He Yidu and his parents had their own rooms in the Deiss Estate. They weren’t guest rooms but master’s bedrooms themselves.

Lin Shuang walked into the room and closed the door before turning around to look at He Yidu with a poker face. “Go tell them that this marriage agreement is canceled.”

He Yidu took one look at her and wordlessly walked over to the sofa, where he poured two cups of floral tea. “Let’s sit down and talk.”

Being the impatient person she was, Lin Shuang quickly strode over and sat down. “He Yidu, let’s just get straight to the point. What can I do to make you call off the marriage agreement?”

“Didn’t you say that you won’t call it off no matter what?” He Yidu spoke as calmly as before while placing a crystal teacup next to her hand.

He’s no longer anxious anymore, huh? Lin Shuang sneered. “You knew that we’re engaged to one another long ago?”

“No.” He Yidu paused and cocked an eyebrow. “Just earlier than you, I guess.”

Lin Shuang didn’t say anything. Ugh, this is so infuriating!

He Yidu smiled at her as he tapped his long and slender fingertips against the table. “Drink some tea to calm down.”

Lin Shuang downed that cup of tea and slammed it back on the round coffee table. After letting out a breath, she turned her head around and glared at He Yidu. “Go tell your grandmother that this marriage agreement is canceled.”

He Yidu refilled her teacup as he slowly said, “Xixi—”

“Stop!” Lin Shuang raised her hand to stop him. “Don’t call me that. You’re giving me goosebumps.”

He Yidu obediently did as told. “Lin Shuang, have you ever heard this saying?”

Lin Shuang frowned in confusion.

He Yidu then looked up and gazed into her eyes as he slowly enunciated in a soft voice, “You might be able to run away from love, but you can’t run away from marriage.”

It was as good as saying, “You can’t escape from me.”

Lin Shuang was so speechless that she felt suffocated with anger. She didn’t have enough profanities to use.

He Yidu was still smiling away. “Do you prefer western or chinese weddings?”

“I’m fine with either as long as I’m not getting married to you,” said Lin Shuang through clenched teeth while feeling mentally exhausted.

He Yidu nodded. “That’s great, but you can only get married to me. Besides, you agreed to the marriage agreement yourself.”

Lin Shuang lifted her chin slightly. “Hah, you think I can’t do anything about it just because you’re refusing to do as I say? It was agreed upon that this marriage agreement will be canceled if either of us doesn’t agree to it.”

He Yidu calmly took out his phone and played a recording.

“I’m going ahead with this marriage no matter what! I won’t call off the engagement no matter what! Don’t dream of ruining my marriage!”

Lin Shuang shot up from the sofa. “D*mn it!”

Although He Yidu didn’t say anything, it was clear that he was threatening her with the recording.

She glared at him. “Is this even worth it? The fruit won’t taste sweet if you pluck it when it’s unripe!”

He Yidu raised his head slightly and looked at her, his eyes darkening slightly. “I’ve tasted it, and it’s quite sweet.”

“F*ck you!” Lin Shuang felt like her blood pressure was soaring. Then, she saw He Yidu moving the two teacups away from her as if he was afraid that she would splash him with tea. She pointed at him. “Fine, you win.”

She proceeded to turn around to leave, but she suddenly felt a hand around her wrist, and before she knew it, she was falling backward and into He Yidu’s embrace. Her first reaction was to put up a struggle, but her hands were immediately put behind her back.

He Yidu put his arms around her waist as he whispered in her ear, “You want to run away after entering my room?”

Lin Shuang’s heart thumped. Certain NSFW images appeared in her mind once more when she felt his scorching legs below her. It was only then that she realized how dangerous her current situation was. Her voice was trembling as she glared at him. “You’re the one lying at the bottom. You better not do anything rash.”

The two of them were so close to each other that all Lin Shuang could smell was the scent of He Yidu mixed with a slight hint of tobacco.

“I won’t do anything rash, so you better not too.” He Yidu suddenly became serious. “Lin Shuang, you won’t suffer any grievances if you get married to me, I promise.”

Lin Shuang didn’t say anything, but her eyes were filled with resistance and uneasiness.

He Yidu hugged her and said in a compelling voice, “You like me, and I’m the fiancé you’ve never met before. See, there’s fate and a marriage agreement between us, so can you give us a try?”

Lin Shuang remained silent.

“We’ll get your mother out and move her to a nursing home in the capital,” He Yidu added gently.

Lin Shuang still didn’t say anything. He’s done his homework, huh?

…

Lin Shuang came out of the room with He Yidu and asked him to go down first while she headed to the bathroom.

“Perish all thoughts of running away from me. I’ll take on your last name if you’re able to escape from me again.” He Yidu leaned down slightly and stared into her eyes.

Although he spoke in a gentle and elegant manner, what he said irked Lin Shuang. She scoffed. “Sure, Lin Yidu.”

She was still planning to escape. He Yidu smiled and calmly nodded his head. “Fine, let’s see if you become Young Madam He, or I become Lin Yidu.”

In the washroom.

Lin Shuang looked at herself in the mirror before closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh.

Her phone suddenly vibrated at that moment.

She took it out and saw that she had messages from Yun Ling.

[Yun Ling: How’s that bloke? Will I be able to attend your wedding?

[Yun Ling: I can’t bear to see you get married, though. That makes you the second person to get married this year, aside from Arctic Fox. There aren’t many girls in Shadow League, and yet we have two married this year!

[Yun Ling: But if you’re really getting to your fiancé, will He Yidu go gatecrash your wedding and steal you away on your big day? After all, he already has a history of hijacking planes. I think I should arrange some men to stand guard at your wedding.]

[Lin Shuang: …]

[Yun Ling: What does the ellipsis mean? Is that bloke ugly? Surely not? The Deiss family seems to have good genes…]

[Lin Shuang: …]

[Yun Ling: …]

[Lin Shuang: Do you know who my fiancé is?]

[Yun Ling: What, don’t tell me that your fiancé is also your former nemesis like Arctic Fox? So things were very awkward when you guys met?]

[Lin Shuang: A little worse than that.]

[Yun Ling: Bwahahahaha! Worse than Arctic Fox? No way!!! That’s absolutely impossible!!!]

[Lin Shuang: My fiancé is He Yidu.]

There was no response from Yun Ling for a few seconds.

[Yun Ling: ???]

[Lin Shuang: The grandson who you couldn’t find any information on is He Yidu.]

[Yun Ling: …]

The corners of Lin Shuang’s lips twitched when she imagined Yun Ling’s dumbfounded expression.

…

Yun Ling immediately sent a screenshot of his conversation with Lin Shuang to Gu Mang, along with the message: [This is f*cking unbelievable.]

It was currently afternoon in the capital.

Gu Mang saw Yun Ling’s message when she picked up her phone, and her eyebrows rose a little. She put her leg over her knee and leaned back against her seat.

The study room’s door was pushed open just then.

Lu Chengzhou entered with a plate of fruits and snacks, which he placed on the table before gently saying, “Take a break and eat something. After that, I’ll accompany you for a walk in the garden.”

“Okay, take a look at this.” Gu Mang then passed him her phone.

Lu Chengzhou took it from her and poked a piece of mango with the fork before delivering it to her mouth.

Gu Mang opened her mouth and swallowed the fruit.

Lu Chengzhou then clicked the screenshot that Yun Ling had sent and chuckled as he read the messages. “What a coincidence. So Lin Shuang is a member of Country D’s royal family.”

Gu Mang removed the anti-blue ray glasses she was wearing. “You know that He Yidu is related to Country D?”

Lu Chengzhou nodded. “I heard him mention before, but I wasn’t aware of the marriage agreement. The Deiss family’s assets only mean something in Country D. They don’t have as much as He Yidu.”

The biggest plutocratic family in Country D, which can practically control the entire country’s economy, is only as good as a regional mafia boss to him. Gu Mang pulled her lips back into a smile and was just about to say something when she suddenly paused upon feeling a small movement from her stomach.

Lu Chengzhou became serious when he noticed her reaction. He immediately tossed the fork and phone aside and leaned down to hold her hand as he examined her up and down. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Gu Mang shook her head. “Nah, it’s just the fetus moving around. Don’t get so uptight.”

Lu Chengzhou exhaled in relief, but he couldn’t help asking again in concern, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Gu Mang hummed in agreement.

Meanwhile, Gu Mang’s phone was still vibrating from the countless messages Yun Ling had sent.

Lu Chengzhou’s phone vibrated just then. It was a message from Qin Fang.

As the first phase of the No. 14 Research Center’s project had ended, they took a break for a few days before getting started on the second phase.

Qin Fang wanted to organize a gathering for that night as he was feeling bored and lonely due to He Yidu’s absence.

“Want to go and have fun?” Lu Chengzhou looked at Gu Mang.

Gu Mang raised her eyebrows. “I’m fine with anything.”

The two people didn’t even care about He Yidu and Lin Shuang’s matter.