"Is That Not Allowed?"
Long Yejue frowned slightly, his deep black eyes darkening as he asked, "Why, is that not allowed?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant!" Tang Mianmian hastily explained, afraid of being misunderstood. "I just mean, I'm fine now, so you can go back if you have other things to do."
"You haven't finished your IV," he pointed at the drip, his voice steady. "There are still three more bags to go."
"…But aren't there nurses for that?"
His cold gaze sharpened slightly, and his thin lips pressed into a tight line.
Realizing her misstep, Tang Mianmian quickly added, "I didn't mean it that way! I just feel bad troubling you."
"You've already agreed to marry me. Taking care of you is my responsibility, isn't it?" His tone suggested he was determined to make her understand.
Tang Mianmian felt utterly embarrassed.
What kind of logic was this?
She had only meant to spare him the hassle since he clearly seemed busy. Yet somehow, her words came across as an attempt to distance herself from him—which, admittedly, was partly true.
And then there was the matter of him asking his assistant to fetch the household registration book…
Could it really mean what she thought it did?
"Get some rest," Long Yejue said, turning his attention back to his work without waiting for her response.
Tang Mianmian lay back on the hospital bed, feeling completely frustrated.
How had things escalated to her practically marrying this man?
Should she consider running away tomorrow?
But then again, Long Yejue gave off the impression of being someone who could do anything. Deceiving him wouldn't be easy.
With these swirling thoughts, she eventually drifted off to sleep. The exhaustion from the previous night and the day's events had finally caught up to her.
What she didn't notice was how Long Yejue worked quietly to avoid disturbing her, glancing at her IV drip every few minutes.
He rarely cared for anyone this attentively—except for…
His deep eyes darkened slightly as he looked at the sleeping woman, his expression unreadable, a flicker of complex emotions crossing his gaze.
The next morning, Tang Mianmian woke up to find that the overbearing presence of Long Yejue was gone. For a moment, she almost believed the events of the past two days had been a dream.
The doctor came to check on her and declared her well enough to be discharged in the afternoon.
Great news!
As she basked in the relief, she remembered Yan Youlan's harsh words from yesterday. Hadn't she threatened to come after her?
Why hadn't she shown up?
Had she forgotten?
Impossible!
Just as Tang Mianmian was about to stretch her legs, An Yi pushed the door open and entered. Seeing her attempt to stand, he looked surprised. "Miss Tang, you seem much better already."
In his hand was a bag with the logo of the same upscale restaurant she'd eaten from the previous night.
Wasn't this place supposed to require reservations? How did they always manage to get it so easily?
"The young master asked me to bring you breakfast," An Yi said, smiling warmly as he handed the bag over.
But his gaze carried a hint of curiosity that made Tang Mianmian feel awkward.
Under such scrutiny, she couldn't bring herself to eat and instead asked, "Don't you have work to do?"
"Not at the moment. The young master instructed me to take care of you. Let me know if you need anything."
"…"
Was this "care" or surveillance?
"I don't need anything. I'm fine now, so you can go back."
An Yi's face turned pale. "Have I done something wrong?"
"No, no! I mean that I'm better now and don't need to trouble you anymore," Tang Mianmian quickly clarified.
"That's a relief," An Yi said, visibly relaxing. "By the way, the young master also asked me to accompany you to fetch your household registration book later."
"What?!" Tang Mianmian exclaimed, startled. "Why do I need to get my household registration book?"
"I'm not sure." An Yi looked puzzled but didn't dare question his boss's motives.
The young master's orders were always purposeful, and no one dared to challenge them.
"If no one explains why, I'm not going!" Tang Mianmian declared defiantly.
What if this was all part of some scheme to sell her off?
An Yi's face turned ashen. "The young master also said that if you don't get the book, I'll… I'll be fired!"
"He's using that to threaten you?" Tang Mianmian asked incredulously.
An Yi nodded, looking pitiful. "It took me so much effort to get where I am. Please, Miss Tang, have some compassion for me. I have elderly parents and young children to support—I can't lose this job!"
Tang Mianmian felt like crying. She was the one being wronged here, wasn't she?
"Is there really no room for negotiation?"
An Yi shook his head, looking just as downtrodden as she felt. "The young master is decisive and unyielding. No one dares test his limits."
Tang Mianmian's heart sank.
Even the gourmet breakfast in front of her tasted bland.
After reluctantly finishing her meal, An Yi insisted on taking her home to retrieve the household registration book.
Seeing no way out, Tang Mianmian had no choice but to comply.
If there had been a hole in the ground, she would've happily buried herself in it.
Back at her rental apartment, she stalled as much as possible, hoping to avoid leaving. But An Yi remained patiently outside, so Tang Mianmian begrudgingly retrieved the household registration book.
The moment she handed it over, An Yi quickly took it and said, "The young master instructed me to hold onto this. If I don't, I'll lose my year-end bonus."
Tang Mianmian: "…"
This isn't a boss—it's a tyrant!
As they left the apartment, An Yi remarked, "This place is too cramped. It'll be difficult to move your belongings."
"Move… belongings?" Tang Mianmian asked, baffled.
"The young master instructed me to come back and move your things after bringing you to him. Are there any items you don't want to bring?"
Tang Mianmian: "…"
What on earth was happening?!
As they drove, Tang Mianmian stared out at the unfamiliar streets, growing increasingly uneasy.
"Where are we going?" she asked finally.
"To meet the young master. He's waiting for you, and time is tight," An Yi replied, speeding up slightly.
Tang Mianmian pouted but said nothing more. She needed to confront Long Yejue anyway.
But when the car pulled up in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau, she was completely stunned.
This was… the place where marriage certificates were issued!
Outside, Long Yejue stood casually by a sleek white Bentley, smoking. His gaze was fixed ahead, his expression cold and unreadable.
From her angle, she could see his flawless side profile—his 360-degree perfection was breathtaking.
His tailored suit and designer shoes were unmistakably high-end, and the limited-edition Bentley behind him was the cherry on top.
Why does a man like this want to marry me?
She couldn't make sense of it.
As she stepped out of the car, Long Yejue extinguished his cigarette and straightened up. His calm demeanor was completely at odds with someone about to get married.
Tang Mianmian hesitated, fumbling for the right words. Before she could speak, he interrupted.
"Let's go," he said simply.
An Yi handed him the household registration book without hesitation.
Seeing it in his hands, Tang Mianmian panicked and reached out to snatch it back. But Long Yejue easily dodged her attempt, his hand effortlessly shifting out of reach.
Instead, her hand accidentally grasped his.
"Uh…" Embarrassed, she tried to pull away, but he held on firmly.
"What are you doing?" she stammered, her heart racing.
"I thought you wanted to hold hands like the others," he said calmly, nodding toward the couples entering and exiting the building, hands intertwined.
She was mortified but quickly clarified, "I just want my household registration book back!"
"I'll return it after we're done," he replied, leading her toward the entrance with a calm, unhurried gait.
Tears welled up in Tang Mianmian's eyes. What's the point of returning it after the fact?!
"Then We Can Argue About It Later"
Clutching her household registration book, Tang Mianmian felt a pang of regret. She had planned to confront Long Yejue properly when they met.
Before she could think further, An Yi took the book from her hands and said with a polite but firm tone, "The young master instructed me to hold onto this. If I don't, I'll lose my year-end bonus."
Tang Mianmian was speechless.
Is this a boss or a vampire?!
The two of them left her cramped rental apartment, An Yi leading the way with a serious expression. "This place is too small. Moving things out will be difficult."
"Mov… moving things?" Tang Mianmian asked, confused.
"Yes. The young master asked me to take you to him first, then return to move your belongings. Are there any items you'd like to leave behind?"
Tang Mianmian was utterly flabbergasted.
What was happening? Could someone explain it to her?!
As the car sped down the road, Tang Mianmian noticed it was a luxury SUV that seemed oddly familiar, though she couldn't recall where she had seen it before.
Looking at the unfamiliar streets outside, she finally asked, "Where are we going?"
"To the young master. He's already waiting, and time is short," An Yi explained, his driving reflecting the urgency of their task.
Tang Mianmian pouted but decided not to press further. After all, she had planned to find him herself anyway.
When the car stopped in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau, however, she was completely stunned.
This is the place for registering marriages, isn't it?!
Long Yejue stood outside, leaning casually against a pristine white Bentley, smoking a cigarette. His gaze was fixed ahead, his expression cold and unreadable.
From her angle, Tang Mianmian could see his impeccably sharp side profile.
This man… 360-degree flawless looks. Even a man would fall for him.
His tailored suit and hand-crafted leather shoes were unmistakably limited-edition designer pieces. Even the Bentley behind him screamed exclusivity.
A walking advertisement for luxury.
And yet… why did such a man want to marry her?
Tang Mianmian couldn't understand it.
As they approached, Long Yejue extinguished his cigarette and straightened up, his brow furrowing slightly. His calm demeanor showed no trace of excitement—completely at odds with someone about to get married.
Tang Mianmian hesitated as she got out of the car, unsure how to start the conversation. Just as she was about to speak, Long Yejue broke the silence.
"Let's go."
An Yi handed over the household registration book without hesitation.
The sight of it in his hands made Tang Mianmian panic. She reached out to grab it back, but Long Yejue anticipated her move and casually shifted it out of reach. Her hand instead ended up clasping his.
"Uh…" Embarrassed, she quickly pulled back, only for him to grasp her hand firmly.
Her face flushed, and her heart raced uncontrollably. "W-what are you doing?"
"I thought you wanted to be like them," he said calmly, gesturing toward the couples holding hands as they entered and exited the bureau.
Following his gaze, Tang Mianmian noticed the affectionate pairs around them. All of them held hands as they walked in and out, smiling sweetly at each other.
She flushed even more, then stammered, "I just want my household registration book back!"
"I'll return it after we're done." His tone was unwavering as he elegantly led her toward the entrance.
Tang Mianmian nearly burst into tears. What's the point of getting it back after the fact?!
"I think we need more time to get to know each other. It's too soon for this," she said anxiously.
"As I've said, we can get to know each other after we're married. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you," he replied, as patient as ever.
"Ugh…" She didn't want to get married!
But Long Yejue ignored her protests, guiding her straight into the office.
Tang Mianmian tried her best to appear reluctant—she wasn't faking it. But the clerk at the marriage registry seemed oblivious to her plight. Instead, the older woman beamed at them.
"You're the most beautiful couple I've seen this month! A perfect match—may you grow old together and have many sons and daughters!"
Tang Mianmian: "…"
Lady, do you need your eyes checked?!
"Thank you," Long Yejue replied politely, his expression calm.
The sound of the official seal stamping their marriage certificate felt like a death knell to Tang Mianmian.
She couldn't even remember how she got out of the Civil Affairs Bureau. All she knew was that Long Yejue drove off in his flashy Bentley, leaving her behind with An Yi, who still wore his polite smile.
"Madam, shall we go move your belongings now?" he asked with a respectful nod.
Tang Mianmian stood there in complete disarray, her mind blank.
Long Yejue's Residence: The Grandview Manor
The luxury estate was located in a prestigious neighborhood known for its wealth.
Twisting her fingers nervously, Tang Mianmian asked An Yi, "Is your young master… very rich?"
"I suppose you could say that," An Yi replied modestly.
"Suppose"?!
Looking around at the sprawling estate, Tang Mianmian felt like she had stepped into a different world.
Long Yejue's villa was more than just a mansion—it was a full-blown estate with manicured lawns and expansive gardens.
As soon as she entered, she felt completely out of place.
How could the gap between people be this vast?
The garage alone housed several luxury cars. And the interiors? It was like stepping into a palace.
Everything exuded opulence and wealth.
This must be what they call a "golden nest."
She even wanted to check if the bathroom fixtures were made of gold.
Rumor had it that wealthy people loved using gold for their furnishings. If that were true, she wouldn't dare use them!
An Yi led her upstairs, where the view was even more breathtaking.
The upper floor had the same unifying theme—burning money.
Everywhere she looked, she saw high-end designer brands.
This is the life of the rich. A world I'll never understand.