PANT - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Marriage happened in Shi Ning's life like a sudden thunderstorm on a clear day.
Walking down the street, Shi Ning had to keep reminding herself that she was a married woman now. But to prevent her new life in this novel from being cut short by an exceedingly unexpected marriage, Shi Ning felt it was necessary to sign a contract with Su Tianxue.
So she proposed, "Miss Su, would you mind signing a marriage-related contract with me?"
Su Tianxue hadn't considered that. "What do you mean?"
The matter of prenuptial assets had just been more or less handled at the Civil Affairs Bureau. What remained was the issue of Shi Ning's personal freedom.
Shi Ning said, "I think we should both maintain our basic freedom to socialize after getting married, don't you?"
Su Tianxue replied, "I have no problem with that."
Su Tianxue added, "I won't interfere in your private life."
Shi Ning emphasized, "Mutual non-interference." She muttered, "Am I the only one with a private life?"
Su Tianxue raised an eyebrow, the hidden meaning self-evident.
Shi Ning mentioned casually, "So, what about our post-marital sex life?" Her intention was just to tease Su Tianxue and see her reaction.
Su Tianxue was very calm. "I will not initiate contact with you."
Shi Ning smiled. "Have you ever considered that I might initiate?"
Su Tianxue's gaze was indifferent. "We'll see. If you want to stipulate it as an obligation, I don't mind."
Shi Ning shrugged. "No, I don't want that."
Making it an obligation in black and white would be really boring.
The two found a café, and Shi Ning took charge of drafting the contract. Seeing how serious she was, Su Tianxue grew a little curious. "Ms. Shi, what did you do for work before?"
On her personal form, she had clearly written the code name of her research institute and her position. As for Shi Ning, she still didn't know much about her background. Judging from her reaction during the earlier confrontation with those two, she likely had some legal background. Now, seeing how skillfully she was drafting the contract, Su Tianxue couldn't help but suspect her work was related to law.
Shi Ning let out a laugh. "We're already married, and you're only asking me now?"
Su Tianxue: "..."
Shi Ning looked up, the pen in her hand pausing mid-draft, and asked the woman with a smile, "What? Getting curious about me now?"
"You know love often starts with curiosity, right?"
Su Tianxue: ...No. Her sharp tongue was already torture enough.
Her face was cold, clearly indicating that if Shi Ning didn't want to say, then so be it.
Shi Ning said, half-jokingly, "I have a personal interest in law. As for my previous job, it was mainly lying around and counting money."
After all, she was the CEO in a sweet, fluffy yuri novel. Don't ask what kind of company she ran or what it did—in two words, she was rich. The author made her rich, so she was rich. Forget Su Tianxue; even Shi Ning herself had no idea where all her money came from.
In short, rich.
That was her label.
After drafting the first clause about mutual non-interference in their private lives, Shi Ning asked, "Anything else?"
"Anything else?" Su Tianxue raised her hand and took a sip of her bitter coffee. She thought for a moment, then added, "If possible, I hope we don't reveal our relationship to any third party unless absolutely necessary."
"I have a younger sister. I don't want her to know about anything that happened at the hospital."
For some reason, hearing the word "our" from her lips made Shi Ning quite happy.
"Okay." She agreed without hesitation.
"Do you have anything to add?" Su Tianxue asked Shi Ning.
Shi Ning shook her head. She stirred her coffee with a small stick, watching the whipped foam merge with the coffee. The snow-white foam was like snow on a mountaintop, mixing with the brown coffee, much like her encounter with Su Tianxue. Interesting.
She lowered her gaze, hiding her thoughts, and said to Su Tianxue, "I was wondering, Miss Su, is there anyone you like?"
Su Tianxue: "I like stars."
Shi Ning was startled. "You like your sister?"
Su Tianxue glared at her, then asked suspiciously, "How do you know my sister's name?"
Shi Ning bluffed, "It was written under family relations on the form just now."
Su Tianxue reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I meant the stars in the sky."
Shi Ning: "I asked about a person you like."
Su Tianxue: "There's no one."
Shi Ning teased her, "What about me?"
Su Tianxue: "Ms. Shi, don't you think there's no need to ask questions to which we can both foresee the answer at a glance?"
Shi Ning nodded in agreement. "Yes, I agree. I didn't realize you thought I was great, too."
Su Tianxue: "..."
She was numb.
Shi Ning showed the drafted contract to Su Tianxue for review. After Su Tianxue nodded in confirmation, Shi Ning told her she would prepare a printed version for her to sign later.
Then, another important issue presented itself to Su Tianxue.
Su Tianxue knew that she and Shi Ning had to get through the inspection period together and obtain the marriage certificate to rightfully inherit her grandmother's house and prevent it from being taken.
But based on her first impression of Shi Ning, Su Tianxue had every reason to believe that if she were left to her own devices, some accident might occur when she faced the inspectors. This person was very likely to be fooling around with someone else.
After much thought, Su Tianxue decided it was necessary to keep Shi Ning by her side, mainly for surveillance, and also to maximize their ability to play the part of a loving couple and safely pass the inspection period.
So she proposed, "Let's live together, okay?"
Shi Ning nearly choked. "You're that direct?"
Su Tianxue explained her reasons.
Shi Ning: "Oh, so that's how unreliable my image is in your mind."
Su Tianxue: "The primacy effect states that the first impression formed between two parties has a crucial impact on their future relationship. I think you should reflect on why you left me with such a first impression."
"No need to reflect." Shi Ning smiled freely. "You're not wrong. I am indeed that kind of person."
"So, where are we going to live together?"
"My place." Su Tianxue held her coffee cup and took a sip, her head lowered.
Shi Ning gently stroked the rim of her cup. "What about your sister? You said before that you didn't want her to know about this."
"She told me her summer plans a while ago; she won't be at home. After we've handled Grandma's funeral arrangements, she should be leaving. You can move in then."
Shi Ning: "Alright. Then may I ask, Miss Su, do you have any requirements for me moving into your home?"
Su Tianxue: "I'm very easygoing. I don't have any other requirements."
"Please do not move the furniture around. Please arrange the items in the refrigerator according to their current specifications. Also, if you use the bathroom, please clean it thoroughly yourself."
Shi Ning said sarcastically, "You really are easygoing."
Su Tianxue nodded, accepting her compliment. "Thank you."
Shi Ning: ...I wasn't complimenting you at all, okay?
"Right. If you want to engage in your private life, please don't do it at home."
Translated, that meant: don't bring girls home.
Shi Ning smiled and pointed at Su Tianxue's phone. "Shouldn't you check your messages first?"
Su Tianxue had been so focused on their conversation that she hadn't noticed the countless message notifications flashing on her phone's screen.
She glanced at it and saw a strange name.
Puzzled, Su Tianxue picked up her phone. It was only when she saw the flood of messages that she realized what was happening.
...It seemed she had made a mistake.
The agent had sent about ninety-nine messages.
Agent: Where are you?
Agent: The rich woman is in the room, where are you?
Agent: Seriously, you're not there?
Agent: Bailing at the last minute? Fine, don't bother doing this job again.
Before Su Tianxue could even explain, the other person had already deleted her.
Holding her phone, she suddenly understood the truth. She bit her lower lip, somewhat embarrassed. "So, you knew from the beginning that I went into the wrong room?"
Shi Ning raised an eyebrow. "Of course."
Su Tianxue didn't understand. "Then why did you still-"
Shi Ning's lips curved. "Because you're beautiful."
"Su Tianxue, don't worry. I'm not the type to bring my dates home." Shi Ning leaned back, resting against the chair. "So, you don't need to worry about my private life either."
Su Tianxue sighed. "Sorry, I misunderstood you."
Shi Ning chuckled lightly. "It's not entirely a misunderstanding."
"I'm really not a good person."
She sat up straight and extended a hand to Su Tianxue. "Well then, it's a pleasure working with you."
Su Tianxue shook her hand. Shi Ning's palm was cool, a contrast to her fiery demeanor.
She paused for a moment, then returned the handshake. "Yes, a pleasure working with you."
Su Tianxue had to return to the hospital to handle the funeral arrangements, so she left first.
Once Su Tianxue was gone, Shi Ning picked up her phone. She felt like sharing the day's events with someone, so she found the contact saved as "Mom" and sent a message.
Shi Ning: Mom, I got married.
Mom: [Haha your mom is here/fist]
Mom: Who's so unlucky they'd marry you?
Shi Ning: Just grabbed a random person off the street. I just felt like getting married, wanted to try it out.
Mom: Got it. Let me know when you get divorced.
Mom: Playing mahjong, don't bother me.
Shi Ning shrugged, thinking that this mother's personality was just like her own mother's.
She sat by the café window, watching Su Tianxue hail a cab and drive away. She couldn't quite explain why she had to wade into these muddy waters of marriage with Su Tianxue, but... married life, living together... Shi Ning's eyes curved into a smile. She was actually looking forward to it.
Comments
Post a Comment