The Contracted Son-in-law

Chapter Six

After Ryan was dropped off at his home, Jane reminded him that she would be picking him up the next day to go to the courthouse and register their marriage. It was all about keeping up appearances and making sure no one suspected anything.

As he stepped inside his small, cramped room, he could not stop thinking about the whirlwind of events that had unfolded that day, especially that moment on the bridge with her. The idea of marrying someone he had just met was still ridiculous to his ears.

He let out a dry laugh. "If someone had told me this would happen, I would have said they were out of their mind."

But despite the absurdity, he could not shake the memory of her determined gaze. Whatever her reasons were, she was set on this, and he found himself committed to helping her achieve whatever goal she had in mind in the space of three years—the length of their marriage.

Still lost in thought, his mind drifted to Mr. Lee. He remembered that Mr. Lee had told him earlier that he would not be at the market the next day because he needed some rest.

Ryan had planned to visit him the next day, but now he decided to go that night instead since he would not be available the next day.

Mr. Lee's house was in an old part of town, filled with southern charm. The area was well-known, mostly home to the city's working-class residents.

Jenna, Mr. Lee's first child out of three and only daughter, warmly greeted and ushered him in after he had knocked on the gate to the house.

"Is everything okay?" She asked him as they walked inside the house.

“Dad didn’t mention you were coming over. Isn’t it too late? And dangerous to walk all the way here from your place?” she asked, concern in her voice.

She turned to face him, crossing her arms, her eyes filled with worry.

He chuckled, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Well, here I am."

"Don’t you know people get robbed around here late at night? What if something bad had happened to you?"

"But it didn’t. Let’s just go inside," he replied with a smirk.

He knew the risks of being out so late in this neighborhood. After all, he had lived here during his first year of his new life, which was how he got to know and get acquainted with Mr. Lee and his family in the first place.

As they walked towards the house, he threw out a playful question. "By the way, are you seeing someone already?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

"Do you want to match me with someone as handsome as you are?"

He chuckled. "Maybe I should give it some thought. The little kid from yesterday has grown into a beautiful woman, and she deserves a romantic life."

Her cheeks flushed red.

He noticed right away and teased her. "Oh, you are blushing!"

"I am not!" she lied, trying to hide it.

Before she could respond further, Mr. Lee called from inside, asking why she had not come in yet and who was at the gate.

"We better get inside before your dad thinks it was your boyfriend who knocked on the gate," Ryan said, and they headed inside.

When they walked inside, Mr. Lee and his two sons, Elijah and Klaus, were surprised to see Ryan.

The family was seated on the floor around a table in the living room, sharing a big and traditional meal consisting of roasted duck, steamed buns, stir-fried vegetables, and hot soup—something that took Ryan by surprise.

"What happened?" Mr. Lee asked Ryan.

"That’s exactly what I asked him," Jenna chimed in.

"Why the sudden visit after weeks of not coming by?"

He chuckled. "So, does that mean you missed me?"

She quickly denied it, but he could tell she was lying. Her brothers, on the other hand, admitted they did miss him.

He then apologised for staying away so long and promised to make it up to them.

"Is there some kind of celebration going on?" he asked, noticing how lively everyone was, especially with the feast they were enjoying.

He took a seat at the table, though he hesitated at first when Jenna started serving him.

"Guess what?" Jenna asked as she returned to her meal.

"Just tell me," he replied with a smile.

Mr. Lee then shared the big news: Jenna had secured a job as an English teacher at Zhonghai middle school.

It was the best middle school in the city.

"Wow! That is a good news," Ryan was happy for the family because it was a great news and feat for them.

Since Mr. Lee’s wife had left the family due to their poverty, they had been surviving on whatever little they could scrape together.

He congratulated Jenna on her new job and encouraged her brothers, who were both on scholarships at their schools, to follow in her footsteps.

"You are the ones who can lift this family up," he told them.

"Don’t let poverty be an excuse for not succeeding."

After everyone finished eating and celebrating Jenna’s achievement, he handed Mr. Lee the pain relief medicine he had picked up for him on the way.

"My plan was to come by tomorrow, but something unexpected came up that will take up my time tomorrow. I won’t be going to the market either."

"What happened?" Mr. Lee asked curiously.

"You haven’t missed a single day at the market in four years, except on Sundays."

Ryan reassured him that it was not anything serious.

Mr. Lee then thanked him for always helping out and supporting his family, despite knowing that Ryan was also struggling with his own financial struggles.

They shared a light-hearted conversation afterwards.

He played a game of chess with Mr. Lee, even though neither of them was particularly skilled.

While they played, they talked about Ryan's arrest.

However, Ryan lied, telling the old man that he was released because they realised he was innocent.

After the game, Ryan said goodnight to the family, promising to visit more often as Jenna walked him out.