Su Zixi felt her heartbeat suddenly skip a beat and quickly lowered her head. "Mr. He, I've finished washing up."
He Jingyao heard her voice and turned his head to look at her, smiling with satisfaction.
"Do you like the dress I prepared for you?" He Jingyao's voice deepened. "It suits you well."
This dress accentuated her long legs... His gaze burned.
She had no choice but to nod. "I like it very much. Thank you."
"You're welcome." He Jingyao slightly curled his lips.
"Mr. He." Su Zixi couldn't hold back any longer. "Why did you bring me to your home?"
His handsome eyebrows knitted together, as if this question put him in a difficult spot.
"If it's because of what happened last night, umm... I'm very sorry. Rest assured, I won't cling to you because of it. We can pretend nothing happened..." Su Zixi struggled to speak.
"Pretend nothing happened? How could that be!" He Jingyao looked at her deeply.
"I don't need you to be responsible, really." Su Zixi sincerely expressed, "What happened last night was a misunderstanding. I know you didn't mean it. Please don't take it to heart."
He Jingyao's thin lips pressed tightly together, and he looked at her expressionlessly.
Su Zixi thought he was angry and began to stutter involuntarily. "R-really... I've already forgotten about last night..."
"I'm serious." He looked at Su Zixi, his deep eyes extremely focused. "If you're willing, we can get the marriage certificate right away."
Su Zixi looked like she had been struck by lightning!
"Get a marriage certificate?" she exclaimed. "That's too hasty!"
"Hasty? Shouldn't we get married?" His gaze darkened.
Su Zixi found herself speechless...
What era is it now?
But looking at Mr. He's expression, he didn't seem to be joking.
Su Zixi gritted her teeth and resolutely said, "I'm sorry, Mr. He. I can't marry you!"
"Why?" He Jingyao's tone grew deeper.
"Because... because we don't have feelings for each other." Su Zixi began, "Marriage is a natural result for two people in love, but we barely know each other."
"Not familiar?" Mr. He slightly frowned, seemingly surprised by Su Zixi's strong resistance to the idea of marrying him.
"Not at all!" Su Zixi said, her face turning red.
He Jingyao looked deeply at her flushed face.
"It's not possible! I won't marry a man I don't love!" Su Zixi grew more embarrassed and annoyed.
He Jingyao lightly clicked his tongue, seemingly finding it troublesome.
He had never dealt closely with women before, and his understanding of them came from his rowdy friends, who spoke as if women were objects, easily obtainable.
But this woman, who seemed soft and obedient, had her own strong principles deep down.
Nevertheless, she was already his woman, so she was destined to be his wife!
He Jingyao's gaze darkened. "Su Zixi, if you don't marry me now, your father won't let you off easily when you go home. But if you marry me, you will be the Young Mistress of the He Family, able to walk freely in Yanzhou City."
For a fleeting moment, Su Zixi indeed felt a bit tempted...
But she knew clearly that she couldn't be so hasty.
She didn't even know the reason why this man was insistent on marrying her.
So, in the end, she still firmly shook her head. "I'm not afraid. After all, he is my father. He wouldn't really hurt me."
"Really?" He Jingyao's gaze seemed to see through the doubt in her heart.
A flicker of uncertainty arose in Su Zixi's heart.
The current Su Guo'an was no longer the doting and indulgent father he used to be... The saying "Having a stepmother means having a stepfather" was indeed true. If she returned home, Su Guo'an would likely still insist on marrying her off to the president of Jianfa.
So, she couldn't go home.
"I... I can stay at school for now." Su Zixi said.
"If that's the case, I won't force you." He Jingyao's gaze dimmed slightly. "I'll arrange for a driver to take you back right away."
"That would be great! Thank you!" Su Zixi said gratefully.
He Jingyao gave her a meaningful look but said nothing.
It seemed a bit too early to say thank you now.