Chapter 5: Shut up, shut up, shut up

There were simply too many documents. When Gu Lanxi went downstairs, she was carrying a black suitcase.

Lu Nanting had already been waiting in the garage for half an hour. Seeing her come down, he immediately walked over to take the suitcase from her.

"Have you eaten?"

Gu Lanxi had carefully styled her hair and was dressed in a white shirt, a linen-grey pencil skirt, and silver-grey stiletto heels. She had even applied a festive makeup look. With a slight smile, it was as if the whole world had lit up, making it seem as though this marriage wasn't forced, but entirely voluntary.

Seeing him approach, she didn't stand on ceremony and handed him the suitcase directly.

"I have. You?"

Lu Nanting just looked at her, unable to stop himself from smiling.

She was always like this.

She would either refuse, but if she gave her word, she would handle things so perfectly that no one could find a single fault.

Looking at her attire, it was clear she was taking today’s marriage registration seriously.

This brought Lu Nanting genuine pleasure.

He was also dressed very formally today.

Who would say their aesthetic tastes weren't perfectly aligned?

Even though they hadn't discussed it, and both owned a vast amount of clothing, he had chosen a white shirt paired with linen-grey trousers.

His hair was groomed, and he had even had a makeup artist come over early in the morning to apply a light, natural look.

Standing together like this, they looked like a couple in matching outfits. Who wouldn't call them a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a perfect pair?

Gu Lanxi clearly noticed this too. Feeling a bit shy, she quickened her pace and opened the car door.

"Your car is easy to spot. Let's take mine. I only picked it up a couple of months ago; the paparazzi aren't familiar with it."

Today was a private matter for both of them.

Sneaking out to register their marriage without bodyguards or assistants meant they had to be careful.

Lu Nanting agreed with her arrangement and got into the back seat with the suitcase.

Once they left the residential complex, they headed straight for the notary office.

Aside from acting in films, Gu Lanxi didn't take endorsements or attend many events. When she first debuted, paparazzi stalked her for two years only to find her life was boring to the point of exhaustion. The few times she went out for a meal, it was with people they didn't dare photograph. Now, few ambitious entertainment reporters bothered to follow her.

Lu Nanting was different. When he went out for events, if he didn't check carefully, he might find a "sasaeng" fan hiding in his hotel wardrobe.

The two of them snuck out of the complex, and seeing that no one had noticed them along the way, they both couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Lu Nanting had pulled some strings, so they didn't have to wait in line when they arrived at the notary office and went straight to the office.

Someone was already waiting inside. With all the documents prepared, the prenuptial property notarization was completed quickly.

Given their relationship, laying out their respective assets in a list for the other to see was actually quite awkward.

But it was necessary.

It could avoid the troubles that come with divorce, and while living together, it also allowed them to have a basic understanding of each other's spending habits.

Lu Nanting’s asset composition was very "old money."

Aside from various fixed-income funds, the bulk of his wealth consisted of real estate, cars, jewelry, and various antiques and artworks. His investments were handled by professionals.

Gu Lanxi’s assets, however, were dominated by various equity holdings.

She didn't like collecting cars. Aside from the BMW used by her nanny, she only owned one Maybach and one Porsche. She didn't even own a single RV, which was a staple for female celebrities.

Her license plate numbers weren't special either.

Unlike some bosses who insisted on strings of eights or sixes.

She didn't have a strong desire to consume.

She only bought jewelry for necessary occasions and rarely collected pieces. She didn't chase big brands for her private wardrobe, preferring to have clothes custom-made at a studio she was familiar with. The number of properties under her name was pitifully small—only the one she was currently living in.

At a glance, she looked like a "nouveau riche" who had become wealthy in the short term.

However, she was associated with over thirty companies, all of which were thriving, including several publicly listed ones. Strictly speaking, her net worth was actually quite a bit higher than Lu Nanting’s.

Accumulating wealth is a process; learning how to reduce risks and ensure long-term prosperity for future generations is a science in itself.

Gu Lanxi wouldn't turn 22 for another two months. She had plenty of time to experiment, so she wasn't afraid of making mistakes.

The two went downstairs, and Gu Lanxi drove again.

Lu Nanting hid in the back seat, sighing, "Sigh, as someone about to marry into a wealthy family, I feel a bit nervous."

He had often heard his mother say that Gu Lanxi had an incredibly precise eye for investment—everything she touched turned to gold—but the reality far exceeded his imagination.

As Gu Lanxi drove, the corners of her lips curled up, amused by him.

He was just like that. In front of people he didn't know, he was a cold, taciturn, and cool guy. But in front of those he cared about, he was excellent at providing emotional value.

He was handsome, came from a good family, had upright character, and kept himself clean. Most importantly, he was articulate and never played those "guess what I'm thinking" games with her.

Who wouldn't like someone like that?

Especially someone like Gu Lanxi, who didn't like to talk and had a complex mind. Even if her heart felt like stagnant water, she couldn't help but be moved by such a straightforward person.

It was easy to guess: if he hadn't been this good, given Gu Lanxi's personality, she would never have agreed to his pursuit back then, nor would she have followed his wishes and agreed to marry him now.

Though she had many concerns about the future, Gu Lanxi never once regretted her decision while preparing for the registration.

The current her was no longer the penniless orphan who spent her days working odd jobs.

Standing before Lu Nanting, her heart no longer felt that recurring sense of inferiority.

"Then I'll work hard and try my best not to go bankrupt."

Gu Lanxi replied with a smile.

Lu Nanting immediately perked up. "A good relationship requires both sides to run toward each other. Since you're working so hard, I'd feel bad if I didn't look beautiful. I'm going to go get a facelift at a beauty salon later!"

"Don't talk to the driver! If you don't want to get into a car accident, shut up!"

Gu Lanxi was shaking with laughter and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

This man had that specific talent: as long as he was willing, even the most reticent person would become lively when around him.

"Your fans are always screaming, 'Brother is firing on all cylinders, I can't take it!' They really should see your true colors. I guarantee they'd unfollow you in a minute and kick you, telling you to go be a comedian instead."

With the car stopped, Gu Lanxi sounded quite annoyed.

"How could a man be the same inside and outside? You're clearly a novice who has never been married. Unlike me, I've already married you eight hundred times in my dreams."

Someone who was usually so serious would turn into a completely different person the moment he was in front of her.

Gu Lanxi hadn't spent time alone with him for a long time. She couldn't handle it for a moment, her face flushed, and she started scolding him

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

"Then call me 'Brother' one more time, let me hear if it's sweet."

Gu Lanxi opened the car door, climbed into the back seat, and pushed him hard.

"Shut your dog mouth! I'm telling you! I'm not afraid of hitting the trending topics anymore! You go to the front and drive! I promise I won't bother you!"

Clearly, when they left, they had been silent the whole way, looking impossibly deep and serious. But after coming out of the notary office, he was smiling like a total fool.

Perhaps it was only now that the reality of registering their marriage had truly set in.

Lu Nanting was obedient and went to the front. Before leaving, he didn't forget to fasten her seatbelt.

From then on, he finally behaved himself.

The two arrived smoothly at the law firm building. Before they could even go upstairs, the lawyer Gu Lanxi had worked with for a long time was already waiting there.

The lawyer’s name was Liang Shizhao. Being a fellow Cantonese, he took good care of Gu Lanxi, and the two had a good personal friendship.

He had come downstairs specifically to greet her, considering that both she and Lu Nanting were public figures and it wouldn't be convenient to linger downstairs.

Seeing this, Gu Lanxi hurried to meet him and shook his hand generously.

"Uncle Zhao, I'm troubling you again!"

They had already discussed what needed to be done over the phone, and it wasn't convenient to talk outside, so Liang Shizhao led them directly to the private elevator that went to the VIP room.

"I wish you'd come every day and introduce more business to me; that’s how business thrives, hahaha!"

Upstairs, Liang Shizhao exchanged pleasantries, welcomed them into the room, and invited them to sit. He didn't talk about business immediately, instead skillfully starting to brew tea.

After some polite exchanges, they sat down, chatted, and the tea was ready.

Guests are guests, so he poured the tea to welcome them.

Liang Shizhao held the teacup with both hands and placed it respectfully in front of them.

The two made fists with their right hands and tapped their knuckles on the table three times—the proper etiquette—before picking up their cups to take small sips.

Halfway through the tea, they finally got down to business.

The terms of their agreement had already been discussed. Coming to the lawyer was just to have him review it to ensure no clauses were imprecise or conflicted with current laws and regulations. In truth, the workload wasn't heavy, and it didn't take much time.

After signing the agreement smoothly, it was already twelve o'clock. Liang Shizhao played the host and invited the prospective newlyweds to have a simple meal at the Cantonese restaurant downstairs.

Liang Shizhao was nearly fifty. He looked at Gu Lanxi as if she were his own niece. Seeing Lu Nanting’s eagerness to please, he naturally prioritized Gu Lanxi’s tastes when ordering.

"There's a Cantonese restaurant downstairs that's quite authentic. For the three of us, let's order a white-cut chicken—authentic Qingyuan free-range chicken. The skin is crisp, the meat is smooth, and it’s full of flavor! The slow-cooked soup is also excellent. Since the weather is hot lately, let's get a pot of water duck, barley, and winter melon soup; it’s refreshing and detoxifying, I guarantee you'll like it! Let's add a dish of stir-fried oilseed greens with fermented black beans and dace. That should be enough for the three of us!"

"Uncle Zhao, your arrangements are so thoughtful. Thank you so much!"

Earlier, when Liang Shizhao saw Lu Nanting not speaking, he thought he didn't understand Cantonese.

Later, after hearing Gu Lanxi’s explanation, he realized that his mother was also Cantonese, and his maternal family operated several long-standing seafood restaurants that many locals frequented. He realized Lu Nanting was just naturally quiet, so he stopped worrying about him and focused on hosting his big client.

The meal was enjoyed by both host and guests.

After the meal, Liang Shizhao didn't keep them, seeing them off downstairs and only returning after their car had disappeared from sight.

I asked my "Bread Mom" (a friend) to help me translate, and it really beat the translation software, hehe.

I’ve bought many books to research various life details, but I still can't achieve perfection. However, I will try my best.

This time, I’m attempting to portray a genuine Cantonese girl, and I’ve tried to make the writing delicate and vivid.

You could say this is a breakthrough for me.

If there’s anything written incorrectly, please use your precious little hands to leave a comment and tell me. I’m very obedient and will fix it quickly.

Recommendation tickets, comments, book lists, and all kinds of "social death" style shares—I know you can do it!

Please, I beg you!

(End of chapter)