Wen Ruan discovered that He Yan Ci was no ordinary man when it came to managing other people's affairs.
A bowl of pork rib congee, three corn dumplings, and even a fried egg had been arranged for her. After the meal, there was a cup of warm milk.
Under He Yan Ci's subtle authority, she had no choice but to eat, though she was already full.
Wen Ruan was always mindful of her figure, yet He Yan Ci seemed intent on silently forcing her to eat.
Fortunately, this wouldn't happen every day, or her figure would surely deteriorate in a few months.
The thing was, He Yan Ci, the instigator, hadn't even eaten. He sat opposite her, casually flipping through the restaurant menu with his long limbs.
Just a moment ago, Wen Ruan had quietly marveled at how gracefully this man read the menu, as if sitting in an office reviewing billion-dollar documents. But the next moment, no matter how elegant or dignified He Yan Ci's actions were, she no longer found them admirable as he carelessly pointed out a mountain of food for her to eat.
Too full—she'd need to buy some digestive medicine, or else she'd be terribly uncomfortable.
After leaving the restaurant, Wen Ruan pondered and decided it was time to have a serious conversation with him.
Standing in the middle of the street wasn't the best place for that.
She pointed to a nearby café with a pleasant atmosphere.
"Mr. He, let me treat you to some coffee."
He Yan Ci gave a slight nod, knowing full well why Wen Ruan had invited him for coffee.
Wen Ruan didn't like sweets, fearing they'd make her gain weight.
Her coffee, naturally, was unsweetened.
He Yan Ci, too, had no love for sweets.
This was one area where they were perfectly in sync.
Wen Ruan wrapped her hands around her coffee cup, considering how to broach the topic.
"Tell me your decision," He Yan Ci said, elegantly stirring his coffee, already prompting her.
He Yan Ci made the first move, and Wen Ruan didn't find it difficult to respond. "After giving it some thought, I believe what you said on the top floor of the hospital makes some sense."
"What did I say?" He Yan Ci sipped his coffee, his voice calm but laced with a faint teasing undertone.
"..." Wen Ruan fell silent. She had reason to believe He Yan Ci was doing this on purpose, but what could she do? She needed something from him now.
Wen Ruan quietly took a deep breath and, with remarkable patience, said, "Grandfather's current condition isn't ideal. It might indeed be beneficial, as you suggested, to organize a joyful event for him."
"Oh." He Yan Ci straightened his back, visibly relaxing.
"Oh?" Was that it? He didn't seem surprised by her decision.
He Yan Ci observed Wen Ruan, sensing her hesitation. "Is there anything else?"
Wen Ruan tightened her grip on her spoon, her pink fingers growing pale with tension. After a moment, she spoke, "He Yan Ci, please arrange for the asset verification to be done." They were entering a marriage without emotional foundation, and who knew when things might fall apart? She didn't want any disputes over assets.
"Are you afraid I'll encroach on your assets?" He Yan Ci's dark eyes twinkled with amusement as he casually teased her, his tone cool yet laced with playful irony.
"No! You know that's not what I meant." What was she afraid of? Her assets were considerable—her father had invested heavily in her company, giving her shares and even real estate. She could live comfortably without working for the rest of her life.
In terms of personal wealth, He Yan Ci couldn't compare. If their assets were combined, He Yan Ci would be the one losing out.
She was suggesting the asset verification for his own good, yet he had to make light of it. Clearly, he didn't appreciate her concern.
He Yan Ci, however, understood her reasoning all too well. He was just teasing her. With a smile, he said, "Alright. I'll do it your way."
The matter was settled, and there was little left to discuss.
Wen Ruan stirred her coffee, her bright eyes moving, her demeanor lightening. She stood and extended her hand toward He Yan Ci. "I appreciate it."
He Yan Ci, sensing her formal tone, made no move to shake her hand, his eyelids not even flickering. "I don't need thanks."
"Huh?" Wen Ruan didn't understand his response. He didn't bother to explain, and she wasn't inclined to pursue it, silently retracting her hand.
They hadn't come to the café to linger, and didn't stay long. Wen Ruan paid at the counter, just as two red bills were laid on the counter—He Yan Ci had taken them out of his wallet.
Let him pay. It was just two cups of coffee. A wealthy man could afford such trivialities.
Wen Ruan silently put away her phone, and as they left the café, the atmosphere between them turned somewhat awkward. They walked in silence for a while, and Wen Ruan soon realized they were not heading back to the hospital but toward a luxury hotel.
Had they just decided to get married, and now they were heading to a hotel?
Wasn't this moving too fast?
Her mind was in turmoil. Should she refuse, or go along with it?
She couldn't help but recall Tang Suiyi's words—sleeping with this man wouldn't be a loss.
With his tall, well-built frame, long legs, and narrow waist, every movement of his arms made his shirt cling to his body, revealing the contours of his waist. Sleeping with this man indeed wouldn't be a loss.
Wen Ruan's thoughts wandered.
Before she realized it, they had reached the revolving door of the hotel. He Yan Ci paused, showing no intention of entering. He turned to her and said, "Grandfather won't wake up for a while. You can rest here. I'll stay at the hospital and keep you updated if anything happens."
His words made Wen Ruan's cheeks flush with embarrassment. What had she been thinking?
He had kindly brought her here to rest, and yet... she had been imagining such shameful things!
Not only that, but she had also been thinking about his body.
She forced a smile. "Thank you, He Yan Ci."
"No more Mr. He?" He Yan Ci laughed lightly.
"Huh?"
"Rest early. Call me if anything happens," He Yan Ci gestured to her, signaling for a phone call.
"Alright," Wen Ruan hesitated before adding, "He Yan Ci, if you ever meet someone you like, just let me know."
There wasn't much genuine emotion in their circle, and many people were tied together by profit. Though they had no real financial ties, their marriage lacked any emotional foundation.
Such a relationship was fragile, and many had fallen apart over assets, resulting in ugly conflicts. Of course, they appeared respectful on the surface, but behind closed doors, many couples lived like strangers, each playing their own games. Wen Ruan had no interest in living such a masked, forced life.
This, she thought, was the only way to keep both parties dignified.
He Yan Ci smiled, but his expression grew colder. "Miss Wen, are you giving me permission to have an affair during our marriage?"
"Ah?" Wen Ruan had never considered it that deeply. If He Yan Ci had someone else, his reputation would be tainted, and the woman would be labeled a "mistress." Despite her confusion about him, Wen Ruan could tell he was a man who valued loyalty. A man like him would never let the woman he cared for suffer, especially not by becoming a "third party."
She had been thoughtless, but it wasn't impossible to solve.
For instance, they could choose not to register their marriage.