C1 Do You Still Want To Marry Me? 

In Imperial City, Zhu Garden Villa stood in silence. It was empty, other than the pale woman staying in the living room, yet even then, the tension was enough to ward everyone off.

Li Huang sat on the sofa, crossing her legs. She glanced at her watch only to crinkle her forehead in annoyance. It had been two hours since she had been sitting here, and she was already exhausted. How could she not be?

Just yesterday, her fiancé's grandfather decided it was everyone's best interest to send her to the hospital for a premarital examination. "We need to make sure that you're a virgin. Nothing but the best for my son," he had said gruffly. It had all turned south when they saw the results.

Not only did that family wish to break off the engagement, but they also wanted to take away the Orchid Garden. Those money-grubbing hands wanted to steal the only thing her mother had left her.

What's worst was that her father remained to be a silent doormat. "You'll have no use of it." He had scoffed, shrugging her off as if he was a slave rather than his wife. "Let's just sell the property! We'll get more from doing that than keeping it!"

Now that her mother was that, Li Huang only had herself to rely on. And with her status as the Second Lady of the declining Da'an Group, she was absolutely no match for the Shao Family.

That was the reason why she had to compromise and agree to her grandfather's request.

To enter a contractual marriage.

Her once beautiful face was marred with anxiety. With her pursed lips and gloomy eyes, she looked far from the bright woman that the others had grown envious of. Now, she had reverted to a mouse–timid and scared for what's to come.

Just when she had thought that she wouldn't be able to see her grandfather today, the doors were suddenly pushed open.

A dark shadow slid into the room. Her eyes squinted over at him. Only when the light shone over his figure was she finally with such a handsome face, enough to make her stiffen in attention.

The man looked like a scholar who had just pranced out of the painting. With his high cheekbones and defined jawline, the man appeared elegant and gracious–far from what the vicious rumors she had heard of him.

Li Huang lowered her teacup and stood up. "Mr. Xi."

Xi Muqian sized up the woman in front of him. She was delicate and petite, with eyes as beautiful as starlight. Her face was creamy with not a flaw in sight. Her grandfather wasn't exaggerating when he was talking about her looks. She really was gorgeous.

"You're Li Huang?"

"Yes."

He walked to the sofa, which was a bit farther from where she was standing. "Please, sit."

Li Huang sat down once again. She could feel her hands fidgeting on her lap as her heart raced in her chest. A few minutes ago, she was anxious in meeting him, and now that she had, a part of her wanted to jump out of this property. 'Get yourself together, Huang!' She gritted her teeth, forcefully steadying herself.

These actions didn't go unnoticed by Xi Muqian, who raised his eyebrows at her. "Are you really going to marry me?"

There was a brief silence before she responded, "Yes."

"How much do you know about me?"

Know about him? She glanced up in surprise with a bit of incredulity flashing over her features.

Although they had never crossed paths before, Xi Muqian was an incredibly powerful man, and with this, came with a lot of baggage. Nobody could ever stop talking, and the tabloids had always been vicious.

"They say I'm despicable and violent....vicious and cruel...perverted and crude..." Although his words were blunt, they still held a certain gentleness. "Some even called me gay. Should I be asking anything else?"

'Was he testing me?'

"Look, Mr. Xi, I didn't know you before all of this," she stated immediately. "Although I've heard the rumors, I know how harmful they could be, and I know exactly how false some of them may be. That's why I don't trust them until I know the information first hand."

He blinked in surprise.

Suddenly, a slow smile wove its way to his lips. "If you were to marry me, I wouldn't love you nor would I touch you. But that doesn't mean I'll allow you to betray me either," he said slowly. "Even then, do you still want to marry me?"

Li Huang couldn't ask for more. "Yes."

"A brave one, aren't you?" Indifferent, he stood up and motioned her to do the same. "Come with me."

She furrowed her eyebrows as she watched his retreating figure. Although confused, she scrambled up and followed him towards a narrow corridor.

Xi Muqian took her to the backyard. There was silence between the two of them until he grasped the dark bronze handle. With one glance at her, he slowly pushed the door open, and motioned her to go inside.

As they moved out, the light suddenly disappeared. All she could see were makeshift gray figures, looking like walls looming over her distressed figure. Her hands clenched and unclenched. No matter where she looked, darkness succeeded her.

She raised her hand and felt a wall beside her. Thinking that she had gotten it all figured out, she stepped forward, only to have stepped on empty air. Before she knew it, Lu Huang stumbled forward.

"AH!"

Hearing the loud crack, Xi Muqian turned around.

She jumped into his arms without a second thought, feeling his arms wrap around her wait to hold her steady.

For a moment, they felt the whole world stop.

He held his breath and stiffened, and she froze.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. "He has germaphobia, especially when it comes with his contact with women," someone had said to her back then. "You're not allowed to touch his body without his permission. Touch him, and you'll face serious consequences."

The voice was enough to cause her to fly back. Crap!

"Mr. Xi, I didn't do it on purpose," she quickly apologized. Her heart squeezed in terror. "I–I couldn't see clearly, and as soon as the lights were turned off, I lost my footing, and I...I'm sorry...please..."

She was still trying to explain herself when the man turned on the light.

As soon as the room flashed brightly, Li Huang squeezed her eyes shut. However, as soon as she had gotten used to her surrounding, she peeked at the basement and screamed. Her legs trembled at the sight.

Xi Muqian raised his eyebrows. "Do you still want to marry me after seeing all of this?"