Fatal Desire

Chapter 171 Extra: Getting the Marriage Certificate

The winter in Beijing is bitterly dry, and several heavy snowfalls have blanketed the old hutongs with their red walls and gray tiles in a silver-white coat.

After Zhao Yansen formally proposed, Song Xi left the decision of marriage entirely to him, and she was not in a hurry to get the marriage certificate.

Firstly, Morningside's innovative drug launches are facing a series of challenges, leaving Song Xi with no time to spare. Secondly, Zhao Yansen is also busy; he recently went to Australia.

Before New Year's Eve, Morning Star was preparing to hold an annual meeting, with Cheng Nian in charge of planning.

Song Xi was busy integrating the clinical trials of the new drug and had no time to deal with other matters, so he asked Cheng Nian to discuss the timing.

On the day of the annual meeting, the atmosphere was noisy and lively. The last procedure after the performance was for the president to speak on stage. Song Xi stood on the stage in a neat and capable suit, looking noble and sharp.

She didn't waste any time, speaking concisely for three minutes before stepping down from the stage and leaving.

Cheng Nian stepped forward and said to Song Xi, "President Song, your fiancé has arrived and is waiting for you in the VIP meeting room."

"I see."

Song Xi's expression didn't change much, as if she was used to it. She turned to Shang Shixu and said, "I'm leaving now. Call me if you need anything."

"Ah."

Shang Shixu, holding a glass of champagne, stood there watching Song Xi leave, and sighed softly, "Secretary Cheng, your CEO Song is just picking on bachelors."

Cheng Nian laughed and said, "Then Mr. Shang, try your best to find a partner soon."

"It's not that easy." Shang Shixu was easy to get along with in private and didn't have much of an official air about him. "I'd rather wait for President Song's wedding candy than wait for me to find a partner."

"Is President Song getting married soon?" Cheng Nian was even more surprised than when President Song took her to Switzerland for a business trip and parasailing last month.

Shang Shixu: "We can look forward to it."

To be honest, the reason why Song Xi and Zhao Yansen's affair was known to everyone in the company was thanks to the man's unspeakable high-profile behavior.

Zhao Yansen would pick up Song Xi from get off work whenever he had free time, and after doing it so many times, he was eventually discovered.

Cheng Nian bumped into him on a late autumn night.

At that moment, she saw Song Xi and was about to greet the president when she witnessed an unbelievable scene—

As night deepened, a man in a black overcoat stood in front of the car, holding a white cashmere scarf in his hand.

Song Xi stood quietly in front of him, staring intently at him.

The man helped her tie her scarf, and then gently touched her face. Song Xi couldn't help but smile, her eyes crinkling with a bright and charming smile.

Because of the distance, Cheng Nian couldn't hear their conversation clearly, but she could see Song Xi's expression perfectly.

President Song is dignified, elegant, decisive, and efficient in the company. Occasionally, when she talks about something interesting, she is like a president who is always witty and humorous.

This soft and radiant girlish state was something Cheng Nian had never seen before.

Cheng Nian shifted her gaze, trying to discern the man's true appearance. In the flickering light and shadow, his impeccably handsome features came into view.

"What???"

Isn't that President Song?

Cheng Nian, quick-witted, immediately changed her tune: "My sweetheart!"

Over time, the whole company knew that their CEO, Mr. Song, was already taken.

Employees who initially shipped the two bosses as a couple were heartbroken, but after spotting their bosses' lovers in the distance, the former staunch supporters quickly switched sides.

He then argued vehemently, "Isn't it said that it's not about which older brother the sister-in-law married, but rather whoever the sister-in-law marries becomes the older brother? I ship couples the same way; I'll ship whoever President Song is with!"

From then on, I had one more reason to join Morningside Ventures: President Song is just too adorable!
……

Those were just casual chatter in the tea room, which Song Xi didn't care about, so Cheng Nian quietly joined in the office entertainment.

Hearing Shang Shixu's confident tone, Cheng Nian was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! President Song can finally take a good rest during his honeymoon."
The lounge's lights were extravagant, illuminating everything without any concealment.

As soon as Song Xi entered the room, she saw the man sitting lazily on the sofa and walked towards him.

Zhao Yansen grabbed her wrist, gently pulled her into his arms, held her neck with his large hand, and lowered his head to kiss her.

There were still staff members walking around outside. Morningside employees might come in at any time and bump into their president kissing a man.

Song Xi reached out and pushed Zhao Yansen away, her cheeks instantly turning red.

He had just arrived at the lounge when a lingering chill remained on his clothes, which gently seeped into her palm, pulling her back to her senses.

"What are you doing? Don't kiss me like that."

"It wasn't casual; I thought about it all day." Zhao Yansen had a well-proportioned physique and was excessively handsome, yet his sweet words didn't seem out of place at all.

"Zhao Yansen," Song Xi said, sitting on his lap, her tone very serious, "Don't you dare mimic my speech!"

Zhao Yansen raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze fixed on her: "You've grown up, and you've gotten so bold, daring to interfere with your brother now."

Song Xi: "You spoiled him, so you have to take full responsibility."

Zhao Yansen couldn't help but chuckle: "Alright then, Princess Xixi has given the order, how could I dare to disobey?"

Song Xi whimpered, wanting to kiss him, but it wasn't convenient here. She got up from his arms and urged, "Brother, let's go home."

The waiter brought her coat and scarf back, and Zhao Yansen personally helped her put on the coat and scarf, his movements skillful and gentle.

Song Xi slipped her hands inside his coat, wrapped them around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and whispered:
"I wish I could become a tree, so I could plant myself in my brother's heart."

Zhao Yansen chuckled: "You were already planted when you were a seed."

Upon hearing this, Song Xi looked up at him, her long eyelashes trembling slightly like delicate little fans.

"The seed took root, sprouted, and grew into a towering tree." Zhao Yansen placed his palm on the back of her head, his voice deep, "Never withering."

Song Xi's heart skipped a beat, his dark, bright pupils clearly reflecting his features.

After a long silence, she slowly spoke: "Don't we have to go back to the compound for New Year's Eve dinner tomorrow?"

"Ah."

"Zhao Yansen," Song Xi called to him, "Let's get our marriage certificate tomorrow, and then go back to the compound."

An unexpected decision.

Zhao Yansen stared intently at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable: "Have you thought it through?"

Song Xi nodded and smiled broadly: "Auntie said that tomorrow is an auspicious day for marriage."

Ever since Zhao Yansen proposed, Song Yunyu and the other elderly women have been consulting fortune tellers to choose auspicious dates for everything – engagement, marriage registration, wedding…

The next morning, Zhao Yansen didn't give Song Xi a chance to back out and led her into the Civil Affairs Bureau.

The bureau chief personally received them, his face beaming with smiles throughout. After completing the formalities, the certificates were issued, stamped with the official seal, and finally, two bright red marriage certificates were handed to them.

"Happy wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Zhao."

Zhao Yansen accepted it calmly, as if he were holding a perfectly normal document or contract, not a marriage certificate.

After the snow cleared, the sky brightened, and it was a beautiful, sunny day.

As Song Xi and Zhao Yansen walked side by side after leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, she noticed that his hand holding hers was trembling slightly.

She stopped, stood on tiptoe, kissed his cheek, and smiled brightly, "Please take care of me in the future, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Yansen, who was usually calm and indifferent, was startled at this moment.

His eyes were deep as he raised his hand to stroke her face: "Please give me your guidance, my Mrs. Zhao."