Contractual Love

Chapter 9

Ai Ying's POV

On the ride over, all I could do was stare out the window. I was torn. I was excited to see Ba, but sickened at the thought of being even remotely close to Shu. I expected him to be angry, upset, and maybe even disappointed about the news of my impromptu wedding. However, he embraced me. He looked thankful, almost relieved. I melted into him, and breathed in his scent. He has smelled the same for as long as I can recall. Xue told me he uses the same cologne that my mother gave him as a gift while they were dating. The moment Shu walked in, everything around me became a blur, the voices became muffled, and I was frozen. I couldn't speak, I couldn't look up. Zhong put his hand on my knee and held it firmly in place, as if he were reassuring me that things would be alright. He succeeded in anchoring and pulling me back to the present. When I looked up, I saw Shu whispering into Ba's ear before retreating upstairs with Daiyu.

"I hate we must leave in such a hurry, Bai Yan, but we have quite the day planned.", Zhong explained.

"I understand, young love and all. I am relieved you are safe and taken care of, Ai. I love you.", he beamed as he hugged me a final time.

Zhong Ying stood and offered me his hand. In turn, I offered him a small smile before accepting it and walking with him to the front of the house with Assistant Wei right in front of us. Once we reached the car, he opened the door for us as we slid in slowly. It was an extremely quiet car ride home. They dropped me off without a word before heading to the main estate. Was all of that just a part of the show? He seemed so sincere.

"Young Madam, how is Bai?"

"Oh, Xue. Sorry, I was distracted. I didn't even see you there. He is well."

"Did you tell him what happened?"

"No.... I don't think he would be able to bare that."

She shot me a sad smile, but said nothing while pulling me into the dining hall. I swirled my spoon in the soup. After today I was in no mood to eat. I thanked Xue and headed upstairs to take a nap.

Zhong Ying's POV

I nearly fell out of my chair when Wei walked in unannounced while I was leaned back in my chair watching Ai sleep peacefully. I quickly clicked opened another window on the computer and cleared my throat. He covered his mouth trying to stifle his laughter earning him a glare. He cleared his throat and took a seat on the couch to my side, propping his face up with his right arm.

"Is she sleeping well, Ying?", he chuckled.

I threw post it notes at his face and turned around to reopen the camera feed. She looked so peaceful.

"Did you find out the reasoning why she sold her virginity without Bai Yan or even Ai knowing?"

"I think so. We discovered in his will Ai is left nearly the entirety of her father' estate, leaving only a few properties and funds to Shu and Daiyu."

"So, if she were "tainted" he would disown her, eliminating her from inheriting anything from her father's assets?"

"That is what we think from the information we have gathered about the family and from the owner of the brothel."

"After their plan has seemingly failed and Ai is now the Young Madam of the Ying family, I have a feeling that they won't want what they did to be uncovered and will seemingly take action against her. increase security around the villa."

Wei nodded and made his way out of the study leaving me to my own thoughts. I wonder if Ai remembers when we met as children through our mothers. When my mother heard of her death, she grieved as if it were her flesh and blood that she had lost. I remember those day like it was just yesterday. She told me we would have guests, to be on my best behaviour, and be kind to the little girl. Ai looks like a mirror of her own mother with her onyx hair, big bright brown eyes, rose colored lips, and the faintest dimples when she would smile. She still has a hint of baby fat left on her cheeks. She would follow me around everywhere I went like a little puppy following it's master. After Ai's mother fell ill, she asked my mother to take care of her. She told her that Ai would be the daughter-in-law of the Ying family when the time came. Although, it did not take long before Bai was moving another woman and child in. It was even rumored that Daiyu was his illegitimate daughter, though he later refuted that she was a fatherless child that he chose to raise as his own. My mother never contacted Bai after he moved Shu and Daiyu into their home and only watched as Ai grew from afar.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzzzzzzzz.

"Hello, Mother."

"Oh, hello my boy. How is she?"

"She's well. I fixed up the Mountain Villa for her."

"Shouldn't she be staying in the main household? We shall be home in a few weeks."

"Under the circumstances, I think it best to give her an adjustment period."

There was a pause on the other end.

"Why? Does she not want to live with her husband?"

"Mom, don't worry. I will take care of her and give her a happy life."

"Hmm. Okay, I will leave it to you then. See you soon."

Click.

Ugh. I knew I would wed Ai, and have dated no one within this time. I haven't the faintest clue how to win over a woman that wants and asks for nothing. She just goes along with whatever and never complains. She is even thankful for nothing.