Lin Feng's words drifted out lightly, yet they struck Qin Ruyan's heart like a heavy hammer. Her body instantly stiffened, and her hands, which had been wrapped around Lin Feng's neck, forgot to let go. The carefully rehearsed sorrow and joy on her face shattered like a mask, piece by piece.
Su Aoxue watched from the side, taking it all in. She folded her arms, a subtle curve playing at the corners of her lips. She wanted to see how this clumsy little play was going to end.
With a hint of playfulness in his gaze, Lin Feng flicked his fingers and pinched Qin Ruyan's smooth chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his eyes.
"Well, you look pretty," he said casually, as if appraising an object. "The genius campus belle of Jiangcheng University, and the eldest miss of the Qin Family, Qin Ruyan. Am I right?"
The fragmented memories of the original owner of this body had been triggered by Qin Ruyan's appearance just a moment ago, suddenly snapping into sharp focus. This woman was precisely the dream lover the original owner had yearned for in vain over the past three years.
Qin Ruyan was completely dumbfounded, her mind blank.
How could he possibly know? Not only did he know her name, but he also knew her identity! Why would a vegetative patient who had been in a coma for three years know all of this?
What shocked her even more was the look in Lin Feng's eyes right then. It was no longer the gaze of that cowardly, self-conscious poor student from her memories, who had only ever dared to steal glances at her from afar. Instead, it was filled with aggression and insight, as if he could see right through every single one of her secrets.
Her heart pounded even faster. This time, it was pure, unadulterated terror.
"You... how do you..."
"How do I know?" Lin Feng chuckled softly, gently stroking her smooth chin and feeling its delicate texture. His movement was ambiguous yet full of oppressive force. "I also know that the perfume you're wearing is the limited edition Twilight, whereas three years ago you were still using Morning Dew. It seems your taste has improved quite a bit over the past three years."
Qin Ruyan shuddered all over as if struck by an electrical current. She violently jerked away from his hand, stumbling back two steps with an expression of sheer disbelief.
"You... who on earth are you?"
She could no longer maintain her composure, and her voice was trembling. The Lin Feng before her was completely and utterly different from the person in her impression!
Su Aoxue also put away her spectator's detachment, her expression turning grave. This Lin Feng was getting stranger and stranger.
Seeing that her disguise had been completely torn away, Qin Ruyan simply stopped acting. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and the panic on her face was replaced by a reckless sense of resolve.
"Fine! Since you already know everything, I won't hide it anymore." Qin Ruyan gritted her teeth, speaking at a rapid pace to explain. "You got into a car accident three years ago, and I was the one who brought you to the hospital. The nurse made a mistake in the rush and registered my name as your family member, so everyone assumed afterward that I was your girlfriend."
A bitter smile appeared on her face. "At first, I wanted to explain, but later... I found out this identity came in very handy. My family kept forcing me to marry Qiao Yu, that good-for-nothing playboy from the Qiao Family. Since I refused, I used the excuse that 'I already have a vegetative boyfriend and I will never abandon him' as a shield, and that bought me three years."
"So you didn't come to visit every day—you only dropped by occasionally to snap a few photos so you'd have something to show for it when you went back?" Lin Feng cut straight to the point.
Qin Ruyan's cheeks flushed bright red, as if she had just been heavily slapped across the face, leaving her with no room for retort. That was precisely the truth.
"Lin Feng, I'm begging you!" Qin Ruyan suddenly lowered her posture, a hint of entreaty creeping into her tone. "I know this is terribly unfair to you, but now that you've woken up, it's perfect! Let's make a deal!"
As if she had made up her mind, she looked fixedly at Lin Feng. "Let's have a marriage of convenience! For the duration of one year!"
"Marriage?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow, seeming to find the idea rather amusing.
"Yes!" Qin Ruyan said anxiously. "As long as you agree to marry me, I'll give you one hundred thousand yuan in living expenses every month! After a year, we'll divorce, and I'll pay you an additional thirty million yuan in compensation! That money will be more than enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life!"
She assumed that this condition would be an irresistible temptation for a poor student who had just woken up with nothing to his name.
However, Lin Feng's reaction once again exceeded her expectations.
There was not the slightest hint of surprise or greed on his face; instead, he wore a calm as tranquil as still water, as if those thirty million yuan were no different from three thousand yuan in his eyes.
"A marriage of convenience... somewhat interesting." Lin Feng stroked his chin, thoughts racing through his mind.
He had just been reborn, and this body was terribly frail. To restore his cultivation, he needed a stable environment and abundant resources. Although the Spiritual Energy on Earth was thin, there were always heavenly treasures and earthly materials to be utilized, and all of those required money.
This proposal from Qin Ruyan happened to solve his immediate crisis: a legal identity, a stable dwelling, and a steady stream of funds. To him, it was simply sending a pillow just as he felt sleepy.
As for the title of "marriage," to him—the dignified Immortal Venerable Chonglou—it was merely a passing cloud, nothing more than a game.
"Alright, I agree," Lin Feng said cleanly and decisively.
The massive pile of persuasive arguments Qin Ruyan had prepared instantly stuck in her throat. She stared blankly at Lin Feng, wondering if she had misheard.
"You... you agreed?"
"What, do you want to back out?" Lin Feng countered.
"No! I won't back out!" Afraid that he might change his mind, Qin Ruyan quickly said, "Then it's settled! Don't worry, I won't interfere with any of your personal life; we'll only be husband and wife in name!"
"Very well." Lin Feng nodded, then threw off the blanket and stood straight up from the hospital bed.
He had been in a coma for three years, and his muscles should have atrophied, but when he stood up now, he was completely steady, save for a slightly lean frame.
"What are you doing? You just woke up!" Su Aoxue instinctively cried out, wanting to step forward and support him.
Lin Feng waved a hand, stretching his limbs on his own while his joints let out a series of crisp pops. He looked at the stunned Qin Ruyan, a wicked smile hooking the corner of his mouth.
"To prove that our relationship is 'intimate' enough, and to prove that my body has fully recovered so I can fulfill the duties of a 'husband,' I think we should check out of the hospital right now."
With that, he took a sudden forward stride and, amidst Qin Ruyan's startled cry, swept her up horizontally in his arms!
"Ah!"
Qin Ruyan let out a sharp scream, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck for fear of falling. A warm masculine scent rushed toward her, and she could clearly feel the steady and formidable strength radiating from Lin Feng's arms. This was nothing like someone who had been a bedridden patient for three years!
"Put me down!" Qin Ruyan said, feeling both ashamed and flustered, her face blushing as if it might bleed.
Su Aoxue, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded.
Ignoring all of that, Lin Feng spun around in place while holding her, effortless and at ease.
"Look, my body is in fantastic shape," he said, lowering his gaze to look at the panicked beauty in his arms with a playful expression. "Now, go get my discharge papers ready, my... lawful wife."