Shang Ruyi stood in the center of the room, hearing the footsteps from behind, step by step, slowly approaching her.
She suddenly felt her heart start to race.
The footsteps were getting closer and closer. She could even feel a dangerous and charming aura approaching from behind, yet she had no desire to escape, just stood quietly, motionless.
Until Yu Wenye stood before her.
The tall figure loomed before her, casting a deep shadow, enveloping her entirely, just like when they first met. She felt him looking down at her, even though Shang Ruyi had a fan covering her face, she couldn’t help but blush.
At this moment, he reached out, covering the back of her hand with his.
At that moment, Shang Ruyi’s heart was beating as if it wasn’t her own.
From the initial amazement when she first saw this handsome young man, to the moment he single-handedly, like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, rescued her from bandits, to the joy when she saw the coaxing makeup poem, although it was just a matter of days, it seemed like countless small streams flowed slowly and gathered into a tide, surging in her chest.
Shang Ruyi suddenly felt that maybe this marriage didn’t have to be just a forced decision.
Maybe she could be more genuine, more heartfelt.
Thinking this, she raised her head from behind the fan, looking at Yu Wenye with bright eyes.
"I have something to say to you."
They both spoke at once, were stunned for a moment, then Shang Ruyi promptly said, "You go first."
Yu Wenye glanced at her, pressed slightly on her hand with his hand, "Aren’t you tired of holding this fan up?"
Shang Ruyi blushed slightly, "It’s a matter of propriety."
Yu Wenye said, "What I mean is, knowing that this marriage is just for show, aren’t you tired of holding it up?"
Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly paused.
She opened her mouth, her voice a bit dry, "Are you saying—"
Yu Wenye’s eyes were indifferent, calmly looking at her, "Since we both know the meaning of this marriage, some unnecessary things can be spared."
This sentence was like a bucket of cold water pouring over her head.
The warmth in her chest instantly chilled.
Shang Ruyi slowly lowered her hands, looking at Yu Wenye’s stern face, unable to speak for a moment, while Yu Wenye continued calmly, "I know you have something to seek."
"I can also tell, you won’t tell anyone what it is you seek."
"But none of that matters, what matters is — although this marriage isn’t what either of us wants, clearly, we both need this marriage. So, starting today, we can pretend to be a couple in front of everyone, and in doing so, you can obtain what you seek."
Shang Ruyi opened her mouth, tried several times, and finally squeezed her voice from her throat, "You mean, this marriage is a — transaction."
"This has been your plan all long."
Yu Wenye slightly raised an eyebrow, "What else?"
His expression was so candid that Shang Ruyi’s surprise at the moment seemed almost laughable.
Indeed, when he was leaving the Shen Mansion, their conversation had already made everything clear, evidently, he had planned it all from that time.
After an unknown amount of time, Shang Ruyi finally spoke, instinctively maintaining her composure, "Alright."
A cold transaction isn’t bad either.
At least, compared to putting in real feelings which might lead to heartache, a mere transaction wouldn’t cause any trouble.
Seeing Shang Ruyi’s expression so calm it was almost numb, Yu Wenye felt relieved: he wasn’t wrong, she wasn’t a woman who would crumble at the slightest setback or make a fuss over trifles.
Her calmness even surprised him a bit.
At this moment, Shang Ruyi lifted her head to look into his eyes, "And you?"