Substitute Bride's Husband Is An Invisible Rich Man Chapter 1 - Wedding Night

Having exited the aging minivan with difficulty, Mo Yan clutched the hem of her wedding dress, carefully navigating around the puddles dotting the ground.

The rain was relentless, and as the minivan accelerated away, a substantial amount of mud was flung, splattering across her gown.

With a sigh, Mo Yan proceeded slowly towards the rundown brick dwelling that stood before her.

The entrance to the brick house remained unsecured. The moment Mo Yan pushed the door inward, the interior became fully visible: an aged wooden bed, a table with a singular, sturdy leg, two simple wooden chairs, a dark crimson lacquered cabinet, and a small, partitioned area.

Resigned to her circumstances, Mo Yan made her way to the side of the bed and sat. The jarring journey had left her utterly drained. Adorned in a heavy wedding dress, now saturated with rainwater, she felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Having been compelled by her stepmother to substitute for her stepsister in a marriage to a penniless man, the grim conditions of her new abode did not come as a surprise.

Her stepmother had promised a sum of money upon the completion of the marriage. This financial aid was crucial for her mother's medical treatment and for her younger brother's continued education. The prospect of providing for her family imbued her existence with purpose.

Anxiously, she waited as daylight faded. Finally, amid a dramatic display of lightning and thunder, a man, drenched from the downpour, pushed the door open and entered. The weathered wooden door protested with a low, ominous creak.

Raindrops traced paths down the man's distinctively furrowed brows. Mo Yan found herself slightly taken aback when she observed her husband, whom she expected to be destitute, possessing such chiseled features – a straight nose and a perfectly formed, strong facial structure – which left her feeling somewhat perplexed.

The man's gaze briefly swept over Mo Yan, seated on the bed in her wedding attire. He then proceeded into the small adjoining cubicle, and the distinct sound of running water soon followed.

As the man emerged from his shower, toweling his hair, the stark reality of her wedding night truly dawned on Mo Yan; she was indeed going to share this night with the unfamiliar man before her.

"It's gotten late. You should sleep now," the man stated, his voice a deep, resonant baritone as he moved to the opposite side of the bed and sat down.

Mo Yan's heart hammered against her ribs. Feeling the slight vibration of the wooden bed as the man settled down, she couldn't help but tremble.

"I... I'm going to take a shower now, too," Mo Yan stammered, avoiding his gaze. She rose somewhat fearfully and hurried towards the small alcove. Just as she was about to close the partition, she realized with dismay that this rudimentary enclosure lacked a door, offering no privacy whatsoever.

As Mo Yan's panic intensified, the man outside seemed to sense her unease. He spoke in a low tone, "I'm stepping out for a smoke. Take your time with your shower; there's no need to rush."

With that, the man strode out, firmly closing the main wooden door behind him.

Mo Yan's eyes welled up, a profound sadness washing over her. Despite the hardships she had faced throughout her life, she had never experienced a level of poverty as acute as this. Surveying the rudimentary shower and squat toilet within the cubicle, she could only retreat to a corner. With considerable effort, she began to carefully remove her sodden wedding dress.

Upon completing her shower, she discovered a distinct lack of any spare clothing within the confined space. Mo Yan then wrapped a towel around herself and cautiously emerged.

She surveyed the humble dwelling, deciding to tidy the room before the man's return. From the cabinet, she retrieved a blanket and meticulously spread it across the bed.

Having attended to these tasks, Mo Yan let out a breath of relief. Crossing her arms, she sat beside the bed, awaiting the man's reappearance.

There was no provision for hot water; her recent shower had been conducted with cold water. The enveloping silence sent a shiver through her entire body, causing her to tremble involuntarily.

"Hu... Hu..." Mo Yan breathed into her palms, attempting to generate some warmth.

Just as she was vigorously rubbing her hands together for warmth, the wooden door creaked open. Mo Yan instinctively started to rise, and in that movement, the towel securing her chest slipped down. Startled, she frantically attempted to pull the blanket over herself to regain coverage.

However, the alluring curve of her chest had been momentarily exposed, her face flushing with a delicate blush. The man's eyes seemed to momentarily lose focus as he walked towards her.

After Mo Yan hastily covered herself with the blanket, the man stood before her. A vast shadow fell over her. Her senses were met with the subtle, pleasant scent of the soap the man had used.

"Let's sleep," the man's voice dropped, becoming slightly hoarse. He extended a long arm and extinguished the light with a click, plunging the room into immediate darkness.

Instantly thereafter, his large hand gently caressed her shoulder, and the warmth of his chest pressed against her. Mo Yan found herself being gently lowered onto the bed by the man's body. The moment her skin made contact with the cool mattress, she instinctively pressed closer to his comforting warmth.