Lin Nianxi’s mind unseasonably flashed back to last night’s blush-inducing scenes in the hotel. He had pressed her down, his breathing heavy, kissing her fiercely and urgently. Lin Nianxi was so nervous that her palms sweated, her long lashes fluttering uncontrollably as she instinctively closed her eyes, her rosy lips slightly puckered.
One second, two seconds.
The expected scorching sensation never came.
Instead, a crisp “click” sounded beside her ear.
“Your seatbelt wasn’t fastened properly.” The man’s low, slightly teasing voice murmured near her ear.
Lin Nianxi opened her eyes to find Huo Jingmo already back in his seat.
A ripple of amusement spread in the man’s deep-set eyes as his gaze fell on her tightly shut eyes and slightly parted red lips. His tone was lazy, “Just now, with your eyes closed, Nianxi… what were you expecting?”
Lin Nianxi’s ears instantly flushed crimson, red enough to seem like they might bleed.
She flusteredly turned her head to look out the window, covering her burning cheeks with her hands. “I wasn’t expecting anything! My eyes were just a bit sore.”
A faint curve lifted the corner of Huo Jingmo’s lips.
His little girl was so obedient, so adorable.
The Maybach stopped at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
It was a weekday, and the hall wasn’t crowded. Chen Ming had made arrangements in advance, so the two went directly through the VIP channel.
Filling out forms, signing. Lin Nianxi’s hand holding the pen was still trembling. In the spouse column, she carefully wrote out the three characters for ‘Huo Jingmo,’ stroke by stroke. Her handwriting was delicate and neat, forming a stark contrast to the bold, powerful signature of the man beside her.
“You two, sit a bit closer.” In the photo room, the photographer holding a DSLR camera instructed.
They sat before the red backdrop. Lin Nianxi obediently folded her hands on her knees, her back ramrod straight like a primary school student listening attentively in class.
Huo Jingmo wore a custom-tailored white shirt, the top two buttons undone at the collar, exuding an aura of restrained elegance and lazy charm. His tall, imposing figure naturally carried an air of unapproachable authority.
Huo Jingmo tilted his head, meeting the girl’s soft, sweet face.
The coolness in his eyes unconsciously faded. His broad palm slid around her slender waist, pulling her a bit closer into his embrace. A natural smile touched his sexy, thin lips.
“Click.”
The moment was captured.
In the photo, the girl smiled sweetly. The man gazed at her with a head tilt, his eyes filled with unmistakable indulgence and tenderness.
The official seal was stamped.
Two bright red marriage certificates were handed to them.
Stepping out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the sunlight was just right.
Lin Nianxi stopped walking and opened the red booklet in her hand.
In the photo, the two sat side by side. Huo Jingmo, Lin Nianxi.
She gently traced the characters with her fingertip, her mind a tangled mess.
Just one day ago, she was a pitiful creature living under someone else’s roof, forced by her uncle’s family to accompany an old man. One day later, she had become the legal wife of Huo Jingmo, a top-tier figure in the capital’s elite circles.
Huo Jingmo was thirty; she was twenty. A full ten years apart.
She had actually married a ‘uncle’-level big shot ten years her senior. It all felt so surreal, hard to believe.
Seeing the girl staring dazedly at the marriage certificate, Huo Jingmo curved his lips. “What, regretting it already?”
Lin Nianxi lifted her dark, glistening almond-shaped eyes to look at him. “No.”
“It’s too late for regrets now. You’re already my Mrs. Huo,” Huo Jingmo said, a smile playing on his lips as he reached out and took the marriage certificate from the girl’s hand. “I’ll keep it safe for you.”
“Mm.” Lin Nianxi nodded obediently.
Once in the car, Huo Jingmo took a black velvet box from the inner pocket of his suit and handed it to her.
Lin Nianxi took it with confusion and opened it.
Inside lay a black and gold card, embossed with the emblem of the Huo Group.
“This is a supplementary card for you, with no spending limit.” Huo Jingmo looked at her, his tone as casual as if he were giving out pocket money. “Buy whatever you want with it. The PIN is your birthday.”
“I can’t accept this.” Lin Nianxi quickly pushed the box back. “You’ve already paid for my grandmother’s medical expenses and helped transfer her to a better hospital. I can’t take your money.”
Huo Jingmo looked at her with calm eyes. “Lin Nianxi, you are now Mrs. Huo. You need to maintain a dignified and proper image.”
He paused, his tone softening. “From now on, your monthly spending must not fall below three million.”
Three million?
Lin Nianxi widened her almond-shaped eyes. “I’m just a student. There’s no way I could spend three million in a month…”
Her monthly allowance used to be just eight hundred yuan, and even that was earned through part-time work and frugal living.
Three million was an astronomical figure to her.
“Buy decent jewelry, bags, shoes, gems… three million isn’t much.” Huo Jingmo spoke slowly. “You can also use it for self-improvement.”
“As Mrs. Huo, you need to learn how to spend money.”
Lin Nianxi pursed her lips and accepted the card. “Mr. Huo, I’ll do my best to try…”
“What did you call me?” Huo Jingmo’s deep gaze fell on her soft, fair, and pretty face.
Lin Nianxi was taken aback for a moment before she realized.
Biting her lower lip, her cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, “Husband?”
The girl’s voice was soft, sweet, and sticky, like a feather brush gently sweeping across Huo Jingmo’s heart.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he leaned closer, his large hand cupping the back of her head.
“Say it again.” His voice was hoarse with intensity.
Lin Nianxi felt scorched by his deep gaze, her eyelashes fluttering as she obediently called out again, “Husband.”
Her voice was soft and sweet once more.
Huo Jingmo let out a low sigh, his warm lips pressing against her forehead before pulling away.
“Good girl.” He ruffled her hair. “Are you hungry? Your husband will take Nianxi to eat.”
Lin Nianxi nodded.
The car started moving again.
The Maybach drove into the busiest commercial district in the city center and stopped in front of an exclusive, members-only high-end private restaurant.
The restaurant manager was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Huo Jingmo step out of the car, he respectfully approached. “Mr. Huo, the private room is ready.”
Huo Jingmo tossed the car keys to the valet and took Lin Nianxi’s hand as they walked inside.
Passing through an antique-style corridor, the two settled into the innermost private room.
The dishes had been pre-ordered by Chen Ming, all of them mild and nourishing medicinal cuisine suitable for recuperation.
Fish maw stewed with black-bone chicken, steamed red grouper, Boston grilled lobster, steamed egg with scallops, donkey-hide gelatin and astragalus sweet soup, and a bowl of bird’s nest congee.
Lin Nianxi had been thoroughly exhausted over the past two days, frightened and stressed, and her stomach was already empty. The aroma of the food stirred her appetite.
Huo Jingmo rolled up his shirt sleeves and ladled a bowl of soup, placing it in front of her. “Drink some soup first to warm your stomach.”
Lin Nianxi obediently picked up her spoon.
The soup was richly flavored, warming her entire stomach with the first sip.
She ate quietly, her cheeks puffing out slightly with each bite, like a little squirrel nibbling away.
Huo Jingmo leaned lazily against the back of his chair, barely touching his own chopsticks. Most of the time, he simply watched her eat, occasionally using serving chopsticks to place a piece of boneless fish on her plate.
Watching her eat like this inexplicably lifted Huo Jingmo’s mood.
Lin Nianxi had never been cared for so attentively before—the fish was boneless and skinless, the shrimp had been peeled…
She had never eaten so many delicious things!
Every bite brought immense satisfaction!
In the past, she ate merely to fill her stomach, but now she realized that eating could actually be such a joyful experience!
She was like a little mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, happily nibbling away without pause.
This meal left Lin Nianxi thoroughly content.
Setting down her chopsticks, she picked up a napkin and dabbed her lips.
Huo Jingmo handed her a glass of warm water. “Full?”
“Mhm.” Lin Nianxi nodded.
“Since we’re married now, we should live together from now on,” Huo Jingmo said. “Mrs. Huo, how about staying at my place tonight?”
“Mr. Huo…” she began, but meeting the man’s deep gaze, she immediately softened her tone. “Husband, I rented a place in Wutong Alley yesterday afternoon.”
Huo Jingmo uncrossed his legs and leisurely pulled out a tissue to wipe the back of his hand. “Just cancel it.”
“But I still have some things there.” Lin Nianxi pursed her lips. Her backpack, textbooks, and identification documents were all in that tiny room.
“I’ll have Chen Ming fetch them,” Huo Jingmo said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“No need to trouble Assistant Chen,” Lin Nianxi shook her head, her dark almond-shaped eyes showing a hint of determination. “I’ll go pack myself. It’ll be a good chance to settle the cancellation with the landlord. I paid a year’s rent yesterday—twelve thousand in total.”
For her now, twelve thousand was still a significant amount of money, and she didn’t want to waste it.
Seeing the girl’s earnest expression, Huo Jingmo lazily stood up and picked up his suit jacket draped over the chair. “Let’s go. I’ll take you there.”
Half an hour later, the Maybach came to a smooth stop at the entrance of Wutong Alley.
The streets in the old city district were narrow, and the Maybach’s wide frame couldn’t fit through, so it had to park outside.
Just as Huo Jingmo unbuckled his seatbelt, his phone on the center console vibrated.
It was Chen Ming calling—an urgent overseas merger contract required his immediate signature and decision.
Lin Nianxi sensibly pushed open the car door. “Please go ahead and attend to the company matters. I can go in by myself—it’s just a few steps.”
Huo Jingmo rolled down the window, his deep gaze settling on her. The girl stood at the shabby, bustling street entrance in her beige French-style dress, looking both pure and alluring, utterly adorable.
Huo Jingmo’s dark eyes dimmed slightly as he handed her a small bag with his slender hand. “Take this.”
Lin Nianxi realized it was the latest model of an Apple phone.
“I’ve saved my number in the contacts,” Huo Jingmo said.
Holding the bag, Lin Nianxi felt warmth spread through her heart. She smiled softly, her lips curving. “Thank you, Huo… husband.”
“Call me if anything comes up,” the man’s voice was low, carrying a reassuring strength.
“Mhm!” Lin Nianxi nodded vigorously and waved her small hand at him.
Watching the Maybach merge into the traffic, Lin Nianxi turned and walked into Wutong Alley.
Treading up the old staircase to the third floor, Lin Nianxi used her key to unlock the rusty security door.
In the small room of just over ten square meters, there was only a wooden plank bed and a peeling wardrobe. She walked to the bedside, zipped up the backpack she had brought out yesterday, and neatly folded a few old clothes into a bag.
After packing up, Lin Nianxi took out her phone and dialed the landlady, Sister Li.
A little over ten minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Sister Li, the landlady, was a middle-aged woman in her forties, with permed hair and a slightly plump figure. She carried a black faux leather bag used for collecting rent. As soon as she entered, her beady eyes darted around, scrutinizing Lin Nianxi.
When this young girl came to rent the place yesterday, she looked shabbily dressed, like an easy-to-bully poor student. Why was she wearing such an expensive-looking dress today? It seemed worth quite a bit of money.
“Xiao Lin, why are you moving out after just one day?” Sister Li asked with a forced smile.
Lin Nianxi spoke sincerely, her tone apologetic: “I’m sorry, Sister Li. Something unexpected happened at home, and I can’t continue living here. I won’t ask for the thousand-yuan rent for this month. Could you please refund the remaining eleven thousand yuan?”
She thought her request was reasonable. After all, she had only stayed one night and hadn’t even slept in the bed.
Upon hearing the request for a refund, Sister Li’s fake smile instantly vanished. Her triangular eyes widened, and her voice rose sharply: “Refund? What wishful thinking! The contract clearly states in black and white that the lease is for six months. If you’re not renting anymore, that’s you breaking the contract! Not a single cent of the remaining rent will be refunded!”
Lin Nianxi was stunned, her almond-shaped eyes widening slightly: “But when we signed the contract yesterday, you didn’t say that early termination wouldn’t result in a refund. And the contract doesn’t have a clause stating that the remaining rent won’t be refunded.”
“Not written? Do you think my place is a hotel, where you can come and go as you please?” Sister Li planted her hands on her hips, taking a domineering step forward. “Clause three of the contract states that if the tenant unilaterally breaches the contract and causes losses to the landlord, they must bear corresponding compensation! If you stop renting, my place will be empty—isn’t that a loss? The deposit and the remaining rent will be treated as a penalty for breach of contract!”
Lin Nianxi was angered by her sophistry. Although she was timid, she knew this was a scam.
“This is an unfair clause!” Lin Nianxi clenched her fists, arguing on principle. “I haven’t even stayed a full month. Deducting one month’s rent is enough to cover your losses. The rest of the money is mine, and you must refund it!”
“Oh my, this little girl dares to lecture me about the law?”
Sister Li sneered, not only refusing to back down but also pushing Lin Nianxi aside and striding into the room.
She pulled a high-powered flashlight from her bag, flicked it on with a snap, and shone it around the cramped room.
“Want a refund? Fine! Let’s settle the accounts for this room first!”
Sister Li walked over to the worn wooden plank bed, shining the flashlight on the bed leg. Pointing at a pre-existing crack, she shouted loudly: “Look at this, just look! This is a high-quality solid wood bed. It was perfectly fine yesterday, and today the leg is cracked! If it collapses, whose fault would it be?”
Lin Nianxi was furious: “That crack was there yesterday! There’s even dust on it!”
“You’re talking nonsense! It was perfectly fine when I rented it to you!” Sister Li refused to listen to her explanation. She walked over to the chipped wardrobe, forcefully pulled open the door, and pointed at the loose hinge. “And this cabinet! You’ve even broken the door!”
Next came the corner of the wall, the faucet, and even a floor tile that had long been warped—all were blamed on Lin Nianxi by Sister Li.
After making a full round, Sister Li turned off her flashlight, crossed her arms, and looked at Lin Nianxi with contempt.
“The bed leg is broken—that’s eight hundred. The wardrobe is damaged—that’s a thousand. And this wall, the floor… My apartment was just renovated a few years ago! How am I supposed to rent it out again after you’ve wrecked it like this?”
Sister Li waved her five stubby fingers in front of Lin Nianxi. “Considering you’re a student, I won’t ask for too much. Besides the rent you’re not getting back, you’ll have to pay an extra five thousand for the damage to the renovation and furniture. Pay up, and you can leave right away. If you don’t, don’t even think about stepping out of this door today!”