Chapter 14: It's a bit too much of an injustice

To her surprise, instead of being repelled by her courage in revealing her unseemly side, Lu Nanting’s heart seemed to flutter with even more passion.

Gu Lanxi let out a long sigh.

Since she had already given all the advice she could, and he was still determined to be obstinate, then so be it!

If even he wasn't afraid, what did she have to fear?

If it worked out, it wouldn't hurt her; if it didn't, it wouldn't be too late to part ways. Even if it meant a period of pain, she would simply consider it paying the price for her past sins.

The two of them put on masks and sunglasses. In the middle of the sweltering summer, they entered the Civil Affairs Bureau fully armed, and soon emerged holding two bright red certificates.

Lu Nanting was overwhelmed with emotion. He gripped both marriage certificates, opening them to take a peek every few steps. Gu Lanxi found it too embarrassing to watch and quickened her pace to walk ahead.

The July heat was killing her. Gu Lanxi ignored him and went straight back to the car. After running around all day, visiting three different places and engaging in so much trivial chatter, she was physically and mentally exhausted. She climbed directly into the back seat.

By the time she had fastened her seatbelt, Lu Nanting still hadn't gotten in. She rolled down the window to look and saw that he had actually pulled down his mask. He was standing on the steps outside the marriage registration office, holding one marriage certificate up to his cheek while holding his phone in the other hand, snapping "click-click" photos—looking no different from any other young couple who had just finished registering.

Oh, actually, there was a difference.

Other couples stood together, either making heart shapes with their hands or embracing, while he was just standing there by himself, enjoying his own company.

However, that wasn't the point. The point was—he had taken off his mask!

Gu Lanxi felt a sudden buzzing in her head; she felt like she was about to explode with anger!

Fortunately, the man had some self-awareness. After taking a couple of photos, he quickly put his mask back on and ran over.

As the car door opened, he began explaining before he even sat down

"Important moments in life deserve a souvenir, haha! Don't worry, I'm a professional. The whole process will definitely take no more than three seconds!"

Gu Lanxi felt a sudden wave of helplessness and pretended she hadn't heard him.

Clearly, their joys and sorrows were not shared, nor were the things they cared about.

Lu Nanting, sensing the mood, started the car and tried to make small talk: "What are your plans for later? Should the two of us find a place to eat and celebrate?"

At this moment, Gu Lanxi felt like she had just stolen a panda from the zoo and was terrified of being caught. Thinking about that so-called "less than three seconds," she had no desire to acknowledge him, let alone go out to eat with him. She simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

Lu Nanting knew she was likely a bit angry, but he didn't bother her and obediently drove her home.

After they got out of the car and entered the building, seeing how well-behaved he had been all along, Gu Lanxi felt a slight pang of regret, thinking her reaction might have been a bit too extreme.

But she said nothing. Upon reaching the eighteenth floor, she stepped out of the elevator.

Lu Nanting was satisfied enough for today and did not press for more. Listening to her footsteps fading into the distance, he said goodbye but did not follow her.

It was quite strange how a newlywed couple could look like neighbors who weren't even well-acquainted.

When Gu Lanxi returned home, she took a shower, removed her makeup, and sat on the sofa by the window in her study with a repairing face mask on. She watched financial news while waiting for Auntie Wang to prepare her dinner.

As she watched, she couldn't help but drift into a daze.

After all, today's events were not entirely insignificant to her.

Immediately after returning home, she had tucked the two rings away in her safe along with that box of documents.

But as she sat there, she couldn't resist taking them out again.

She wore the plain band on her finger and held the large diamond in her hand.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the surface of the ring; as she turned it slightly, the room filled with brilliance.

One look told her these were not cheap.

Gu Lanxi did not want to owe anyone a favor. After agonizing for a while, she picked up her phone and made a call.

The call was connected quickly, and the person on the other end was very happy to receive it.

"Manman, do you need something from me?"

The people back in her hometown who were close to Gu Lanxi never called her by her full name. Because she was born in September, and nine represents the ultimate, an aunt in the clan had given her the nickname "Manman," hoping her life would be "full" of happiness and joy.

"Sister, I heard Auntie mention a few days ago that you plan to settle abroad and are looking to sell that house in Dongmen?"

Gu Yongxin was Gu Lanxi's cousin from a more distant branch of the family, but their relationship had always been good, and they never beat around the bush when something came up.

A few days ago, the aunt had mentioned this in a family group chat. Gu Lanxi happened to see it and, fearing Gu Yongxin might be facing financial difficulties, called to check in, which is how she learned of the matter.

"Isn't your downtown apartment nearly four hundred square meters? It's convenient for transportation and spacious enough for one person. Why would you think about changing houses?"

Gu Lanxi was not one to enjoy idle chatter. The fact that she had made an international call specifically to ask about this was because she wanted to buy it.

If others bought property, it might be for investment, but Manman had no interest in projects with such low returns. In her words, the real estate market had long passed its explosive growth period and was no longer a high-quality asset. Unless one was bad at investing, had excess cash, or had other motives, she did not recommend investing in it.

This could be seen from the companies she held shares in: they were either beverage chains like milk tea and coffee, or related to AI and new energy; otherwise, they were health and wellness or internet platforms.

Her mother was obsessed with property speculation. Years ago, Manman had told her that if she was going to buy, she should buy high-quality real estate in large cities and prime locations to at least preserve value. She warned her never to speculate in new districts or buy remote villas meant for retreats or elderly care.

While such investments were not easy to sell, required large amounts of capital, and had long cycles, at least there was no risk of property prices being halved or being stuck with a house you couldn't sell.

Gu Yongxin had found out she was pregnant a few days ago and wanted to move to a larger house. With cash being tight and it being awkward to ask her parents for more money, she planned to sell this dowry villa to exchange it for something across the ocean.

Therefore, she had reason to suspect that Manman was doing this to help her.

However, that aunt was very concerned with face; she naturally wouldn't tell Gu Lanxi that her daughter lacked the money for a new home and had to sell her dowry house. She only said her daughter and son-in-law were settling abroad and didn't plan to return.

Gu Lanxi had believed the aunt, assuming her cousin simply thought it was a waste to rent it out and feared that leaving it vacant would accelerate its deterioration, so she wanted to sell it before it depreciated.

As it happened, the decoration style and layout were exactly to her liking, and it hadn't been lived in since the renovation. Thus, Gu Lanxi developed the intention to purchase it.

After all, it was easier to talk with family; buying from an outsider could involve months of haggling and might not even go through.

"Yes, I plan to change residences. It's too small here now, and the community is crowded, so privacy is hard to guarantee."

She had not yet told the Gu family about her marriage to Lu Nanting. Since she intended to keep the marriage a secret, she naturally wouldn't mention the true purpose of buying the house.

Lu Nanting had prepared an expensive wedding ring for her several years ago, so she would conscientiously prepare a sufficiently spacious marital home for them to live in after marriage. Otherwise, making him live in the guest room would be too much of an injustice.

Yes, they had just married, and she felt that making him live in her downtown apartment of less than four hundred square meters would be unfair to him.

*He's so lucky again!*

*Let us all envy this CEO's man.*

(End of Chapter)