Chapter 134: Our Marriage
The outer hall fell into complete silence.
Wang Gege simply looked at the man before her. She had only wanted to remind him of the agreement they had made on the night of their marriage. Never had she expected the conversation to reach this point.
The man who had always remained composed, always seemed to have an answer for everything, was now kneeling before her, calmly admitting that the thought of losing her frightened him.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the outer robe draped across her shoulders. The warmth lingering upon the fabric suddenly became impossible to ignore.
She had spent so much effort convincing herself not to misunderstand his kindness. She told herself that he was merely fulfilling his responsibility as her husband.
That secretly following her to the market, standing up for her inside the silk shop, covering her with his outer robe, and even asking Mo Yan to make the Shen Residence bear the consequences...
None of it should mean anything more.
Yet hearing those words... She realized she could no longer continue deceiving herself either.
A quiet laugh escaped her lips. It was soft and almost helpless.
Xie Rong tilted his head slightly. "Did this husband say something amusing?"
Wang Gege shook her head.
"No." She lowered her eyes, the corners of her lips still carrying that faint smile. "It is just..." She let out a quiet sigh, "This wife suddenly feels that Young Master is rather unreasonable."
Xie Rong’s brows lifted almost imperceptibly. "Unreasonable?"
She looked at him again. "When this wife finally managed to convince herself that we should simply remain husband and wife in name... Young Master suddenly says something that completely overturns everything."
She smiled bitterly, "How is this wife supposed to pretend she heard nothing?"
Xie Rong’s brows gradually drew together. "Why does Furen need to pretend she heard nothing?"
The question caught Wang Gege by surprise. She looked at him blankly before letting out a soft, helpless laugh.
"Because..." She lowered her gaze to their joined hands. "Young Master is making this wife greedy."
The words escaped far more honestly than she had intended. She had originally planned to remain satisfied with the life they had agreed upon.
Two people sharing the same roof... Respecting one another and interfering as little as possible.
She had truly believed that would be enough. But now... After hearing his confession, she found herself back at the very beginning.
Xie Rong looked at her quietly. "Be greedy then."
Wang Gege slowly raised her head.
Xie Rong’s expression remained as composed as ever.
"This husband has no intention of giving Furen only half of my heart." He gently tightened his hold on her hand. "If Furen wishes to be greedy... then be greedy only toward this husband."
"Whatever Furen desires... this husband will do his utmost to fulfill."
The words lingered quietly between them.
Wang Gege simply stared at him. For a long while, she could not find a single word to answer.
How unfair... He had spoken so calmly. As though the promises he had just made were nothing more than ordinary words.
Did he have any idea... How violently her heart was beating?
A helpless smile slowly appeared upon her lips. "Young Master."
"Mm?"
"This wife suddenly understands something." She tilted her head slightly, "You truly are terrible."
Xie Rong’s brows lifted ever so slightly. "This husband has done something wrong?"
She shook her head. "No."
Her eyes gradually curved into a gentle smile. "You’ve made this wife lose completely."
Before Xie Rong could understand what she meant, Wang Gege slowly leaned forward. The distance between them quietly disappeared.
Xie Rong instinctively held his breath.
Her forehead lightly brushed against his.
"So..." She whispered with a smile, "this is what Young Master meant by revoking our agreement."
The corners of Xie Rong’s lips unconsciously lifted. "It is."
"Then..." Her fingers gently straightened the slightly crooked collar of his robe, "this wife should give Husband an answer."
She looked into the face that was now only inches away. Then, without another word, she gently pressed her lips against his.
It lasted only a brief moment.
Just enough for Wang Gege to silently tell him, ’This is my answer.’
Xie Rong remained perfectly still, not because he wished to pull away. But because he had not expected Wang Gege to be the one to close the distance first.
As she was about to retreat, his fingers instinctively wrapped around her wrist.
"Furen." His voice was barely above a whisper.
Wang Gege looked back at him, her cheeks already tinted a soft crimson. "Hm?"
Slowly, he lifted his free hand and gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingertips lingered for only a heartbeat before resting lightly against her cheek.
"May this husband...?" He did not finish the question.
Wang Gege’s eyes softened and a faint smile curved upon her lips as she gave the smallest nod. "Mm."
Only then did Xie Rong lean forward.
This time, their lips met once more.
The kiss was unhurried, carrying a tenderness neither of them had known how to express through words. It lingered only for a few quiet moments, enough for the uncertainty that had stood between them since the beginning of their marriage to melt away.
When they finally separated, neither hurried to speak.
Wang Gege’s forehead naturally rested against his. "Husband."
"Hm?"
"This wife suddenly feels..." A quiet laugh escaped her, "that revoking our agreement was a rather dangerous decision."
The corners of Xie Rong’s lips lifted faintly. "This husband does not regret it."
"Neither does this wife." Wang Gege replied.
The simple exchange drew another smile from both of them.
Outside, the autumn breeze rustled softly through the bamboo leaves.
The fragrance of sandalwood still lingered within the chamber.
Only then did Qing’er quietly clear her throat from beyond the curtain.
"Young Madam..." Qing’er’s voice carried a trace of amusement. "This servant shall take her leave. The medicine has been placed outside the door."
Without waiting for a response, she quietly withdrew, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.
The chamber fell silent once more.
Wang Gege instinctively lowered her gaze, the warmth on her cheeks deepening.
"Ah..." She let out an embarrassed laugh. "This wife completely forgot Qing’er was still outside."
"Mm..." Xie Rong’s lips curved into the faintest smile.
He slowly lifted both hands and gently cupped her cheeks, his thumbs lightly brushing against the warmth that had spread across her face.
"Since it is only the two of us now..." His voice softened, "shall we?"
Wang Gege blinked several times, momentarily unable to follow his meaning. "Shall we... what?"
Seeing the genuine confusion in her eyes, the smile at the corner of Xie Rong’s lips deepened ever so slightly. "Begin."
"Begin what?"
He looked at her quietly, his gaze filled with a tenderness she had never seen before. "Our marriage."
The simple answer instantly stole Wang Gege’s breath. Her face reddened from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears.
"H-Husband..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xie Rong gently slipped one arm behind her back while the other rested beneath her knees.
In one smooth motion, he lifted her into his arms. A soft gasp escaped Wang Gege as she instinctively wrapped an arm around his neck.
"Husband!"