After seeing Li Sixuan off, the expansive space was left with only Yan Hao and Lou Jingyi.
Lou Jingyi tried to apply the medicine to his back himself, but he couldn’t reach it at all.
“…I’ll help you.” Yan Hao sat down beside him. “This incident today started because of me; let me apply the medicine as a form of apology.”
“Lou Jingyi, my parents have both passed away. The only reason this engagement can continue is that my father wanted to entrust someone to protect me, which is why I came to Jing City.”
Although it sounded strange—even she herself found it inconceivable—because Grandpa Yan also held a high status in Jing City, and her father had merely followed her mother to Feng City. Yan Hao was still of the Yan family’s bloodline; how could she possibly need the Lou family’s protection? However, since her father had said so before he passed, there must be a reason for it.
Lou Jingyi’s hand, which had been applying the medicine, slowly dropped.
Yan Hao took the medicine from his hand to apply it for him. “If you ever find someone you like in the future, or if you already have…”
Yan Hao’s nose felt sour, and she held back her emotions. “I won’t interfere with you two. When the time comes, let’s get a divorce.”
She was probably the first person to talk about divorce before even receiving a marriage certificate.
“Six months,” Lou Jingyi said suddenly.
“…What?”
“For the next six months, we will be a couple in name only. After six months, we will divorce. I will not be stingy with the financial provisions due during the marriage.”
Provisions…
Yan Hao felt a sense of sorrow; she didn’t lack those things. The person she liked was trying to dismiss her with the most mundane of things.
Then again, Yan Hao thought, this was perfectly normal. He had no obligation to spend his time and effort on someone he didn’t like. In this world, the things Yan Hao truly wanted were things she could never obtain.
Only half a year. Yan Hao greedily wanted a little more. She had actually thought that since they were getting married this time, she would be able to stay by Lou Jingyi’s side for a lifetime.
“Okay.” The medicinal liquid was gently applied to his back; the smell of the medicine was strong. Yan Hao closed the cap. “Don’t put your shirt on yet, it will get stained.”
“Mn, thanks,” Lou Jingyi said. “My handling of today was inconsiderate; I apologize.”
“It’s alright.”
Lou Jingyi felt uncomfortable being shirtless in front of Yan Hao. “You should go back to your room; I’ll call someone if I need anything.”
“Then I’ll head up first.”
A few minutes later, the medicine dried, and Lou Jingyi put on his shirt. He opened his phone, and a string of unread messages popped up.
Song Yu: [Jingyi, I heard you were hit by Grandpa Lou. Are you okay?] Ren Mingchao: [Sixuan said you got beaten?] Song Yu: [Jingyi, are your injuries serious?] Song Yu: [I told you, that woman’s arrival would bring no good to you!] Li Sixuan: [Got the beauty to apply your medicine—aren’t you going to thank me?] Lou Jingyi: [Get lost. I’m fine.]
Exiting the group chat, he received a message from his mother, Song Ying: [Jingyi, treat Yan Yan better. No matter what, you should have respected her and discussed it beforehand. Fortunately, she stood up for you; otherwise, who knows how badly your grandfather would have beaten you today.] Mom: [Find time tomorrow to go get the license with Yan Yan.] Lou Jingyi: [Understood, Mom.]
After Yan Hao finished showering, she also received a message from Song Ying. Auntie: [Yan Yan, don’t take what Jingyi said today to heart. The wedding will definitely be held.]
Yan Hao didn’t argue that she and Lou Jingyi didn’t want a wedding this time; the Lou elders were still in a rage, and she couldn’t add to the chaos.
Yan Hao: [I understand, Auntie.]
…
The next morning, Lou Jingyi didn’t forget about getting the marriage certificate with Yan Hao. After washing up and leaving the bathroom, he went to the walk-in closet to find a shirt. He only buttoned the middle button; applying the medicine by himself was inconvenient, so he still needed to call a servant for help.
Just as he opened his bedroom door, he saw Yan Hao standing at the entrance, holding his bottle of medicine.
“I… I’m here to help you apply the medicine.”
He had taken three cane strikes to the back; Yan Hao didn’t know if Lou Jingyi had to go to work today. Fearing she might disturb his sleep, she didn’t dare knock lightly, so she could only wait at the door.
“Give it to me.”
Lou Jingyi reached out to take the medicine, but was refused by Yan Hao. “…You can’t reach, I’ll do it.”
Lou Jingyi: “…”
“Forgot to tell you, I called the servants to the backyard to work… there’s no one to help you…”
Since she and Lou Jingyi were definitely getting married, she had asked people to rearrange the backyard so she wouldn’t feel stifled living at Jingyuan. She still didn’t know how to interact with Lou Jingyi, and she couldn’t stay in the bedroom or living room all the time. Perhaps the backyard would make her feel more at ease.
Lou Jingyi felt a headache coming on. Jingyuan had ten servants besides the cook, plus Aunt Chen. They had all been summoned away by her?
“Then, I’ll trouble you.” Lou Jingyi was in a rush to leave and get the certificate to “complete the task,” so he couldn’t be bothered with the details.
This was Yan Hao’s first time inside Lou Jingyi’s room. His personal items were so sparse it looked like a hotel room; there were only two magazines on the nightstand, with nothing else.
Lou Jingyi walked over to the sofa and sat down, taking off his shirt. The marks were no longer as eye-catching as the night before and had faded significantly. It seemed this ointment was very effective.
Yan Hao didn’t sit; she bent over to apply the medicine to his back.
“We’ll go get the certificate later.”
Hearing this, Yan Hao felt a bit nervous. This was her first time getting a marriage certificate. She had prepared all the necessary documents before coming to Jing City. Even though she didn’t know if Lou Jingyi would take her today, Yan Hao had still gotten up early to put on light makeup and wear a white shirt.
Perhaps she felt her heartbeat was too fast and was worried Lou Jingyi might hear it. She hurriedly finished applying the medicine. “It’s done. Is your injury okay? Shall we go another day?”
“No need, let’s go today.” Lou Jingyi put on his white shirt, buttoning it up, and said to Yan Hao behind him, “Let’s go.”
Yan Hao followed Lou Jingyi downstairs. Aunt Chen came out from the backyard and saw the two of them walking down the stairs one after another. Regardless of the mud on her hands, she took her phone from her pocket and hurriedly snapped a few photos.
Aunt Chen didn’t have much skill in photography, but Lou Jingyi and Yan Hao were so outstandingly attractive that the photos still looked pleasing to the eye. She quietly returned to the backyard and sent the photos to Zhao Laifang.
They were lucky; there were few people at the Civil Affairs Bureau, and the registration process went fast and smoothly.
The moment they got the marriage certificate, Lou Jingyi took a photo of both of their certificates and sent it to the family group.
Task complete. He handed one of the books to Yan Hao. “I’ll send you back.”
Watching him expressionlessly send the photo to his family, Yan Hao felt bitter. To him, marrying her was nothing more than a task.
“You go attend to your business; I have things to do later.”
“Mn. Call the driver if you need a ride.” Lou Jingyi gave her a number and didn’t ask further, putting away his certificate and driving off.
With his back injured, Lou Jingyi didn’t go to the company and drove back to Jingyuan. The workers and the Jingyuan servants had finally finished the backyard, adding quite a few new flowers. After being rearranged, the backyard looked brand new.
Just as he was seeing the workers off, Lou Jingyi arrived home.
“Young Master, you’re back.”
“Aunt Chen, what did you do to the backyard?”
“Miss Yan felt the variety of flowers was too sparse, so she had the workers rearrange it.”
Lou Jingyi didn’t find it strange. They were married now, so she had the right to handle things at Jingyuan. Speaking of marriage certificates…
“Aunt Chen, she and I have already registered our marriage. You should change how you address her from now on.”
“Young Master, congratulations!” Aunt Chen was very happy. “Where is the Young Mistress?”
“She said she had something to do, so I came back first.”
“…Young Master.” Aunt Chen was at a loss for words regarding Lou Jingyi’s behavior. How could he just leave her alone and come back? Even if the Young Mistress had something to do, he could have sent her there first.
“Mn?” Lou Jingyi was confused.
“It’s nothing. I’ll get back to work. Today is a great day for you; you should celebrate.”
“Just treat it like a normal day.”
“How can it be normal? We must celebrate!” Aunt Chen said, then plunged into the kitchen to call the chefs to prepare a meal.
Lou Jingyi let her be. Before he had climbed a few stairs, he stopped. “Aunt Chen, make some lobster.”
“Hey! You got it!”
He had seen her eat a lot of it at the old residence, so she must like it. Lou Jingyi knew he didn’t love this wife, but he wouldn’t mistreat her either. It was, in a way, fulfilling his obligation to the late Uncle Yan and Auntie Tang. To him, six months was neither long nor short. After the divorce, no matter what happened to Yan Hao, he would absolutely help her wherever he could.
Yan Hao had strolled around outside until past two o’clock. When she returned to Jingyuan, she saw the kitchen staff busy at work. It was far more people than needed for a normal meal for just her and Lou Jingyi.
“Aunt Chen, do we have guests tonight?”
“Young Mistress, you’re back.” Aunt Chen smiled. “No guests. You both registered your marriage today, so we’re making some good food to celebrate!”
Aunt Chen called over all the servants. “Quick, this is the Young Mistress!”
“Hello, Young Mistress!”
The synchronized shout made Yan Hao feel as if they had been drilled.
Yan Hao: “…”
“Carry on then. I’m going to my room for a nap.”
“Very well, Young Mistress. I will call you when dinner is ready.”