One hundred and twenty-three.

Page 1 of 3

“Yichen, the phone... give me the phone...” One of her arms stretched out, waving in the air.

Reluctantly, Lu Yichen released her, put on his clothes, and got out of bed to retrieve the phone she had left in the dining room. After about half a minute, he returned with the phone in hand. The phone had already stopped ringing.

“Weiwei.” He placed the phone gently into her hand.

Xia Yuwei opened her eyes, groggily looking at the incoming call log—it was Xin Xinpi.

They hadn’t been in touch for many days; she wondered what Xin wanted. Rubbing her temples, Xia Yuwei sat up, clutching the blanket with one hand and pressing the reply button with the other.

“Xin...”

“Yuwei, I’ve called you several times just now. Why didn’t you answer?”

“Uh... sorry, I really didn’t hear it.” Perhaps she was sleeping too deeply at the time, completely unaware of any other sounds... Thinking of their passionate night, melting into each other without restraint, Xia Yuwei’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“Yuwei, did you see today’s City Morning News?”

“What? Morning news? I never read that...” Xia Yuwei thought. Waking her up this early must be to urge her to read the paper?

“Take a look quickly! It’s a big deal! Something happened! The photos of you and Lu Yichen are the front page headline today!” Xin said anxiously. “Don’t go to class today; lay low and avoid the storm for now!”

“...Oh!” Xia Yuwei was confused but agreed. In any case, she sensed the situation was turning for the worse. A storm was coming their way. She had been prepared to face their parents and the strange looks in school, but she hadn’t expected to confront the media first.

Throughout her life, except for the photos from her engagement day with Ye Lifeng that made the papers, she never felt connected to the news. What the paper wrote or how it portrayed her was beyond her understanding. Her first instinct was to hang up quickly, get dressed, and go downstairs to buy a newspaper.

“What's wrong, dear?” Lu Yichen noticed her serious expression and got up to dress, asking with concern. “Don’t look so glum. Today is our wedding morning after all. I even wanted to give you a mysterious gift...”

Page 2 of 3

“Yichen, something might be wrong. I want to go get a newspaper. I heard our photo made the front page...” Xia Yuwei said as she hurriedly put on her slippers and headed outside. She quickly freshened up and was about to leave. “I’m going to buy a paper!”

“Wait!” Lu Yichen called after her. He was dressed as well and came out of the bedroom. “Weiwei, let me go! I’m worried it’s bad news, and I want to protect you.”

Xia Yuwei nodded and sat on the sofa waiting. A few minutes later, Lu Yichen returned with a grim expression. He threw the newspaper onto the coffee table.

“This paper is utterly ridiculous. It should be banned!”

While saying this, he lifted the lonely Xia Yuwei from the sofa and sat her on his lap, comforting her in his own way.

“Yichen, what’s going on?” Xia Yuwei looked at him puzzled. He remained silent.

She glanced at the newspaper on the table. The front page faced them.

A large photo showed her and Lu Yichen intimately embracing in the square. Their profiles were clearly captured. The headline was shocking: “Scandal! Heiress Fiancée Caught Meeting Lover Out of Impatience!”

The explosive font made Xia Yuwei dizzy. Judging by the exaggerated headline alone, she knew how disgustingly and unfairly they had portrayed her, without even reading the article!

Ye Lifeng had already let her go, so why were paparazzi still stalking her? Good heavens! In this age of information explosion, it was terrifying...

“Weiwei, don’t look... I’m sorry you’re hurt...” Lu Yichen gently touched her pale face, full of sympathy. “It’s nothing. Stay low-key. In a few days, this will blow over.”

At that moment, Lu Yichen realized that for Weiwei’s sake, he must become stronger—not just in taekwondo fighting. He was already a husband now; he must protect her, love her well, and make her happy. In this world, power and influence were crucial. If he weren’t only seventeen and just a rich heir, he would have the ability to stop this from happening! But now, he had nothing but money. Seeing his beloved Weiwei hurt made him deeply pained.

“...Sigh...” Xia Yuwei sighed softly, leaning on his shoulder without a word.

“Oh right, dear, I have a gift for you. Come on, cheer up, smile!” After a long while, Xia Yuwei was still downcast. To cheer her up, Lu Yichen stood and triumphantly brought out a delicate box from the bedroom.

“What is it?” Xia Yuwei asked absentmindedly.

Lu Yichen knelt before her and handed her the box. “Open it yourself.”

Page 3 of 3

Xia Yuwei took the box and opened it.

Inside was a jade ring of deep emerald green—crystal clear with a warm luster that revealed its considerable value.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful...” Xia Yuwei exclaimed.

“This has been with me since I was a child. It’s meant for my future wife. I was so happy yesterday, I forgot to give it to you. This ring is an antique said to bless lovers with eternal love.” Lu Yichen took out the ring and slipped it onto her slender finger. “Perfect!” He then kissed her hand.

“Yichen...” Xia Yuwei was deeply moved. Though only seventeen, this man expressed his love and care in every little thing he did.

“Come on, let’s go buy groceries and cook together. We didn’t eat last night, and I’m starving...” Xia Yuwei smiled at him. The thought of the young master going to the supermarket with her made her feel a little excited.

****************************************************************************

Arm in arm, they walked downstairs.

As soon as they stepped outside the building, a crowd of people with cameras and video recorders swarmed them, flashes from powerful lights blinking rapidly. Xia Yuwei raised her hand to shield her eyes. Lu Yichen instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her, and shouted angrily, “What are you doing?!”

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P.S. Things have escalated, and the consequences are severe. Oh no...