"Patriarch Li, it's inappropriate for the bride to see her groom before the wedding," said an elder, almost immediately as soon as Li Yujin ordered his daughter to check on Qin Wei.
Li Yujin shrugged. "What's inappropriate? They are going to be husband and wife tomorrow anyway." Taking a pause, his eyes narrowed as his gaze shifted to the elder who commented. "Unless you are expecting that the wedding will not happen tomorrow, due to unexpected reasons?"
Li Cheng hurriedly shook his head, beads of sweat almost forming at his forehead. "Not at all. Who would dare to even think about defying an imperial decree?"
Li Yujin calmly nodded, shifting to his daughter. "Xue'er, what are you waiting for? You're his future wife. You'll need to get used to looking after him in the future too."
She clenched her fists under the table but released them in the end and stood, her long sleeves brushing against the table as she turned and walked away. Her footsteps were light and slow as if she wasn't in any hurry.
A few moments later, the door creaked open with a soft groan, and her eyes fell on the man sprawling across the mattress like he had no worries in the world. His chest rose and fell in deep, rhythmic breaths. His face looked almost… peaceful.
For a moment, Li Xue muttered. "Now, that's a handsome face." But then, immediately, she shook her head violently. "Snap out of it. That's a scourge…"
Taking a deep breath, she walked closer. She paused beside the bed, staring down at him for a moment. With a reluctant sigh, she extended her hand and placed two fingers lightly on his wrist. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, tracing the flow of energy through his meridians.
"Huh?" she whispered under her breath.
His internal flow was quite smooth and stable. Not even a trace of injury from the day before was left.
She couldn't help but frown, remembering an important detail. "That's strange. Wasn't he born without any spirit core? Why is there internal energy flowing in his body? Was it father's…"
As she was muddled in thoughts, a warm hand suddenly shot up and grabbed hers.
"Wha…"
Before she could react, Qin Wei's arm tugged her forward, pulling her off balance. With a soft yelp, Li Xue tumbled onto the bed and directly into his chest.
He wrapped an arm around her, murmuring with a sleepy smile, "Mmm… warm pillow… don't go…"
His eyes remained closed, and his breath was calm.
Li Xue froze in place for a moment, and her cheeks started burning. "You… free me, you pervert…"
She was about to get free, but just then the door opened again. Maid Roulan entered with sheets in her hand, only to halt mid-step. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Lady Xue?"
"Oh! I… I apologize!" she squeaked, backing away so fast that her figure turned into a blur. "I didn't mean to disturb…"
She darted out and slammed the door shut.
Li Xue's face was scarlet now, her fists clenched against his chest.
"W-Wait! That's not what it looks like…" she shouted after the retreating maid, even though the door was already closed.
She turned back to Qin Wei, who still hadn't opened his eyes. A smile appeared on his face as his hug tightened. "Mmm… Shen Yu… don't worry. I will come to visit the Fragrance Moon Pavilion again. So, let's just…"
"You… you absolute scoundrel!" she growled in anger, freed herself from his arms, and raised her hand.
SLAP!
The sharp crack of palm against cheek echoed like thunder in the quiet room.
Qin Wei's eyes snapped open, stung by the sudden pain burning on his cheek. "Ugh…"
His head jerked to the side slightly, and he blinked twice in confusion. His vision adjusted, catching the sight of a tall, slender figure standing beside his bed, her eyes wide with fury but her cheeks flushed in a deep shade of red.
"Who are you?" he asked, furrowing his brows. "You… you… Dare to hit me?"
"You deserve it…" Li Xue's voice cracked with disbelief, her hand trembling slightly as if she wanted to slap him again. "How dare you pull me and… and… and…"
Qin Wei rubbed the red mark on his cheek and exhaled slowly, remembering the feeling of hugging someone in sleep. "Sorry. It's a sleeping habit, Miss…"
But then, as he looked at her, he asked again. "Who are you again?"
"Li Xue…" She replied, her cheeks still flushing in embarrassment and anger. "You just hug whoever is around? You scoundrel…"
"Li Xue?" Qin Wei blinked in surprise. But then, as something clicked inside his head, his lips widened into a playful smile. "If you are Li Xue, then I didn't do anything inappropriate. What's wrong with that, though? Aren't we going to be husband and wife tomorrow? And tomorrow night, we will do more than hugging."
Her face turned crimson at once.
"You…" she sputtered, stepping back. "There is no way I would ever let a lecher like you touch me! I will kill you the moment you do so…"
Qin Wei stretched his body, letting out a groan as his joints cracked. He sat up on the bed, the blanket falling to his waist, exposing the lean lines of his torso, thankfully still clothed in the inner robe.
He looked at her with surprising calm, all the playfulness vanishing from his face.
"Good," he said flatly. "Since you don't like this marriage and don't have a great opinion of me, then let's talk."
Li Xue blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone and his expression.
"Let's be honest. This was His Majesty's arrangement. No one likes it…" he gestured lazily between them. "And I have no intention of tying myself down to anyone, least of all someone who can't stand me."
He turned, letting his feet rest on the cold floor. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was steady, firm.
"So how about this?" he continued. "We pretend. In front of the world, we act like the perfect couple. You do your thing. I'll do mine for one year. After that, you can use reasons like we are not compatible or whatever to divorce."
Li Xue stared at him in silence. The abrupt change in Qin Wei's behavior just didn't align with the image she had in her head, and the 18-year-old was confused, not being able to react right away.
"On the night of our wedding, that is tomorrow night," Qin Wei continued, "I want a divorce agreement paper with your seal and blood thumbprint on it."
He raised an eyebrow, staring into her eyes. "Sound fair?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her eyes searched his face, almost suspiciously, as if waiting for some hidden joke or trap.
But none came from Qin Wei.
"You're serious, right?" She asked.
"Dead serious," Qin Wei replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then, Li Xue squared her shoulders and nodded once. "Good. On the night of our wedding, you'll get your agreement," she said stiffly.
"Perfect," Qin Wei smiled faintly, letting out a yawn. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to go back to sleep. And please don't approach me. I don't want to get slapped again. It still stings."
"Hmph," she huffed, turning sharply on her heel. Her long robe swept behind her like a tide as she marched toward the door.
Just before leaving, she paused, hand on the frame. But she didn't say anything and just walked out.
As the door shut with a firm click, Qin Wei leaned back on the bed, staring at the holographic screen that said:
[Training paused. Would you like to continue?]
Qin Wei clicked on Yes.
And instantly, he collapsed on the bed again, while his spirit returned to an endless space where everything is white, except a shadow resembling his silhouette motioned its arm.
Qin Wei grinned, clenching his fists. "Xuelun Yan."
His eyes turned scarlet with a single gouyu inside. "Let's resume."