He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

Where are you taking me?

Sang Jiuning turned her head to look at the man who was focused on driving, and spoke softly, with a hint of tentative doubt.

The car was quiet, with only the low rumble of the engine lingering in the air.

Wen Zhaoci, in the driver's seat, gripped the steering wheel with one hand. His profile was sharp and cold. He glanced at the girl beside him, a slight smile curving his thin lips: "You'll know when you get there."

The moment he finished speaking, Wen Zhaoci gently pressed the accelerator, and the car steadily accelerated.

In just over twenty minutes, the car came to a smooth stop.

When Sang Jiuning looked up, what came into view was not the streets around the school, nor the dessert shop she often went to, but the imposing and orderly gate of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

The bright red signboard was striking and eye-catching, hitting Sang Jiuning's eyes directly and making her heart skip a beat.

She stiffened slightly, instinctively gripping the hem of her dress so tightly her fingertips turned white. Suppressing her shock, she refused to unbuckle her seatbelt and looked intently at the man beside her: "You're bringing me here to register our marriage?"

Wen Zhaoci unbuckled his seatbelt, turned his head, and stared intently at her with his dark eyes, filled with straightforward seriousness, without a trace of jest. He nodded solemnly.

The moment she confirmed the answer, all the scenes from the previous two nights flashed through Sang Jiuning's mind, those ambiguous, tender, and uncontrollable moments of indulgence.

She pursed her lips. "Just because of what happened the night before last?"

She was actually very confused inside.

She feared that Wen Zhaoci's desire to marry her was merely a momentary impulse stemming from his loss of control that night.

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhaoci leaned forward slightly and slowly approached her.

The distance between the two instantly closed, their breaths mingling. His cool, youthful aura enveloped Sang Jiuning, making her inexplicably uneasy.

No one knew that at this moment, Wen Zhaoci, who seemed calm and composed, was actually having a heart pounding wildly, causing her chest to ache.

He harbored the deepest fear in his heart. He was most afraid that Sang Jiuning would regret it, most afraid that she would hate him because of what happened that night, most afraid that she would turn around and leave, most afraid that... she would break up with him.

He didn't dare to ask the question that was weighing on his mind—Do you regret it? Are you going to break up with me?

He dared not hear the answer, not even a little bit.

Therefore, he could only use the most clumsy and domineering method to keep her by his side.

All the anxiety and unease finally culminated in a cautious, somewhat humble question, spoken in a low, hoarse voice: "Baby, is it okay?"

Sang Jiuning's breath hitched, and she stared blankly at the boy in front of her.

Fu Yanchen, who has been reborn, also repeatedly reminds her to stay away from Wen Zhaoci, saying that this person is too dangerous and will eventually hurt her.

But only Sang Jiuning herself knew that from beginning to end, she was the one who was willing to do it.

The night before last, she had countless opportunities to refuse him, but she didn't.

She indulged him simply because she was truly and hopelessly in love with the man in front of her.

There was no grand confession, no romantic proposal, not even a bouquet of flowers.

Seeing the tension, anticipation, and trepidation that Wen Zhaoci couldn't hide in his eyes, Sang Jiuning gently curved the corners of her lips and said, "Okay."

Those two short words were like a beam of light, instantly illuminating Wen Zhaoci's tense and gloomy world.

His pupils dilated slightly, a huge surprise flashed in his eyes, and he was completely stunned.

Only he knew that in those few seconds of confrontation, his palms were already soaked with cold sweat, and his back was damp, fearing that he would be rejected by her.

Overwhelmed with joy, all his emotions surged forth, and his cold, hard features softened instantly.

"Okay." He replied in a hoarse voice, suppressing the urge to immediately pull her into a tight embrace, afraid of frightening her.

The two got out of the car and walked side by side into the lobby of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

There weren't many people in the lobby, and everything was in good order.

Sunlight streamed in through the bright glass window, warmly bathing the two of them.

They obediently took a number and waited in line quietly.

Couples were coming and going, getting their marriage certificates. Some looked shy, while others smiled broadly. The atmosphere was sweet everywhere.

Looking at the tall and upright young man beside her, Sang Jiuning felt a warmth in her heart.

It turns out that heading into the future with someone you love feels so peaceful and exciting.

Before long, the staff called out their number.

The two walked side by side to the window and, with perfect coordination, took out their ID cards and handed them over.

The staff at the window glanced at the strikingly good-looking couple and asked with a gentle smile, "Did you bring your household registration booklets? For marriage registration, you need the original household registration booklets of both parties."

These words were like a bucket of lukewarm water, gently extinguishing their burning anticipation.

Sang Jiuning froze on the spot, then belatedly realized what was happening.

Yes, she was so focused on agreeing to his request that she completely forgot the most important thing—marriage requires a household registration certificate.

She is still a student and her household registration book has been kept by her father in her hometown. She has never brought it with her.

Sang Jiuning's cheeks flushed slightly, feeling both amused and helpless.

Wen Zhaoci, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded.

He was too hasty and made such a basic and outrageous mistake.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They quietly put away their ID cards, turned around, and walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau hall side by side.

Standing on the steps in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau, a gentle breeze blew by, ruffling Sang Jiuning's hair.

She glanced at the frustrated boy beside her, couldn't help but chuckle softly, and broke the silence: "Are we still registering now? If we are, I'll have to go back to my hometown and secretly take out my household registration book."

She did not back down or hesitate in the slightest.

Wen Zhaoci immediately looked up at her. As long as she was willing, as long as she wanted to marry him, this little trouble was nothing.

He didn't want to wait a moment longer, nor did he want to delay in the slightest.

He was terrified that things might change over time, and he just wanted to make her Sang Jiuning, legally his alone, as soon as possible.

Wen Zhaoci looked at her and said, "We'll go to your hometown to get it now."

Sang Jiuning nodded gently, "Okay."

……