As long as I do not disturb you, you will not interfere with anything I do?

Shu Nian carefully placed the perfectly seared steaks onto the ornate silver dinnerware, the rich aroma of the meat filling the air. Nearby, Aunt Ren was meticulously arranging desserts, with plates of exquisite, colorful macarons laid out. Under the soft lighting, the two women exchanged a knowing smile, their rapport evident.

Shu Nian then softly called out to Fu Zhouye, who was sitting at the table, "Mr. Fu, would you like to try Aunt Ren’s cooking?" Her tone was warm and expectant. In truth, what Shu Nian was really hoping for was that if he declined, the entire feast would be hers to enjoy alone.

Hearing this, Fu Zhouye slowly looked up, a hint of amusement flickering in his deep eyes. He rose gracefully and walked slowly to the dining table. Before, if it had been the former Shu Nian, he would have kept his lips sealed, not uttering a single extra word; yet, the current Shu Nian gave him a different feeling. *If this woman invites me to eat, then I shall eat. After all, the steak is from my house, and Aunt Ren is my employee—everything here is mine. What’s wrong with eating what belongs to me?*

He first caught the scent in the air, then picked up his knife and fork, elegantly slicing a small piece of steak and popping it into his mouth. Even in doing something so mundane, his commanding presence was impossible to ignore. For some reason, the living room fell into a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop.

To Butler Li, his employer must have been hungry, which was why he was eating—it definitely wasn't because the Madam had asked him to. It had to be that. Compared to the butler, Aunt Ren’s shock was more pronounced, as her employer never ate dinner at home. In fact, it was more than that; he had already eaten dinner out.

Shu Nian, however, felt nothing, save for a tiny, tiny sliver of regret that she could no longer have the feast to herself. Since the staff ate two hours before the household to ensure they were free to serve, Aunt Ren didn't need to eat. She quietly retreated, a seasoned servant who knew how to read the room. Not yet understanding how her employer and the Madam had ended up married, she assumed they were in the heat of a honeymoon phase and that if she stayed, she would surely witness a private, intimate scene. As she left, she didn't forget to give Butler Li a wink, leaving the bewildered butler completely lost.

Seeing Fu Zhouye begin to eat, Shu Nian suppressed her disappointment and adjusted her mindset. She picked up her knife and fork, maintaining a subtle elegance, and cut a piece of steak. This time, however, she didn't chew slowly.

Instead, she devoured it almost ravenously, as if battling hunger or venting silently. A flash of resentment crossed her eyes; in her heart, she had already cursed Yun Yang, that scumbag, a thousand times over. Every chew was accompanied by bitterness toward the past. *If it weren't for him, how would I have ended up in this state, starving my only stomach?*

Though a storm raged within her, Shu Nian maintained a calm exterior. Her chewing quickened, yet she never lost that inherent grace. Her gaze occasionally sharpened like a blade piercing the void where Yun Yang stood, and the silent mantra of "scumbag" repeated millions of times in her mind. Every swallow felt like a lash against her past, a reminder: *It’s a good thing that jerk cheated; otherwise, how many more times would my stomach have had to go hungry in the future?*

Watching the girl eat so heartily, Butler Li felt a quiet sense of relief. She had such a beautiful, youthful face, yet her movements were endearingly clumsy, devouring the steak in large bites—a stark contrast to her usual temperament. *Ah, the change in the Madam is truly wonderful. She isn't like the cold, proud woman she used to be, who felt so unreachable. The current Madam is approachable and kind. Very good, very good.*

After a while, Shu Nian stole a few glances at Fu Zhouye, her expression wavering with hesitation. Sensing the unusual scrutiny, Fu Zhouye set down his cutlery and asked in a mild yet puzzled tone, "Shu Nian, what exactly do you want?"

Shu Nian’s hand trembled slightly, causing her silverware to clink against the plate. She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and met his gaze firmly. "I want to ask you a question. Was it true when you said that as long as I don't disturb you, you won't interfere with anything I do?"

"Yes."

Upon hearing that "yes," Shu Nian scurried toward her bedroom, giving Fu Zhouye no time to react. To him, the woman must have been seeking that promise so she could reconcile with that man, Yun Yang. *Fine, I’ll humor her for a few months. Once I’ve dealt with those old fogies, no one will care about my marital status, and we can just get a divorce.* Still, he had to admit, today's steak was exceptionally good.

Back in her room, Shu Nian was in an incredibly good mood. *Yes! Perfect!* She had long wanted to return to the entertainment industry; it wasn't just her past career, but her true dream. However, Fu Zhouye was a titan with industrial chains across every sector. If he didn't approve of her entering the industry, he could crush her like a small ant with a single finger, let alone let her make a splash.

Her phone rang. Without thinking, she answered, and a jubilant male voice came through: "A-Nian, that husband of yours is truly powerful! He restored our industrial capital chain in just a few moves."

Shu Nian’s father had initially pitied his daughter, believing she had been seduced by criminals abroad into this marriage, and had planned to find an opportunity for her to divorce and marry into a prestigious family to live a good life. But now, things seemed quite good. As long as she could bring benefits to the family, sacrificing a little was well worth the prosperity of the entire clan. After all, a girl or two could never compare to the value of a son.

Listening to her father’s cheerful tone, Shu Nian replied, "Father, I told you, my husband loves me very much. I don't need to prove how good he is to me; this alone is proof enough."

"Good, good, good! Then I wish you a beautiful marriage, a lifelong union, and happiness forever." Having originally not wanted to trade his daughter's happiness for the family's prosperity, he now reasoned that since the two were clearly in love, a little exchange wouldn't hurt.

*How quickly his face changes,* Shu Nian thought, smiling as she said, "Father, since I was born into this family, I must contribute a modest effort. These things are nothing."

Overjoyed, her father said, "If you have time, bring your husband home for a meal."

Shu Nian quickly agreed, though she felt no sense of belonging to that home. In her previous life, after the Shu family went bankrupt, her father had wanted Shu Rou to marry a pot-bellied, balding nouveau riche real estate mogul named Ding Zhen. But Shu Rou had denied their father-daughter relationship at the time, leading them to push Shu Nian into the marriage instead. Back then, she had already gained some popularity in the entertainment industry, and while Ding Zhen had agreed, she had resisted with all her might.

After hanging up, Shu Nian looked at her bank balance and felt a headache coming on. *How could I have contributed my meager savings? That was 11.0956366 billion! A full 11.0956366 billion! My hard-earned money is gone, and now only 9,563.66 is left! My living expenses are gone; I’ll have to live frugally now. Ugh, why did I offer that money? I should have let my husband handle it!*

*It looks like I need to speed up and start my own business,* she thought. *Then I won't have to rely on any man. We modern women can blaze our own trail of stardom.*