"What?"
The man turned his head, his face full of shock.
Only then did Xia Chu notice that up close, he was even taller and more handsome, with a presence that was both noble and distinguished, resembling a TV star.
Disappointment filled her heart. A man with such good qualities, if he wasn't married yet, surely must have had a girlfriend, right?
But she repeated her words anyway, "Sir, do you have a girlfriend? If not, would you mind going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get a marriage certificate with me now?"
No sooner had Xia Chu finished speaking than Xu Pei caught up with her.
Hearing her words, his face immediately grew as dark as could be, "Xia Chu, have you lost your mind? Just to spite me, you're treating marriage like a child's play? Even if you want to retaliate against me, you shouldn't take revenge like this. Come back with me, we'll talk it over slowly when we get back!"
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Xia Chu.
He then apologized to the strange man, "I'm so sorry, Sir. My fiancée is actually just acting out of anger due to a... cough, misunderstanding between us. I deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused to you, and I will take my fiancée back now. I'm really sorry."
Xia Chu, however, dodged his hand again and continued to look at the strange man, "Sir, I am not acting out of anger. If you are willing to help me, I will surely reward you handsomely afterward and won't cause you any trouble. Of course, that's only if you don't have a girlfriend."
Xu Pei's face turned even uglier, "Xia Chu, do you realize what you're doing? There's a limit to acting crazy, and when you harm others and yourself, regret will come too late!"
Xia Chu sneered, "I am very clear about what I'm doing... Back off, don't touch me with your filthy hands, it disgusts me!"
Xu Pei was so angry he was practically gasping for air, "You're willing to risk a lifetime matter out of anger, it's unbelievable that you know what you are doing! Come back with me now, or I'll call your parents!"
"Miss Xia, right? I don't have a girlfriend," said the strange man suddenly.
Xu Pei was taken aback and then scowled, "Sir, this is a matter between my fiancée and me, please don't stir up trouble."
The strange man gave him a cold look, didn't take his bait, and turned to Xia Chu, "Miss Xia, I don't have a girlfriend, and I don't mind getting a marriage certificate with you. We can go now. But are you certain you've thought this through?"
Xia Chu hurriedly nodded with joy, "I've thought it through, thank you!"
Xu Pei was on the verge of going mad, "Have you all lost your minds? Sir, you have no idea what has happened between my fiancée and me, you don't know about our feelings, and yet you're here causing chaos. Don't you think your behavior is excessive?"
The man's face was filled with scorn, "This is excessive? Isn't it even more excessive to force a happy woman ready to get a marriage certificate to change her mind on the spot, to the point where she'd rather register with a man she just met to distance herself from another?"
Xu Pei was speechless.
He had indeed... indeed been too much.
But for Xia Chu to treat marriage as a joke and to get a certificate with a man she had only just met was clearly even more over the top!
As he was about to say more, the man already extended his arm to Xia Chu, "Miss Xia, shall we go inside now?"
Xia Chu immediately linked her arm with the man's, "Yes, let's."
Accordingly, they entered the hall of the Civil Affairs Bureau, arm in arm, under Xu Pei's furious gaze.
There weren't many couples in line inside the hall, so it was soon Xia Chu and the man's turn.
They handed over their identity cards, had their identities confirmed by the staff, took a half-body photo together, and signed where necessary. Then, two bright red marriage certificates, freshly issued, were set before them.
The staff member even congratulated them with a smile, "Congratulations to the newlyweds."
But Xia Chu felt lost inside. Had she really just...gotten married like this, to a man she had just met for the first time?
Wasn't this too impulsive?
Even if they were going to divorce soon, she would likely regret it, right? After all, it's not like there were no other options left, no matter how difficult, she could always think of something.
It's not like there were no other ways to take revenge, so why did she let impulsiveness take over her senses?
Then there was Huo Xiyao—her newly baked husband—who thanked the staff, "Thank you."
Xu Pei, who was standing to the side, still couldn't believe that Xia Chu would really get a marriage certificate with Huo Xiyao even when they posed for a photo together.
She must be trying to provoke him, to take revenge on him.
But she was always so calm, so clear-headed and rational, she would surely stop herself at the last moment and not possibly go through with marrying a stranger.
Yet, it was only when he saw with his own eyes that both Xia Chu and Huo Xiyao each had an additional red booklet in their hands, with the "Marriage Certificate" in bright, golden characters that could be seen clearly from far away.
The pair stood together, handsome man and beautiful woman, from their looks to their temperament and even their outfits today, everything was indescribably matching, just like a real couple.
It was then, amid the painful burning in his eyes, that Xu Pei had to confront the brutal truth in front of him: Xia Chu had really gotten married to another man, just now, right under his nose, to a man she had known for less than an hour.
How could she be so ruthless, she was really harsh!
Xu Pei eventually said with red eyes, "Xia Chu, you've got guts. Just don't regret it!"
And stormed off in a fury.
It was then that Xia Chu felt even more disoriented and began to walk out.
She was even more confused, unable to tell if everything that had just happened was real, or if from beginning to end, it had all been some absurd dream?
She should just hurry home and get a good sleep. When she woke up, everything would surely be fine!
"Miss Xia, wait a moment."
But Huo Xiyao called out to her as Xia Chu was about to cross the street, "You look pale, and you seem to be in bad shape. Let me take you home, alright? Don't worry, I have no ill intentions."
Xia Chu, as if awakening from a dream, "No need, Mr. Huo, I drove here."
She paused, "I'm sorry, I was...too impulsive earlier, but I am truly grateful to Mr. Huo. I have something else today, so I'll have to contact Mr. Huo later to discuss the divorce and a way to thank you. Goodbye."
Having said that, she turned to leave.
Huo Xiyao called out to her again, "Miss Xia really isn't looking well. Even if you don't want me to take you, don't drive yourself. Call a substitute driver. Also, you should leave your contact for me, otherwise, how are we going to get a divorce?"
Later, after exchanging contact information, he watched as Xia Chu's car, driven by the substitute, smoothly disappeared from his line of sight.
Only then did Huo Xiyao withdraw his gaze and look at the red booklet in his hand.
He actually did it, got a marriage certificate with someone?
If not for the "evidence" in his hand right now, Huo Xiyao would have doubted if he had just had a dream.
However, it probably wasn't a nightmare...