Chapter 72

Shen Yuan admired the ring on his finger for a while, then said to Qiao Hailou, “Just wearing a ring doesn’t count. When are we actually going to register the marriage? We can’t do it domestically—let’s go abroad.”

Qiao Hailou answered without hesitation, “If you want to, we can go tomorrow after you wake up. Fly straight overseas and get it done. If you’re worried, we can have your uncle and Aunt Hui come over first. We’ll go through the prenup carefully, sign everything, and then go register.”

Shen Yuan shot him a sideways glance. “Why are you in such a rush? I’m not even in a hurry. Why push it so hard? It’s finally the weekend—I want to sleep in properly. Finals are next week and I haven’t finished reviewing yet. My brother’s home on weekends too. If we call my uncle and them out, my brother will find out. We have to keep it from him until after his college entrance exam.”

Qiao Hailou froze, then frowned. “Doesn’t that make it feel like we’re sneaking around again? Don’t push it too far.”

Getting mildly scolded made Shen Yuan rein it in a bit. “I already accepted the ring—what are you worrying about? After I finish my exams next Thursday, we’ll go register… Actually, no, I need to check the almanac and pick an auspicious wedding day. Give me that agreement of yours first. I’m going to read it carefully. Don’t rush me—I need to check everything seriously. What if you trick me? You’re so crafty.”

Qiao Hailou was so annoyed. He leaned over and kissed him, kissing him until Shen Yuan was almost out of breath before letting go, then said viciously, “Yeah, I’m tricking you. I’ll trick you for your whole life, leave you nowhere to run so you can only live it with me.”

Shen Yuan looked at him, like a kitten cautiously reaching out to touch a tiger, and tested the waters. “You have to write it the way you said before—if you wrong me, you give me all your money.”

Qiao Hailou agreed immediately. “Deal.”

Shen Yuan asked, “Aren’t you afraid I’m actually after your money? If we divorce, I’d make a killing.”

Holding his hand, Qiao Hailou said, “Uncle knows you’re a good kid. You’re not that kind of person.”

Shen Yuan was more anxious than him. “You look smart, but you’re actually kind of an idiot, aren’t you? Are you stupid or what? Add this too—if I wrong you, I leave with nothing. That’s fair.”

Qiao Hailou paused, then laughed. “What’s the point of you leaving with nothing? That little bit of money you have…”

Shen Yuan exploded. “What about it? So I’m poor—what’s wrong with that? You looking down on me? To you it’s pocket change, but to me it’s everything I have. You get to throw your entire fortune around like it’s nothing, but I don’t even deserve a seat at the table? Who are you to look down on me?”

Qiao Hailou hurried to placate him. “Okay, okay, I’m not looking down on you. We’ll write it in, all right?”

Only then did Shen Yuan calm down and continue, “I’m definitely going abroad to study. I’m not staying in the country just because I marry you.”

Still without hesitation, Qiao Hailou said, “Fine. If you want to study abroad, go. Study as many years as you want—just don’t fall for some young, handsome male classmate. I’ll fly over to see you, and I’ll wait at home for you to come back after you finish school.”

Shen Yuan snorted. “You’re the one who shouldn’t mess around. Don’t go flirting with other people while I’m gone. If you cheat on me, I’ll dump you and take your money to keep a young guy.”

Qiao Hailou said, “Oh? Is that how little integrity you think I have?”

“Yes,” Shen Yuan replied. “Don’t you?”

Qiao Hailou hugged him tighter. “Of course not. Uncle Qiao only likes this ungrateful Shen Yuan. I don’t even look at anyone else, okay? Why do you have so little confidence in me? What do I have to do for you to trust me?”

Lowering his head, Shen Yuan said dejectedly, “That’s not really your fault. I’m just like this—no matter what, I can’t help but be afraid and imagine the worst. Sometimes I spiral on my own. Just ignore me when that happens. I know it myself, but I can’t fix it. I don’t know what to do either.”

It was the result of everything he’d been through growing up—this constant insecurity. It wasn’t something he could change overnight. Fighting about it wouldn’t help; it would take time.

With tenderness, Qiao Hailou said, “It’s okay. Just tell me everything. Worst case, we argue. If I say I like you once and you don’t believe it, I’ll say it ten times, twenty times, a hundred times. Being together for a few months or half a year isn’t that long—it’s normal you haven’t fully let your guard down yet. You don’t have to force yourself to change. I’ll do it. I’ll spend one year, five years, ten years with you. As long as we’re together, naturally, little by little, you’ll stop doubting me.”

Qiao Hailou took Shen Yuan out and about for two days.

On Monday, he drove Shen Yuan back to school for finals. Shen Yuan informed his uncle, and that evening Li Chen personally came to pick him up and take him home.

Even though he’d already relented—he didn’t really have a choice anymore; otherwise it would only hurt Shen Yuan—when he saw the ring on Shen Yuan’s ring finger, he almost blacked out on the spot.

Shen Yuan didn’t dare look at his uncle’s expression and said awkwardly, “Uncle, Qiao Hailou and I made another prenup. Could you help me look it over?”

Li Chen exhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and forced down his anger before saying helplessly, “I’ll find another lawyer and we’ll all look at it together.”

Shen Yuan had definitely told Aunt Hui as well. He felt bad about that too—she’d cursed Qiao Hailou alongside him before and even went with him to Qiao Hailou’s place to get his luggage. And now, just one or two months later, he’d not only reconciled with Qiao Hailou but was about to register their marriage.

Worried there might be hidden traps in the agreement, Li Chen had several lawyers review it. He was especially unhappy with the clause stating that if Shen Yuan were unfaithful, he’d leave with nothing. “Everything requires evidence. Even if Qiao Hailou really cheats, you’re too inexperienced—you might not be able to catch proof. But if he wanted to frame you, that would be easy. Are you stupid? Insisting on adding a clause like that.”

Shen Yuan said, “Marriage is supposed to be about spending a lifetime together. You shouldn’t be going into it thinking about divorce, right?”

“I’m not saying you’re planning for divorce,” Li Chen said. “Just being cautious, just in case. People’s hearts are hard to read.”

After thinking for a moment, Shen Yuan said stubbornly, “If that really happens, then it’s my own fault for being blind. I deserve it. I won’t blame you.”

Li Chen didn’t know what to say. Such a foolish child. He’d thought Shen Yuan was mature for his age, but he was actually more foolish than anyone.

Lin Zhihui didn’t try to persuade Shen Yuan. When someone is in love, no one can talk them out of it. She’d seen enough in the entertainment industry—girls scheming desperately to marry into wealthy families, only to still be guarded against afterward. Some prenups were brutally harsh; some people looked glamorous on the surface but still had to earn money to support their husband’s family. Li Chen’s worries weren’t impossible, but if Qiao Hailou really wanted to scheme against Shen Yuan, there was no need for all this. They weren’t even on the same level.

She figured Shen Yuan was willing to marry because he was completely smitten, and that Qiao Hailou could offer such an agreement meant he’d lost his head too. Fine—perfect match.

They found several lawyers for Shen Yuan and scrutinized every clause. In the end, there was nothing to pick apart. They nitpicked and revised a few details for the sake of it, and after a week, everything was finally settled. Shen Yuan finished his exams and could start winter break.

Qiao Hailou was anxious, eager to secure his status as soon as possible. Being in limbo felt wrong. He’d originally thought the prenup would take three days, but the Li family kept dragging things out. Eventually he couldn’t help asking, “Still not done? A-Ben says he wants to register on an auspicious day. If we drag on, we’ll miss it.”

Li Chen eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you in such a hurry? Is there some trap in that agreement? Rushing Shen Yuan to sign without reading carefully is not acceptable. There are plenty of auspicious days all year. Miss this one, pick the next. What’s a few days? You don’t even have that much patience and you still want to court my kid?”

Qiao Hailou: “…”

Fine. All-powerful Uncle Qiao was at his wit’s end.

He went to find his sweetheart for comfort, only to discover at school that Shen Yuan wasn’t wearing the wedding ring. He’d been wearing his the whole time!

His face darkened immediately. “Why aren’t you wearing the ring?”

Shen Yuan said matter-of-factly, “We’re not married yet. I’m still an unmarried youth. Why would I wear it?”

Qiao Hailou said sourly, “It’s already a done deal—why not wear it? I’ve been wearing mine the whole time. When I go out to talk business, people ask, and I tell them straight up I’m getting married. Plenty of them mock me for saying I’d never marry and now turning around and doing it. I’ve had to swallow all that ridicule. You can’t be this irresponsible.”

Shen Yuan was speechless. He pulled a red string from under his collar. Hanging from it was their wedding ring. He coaxed the old man, “Why are you so petty? Uncle Qiao, look—I have it on me. I just didn’t put it on my finger. It’s so ugly I’m embarrassed to wear it. Sigh… Once we register, I’ll wear it, okay?”

“I’ll let it slide this time,” Qiao Hailou said. “Once we’re registered, you won’t have any excuses. You have to wear it.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll wear it. You’re really something,” Shen Yuan muttered.

So, on the third day of Shen Yuan’s winter break—the first auspicious day after negotiations—

Qiao Hailou bundled Shen Yuan onto his private jet and flew straight to Country E. They went directly to the registry office after landing. Qiao Hailou was nervous the whole way. Shen Yuan, on the other hand, slept the entire trip, impossible to wake. Only when they reached the building did Qiao Hailou manage to rouse him. “Are you a little pig? Why have you been sleeping so much lately?”

“You’re the pig!” Shen Yuan snapped. “You old bastard!”

They had a small argument, then held hands and went in to register together.

Shen Yuan was both happy and troubled. “I’m not even twenty yet and I’m already a married young husband. You old liar.”

Qiao Hailou finally had his status secured and was beaming with pride. “Yeah, I tricked you. So what?”

Shen Yuan snorted twice but said nothing more. He tucked the marriage certificate close to his body, slipping it into the small inner pocket over his heart.

They were both so happy they didn’t know what to do next.

Hand in hand, they wandered aimlessly through the streets of a foreign country. People glanced at them, and Shen Yuan said smugly, “Uncle Qiao, listen—when you go out with me in the future, you won’t need to wear designer clothes or fancy watches. Just walk next to me and everyone will know you’re rich and powerful. Otherwise, how could you marry a young, handsome guy like me?”

Qiao Hailou: “…”