Chapter 7

Chapter 7

When Su Rui appeared, I was at the mall picking out a birthday gift for Zhou’s Mother.

This was part of my obligations under the agreement, too.

The Zhou Family was hosting a birthday banquet, and as their daughter-in-law, I couldn’t show up empty-handed.

I didn’t know much about jewelry. I was just about to ask the sales associate to wrap up a pearl necklace when someone beside me suddenly laughed.

“Mrs. Zhou has excellent taste.”

I turned around.

The woman wore a long red dress, her makeup immaculate. There was an ease in her features that came from being favored since childhood.

She held out her hand.

“Su Rui.”

I knew who she was.

Zhou Yubai’s original marriage alliance partner.

I took her hand.

“Wen Yi.”

Su Rui looked at the wedding ring on my finger.

“It’s beautiful.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

“Did Yubai pick it?”

I paused.

This ring was something we’d bought together after getting our marriage certificate.

The simplest style.

The clerk had asked if we wanted anything engraved.

Zhou Yubai said no.

At the time, I’d thought there was no need, either.

What was there to engrave on a contract marriage?

A countdown?

Su Rui seemed to notice my hesitation, and her smile deepened.

“Don’t mind me. Yubai and I have known each other for many years. I’m used to asking a little too much.”

I didn’t respond.

But she didn’t press further.

Instead, she lowered her head and glanced at the ring mark on her own hand.

The finger was bare.

But there was a faint pale line there.

“Actually, the two of you were very sudden. Auntie still hasn’t quite accepted it even now. After all, originally… it was almost me.”

She paused.

“But don’t misunderstand. It’s not as if I can’t live without him.”

At last, I lifted my eyes to look at her.

Su Rui gave a small smile.

This time, it wasn’t as sharp.

“The Su Family needed a Zhou Yubai, and the Zhou Family needed a Su Rui. As for whether we ourselves wanted it, that never seemed to matter.”

“Something that was only almost yours isn’t worth bringing up again and again.”

The smile on Su Rui’s face stiffened.

“No, it isn’t.”

She looked toward the jewelry counter in the distance.

“But the person who was almost pushed through that door will remember how narrow it was.”

Just then, Zhou Yubai’s voice sounded from behind me.

“Wen Yi.”

I turned back.

I had no idea when he’d arrived.

He was holding a hot drink.

He walked to my side and handed it to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Didn’t you say your stomach felt uncomfortable?”

I took it.

The heat seared lightly against my palm.

Su Rui looked at us and said softly, “Yubai, long time no see.”

Zhou Yubai nodded.

Polite, distant, without the slightest extra emotion.

“Miss Su.”

Su Rui’s expression changed completely.

When we left the mall, I couldn’t help myself.

“Miss Su is quite pretty.”

Zhou Yubai glanced at me.

“Mm.”

For some reason, my chest felt blocked.

“She suits you, too.”

“How does she suit me?”

“Her family background suits you. Her personality suits you. Even her looks suit you.”

Zhou Yubai stopped walking.

People came and went at the entrance of the mall.

He stood in front of me, lowering his eyes to look at me.

“Wen Yi.”

“What?”

“Are you trying to manage me right now?”

I immediately said, “I’m maintaining the image required by our agreement.”

He looked at me, then suddenly smiled.

Very faintly.

Yet it was more dangerous than any expression he usually wore.

“Then Mrs. Zhou can manage me a little more obviously.”

My ears burned.

“Don’t call me that randomly.”

He stepped forward, blocking the crowd pressing in behind me.

“We’re outside,” he said.

“A necessary public occasion.”

For the first time, I felt that this agreement was truly hateful.

Because it could explain everything.

And hide everything, too.