The night was deep, and the sky was dyed as black as ink.
Numerous black Bentleys were parked outside the Shire Hotel. All the celebrities of the city had gathered here for a grand engagement banquet that was about to commence.
Nan Jinruo was standing at the bar in a low-profile silver long dress. Likely the high heels under her feet were a bit uncomfortable, giving severe pain to her heels.
"Hey, that's Nan Jinruo over there," someone whispered.
"She's average-looking. How did Lu Shao fall for her?" Another person tsked, his voice echoing through the hall.
"She seems to be an up-and-coming starlet. Who knows how she managed to hook up with Lu Shao." The woman's voice was lit with hints of unusual jealousy.
"I have heard that her relationship with her brother is ambiguous, and she was even confronted by her sister-in-law, Shen Yi at her film set. Could it be that Lu Shao is..."
"…Stop talking, she seems to be looking this way."
A self-mocking smile appeared at the corners of Nan Jinruo’s mouth as her icy gaze fell on the group.
Every single word fell clearly into her ears, but what did it matter? She had heard worse things more than a dozen times, she didn't care.
Since deciding to marry Lu Yunsheng, she was already prepared for this.
"There’s still an hour until the banquet. Go to the restroom and change." A calm-faced man approached and handed over a pair of brand-new nude high heels.
Nan Jinruo was slightly stunned, raising her eyes to the man, and quietly said, "Thank you,"
"Thank you?" The man raised his eyebrow, a tease in his smile as he suddenly pulled Nan Jinruo toward him. "Miss Nan, aren't you being too polite to your future husband?"
His hot breath fluttered against her neck, making Nan Jinruo feel slightly uncomfortable, wanting to struggle away, but the grip around her waist only grew stronger.
Lu Yunsheng's eyes held mischief as he gazed at the woman in his arms, her face flushed red with embarrassment. Wasn't she all tough and domineering when she was negotiating with him just a few days ago?
"Hmm? Why aren't you speaking?" Lu Yunsheng leaned in closer, purposely infusing affection into his voice.
"Mr. Lu, will I be allowed to change my shoes?" Nan Jinruo tilted her head to look at the towering man, a hint of embarrassment and anger flashing in her eyes.
With a crooked smile, Lu Yunsheng tilted his head, his lips nearly pressing against her cheek. To an outsider, they were the image of a couple flirtatiously showing their love for each other. "Your acting is so poor, I almost regret hiring you. Now what shall we do?"
Nan Jinruo stiffened but before she could reply, the hand on her waist unexpectedly loosened, almost causing her to stumble backward.
"Go ahead and change. I’m not keen on marrying a crippled person," Lu Yunsheng's nonchalant voice sounded, he shot her an ambiguous smile, turned around and strode off.
A group of elegant ladies who had been watching them glared at her with venomous eyes, as if they wished they could replace her.
Nan Jinruo hung her head and reluctantly curved her lips into a smile, then headed into the restroom.
Just as expected, the heel of her foot was chafed through. Sitting on the toilet, Nan Jinruo grimaced as she removed her shoes. Her raw, red skin was somewhat gruesome, looking as though it was inflamed.
Not paying much mind to it, Nan Jinruo swapped into a new pair of shoes before standing up to turn on the tap.
The silence in the restroom was eerie, contrasting drastically with the bustling party outside. Overcome with sudden curiosity, she lifted her head to look at her reflection in the mirror. Was she really that unattractive?
The moment she met her reflection, she froze. Was the person in the mirror really her?
The woman in the mirror was immaculately made up, far from average-looking as others had claimed. She could even be called stunning. But the corners of her eyes and brows were infused with an indescribable exhaustion, as if she'd weathered a lifetime of hardships.
Nan Jinruo forced a smile, reaching out to touch her reflection in the mirror.
She was only twenty-one, an age that should have been filled with passion and brilliance. If it hadn't been for a moment's capriciousness and misplaced sincerity...
In a flash, Nan Jinruo quickly withdrew her hand and splashed cold water on her face, regaining her calm composure.
Looking at herself in the mirror, a steely resolve gradually surfaced in Nan Jinruo's eyes - she must personally reclaim the Nan family, making that person pay the price!
At the noisy cocktail party, Nan Jinruo went straight back to her rest room.
Lu Yunsheng was leaning against the window smoking. Seeing her push the door in, he smirked with a hint of contempt.
Nan Jinruo blinked slightly, confidently taking a seat on the sofa.
Their relationship was merely a transaction.
"Just have a sit..." As soon as she sat down, Lu Yunsheng tossed a document over.
"What's this?" Nan Jinruo looked up, the overhead fluorescent light was too dazzling, causing her to squint.
"A contract." Lu Yunsheng's expression was blank, his tone icy.
Nan Jinruo immediately understood. Signing contracts on an engagement dinner was a bit hasty, probably he was afraid she wouldn't keep her promise and would continue pestering him.
Seeing her still seemingly confused, Lu Yunsheng laughed scornfully, "How come? You can't be so forgetful of our simple transactional relationship?"
"Of course not." Nan Jinruo responded with a polite smile, "I am always clear about the relationship between Mr. Lu and me."
With these words, she picked up the document and started flipping through it swiftly.
With a low laugh, Lu Yunsheng turned and walked towards the window.
Nan Jinruo was flipping through the files, her face increasingly solemn.
"Mr. Lu, do you think I can't read?" Nan Jinruo's chest was heaving violently, forcefully suppressing her anger.
How dare he settle such an unequal contract, did he think she was desperate enough to accept any help?
"If you're not willing, you can certainly refuse." Lu Yunsheng stared at her, his voice was full of mockery but left no room for doubt, "There are plenty of people waiting for your position, I won't die without you."
"You!" Nan Jinruo's face turned red with anger, and she glared viciously at the man in front of her.
At this moment, her mobile phone rang. Lu Yunsheng gestured for her to answer the phone, then turned his back on her.
Nan Jinruo gradually calmed down and glanced at the screen, it was Nan Muxi.
When it rains, it pours indeed.
"Big Brother, what's up?" Nan Jinruo answered the phone, with a preemptive strike before the person on the other end could say anything.
How long had the news of her engagement to Lu Yunsheng been leaked, and they already couldn't hold themselves back?
"Get away from Lu Yunsheng immediately." The man on the other end of the phone insisted in a way that left no room for doubt.
"I won't," Nan Jinruo responded deliberately, word by word, with a sense of vengeful pleasure, "I love him, I must marry him, you..."
"I'll give you one day," Nan Muxi cut her off without hesitation, "By this time tomorrow, I want to see in the news that you have no relationship with that man, otherwise, I can't guarantee your father's safety."
"Nan Muxi! If you dare to touch my father, I will never let you off—"
"Beep beep beep..." Before her words were finished, the person on the other end had already abruptly hung up the phone.
Nan Jinruo stared at her cellphone, feeling utterly emotionless. Caught in such a predicament, what other choice did she have?
"I agree to your terms," Nan Jinruo raised her head, her eyes met with the smiling gaze of Lu Yunsheng, noticing her every ounce of emotion.
"Hmm?" Lu Yunsheng arched an eyebrow, "Agree to what?"
He hadn't guessed wrongly. The woman in front of him was far more interesting than she appeared.
"I agree to sign the contract with you, and promise not to bother you, but in return, I want you to agree to one thing," Nan Jinruo turned around, looking at him eye to eye, a hint of discontent flashing in her gaze.
"Talk." Lu Yunsheng continued to smile at her.
"I want you to move my father from the hospital owned by the Nan Family, and assure me of his complete recovery."
