Chapter 66: Countdown to the Agreement (Part 1)

The afternoon sun slanted through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm spot of light on the mirror-like dark walnut desk.

The edge of the spot of light fell squarely on a simple leather desk calendar. The calendar was heavy, but now only a thin sheaf of pages remained, hanging solitary on a metal ring, heralding a silent approach.

Yu Ling's gaze, as if attracted by a magnet, fell uncontrollably on the number.

Day 31.

The bright red ink, like dripping blood from her heart, stung her eyes and hurt her.

There are only thirty-one days left before the expiration of the flash marriage agreement signed in black and white with both of their names and stipulating "non-interference with each other and a term of one year".

Yet Yu Ling felt a tightness in her chest, as if something were gripping her heart. A mixture of confusion, unease, and a lingering feeling that even she didn't want to delve into grew like a vine, entwining her breath.

This feeling has been looming since I tore through the calendar to "Day 60," and it becomes clearer the closer I get to the end.

She began to subconsciously avoid any topics related to "time" or "future." When Zhao Chen occasionally mentioned "next month" or "next year" seemingly casually, she would immediately change the subject, using work, dinner, the latest movie release...all sorts of insignificant things to plug the hole that could lead to a slide into the abyss.

She was afraid. She was afraid that when the fragile thin ice called "agreement" shattered, what would be revealed was a bottomless cold pond, or the warm spring she dared not hope for?

Her fingertips unconsciously brushed against the cool metal of the calendar ring, and Yu Ling abruptly pulled her hand back, as if burned. She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip, trying to suppress the turmoil in her heart. But her eyes drifted uncontrollably to the study door again.

What was Zhao Chen doing? Did he also see this thin piece of paper? Did he care?

As soon as this thought came to her mind, Yu Ling forced it back. She smiled at herself inwardly.

Zhao Chen? The man who disguised himself as an "ordinary employee" but was actually a wealthy tycoon, even using an antique royal knife to cut pork belly? In his eyes, that agreement, from the very beginning, was probably just a piece of paper to be tampered with or even ignored. He played the role of the affectionate husband, enjoying it, reveling in this "ordinary" role-playing game. The rules of the game? He was the one who made them.

Yu Ling took a deep breath and drank the slightly cold coffee in the cup. The bitter liquid slid down her throat, bringing a brief sense of clarity.

She stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, the mountainside was lush and verdant, and the distant city silhouette was faintly visible through the mist. She needed some fresh air, a moment's escape from this space shrouded in the shadow of the countdown.

In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a gorgeous orange-red. Yu Ling walked aimlessly along the community greenway for a long time, until her legs felt a little sore, and then she slowly turned back.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, an extremely tempting aroma, a mixture of the charred aroma of roasted meat, the spicy scent of black pepper, and the rich aroma of rich red wine, overwhelmingly hit her face! It instantly dispelled the haze in Yu Ling's heart, and her empty stomach let out a small protest.

She changed her shoes in surprise and followed the aroma to the restaurant.

The scene before her made her freeze in place for a moment.

The restaurant's massive Italian black gold stone dining table, large enough to seat ten, now occupied only a small corner in the center. Three slender white candles in expensive Baccarat crystal candlesticks were lit, their flames dancing warmly. Delicate bone china plates shone in the candlelight.

In the center of the plate lay a steak that could be called a work of art.

The steak is topped with a thick sauce made with top-quality red wine and black truffles, exuding an intoxicating aroma.

Next to the steak, there were perfectly grilled, juicy green asparagus and fragrant mini potatoes fried in butter until golden brown. The most eye-catching thing was the steak itself, which was carefully cut and arranged into a plump, almost perfect heart shape!

The flickering candlelight gilded this "artwork" with a romantic and warm golden edge. The entire restaurant was filled with an atmosphere that was completely different from the usual homely atmosphere, almost a sense of ritual.

Yu Ling's gaze shifted from the steak to the other side of the table.

Zhao Chen stood there. He wasn't wearing a suit, just a soft, smoky-gray cashmere sweater, his sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms.

The warm yellow candlelight softened his overly deep, three-dimensional features. His amber eyes, illuminated by the flames, held a gentleness more intoxicating than honey. His face held an almost shy anticipation, like a grown boy waiting for his teacher to grade his homework.

"You're back just in time." His voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness, and he pointed to the dining table, "Wash your hands and eat." His tone was his usual gentle one, but it was a bit more serious than usual.

Yu Ling was a little confused and subconsciously checked her phone calendar. It wasn't her birthday, not her wedding anniversary (they had tacitly agreed not to mention the date they had hastily obtained their marriage certificate), and certainly not any statutory holidays.

"This..." She pointed at the heart-shaped steak, then looked at the rare expression on Zhao Chen's face, a mixture of anticipation and a hint of shyness, and asked blankly, "Is today a special day?" Could it be the 30-day countdown to the agreement? The thought just popped up, but she killed it herself. It was too ridiculous.

Zhao Chen was slightly startled by her question, and then Yu Ling clearly saw that his fair earlobe was quickly stained with a thin layer of red at a speed visible to the naked eye!

He coughed uncomfortably, his eyes wandering for a moment, not daring to meet Yu Ling's inquiring gaze. He picked up the decanter and, with a slightly stiff movement, poured the deep ruby-red liquid into two nearby crystal goblets, trying to mask his momentary embarrassment with his movements.

"...It's not a big day." His voice lowered, a little vague, but every word was remarkably clear in the quiet restaurant. "It's just the first time I made you a bento. Today is exactly... the 100th day."

He spoke the last few words quickly and softly, as if he had run out of courage, and the blush on his ears quickly spread to his neck.

Yu Ling was completely stunned.

First time...making a bento? Day 100?

The floodgates of memory burst open. It was not long after she moved into this "rented" apartment. She was busy with a new project and often had to make do with convenience store rice balls for lunch.

One day at noon, Zhao Chen suddenly appeared downstairs at her office, carrying a simple, double-layered, lacquered wooden lunch box. Inside was an incredibly elaborate plate of fried chicken, tamagoyaki, broccoli, and rice. Next to it was a hand-painted, crooked smiley face note: "Come on, Lingling! Eat well!"

At the time, she thought it was just a whim, and was touched by his thoughtfulness, but she didn't think much about it. Who would remember how many days had passed since such a trivial matter?

One hundred days? He remembered it down to the last day?

An indescribable warmth, mixed with a sour throbbing, suddenly rushed into Yu Ling's heart! Like a lemon bomb wrapped in honey, it exploded silently in her chest!

The sweet juice, mingled with slightly sour foam, instantly overwhelmed all her senses! She looked at Zhao Chen's slightly flushed face under the candlelight, saw his lips slightly pursed with nervousness, and watched him clumsily try to cover up his sincere, almost boyish shyness by pouring wine...

The cold countdown of the agreement, the inquiring gaze of the neighbor lady, the absurdity of the sky-high price of the antique kitchen knife, the property manager's earth-shattering "Mr. Zhao"...all those doubts and anxieties that weighed heavily on her heart and made her breathless were strangely and gently temporarily shattered at this moment by this plate of heart-shaped steak that was made with the utmost care and this "insignificant" 100-day anniversary.