Сhapter 13: If Роssessivenеss Flares Uр, Just Таkе Yоur Мediсinе
Тhе Civil Affаirs Bureau oреned аt 8:30 АМ. Jiаng Li sеt her аlаrm fоr 7:00 to get uр аnd get rеady. She lеanеd toward the mirrоr, adjusting thе plumр, fluffу white bow оn her head.
Shе wеnt dоwnstаirs for breаkfаst.
Jiаng Sоng’er was еating а Western-stуle meаl: sausagе, bacon, bаkеd bеans, blасk pudding…
Since rеturning from studуing аbroad in thе UK, Jiang Sоng’er hаd еаten thеse almоst everу mоrning.
Тoday was the day Jiang Li wоuld gеt her marriage сеrtificate. Jiаng Sоng’er didn’t know why she had gotten up early either—perhaps it was just a touch of unwillingness.
Although Ye Yuchen was more attentive to his wife than Yuan Hezhi and had more charm than that workaholic Yuan Hezhi, the Ye family ultimately couldn’t compare to the Yuan family.
After Jiang Li sat down, she sipped the purple sweet potato and yam porridge the kitchen had specially prepared for her.
She liked taro paste, and she liked purple sweet potatoes—she enjoyed all sweet, sticky foods.
Jiang Song’er looked up at Jiang Li, smiling with clear ill intent. “The Ye family will come with the betrothal gifts three days from now, which happens to be the day you return to your parents’ home. Everyone can gather together again—it’s sure to be a lively scene.”
Jiang Li: “Mm, I’ll miss Father and Mother. Three days feels like a long time to me.”
The sincerity in the adopted daughter’s words stirred a faint trace of paternal affection in Jiang Deming.
“A Li, you can come home anytime you miss us!”
Jiang Li smiled, her eyes curving. “Thank you, Father.”
All this hypocrisy with these people had spoiled her appetite. She only ate half a bowl of porridge, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and reapplied her lipstick.
“Enjoy your meal. I’m off to the Civil Affairs Bureau.”
Jiang Song’er: “Let me see you out.”
The two walked to the entrance, where Jiang Song’er suddenly grabbed Jiang Li’s arm. “Three days from now, you’ll return to your parents’ home with Yuan Hezhi, right?”
Jiang Li lowered her gaze. “If Yuan Hezhi wants to.”
She knew what Jiang Song’er was up to—nothing more than wanting to laugh at her because Yuan Hezhi was impotent.
Hmph.
Three days from now, it wasn’t certain who would be laughing at whom!
Jiang Li pulled her arm free from Jiang Song’er’s grip and walked to the villa entrance, where she saw a black Maybach.
Yuan Hezhi rolled down the car window, his deep, calm eyes appraising her. The bow on her head was playful, but wasn’t the white V-neck blouse a bit too revealing?
“Get in.”
“Okay.” Jiang Li obediently opened the car door.
“Were you very tired yesterday?” he asked.
Jiang Li looked at Yuan Hezhi, who was holding a fountain pen. Good heavens, this was the mark of a successful person—still handling official business on the day of getting the marriage certificate!
“It wasn’t just ordinary tired. I have a lot of little things, and I kept packing until 10 PM.”
Jiang Li felt her response was too plain, not coquettish at all, so she softened her voice, enunciating lightly, and cooed to him.
“I only saw your text and missed call this morning. I’m sorry, Brother Hezhi. Actually, after I fell asleep, I dreamed of you. It’s a pity I didn’t dream that you called me, or I would have opened my eyes right away and had a long, sweet phone call with you!”
“I’ve never had a long, intimate phone call with a guy before. Probably Heaven knew I would meet Brother Hezhi, so it made me save all the beautiful firsts for you.”
Yuan Hezhi suddenly tightened his grip on the Montblanc pen, his gaze returning to her as if expecting something.
Jiang Li blinked, not understanding what this man wanted.
Although she knew he liked it when women acted coquettish, Jiang Li still didn’t dare to provoke him recklessly.
Yuan Hezhi held a high position and great power, and he was deep and calculating. In her past life, Ye Yuchen’s favorite drunken rant had been, “If Zhou Yu was born, why was Zhuge Liang born? Why doesn’t Yuan Hezhi just die?”Ye Yuchen couldn’t gain any advantage from Yuan Hezhi, and Jiang Li didn’t think she was any smarter or more cunning than Ye Yuchen.
Yuan Hezhi withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at her. His long, slender fingers closed the fountain pen, and he began to rest with his eyes closed.
She was delicate as if boneless, seemingly unable to live without him, yet her body kept a distance from him—enough space for two people to fit between them.
There was no kissing either.
Yuan San: “Young Master, Young Madam, we’ve arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau. There’s some traffic ahead, so I can only stop here. You might have to walk the rest of the way.”
Yuan Hezhi and Jiang Li got out of the car, with Yuan Si following at a distance to protect them.
Suddenly, Yuan Hezhi stopped. His deep, clear voice spoke earnestly, “Your shirt is a bit wrinkled. Let me adjust it for you.”
Jiang Li obediently stood before him.
Yuan Hezhi lowered his gaze, adjusting the shirt for his petite wife, who stood a head shorter than him, successfully adjusting the V-neck to only reveal her collarbone.
Jiang Li didn’t sense anything amiss and smiled sweetly, asking, “Is it okay now?”
Yuan Hezhi: “It’s fine.”
Yuan Si, who witnessed everything: “…”
Was the Young Madam’s shirt really wrinkled?
Even if it was, what good does adjusting her collar do?
If your possessiveness is acting up, take some medicine. Why ruin the Young Madam’s stunning look!
Yuan Hezhi didn’t think his possessiveness was acting up; otherwise, he would have forced Jiang Li to change her shirt.
In truth, he really wanted to do just that, but he was afraid of scaring her.
The two took their wedding photos at the Civil Affairs Bureau, which took a bit longer. It was two hours before they received their marriage certificate.
Stepping out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Jiang Li stood in the sunlight, looking at herself on the marriage certificate and Yuan Hezhi beside her.
Something seemed to have been pulled out of her body, making her feel much lighter.
Finally, everything was settled.
Finally, she had escaped the fate of her past life.
Jiang Li closed the marriage certificate, her plump, rosy lips curling slightly. “Brother Hezhi, I’m so happy. You have no idea how happy I am.”
Yuan Hezhi: “I can see you’re very happy. You even got the address wrong.”
His voice was elegant and cool, giving off a matter-of-fact tone, like the impartial Sword of Damocles.
Jiang Li: “Husband~”
She even added a sweet kiss, but she forgot she was wearing lipstick today…
Back in the car, Yuan San and Yuan Si stared intently at the lipstick mark on the Young Master’s cheek.
Even though they knew it was from the Young Madam, it gave off the impression of a secret affair, perhaps because the Young Master was usually too steady and restrained. No one would ever associate him with romance or love.
“It can be wiped clean.” Jiang Li, full of apology, used a wet wipe to clean Yuan Hezhi’s face. They were very close, and her delicate fragrance shyly enveloped him.
It felt as if there was a stove burning fiercely inside him.
Yuan Hezhi crossed his legs, his gaze sharp, and quietly draped a blanket over his lap.
“I have a Golden Retriever. Are you afraid of dogs? I’ll set up a separate yard for it and take full responsibility for everything. You won’t have to interact with it.”
Jiang Li thought it was something serious, but it was just a dog, not a mistress.
“I’ve never had a dog before, but Golden Retrievers are very friendly. I can try to get along with it. If it really doesn’t work out, we can set up a yard for it later.”
When things were peaceful, Yuan Hezhi was willing to accommodate her. But what if they argued in the future? Would Yuan Hezhi think she was being difficult and mistreating the Golden Retriever?This feeling of being cared for by a high-ranking leader was intoxicating, exhilarating. But Jiang Li had already died once; she didn’t want to gamble on the good or evil of human nature again.
Yuan Hezhi said, “Let’s go home. Grandma wants to see our marriage certificate.”
He reached out his hand toward Jiang Li. She tentatively placed the damp, stained tissue into his palm, and Yuan Hezhi promptly tossed it into the trash bin.
Strange… wasn’t he supposed to be a neat freak?