smile on Anya's face hid a heart that was weeping.
'There goes my 1 Crore check! There goes my Korean café! These people are hell-bent on making me the daughter-in-law of the house!'
Fengning squeezed Anya's arm hard and whispered, "Bhabhi, your acting is Oscar-level! You melted Mom in a single second. Now Lu Wei will be mine!"
Anya looked at Fengning and gave a 'diabolical' smile that only the two of them could understand. Even if the check was gone, Anya was now going to rule this mansion.
The Play of Emotions
Xuyana and Zhenyu: Their eyes held a strange peace for Anya, putting a seal of approval on Zain's choice.
Zain: He stood still, but his eyes were deciphering Anya's every move. He realized this 'innocence' was merely a mask.
Anya: Her face reflected the 'ideal daughter-in-law,' but in her mind, a chaotic stew of 'Korean dramas' and 'get-rich-quick schemes' was still brewing.