Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Gu Nianzhi came back to her senses. Her smiling expression was suddenly frozen. She pushed Huo Shaoheng’s hand away with all her might. She turned her head away and looked in another direction, furious. Huo Shaoheng left her side calmly. He went to Zhou Qiyuan’s side to look at the result of the picture taken by the single-lens reflex camera.
Chen Lie also came over to look at Huo Shaoheng and Gu Nianzhi’s wedding photo. “Impressive! Zhou Qiyuang, you are really amazing! This is at the level of a professional!”
Both of them smiled happily in the photo, especially Huo Shaoheng. His facial features were exquisite and cold. It was that kind of beauty that was so fierce, it could cause people to be breathless. He also had that kind of strong energy about him that showed that he was a man of his word—even more so than normal soldiers. That was due to his rank and experience. Furthermore, he was a soldier with a special position who had had many life and death dealings. However, the smile he wore in his wedding photo was especially warm. The smile dispersed all the killing aura and piercing cold air he gave off, and it made people think of the word “happiness.”
Zhou Qiyuan sent the photo to the printer in the meeting room and printed it out using photo printing paper. He then glued it to the marriage certificate. Huo Shaoheng stamped the embossing seal on the two copies of the marriage certificate himself.
…
Gu Nianzhi looked at the marriage certificate that was brought to her. She opened it and took a look at it silently. She knew that her mood would be heavy from start to finish on that day. In the beginning, due to being in too much shock, she was temporarily in a trance. Later on, she gradually started to comprehend it. That whole time, she had a little sneer on her lips, even until the two of them had their wedding photo taken. She was taken by surprise when Huo Shaoheng tickled her. She only gave a little smile because she couldn’t hold it in. The extremely short moment of that smile was perfectly captured by Zhou Qiyuan. This person was really not simple.
Gu Nianzhi slowly raised her eyes and took a look at Zhou Qiyuan. Zhou Qiyuan was also Huo Shaoheng’s personal secretary, who often worked behind the scenes, “in the dark,” as it were. He was one of the two personal secretaries who were never known to the public. There was not a need to talk about his ability. He wouldn’t have been able to be the Special Operation Forces’ Disciplinary Committee leader from among many talented people or be a person who could stabilize the Special Operation Forces when Huo Shaoheng was facing imminent danger if it weren’t for his ability.
Even so, he felt that Gu Nianzhi’s eyes were extremely cold when she looked at him. Staying there made him feel uneasy. He didn’t dare look at Gu Nianzhi and said to Huo Shaoheng, “Huo Shao, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave now.” It was the newlyweds’ wedding night. He knew better…
Huo Shaoheng nodded. “Ok, thank you for today.”
“Huo Shao, you are too courteous.” Zhou Qiyuan smiled at Gu Nianzhi, turned around, and left the meeting room.
“Okay, you guys are already husband and wife. Even though it can’t be publicized, under the law you are legally married.” Chen Lie patted Gu Nianzhi’s shoulder and smiled. He looked at Huo Shaoheng. “Huo Shao, you sure saved lots of money with this marriage. Where is the wedding ring? The reception? The bride price? Newlywed house? With empty hands like that, you successfully conned our good girl, Nianzhi. Hehehe! Even I, Chen Lie, can’t stand it! Don’t you bully our Nianzhi! I’m from her side of the family!”
The corners of Huo Shaoheng’s mouth raised. He already predicted that Gu Nianzhi would not give in so easily, so that was why Huo Shaoheng didn’t even bring out the ring. In the end, if he took it out, it would be thrown to the side by that little ingrate to demonstrate her determination and willpower to “break up.”
If Gu Ninazhi is still unwilling after three years… Huo Shaoheng reasonably decided to stop thinking about that question temporarily. To him, he couldn’t easily give up on something before he tried giving his all. Huo Shaoheng turned back and said to Gu Nianzhi, “When you decide to go public, we will immediately hold a wedding ceremony.”
He also suddenly shot a glance at Chen Lie. “You say you are from Nianzhi’s side of the family. Remember what you just said. When the time comes, you have to adorn Nianzhi’s dress. It can’t be lower than my bride price. That way, it will show that you really do care about Nianzhi. Right, Brother Chen?”
The gloating look on Chen Lie’s face immediately changed. Die young! The dowry he had to give had to be of equal value to Huo Shaoheng’s bride price?! He had to compete with Huo Shaoheng financially? Even if he sold everything he had, he still wouldn’t have that much money! Chen Lie really wanted to slap his own mouth a couple of times! You talk too much! Do you now know the trouble the mouth can start?!
Chen Lie interrupted him. “Then Huo Shaoheng, since you guys are already married, can I leave now that the deed has been accomplished?” His face was red, and he pretended that he didn’t hear those things Huo Shaoheng said at the end.
Huo Shaoheng raised his eyebrows and said in a composed manner, “Yes. Also, thank you for today.” He placed more emphasis on this “thank you” than the one he said to Zhou Qiyuan.
Chen Lie said, “You’re welcome. You’re welcome,” in a depressing manner. He then left the place from the corner of the room. When he left, he was especially considerate by closing the meeting room’s door.
Both Chen Lie and Zhou Qiyuan were gone. Only then did Gu Nianzhi lift her head to take a look at Huo Shaoheng. Since Huo Shaoheng held her hand to sign the marriage certificate, she hadn’t looked at him directly.
Huo Shaoheng knew what he did was not good, but he didn’t regret it. He stretched his long legs while his hands were in his pockets. He leaned against the meeting room’s desk and nodded at Gu Nianzhi. “Any words? You can say them now.” He could tell that Gu Nianzhi almost couldn’t hold back what she wanted to say from her heart.
Before, it was probably because Zhou Qiyuan and Chen Lie were still there that she held it in and didn’t say anything for his sake. Even though Huo Shaoheng didn’t care about it, Gu Nianzhi’s way of doing it still made him feel very dejected.
The fetters on those feelings that held them back for so long were finally gone. He didn’t restrain himself anymore and let the warmth from the bottom of his heart pour forth from his eyes.
…
Gu Nianzhi’s anger reached its peak little by little. She picked up that marriage certificate and slapped it on Huo Shaoheng’s chest with a cold expression on her face. “This is the condition that you want me to agree to? You know, if there is no love, a marriage certificate is just a piece of scrap paper.”
“This marriage certificate exists because I’m showing you respect. You know what my profession is. Do you know how many of those things you did to me were against the law?”
“I said the foremost requirement for me to agree to the condition is for it to be legal and moral, but did you do it? If I wanted to, I could immediately request the court to void this marriage certificate. There wouldn’t be a need for a divorce.”
“I know.” Huo Shaoheng nodded slightly and didn’t say a word to refute her. Instead, he looked at Gu Nianzhi with joy. He turned his hand over and held the hand that Gu Nianzhi used to slap his chest. He lowered his head and kissed her. “But you won’t. You promised me you would give me another chance. I know a chance like this won’t happen a second time, so I’m really going to cherish it.”
The fearless Gu Nianzhi that was full of vitality was actually the woman he dearly loved. The cowering and pitiable person who was afraid to even love was not his Nianzhi. In order for him to get rid of the emotional entanglement from her heart, he would need to stir up her fighting spirit.
“Fine, then. I also have a condition.” Gu Nianzhi took her hand back. Her fair and clear complexion turned red. “Before I am willing to do this, this can’t be made public. To other people I am still a single woman. You also can’t force me to perform husband and wife duties.”
Huo Shaoheng looked deeply at Gu Nianzhi. His Adam’s apple moved up and down as he swallowed. “I won’t force you to perform husband and wife duties, but is it still a no when I pursue you and you accept me?”
“Huo Shaoheng, you think too much.” Gu Nianzhi hugged her arms as she looked at Huo Shaoheng coldly. “I still want it to be like it was before the marriage: going to school, studying, getting my degree, finding a job. You can’t interfere, and you can’t interfere with my personal life, either.”
Huo Shaoheng nodded. “Fine. But you can’t stop me from pursuing you. Don’t forget, you promised.”
Gu Nianzhi puckered her lips and smiled. She still felt Huo Shaoheng pursuing her to be absurd and unimaginable. She thought it over for a moment and asked, “Actually, if you want to pursue me, you could still do so without the marriage certificate. Why must we have a marriage certificate?”
Why? She felt like there had to be other reasons. It was true that Huo Shaoheng hadn’t explained it to her. He wouldn’t tell her that the most important reason was because he didn’t want to lose her, so even if doing things that way wasn’t good, he would use any means necessary.
Of course, there was also a more important and practical reason. Only by making Gu Nianzhi his wife could he immediately request General Ji to move Gu Nianzhi’s security to level A. It was only slightly lower than her previous special level A. If they were not married, he could still increase her security level. However, then it would only go through General Ji’s secret special procedure. From a practical operating perspective, doing things that way would be much more troublesome. Furthermore, other agencies would inevitably be involved. He would have to at least explain to the senate why, and he did not want the other agencies to become aware of Gu Nianzhi’s uniqueness, not even one bit.
Huo Shaoheng still didn’t say a word. He only stretched his hand toward her. “Give me your cell phone. You are now my wife. Your cell phone’s security needs to be upgraded.”
Gu Nianzhi was speechless. She didn’t take out the cell phone. Huo Shaoheng could only walk over to her and take her cell phone out of her little bag himself. He took a look at Gu Nianzhi’s new Hermes bag while he was at it. “Reinitz bought the bag for you?”
Gu Nianzhi was furious. “Of course not! I bought this with my own money! Do you want me to show you the receipt?” During that time, she and Huo Shaoheng were still in a relationship and were lovers. How could she accept expensive gifts from other men?! She had high moral principles!
Huo Shaoheng held her hand and used it to press the cell phone without making a sound. He used her fingerprint to unlock her cell phone. He was planning on using his own cell phone to send some security programs to Gu Nianzhi’s cell phone.
The moment he dialed Gu Nianzhi’s cell phone, the cell phone’s ring tone sounded right away. “The rain falls softly, my hometown is overgrown with grass and trees. I hear that you are still alone…”
Huo Shaoheng didn’t know what to say. He looked at Gu Nianzhi and tilted his head. “This isn’t the cell phone ringtone you used before.”
Huo Shaoheng clearly remembered his ringtone on Gu Nianzhi’s cell phone was, “The priest, the temple, the battle, the bow and arrow, who did they belong to, I like that you in a sea of faces is scenery that only belongs to me…”
Gu Nianzhi smiled, and calmly and slowly said, “Yes, from the moment I was determined to break up with you, I changed your ringtone.” She felt like that was more suitable for her mood.
Huo Shaoheng pushed her cell phone a couple of times using his finger. He instantly retrieved his previous ringtone.
Gu Nianzhi was dumbfounded.
