Volume One, Chapter Nine: Raising a Ruckus at the Matchmaking Event

Shang Rongyuan lifted his head, his gaze lingering for a moment on the hands clasped together, and his expression darkened instantly. His brows knitted tightly, eyes blazing with barely contained fury.

“You brought a ‘spouse’ with you. That won’t be a problem, will it?” Bian Xunzhou’s tone was light, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

Shang Rongyuan’s fingers drummed against the table, the tempo quickening, as if holding back his wrath. His voice was low. “Do you even know what kind of occasion this is?”

Bian Xunzhou shrugged, still smiling. “Of course. It’s a matchmaking meeting, isn’t it? But since you’ve called me here again, isn’t that a little inappropriate? After all, you’re already thinking of a third marriage. Wouldn’t my presence just spoil things for you?”

Shang Rongyuan nearly choked on his own breath, his gaze as sharp as a blade stabbing at his son. His tone rose abruptly, imbued with undeniable authority. “This is utter nonsense! What spouse? How come I never heard about this? You spend every day looking for ways to provoke me, and now you bring some irrelevant person here to make a scene!”

“She’s not irrelevant. She’s my wife.” As he spoke, Bian Xunzhou retrieved two red booklets from his pocket and tossed them onto the table.

The words “Marriage Certificate” seemed to sting everyone present.

“Xunzhou, this isn’t something to joke about,” Chen Lirong managed after a stunned pause, hastily trying to smooth things over.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Bian Xunzhou glanced at her coolly, not even granting her a proper look.

Bai Pingling’s face had already turned ghostly pale. She dropped her head, fingers clutching the hem of her dress tightly. Spouse? When had Bian Xunzhou gotten married?

But Bian Xunzhou seemed unfazed by Shang Rongyuan’s anger. His tone was casual, almost indifferent. “Feelings can’t be forced. I brought her here today to tell you that I’ve made my own choice.”

Shang Rongyuan’s face turned ashen, veins bulging at his temple, his words squeezed from between clenched teeth. “You’re testing my limits! Who do you think you are? No matter what, I am your father!”

“Are you worthy of that title?” Bian Xunzhou’s expression hardened in an instant, and the atmosphere grew tenser.

Wen Xuyu sat quietly at his side, her chest tight. She could sense Bian Xunzhou’s anger, like magma threatening to erupt and destroy everything in its path. What was wrong with him? Was his relationship with his family as hollow as her own?

His grip on her fingers was painfully tight, and Wen Xuyu thought he might break them. She hurriedly placed her other hand over his, soothing him as if calming a frightened kitten.

Bian Xunzhou noticed and, meeting her gaze, felt the fire within him subside considerably.

Wen Xuyu quietly let out a breath.

The next moment, Bian Xunzhou stood, taking her with him, leaving only a cold parting remark behind.

“I hate being forced to do anything more than anything else.”

*

The private room fell silent as a tomb.

Bai Zhiren’s face was grim, Sun Man’s brow tightly furrowed, Bai Pingling’s head bowed, her slender nails digging into her own skin.

“Pingling, let’s go.” Sun Man’s face was drawn as she pulled her daughter to leave.

Sensing things had gone awry, Chen Lirong hurried to mediate. “President Bai, Madam Bai, let’s talk this through. I’m sure there must be some misunderstanding here.”

“President Shang,” Bai Zhiren said, holding back his dissatisfaction, “Our Bai family is a respected one. What you have done today is nothing short of trampling our dignity underfoot. Is this how you treat our daughter?”

“President Bai, please calm down. This was our fault today.” Shang Rongyuan steadied his breath, lowering his stance. “Let’s arrange another meeting. I promise you’ll get an explanation.”

“Hmph!” With a cold face, Bai Zhiren left with his wife and daughter.

…

Inside the Maybach.

Wen Xuyu stared dazedly at the two marriage certificates in her hands. How had she ended up married to Bian Xunzhou?

Time rewound to an hour earlier.

The car came to a steady stop in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re here to get married,” Bian Xunzhou replied, his gaze intense, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

Married? Wen Xuyu’s eyes widened. She had no intention of spending her life with a man like this. She shook her head in immediate refusal.

“Come on, let’s go inside,” Bian Xunzhou said in a low, commanding voice that brooked no argument.

“Why?” Wen Xuyu looked up at him, puzzled. “Is marriage really necessary?”

He frowned slightly, his gaze turning cold, a trace of impatience in his tone. “I just don’t want any unexpected situations or random experiences.”

After careful thought, he deemed this the only solution.

“Here.” He produced a document from somewhere—across the top, bold words read: “Contractual Marriage Agreement.”

“Take a good look and raise any objections you have,” he said.

Wen Xuyu hesitated, then opened the document. It read:

Party A: Bian Xunzhou
Party B: Wen Xuyu

1. This marriage is contractual in nature. The two parties are married in name only, with no genuine emotional involvement.
2. During the term of the agreement, both parties must maintain the appearance of marriage to outsiders and may not disclose the agreement’s contents.
3. Party A will provide a villa in Xuan Shui Bay as the marital residence, and Party B must live there with him.
4. The two parties will reside in separate rooms and not interfere in each other’s private lives.
5. Both must attend family and business occasions together, playing the role of a loving couple.
6. Neither party may develop intimate relationships with others during the duration of the agreement.
7. Upon divorce, Party A will provide appropriate compensation to Party B.

*

After reading, Wen Xuyu asked only, “For how long? When does it end?”

“When our shared perception disappears, the contract ends,” Bian Xunzhou replied coolly.

So, indefinitely? Wen Xuyu’s eyes flickered, her grip on the document tightening.

“Any objections?” Bian Xunzhou raised a brow slightly, the gemstone on his cufflink catching the light.

“Is there any room for negotiation?” she asked.

He remained silent, simply gazing at her. Saying nothing, yet saying everything.

Wen Xuyu sighed. “I have nothing to say about the agreement. But regarding the Wen family, you’ll have to give them an explanation.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it,” Bian Xunzhou replied coolly. Producing a pen, he pressed it into her palm, his slender fingers tapping the agreement.

“All you need to do now is sign.”

Knowing there was no way out, Wen Xuyu didn’t argue further. Bracing herself, she signed her name.

Without delay, they entered the Civil Affairs Bureau together—took photos, signed documents, collected their certificates, and then hurried to the hotel, which led to the farce that had just unfolded.

…

“It’s just two marriage certificates. Do you really need to stare at them that long?” As Wen Xuyu sat in a daze, Bian Xunzhou snatched the booklets from her hands.

Without a glance, he tucked them into his pocket. “I’ll keep the marriage certificates.”

Wen Xuyu could only fall silent.

“Move in today. You’ll be living with me.”

“Alright,” she replied quietly. Since the agreement was signed, she didn’t see the point in resisting further. She turned her face to the window, a strange melancholy settling in her heart.

Bian Xunzhou noticed, his dark eyes fixed on her profile.

“Still worried about the Wen and Lu families?”

Her heart skipped a beat. How could she forget? This man could sense her emotions!

Since he had offered her an out, she might as well take it.

“Yes,” she replied, turning to face him. Her luminous eyes were enough to evoke sympathy in anyone who looked at her.