The more Qing Lan looks at the figure walking closer, the more she understands why this man is given the title of the Most Eligible Bachelor of Country C.
The man's five facial features are firm and unyielding, exuding masculinity that appeals to women of all ages. His eyebrows are thick yet not one is out of place and his gem-like eyes are sharp without a trace of doubt. The clearly defined jaw of the man is undeniably attractive.
When one speaks of a man the Heaven loves, then they must be speaking of a man like this.
Qing Lan wouldn't lie and say she is not affected by the man's god-like appearance. Who is not affected by a beauty—or in this case, a handsome man. Where Qing Lan grows up in a rural countryside, strength matters more than a good-face does. A good-face can't fill the stomach!
As such, Qing Lan snaps out of her reverie fairly quickly.
On top of that, no one is more clear than Qing Lan on how shaky her position as this man's wife is. Zhong Lie has a candidate in mind, but because of his grandparents' and parents' opposition, the woman couldn't be brought into the family. In just one night after, he is married off by his grandparents to a stranger from a countryside.
What's more, Qing Lan is actually given the illusion of having a choice regarding this marriage—illusion, because Qing Lan knows that the Zhong Elders are confident they can persuade her to their cause, whereas, Zhong Lie, realises he is now married without anyone having the decency to tell him even after the deed is done, he has to find out by himself.
It's not surprising for him to doubt her, it would be more surprising if he doesn't. The Zhong Family is one of the most influential families in Country C, and has been for numerous generations. To stay in the top for so long and to succeed the position, one must have the capabilities. And so, Qing Lan is determined not to allow Zhong Lie anymore reason to misunderstand her. If she lets his good-looks entices her, then this husband of hers might take a leap in the wrong directions.
Zhong Lie has spotted the girl his grandparents brought home walking towards him before she noticed his presence, as such, he takes his time in appraising this countryside-girl of a stranger.
The young woman bears a youthful appearance that is both delicate and stunning. Her willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes contribute to her youthful features, while her tiny-button nose completes the set. The contrast is derived from her enchanting light-grey eyes curtained by long fluttering eyelashes and her petal-like, cherry-coloured lips. These facial features thus create a sensational beauty that not only rouse a man's protective instinct, but also the desire to conquer.
He has already known her as a natural beauty from the picture, but seeing her with his own eyes, he can say the picture doesn't do her justice. With an erhu in her arms, there is a unique charm to her person, almost fairy-like. When an ancient person describes the delicate temperament of a noble lady of distinguished house, they must be talking of a girl like her.
In this world, beautiful girls are a thousand a plenty, but girls whose temperaments matched their exquisite looks are few in numbers and extremely rare to encounter.
Yet, Qing Lan belongs to the latter category. She is a bewitching beauty that could topple empires.
Pity. It's not a beauty capable of causing the downfall of countries that Zhong Lie seeks to be his wife, the Zhong Family's future mistress.
As of the moment, Zhong Lie has little good impression on this wife of his. As an experienced businessman who has dealt with hundreds of individuals with varying personalities, he can tell at once that her pure eyes are free from malice. If he can recognise this, then it means his grandfather who is much more of a veteran knows this as well.
In fact, with both of their assessment combined, Zhong Lie realises the huge possibilty that Qing Lan isn't scheming against the Zhong Family. It is just hard to believe, that a girl from the countryside suddenly becomes the Wife of Country C's Most Eligible Bachelor who descends from a family with long line of old money and vast influences without any tricks on her part.
Zhong Lie may be Zhong Che's only son, but he doesn't reach his position by simple birthrights. He had fought his way through dirty schemes, ruthlesslly rid his enemies and muddled through the mindgames of plenty. He dived head-first into the dark shadows that enclosed the largest business empire.
A wife to a man like him, can't be a simple countryside-girl, no matter how good of a girl she is. There is no way for her to live well with him as her husband.
Xu Yan is different.
Only Xu Yan can live well and even thrive as the wife to the Most Successful Businessman of Country C. Xu Yan, who has seen with her own eyes and involves herself in the darkness of business. She, who desires power and wealth, knowing what to be done to achieve her ambitions. She, who chooses to clad herself with grimes, yet walks proudly with her chin high-up in the air.
Zhong Lie is a cold-bastard, he has long admitted to this fact.
But he is not without heart. Especially if the young woman who saved his grandfather's life is proven to be uninvolved regarding this sudden marriage. Zhong Lie is not willing to drag a young woman so unused to this seemingly bright society, only to be drowned in the abyss within, preying on the unsuspecting.
All of these thoughts flashed through the two's minds quickly, merely appearing as vague glints in their respective gazes.
It is at this time their eyes met.
His gaze is intense, a pair of eyes with the colour of the darkest night. Looking into it makes one feels they are facing the immeasureable depth, ever falling, hiding infinite mysteries untold. Cutting into a person'a psyche and calculating against many, his gaze is one that evokes restlessness.
Hundreds have capitulated under his gaze, fellow businessmen, shady dealers, women of all kind. In ancient times, he would be the Emperor.
Her gaze is clear, like the spring lake without the tiniest ripple. There seems to be nothing tainting her charming light-grey pools, resembling that of a child. From brightly-coloured flowers to the dullest stones, they are all perfectly reflected in her eyes. Within her gaze, nothing is viewed differently.
Individuals of all ages seek her out, everyone having the desire to watch over her. An immortal-like fairy, is how she is seen.
They are two individuals of the opposing spectrum.
Zhong Lie continues his walk without a pause in his stride. As does Qing Lan, whose paces slowed down significantly but not stopping.
It doesn't take long for the husband and wife to walk past each other.
A low whisper, a warm breath caressing her jade-like ear.
"Watch yourself...wife," Zhong Lie murmurs as he passed by her. His gallant figure doesn't linger. From start to finish, these three words are everything the husband-and-wife exchanged in their first meeting.
Qing Lan doesn't stop, even when she can't contain the shivers wrecking her body the moment she feels that warm air passing her delicate ear. If she was to describe, the quality of Zhong Lie's voice is like that of aged-wine, intoxicating and only gets better with time. She can feel her heart beats one rhythm too slow. She excused it to the content of his words and not the sound of his voice.
The man has told her to watch herself. Obviously, he is reminding her of her position in the Zhong Estate and his disapproval of her status as his Wife despite their marriages. It means that he is keeping an eye on her, and a single mistake—one toe out of line—and it might be all the reason he needs to divorce her. By the end of it, he calls her wife. It can be assumed that he will go along with this marriage...for now.
So many warnings in three words.
The many sharp and confusing turns in words, Qing Lan is aware of. This is something that does not exist in Tian Xi Village, where the inhabitants are honest, simple people. But Qing Lan learns from the best, her father was quite the eloquent talker while her mother had the grace of a bull when she talked. It's been so long since she has to peel the layers of a sentence to discover the intentions underneath it.
Also, the special way he says that last word....
Zhong Lie called her wife. She understands that it is more of a warning than a term of endearment, but this is the first time she is referred to as a wife by someone, a someone that is her legal husband. The dainty fingers wrapped around her erhu tightened a little and it loosened just as quickly.
Three words.
And already her heart is sent into disarray.
A man who was a stranger and still is one, the same man who is recognised as her husband under the law, the Zhong Family's Heir.
Tomorrow, this pair of husband and wife will 'officially' meet for the first time. In the morning during family breakfast that the Zhong Elders organised just for a specific goal in mind.
Tonight however, they lost themselves in contemplations over their other-half: the wife to this husband and the husband to this wife.