Chapter 3

Tan Zhuang's self-praise about being fair-skinned and beautiful wasn't exaggerated, but as for being gentle and caring?

Mr. Chao gave a faint smile.

She was young, but her ambition was not small.

Tan Zhuang, in her dazed state, saw a fleeting smile on the man's handsome face and frowned:

"Are you laughing at me?"

The young woman had peach blossom eyes, with an inner tilt and a hint of pink at the corners. When she stared, it looked like she was flirting… very captivating.

Mr. Chao's gaze lingered for a few seconds. He withdrew his fingers from her grasp and was about to respond when his personal phone rang.

Checking the screen, Mr. Chao remained silent for a few seconds, bent down to pick up the suit jacket that had fallen on the carpet, and said, "Please wait; I need to take a call."

Leaving the cabin, he answered the phone with a stoic expression.

The night wind was strong.

Mr. Chao's voice, tinged with the cold of the night, said, "Grandfather."

On the other end, the old man's slightly ailing voice came through, "You've been back in Jiangcheng for half a year, but you haven't returned to the old residence. I'm worried about you not having anyone to take care of you."

Mr. Chao replied calmly, "I have a lifestyle assistant."

He did not acknowledge his grandfather's concern.

The old man, pretending to tap his cane, subtly steered the conversation towards the topic of marriage: "A lifestyle assistant can't care for you like a spouse. You should settle your marriage."

In the Chao family, only the old man dared to intervene in Mr. Chao's marriage matters.

Mr. Chao's lips curled with a hint of annoyance, "Are you suggesting I marry your first love's granddaughter?"

The old man responded, "Zhenzhen is an excellent choice. She comes from a scholarly family, is dignified and gentle, and has both talent and beauty. She is a top candidate, suitable to be the Chao family's hostess."

Back then, he had not publicly married the woman he loved, not allowing her to become the prominent Mrs. Chao.

Now, having his first love's granddaughter match with his grandson, he was determined not to miss this chance.

After a brief pause, noticing Mr. Chao's silence, the old man added, "Moreover, for the sake of rightful authority, you should get married. According to family rules, I can't delay this forever."

The Chao family's century-old rules required that only by getting married could the heir receive the family's emblem ring and become the true head of the family.

Although Mr. Chao effectively held power, he still lacked the most important token.

Last year, when the old man was seriously ill, Mr. Chao took over the Chao family's real power, removing all parasites from the company, including direct family members.

In the past six months, family members had been making a fuss, claiming that Mr. Chao's position was illegitimate without the emblem ring and had no right to expel them from the Chao Group.

Mr. Chao, with the Chao family's blood running through his veins, was driven by desire, ambition, control, and a refusal to be inferior.

Thus, the old man was certain that even for the emblem ring, his grandson would agree to the marriage.

Mr. Chao slightly bent his long fingers, casually tapping the railing. This time, he did not refuse: "You're right; I should get married."

"You prefer a wife who is dignified, virtuous, and gentle?" 

The old man's expression softened slightly, "I do."

Mr. Chao replied, "I'll make sure you're satisfied."

---

Meanwhile.

Tan Zhuang remained on the sofa, doubting herself. 

Hearing her self-recommendation as a fair-skinned, beautiful, and delicate fiancée, the other party's first reaction was actually to smile!

Tan Zhuang first felt irritated, then began to doubt herself.

She had heard that heirs of prominent families preferred elegant and virtuous wives.

Had she accidentally revealed her true nature?

Tan Zhuang's mind raced, unable to stop. She picked up the penguin pillow on the sofa.

She gripped the little wings of the pillow tightly, unconsciously squeezing until her fingertips turned white.

The next moment, the door opened, and the lights were turned on.

The dim room suddenly brightened.

Mr. Chao had returned.

Tan Zhuang reflexively straightened up, releasing the deformed penguin pillow and placing her hands on her knees, maintaining a demure and proper posture. She immediately asked, "Is the marriage contract real?"

The man's composed voice answered, "It is."

He then retrieved the other copy of the marriage contract from under the coffee table and slowly pushed it towards Tan Zhuang. "You can take a look."

In the bright light, Tan Zhuang also took out the marriage contract she had stashed in her handbag and spread it on the coffee table. The two copies of the contract were clearly from the same year, made of thin silk paper.

The characters and seals were identical.

The marriage contract was indeed real!

A twist in the plot?

As Tan Zhuang hesitated about what to say next, Mr. Chao seemed to read her mind and went straight to the point: "Miss Tan, will you marry me?"

"Ah?"

Tan Zhuang was stunned, and in her shock, she whispered, "Marry you?"

The shock completely sobered her up from the alcohol.

Initially, she hadn't been ambitious enough to become Mr. Chao's legitimate wife.

Her earlier self-recommendation was just to establish her identity as Mr. Chao's fiancée!

According to the foot-in-the-door phenomenon—first making a large request, then a smaller, similar request—the smaller request was more likely to be accepted.

So, she proposed being his wife first, anticipating that Mr. Chao, according to his reputed style, would definitely refuse her without hesitation.

Then, she would naturally step back and present the marriage contract, not asking him to fulfill the engagement, but just to allow her to act as his fiancée temporarily.

The plan was perfect.

But the first step had an unexpected outcome…

Tan Zhuang felt her mind spinning, trying to untangle the mess.

Mr. Chao's proposal seemed as unexpected as a pie falling from the sky.

Mr. Chao did not rush her.

Calmly, he sat down across from her and began to make tea.

His movements were extremely graceful, exhibiting the outstanding quality and etiquette cultivated by a true noble family, like a figure from a painting.

As Tan Zhuang observed Mr. Chao, he also admired her.

The young woman on the sofa, now tilting her head, with those peach blossom eyes and her slender, delicate swan neck, appeared like a rare and beautiful flower, fragile and exquisite.

Tan Zhuang was somewhat confused.

She was never one for beating around the bush. After pondering for a moment, she finally asked, "Why do you want to marry me?"

It couldn't be love at first sight.

It wasn't that Tan Zhuang underestimated herself; it was just that the way Mr. Chao looked at her was devoid of affection, his gaze serene and indifferent, exuding an air of sanctity and inviolability…

Mr. Chao's cool, calm voice answered, "I happen to need a fair-skinned, beautiful, and gentle wife."

Hearing this, the young woman's enchanting eyes suddenly lowered, trying to hide her unease.

Sometimes, personal resumes are a bit artistically embellished, an unspoken rule in the workplace. As the head of the group, Mr. Chao would probably understand, right?

So, she wasn't exactly tricking him into marriage?

Mr. Chao, with a nonchalant expression, diverted his gaze and calmly pushed a cup of steaming tea towards her. "Sober up and think it over. Decide by tomorrow."

Looking at Mr. Chao's cool, long fingers, Tan Zhuang's lashes fluttered. She had actually sobered up long ago.

After a moment of hesitation, she took a sip of the hot tea, her lips moistly uttering a soft, "Okay."

The VIP suite arranged for Tan Zhuang by Liang Song was also on the sixth floor. Though not as luxurious as Chao Huai Du's, it was still quite opulent. 

Whether intentional or not, it was only separated by a single wall.

Returning to her room, Tan Zhuang first took a shower. The showerhead sprayed warm water, washing over her skin, which had a faint pink hue. The heat gradually filled the entire bathroom.

Tan Zhuang, with her damp eyelashes half-closed, found her mind becoming clearer. Although her initial aim was to become Chao Huai Du's fiancée, being the wife of Chao Huai Du, with that title, would be like having a powerful shield in the industry. Who would dare bother, insult, or oppress her with power in the future? The constant stream of roses in her studio would surely stop.

However… what worried her more was if Chao Huai Du had a change of heart tomorrow. There was no proof, no evidence. The marriage certificate she had was taken by Chao Huai Du.

Tan Zhuang suddenly raised her eyes.

Wait, could it be that Chao Huai Du is setting a trap?!!

She calmed down and thought: With Chao Huai Du's status, marrying anyone would be a charitable act, and he wouldn't deceive a delicate and helpless girl like her. But regardless of the truth, she needed to make this a sure thing, put a seal on it, and get some insurance.

She had to secure the identity of Mrs. Chao!

Under the bright lights of the bathroom, with the hot mist dissipating, it was clear that Tan Zhuang's peach blossom eyes held a captivating clarity, showing no trace of the helpless little damsel she pretended to be.

At midnight, the ball had ended, and the entire cruise ship fell into a long silence.

Chao Huai Du, draped in a black silk robe, even in bed, was dressed immaculately. At this time, he should have been resting. He had always held himself to almost excessive standards. Tonight's conversation with Tan Zhuang was outside of his schedule; he hadn't finished his work.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

It was soft, like a kitten gently scratching the door with its pink paw pads.

Chao Huai Du opened the door.

Tan Zhuang, leaning lazily against the doorframe, looked like a seductive enchantress who came to lure hearts in the night. The cool sea breeze lifted her silk-like black hair, swaying as if it would soon reveal her pale skin beneath her smoky pink nightgown.

"Mr. Chao, I'm a bit worried."

Chao Huai Du: "Hmm?"

Tan Zhuang: "There's no proof, no evidence. I'm afraid you might deceive me."

"I've heard that the more powerful capitalists are, the more they like to deceive innocent girls like me."

Chao Huai Du, with a half-smile: "Is that so?"

Tan Zhuang lightly tiptoed, holding onto his arm, and whispered in his ear, "Let me put a stamp on it."

So direct, so daring.

In the dark and windy night, with adults present, Chao Huai Du could clearly hear her implicit suggestion. His thin lips parted with a low, deep tone: "Miss Tan, I'm quite a traditional man."

Even in his silk robe, which was impeccably worn, not revealing a hint of skin, his handsome face was composed and serene, resembling a sage crafted from ancient texts.

However.

Even against the light, it was still apparent that beneath this sage's robe, a beast was slowly transforming into a vigilant and powerful predator.

Quite obvious.

Quite honest.

He's traditional… traditional, my foot!

Tan Zhuang paused, reminding him: "You're aroused."

Chao Huai Du never considered having a reaction to be something shameful. Moreover, this was his domain. He showed no intention of hiding, letting his lazy and nonchalant tone ask:

"So?"

Still changing?!

Tan Zhuang hadn't expected that despite his seemingly indifferent face, there was such… a stunning reaction down there.

She didn't forget her purpose, reassuring herself: It's scary, but books say men like this are top-tier. With Chao Huai Du's build and looks, he's the top of the top.

In short.

At a critical moment, she absolutely couldn't retreat!

Tan Zhuang suppressed her inner shame and hesitation, pretending to be calm as she took a step forward, almost invading his personal space: "So…"

"Do you want to?"

Her eyelashes fluttered, her tone innocent, but the words were more explicit than Chao Huai Du's body.

Up close, Chao Huai Du slightly lowered his gaze.

The girl's delicate, unweathered skin was as precious as the sweet white porcelain he collected.

Sweet white porcelain glaze is smooth, thin, and lustrous, requiring repeated firing to achieve its finest hue.

Chao Huai Du thought—

Her hue could be even more exquisite.

Chao Huai Du was not truly the abstinent gentleman he appeared to be.

Soon.

Tan Zhuang regretted it.

She was usually quite delicate, and even more so in this regard, unable to endure even the slightest discomfort, crying out in pain at the smallest touch.

She had considered it inappropriate, but never expected it to be so.

"No, stop… I don't want to put this stamp on it anymore…"

But before she could escape, her slender ankle was easily held down.

The man's fingers were beautifully strong, leisurely tracing along the delicate porcelain surface, until his fingertip touched the residual water droplets from the repeated firing process.

Chao Huai Du presented evidence to Tan Zhuang: "Look, you wanted this."

Does she have no pride?

Tan Zhuang closed her eyes in fear: "I can't see it!"

She would never admit that this was hers.

However, with her eyes closed, the darkness came, and her sense of smell became sharper.

She could clearly smell the cool, woody scent of the man leaning over.

It was like white sandalwood burning in a snowy land, with the woody incense gradually overpowering the snowy notes, growing stronger and more intense with time.