Chapter 126: The Nightmare That Made Him Tremble
The early morning sunlight painted a golden hue on the streets, but inside the car, Liang Xiaoluo's unease grew as they reached the tightly shut gates of the civil affairs bureau.
"See? I told you they wouldn't be open this early," she said, her tone half-joking as she tried to lighten the mood.
Ye Tianlin, who had been unusually restless all morning, glared at the closed gates as though his frustration alone could will them open. "This is absurd. Aren't we paying taxes for their services?" he muttered under his breath.
His irritation was almost childlike, and Liang Xiaoluo couldn't help but stifle a giggle. "Let's just wait until they open, okay? No need to call the mayor or whoever it is you're thinking of."
Ye Tianlin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he fished out his phone and began scrolling through his contacts. His determination to get their marriage certificate today was both endearing and exasperating.
"Tianlin, seriously?" Liang Xiaoluo tugged at his sleeve, trying to bring him back to reason. "I don't think you can rush government offices like this."
"You underestimate me," he replied with a smirk, dialing a number.
Before she could protest further, the call connected. "Director Liu, it's me, Ye Tianlin. Yes, right now. No, I don't care about protocols. Get someone to open the bureau."
Liang Xiaoluo's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ye Tianlin!" she hissed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
He merely winked at her, unbothered by her disapproval.
After a few minutes, a groggy-looking official appeared at the gate, clearly pulled from their morning routine. They unlocked the door with a resigned expression, their words betraying no enthusiasm. "Mr. Ye, we weren't expecting anyone this early."
"Well, now you know I'm full of surprises," Ye Tianlin quipped, pulling Liang Xiaoluo out of the car. "We're here to get married."
The official blinked at them, as though struggling to process the urgency of the situation. Nevertheless, they ushered the couple inside.
As they sat down to fill out the paperwork, Liang Xiaoluo's earlier jitters returned. Her hand trembled slightly as she signed her name. Ye Tianlin noticed and reached over to cover her hand with his, his gaze softening.
"Xiaoluo, you're not having second thoughts, are you?" he asked quietly.
"No, it's just…" She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting both nervousness and love. "It feels so sudden. Are we really ready for this?"
Ye Tianlin chuckled, leaning closer to her. "If I didn't think we were ready, do you think I'd go through the trouble of waking up at dawn and dragging you here?"
His words, spoken with his characteristic blend of arrogance and sincerity, brought a small smile to her lips. "Okay," she said softly. "Let's do this."
The process was over quicker than she'd expected. As the official handed them their marriage certificate, Ye Tianlin held it up triumphantly. "Finally, you're officially mine," he declared, pulling her into a celebratory embrace.
Liang Xiaoluo rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her happiness. "I thought I was always yours."
"Now it's written in black and white," he replied smugly. "No one can take you away from me."
The moment was perfect, but as they left the building, a shadow of unease lingered in Liang Xiaoluo's heart. She couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—might try to disrupt their newfound happiness. And as much as she trusted Ye Tianlin, a small voice inside her warned her to stay vigilant.
Little did she know, the wheels of a darker plan were already in motion, waiting for the right moment to unravel everything they had fought so hard to build.