Everything happened smoothly, and everyone was satisfied. The press covered their upcoming marriage with a rose-colored lens, and the two companies' stocks went up as expected.
A month later, on their second meeting, Xiao was wearing a wedding dress. She wasn't wearing a princess ball gown. Instead, she donned a slim, simple dress.
Unlike their first encounter, her hair was pulled up along the middle and decorated only with white flowers. Her beautiful white nape peeked through underneath.
As Yun Xiao walked down the aisle and moved her hand from her father to Jun Shang, she looked like the epitome of a beautiful and ladylike bride.
However, as they read their vows, as she hooked her arm around his for their wedding photo, or even as they left the wedding venue hand-in-hand, she didn't look up at him once.
Jun Shang didn't intend on spending the first night of his wedding with his wife. They had only met twice, and he wasn't hungry for a woman either. He also guessed that she wasn't the type of woman who would open her body to a man she only met twice. It wasn't required in their marriage anyway.
So why did he change his mind?
Was it some type of hypnosis that came with marriage?
Or was it because of the wisteria flowers?
Spring was in full swing in Japan during the month of April.
They arrived at an airport in Nagoya on a private jet. They then boarded a helicopter to the city of Ise. During the whole trip, no one spoke a word to the other. Jun Shang continued to work on his tablet PC while his wife just looked out the window.
Eventually, when the helicopter arrived at the resort, the sun was setting over Ago Bay, coloring the water with brilliant hues. The islands floating on the sea looked like abandoned birds' nests.
Once the helicopter landed, the noise that had been annoying the couple finally wound down. Eventually, an absolute silence settled over the resort which was situated between a dense forest and the sea.
Finally,
Jun Shang felt like he could finally breathe as he combed his hair back with his fingers. Even though they were here for three days and two nights for their honeymoon, Jun Shang just wanted to get a lot of sleep. He had rushed back from Dubai, so he hadn't been able to adjust to the time difference. On top of that, because of the uproar of the wedding, he hadn't slept for the past 48 hours. Who knew that the wedding would be more difficult to deal with than work?
"If you're tired, feel free to wash up and go to bed first."
Yun Xiao spoke as if she read his mind. Now that he thought about it, those were the first words she had spoken to him all day.
"I'm fine."
"I can see your dark circles."
She gestured to her own eyes as she spoke. Seeing her say those words with a straight face was kind of funny.
Most people couldn't speak comfortably whenever they were around him. While his status in the company was a factor, it was probably mostly due to the cold and scary impression he gave off.
However, it seemed that it didn't affect Yun Xiao at all. Well, she was officially his wife starting today. She had no reason to be wary of him or to be afraid. Her indifferent expression was further proof.
"Ah, is it that obvious?"
"Go and rest. It's understandable that you're tired."
Xiao smiled softly as she spoke. Jun Shang felt strange as he saw her graceful but formal smile. She knew as well as him what this marriage was. A contract. Nothing more, nothing less. They were just business partners.
So it felt like her eyes were warning him to keep his distance, but they were keeping that truth well hidden.
Now that he thought about it, Yun Xiao played the part of his perfect bride, but she never once looked up at him or spoke to him.
"Wouldn't it be nice to have dinner together?"
"Jun Shang." [1]
She called him by his name for the first time. Her flat, clear pronunciation rang in his ears and tickled it.
"I would feel more comfortable eating alone. Please don't worry about me."
Xiao spoke like an employee trying to get rid of her boss from an employee get-together.
"On the first day of our honeymoon?"
"Does the first day of our honeymoon mean anything to us?"
Even though she said this with a smile, Jun Shang couldn't feel any warmth coming from her. After saying her piece, Xiao stood up and exited the room. Left alone, Jun Shang watched with frustration as the paper sliding door slowly closed shut.
Jun Shang couldn't tell if he should be thankful, or if he should be confused. He felt like he was being abandoned.
What did it matter anyway?
What he needed at the moment wasn't a bride. He needed sleep. Jun Shang loosened the necktie that had been around his neck all day.