Volume One, Chapter 10: "Why did you shield me just now?"

"Is there really no room for negotiation?" she asked.

Bian Xunzhou remained silent, simply watching her quietly.

He said nothing, yet it felt as if he’d said everything.

Wen Xuyu sighed. "I have nothing to say about the agreement, but with the Wen family—don’t you need to give them an explanation?"

"Don’t worry. I’ll handle it," Bian Xunzhou replied coolly. He produced a pen from somewhere and pressed it into Wen Xuyu’s hand, tapping the paper with his slender fingertips.

"Your task now is to sign the agreement."

Seeing no way out, Wen Xuyu didn’t waste any more words. With a determined heart, she signed her name on the document.

Immediately after, the two went together to the civil affairs bureau—photographs, signatures, certificates—everything done in one swift motion. Then, together, they headed to the hotel, which led to the farce just now.

…

"They’re only two red certificates—do you have to stare at them for so long?"

Still dazed, Wen Xuyu felt the items in her hand whisked away by Bian Xunzhou.

Without even glancing at them, he tucked the marriage certificates into his pocket. "I’ll keep the certificates."

Wen Xuyu: "…"

"Move in today. Live with me."

"Alright." Now that she had signed the agreement, Wen Xuyu saw no point in futile resistance. She turned her face toward the window, an inexplicable melancholy settling over her.

Bian Xunzhou noticed, his dark eyes lingering on her profile.

"Why did you block that for me just now?"

"It was just instinct."

That was truly what she thought.

Bian Xunzhou let out a cold laugh, and nothing more was said.

"About the Wen family, you don’t need to worry," he spoke again after a moment, his voice tinged with a trace of disdain. "I’ve already had Lu Zhao deliver money to them. The Lu family offered five hundred million, so I gave them one billion. That way, they’ll have nothing to complain about."

From the driver’s seat, Lu Zhao chimed in at just the right moment, "Yes, Madam Wen—don’t worry, I saw how happy Mr. Wen was!"

After all, a daughter who was originally worth five hundred million now fetched a billion. Who wouldn’t be pleased?

The words might sound crude, but that’s the truth of it.

Bian Xunzhou frowned slightly at Lu Zhao’s new form of address.

He’s adapting quickly.

Wen Xuyu’s lips curled faintly, though there was no mirth in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Bian."

The Wen family’s act of selling their daughter—whoever offers the higher price can take her away. What a tragedy!

Bian Xunzhou closed his eyes to rest. The rest of the journey passed in silence.

…

The Wen family residence.

"Wen Xuyu really is valuable—her price doubled from five hundred million to a billion," Wen Qianxue sat before her vanity, sweeping all her cosmetics to the floor in a fit of rage.

She never imagined a dark horse would appear, and it turned out to be the son of the Shang family!

In the upper circles of the capital, the Shang and Lu families were steeped in history, true aristocratic clans of the first tier.

Next came the second tier: the Bai, Zhu, and Qiao families.

Families like the Wen family were at best in the third tier.

Originally, they had planned to push Wen Xuyu into the Lu family’s pit, but now she was marrying Bian Xunzhou. However… she’d heard Bian Xunzhou ranked first on the Capital’s Most Notorious list, a figure more terrifying than the Lu family’s illegitimate son.

Strange—how did a country bumpkin like Wen Xuyu become acquainted with someone like that?

"Could it be…" Wen Qianxue narrowed her eyes, suddenly smacked the table, and stood up, realization dawning, "Wen Xuyu didn’t want to marry into the Lu family, so she latched onto Bian Xunzhou ahead of time. No wonder she was so calm last night—she must have planned her escape!"

Having convinced herself of her deduction, Wen Qianxue gritted her teeth, all traces of her former fragility vanished.

"Wen Xuyu, I won’t let you have it easy!"

…

The Wen family study.

Wen Yuqin stood with his back to the desk, talking on the phone. On the other end was the Lu family’s patriarch, Lu Qingyuan.

"Old Lu, calm down. It’s true we’re at fault here. I failed to discipline my daughter, letting her embarrass us like this," Wen Yuqin spoke obsequiously.

Whatever was said on the other side, he replied, "Yes, yes, you’re right," his voice growing weaker. "You know, she didn’t grow up with us—she’s been clueless since returning. Don’t worry, I’ll teach her a lesson and have her apologize personally to your third young master, and give the Lu family a proper explanation."

"The Lu Group’s investment?" Wen Yuqin’s voice suddenly tensed, though his face remained composed. "Old Lu, don’t be like this. We’ve known each other for so many years… Yes, yes, I understand. We’re clearly in the wrong on this matter."

A few seconds later, the phone went dead, busy tone echoing—clearly, the call had been cut off.

"Damned fool!" Wen Yuqin flung the phone onto the desk, his brows tightly knit, cursing under his breath.

"Knock knock—" the study door was rapped.

"Come in!"

Wen Qianyu entered, his expression grave. "Dad, what did the Lu family say?"

They’d only received the news two hours ago: Wen Xuyu had been taken by the Shang family’s eldest son, and soon after, they received a billion in funds. The meaning was clear.

"What do you think?" Wen Yuqin sat slowly at his desk, his index finger tapping the rosewood surface with a steady rhythm, his gaze sharp.

"I’ve already locked down news of the billion. Right now, the key is to appease the Lu family’s anger," he exhaled, continuing, "Call Wen Xuyu—tell her to find a way to break the engagement with the Lu family, preferably making their third young master initiate it."

Hearing his father’s confident tone, Wen Qianyu relaxed, then grew tense again.

"But how did Wen Xuyu get involved with Bian Xunzhou…?"

Wen Yuqin was pondering the same question, but found no answer. "Don’t worry about it. The Shang family is even more generous than the Lu family!"

Wen Qianyu nodded, pulling out his phone to make the call.

"No, I’ll do it myself," Wen Yuqin interjected, after a moment’s thought, stopping his son.

Wen Qianyu understood—this required his father’s personal touch.

…

The black Maybach rolled once more into the basement garage of Xuan Shui Bay.

Wen Xuyu looked up at the sprawling villa before her, her mood inexplicably stifled.

She still remembered the scene of her escape yesterday…

Bian Xunzhou seemed so hard to approach—would those two maids be punished?

"What’s wrong, can’t walk anymore? You ran so fast yesterday," Bian Xunzhou got out, opened her door, and saw her lost in thought.

His eyes arched upward, the dark gaze narrowing, teasing her deliberately.

At his words, Wen Xuyu quickly got out, as if a wild beast was chasing her.

"I apologize for yesterday," she lowered her eyes. "I was desperate at the time, and you kept delaying… so I…"

Bian Xunzhou folded his arms, watching her with leisure. "I don’t accept verbal apologies. They lack sincerity."

Wen Xuyu hesitated a moment, then raised her head slowly, saying three words, "I have no money."

This elite young master had surely lived a life of luxury—everything at his fingertips. How could he lack anything?

Bian Xunzhou was caught off guard, clearly surprised by her answer. It really was amusing.

"Then you owe me."

He strode into the house, and she hurried after him.

"Your room is still the same as before."

With that, Bian Xunzhou went straight upstairs to the study.

Trailing last, Lu Zhao added a final remark as he passed by.