Chapter 5 — The Salted Fish's Marriage

He fell silent for a few seconds, and then I felt the heavy blanket being abruptly pulled away. The very next instant, a warm kiss was gently pressed against my forehead. I froze completely. Mo Yan was practically inches away, and his dark, fathomless eyes clearly reflected my utterly bewildered expression. His voice was low, slightly raspy, and tinged with a faint, irresistible spell. Please, Nian Nian. I stared at his bright red ears, my heart hammering wildly in my chest. Alright. This was the first time he had ever used my pet name. And it was the absolute first time we had ever been this impossibly close.

Throughout the entire banquet, Mo Yan kept his hand tightly intertwined with mine. He introduced me to every single friend of his, his voice laced with an undisguised, profound pride. This is my wife, Jiang Nian. Chu Tu Duong was also in attendance, and upon seeing our hands locked together so intimately, his jaw dropped wide open. Good grief, Mo Yan, didn’t you say this was just a contract marriage? You call this a contract? Mo Yan glanced at him with casual indifference. The contract has been shredded. Holy crap! Chu Tu Duong spun around to look at me, his face a mask of utter astonishment. Sister-in-law, you are truly amazing! How on earth did you pull this off? I smiled, not even getting the chance to reply. Mo Yan instantly pulled me into his arms, overtly staking his absolute claim: I pursued her. Absolute silence descended upon the room. Everyone stared at Mo Yan as if he were some bizarre alien creature. I could feel his body tense up slightly, yet the arm wrapped securely around my waist never loosened its hold. I leaned against his chest, sweetness bubbling up inside me like honey.

On the ride back home, I rested my head gently on his shoulder, idly playing with his fingers. Mo Yan, why did you stop updating that online post? His entire body stiffened, and he offered no reply. Well, Mr. Anti-Internal-Consumption, why have you suddenly gone so quiet? I teased deliberately. His ears flushed red once again, and he turned his head away to avoid my gaze. What post? I have no idea what you are talking about. Really? I leaned in close to his ear and whispered: Then Mr. Wealthy Today Is Also Profunding Flourishing must be feeling terribly lonely.

The car fell instantly quiet, save for the sound of our breathing. After a long, lingering moment, Mo Yan turned back to me, his deep eyes gazing intently into mine. You… knew all along? How could I not? I arched an eyebrow. Did you honestly think your hiding skills were that flawless? He pressed his lips together, his expression a mixture of confusion and aggrieved helplessness, resembling a large, noble dog caught red-handed doing something mischievous. Seeing him look like this, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. I cupped his face in my hands and pressed a light kiss to his lips. Mo Yan, you being like this is just devastatingly adorable.

He froze in place. The next second, he aggressively turned the tables, grabbing the back of my head and returning the kiss with fierce, burning intensity. Unlike our previous, fleeting touches, this kiss carried a heavy, suppressed longing and overwhelming emotion, as though he wanted to devour my very soul. When the kiss finally ended, both of us were breathless. He rested his forehead against mine, his voice hoarse and raspy: Jiang Nian, I love you. It was not hidden behind a screen, nor was it imagined inside his own head. He spoke those three words to me clearly and unequivocally. The corners of my eyes instantly stung with hot tears. I love you too, my dear Mr. Anti-Internal-Consumption.

So, regarding that post, do you plan to delete it, or keep it as a permanent memoir of our romance? Mo Yan’s expression underwent a series of the most wondrous transformations. It took him a long while to find his voice, which was now laced with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation. Delete it. Don’t you dare, I tugged at his sleeve, shaking it gently. It’s far too precious not to commemorate! If we ever have a falling out in the future, I’ll just drag it out and read it, to remind myself just how utterly infatuated you once were with me. I was never infatuated. He stubbornly protested, though his gaze had already drifted toward the window, not daring to meet my eyes. Oh, but you were. I imitated his exact phrasing from the post, saying with absolute certainty. I was not. Yes, you were, you even posted pictures of your abs for my sake, you were a total simp, completely shameless. Mo Yan fell completely silent. A deep blush spread all the way from his neck up to the tips of his ears, making him look precisely like a boiled lobster. Finally, he let out a long sigh of absolute defeat, pulling me fiercely into his arms and resting his chin atop my head. Fine, I was infatuated, I was completely shameless. His tone carried a profound, pampering surrender.

Upon arriving home, I forced him to personally write a happy ending for that online post. He picked up his phone, his brows furrowed into a deep crease, tapping away at the screen for ages without managing to string a single sentence together. How am I supposed to write this? Am I supposed to tell the whole world that I was thoroughly conquered by you? His face wore an expression of profound martyrdom. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, I snatched the phone away from him, my ten fingers flying deftly across the screen, let me help you out. Mimicking his online persona, I quickly hammered out a paragraph and hit send.

Final update: The pursuit failed, and I have officially surrendered. This person possesses schemes too profound, my spiritual discipline is entirely inadequate, and she is simply impossible to guard against. She was never after my money, nor was she after my abs.

She was aiming directly for my very soul.

And I walked right into it, completely of my own free will.

Once sent, I shoved the phone back into his hand, raising an eyebrow in triumphant satisfaction. Mo Yan stared down at the text I had crafted, his expression complex, until finally, the corners of his mouth twitched upward into an undeniable, brilliant smile. The phone began to buzz furiously, the comment section erupting with more chaotic energy than New Year’s Eve.

Oh my god! What kind of fairy-tale ending is this! The ship I’ve been sailing has finally docked in reality!

Author, your surrender looks utterly pathetic, but flexing your romance like this is entirely too handsome!

Who on earth is the author’s wife! Please drop a photo! Wedding pictures will also suffice!

Wealthy Today Is Also Profunding Flourishing replied: Thanks for the invitation, I am officially the spirit animal that sealed the fate of the male and female leads. Please wire your wedding cash gifts directly to my bank account, thank you.

HAHAHAHA even the spirit animal has spoken! Wealthy Today, hurry up and tell your mother-in-law to post pictures!

I looked at the cascading comments and rolled around the bed laughing uncontrollably. Mo Yan snatched the phone away, tossed it aside, and leaned down, instantly enveloping my entire world within his warm shadow. Stop looking at that.