Contractual Love

Chapter 7

Ai's POV

Knock. Knock.

"Y-yes?", I groaned as I began to stretch.

"Breakfast is prepared."

"XUE?!", I screamed, jumping from the bed and darting towards the door.

I nearly ran straight into her as she opened the door. Luckily, other members of the staff were carrying the dishes to the table. Otherwise, there would have been a big mess if I had thrown myself into her arms.

"How did you find me? Why are you here?"

"Young Master Ying brought me here late last night."

"He did?"

"Yes, I am now the head of staff here. My job is to see after you once again, but with that being said I should head to the market."

I could only nod and smile. I watched as she left, and practically skipped to the table to have breakfast. There are two sittings? A note? That is new.

Ai,

I know this comes as a last minute surprise,

but I will be joining you for breakfast this

morning.

-Zhong Ying

I blushed, running to the bathroom to complete my morning routine before he arrived. After, I stared at myself in the mirror. Should I do my make-up and change from pajamas or would he prefer my natural state? Oh no, no, no. Why choose breakfast when I am in my most disheveled state? Is that the point? Lost in my thoughts, I noticed the door open quietly before closing once again. I could feel my face heating once again at the thought of being face to face. I guess I have no choice now. I fixed my hair and tidied my clothes before stepping back into the room. He was already sitting at the table staring out the balcony. He is breathtaking. It makes sense that he would be the Most Eligible Bachelor in Chonqing.

"How did you sleep?", he inquired with a small smile.

"I- um, I slept well.", my face had to be as red as the peppers in the omlet before me.

"That is good. Any plans for the day?", he asked with a small chuckle.

"I was hoping. Maybe I could return home for a few hours."

"Why would you wish to return there?"

"My Ba will be returning this afternoon and he will worry."

"Very well, we will go."

With that, he began to eat his breakfast. We? He wanted to go with me to my Ba's? I wonder how Ba will take it if he hears that I am now married without telling him. He always spoke of seeing me in my mother's long fenggua.

"You know it has been three days since we wed.", he points out with a sly smile.

"Yes, of course, Young Master Ying.", I acknowledged as my face began to heat up.

"What is this Young Master Ying? I am your husband now. You should call me Hun. Try it."

"Um, okay, hun.", I responded, literally dying inside.

"I had the gifts prepared yesterday. Get ready and we will leave."

I nodded as he stood to leave, stopping to look at me momentarily before exiting the room. I externally sighed as I raked my hand over my face. I hope you do not hold this against me Ba, but he seems like a good man, nothing like the tabloids paint him to be. They say he is cold, unyielding, and devious. They even went as far as to say he is devil-like in demeanor. Obviously, they were all mistaken by his cold outward appearance in the photos circulating. Not only did he save me from being auctioned, he saved my father's company, and now he wants to offer gifts to my father on the third day after our wedding, even though we skipped all other traditions. I stood and stretched as I slowly made my way to the adjoining dressing room to prepare for the day. It was the first time I had left my room since I arrived. The staff would lay fresh pajamas and undergarments out for me each night as I showered, so I did not even have to come to get them. When Assistant Wei said new wardrobe, I never imagined an entire room of clothing. How will I ever choose what to wear?

Knock. Knock.

Without giving me a chance to respond, Xue walked in grinning ear to ear holding a long protective garment bag.

"Xue, I am glad to see you. Could you help me decide on what to wear?"

"No need, Madam. The Young Master has hand picked this dress for you."

She slowly unzipped it to reveal the dress. It was a new Jason Wu design that had yet to be released. It was a Chinese red, off-the-shoulder puff-sleeve ruffle bubble mini dress. I took it from her and went to put it on behind the screen. After, I slid on the nude flats, wrapping them around my ankles. As soon as I sat at the make-up table, staff poured into the room. They quickly surrounded me doing all of my make-up and hair. I was nearly unrecognizable at the end of it all. Xue walked around to the left side of me with a sad smile plastering her face. She took a necklace and wrapped it around my neck, clasping it closed for me.

"She would be so proud of the woman you became. You're just as beautiful as she was."

"I hope so."

She wrapped me in her arms as I looked down at the necklace she had given me. It was the same one that my mother gave her when she found out that she was pregnant with me. Xue's mother was the head of staff for her mother's family and her father was my grandfather's assistant. They were best friends, so when my parents married, she left with them. She helped my father to care for me, even after he met Shu. I would not have had a mother figure without her. I felt tears threatening to fall as I looked up, trying not to ruin all of the hard work everyone put into my appearance.