Chapter 4: Agreement

Wen Shuyu’s ears suddenly rang. The world around her fell silent as confusion engulfed her.

It was like riding a pirate ship at a carnival—round and round she went, until dizziness overtook her.

She tried to make sense of it all. Jiang Huaiyu, her childhood friend, the one who recently mentioned having feelings for someone…

…had just proposed to her.

On a warm early summer night, in an underground parking lot, he had asked her to marry him.

How absurd.

“Let’s get married.” Five simple words that slipped from his lips, as if it took no effort at all.

But Jiang Huaiyu hadn’t posed a question. It wasn’t a request. It was a statement, his tone full of certainty.

No ring, no kneeling down on one knee—just a blunt proposal.

Her thoughts crashed over her like waves, one after another, overwhelming her. Wen Shuyu was in shock, powerless against the tidal surge.

The polished stone floor beneath them reflected the overhead lights, their shadows intertwined.

The marble walls mirrored the space between them—him, resolute and firm; her, dazed and lost.

As the ceiling lights flickered out, plunging them into darkness, Jiang Huaiyu’s voice broke the silence, soft and low: “Yu Yu.”

Wen Shuyu stood beneath his shadow, his breath tangling in her hair, the scent of bamboo wood thick in the air.

Everything about this moment told her—it wasn’t an illusion. It wasn’t a dream.

Her head throbbed like an unwound clock running on sheer willpower. She tilted her head back and asked, “Do you even know what you’re saying, Jiang Huaiyu?”

The lights flickered on, and their eyes met directly.

In the dim glow, Jiang Huaiyu stood tall in front of her, his expression distant, eyes calm and deep. His sharp features, so familiar to Wen Shuyu, were second only to those of her parents in their familiarity.

Those lips she knew so well—how had they managed to utter such an absurd request?

The fact that Wen Shuyu hadn’t outright rejected him was already a promising sign.

“I know exactly what I’m saying,” Jiang Huaiyu answered, urgency lacing his voice. “I want to marry you.”

Wen Shuyu stepped up onto a stair, widening the distance between them. “Why?”

In the past three minutes, she hadn’t been able to make sense of it.

Jiang Huaiyu clenched his fists, speaking slowly. “We’re both under pressure to get married, dealing with the same annoyances. Our families know each other well, and our parents have been pushing for this. It would save us both a lot of trouble.”

From a negotiation standpoint, it was an ideal proposition—enticing, even.

Her mind clearing slightly, Wen Shuyu took a deep breath and, without hesitation, said, “I’m not willing.”

Jiang Huaiyu wasn’t surprised, as if he had anticipated her answer. He shifted his approach. “Just think about it. No more blind dates. We wouldn’t interfere in each other’s lives. All we’d have to do is put on a show for our parents. Freedom, no complications—it sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?”

That offer was tempting. Jiang Huaiyu was gentle, well-matched with her in status, and they’d treat each other with respect. Objectively speaking, he was an excellent match.

But marriage wasn’t a game. “Oh.”

Her head pounding, Wen Shuyu tossed out that single word and walked away, leaving Jiang Huaiyu standing alone.

As she entered the elevator, Jiang Huaiyu followed behind her, his palms sweating.

There was no way to be 100% certain about anything.

But from the look of it, the fact that Wen Shuyu hadn’t slapped him or walked away immediately was already better than he had expected.

One year, two years… ten years had passed. He had hidden his feelings for ten years. Even if there was only a tiny chance, Jiang Huaiyu was willing to try.

Wen Shuyu, who had a habit of getting tipsy quickly, sobered just as fast. By the time she got home, her head was clear, but Jiang Huaiyu’s words kept echoing in her mind.

“Yu Yu, marry me.”

“Yu Yu, let’s get married.”

“I want to marry you.”

Had Jiang Huaiyu been drunk when he said all that?

Wen Shuyu fell asleep with those three sentences playing over and over in her head, drifting into a hazy dream where she vaguely heard the officiant’s voice, “The groom may now kiss the bride.”

A sea breeze swept through, stirring the sky, while seagulls skimmed low over the waves.

Jiang Huaiyu’s large hand cradled the back of her head as he slowly leaned in, bringing his lips closer and closer to hers.

She was frozen, unable to move, watching as Jiang Huaiyu inched nearer.

Just as their lips were about to touch, a sudden ringtone pierced the air.

The lyrics of the song cut through the tension: “If you want to embrace yourself, you must first lower your guard. Don’t let pride hold you back. You’ll never heal if you keep protecting your wounds.”

Wen Shuyu fumbled for her phone on the bedside table, groggily answering, “Hello, who is this?”

Meng Man’s voice came through, “Yu Yu, the client’s here early. Cheng Lu and I are handling it.”

Wen Shuyu snapped awake, throwing off her blanket and running her hands through her messy hair. “Got it, I’ll be there right away.”

She had overslept—thanks to Jiang Huaiyu and his ridiculous talk of marriage, which had led to that long, unnerving dream.

In it, she and Jiang Huaiyu were having a seaside wedding, and just as they were about to kiss after the vows, she woke up.

Wen Shuyu couldn’t help but wonder: if she hadn’t been interrupted, would they have actually kissed?

Why on earth had she dreamed such a strange dream?

Half an hour later, she arrived at the office. Her eyes met Cheng Xianzhi’s across the room, and they exchanged a knowing smile.

Only the two of them understood what that smile meant.

The night before, just before bed, Wen Shuyu had called Cheng Xianzhi, getting straight to the point. “Mr. Cheng, you’re an outstanding man. But when it comes to blind dates, I don’t want to date a colleague, let alone someone from the same law firm. I’m sorry.”

She wanted to keep her work and personal life separate. Direct and clear, no beating around the bush. Cheng Xianzhi had understood. “I get it. We’ll stay colleagues and friends. I wish you the best and hope you find the right person soon.”

Wen Shuyu had replied, “You too.”

In the world of adults, being straightforward saved time.

In meeting room two, a woman named Qin Siwan was waiting—Wen Shuyu’s client, here to discuss a divorce.

According to Qin, she and her husband had met in college and married right after graduation. They had once been the envy of everyone.

But they had fallen victim to the seven-year itch.

Most people around her thought Qin was making a big deal out of nothing. Her husband hadn’t cheated, wasn’t emotionally abusive—there were no major issues, just a clash of personalities.

Wen Shuyu passed Qin a cup of warm water. “Can you tell me more about the specific problems?”

Qin’s face grew somber. “Marriage has worn us down with all the daily trivialities. We barely talk anymore—sometimes we don’t even say a word all day. He blames his temper on me, says I act like doing a bit of housework is a big deal. So many people tell me that men are just like this. He doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, hasn’t cheated—what more could I ask for? Is it really my fault?”

Wen Shuyu spoke gently, “It’s not your fault. His bad temper has nothing to do with you. Marriage can’t be held together by one person alone.”

“Thank you, Lawyer Wen. I know he still loves me, but not enough for me to want to spend the rest of my life with him. Life is too long to live like this, and I can’t do it anymore.”

As Qin Siwan spoke, her face remained tinged with sadness, but her eyes were resolute.

So many people drift through life, lost in a haze.

Wen Shuyu nodded. “I understand. Let’s talk through the details.”

A warm summer breeze melded into the fiery orange hues of the western sky, scattering the twilight. As the city’s lights blinked on, workers from Liangshi Technologies trickled out like birds returning to their nests.

Except for one office at the very end.

A day and night had passed, and the owner of the green butterfly icon pinned at the top of Jiang Huaiyu’s chat remained silent. The most recent message was still from when Wen Shuyu’s father had been hospitalized.

The faint glow of a lamp lit a corner of the room as Song Jinnan, another founder of Liangshi Technologies, pushed open the door to Jiang Huaiyu’s office. “What, still not heading home? Then again, you’re a loner—what else is there to do but work late?”

Song’s teasing was a regular thing, and Jiang Huaiyu replied coolly, “I’m about to leave.”

He closed his “unresponsive” phone and slid it into his pocket.

The next few days passed much the same. The person pinned at the top stayed quiet, no new red notifications.

He didn’t even run into her in the elevator.

Then, on Thursday night, Jiang Huaiyu received a call from Wen Shuyu. “Jiang Huaiyu, come to my place now. Let’s talk about what you mentioned.”

The word marriage—Wen Shuyu couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.

She had almost forgotten about the whole thing until her mother called, informing her that the weekend was packed with blind dates.

What were the odds of finding the right person among strangers? Too low—lower than winning the lottery.

Even couples who had been together since college changed after marriage, so how could you expect anything better from someone you met on a blind date?

She had neither the time nor the confidence to slowly find someone, get to know them, and go through all the stages of a relationship.

Jiang Huaiyu, on the other hand, was different. Like he said, they knew each other well, and after marriage, they could live their separate lives.

One minute later, Jiang Huaiyu was standing at her door.

Wen Shuyu opened it and said, “You’re here. I only have a pair of my dad’s slippers—make do.”

“Alright.” Jiang Huaiyu glanced around the entryway, noticing no signs of a male presence.

It was his first time at Wen Shuyu’s place. The layout was identical to his own, and even the décor was nearly the same.

The same large expanses of white with small accents of olive green.

There was no trace of any man living here.

Jiang Huaiyu’s eyes fell on a succulent plant on the TV stand. He recognized the type—Portulacaria afra, known by its lovely name, Jade Necklace.

The fleshy pink leaves looked like little flowers from afar.

He remembered that Wen Shuyu had always liked flowers, but she had a particular fondness for Jade Necklace. There was one in her old house and another at the family estate.

Jiang Huaiyu pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table. Wen Shuyu leaned back on the sofa opposite him, eyes downcast, and cut straight to the point, “What about the girl you’re interested in?”

Simple and direct, just like her. Jiang Huaiyu’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he calmly replied, “There is no such girl.”

When had this good-natured man learned to lie to his parents?

Wen Shuyu tapped her fingers on the sofa, her tone concise and straightforward. “I agree to your proposal, on the condition that it’s a marriage in name only. If one day you fall in love with someone, or I want a divorce, we agree to part without any conditions.”

She had accepted his offer because it meant she wouldn’t have to waste time or energy maintaining a relationship.

Even though he knew this, Jiang Huaiyu’s pupils darkened just slightly. “As you wish.”

Wen Shuyu asked, “What will we tell our parents? After all these years, we’ve always refused their matchmaking.”

A light summer breeze slipped through the balcony, swaying the wind chimes near the window, creating a gentle, melodious sound.

After a pause, a clear voice rang out in the room.

“Yu Yu, I like you. I’ve been chasing you for a long time, and you finally agreed.”

Ten years had passed, an entire zodiac cycle about to come full circle. The words he had buried deep within his heart were now given voice, disguised as part of their agreement.

Jiang Huaiyu met her gaze head-on, his eyes deep, his magnetic voice full of sincerity, as if he truly meant it.

As if he really did like her.

Wen Shuyu blinked, ignoring the depth in his eyes. “Fine, nothing else matters. We’ll do a prenup to avoid any future complications.”

At some point, Jiang Huaiyu had moved to stand in front of her. With his hands at his sides, he leaned slightly forward and said seriously, “Your assets—whether acquired before or after marriage—will belong solely to you. Everything I have will belong to both of us.”

Wen Shuyu looked up and found herself staring into a pair of clear, beautiful eyes. His eyelashes were long and distinct.

So he had classic peach blossom eyes.

Wen Shuyu pinched the palm of her hand, reminding him, “This isn’t advantageous for you.”

“Getting a wife is enough of a win.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Jiang Huaiyu’s mouth.