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Chapter 40 — Mrs. Cheng, Happy Wedding

Lin Keying had some understanding of Hong Kong City in the 80s and 90s. Naturally, the way people handled affairs was completely different from modern times.

The legal system wasn’t fully developed; it was a mix of prosperity and chaos, of growth and corruption.

But having her fiancé repeatedly send people to follow her around — how was that not perverted?

A man cannot be spoiled endlessly!

Yet when Lin Keying called him a pervert, it seemed to stir no waves in the man before her.

Cheng Wanting looked slightly puzzled and spoke with complete calmness:
“That’s considered perverted?”

Lin Keying: “…”

She shot him a sharp glare, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes widening slightly. Dropping her hands, she began to list Cheng Wanting’s deeds one by one:
“Last time at the Xitian Building auction, you found out so quickly that I called someone else ‘husband.’ That was clearly stalking. And now again — sneaking around for several days following me. If that’s not perverted, what is? I don’t care if you use these tactics on other shady people, but how can you use them on me?”

A trace of displeasure flashed between Cheng Wanting’s brows, and he silently doubted his bodyguards’ professionalism — he’d have to arrange for more rigorous training soon.

“Our marriage registration is imminent. I’m worried about you — worried that unsavory people or things might disturb you.”

He stated the reason with full confidence and not a hint of remorse, making Lin Keying so angry her red lips parted slightly and she blurted out,
“With you acting like such a pervert, I’m starting to reconsider whether I really want to register our marriage tomorrow.”

“What did you say?”
His gaze sharpened, his words sounding both like a question and a confirmation of hers.
“You don’t want to marry me anymore?”

The glittering crystal chandelier above cast a layer of golden light on the man. His tall figure advanced with that glow, as if to envelope her.

“What have you seen these past few days, or heard?”
His handsome features turned grim, and the usually deep voice took on a rare hint of agitation.

“Seen what? Heard what?”
Lin Keying was puzzled by his reaction. She had only spoken casually, yet Cheng Wanting seemed like a different person. If she dared call off the wedding now, he might very well point a gun at her!

In the 80s, Hong Kong City tycoons probably really would force a marriage with a gun!

“You don’t want to marry me…”
A faint, ambiguous smile tugged at Cheng Wanting’s lips. His long fingers moved to his waist and drew a cold, black pistol.
“Unless…”

Lin Keying stared wide-eyed as he drew the gun, her heart lurching violently — this bastard actually planned to force her to register at gunpoint?!

So ruthless!

But the cold metal she had expected didn’t touch her forehead.

Instead, the gun handle was shoved into her hand, and her wrist was lifted by him — the muzzle finally aimed at his own brow.

“Unless you pull the trigger now.”
Cheng Wanting’s eyes held a smile that didn’t reach their depths.
“Otherwise, you’ll never escape.”

Her heart pounded furiously. The strong desire in his eyes spread out like a dense net, enveloping her entirely.

Silently cursing him a pervert again, Lin Keying forcefully pushed the gun away from him:
“Do you people in Hong Kong City always have to wave guns and knives around all day? What if the gun accidentally goes off?”

She, a law-abiding good citizen, had no interest in pointing a gun at anyone.

Was she the one forcing marriage now?!

Stuffing the gun back into his hands, Lin Keying’s chest heaved with lingering anger:
“Stop trying to change the subject with a gun and avoid admitting your mistake!”

Cheng Wanting stared at the gun in his palm, feeling the lingering warmth where she had held it. His rough fingertips gently stroked that spot and he murmured,
“Mm. It’s all my fault. But tomorrow morning at nine o’clock, we’re registering on time.”

Lin Keying realized she could barely communicate with this man. She had no idea why he was so fixated on registering tomorrow of all days.

Was marriage only possible tomorrow?

The man slowly leaned down, placing both hands on her shoulders and speaking in a low voice:
“Once we’re married, I’ll listen to everything you say.”

“Really?”
Her beautiful eyes shifted slightly, and an idea immediately sparked. If she didn’t lay down some rules now, she might never get the chance.
“Then from registration to the wedding day, you can’t touch me. No kissing, no hugging either!”

Cheng Wanting frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with such an unequal agreement.
“I’ve never signed such a losing contract in business.”

“That’s because you’ve never met me.”
Lin Keying smugly lifted her delicate, fair face.
“Besides, marriage and business aren’t the same, are they?”

“I won’t agree to this condition.”
Cheng Wanting was firm, as if he was making a tough stance at a negotiation table.

Lin Keying tilted her head, countering angrily:
“Then forget the marriage. If you bully me like this before marriage, how will I survive afterward?”

Testing his limits step by step, Lin Keying felt confident.

For some reason, though the original book said the fiancé should have despised his child bride, by now Lin Keying could clearly feel a trace of fondness and indulgence from him — and even a little bit of twisted possessiveness.

Probably how big shots of that era were.

Still, his bottom line was deep.

Sure enough, Cheng Wanting was the first to concede:
“At least, kissing and hugging are allowed.”

There were still three months before their wedding. Meanwhile, the day after tomorrow, Chen Songxian’s elder sister was getting married. On the third day after that wedding, Chen Songxian would board a ship to South Africa for three months to develop the Chen family’s clothing market. Adding sea travel time, it would be four or five months before his return to Hong Kong.

Cheng Wanting calculated meticulously in his mind and quickly determined the most suitable bargaining tactic.

Knowing when to stop, Lin Keying agreed:
“Only with my consent! Deal!”

After a round of negotiations, she had roughly trained the man and gained an initial victory.

Exhausted after the argument, she waved him upstairs, intending to shower and rest:
“See you at the registry tomorrow morning, Mr. Cheng.”

[…]