The Maybach drove into Yujing Bay, located halfway up the mountain.
This was Haishi’s top wealthy district, where every inch of land was extremely valuable. The independent villa at the mountain’s peak was Xie Jingran’s residence.
“Get out.”
Xie Jingran unfastened his seatbelt and stepped out first, showing no intention of opening the door for a lady.
Chu Anhe hugged her backpack and carefully pushed the door open to get out.
Before her stood a minimalist modern building. Its cold and rigid design carried an aura that warned strangers to stay away, exactly like its owner.
“Young master, you’re back.”
The elderly housekeeper, Lin Shu, whose hair had already turned white, was waiting at the door.
When he saw Chu Anhe following behind Xie Jingran, his usually stern face immediately bloomed into a smile like a chrysanthemum.
“This is the first time the young master has brought a girl home. Oh my, you’re so beautiful, just like someone stepping out of a painting. Please come in, please come in.”
Chu Anhe waved awkwardly. “H hello, my name is Chu Anhe.”
“Lin Shu, we registered our marriage today,” Xie Jingran interrupted coldly, cutting off Lin Shu’s enthusiasm. “She’ll live in the master bedroom on the second floor… the guest room next to it.”
Lin Shu paused for a moment, his gaze moving between them with a meaningful look. “Marriage is good, marriage is good. Madam won’t stay in the master bedroom?”
Xie Jingran glanced at him. “You’re talking too much today.”
Lin Shu nodded as if he completely understood. “Understood, understood. Next door is good, next door is convenient. Ahem, I’ll go help Madam with her luggage.”
He thought to himself that this must be the romantic taste young people talked about. He never expected the young master to not only awaken emotionally but also play things quite boldly.
Walking into the villa’s living room, the entire space was dominated by black, white, and gray. The decorations were expensive but completely lifeless, leaving the room cold and empty, with echoes even when someone spoke.
Standing on the marble floor polished like a mirror, Chu Anhe looked at her canvas shoes soaked with melted snow and felt that every step she took was contaminating the spotless environment.
“Change your shoes.”
Xie Jingran pointed at a pair of pink plush slippers at the entrance.
Among a row of identical black men’s slippers, the soft pink pair with rabbit ears looked completely out of place, yet strangely eye-catching.
Chu Anhe froze. “These are…”
“They were a free gift from a purchase last time,” Xie Jingran lied without changing his expression. In reality, he had someone buy them from the mall late last night. “If you don’t want to wear them, go barefoot.”
“I’ll wear them.” Chu Anhe quickly changed into them.
The moment her feet touched the inside, it felt like stepping on clouds, warm and soft, slightly easing her uneasiness.
“Come to study.” Xie Jingran tossed out the words and walked upstairs.
Inside the study.
Xie Jingran sat behind a large rosewood desk and pushed a document toward her.
“This is the previous prenuptial agreement. I added some additional clauses. Take a look and sign.”
Chu Anhe sat down nervously and picked up the file.
The clauses were dense, but the core points were simple.
First, neither party would interfere in the other’s private life, but both must obey marital loyalty obligations.
Second, they must act as a loving couple in public and never reveal the truth.
Third, in order to maintain the act, the female party must unconditionally cooperate with the male party in occasional physical contact adaptation training.
Chu Anhe pointed at the third clause and frowned slightly. “Um… Teacher Xie, what does this mean? Adaptation training?”
Xie Jingran’s heart suddenly jumped.
System notification: Host, this is critical. You must convince her. Holding hands for one minute equals one hour of life.
Xie Jingran pushed his glasses to hide the panic in his eyes, though his tone remained serious.
“Chu Anhe, as my wife, even if it’s only in name, we must show enough familiarity in public. Right now you still get nervous and stiff when you see me. If you behave like that in front of my grandfather or the media, do you want to tell the world our marriage is fake?”
Chu Anhe hesitated. “I… I’ll try my best to overcome it.”
“Just saying it isn’t enough. You need desensitization training,” Xie Jingran continued making things up. “It’s like someone with a fear of heights gradually approaching high places. Through daily contact, we eliminate your stress reaction.”
It sounded… strangely reasonable.
Chu Anhe was still hesitating when Xie Jingran impatiently checked his watch.
“If there are no objections, we start now.”
He suddenly stood up, walked around the desk, and stopped in front of her.
The unique cedar scent immediately surrounded her. Chu Anhe instinctively tried to lean back, but Xie Jingran grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t move,” he said in a low voice.
Their hands clasped in the air.
The man’s palm was wide and warm, his fingertips slightly calloused, wrapping tightly around Chu Anhe’s cool, small hand.
Chu Anhe froze completely, barely daring to breathe as her heart pounded. “Teacher… Teacher Xie?”
“Be quiet. I’m testing your heart rate response.” Xie Jingran frowned deeply, staring at their hands as if conducting a precise scientific experiment.
In reality, the red numbers on the virtual panel before him were jumping wildly.
System: Contact activated. Life countdown charging. Plus one minute. Plus five minutes. Plus ten minutes.
System: Amazing. This is great. Keep holding her hand longer.
Seeing the numbers rise, Xie Jingran felt delighted inside, though his expression grew even colder as he looked at her hand with dissatisfaction.
“Why are your hands so cold? Poor circulation?”
Chu Anhe blushed deeply and tried to pull her hand away. “Then… should I warm them up first?”
“No need. That would affect the data.”
As he spoke, he tightened his grip and even covered her hand with his other hand, turning it into a two handed hold.
“This temperature difference is more beneficial for the training.”
One minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Five minutes passed.
The two of them stood face to face in the study in a strangely awkward posture, like they were performing some mysterious handshake ritual.
Chu Anhe’s palms began sweating and her arm felt sore. She secretly glanced up and noticed the aloof Professor Xie staring seriously at the wall clock.
“Um… Teacher Xie, my hand feels a little numb,” she said softly. “Is it… enough now?”
Xie Jingran glanced at the panel.
The current charge is five hours. Current life balance is fifty nine days and five hours.
Not bad. The results were obvious.
Reluctantly, Xie Jingran released her hand, then pulled out a wet wipe and wiped his hand in disgust. He snorted coldly.
“Barely acceptable. Your psychological endurance still needs improvement. Your palms started sweating after only five minutes.”
Chu Anhe was speechless.
You were the one gripping too tightly.
“Alright, go out.” Xie Jingran waved his hand like he was shooing a fly. “Lin Shu will call you for dinner. Don’t bother me if there’s nothing important.”
Chu Anhe felt as if she had been pardoned. She grabbed her bag and fled the study.
As the door closed,
The cold and composed Xie Jingran instantly collapsed into the leather chair. He raised the hand that had held Chu Anhe’s earlier. Her hand had been small and soft, carrying a faint milky sweetness.
“Tsk.”
Xie Jingran loosened his tie irritably, the tips of his ears slightly red.
“System, does this broken function have side effects? Why is my heart beating faster now than before?”
The system replied: That is called the stirring of spring feelings. Also a reminder that the charging efficiency of simple hand holding will gradually decrease. Next time, consider trying hugging, head patting, or… kissing.
“Shut up.”
That night, Chu Anhe could not fall asleep.
Lying on the soft European style bed that felt like clouds and staring at the dazzling crystal chandelier above her, she felt everything that happened today was like a dream. She had actually married Xie Jingran. He was Xie Jingran.
In the room next door,
Xie Jingran also could not sleep.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind filled with the soft sensation from her hand earlier.
System warning: Abnormal hormone secretion detected in the host. It is recommended to sleep immediately, otherwise it will affect skin condition and reduce the domineering CEO level appearance.
“Be quiet.”
Xie Jingran turned over and pulled the blanket over his head.