Chapter 9#

Contract Marriage (9)#

When Lu Yi pressed down, he whispered, “Close your eyes.”

The other party obediently closed their eyes, their crimson lips slightly pouted, ready for the kiss.

The two were very close, so close that the other’s long eyelashes could brush against his cheek. In his eyes, the other’s magnified face was reflected, and then came a brief union of lips and teeth.

Very soft lips, carrying the scent of lemon mint that he liked. The temperature was just right, very sweet, perfect for kissing.

When he let go of the other, this evaluation surfaced in Lu Yi’s mind. As he released them, the other wrapped their arms around his waist, pressing close to his chest, wanting to deepen the kiss.

But Lu Yi quickly regained his rationality. He raised a finger and pressed it against the other’s slightly moist lips: “The rehearsal is over, Mr. Yu.”

The man’s voice sounded in his ear, and the overly formal address made Yu Ke calm down.

At that moment, he wanted to suck on the other’s finger, to deepen their ambiguity. But looking at Lu Yi’s handsome and composed face, reason made him abandon this action. He let go of his hold on Lu Yi, stepped back two paces, and ended this brief and restrained kiss together with the other.

Western-style weddings didn’t have the part where the couple bows to each other and then enters the bridal chamber. According to the scheduled plan, after this romantic kiss, the wedding ends. So today’s rehearsal should end here as well.

Because of that not-so-long kiss, Yu Ke’s face was tinged with a lovely pink. But Lu Yi wasn’t in the mood to admire this view. He turned his head to look at the locked door: “It’s getting late now. You can go back to your room.”

Yu Ke couldn’t help but ask: “When you kissed Fang Chuan, was it like this too? Polite and restrained?”

Although this kiss was brief, he could tell that Lu Yi wasn’t a novice. His movements were smooth and clean, without any hint of awkwardness.

This question was a bit personal, but since the two had just kissed and the lingering flirtatious atmosphere in the air hadn’t yet dissipated, being cold to the other would seem somewhat inhumane even if it was just a rehearsal.

Lu Yi decided to face this question directly. He heard himself say: “No, of course not.”

The young man’s handsome face looked even more disappointed, and his voice was like lemonade that had been steeped too long, carrying a faint bitter taste: “That is truly very enviable.”

After saying this bitter remark, the other’s face brightened again. “But I should be grateful that his taste isn’t very good. Otherwise, I might never have met someone I truly like in this lifetime.”

This was clearly implying that Fang Chuan had no discernment, while also expressing affection toward himself.

Lu Yi’s expression turned slightly subtle for a moment: “You seem to have forgotten that one of the important reasons Fang Chuan ran away from the wedding was because he couldn’t face you. In a certain sense, Mr. Yu, you are also one of the culprits responsible for this previous awkward situation.”

Based on ten years of knowing him, he could guess what Fang Chuan was thinking now. Because the person he liked had returned, he wanted to escape. And to protect Yu Ke, to keep his beloved from being suppressed by the elders in the family, he bravely took on all the responsibility. Except for leaving a letter indicating he wasn’t kidnapped and was safe, he told no one.

Yu Ke was a bit embarrassed, but he quickly defended himself: “But this is Fang Chuan’s mistake. You can’t sentence me to death just because he likes me. You’re someone who values fairness. You can’t stop being reasonable just because it’s me.”

Lu Yi retorted: “To you, does love require reason?”

Yu Ke wasn’t the first to express feelings toward him, but feelings are different from gold. Gold retains its value; even as time passes and mountains and rivers change, it still exists.

The change in feelings, however, might happen because of just one word, one kiss, or even an unintentional glance. Its uncertainty is too great; it inherently doesn’t need reason.

“Love certainly doesn’t need reason, but I think since you chose me and I agreed to this request, it means there’s a special fate between us. Every relationship starts from fate, doesn’t it?”

Lu Yi’s tone was quite cold: “In fact, in my life, I was irrational only once, when I chose Fang Chuan, and the result was the greatest humiliation I’ve ever received.”

All these facts were proving to him that irrationality leads to no good end.

Yu Ke said: “You’re throwing out the baby with the bathwater.”

Although he flitted among romantic affairs and believed in the inherent evil of human nature, he also believed in the existence of love and enjoyed its beauty.

“Mr. Yu, I think you should realize that you are merely my employee.”

“But I think we could have a more advanced relationship, couldn’t we?”

Yu Ke placed his hand on his own lips, his eyes bright as he looked at the other: “You don’t dislike me.”

Lu Yi was different from him. The other was a very proper person. Although he verbally said words of refusal, just taken one step forward and quickly retracted, he was unexpectedly considerate.

The fact that the other could accept this kiss meant there were many possibilities between them.

Lu Yi’s attitude was ambiguous and unclear. Every step seemed to tell him, you can go a step further. And Yu Ke was always someone who liked to push his luck.

“You just said that because of irrationality, you chose Fang Chuan. But choosing me is also out of irrationality. Since you don’t dislike me, why can’t we give it a try?” He took a step forward, but Lu Yi didn’t step back as he had expected.

Yu Ke was wrong about one thing. Actually, choosing him was out of rational behavior, but he felt there was no need to argue this with the other.

He glanced at his watch again and reminded the other: “The current time is ten o’clock in the evening.”

From the moment they met until now, Lu Yi had looked at his watch many times. He was a very punctual person and therefore valued his collaborators’ punctuality as well.

Yu Ke looked at the clock in the room. He didn’t quite understand why Lu Yi suddenly said this: “Yes, it’s ten o’clock now. So what?”

Lu Yi explained: “Unless I’m working overtime, this is my rest time. Mr. Yu, you’ve disturbed my rest. And I think if you keep pestering here, it will delay your time to memorize the materials.”

At this point, Lu Yi’s face had completely shed that gentle and ambiguous expression. The young man’s demeanor was calm and cold, as if the person who had just earnestly debated with Yu Ke wasn’t him at all.

Yu Ke couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration: “In your heart, is there only that contract? Is it really that hard to admit you have feelings for me?”

He had always been a love-at-first-sight type. Generally, when he fancied someone, he would take the initiative to pursue them. Breakups were also clean and decisive, never dragging things out.

For those pursuers he didn’t appreciate as much but still considered useful connections, he would string them along temporarily, but always kept perfect control of the boundaries. Yet when it came to Lu Yi, advancing was impossible, and retreating was also impossible. For the first time in such an ambiguous relationship, the initiative was in someone else’s hands.

Lu Yi sighed, but his attitude was frank: “I never said I disliked you. Even if I were to choose a temporary wife, I wouldn’t pick someone I hate.”

Playboys often possess enviable charm, whether in appearance, talent, or money. Yu Ke himself was a very charming person; otherwise, he couldn’t have made Fang Chuan think of him year after year.

There was indeed some fondness, but it was like Yu Ke’s fondness for him—affection based on external conditions like appearance. Such fondness was too shallow, like foam, shattering at the slightest touch.

“Since you don’t dislike it, or even like it, why can’t we give it a try?” Yu Ke asked persistently. Men should be brave and decisive.

Clearly, when they met today, the other was very decisive, advancing step by step, leaving him with no choice. Or perhaps when it came to feelings, Lu Yi became indecisive.

Lu Yi quietly looked at Yu Ke, looking for a full three minutes of precious time: “Mr. Yu, we haven’t known each other for more than twenty-four hours.”

“Some people, just by seeing them once in a crowd, I know they’re the one.”

He didn’t think there was anything wrong with talking about being together after such a short meeting. After all, they had even done the deed of getting married and receiving their marriage certificate. What was wrong with dating after marriage?

“Yu Ke, I understand you better than you think, but you don’t understand me at all.” Lu Yi’s eyes were deep. “I’m not like the people you’ve dated before. I’m not as good as you think. Don’t try to play with fire.”

When he spoke, there was no hint of flirtation, but a heartfelt warning: “Be careful you don’t get burned.”