Su Banxia had met Shang Lu’s grandparents along with her parents, and the families engaged in polite conversation while she acted as the obedient daughter, listening quietly.
Su Banxia’s father and Shang Lu’s grandmother discussed her disappearance on the day of her wedding, explaining it away as due to a friend’s emergency, necessitating her sudden departure.
Everyone knew she had fled the wedding, not left due to an emergency, but they all put on a show of believing this unbelievable excuse.
After chatting for a while, both Su Banxia’s father and Shang Lu’s father, busy with their work, left her at the Shang residence.
Su Banxia, unfamiliar with the people of the Shang family, maintained a distant but polite smile on her face. Shang Lu’s stepmother, the male protagonist’s mother, had a servant take her to Shang Lu’s room.
The servant helped her with her luggage, but Su Banxia, not liking others to touch her personal belongings and having some free time, waved the servant away.
Shang Lu’s room was large but, like her room in the Su family’s house, it was spacious yet not bright, with an overall cold color scheme that gave off a cold and gloomy feeling.
Su Banxia walked around the room and stuffed her clothes into Shang Lu’s wardrobe. His shirts were either black or white, and his coats were all dark colors, making the wardrobe look gloomy.
True to a wealthy family, the wardrobe was larger than her previous bedroom. She arranged her shoes, bags, and clothes, mixing in various colors, bringing some liveliness to the wardrobe.
She spent the afternoon in the room, scrolling through videos on her phone and actively commenting on popular videos to earn emotional values.
After dinner, Su Banxia lay in bed playing on social media apps before going to the bathroom for a shower, then wrapped in a towel, she went to the wardrobe to find pajamas.
After searching for a while and not finding any pajamas, she realized that she had not packed any because she thought the original owner’s pajamas were too revealing.
Feeling conflicted, as she couldn’t possibly sleep in just a towel, Su Banxia looked at Shang Lu’s grey pajamas in the wardrobe but ultimately didn’t touch them.
Shang Lu was reclusive and didn’t like others touching his things. She had just moved in and decided it was best not to be too bold.
Most of the original owner’s clothes were dresses, with few shorts. She managed to find a long T-shirt, changed into it in the bathroom, then applied a face mask for skincare.
It was a hot summer, and the room was air-conditioned. Wearing just a T-shirt, she felt a bit cold. After completing her skincare routine, Su Banxia got into bed under the covers to rest. After a long day, she soon fell asleep.
Consequently, when Shang Lu lifted the blanket, she was sound asleep.
In addition to inheriting her parents’ good features, Su Banxia also had very fair skin. She lay on her side in bed, and the grey sheets made her skin appear even whiter, resembling cold porcelain.
While sleeping, she wasn’t very still. The long T-shirt she wore had rolled up to her upper thighs, approaching a risky position. Her slender figure was accentuated in her side-sleeping position, with the curvy lines of her hips being particularly enticing.
Shang Lu did not expect to uncover such a scene when he flipped the blanket. His face, slightly angry, froze, and he clenched the blanket tightly, almost tearing it apart. He stood there stiffly, uncertain of what to do.
The thin blanket had been removed from her body, and the sleeping girl, feeling cold, moved her long legs against the grey sheets, searching for the blanket. This movement caused her T-shirt to roll up further.
Shang Lu quickly averted his gaze and hastily covered her with the blanket again. He didn’t just cover her body but also concealed the alluring view, even covering her head thoroughly.
Su Banxia, who was not a deep sleeper, woke up confused and peeked out from under the blanket. She gazed at the man in the wheelchair beside the bed with bewildered eyes.
In the bright light, the man’s stern face and penetrating gaze fell on her, sharp as a knife’s edge, resembling a wild animal whose territory had been invaded. His thin lips were pressed tightly together, his displeasure and dangerously sharp eyes making her inexplicably anxious.
Su Banxia fully woke up and sat up in bed, stammering, “You’re back.”
She sat on the bed like a docile wife greeting her late-coming husband, looking adorable and clear-eyed at him.
Shang Lu stared at her, “Why are you in my bed?”
Su Banxia was confused; where else could she be but on the bed? Perhaps on the floor?
“Just sleeping.”
Shang Lu, seeing her clueless expression, nearly gritted his teeth, “I’m asking why you are in my room, and why aren’t you wearing…” He didn’t finish the sentence about pants.
Su Banxia’s face instantly flushed with a mix of embarrassment and confusion, “I didn’t bring pajamas and couldn’t find pants, so I didn’t wear any.”
Shang Lu felt he was also confused to have said such things. His expression returned to its usual cold demeanor, “Get off the bed.”
Su Banxia, realizing it was his room and his bed, got off the bed with a slightly hurt expression.
The white long T-shirt she wore fell down, covering her pale thighs, and her slightly blushing cheeks looked enticing.
Shang Lu averted his gaze to avoid having chaotic thoughts, “I’ll have the servants arrange another room for you.”
Su Banxia was upset upon hearing this. She had agreed to marry Shang Lu with the intention of getting close to him, hoping to spend every day together to absorb some of his fortune. If he arranged for her to stay elsewhere, she would lose the opportunity to be close to him.
She felt a pain in her heart, perhaps only an illusion, and frowned.
“I don’t want to.”
Shang Lu: “…”
He had never been entangled by someone like this. People usually chose to stay away from him, and even those with ulterior motives were kept at bay by his assistant before they could get close.
Was it such a big deal that she slept in his bed? Su Banxia sat on the sofa, hugging a pillow, “Shang Lu, please don’t drive me away, okay?”
“I can sleep on the sofa tonight, I absolutely won’t disturb you.” She purposely made a pleading expression, “We are husband and wife. If I’m driven out to sleep in another room, what will others think of me?”
“The servants will surely laugh at me.”
Shang Lu had a gloomy expression. He spent a lot of time in the villa, and even though the servants were trained to control their expressions, he occasionally saw pity or contempt on their faces for his disability.
Especially that woman who often looked at his disabled legs with undisguised mockery.
Seeing Shang Lu’s expression become even gloomier, Su Banxia grew nervous, wondering if she had accidentally triggered some sore point.
Shang Lu pursed his lips and remained silent.
He didn’t immediately drive her out, so there might be a chance.
Su Banxia got up and walked to him, half-kneeling in front of him, looking up at him, “Shang Lu, let’s talk.”
The man in the wheelchair had to lift his head to talk to others, which could become uncomfortable over time. But with her half-kneeling in front of him, he only needed to lower his head slightly to see all the expressions on her face.
This was a considerate gesture.
Shang Lu felt from the details that she bore no malice towards him, but she was too close, and he could smell the faint fragrance of her shower on her. She had used his shower and his usual shower gel. Although he was accustomed to the scent, he felt somewhat uneasy smelling it on her.
“What do you want to talk about?”
Su Banxia knew that Shang Lu’s softened attitude meant there was room for negotiation, so she quickly suggested, “How about we sign an agreement for a duration of three years? If you still don’t like me after that, we can separate.”
Shang Lu agreed to marry because his grandmother was seriously ill and didn’t have much time left. She was most concerned about Shang Lu, hoping to see her grandson married and with someone to accompany him in the latter part of his life. He had agreed to the marriage under the old lady’s request.
Three years would be enough time for her to regain all her fortune, and by then, the storyline would also be over, allowing both of them to go their separate ways.
Shang Lu’s dark eyes stared at her as if trying to see through her inner thoughts. He knew Su Banxia’s deliberate efforts to marry into the Shang family were for Shang Jingyao. Now, discussing a three-year term with him, he wondered what other schemes she might be planning.
“What do you think?” Su Banxia looked at him sincerely.
Shang Lu slightly lowered his gaze, hiding the gloom in his eyes.
His grandmother had told him that Su Banxia was not a bad person by nature, just a little spoiled and arrogant, but still a good girl.
That’s why he had agreed to marry her.
His grandmother’s illness was severe, and at least for now, he needed Su Banxia.
“I can agree to your request,” Shang Lu said with a stern tone, looking at her with a dangerous glare, “You better behave well in the Su family. If you cause any trouble, I won’t let you off.”
Su Banxia shivered inexplicably, aware from the novel that Shang Lu was a reclusive and decisively ruthless person.
His words were a warning to her not to let ‘love’ blind her and to avoid recklessly pursuing Shang Jingyao, as it could bring shame to him and the Su family, in which case he would deal with her.
Luxurious life in a wealthy family was great, and there was no need to risk her life foolishly.
Su Banxia quickly nodded, “Yes, yes.”
Shang Lu scrutinized her with sharp, piercing eyes, as if verifying whether she was being sincere or just perfunctory.
Su Banxia hastily swore, “I promise to behave well and not cause you any trouble.”
A woman’s words, deceitful as a ghost.
She wouldn’t cause trouble, but she didn’t say she wouldn’t get close to him.
Having resolved a minor crisis, Su Banxia breathed a sigh of relief and obediently found a blanket from the wardrobe to sleep on the sofa.
At least she had managed to stay. Eventually, she hoped to sleep on the comfortable bed.
Having trouble falling asleep after waking up, she lay on the sofa, occasionally glancing at Shang Lu.
Shang Lu, disabled for many years, was accustomed to being independent. After taking a bath and changing into his pajamas, he lay down on the bed and turned off the light.
Su Banxia lay in the darkness, her eyes open, gazing at the man on the bed through the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains.
Her heart ached slightly, as if reminding her of her impending doom.
After a while, ensuring that the man’s breathing had become steady and he was likely asleep, she cautiously got up from the sofa.
To confirm if he was asleep, she knelt by the bed and whispered, “Shang Lu?”
“Are you asleep?”
“Are you asleep?”
“…Little Lu Lu?”
Good, he’s asleep.
Su Banxia cautiously leaned in, very gently grasping his hand, then relaxed and let out a slow breath. Holding hands felt like committing a crime, but it was necessary for her survival. She thought about how much easier it would be to regain her fortune directly; holding the script of a villainous supporting character was indeed tough. Determined to live, she resolved to reach a satisfying conclusion to her story.
In the dark room, a faint moonbeam squeezed in. Unnoticed by her, the sleeping Shang Lu’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
After holding Shang Lu’s hand for a while, Su Banxia returned to the sofa, wrapping herself up and falling asleep while counting stars.
The next day.
The chirping of birds outside the window woke her up. Su Banxia opened her eyes, rubbed them, and realized she was on the carpet. She looked at the sofa, pondering how she could have fallen off and not woken up. She quickly got up and glanced at the bed to find it neatly made and empty.
After freshening up, she left the room and encountered Shang Jingyao downstairs.
Shang Jingyao, who had returned late the night before and was unaware of Su Banxia staying at the Shang residence, was visibly shocked to see her coming out of Shang Lu’s room.
“Su Banxia,” he approached her with a cold look, “What are you doing here?!”
Su Banxia was startled by his tone, which sounded almost like he was catching an adulterer.
“Why can’t I be here?” she replied coldly, “Move aside, don’t block my way.”
Shang Jingyao’s expression turned ugly. Su Banxia had never spoken to him in such a tone, treating him like trash that dirtied her eyes.
He grabbed her hand tightly, “Su Banxia, I warn you, even if you live in the Shang household, I won’t spare you a glance.”
His grip was painful and annoying.
Su Banxia thought he was acting crazy. “Let go of me,” she demanded coldly, her eyes filled with disgust and irritation. “Who do you think you are? I don’t need your attention.”
Instead of letting go, Shang Jingyao gripped her hand tighter.
“Su Banxia, I advise you to stop playing games. You won’t like the consequences of angering me.”
His grip was so strong it felt like her bones might break. Su Banxia kicked him in response, “I told you to let go!”
Shang Jingyao grunted and almost stumbled, his hand forcibly pulled away by someone.
“Shang Jingyao, what are you doing?” Shang Lu appeared with a stern look, his gaze cold.
Su Banxia quickly ran behind him, blurting out, “Shang Lu, he’s bullying me.”
Shang Jingyao’s hand was held by a tall man, his face twisted with anger. “Let go!”
The man, still gripping Shang Jingyao’s hand, looked towards Shang Lu.
Shang Lu nodded slightly, his imposing demeanor undiminished despite sitting in a wheelchair, and the stern man who held Shang Jingyao’s hand let go. “My apologies, Second Young Master.”
Despite being in a wheelchair, Shang Lu’s presence was in no way inferior to Shang Jingyao. In comparison, Shang Jingyao, who had just been pulled away, appeared slightly disheveled.
“Big brother,” he called out reluctantly.
Although the relationship between Shang Jingyao and Shang Lu was cold, they were still brothers. Su Banxia, worried that Shang Lu might misunderstand her, quickly extended her hand in front of him.
“Shang Lu, look, he almost twisted my hand off.”
Shang Lu lowered his gaze to her hand, examining it.
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