Early the next morning, Ye Shu awoke and saw that the man beside her was still sound asleep. She carefully got up and started to pack up her things.
Her face flushed crimson, and the tips of her ears seemed to have been boiled, her fingers trembling slightly. Having done what needed to be done, Ye Shu couldn't guess how things would progress next, hoping only that she wouldn't be too disgraceful.
Thinking about facing him later, Ye Shu's heart became inexplicably chaotic. Anticipating Huo Shenting's reaction to her actions, she had a premonition in her heart.
She feared that from now on, Huo Shenting would never treat her with the same courtesy and gentlemanliness as before.
Huo Shenting woke up, sat up in bed, and the covers slid off his body. His physique was perfect—strong and tight, yet not seemly greasy.
His gaze accurately fell on Ye Shu, who was sitting on the sofa.
Ye Shu, lost in thought with her back to him, appeared somewhat forlorn with her slight frame.
Huo Shenting's eyes darkened as he threw off the covers and stood up, walking over to Ye Shu and wrapping his arms around her from behind. His voice was low and husky, oozing an exceptional sexiness.
"Why are you sitting here alone?"
Ye Shu bit her lip and suddenly looked up to meet Huo Shenting's eyes, her own slightly red as if she had just cried.
She clearly saw Huo Shenting frown, the flicker in his eyes all but revealing his disgust.
"I already regret the impulsiveness of last night, but my life shouldn't be destroyed like this."
"So, Mr. Huo, I'm sorry."
She was trying hard to control her emotions, not letting her voice tremble as she spoke.
The man loosened his arms around her upon hearing this, stood up to tower over her, and looked at her with complex eyes, not uttering a word.
Ye Shu's body shook slightly. After steadying her emotions, she rose unhurriedly from the sofa, "Seeing me here must be surprising to Mr. Huo."
Huo Shenting's eyes slightly narrowed. Ye Shu's reflection was in those deep, ink-like, cool eyes, impossible for her to fathom his thoughts.
"So in your view, everything last night was just a result of impulsiveness?"
Ye Shu was perplexed by Huo Shenting's words, looking at him with a baffled expression.
However, Huo Shenting didn't give her much chance to think over it carefully, facing her with a stern look and a cold voice.
"Since the result of that impulsiveness has already been brewed, I'm curious to know, how does Miss Ye intend to deal with this situation?"
Hearing the man's mocking words, Ye Shu felt bitter but still summoned her usual confidence.
"Since the mistake was made by both of us, I naturally hope Mr. Huo will share the consequences of that mistake with me."
Huo Shenting asked with a cold face.
"Do you want money?"
Ye Shu shook her head, her expression stiff as she spoke.
"After gaining status, isn't money something you can easily possess?"
Huo Shenting's profound gaze grew colder, so she'd climbed into his bed for the Huo family's wealth.
"It turns out Miss Ye is also a commoner. Those who speak so highly of you outside, if they saw you like this, I fear they would be furious."
Ye Shu's demeanor remained calm and steady, "Of course, Ye Shu is a commoner. From the sound of it, Mr. Huo once thought highly of me?"
Huo Shenting frowned, not wanting to argue with her any further.
Ye Shu steadied her breathing and, lifting her eyes to look at Huo Shenting, she said firmly.
"Only by becoming Madam of the Huo family can one possess both wealth and status at the same time, so I want to have it all."
Ye Shu's tone was calm, and as she spoke these words, her gaze fearlessly met Huo Shenting's, her eyes indifferent.
Huo Shenting slightly narrowed his eyes, his deep gaze fixed on her intently. After a long while, he slowly uttered four words, "You are indeed too greedy."
Ye Shu's hand clenched slightly as she walked up to Huo Shenting, took his hand, and placed the item she had prepared into his palm.
"I believe Mr. Huo is a man who cherishes his reputation and would not wish to become the main character of headline news."
Huo Shenting restrained his aura, a dangerous chill flickering in those deep eyes. Even if Ye Shu could appear calm and composed now, a thin layer of sweat had already formed in the palm of her hand.
Ye Shu was well aware that when confronting a man like him, showing even a hint of panic would mean total defeat.
So, she had always been carefully controlling her emotions, not letting him see any subtle changes in her expression.
Huo Shenting's words carried no discernible emotion, and Ye Shu did not dare to meet his gaze. She walked a few steps forward and turned her back to him.
"Since Miss Ye dares to marry, how could a Huo dare not to wed? However, a melon forced off its vine is not sweet. Miss Ye, I fear you will have many bitter fruits to eat in the future, especially since my mother and your mother have long been at odds."
Upon hearing this, Ye Shu's fingers trembled slightly. Having chosen this path, she had naturally considered Mrs. Huo's stance. As long as she could marry Huo Shenting, for her, any worst-case outcome was still not the worst-case scenario.
At the very least, she was marrying the man she loved.
"Mrs. Huo is magnanimous, and since my mother has passed away, I believe Mrs. Huo would not make things difficult for me."
Although Ye Shu lacked confidence inwardly, she still spoke with considerable self-assurance.
Huo Shenting, watching her so candidly, narrowed his eyes slightly.
Ye Shu turned around, her gaze sweeping over Huo Shenting's face. Noticing his displeasure, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, Huo Shenting was willing to marry her.
She no longer had to worry about not being able to find her way forward.
Huo Shenting gazed at her face, reached out to pinch her chin, and forced her to look into his eyes.
"After the marriage certificate is obtained, you will have to move out of the Ye family's house."
"And cut off all ties with every member of the Ye family."
"I wonder if Miss Ye has the courage to break relations with the people of the Ye family?"
Ye Shu's chin was pinched by Huo Shenting, causing a faint pain, but even in front of this man, she couldn't show it.
"Why wouldn't I dare? It seems Mr. Huo is quite eager to marry me, which is somewhat shocking and exciting to me."
Huo Shenting let out a cold laugh, "Miss Ye probably does not realize she is the dream lover of most men in G city. Even if I'm not interested in you, marrying you would be a face-giving matter that would make those men envious and jealous. Moreover, Miss Ye climbed into my bed of her own accord, which makes it all the more worth boasting about."
Ye Shu also gave a forced laugh, "From what you're saying, Mr. Huo, me taking the initiative to climb into your bed would bring you honor and glory?"
"Ye Shu!!" The man's voice carried a note of anger.
Ye Shu knew she had gone too far and quickly brushed away the hand that was pinching her chin, "Mr. Huo needn't raise his voice. I can hear you just fine."