Luo Yiyi sat on her bridal bed, a little dazed.
She really got married on her birthday!
Though there was no wedding ceremony and no blessings from her family, she was still joyous about becoming Mu Jingcheng's wife.
She groped the bright red "Happiness" character on the bed, her heart a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
After eight years, would he... remember her?
Thinking of the boy who had scooped her from the ruins like a god from the heavens eight years ago, she couldn't help but curve her lips upwards, revealing a sweet, content smile.
Marrying him on her birthday was indeed the best birthday gift she could have asked for.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming from the stairs, and her heart began to pound like a drum. It felt as if it would leap straight out of her chest.
She couldn’t prevent her mind from wandering.
What was she supposed to say when she met him?
Should she call him Jingcheng or husband?
Would he recognize her as the little girl he had saved eight years ago?
Would he remember their agreement?
She heard that he had retired due to a chronic illness, but she wondered what disease it was?
Thoughts raced through her mind like a carousel, stirring up her emotions.
She didn't have time to consider her thoughts, as the door to her bedroom was already being pushed open.
Subconsciously, she lifted her head to look.
A tall man walked in with large strides, his tailored suit making him look as cold as a fairy, out of the world.
As her gaze traveled upwards, a handsome face came into sight.
The contours were distinct, the features three-dimensional, every elevation and turn just right, like a sculpture's most perfect work, particularly a pair of eyes, with thousands of wrapped brilliance, as bright as the moon.
Luo Yiyi's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
The face before her eyes overlapped with the one in her memory, making her experience again what it means to "love at first sight".
She couldn't help but blush, about to speak, only to meet a pair of indifferent eyes.
She froze, somewhat taken aback.
The man's gaze, was hawk-like, the dark pupils covering the unabashed indifference.
His gaze lightly swept over Luo Yiyi sitting on the bed, his handsome eyebrows unconsciously furrowed, a flash of disgust visible in his cold eyes.
As if sitting on his bed was not his bride, but a piece of garbage.
From his face devoid of any happiness, she discerned two things: he wasn't happy about getting married and, he didn't like her.
The heart that was overjoyed at marrying the one in her heart, plummeted in an instant.
"Get out!" he coldly ordered, his voice as indifferent as frost.
Luo Yiyi's heart skipped a beat as she hurriedly got up and took a stand about half a meter away from the bed.
Her hands were nervously sweating under her sleeves. She didn't dare to look at his indifferent face and could only stare at her own tiptoes.
He towered above her, impatiently flinging away the embroidered sheets, quilt, and pillow — all bearing the big, bold, red character for happiness — beneath the bed.
His actions were extremely impatient.
Taking in the mess on the floor, Luo Yiyi bit her lip in grievance, like a child who has done something wrong.
"Sign this!"
He thrust a set of documents onto her, his voice still terrifyingly cold.
Papers scattered all over the ground. Luo Yiyi caught sight of a few large characters — "Prenuptial Agreement".
Her face mirrored her shock, but she didn't dare to object. She obediently bent down to pick up the papers, and quickly read through the agreement.
The agreement had three main points.
First, she must marry him in secret for three years, not disclosing this to the public.
Second, during their arranged marriage, the Mu family would provide a billion yuan as a bride price and support the normal operation of the Luo Traditional Medicine Clinic. Meanwhile, she had to bear all responsibilities expected of a wife in the Mu family at necessary occasions.
Third, after three years, the arranged marriage ends and he would pay her a billion yuan as a divorce settlement. After the divorce, they lead their separate roads, with no more connections.
Luo Yiyi looked down at the agreement in her hand, a heavy weight settling in her heart.
"What are you staring at?"
His star-like eyes squinted, a glint of impatience flashed in them.
"Mu Jingcheng..." She began awkwardly.
Even though her uncle, Luo Huaijin, indeed pushed her towards the Mu family due to his pursuit for money and the medical hall, her willingness to marry him was not driven by wealth.
Seeing her reluctance to sign, a hint of cold laughter escaped from Mu Jingcheng's lips.
"What's wrong? Not enough?" He questioned in a cool, scornful tone.
"No!" She quickly shook her head, like a startled rabbit.
Sure, she did want her grandfather's clinic to continue operating, but she had never thought about demanding a bride-price and compensation, how could she feel it was not enough?
Mu Jingcheng's eyes were filled with derision, clearly he did not believe her.
He warned, "Luo Yiyi, don't be too greedy. I indeed need to get married to inherit my family business, but it doesn't have to be you!"
Luo Yiyi, of course, understood.
Mu Jingcheng's willingness to marry her was because the Luo family owed the Mu family a daughter-in-law.
In the past, Mu Jingcheng's grandfather Mu Shichuan had protected Luo Yiyi's maternal grandfather Luo Nancheng, saving the Luo’s medical hall and the Luo Family's Medical Manual.
In order to express his gratitude, Luo Nancheng made an agreement with Mu Shichuan that if his wife gave birth to a daughter, he would marry her into the Mu family.
Later, Luo Nancheng did have a daughter, Luo Shijin, who was Luo Yiyi's mother but Luo Shijin did not follow the agreement to marry into the Mu family.
Even though it was said that Luo family owed the Mu family a daughter-in-law, for Luo Yiyi, an ordinary person, marrying into Jiang City's number one wealthy family, the Mu family, was a step up in rank.
Moreover, the one hundred million yuan dowry and the protection of the Mu family are the only means of survival for Luo's Medical Hall.
By anyone's standards, this marriage was a deal where she had everything to gain.
Even if she was marrying for love, she had no confidence or bargaining power in the face of the enormous dowry.
"Will you sign it? If not, you can leave right now."
Mu Jingcheng completely lost his patience.
"I'll sign!"
Luo's Medical Hall, started by her grandfather, cannot go under!
With trembling hands, Luo Yiyi signed her name and handed the agreement back to Mu Jingcheng.
Without even glancing at it, Mu Jingcheng casually threw the agreement into the drawer of the bedside table.
Then he nonchalantly ordered, "Your bedroom is next door. Without my permission, you're not allowed in my room."
"Oh, got it." Luo Yiyi obediently nodded, turned around, and walked out of the bridal chamber.
But as she was leaving, she couldn't help but sneak a significant glance back at him.
It seemed that he did not remember her, and naturally, he wouldn’t remember that past promise of theirs.
Rumor has it that his disposition changed dramatically after retiring. He had become exceptionally cold and callous, unpredictable.
Just one short encounter was enough to confirm that the rumors were indeed true.
She knew that Mu Jingcheng's ambition was in the military, being forced to retire must have been excruciating!
With a sense of resignation, she walked into the bedroom next door. Not long after she laid down, she heard the bedroom door being kicked open.
Before she could react, Mu Jingcheng strode in with a gloomy face, unceremoniously hoisted her over his shoulder, and carried her out of the bedroom like a sack of potatoes.
"Jingcheng..."
Luo Yiyi, both shocked and scared, called out to him cautiously.
"Shut up!"
Mu Jingcheng coldly silenced her, his voice tinged with frustration.
He carried her back to his bedroom and flung her onto the large bed.
He quickly followed, pinning her down beneath his own weight.
