Ci... Civil Affairs Bureau?!
For one or two seconds, Su Xingyu didn't understand his meaning, or perhaps the information was too overwhelming, and she was too shocked to believe it. She stammered, "You... you want to, do what?!"
"Get married." He was brief and to the point.
Su Xingyu was completely thrown off, marriage? How insane would she have to be to marry this man?! Is this man crazy? Including this time, they've only met twice in total, can he just randomly grab someone on the street to marry?
"No!" She refused immediately and decisively.
The man squinted his eyes slightly at her, his deep eyes gazed at her like a beast silently watching its prey.
Su Xingyu felt her skin crawl under his gaze, instinctively shrinking her body towards the other side of the car compartment, staring at him nervously and warily. The warm and cozy air conditioning in the compartment couldn't prevent the cold sweat from forming on the tip of her nose.
After a moment, the man spoke: "When you were knocked down just now, you were holding a camera."
Her face changed as she suddenly remembered something, frantically explaining, "That's not...! That's new! I've never used it!"
"I don't care whether it is or not," the man interrupted her, his voice cold and gentle, "Do you remember what I told you two years ago? Never touch a camera again in your life, or you'll face the consequences."
Two years ago, that night was like a nightmare.
She still remembers every detail vividly, the dreadful man in front of her had indeed threatened her ominously, as if the slightest contact with a camera would see her shredded to pieces. To this day, she still doesn't know which sensitive nerve she hit by touching the camera; among the thousands of photographers in the world, why was he fixated on her, an amateur?
But his cold tone at that time sent shivers down her spine, and she knew he was capable of anything.
So, for the past two years, she really hadn't touched a camera. If it weren't for the sudden betrayal by Qin Mu today, the immense pain wouldn't have crushed her, she probably should have remembered this prohibition. Heaven seemed blind, after so many peaceful days and nights, she just picked up the camera for less than ten minutes and coincidentally ran into this man.
She hurriedly explained, "I really haven't taken any pictures in the last two years! If you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate!"
He said, "Two years ago, you left a photo in my hands."
With just one sentence, the blood drained from Su Xingyu's face.
...The photo!
She knew what he was talking about. In countless deep nightmares, she dreamt of that slight "click," like the whisper of a devil. It was the sound of the camera shutter, engraved in her memory.
Back then... in the photo studio where light and shadow intertwined...
When he pressed her down and humiliated her...
A photo was taken!
She wished with all her heart that the slight click was her illusion, but obviously, his words dashed her hopes.
"You shameless!" She cursed in anger.
The man in the back seat of the car was unmoved: "You broke our agreement, guess what I'll do to you?"
Su Xingyu trembled all over, she wasn't stupid, she knew what such a photo was for. If such a disgraceful photo got out, the consequences... she didn't dare think. "I'm sorry," she endured humiliation and begged in a low voice, "I'll never touch a camera again, please give me back the photo."
The man's thin lips uttered two words: "Get married."
She shuddered, lowered her head, and said nothing. The photo getting out would indeed be terrifying, but if the price was to gamble her marriage... she was all in chaos inside, should she really marry this mysterious and dreadful man? He had once so cruelly humiliated her. She had already lost Qin Mu, maybe it didn't matter whom she married now, if it were any other man today, she might have nodded in agreement, but only not him... he was the demon in her life.
The Bentley drove steadily, and Su Xingyu recognized it was the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
The rain outside the window pounded the glass wantonly, from her perspective, it looked like a chaotic yet surreal silent movie.
The man's body rested on the car's back seat, his words were cold and precise like a scalpel: "If the photo gets out, do you think the Qin Family will tolerate you, or the Su Family? I heard you were never favored in the Su Family, if such a scandal breaks out, what good family would still accept you? You could even be kicked out. The ones shamed, will only be your deceased mother and grandfather."
Two years ago, when he sought her out, he had her thoroughly investigated.
Su Xingyu bit her lip, she knew he was right, the bloody reality was right in front of her.
"I have already had a fallout with Qin Mu." She said with self-mockery. The scene of her sister's coming-of-age ceremony resurfaced, the sight of Qin Mu proposing to her sister with roses stung her eyes. She had lost everything, she couldn't bring shame to the family again - she meant the Mu Family. When she was young, her mother and grandfather cherished her like a treasure, now she was so downtrodden, she already felt ashamed of not being able to do anything for them, if they were further humiliated after their death...
She would never forgive herself.
"I can marry you." She raised her eyes and mustered the courage, "But please promise me one thing as well, I like photography, please allow me to touch the camera again."
Photography was her last bit of solace.
But the man's face darkened, the gloom in his eyes was like a hidden storm.
Her heart pounded, she feared he would turn hostile in the next moment, what could she do then?
It seemed like an eternity passed before she heard him say: "What kind of thing are you, to dare negotiate terms with me?"
She was indignant yet humiliated, tears welled up again in her eyes. Yes, what kind of thing was she? Since the death of her mother and grandfather, who truly looked up to her? She was nothing more than an insignificant speck of dust, a lowly ant, anyone could trample on her without paying any price. She fought to hold back her tears, unwilling to let the man in front of her see her vulnerable side.
Lowering her head, her pale, cold fingers tightly clutched the hem of her garment, after a long while, she barely controlled her sobs and asked softly: "Then why do you want to marry me? Is your wife... worthless in your eyes?"
He glanced at her, seemingly surprised she asked this.
After a pause, he said: "My wife would naturally be noble, but you are not yet."
So, is it just a difference in status?
Su Xingyu's head bowed even lower, constantly staring at her own fingers, her fingers turning white from exertion as they gripped the dirty, tattered hem of her skirt, occasionally stained with blood. What more did she have to lose?
"Alright, I'll marry you." Finally, she said.
Marrying him, becoming his wife, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope. In the long years that followed, perhaps she could find out why he was so cruel to her then, maybe one day she would be allowed to touch the camera again. Her deceased grandfather's family manufactured cameras, her mother was a top-notch photographer, she would carry on their glory.
The car drove all the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau, she followed him out of the car to handle the registration procedures.
Only then did she know his name—Lu Shifeng.
Simple, somewhat cold three words.
Also a name that resounded like thunder.
Could it be... is he that Lu Shifeng?! Su Xingyu felt as though she'd been struck by lightning, she asked him in shock: "You, you, what is your relationship with Blade Group?"
Heavens...
Could it just be a coincidence of name?
What kind of big shot did she actually marry?!