Qiao Shuran did not understand what he meant.
“Didn’t we already agree this morning? You’d help me show affection in public, and I’d give you enough freedom…”
What, was he already planning to go back on his word?
“Mr. Zhou—no, Husband.” She cleared her throat, pretending to be composed. “I’m someone who keeps her promises. Once I agree to something, I will definitely do it. You—”
“I’m the same.”
Zhou Yannan held a cigarette between his fingers but did not light it.
“What we discussed this morning was about our agreement regarding the marriage. But now, I want to make a few requirements specifically about the two of us.”
“Go ahead.”
Qiao Shuran felt uneasy, her anxiety written all over her face.
Requirements? What did he want from her?
A sexless marriage, treating her as nothing more than decoration?
That wouldn’t do.
She was still young—she had not even fully experienced life yet.
Did he want her to stay at home all day, never stepping out, becoming a full-time madam?
That was impossible too. She would go crazy.
“What are you thinking about?”
Seeing her suddenly drift off and frown more and more, the man tapped the table lightly with his finger.
Qiao Shuran snapped back. “Just say it. I’m listening.”
“Alright.”
Zhou Yannan lowered his brows, his expression serious—as if he were negotiating business.
“First, I don’t believe in abstinence. Since you’ve married me, you have the responsibility to fulfill your duties as a wife.”
“Second, I’m not a machine. I don’t like rigid schedules, so don’t try to set rules about which days we can or can’t do it. As long as you’re not unwell, if I have needs, I will act on them.”
So direct?
Qiao Shuran nodded blankly, struggling to keep up. “Mm… anything else?”
“Third.”
Zhou Yannan leaned back slowly, crossing one leg over the other. “I may smoke and drink in private, but there are certain things I never touch. The same standard applies to you. I don’t want to one day hear someone tell me that my Madam is hiring male escorts at some club.”
“I—I don’t have that kind of hobby.”
Qiao Shuran waved her hands vigorously. “That pretty boy at noon had nothing to do with me.”
“Of course I know he had nothing to do with you.”
If he had anything to do with her, then when that man showed up at the Zhou residence yesterday, he would not have left with his limbs intact.
Zhou Yannan was not a fool, nor did he tolerate being cuckolded.
Having been engaged to Qiao Chu for years, he knew exactly what kind of person she was.
Male models, escorts, countless lovers.
The reason he had endured it all without exposing her was because he had long expected that Qiao Chu would never marry him.
He had simply been waiting for the right moment.
If the Qiao Family broke off the engagement, or if Qiao Chu ran away, he could use his position as the victim to gain leverage over them.
Besides, he had not wanted to marry anyway. Having a nominal fiancée as a shield had also kept his grandmother from worrying.
Everything had been going according to plan—
until this clueless girl suddenly appeared and disrupted it.
And somehow, he had agreed.
But since he had agreed, so be it.
The girl was clean—her background clean as well. He had investigated her. Compared to Qiao Chu, their lifestyles were completely different.
Marrying her… was not unacceptable.
“Then what’s the point of telling me all this?”
Qiao Shuran still did not understand. “Even if you didn’t say it, I wouldn’t touch those things.”
“There’s no special point. I just want you to have a clear sense of boundaries.”
He lit the cigarette, took a shallow drag, and his indifferent expression blurred slightly in the smoke. “From now on, you are my Madam. Outside, as long as you don’t cross my bottom line, everything else is up to you.”
“Your bottom line…”
Qiao Shuran thought it over. “So as long as I stay faithful, everything else is fine, right?”
“That’s about it.” Zhou Yannan did not bother explaining further.
“Okay, I understand.” Qiao Shuran visibly relaxed.
He could have said that earlier—why make it sound so serious?
She had thought it was something much more important.
“Mrs. Zhou.”
Seeing her suddenly at ease, the man showed a hint of dissatisfaction.
“I gave three points. Did you only hear the last one?”
“No, I heard all of them.” Qiao Shuran hurried to explain.
Afraid he would not believe her, she repeated them quickly, “First, fulfill marital duties. Second, if you have needs, I cooperate anytime. Right?”
“Correct.” Zhou Yannan narrowed his eyes.
When she spoke, she habitually moved her body slightly, her chest rising and falling with her gestures.
His gaze was unconsciously drawn downward, settling on her neckline.
The cut of the dress seemed a bit low…
His throat moved slightly as he stubbed out his cigarette.
“Come here.”
“What?”
“Come here. To my side,” he repeated, his voice lower.
“This… isn’t very appropriate…” Qiao Shuran glanced around like a thief.
In broad daylight, in the study—was he really that impatient?
But even as she refused, her traitorous legs carried her toward him.
“Mr. Zhou… I think this isn’t very suitable… what if someone comes in?”
“Who would come?”
“The servants… they go in and out, and no one stops them…”
As she spoke, she had already walked up to him, gripping the hem of her dress tightly, unsure what to do next.
There was no chair in front of him.
Was she supposed to sit directly on his lap?
That was too embarrassing.
Ah, whatever. If he wasn’t afraid, why should she be? She might as well go all in.
Closing her eyes, Qiao Shuran sat down decisively on his firm, muscular thighs.
She waited for a few seconds—but there was no reaction behind her.
Her back stiffened involuntarily.
Did he expect her to take the initiative?
But she had only learned about such things from movies—she had no real experience.
“Mr. Zhou, I—I…”
She awkwardly tried to turn around to look at him.
But as soon as her waist twisted slightly, a pair of large hands gripped her.
“Don’t move!”
Warm breath brushed against her ear, his voice sounding even deeper than before.
“Mrs. Zhou…”
His hand pressed lightly against her waist, sliding up and down twice. “So eager—it seems your illness is completely gone.”
“Al-almost.”
Qiao Shuran trembled slightly. “You said that as long as I’m not uncomfortable, I should cooperate. I feel fine now, it’s just… this place… I think it’s not very appropriate.”
“Then where do you think is appropriate?”
“At least… we should go back to the bedroom…”
“The bedroom?”
His low chuckle echoed by her ear. “I just wanted to take your phone to save a number. Do I need to go to the bedroom for that?”
Zhou Yannan removed his hand from her waist and lifted the phone hanging from her wrist.
He held the screen up to her face, unlocking it instantly.
With long, clean fingers, he opened the contacts and saved two numbers.
“One is my private number, the other is A Wen’s. If anything comes up, call me. If you can’t reach me, contact A Wen.”
“O-okay.”
Qiao Shuran was so embarrassed she could practically dig a hole with her toes.
If he wanted her phone, he could have just said so. Why make her come over like that and embarrass herself?
Now she was sitting awkwardly on his lap, unable to get up or stay—utterly mortifying!
Just as she was stewing in embarrassment, he lightly slapped her.
“Want it now? That’s not impossible either.”