If Lu Xinyi was honest, at least to herself, she really enjoyed this vacation after all the drama and bullshit that she left back home. She couldn’t regret leaving them and going alone to this vacation where she met Shen Yi. He made this vacation tolerable but with his incessant flirting, she didn’t know if she could stay with him for another minute.

Packing up her suitcase she hummed to herself while her future husband sat on the living room, working on his laptop. She already scolded him for still working earlier. He was on a break, couldn’t he make time for himself to relax for a bit?

“Ready to go?” He asked without taking his attention away from his work.

She grunted trying to close her suitcase.

“This damn suitcase won’t close.”

With a deep sigh, Shen Yi left his laptop on his coffee table and came over her. He put his hands down to keep the case from opening, giving Lu Xinyi a chance to snap the locks on.

“Thanks!”

“Why is it too full? Did you bring a lot on this trip?”

Lu Xinyi ran her fingers on her long hair and smiled sheepishly.

“Nope. I brought some food from the cafeteria.”

“….”

“What? We need snacks on our way. I wouldn’t like to be stuck on traffic without any food with me.” she lightly flushed, looking at him.

“But we just had our lunch earlier and you’ve eaten my dessert portion.”

“Hey! Watch what you say to me. I’m going to be your wife.”

He lightly grinned. Shen Yi had discovered that he could coerce her to do almost everything as long as her favorite foods were involved. He had always thought women like fancy jewelry and bouquet of roses but with Lu Xinyi, he only needs to say he will treat her with a bucket of fries and a yummy steak she hasn’t tried before.

“And what will you do? You are too weak for me to bring any harm.”

“Oh, you will see. You’ll see.” Lu Xinyi put her hands on her hips. “You have so much to learn from me, dear hubby.”

“Then I couldn’t wait for you to teach me.” He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Don’t forget our wedding night later.” he teased. As soon as they come back to the city, they will go and register their marriage privately.

She lightly pushed his shoulder.

“Ha! I knew it! I knew that you will eventually ask for it.”

Shen Yi went back to his seat while Lu Xinyi followed him and sat on the armrest of the couch.

“You don’t have to force yourself if you aren’t ready. I know we agreed that our marriage will be true in every sense but I wouldn’t like you to do something you don’t want to. With all that had happened on your previous relationship, I wouldn’t expect you to be comfortable being with me.” he said in his serious tone without the hint of his usual playful remarks.

Lu Xinyi’s hand ended up on his hair again. Shen Yi wondered if she really likes touching his hair and tease her about it. But then decided not to, he liked her touching him anyway.

“Hmmm… sounds good but no worries. As your trophy wife, I’ll try my best not to bring you in shame by marrying me.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself. You aren’t as bad as you think you are.” Shen Yi resumed his work and let Lu Xinyi moved beside him.

She unceremoniously fell on the couch to lay down with her head brushing against his leg. His gaze stared at her inquisitively which she answered with a grin. She smiled up to him and stared on his face as he worked seriously over his laptop.

She liked his face, the way his brows knit when he was deep in thought. If she met him under different circumstances, she might have fallen for him in a heartbeat.

Was she attracted to him? Lu Xinyi wouldn’t deny that there’s an attraction between them but how deep it is, she had no idea. There was no love between them only companionship that they both enjoyed.

“Quit biting your lip. Are you nervous? Or do you wanna back out on this marriage?” Shen Yi closed his laptop and glared at her. She glanced up to him and laughed.

“No. Of course not. It’s our last day.” she sighed and looked up to the ceiling.

“Yes,” he agreed while he toyed her long strands of hair. His eyes looked distant.

“Thank you for helping me,” she whispered to him. His eyes went back to her face, seeing her smiling at him. “You know when I went to this vacation. I was broken and depressed. I also think that my life is so worthless that the people I care and love the most, left me behind.” She explained. “When I met you on the top deck, I didn’t know what to do with my life anymore. So thank you for giving me a chance to fix my life.”

Lu Xinyi wasn’t about to tell him her miserable life she was coming back to, of the harsh life she will be returning to as soon as they got married. But with him beside her, she couldn’t ask for more. He was the only one who reminded her that she matters.

—

“Come on, Miss Lu. We’re going to be late.”

“Wait for me!” Lu Xinyi straightened her sundress for the last time, picked up her suitcase and followed Shen Yi outside his suite. The ocean breeze greeted her and she smiled. This will be a new beginning for her.

“Ready?”

“No, not yet I forgot something.” She took something from the pocket of her handbag and showed it to Shen Yi. It was a silver ring. The ring that Gong Yijun gave to her a year ago.

She gave Shen Yi a crooked grin and threw the ring into the sea.

“Now. I’m ready,” she told herself.

Shen Yi returned her smile as if satisfied on what she had done. He pulled her hand into his and lead the way.

“Come, my lovely bride. We have a secret wedding to attend today.”