Chapter 8#
Contract Marriage (8)#
Lu Yi considered for half a minute before replying, “Alright.”
“Actually… wait, what did you just say? Alright?” Yu Ke had been prepared for rejection and was about to present Plan B, but Lu Yi’s crisp, straightforward answer left him dazed.
“I said alright.” Compared to Yu Ke’s earlier feigned innocence and cuteness, Lu Yi genuinely preferred this unexpected, candid reaction from him.
The corners of Lu Yi’s lips curled up slightly. “As long as it’s a reasonable request, I’ll consider it.”
He paused briefly before adding, “But the rehearsal will have to wait until after dinner. Aside from that, is there anything else?”
“No, nothing else! Let’s go eat right away! I can’t wait to taste Wang Ma’s cooking.” He was already eager to start the rehearsal.
Since there was a guest, Wang Ma had prepared her signature dishes, and the dining table was laden with an abundant feast.
Lu Yi was an only child. At the dinner table were four people: Lu Yi’s parents, Lu Yi himself, and Yu Ke.
As for the contract, Lu Yi had personally called his father earlier to inform him of the situation. Mr. Lu was a businessman through and through, and he couldn’t think of a better solution. He understood his son’s predicament and, trusting Lu Yi’s judgment, naturally didn’t make things difficult for his chosen “temporary actor.”
The three members of the Lu family were all particular about life. Wang Ma’s cooking rivaled that of a five-star chef. Yu Ke had a sweet tongue and a wealth of knowledge, able to keep up with any topic Mr. Lu casually brought up.
Lu Yi occasionally chimed in as well. Although he hadn’t interacted much with Yu Ke, the other’s insights and certain aspects of his cultivation were unexpectedly impressive. If Fang Chuan hadn’t been a factor, they might have become friends in the future.
One side had no intention of making things difficult, the other was eager to flatter, and with Lu Yi acting as a lubricant, the meal passed smoothly, with both host and guest thoroughly enjoying themselves.
After dinner, Lu Yi led Yu Ke upstairs. He took out a key and opened a door: “This is the guest room prepared for visitors. Tonight, you’ll sleep here.”
The guest room was warmly decorated, its beauty and comfort rivaling the presidential suite of a five-star hotel. But Yu Ke was still quite disappointed: “Not sleeping with you?”
He really wanted to see what Lu Yi’s room was like. Even if he couldn’t sleep there, just taking a look, rolling around on the other’s bed, and picking up his scent would have been fine.
Lu Yi turned on the room’s light and placed the key on the desk: “If nothing unexpected happens, you might end up staying here long-term.”
If it were just the night before the wedding, Yu Ke could tolerate that. But hearing Lu Yi’s follow-up, his eyes dimmed. He stood at the doorway, refusing to enter: “But haven’t we already gotten the marriage certificate? We’re legally married. Since we need to cooperate, wouldn’t it be better to sleep together? Right?”
Newlyweds sleeping in separate rooms—wasn’t that just telling everyone that their relationship wasn’t harmonious?
To avoid seeming too pushy, Yu Ke added, “I sleep very well. I don’t snore, grind my teeth, or sleepwalk. I won’t disturb you. If you’re uncomfortable, I can even sleep on the floor. I just think that sharing a room would better facilitate the execution of the contract. After all, it’s ten million. If I don’t fulfill my duties, I’d feel undeserving.”
His expression seemed sincere, and his suggestion was framed from the perspective of considering Lu Yi, the employer. His serious demeanor made it seem as if there was no ulterior motive.
Lu Yi looked at him for a moment: “That’s for later. I’ll consider it after the wedding. Tonight, you sleep here.”
He had been sleeping alone since he was five. He wasn’t used to and didn’t like sharing a bed with others. Although Yu Ke was now his nominal wife, in reality, the other was just a stranger he had met less than a day ago.
He glanced at his watch again. To be precise, only 9 hours, 12 minutes, and 31 seconds had passed since they first met.
Even subordinates who had worked for him for years weren’t allowed to share a room with him during business trips. Moreover, the Lu residence had more than seven empty guest rooms.
Yu Ke didn’t bring up the sleeping arrangement again. Instead, he said, “So, now that dinner is over, what about the rehearsal? Can we start now?”
What he had been looking forward to most was the rehearsal.
Lu Yi glanced toward the bathroom, frowning slightly: “Wait here for a moment. I’ll have Wang Ma prepare your toiletries. Oh, and if possible, please take a shower. You should wash your hair too.”
After spending most of the afternoon at the club, Yu Ke was covered in a men’s cologne that Lu Yi disliked. His hair was also full of hairspray.
Yu Ke: …
Well, this young Chairman Lu had his flaws—he seemed to have a serious case of germophobia. But no one was perfect. From this perspective, didn’t it just show that Lu Yi was a flesh-and-blood human being?
Half an hour later, after bathing, Yu Ke spat out the minty toothpaste foam, rinsed his mouth thoroughly with warm water, and swished around some lemon-mint mouthwash. He smiled at the mirror, showing eight perfect teeth.
Great. Teeth white and straight, smile full of infectious charm. But something seemed missing.
Yu Ke lowered his head to look at his collar. The Lu family was indeed very proper—even the nightgown was a conservative style, complete with buttons.
After a second of thought, he reached up and unbuttoned the second button of his pajamas, then tugged the collar down a bit to reveal his sexy, beautiful collarbone.
After finishing his preparations, he shuffled in his slippers out of the room, walked to the end of the second floor, and knocked on the door: “Mr. Lu, I’m ready.”
Lu Yi opened the door from inside. Seeing Yu Ke in his nightgown, his expression turned serious: “Mr. Yu, is this what you call being ready? The rehearsal is not a joke. If we’re going to rehearse, I hope you can take it seriously. For instance, regarding attire—do you plan to appear before the guests in a nightgown on the wedding day?”
He wasn’t the least bit seduced by the beauty at his door. Instead, Yu Ke’s nightgown made him stern: “I’m starting to doubt the sincerity of your so-called professionalism.”
Looking at Lu Yi in his suit and tie, Yu Ke’s fair face flushed bright red: “Sorry, I didn’t think it through. Give me five minutes; I’ll change immediately.”
When facing a superior or employer, arguing about whether one is wrong is pointless.
Yu Ke sprinted back, changed clothes at a speed reminiscent of military training, and ran back again.
This time, the door was slightly ajar. After a moment’s hesitation, he still knocked.
Lu Yi’s voice came from inside: “Come in.”
Lu Yi held a pair of rings in one hand and a Bible in the other. He heard the door creak open and then softly close, followed by the click of the lock.
He turned around, looking at Yu Ke in his changed clothes. Without saying much, he stood up as the other approached, then reached out and straightened Yu Ke’s collar.
“At tomorrow’s wedding, do you want to notify your parents to come?” There was supposed to be a segment in the wedding where the bride, Fang Chuan, would be led by her father down the long aisle and handed to him, the groom.
But Yu Ke’s wedding had come suddenly, so he had thought the Fang family could substitute. However, if Yu Ke wanted his biological parents to do it, that could also be arranged.
He added, “The wedding might be broadcast on media. It’s not as extravagant as a century wedding, but there’s a good chance your parents will see it.”
Mentioning his parents, Yu Ke’s expression turned somber: “My parents passed away in an accident when I was eight. After that, I was raised by my uncle and aunt. I don’t have much contact with them now.”
Lu Yi was silent for a moment, his voice tinged with apology: “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. Not knowing that is actually good news for me.” No one liked being completely exposed. The fact that Lu Yi didn’t know that much about him actually made Yu Ke a bit happy.
“If you’re interested, I’ll tell you about it myself someday. But for now, let’s focus on the rehearsal.”
Lu Yi nodded: “I’ll read the priest’s lines.”
The young man’s deep, pleasant voice filled the room, like aged fine wine: “Dearly beloved guests… Yu Ke, do you take Lu Yi as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”
Even though it was just a rehearsal, not in a sacred church, Yu Ke inexplicably felt nervous, his palms sweaty. He replied with utmost solemnity: “I do.”
Then he continued, his voice trembling slightly: “Lu Yi, do you take Yu Ke as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”
Lu Yi looked back at Yu Ke: “Yes, I do.”
The moment Lu Yi finished speaking, Yu Ke blurted out eagerly: “Now, Mr. Lu may kiss his groom.”
Actually, that line wasn’t exactly in the script, but correcting it now would be too much of a mood killer. The young man let out a soft breath, then cupped the other’s face and planted a straightforward kiss.