Volume One, Chapter Eight: It Seems Your Bride Is About to Run Away!

Bian Xunzhou straightened up, walked over to the wheelchair, and looked down from above. “Then just wait and see,” he declared.

“You can try,” Lu Baiqian’s fingers tightened slightly as he met that arrogant gaze head-on.

Their eyes clashed in midair, as if invisible sparks were flying. The air was thick with a suffocating tension, as though a violent confrontation might erupt at any moment.

“But…” Bian Xunzhou suddenly glanced toward the wedding car, his tone mocking, “It seems your bride is about to make a run for it.”

Meanwhile—

Wen Xuyu couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed open the car door, clutching her high heels in one hand, and slipped out, crouching low to minimize attention.

She had barely taken a few steps before a powerful arm swept her up around the waist and hoisted her onto a shoulder.

“Running away again?” It was Bian Xunzhou. He lifted her effortlessly with one arm and grabbed the certificate from the passenger seat as an afterthought.

“Next time you want to escape, try to relax a bit—like last time, when you hid under the food trolley. Don’t forget, we’re linked now. I can feel everything you think.”

Her wavering thoughts were practically screaming for attention; it would have been hard for him not to notice.

He stuffed her into the back of the Maybach as if she weighed nothing. Wen Xuyu writhed and struggled. “Let me go! Put me down!”

“Bian Xunzhou.” Lu Baiqian watched coldly, his fingers unconsciously curling so tightly that the joints creaked. “Are you disregarding both the Lu and Wen families?”

At those words, Bian Xunzhou slammed the car door, cutting off Wen Xuyu’s protests. He turned, utterly unabashed. “I don’t even care about the Shang family. What do you think?”

The Maybach shot off, its tires screeching, soon disappearing from sight.

Meng Jin frowned uncertainly. “Third Young Master, what should we do now?”

Lu Baiqian’s eyes were as cold as ice. He said nothing for a long moment.

After half a minute, he finally spoke. “Let’s go.”

“That’s it? We’re just leaving?” Meng Jin couldn’t comprehend it.

Others might not know, but he had seen with his own eyes the usually aloof third master personally ask the chairman for permission to marry the Wen family’s second daughter. For the third master to go to such lengths, it must have been something incredibly important.

Lu Baiqian’s hand tightened on the wheelchair’s control. In the end, he merely closed his eyes. “She will be mine.”

Meng Jin choked back a response and could only obey.

…

The Maybach sped down the road, with Lu Zhao considerately raising the privacy partition.

Wen Xuyu pressed herself against the car door, watching Bian Xunzhou’s every move. His tie was still wrapped around her wrist.

He couldn’t help but be amused by her wary posture. “Do you remember what I told you?” he asked, his gaze sharp, an inexplicable chill emanating from him.

Of course Wen Xuyu remembered, but she dared not speak.

Fortunately, Bian Xunzhou didn’t pursue the topic.

His eyes dropped, taking in her appearance for the day. Suddenly, he reached out, lifting her chin and forcing her to look up.

She startled, instinctively grabbing his wrist—her eyes catching sight of a fresh red mark.

“Do you remember our connection?” Bian Xunzhou leaned in slowly, relishing her trapped, helpless look. “What’s wrong?”

As she half-reclined against the seat, the distance between them shrank. He suddenly smiled, dazzling and dangerous.

“So eager to marry Lu Baiqian—are you that desperate to experience your wedding night?”

His breath was warm and suggestive against her ear. Wen Xuyu’s face flushed scarlet, not from shyness but from anger.

She didn’t know where she found the courage and strength, but she broke free from his grip, wrapping her arms around herself defensively.

“What nonsense are you spouting? What do you want? Where are you taking me?”

If she truly spent her wedding night with Lu Baiqian, wouldn’t Bian Xunzhou feel it too?

Was this man insane?

He didn’t seem to mind her resistance. He straightened, pulled her closer, and untied his tie from her wrist.

In just that brief time, a faint red mark had bloomed on her skin.

“So delicate,” Bian Xunzhou muttered, his rough thumb running over the mark, his words mocking but his eyes betraying a hint of excitement.

Wen Xuyu quickly pulled her hand back. “You still haven’t answered me—where are we going?”

If he intended to lock her up again, she might as well marry Lu Baiqian. At least he didn’t seem as unpredictable as Bian Xunzhou.

“I’m taking you to see a good show.” Bian Xunzhou’s lips curled into a smile, his shirt open at the collar, revealing a sculpted throat and collarbone. His eyes, however, were devoid of warmth.

A vague sense of foreboding crept over Wen Xuyu.

“But before that, there’s somewhere we need to go.”

“Where?” Wen Xuyu’s temples throbbed.

Bian Xunzhou raised an eyebrow. “You’ll know when we get there.”

Wen Xuyu thought, Is it too late to jump out of the car now?

…

In the Jinghong Grand Hotel.

Shang Rongyuan stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor, his expression grave as he gazed downward.

His son was headstrong, but when it came to his late mother’s belongings, he cared deeply. This time, though, he feared something would go wrong.

Chen Lirong approached, slipping her arm through his, radiating understanding.

“What’s wrong? Worried that Xunzhou won’t come?”

Shang Rongyuan sighed heavily. “He’s growing more independent by the day. I doubt he even gives me a second thought as his father.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll definitely come.” Chen Lirong’s voice was gentle, though a glint of malice flashed in her eyes before quickly vanishing. “Are you confident about this alliance with the Bai family?”

“Of course. As long as the Bai family invests in this project, I’m certain we’ll be able to popularize it worldwide!” Shang Rongyuan boasted, as if already envisioning that future.

“Good.” Chen Lirong smiled, then sighed with feigned sorrow, “If only BX Group hadn’t rejected the project, we wouldn’t have had to sacrifice Xunzhou’s marriage…”

“He’s my son. It’s his duty to make sacrifices for the Shang Group!”

“All right, the Bai family should be arriving soon. Let’s go down and greet them,” Chen Lirong coaxed softly.

They took the elevator down. Five minutes later, the Bai family arrived.

“Chairman Shang, Mrs. Shang,” Mr. and Mrs. Bai Zhiren greeted them.

Bai Pingling followed closely, offering a polite greeting. “Hello, Uncle Shang. Hello, Auntie Shang.”

“Welcome, Mr. Bai, please come inside.”

They ascended together.

Bai Pingling walked at the end. Dressed in a beige gown, she exuded elegance and refinement. Her shoulder-length hair flowed freely, her features radiant—a child clearly raised with great affection.

She looked around, but did not see the person she hoped for. Disappointment was barely concealed in her eyes.

Chen Lirong, quick to notice, smiled knowingly and teased, “Who are you looking for, Pingling?”

Bai Pingling blushed instantly. “Oh, Auntie Shang, don’t tease me!”

Laughter filled the group, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

“Chairman Shang, why isn’t your son here?” Bai Zhiren asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

“He’ll be here soon—probably caught in traffic,” Shang Rongyuan replied, glossing over the matter.

They sat in the top-floor suite and chatted idly. During the conversation, Shang Rongyuan kept checking his watch. It was already nearly noon, yet the appointed person had not appeared. Could it be that his son was truly beyond his control?

Just as Shang Rongyuan was about to make a phone call, a hotel attendant arrived with guests.

But it was not just one guest—a woman accompanied him.

The moment Bian Xunzhou entered the private dining room with Wen Xuyu in tow, a palpable tension and awkwardness filled the air.

Crystal chandeliers scattered brilliant light throughout the space, illuminating the elegant table settings. Everyone present turned curious eyes on the scene.

Dissatisfaction was already evident on Mr. and Mrs. Bai Zhiren’s faces. “Chairman Shang, what is the meaning of this?”

Bai Pingling maintained her composure, but under the table, her grip on her purse was nearly crushing it.

Who was this woman, and why was Bian Xunzhou being so intimate with her?

Bian Xunzhou, holding Wen Xuyu’s hand, strode straight to the table, oblivious to the awkward expressions around him. He pulled out a chair and sat down as if nothing were amiss.

Wen Xuyu struggled discreetly, but it was in vain.