Chapter 2: I Am Your Lawful Husband

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Xu Tanxi sighed, "Have you ever heard the saying that a person can only truly be themselves when they have no connections around? For me, I can only be a libertine in a place where no one knows me, understand?"

Having a fling abroad more than eight thousand kilometers from the capital city was fine—enjoyment without entanglement. But she never intended to bring such a forbidden relationship back to the capital.

If it weren’t for this trip to Paris for the Sotheby’s auction, if she hadn’t stopped by a bar for a few drinks, and if she hadn’t just happened to meet this high-quality pretty boy, none of last night would have happened.

"What if I told you that I’m about to return to the country soon?" he asked.

Xu Tanxi froze for a moment, then turned to look at him. "Seriously?"

"Yes, really."

"Which city in the country?"

"The capital."

Xu Tanxi: ?

What a damned coincidence, what a damned flutter of the heart.

The man before her was over half a head taller, bare-chested, broad-shouldered with a narrow waist—a natural clothes hanger, a perfect physique fully exposed in her line of sight. Every muscle line exuded an enticing aura, tempting Xu Tanxi to reach out and touch his abs.

"A goddess, truly a goddess among mortals," she murmured as she stroked him.

Biting her lip thoughtfully, Xu Tanxi handed him her phone. Her slender, elegant fingers traced circles on his chest muscles, smiling with alluring charm.

"Leave me your number. When I’m back in the capital, I can contact you anytime I need. As long as you come when called, you won’t be short of money."

Xu Tanxi had sworn off gambling and drugs for life, but for men, she made exceptions!

The man raised an eyebrow, smirking, "Alright then."

He took her phone and saved the number. His hands were striking, and the way he tapped the screen was captivating. Xu Tanxi’s mind wandered for a few seconds.

She saw him type “Goddess” in the contact name field and commented, "You have a very clear understanding of yourself."

"After all, it’s Miss Xu who called me that. How could I forget?"

Satisfied, Xu Tanxi reached out and patted his face. "Good dog."

The man: "......"

Well, he wasn’t even human anymore.

Xu Tanxi grabbed her small bag and said goodbye, "In that case, see you in the capital city. Bye~"

With that, she clicked her heels and strode toward the door, swinging her long hair with a breeze in her step, leaving behind a faint trace of Chanel No. 1957.

The man watched the graceful figure disappear at the doorway, his eyes darkening with intent, lips curling slightly.

I want to see how you’ll manage coming when called from now on, my lady.

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*

At 6:30 p.m. the next day, Xu Tanxi’s plane landed punctually at the capital city’s international airport.

This trip had been sudden both going abroad and returning, so she didn’t trouble the family’s old estate driver to pick her up. She took a taxi straight to Lugang International.

She had only stayed in Paris a few days, not enough to suffer jet lag. Yet, for some reason, the moment she stepped into her home, she felt overwhelmingly tired.

She blamed it on the fatigue unleashed by a night of indulgence, so after tidying up and a shower, she collapsed into bed and fell asleep.

A full night passed.

Inside the 400-square-meter penthouse duplex master bedroom, Xu Tanxi was sleeping soundly with an eye mask on.

When the phone rang, waking her from a deep, world-conquering slumber, she almost felt like conquering the earth in return.

Driven by morning grouchiness, she hung up immediately. But the caller seemed determined and called again.

Suppressing her anger, she forced open bleary eyes, curious which bastard dared disturb her peaceful sleep.

The number was unfamiliar.

She pressed the button and snapped, "Do you know what time it is? Disturbing someone's sleep so early in the morning—do you even know what manners are?"

The voice on the other side paused for a moment.

"Is it possible it’s not morning anymore?"

Xu Tanxi glanced at the clock and was stunned. It was nearly noon.

She hadn’t expected to have slept more than ten hours straight, like a dead pig. Her temper flared further. "No, who are you?"

"Shang Hejing."

"And who’s Shang Hejing?"

"......"

Silence again on the line. When he spoke again, he emphasized each word carefully.

"Your le-gal hus-band."

"......"

This time Xu Tanxi was utterly speechless.

Shang Hejing was her marriage-of-convenience husband, a man she had only heard of but never seen. He was the secret heir of the Shang family, a top financial dynasty in the capital with both military and commercial backgrounds, cultivated overseas for years.

When she learned she was to be used as a tool for the Xu family’s interests, her reaction was far calmer than she had expected, because she had already sensed this outcome, only now confirmed on an unremarkable day.

But refusing to register the marriage was her last act of stubbornness, so she flew straight to Africa to witness the great animal migration.

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Shang Hejing was a bit more patient than her. Even after learning she was no longer in the country, he went to the civil affairs bureau—the wedding certificate even had a photoshopped picture of the two.

As for the certificate itself, Xu Tanxi didn’t care about the marriage at all, much less a piece of paper, so she never thought to retrieve it from the Zhu family’s old estate.

Shang Hejing was always in the U.S., and she was flying around the world for work and pleasure, so despite being married over a year, they had never met.

Xu Tanxi knew her sham husband was returning soon, but she hadn’t expected him to call her directly.

A flicker of nervousness stirred inside her, though she feigned calmness. "Is there something you need?"

The man’s voice was clear, low, and steady. "The elders have arranged a family dinner at the old estate tonight. I need you to attend with me. Where are you staying? I’ll pick you up at 6:30 p.m."

Polite enough, but the calm tone left no room for refusal.

She really couldn’t say no. No matter the lack of feeling, business marriages were like this—whether inside or outside the family home, occasions for pretense were inevitable.

Both spouses were obliged to cooperate in all family gatherings and business social events. This was even spelled out in the marriage contract.

Xu Tanxi: "I’m staying at Lugang International, but you don’t need to pick me up. I’ll come myself."

Shang Hejing didn’t ask why, simply replied, "Okay."

Just as they were about to hang up, she heard him say, "By the way."

Her heart inexplicably jumped.

"What do you want for my birthday?"

Xu Tanxi was stunned. She hadn’t expected this question, and how did he know tomorrow was her birthday?

The strangest thing was that the scene oddly matched the question the pretty boy had asked that night...

"Ah? You’re going to give me a birthday gift?"

"The first birthday of my wife after marriage. As her husband, I should express some sentiment."

But they hardly seemed close enough to be exchanging gifts, Xu Tanxi wanted to say.

Yet recalling the elders’ instructions before the marriage—to be a gentle, virtuous wife, or at least pretend to be one, to maintain the role—she said with a smile, "Anything is fine, husband. I’ll like whatever you give me."

"......ahem, ahem, ahem!"

Shang Hejing seemed to be drinking water and choked a little on the other end.

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