Chapter 31 It's not that she doesn't crave him...
Jiang Shiyuan did not answer, but walked closer to the desk to examine the marriage certificate made of silk.
"I didn't expect Professor Xu's calligraphy to be so excellent. His characters are so graceful and powerful."
Xu Sinian did not press further, but instead put down his wolf-hair brush and spoke to Jiang Shiyuan in the tone of an elder.
"As long as two people are of one mind, social status doesn't matter."
He thought Jiang Shiyuan was still feeling inferior because of the class difference and dared not easily agree to Huo Lan's marriage proposal.
Jiang Shiyuan nodded in agreement, but it was unclear whether she meant she agreed to the statement or to the marriage with Huo Lan.
But it's clear that both of them interpreted her reaction as the latter.
Xu Sinian smiled broadly and looked at Huo Lan and Jiang Shiyuan with great emotion, then took out an inkpad from a drawer.
"Then the newlyweds, please come and sign and put your fingerprints on the document."
Jiang Shiyuan turned to look at Huo Lan and found that he was also looking at her. He had a smile on his lips, but his eyes showed a rare nervousness.
Without further hesitation, she picked up a sheep-hair brush, dipped it in ink, signed her name, and pressed her fingerprint on it.
After she completed these actions, Huo Lan's expression became noticeably lighter.
He took the pen from Jiang Shiyuan and continued writing his name with the ink she had dipped in it.
After the marriage certificate was completed, Huo Lan picked it up and examined it for a long time. Then he kept smiling at Jiang Shiyuan with his eyes crinkled, but he didn't say anything.
Jiang Shiyuan was a little unsure of what to do under his gaze. She touched her cheek and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Huo Lan shook his head. "There's something in his eyes."
"ah?"
"There is now a me."
Jiang Shiyuan, hands on her hips, feigned anger, "Huo Lan..."
Huo Lan put the marriage certificate into the long box he had prepared in advance. He didn't linger for long before bidding farewell to Xu Sinian with Jiang Shiyuan.
Cheng Yan was a little afraid of Huo Lan, and couldn't wait to take a taxi home after leaving the Xu residence.
Jiang Shiyuan didn't want Cheng Yan to leave so early, but Huo Lan thought Cheng Yan was quite perceptive. Before Jiang Shiyuan could make up an excuse to keep Cheng Yan, Huo Lan made a phone call and called a car, leaving Cheng Yan with no reason to stay with the two of them as a third wheel.
Cheng Yan glanced apologetically at Jiang Shiyuan, then got into the car as if fleeing for her life, leaving Huo Lan and Jiang Shiyuan walking on the road alone.
The streetlights cast long, slanted shadows of the two people. It had been a long time since they had taken such a quiet stroll on the street, and for a moment neither of them spoke.
When it was almost time, Jiang Shiyuan started to find a topic to talk about, but coincidentally, she and Huo Lan opened their mouths at the same time.
"We can't keep walking back, it's too far."
"Even though I know you've been compromising, it's hard for me not to lie to myself that you're real."
Jiang Shiyuan didn't say anything more, but just stared blankly at Huo Lan.
The smile in Huo Lan's eyes disappeared, and his words carried a slightly suffocating sense of oppression.
"You've already seen the posts online, haven't you? The Huo family banquet the day after tomorrow is also our engagement banquet. Everyone will recognize you then."
Even knowing that Huo Lan was now in control of the power and feared no one, she still stubbornly retorted, "You're too bold. Aren't you afraid that your uncles will come to confront you again when you go back?"
Huo Lan said calmly, "Currently, only Huo Lianyu's family lives in Huo Garden. Others will have to wait a few days to come."
"Besides, the wedding announcement has already been spread, so what can they change even if they try to stop us?"
Jiang Shiyuan didn't know how to refute, and the atmosphere between the two fell silent again.
After a long while, she spoke first again, "Are you really going to walk back to Huo Garden with me? Huo Garden is in the suburbs, and it will take two or three hours to get back if we keep walking like this."
"What's wrong, are you tired?"
Huo Lan glanced at Jiang Shiyuan's feet in high heels—a pair of stiletto heels in smoky pink calfskin that made her already long legs look even more beautiful. But beauty comes at a price.
"well enough."
Jiang Shiyuan was a very energetic person, and although she had walked quite a distance with Huo Lan, she didn't feel much of a difference.
However, after Huo Lan said that, she couldn't ignore the pressure coming from the top of her feet.
"It seems a bit..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Huo Lan took a few steps forward and squatted down in front of her.
"Come up."
Jiang Shiyuan looked around at both sides of the street several times. Although there were hardly any people around at night, she still shook her head and said no.
"Is Mrs. Huo feeling embarrassed?"
Jiang Shiyuan immediately retorted, "No way! Since you want to memorize it, then I won't be polite!"
The soft body pressed down on his back, and he easily lifted her up.
Jiang Shiyuan was afraid of falling, so she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Baby, are you planning to murder your husband?"
"ah?"
Jiang Shiyuan was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening and quickly let go of his arm, instead clinging to his back.
The man's broad back was warm and strong. Although Jiang Shiyuan was already very familiar with this body, he was still distracted by the man's unique aura.
It's not that she doesn't desire his body.
Huo Lan was handsome, so handsome that he was a feast for the eyes. Sometimes he didn't need to do anything at all; just standing there and letting her look at him was enough to make her happy all day.
At that time, she even wanted to stay by his side forever, but she herself didn't know when she started to have the idea of escaping.
She now feels that Huo Garden and this marriage are shackles, shackles that will bind her for life.
Therefore, she could only explain it by saying that she didn't love Huo Lan that much, that she didn't love him enough to abandon herself.
Jiang Shiyuan didn't know why she suddenly asked that question.
"What does Mrs. Huo need to do?"
Huo Lan carried him through the dark alleyway paved only by streetlights. The summer breeze felt slightly stuffy but refreshing, just like his current mood.
He pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Eat well, drink well, have fun, that's all."
Jiang Shiyuan looked at Huo Lan, who was carrying her on his back. His profile was exquisite and smooth. From her angle, she could still see his high nose bridge. His long black eyelashes fluttered slightly, like the wings of a butterfly. However, because he had been carrying her for a long time and it was hot and humid in the summer, his forehead was now covered with a fine layer of sweat.
Such a high and unattainable person is now willing to do hard things for her.
"Put me down, you must be tired too."
Huo Lan didn't let go. "I want to carry you for a while longer. We'll get on the bus later."
"Uh-huh."
How could Jiang Shiyuan not know that in those corners she couldn't see, there were already many bodyguards protecting them?
As long as Huo Lan gives the order, vehicles will arrive at any time to take them back to Huo Garden.
But she seemed to have gotten used to this state, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes to rest.
She didn't know how long they had been gone, but when she realized it, she was already lying in the spacious and comfortable Maybach with her head on his lap.
The incense in the car was the Huo family's unique agarwood, and she was covered with a thin cashmere blanket. The air conditioning had been set to the most comfortable temperature.
After adjusting to a more comfortable sleeping position, Jiang Shiyuan stopped thinking about those worrying things and fell asleep.
The next morning at nine o'clock, Jiang Shiyuan returned to work at Wuzhu Pavilion on time.
As expected, Jiang Shiyuan was surrounded by several colleagues as soon as she appeared.
Jiang Shiyuan answered a few questions selectively, and the noise around her only subsided when everyone had packed their things and set off for Jingyuan.
Having been out of work for a week, she thought she had come to the wrong place when she first stepped into Jingyuan.
The once dilapidated and overgrown Jingyuan Garden has been tidied up and is now much neater.
The workbench they were repairing has been replaced with high-quality huanghuali wood, and some imported instruments that the studio couldn't afford have been moved into the garden for the studio's use during this period.
Tang Tang opened a bottle of mineral water and took a sip. Pointing to the air conditioner that was blowing cool air, she said, "Since Mrs. Huo came to the studio, not only have we added several more air conditioners, but we can also get free ice cream every day, and there's plenty of mineral water. The meals have also become much more refined."
"Sister Shiyuan, can you be my colleague forever?"
After saying that, it started to rub against Jiang Shiyuan like a kitten, causing her to quickly back away.
Tang Tang didn't lean any closer. Suddenly remembering something, she said, "Also, Butler Shi said that you are free to come to the studio during this period. The Huo family is holding a banquet, and as Mrs. Huo, you will be very busy, so it's okay if you don't come to work."
"ah?"
Huo Lan hadn't told her about this at all. Was her work going to be put on hold again so soon after she just got back to work?
"Yes, and the housekeeper said that since you're preparing to take the entrance exam for a university in Beijing, you probably won't be staying in the studio for long."
At this point, Tang Tang looked at Old Chen, who was still focused on repairing porcelain, and said, "So, Old Chen hasn't been very happy these past few days. The studio already has few people, and now another outstanding key member is leaving."
Tang Tang asked with some confusion, "Isn't Shi Yuan going to marry Mr. Huo? If she takes the postgraduate entrance exam, won't that mean they'll be in a long-distance relationship?"
"I don't know either."
Jiang Shiyuan truly didn't know that, given Huo Lan's temperament, he would never allow her to leave his side, so why would he agree to let her study in Beijing?
After a day's work, Old Chen approached Shi Yuan alone and gave her a pair of blue and white porcelain teacups that he had made himself.
"Shiyuan, you should leave the studio after the restoration work here is finished."
Jiang Shiyuan remained noncommittal, because even if Huo Lan hadn't found her, according to her plan, she would still leave the studio next year.
"Your interest lies in historical research, not just artifact restoration, right?"
“I noticed a long time ago that you ask about the story and origin of every item you restore, so Dream Sky can’t keep you here. You have a wider place to go.”
Jiang Shiyuan gripped the pair of blue and white porcelain teacups tightly, still feeling grateful to Old Chen.
If it weren't for Meng Kong, perhaps she still wouldn't be sure what she really wanted, and perhaps after returning to China she would still be hiding from Huo Lan's spies, unsure of her own worth.
Jiang Shiyuan didn't know what to say to express her gratitude, and in the end she only said two words.
"Thanks."
"Actually, I guessed long ago that you might have some connection with the Huo family, after all, the excuse of changing your name is really a bit clumsy."
Jiang Shiyuan lowered her head in embarrassment, relieved that the people in the studio were not angry because of her concealment.
Before returning to Bell Tower, Old Chen took out a restored scroll that had been placed in a folder.
The scroll has been filled in with sturdy, intact paper. Although much of the writing on it has been damaged, the main content can still be seen.
"Everyone says that Jingyuan was once the residence of a concubine of the Huo family's ancestors. Everyone says that this concubine was not favored, which is why the courtyard fell into disrepair. But it seems that this is not the case. This is a scroll that I found in a locked box. It is not a valuable item, but it may be of great significance."
"This is a letter to my wife."
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