Chapter 12 — My Arch-Nemesis Cried at My Wedding

His smile widened, stretching so far it looked almost foolish.

"Hahaha, hahahaha..."

He threw his head back and laughed heartily in the middle of the hotel lobby. The manager glanced at us once more, but he only tightened his grip on my hand.

"So, I am the true primary partner!"

"..."

"I am the one and only!"

"..."

"Zhang Nian Nian! I am your only suitor!"

"Hardly. My list of suitors is still quite long."

"That doesn't stop me from being first in line."

He held my hand, his eyes shining with such intensity it was almost blinding. "I have already paid the dowry. I have handed my entire fortune over to you; you are not allowed to back out now."

I looked at him, dancing with joy, and felt a sudden wave of panic. Was this really the cold, ruthless Lu Yanshen of the business world? Was this the bitter enemy who used to slam his fist on the table and curse me for not knowing my place? How had he turned into such a fool?

"Lu Yanshen, calm down."

"I cannot."

He took my hand, lacing his fingers tightly through mine. "Nian, you deceived me for two whole months. Tell me, what should we do about that?"

"Just live with the consequences. You certainly aren't getting your money back."

"That no longer matters. It was always meant for you anyway." He lowered his head to look at me. "You must compensate me."

"How?"

"Stay with me."

As he spoke, his smile faded, replaced by a rare, solemn expression. "I have been chasing you for six years."

"You call our interactions 'chasing'?"

"I admit, I never quite understood how to go about it."

"Your methods were certainly unique."

"Can I stop being like that from now on?" He smiled softly. "Nian Nian, give me a chance."

He placed my hand over his chest. His heart was beating rapidly—unnaturally fast. "I have no experience. I may not do it well, but I will learn."

"Learn what?"

"How to be a good lover." He looked at me steadily. "I have stolen your clients, snatched away your projects, and infuriated you for six years. I want to make amends for all of it."

"How will you make amends?"

"By spending the rest of my life doing so."

I watched him in silence for a long moment, then replied, "Fine. I suppose I can reluctantly agree."

His eyes lit up. "Truly?"

"Truly."

He took a deep breath and began to ramble. "Nian Nian, I will be a good husband. I can handle the living room and the kitchen..."

"You know how to cook?"

"When I studied in Europe, I cooked for myself all the time. I am quite good at it; you can have whatever you want to eat."

"And what about 'that' aspect? You are twenty-nine. They say men past twenty-six have the physical stamina of a sixty-two-year-old."

He immediately clamped his mouth shut, his face flushing crimson. "You... you can test that for yourself. I hit the gym religiously every single day."

"Alright, enough."

I pulled a hotel key card from my bag and pressed it into his palm. He looked bewildered.

"What is this?"

"A room key."

"I know it's a room key—but why give it to me?"

I leaned toward his ear and whispered, "So you can let me 'inspect the merchandise'."

His ears turned a shade of red that looked ready to bleed, but he gripped the card tightly, refusing to let go.

"Nian Nian."

"Hmm?"

"Do not regret this."

I laughed and pulled him toward the elevator. Behind us, I heard Zhang Tian’s voice. "Where are you two going?"

"Personal business," I said without turning back, waving a hand. "The personal business of a married couple."

Lu Yanshen followed closely behind, his steps hurried and his breathing heavy. When I glanced back, his eyes were bright, filled with the brilliance of a starry sky, and he kept that foolish, happy grin plastered on his face.

"Lu Yanshen."

"Yes?"

"What are you so happy about?"

"Happy that today, I finally..." He paused, squeezing my hand a little tighter. "Became the one who is happily defeated by you for a lifetime."

I smiled.