Ground Rules

-Tian Residence-

Shen Wen showed Susu to her and Tian Yuo's newlyweds room. The room was decorated to Susu's liking. The walls were light lavender and the bed had rose petals sprinkled on top. The design of the room was similar to what she had in her apartment. Shen Wen prepared all this to make sure that Susu would adapt to the new environment better.

"Susu, mother bought a dress for you. I think you would look extremely beautiful wearing it to tonight's family dinner." Shen Wen smiled and exited the room.

Susu could finally relax after Shen Wen left the room. She walked towards the closet and touched the semi casual dress. The length of the dress was slightly above her knees and the V cut was not deep, so it was acceptable.

She quickly changed into the dress and walked downstairs for dinner. At the dining table, she could see that everyone was already settled and waiting for her arrival.

"I'm sorry I took so long." She apologized immediately.

Grandma Tian smiled and patted her hands, "Dear, sit down. We're family. No need to apologize to us. In fact, we just sat down a minute ago." Since young, Grandma Tian had always loved Susu. Now that Susu was her granddaughter-in-law, how could she not dote on her even more?

Grandpa Tian had long been famous for doting on his wife. Recent years, her health had been deteriorating and he would try his best to fulfill her desires. Basically, in the Tian household, the wives were the ones who decide the final say in everything. Husbands were decorative vases for outsiders to see.

During dinner, Tian Yuo continuously drank alcohol nonstop as if he was trying to get himself drunk to forget about his wedding night. Guo Min took away all the alcohol and didn't allow any alcohol drinks on the table for the night.

Tian Yuo wanted to ditch dinner, but couldn't because when he signed the contract with his mother, one of the conditions listed was to be present during the wedding night. After his drinks were taken away, his mood became even grumpier than before. Once in a while he would stare intensely at Susu with hatred in his eyes. If his eyes could operate like a fire machine, then electric lasers would've carved millions of holes on her body already.

Susu maintained the faint smile that she has put on since the afternoon and finished dinner in peace. After dinner came the most difficult part of the night; sleepingin the same room with Tian Yuo. When she entered the room, he already had his arms folded, waiting for her.

"I suppose that you wouldn't be standing in the middle of the room to wait for your food to digest, right?" She was the first to break the silence. Her eyes stared blankly at his eyes without any traces of emotion.

"Don't act smart with words. I despise women like you who say one thing and do the opposite. Didn't you say you didn't want to become my wife? And wala! Wow! Not even a week later, what are we now? Married! I'm setting the damn ground rules here since this house belongs to the Tian family." he scoffed while eyeing her up and down.

"Okay. Speak." She literally felt it was a waste of time listening to his nonsense.

"Since you married me, as my wife, you are supposed to do what wives are great at. Cooking, cleaning the house and every chore there is. Starting tomorrow that will be your daily tasks."

"Fine with me. Even if you don't mention this, I would've done it anyways. I'm correcting you on one point, though, I married you, not because I want to be related to you in any way. You are free to date or love whoever you wish. I did this for myself and my mother. Anyways, continue."

"Since you loved me so deeply and even drugged me to sleep with me, I'm going to make your life a torture. I won't touch even a strand of your hair during this marriage. You are also not allowed to work because our family runs by traditions. Women stay at home while men go out to work. Also, don't expect to spend a single penny from the Tian family. Make sure to spit the money you used back out since we aren't charity."

"We've dwelled on the same drug incident for so long that I'm not even going to bother saying anything anymore about it. You can continue grudging over it, but that is on you. I will quit my work at Chen Mu's company and try my best to take care of your grandparents and parents. I won't use a cent from your family, so don't worry. I've earned my own money since I was fourteen. Never have I ever asked my family for a cent since then."

Her straightforward answer somewhat hurt his ego because he had always depended on his family and only thought of opening his own company using his family's money. She continued speaking, "Also, even if you want to touch me, I wouldn't allow you to. I don't want you to touch me, so this is a mutual point of view since we are disgusted by each other's touch."

He almost spat out blood when she said that because he thought the ground rules that he set would make her angry at the minimum. Not only was she unaffected, she was headstrong for it too.

"You also can't sleep on the bed or the couch. You can sleep on the floor. I'll be nice enough to spare you a thin blanket." He almost laughed when he thought of her expression.

"Okay. I won't sleep on the bed or couch since it belongs to the Tian family. I'll buy my own portable bed and make sure tat it won't get in your way. Anything else?" She was totally agreeing to every word that he had said and made it so that everything would work her way.

'Did she really love me? Why the hell are her reactions, so cold and undisturbed?? Was I not hurtful enough?'

"If there is nothing else, then I will wash up, grab a thin blanket for the night, and sleep." Her voice sounded indifferent, and eyes showed no signs of emotions. For some reason, he felt terrified deep inside when he saw her reaction. It was unsettling for him to see how calm and cold she was to him. It was very different from the past her, who would follow him around and smile to his each wants and need.