Do you remember the instance when you went to a supermarket with a list of ingredients but came out of that place with more than what was listed on your list?
Or when you go for window shopping and end up buying something?
Whatâs that word again? Ah, Impulse buying. Thatâs it.
You get sales talked by someone and after a couple of exchanges with them, you end with having one box of mandu that wasnât on your list.
Or that luxury bag Xiu Mei was just simply admiring from the glass window but somehow she was suddenly holding a paper bag of that same brand?
Xiu Mei felt that this scene seems quite familiar.
A momentarily lapse in judgment and then voila! You get to see half of your three monthâs salary, totally gone.
But right now, Xiu Mei knew that it wasnât just her three monthâs worth of salary gone. She felt like the rest of her life are being stolen away, including her civil status as a single person.
She almost crushed the black fountain pen on her hand as the words âMarriage Applicationâ fiercely glared at her face.
Her inner thoughts crashed and failed to function the moment she realized what she had just signed on.
.....What theâ Did she just reallyâ oh my god.
"Well done, my Queen."
Lu Chen, on the other hand, didnât let Xiu Mei gather her thoughts at all. He quickly grabbed the folder with the signed paper inside and placed it farther away from Xiu Meiâs reach. He knew very well how sheâd react once she realizes whatâs going on.
This paper will be made into shreds in such a short time.
"Lu Chen." Xiu Mei spoke Lu Chenâs name without any salutation this time. Her previous mood changed into a serious expression.
He realized the anger from Xiu Meiâs eyes that glared icily at him. Her eyes felt like sharp knives that would stab him anytime soon if he makes one wrong move. Even though Lu Chen has been in the receiving end of this glare multiple times before, he knew that this time it was the fiercest glare Xiu Mei is giving him now. And that made him panic.
"Xiu Mei, listen to meâ" He opened his mouth to attempt to explain himself but Xiu Mei cuts him off.
"Did you think my previous words were just empty words?"
"Let me justâ"
"Mr. Lu, do you love me?"
"..."
Lu Chen was suddenly caught off guard by the sudden question. He didnât reply but his gaze lingered on Xiu Mei then he moved it to the little kid beside her.
Xiu Mei noticed his actions and paused at Lu Qiangâs sleeping figure beside her. She understood Lu Chenâs reply even without the words.
Because itâs what Lu Chen originally presented to her when he proposed to her to marry him. And it seems, itâs still the same reason. Xiu Mei felt a slight pang of hurt in her heart as she thought of this.
She shut her eyes and took a breath, counting slowly in her head as she tried to calm herself down. Her emotions are in a mess and if she hadnât stopped herself from holding back awhile ago, she wouldâve exploded in anger and screamed at Lu Chen.
"Mr. Lu, can you please stop playing around and give that back to me? Itâs best if you donât continue your plan with it." Xiu Mei calmly uttered those words as she stretched out her hand with her palm open. She looked at Lu Chen so calmly yet hidden underneath her eyes are the strong waves of rage she was trying to control.
"Xiu Mei, listen to me first."
"Why should I? You didnât listen to me at all too."
"This is to protect you."
"From what? From the women who are constantly cursing me out every time they see me with you? You just did a great job. With my new title based on that paper, they will keep away women from cursing me out but I can already imagine the number of them trying to pour dirty water to me soon."
"..."
"..."
"...not them."
"..."
"Itâs to protect you from the people who attempted to kidnap you."
"So it isnât the Ying family huh." Xiu Mei somehow deduced from his words the current situation of Lu Chenâs investigation. Since she hasnât heard any news related to the Ying family, she thought that her second brotherâs investigation didnât relate it to that family at all.
"But how is marrying you related to my protection from the true culprits?" Xiu Mei crossed her hands as she tried to listen to Lu Chenâs explanation but kept her fierce glare at him.
"Because if they know youâre under my protection, not many people would dare to touch you at all."
Xiu Mei thought of Lu Chenâs influence in the circle and she agrees that Lu Chenâs name does make people fear when they hear it. He is a monster who worked his way from the ground and crushed a lot of his enemies to get where he is right now. Even people from her social circle respect Lu Chen too.
"But people know Iâm from the Xiu family. Yet they still dared to kidnap me. No offense but how does being tied to you protect me?"