Bian Xunzhou straightened up, walked over to the wheelchair, and looked down at its occupant. "Then you'd better wait and see!"
"You can try," Lu Baiqian said, his fingers tightening slightly as he faced that arrogant gaze head-on.
Their eyes locked in mid-air, sparks seemingly flying between them. The air grew suffocatingly tense, as if a violent clash could erupt at any second.
"However..." Bian Xunzhou suddenly tilted his head toward the wedding car, his tone mocking. "It seems your bride is about to make a run for it!"
Over by the car.
Wen Xuyu could no longer hold back. She pushed open the door, clutched her high heels in her hand, and stooped down to sneak out.
But before she had taken more than a few steps, a pair of strong arms scooped her up by the waist and hoisted her onto a shoulder.
"Thinking of running again?" It was Bian Xunzhou. He held her with one arm while effortlessly pulling the identification papers from the passenger seat with his free hand.
"Next time you try to escape, don't be so nervous. Just like the time you hid under the food cart—don't forget, the two of us have synesthesia now."
Her mind had been so conflicted that her hesitation was practically written all over her face; it would have been hard for him not to notice.
The man shoved her into the Maybach with ease. Wen Xuyu struggled continuously. "Let me go! Put me down!"
"Bian Xunzhou," Lu Baiqian said, watching his actions coldly, his fingers instinctively clenching until his knuckles creaked. "Does doing this mean you have no respect for the Lu Family or the Wen Family?"
Hearing this, Bian Xunzhou slammed the car door shut, muffling Wen Xuyu’s struggles and cries. He turned back, acting with total defiance. "I don't even care about the Shang family. What do you think?"
The Maybach sped off, disappearing into the distance.
Meng Jin frowned and asked tentatively, "Third Young Master, what should we do now?"
Ice seemed to coat Lu Baiqian’s eyes. He remained silent, lost in thought. After half a minute, the man finally spoke.
"Let’s go."
"We're just leaving?" Meng Jin couldn't fathom it.
Others might not know, but he had witnessed the perpetually indifferent Third Young Master personally petition the chairman for the hand of the Wen family's second daughter. He believed that for the Third Young Master to go to such lengths, it had to be a matter of grave importance.
Lu Baiqian’s hand, resting on his wheelchair, curled slightly. In the end, he simply closed his eyes. "She will be mine, no matter what."
Meng Jin choked on his words and had no choice but to comply.
***
The Maybach sped down the road. Lu Zhao considerately lowered the partition.
Wen Xuyu pressed herself against the car door, keeping a close eye on Bian Xunzhou’s movements. Her wrist was still tied with Bian Xunzhou’s necktie.
Seeing her expression, Bian Xunzhou couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Do you remember what I told you?" he asked, his gaze sharp and inexplicably chilling.
Wen Xuyu remembered, of course, but she couldn't say it. Fortunately, Bian Xunzhou didn't press her on that particular topic.
The man lowered his eyes, glanced at her attire for the day, and suddenly reached out to lift her chin, forcing her to look up.
Wen Xuyu was startled and instinctively reached out to grab his wrist, her eyes landing on a red bloodstain there.
"Do you remember our synesthesia?" Bian Xunzhou leaned closer. He loved the look of her having nowhere left to retreat. "Well?"
As Wen Xuyu leaned back against the seat, the distance between them vanished. The man suddenly smiled, looking devastatingly handsome.
"Are you in such a rush to marry Lu Baiqian because you want to experience the wedding night?"
The intimate warmth of his breath brushed against her ear, and the woman’s face flushed red instantly—out of pure anger.
Not knowing where she found the strength, she wrenched herself free from his grasp and wrapped her arms around herself in a defensive posture.
"What nonsense are you spouting? What exactly do you want, and where are you taking me?"
If she really consummated the marriage with Lu Baiqian, wouldn't Bian Xunzhou be able to feel it, too? Was this man a pervert?
Bian Xunzhou didn't mind being pushed. He sat back up, pulled her toward him, and untied the necktie from her hands.
In just that short time, a faint red mark had already appeared on Wen Xuyu’s wrist.
"So delicate!" Bian Xunzhou muttered, his rough thumb tracing the reddened skin, though his eyes flashed with excitement.
Wen Xuyu quickly pulled her hand back. "You still haven't answered me. Where are we going?"
If he intended to lock her up again, she would be better off marrying Lu Baiqian; at least that man didn't seem as temperamental as Bian Xunzhou!
"I'm taking you to see a good show," Bian Xunzhou said with a smirk. His collar was slightly open, revealing a sexy Adam's apple and delicate collarbones, though his eyes remained devoid of true mirth.
Wen Xuyu sensed that something was wrong.
"But before that, we have to go somewhere else first."
"Where?" Wen Xuyu felt a throb in her temple.
Bian Xunzhou arched a brow. "You'll see when we get there."
Wen Xuyu thought: Is it too late to jump out of the car?
***
Inside the Jinghong Grand Hotel.
Shang Rongyuan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor, looking down at the street below with a grave expression.
His son was rebellious and unruly, yet he cared deeply about his mother’s belongings. He just feared that something unexpected might happen this time.
Chen Lirong walked over and took his arm, acting very understanding. "What’s wrong? Are you worried that Xiao Zhou won't come?"
"Sigh," Shang Rongyuan let out a long sigh. "He has more and more of a mind of his own these days. He doesn't even hold me, his father, in any regard anymore."
"Don't worry, he will come," Chen Lirong said softly to comfort him, though a flicker of cruelty crossed her eyes before vanishing. "Are you confident about this alliance with the Bai family?"
"Of course! As long as the Bai family invests in this project, I am certain I can make it global!" Shang Rongyuan boasted, as if he could already see that day arriving.
"Good," Chen Lirong laughed, then looked a bit sorrowful. "If the BX Group hadn't rejected this project, we wouldn't have had to sacrifice Xiao Zhou’s marriage..."
"He is my son; contributing to the Shang Group is his duty!"
"Alright, the Bai family should be here soon. Let’s head down!" Chen Lirong whispered soothingly.
They took the elevator down, and five minutes later, they met the members of the Bai family.
"Mr. Shang, Mrs. Shang," greeted Bai Zhiren and his wife.
Bai Pingling followed closely behind, greeting them with grace. "Hello, Uncle Shang. Hello, Auntie Shang."
"Hello, Mr. Bai. Please, come in and take a seat!"
The group walked upstairs together.
Bai Pingling walked at the end. The woman wore a beige dress, her temperament refined, her shoulder-length hair loose. She looked like a child raised with nothing but indulgence.
She looked around, but upon not seeing the person she wanted to meet, she couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes.
Chen Lirong keenly noticed her subtle reaction, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she teased, "Who are you looking for, Xiao Ling?"
Bai Pingling’s face instantly flushed red. "Oh, Auntie Shang, please don't tease me!"
Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
"Mr. Shang, why haven't we seen your son?" Bai Zhiren asked, his eyes flickering as if it were a casual remark.
"He'll be here soon. Probably stuck in traffic," Shang Rongyuan laughed it off to smooth things over.
They sat down on the top floor and chatted casually.
Meanwhile, Shang Rongyuan kept checking his watch. They had agreed on 11:00 AM, and it was already nearly 12:00. If he hadn't appeared yet, could it be that he really couldn't control him anymore?
Just as Shang Rongyuan decided to go out and make a phone call, a hotel waiter led some people in.
But it wasn't just one person—a woman was with him.
The moment Bian Xunzhou stepped into the private room with Wen Xuyu, the air became thick with tension and awkwardness.
Inside, the crystal chandelier refracted brilliant light, illuminating the space, and exquisite tableware was set on the table. Everyone in the room looked on, filled with curiosity.
The faces of Bai Zhiren and his wife already showed signs of displeasure. "Mr. Shang, what is the meaning of this?"
Bai Pingling showed nothing on her face, but her hand under the table was gripping her bag so hard it was about to tear.
Who was this woman, and why was Bian Xunzhou so intimate with her?
Bian Xunzhou held Wen Xuyu’s hand and walked straight to the table. As if he couldn't see the awkward expressions of the others, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
Wen Xuyu struggled inwardly, but it was to no avail.