A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

After listening to Xu Miao's somewhat obsessive narration, Zhang Lei's expression gradually darkened.

He didn't reply immediately. He walked to the entrance of the billiard hall, turned his back to the noise, and lit a cigarette.

Xu Miao was immersed in his own logic, and his tone became more and more certain.

"She must have used some underhanded methods to force Wei Dong to take responsibility! She has to confess herself and then get out of here!"

Zhang Lei turned around after smoking half of his cigarette, the smoke obscuring his expression.

"What do you want me to do?"

Xu Miao's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the few hooligans in the billiard hall.

"Maybe you'll find a way to get her to tell the truth? Or scare her a little and make her back down."

Her voice was lower, but the ruthlessness in her eyes didn't fade.

Zhang Lei exhaled a heavy puff of smoke, his brows furrowed deeply.

"Xu Miao, do you even know what you're saying?"

Xu Miao was stung by his disappointed and stern tone, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, and she suddenly raised her voice.

"What did I do wrong?! Didn't she think about the consequences when she did that kind of thing?! Shouldn't she have done it?!"

"Where's the evidence?" Zhang Lei interrupted her.

"Who told you that? Did Lu Weidong tell you himself that he was forced? Or did you see it with your own eyes?"

He took a step forward, staring into her red eyes.

"You have no evidence whatsoever, yet you expect us to confront and intimidate her?"

"Do you genuinely want to find out the 'truth,' or are you just looking for an excuse to vent?"

That last sentence was like a needle, precisely piercing the most vulnerable spot in Xu Miao's heart.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Zhang Lei turned and left, leaving those words echoing in Xu Miao's ears.

"Xu Miao, you're not that kind of person. Don't lose yourself."

Xu Miao stood still, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.

Chaos, embarrassment, and an even stronger sense of resentment mingled together, burning her heart with a suffocating feeling.

Zhang Lei's words not only failed to extinguish the fire, but also made her feel even more aggrieved.

She walked out of the smoky billiard hall, dejected, her anger still firmly in control.

Lu Weidong can look down on any woman.

But by what right? He was taken down by a woman of unknown origin in such an ambiguous way.

"Hey girl, what's wrong? Are you in trouble?"

A slick voice came from the side.

Xu Miao turned his head and saw a tall, thin thug who had been loitering in the billiard hall earlier following him.

He wore a fawning smile, but his eyes kept darting around her.

"We heard everything inside. Did someone bully you? Did someone steal your boyfriend?"

"Want us to talk to her and teach her some manners? Afterwards, you just need to get the brothers two packs of good cigarettes, how about that?"

Xu Miao stopped in his tracks.

Zhang Lei's disappointed look and stern admonition were still fresh in my mind.

But another, darker, more urgent voice was screaming wildly in her mind.

.....

For the next two days, Ye Wenxi did not leave the Lu family home and stayed in her room to develop a review plan based on these teaching materials.

Over the past two days, she and Lu Weihua have been learning about some university majors and admission scores.

Because the original owner only had a junior high school education, he was not qualified to apply for university.

She needs to obtain a high school diploma first.

After obtaining the eligibility to apply, I will then apply to the Provincial Academy of Fine Arts in Harbin.

Her purpose in going to university was not really to learn knowledge, but to have a platform to give herself a suitable disguise.

So that her abilities can be properly utilized in this era.

The Provincial Academy of Fine Arts in Harbin is a well-known school in China, and the class schedules at this type of art school are relatively flexible.

No need to live on campus, you can arrange your own time. As long as you make time to complete the class hours and pass the exams, you can get your graduation certificate.

That morning, Ye Wenxi was engrossed in his studies when a knock came at the door.

She opened the door, and Lu Weidong walked in, a rare relaxed smile on his face.

"The political background check and marriage certificate have been approved."

"So fast?" Ye Wenxi was somewhat surprised.

She thought it would take at least ten days to half a month, but to her surprise, the Lu family made a few phone calls and everything was done in two days.

Lu Weidong came over because Liu Xiuyun urged him to.

Early in the morning, Lu Zhenghua received a call from the other end, which gave him a clear answer.

Ye Wenxi has a clear background; he is a tragic figure with a difficult past, but politically clean.

After listening to the phone call, Liu Xiuyun was even happier than during the New Year. She urged Lu Weidong to come and discuss the wedding with Ye Wenxi early in the morning.

When Lu Weidong asked her this, Ye Wenxi remembered that there was such a thing.

She's been so focused on her study plan these past few days that she's completely forgotten about this "important matter."

"What do you want to do? I'm all alone, I don't have any demands," she said.

"I'll listen to you." Lu Weidong handed over the decision to her.

Ye Wenxi pondered for a moment and then had an idea: "How about we split it into two sessions?"

"Let's just have a simple formality with our family here first. Then, when you and I get back to the unit, you can invite your close comrades, and we'll have a big celebration."

Ye Wenxi's suggestion hit the nail on the head for Lu Weidong.

He dislikes grand gestures and even more so, he dislikes those superficial and pretentious scenes.

This arrangement of splitting the event into two sessions and emphasizing substance over form is just right.

"Okay," he nodded, a faint smile in his eyes, "I'll go tell my family."

He paused, looked at her, and asked, "Shall we go get our marriage certificate today?"

"Huh?" Ye Wenxi looked up in surprise. "Oh... okay..."

After saying that, only one thought lingered in Ye Wenxi's mind.

What to do tonight?

This is still at his house, and it's the first night of their marriage. They can't really sleep in separate rooms right away, can they?

But if... her mind was a mess, and her face felt a little hot.

Even though he was thinking about it, he had already started to act with Lu Weidong.

The couple changed into neat military uniforms that had been prepared in advance and went to a photo studio to take a proper wedding photo.

Then I took a bus to the Civil Affairs Bureau, filled out forms, got stamps, and received my certificate.

The process was as quick as going out to buy groceries.

Ye Wenxi held the thin marriage certificate in her hand, which had a photo of the two of them side by side, and felt a moment of disorientation.

They got married...?

On the way back, Lu Weidong walked beside her.

The two were about two steps apart, neither too close nor too far.

The afternoon sun cast long, thin shadows that overlapped on the stone path.

A series of clear, tinkling sounds came from ahead.

An elderly woman carried a shoulder pole with a basket on one end and a small stove and sugar pot hanging on the other.

He was rhythmically tapping a small shovel and a metal plate in his hand; he was selling maltose.

Ye Wenxi's gaze was drawn to the clanging little shovel, and her steps unconsciously slowed down.

She had never seen maltose made and sold on the spot like this before, and she found it novel and interesting.

Lu Weidong noticed that she had slowed down, so he stopped and followed her gaze.

"Girl, would you like some maltose? It's freshly made, so fragrant and sweet!" the old lady greeted with a smile.

Lu Weidong stopped and looked at Ye Wenxi. Seeing her staring at him with bright eyes, he spoke.

"Auntie, let's buy some."

"Okay!"

The old woman deftly lifted the white cloth covering the bamboo basket, revealing amber-colored, glossy maltose blocks.

She picked up a small shovel and a piece of iron, tapped it off a few times, and weighed it on a miniature copper scale.

"Perfect, 12 cents."

She quickly wrapped it in oil paper, handed it to Lu Weidong, glanced at the two of them, and smiled so much that the wrinkles around her eyes smoothed out.

"That young man is so dashing, and that girl is so pretty! You two look so well-matched!"

"Is this your partner?"

Lu Weidong took the candy, turned his head, and his gaze naturally fell on Ye Wenxi's face.

His lips curved slightly upward, forming a clear and gentle arc, and his eyes were like the warm sunshine.

"She is my wife," he replied, his voice low but each word clear.

After he finished speaking, he still tilted his head, maintaining that faint smile, and met Ye Wenxi's eyes.

At that moment, the pale golden sunlight fell directly on his angular profile.

It cast a soft, warm glow on his usually cold and hard features.

When he smiled, it was as if a gentle crack had suddenly appeared on the surface of a frozen lake.

This man, who was always aloof and rarely showed his emotions, actually had such a handsome smile.

It's so beautiful it has a power to touch people's hearts.

Ye Wenxi stared blankly at her reflection in his eyes.

I felt a small patch of my heart melt away, as if gently warmed by that smile and the sunlight.

She subconsciously smiled at him.

Lu Weidong took out some money and handed it to the old lady. With his other arm, he naturally and gently put his arm around Ye Wenxi's shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

"Let's go home."

He spoke softly, his voice still carrying the lingering trace of laughter from before.

"Um..."

Ye Wenxi responded softly, without dodging.

His arms were strong and warm, conveying a reassuring sense of stability even through his thick clothes.

The two of them nestled together, and under the smiling gaze of the candy-selling woman, they turned and walked towards home.