The tip of Jiang Chenyu's ear twitched ever so slightly, signaling his mild irritation, though he kept his expression neutral. He gave a brief nod to the priest, prompting him to continue with the ceremony.
The priest, catching Jiang Chenyu's subtle cue, smiled and repeated the question, "Bride, are you willing to be with this man... until the end of your life?"
"I do!" Gu Nuannuan blurted out, her voice louder than she intended, as if she were trying to hammer the point home with a garlic mortar. The tension in the room visibly eased, and the breath that had been held by both families finally released.
Jiang Lao, Jiang Chenyu's father, and Gu Nuannuan's parents all visibly relaxed, relieved that their orchestrated marriage was proceeding without further hitches.
The priest, turning now to Jiang Chenyu, asked, "Groom, are you willing... until the end of your life?"
"I do." Jiang Chenyu's voice was deep and steady, resonating with authority. To Gu Nuannuan, it felt like the heavy thud of a stone dropping into a well, reverberating in her ears. The finality of his tone made her glance up at him. Regardless of how they both felt, deal or no deal, this man was now her husband.
The priest's voice continued to drone, signaling the moment that would seal their union. "...Please exchange rings between the two newlyweds."
Polite applause filled the room as the guests smiled and clapped, signaling the completion of the vows. Gu Nuannuan, feeling awkward and unsure of the social cues, whispered to Jiang Chenyu, "Do we need to applaud to exchange rings?"
Jiang Chenyu didn't bother responding to her attempt at humor. Instead, without ceremony, he gripped her hand and rudely pushed the wedding ring onto her finger with a force that felt more like he was finalizing a business transaction than solidifying a marriage vow.
The harshness of his action stung Gu Nuannuan, and her initial impression of him soured further. *What a rude man!* she thought, biting back the impulse to voice her irritation aloud.
When it was her turn to place the ring on his finger, Gu Nuannuan mirrored his actions, forcing the ring onto his finger with deliberate roughness. The expression on Jiang Chenyu's face didn't shift, but his eyes darkened as he registered her defiance. The slight twinge of pain made him glance at her with a mix of amusement and irritation.
*So, she's vengeful,* he mused. *And so small, too.*
Their eyes locked once more, and Gu Nuannuan's initial anger wavered. She misread the flicker in his gaze, assuming it was further confirmation of his pettiness. *He's mad because I pressed too hard with the ring,* she concluded, rolling her eyes internally. *This man holds grudges.*
Despite her growing irritation, the day continued smoothly. The marriage, however transactional, was complete. They were bound together, at least in name.
That night, Gu Nuannuan found herself at the Jiang family's old mansion. The gravity of the situation finally began to weigh on her as she entered the wedding suite. *Tonight is our wedding night,* she thought, her mind racing. She shut her eyes tightly, her lips pressed into a nervous line. "What should I do tonight?" she whispered to herself.
The door creaked open, and she snapped her eyes open, springing up from her seat at the edge of the bed. She watched as Jiang Chenyu entered, his presence filling the room with an air of authority. Her heart pounded in her chest as she swallowed nervously, feeling the impending awkwardness of having to share a room with this man.
*I have to sleep in the same bed as him?* she thought, her skin prickling with unease.
Jiang Chenyu walked toward her, his steps slow and deliberate. Instinctively, Gu Nuannuan backed away, her anxiety mounting. "Hey, let's get to know each other first," she blurted out in desperation. "My name is Gu Nuannuan. I'm 20 years old, and I'll be a sophomore after the summer vacation. I—I—"
Her stammering was cut off as Jiang Chenyu's voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. "How did you convince him?" His eyes bore into her with an intensity that made her freeze in place. He wasn't here for pleasantries. He was here for answers.
Gu Nuannuan blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice tinged with genuine bewilderment.
Jiang Chenyu's gaze hardened. "Don't play dumb. How did you convince my father to force this marriage? You think you've secured your place by marrying into the Jiang family, but don't be greedy. Don't think this means you can relax now."
It took Gu Nuannuan a moment to grasp his insinuation. He believed that she had schemed her way into the marriage, that she had somehow manipulated his father into forcing their union.
Her confusion morphed into anger. "Jiang Chenyu, you were forced into this marriage, too? So was I!"
Jiang Chenyu's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. "Forced? You expect me to believe that when your family just gained 15 lucrative projects today? You're telling me you had no part in this?"
His accusation hit her like a slap in the face. He thought her father had sold her for fame and fortune, and that she was complicit in the arrangement.
Anger surged through her, and she snapped back, "Are you mocking my father? Do you think he sold me off for your family's wealth and influence? I'll have you know, if it weren't for your father forcing this on me, my father would rather starve than see me married off like this!"
Her words hung in the air, charged with emotion. Jiang Chenyu, momentarily taken aback by her vehemence, remained silent. For the first time that night, he considered the possibility that Gu Nuannuan was as much a pawn in this marriage as he was.