Chapter 12: Getting the Marriage Certificate
Morning was when Yang Qi was at its most potent, and Cheng Yuan was instantly set ablaze.
Cheng Yuan rolled over, pinning Lin Ruoxi underneath him.
Lin Ruoxi panicked, pushing Cheng Yuan away with all her might. It took several full minutes for her frantically pounding heart to calm down!
Cheng Yuan climbed up, a little embarrassed.
For some reason, Cheng Yuan felt like something wasn’t quite right.
Soon, Cheng Yuan realized what was wrong. He grabbed a tissue, spit on it, crumpled it into a small ball, and tossed it on the floor.
Lin Ruoxi was a bit of a neat freak and couldn’t help but frown. "Cheng Yuan, what are you doing? The floor was perfectly clean. Why are you making a mess?"
Cheng Yuan smiled mysteriously. "This makes us look more like a couple. We have to be professional about our act. When we get to your family’s home, we’ll have to make these little paper balls, too."
Lin Ruoxi froze for a moment, but she quickly understood Cheng Yuan’s intent, and her face couldn’t help but flush red.
’This big scoundrel certainly knows a lot.’
After arranging the "crime scene," the two of them walked out of the bedroom.
Wu Xiuli had breakfast ready. She smiled and asked, "Xiaoyuan, Ruoxi, breakfast is ready. Come and eat!"
"Thank you, Auntie."
Cheng Yuan and Lin Ruoxi went to the dining table to eat breakfast.
Meanwhile, Wu Xiuli pretended to go to Cheng Yuan’s bedroom to tidy the bed. When she saw the paper balls all over the floor, a knowing smile spread across her face.
’Looks like I might have grandchildren to hold soon!’
Wu Xiuli called out softly, "Xiaoyuan, come here for a second."
Cheng Yuan quickly put down his chopsticks and entered the bedroom. "Mom, what is it?"
Wu Xiuli glanced outside, then lowered her voice and said, "Xiaoyuan, women aren’t like men. They’re especially delicate and sensitive. Before you... each time... you have to make sure you’re clean. Otherwise, she could easily get a gynecological infection."
Cheng Yuan gave a wry smile. He’d love to, but they hadn’t reached that stage yet.
"Mom, don’t worry. Times have changed; everyone knows about personal hygiene. By the way, there are three hundred thousand in this card!"
Wu Xiuli was taken aback. "Xiaoyuan, you just got out of prison. Where did you get this much money? You didn’t do anything illegal, did you?"
Cheng Yuan couldn’t explain, so he just spouted the first lie that came to mind. "Mom, you’re overthinking things. This is the money Ruoxi is paying our family back for medical expenses."
Wu Xiuli’s expression softened. ’Ruoxi is such a good child,’ she thought. ’Normally, in this kind of relationship, borrowed money is never paid back.’
"Okay, Mom will hold onto this money! I’ll save it up to buy a house for you and Ruoxi’s wedding!"
...
After eating their fill, Lin Ruoxi prepared to leave. "Thank you for your hospitality, Auntie. I’ll come visit again!"
"Of course! You’re always welcome, Ruoxi."
After they left the apartment building, Cheng Yuan asked with some concern, "Ruoxi, are you going back to the Provincial City?"
Lin Ruoxi paused. "Go back to the Provincial City? Why would I do that? I’m not about to walk right into a trap."
Cheng Yuan breathed a small sigh of relief. It was fine as long as she wasn’t going back to get married. "Then why did you say goodbye to my mom?"
"It’s a bit inconvenient to do certain things while staying at your place. I’m planning to borrow an apartment from my best friend."
The corners of Lin Ruoxi’s mouth tilted up slightly. In truth, the main reason she wanted to borrow the apartment was so her best friend would spread the news of her marriage back to the Lin Family, forcing her grandfather to give up on the idea of the alliance marriage for good.
Cheng Yuan felt a pang of disappointment. If Lin Ruoxi borrowed an apartment, he wouldn’t be able to live under the same roof with her anymore. It was a small, nagging regret.
’Oh well,’ he thought. ’I’ll just have to take it slow.’
After all, he and Lin Ruoxi had no romantic history to build on.
"Alright. Just give me a heads-up when it’s time to go to the Provincial City. I’m ready to cooperate whenever."
Lin Ruoxi had gone to great lengths to find a human shield who was not only easy on the eyes but also competent. Why would she let him go so easily?
"We don’t need to wait until we return to the Provincial City. I need you to start cooperating now."
Cheng Yuan was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Manwen’s family and my family have known each other for generations. News of my presence here will surely travel back to the Lin Family fast. So, you have to live with me and start playing the part of my husband right now."
Cheng Yuan was overjoyed!
If they were together every day, Cheng Yuan was confident he could make Lin Ruoxi fall in love with him within half a year.
Cheng Yuan threw up his hands, feigning reluctance. "Since you helped me so much, what can I do? Alright, I’ll bite the bullet and play along."
Lin Ruoxi stared intently at Cheng Yuan. ’Is there a future for us?’ she wondered.
’Sigh... I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.’
Lin Ruoxi took a step forward and gently looped her arm through Cheng Yuan’s.
Cheng Yuan stiffened. He and Wang Shanshan had been together for a year, but she had never held his arm so affectionately. The feeling was indescribable, and so very heartwarming.
"Ruoxi, you..."
Lin Ruoxi thought Cheng Yuan disliked it and quickly explained, "Cheng Yuan, don’t get the wrong idea. Since we have to put on a show, we might as well do it right. All these neighbors are watching, so don’t blow our cover. Put your arm around my waist."
"Oh..."
Cheng Yuan cautiously reached out his hand and wrapped it around Lin Ruoxi’s slender waist.
’So soft!’
Lin Ruoxi’s heart was fluttering in chaos, but she put on a warm, enthusiastic act, greeting a neighbor walking toward them.
"Good morning, Auntie."
"Good morning, President Lin!"
"Don’t call me President Lin. Xiaolin or Ruoxi is just fine."
"Oh, of course! Good morning, Ruoxi."
After leaving the residential complex, Lin Ruoxi finally breathed a sigh of relief. ’I guess we managed to fool everyone in Cheng Yuan’s neighborhood, huh?’
"Ruoxi, are we going to find your best friend now?"
Lin Ruoxi shook her head slightly. "No. First, we’re getting our marriage license. Manwen is too smart; empty words won’t fool her. Only with a marriage certificate in hand can we convince her."
Cheng Yuan’s heart leaped. Once they got the certificate, he and Lin Ruoxi would be a legally recognized married couple!
"I’ll do what you say. But... we need our household registration books to get married. Did you bring yours?"
Lin Ruoxi pulled the household registration book from her backpack with a triumphant look. "I snagged it when I ran away from home. I’d already thought it through back then. The worst-case scenario was that I’d just find a random man to marry. I’d rather die than marry Gu Chen."
Cheng Yuan felt a pang of disappointment. ’So I’m just the random guy she found?’
’Did I just get lucky?’
Lin Ruoxi didn’t notice Cheng Yuan’s disappointment and continued, "After I ran away, I realized I actually care a lot about that initial spark. I couldn’t just marry any random person. The good thing is, you’re pretty easy on the eyes."
Cheng Yuan’s spirits were instantly restored to 100%. He silently thanked his parents for giving him good looks, which had at least gotten him a ticket to the show.
Half an hour later, the two arrived at the municipal building and found the Bureau of Civil Affairs.
A staff member briefly reviewed their documents, confirmed there were no issues, and then asked the routine question of whether they were both marrying of their own free will.
After receiving an affirmative answer, the staff member quickly processed and issued their marriage certificate.
Even after walking out of the municipal building, Cheng Yuan was still in a bit of a daze. Staring at the marriage certificate in his hand, he felt like the whole thing was surreal and unreal.
"Ruoxi, we’re a legally recognized married couple now?"
"Yes, we are, husband."
That one word, "husband," nearly melted Cheng Yuan’s heart!
In that moment, Cheng Yuan forgot that his marriage to Lin Ruoxi was just a sham. He swept her into his arms and spun her around and around, letting out all his pent-up excitement and joy!