Don’t Underestimate Yourself

If Lu Xinyi was honest, at least to herself, she really enjoyed this vacation after all the drama and bullshit that she left back home. She didn't regret leaving them and going alone on this vacation where she met Shen Yi. He made this vacation tolerable, but with his incessant flirting, she didn't know if she could stay with him for another minute.

Packing up her suitcase, she hummed to herself while her future husband sat on the living room, working on his laptop. She already scolded him earlier for working still. He was on a break; couldn't he make time for himself to relax for a bit?

"Ready to go?" he asked without taking his attention away from his work.

She grunted, trying to close her suitcase.

"This damn suitcase won't close."

With a deep sigh, Shen Yi left his laptop on his coffee table and came over to her. He put his hands down to keep the case from opening, giving Lu Xinyi a chance to snap the locks on.

"Thanks!"

"Why is it too full? Did you bring a lot on this trip?"

Lu Xinyi ran her fingers on her long hair and smiled sheepishly.

"Nope. I brought some food from the cafeteria."

"...."

"What? We need snacks on our way. I wouldn't like to be stuck in traffic without any food with me." She lightly flushed, looking at him.

"But we just had our lunch earlier, and you've eaten my share of dessert."

"Hey! Watch what you say to me. I'm going to be your wife."

He lightly grinned. Shen Yi had discovered that he could coerce her to do almost everything as long as her favorite foods were involved. He had always thought women like fancy jewelry and bouquets of roses, but with Lu Xinyi, he only needed to say he will treat her to a bucket of fries and a yummy steak she hasn't tried before.

"And what will you do? You are too weak to bring me any harm."

"Oh, you will see. You'll see." Lu Xinyi put her hands on her hips. "You have so much to learn from me, dear hubby."

"Then I couldn't wait for you to teach me then." He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Don't forget our wedding night later," he teased. As soon as they could come back to the city, they would go and register their marriage privately.

She lightly pushed his shoulder.

"Ha! I knew it! I knew that you will eventually ask for it."

Shen Yi went back to his seat while Lu Xinyi followed him and sat on the armrest of the couch.

"You don't have to force yourself if you aren't ready. I know we agreed that our marriage will be true in every sense, but I wouldn't like you to do something you don't want to. With all that had happened on your previous relationship, I wouldn't expect you to be comfortable being with me," he said in his serious tone without the hint of his usual playful remarks.

Lu Xinyi's hand ended up on his hair again. Shen Yi wondered if she really likes touching his hair so he could tease her about it. But then, he decided not to—he liked her touching him anyway.

"Hmmm… sounds good, but no worries. As your trophy wife, I'll try my best not to bring you to shame by marrying me."

"Don't underestimate yourself. You aren't as bad as you think you are." Shen Yi resumed his work and let Lu Xinyi move beside him.

She unceremoniously fell on the couch to lay down with her head brushing against his leg. His gaze stared at her inquisitively, which she answered with a grin. She smiled up to him and stared on his face as he worked seriously over his laptop.

She liked his face: the way his brows knit when he was deep in thought. If she had met him under different circumstances, she might have fallen for him in a heartbeat.

Was she attracted to him? Lu Xinyi wouldn't deny that there's an attraction between them, but as to how deep it is, she had no idea. There was no love between them—only companionship that they both enjoyed.

"Quit biting your lip. Are you nervous? Or do you wanna back out on this marriage?" Shen Yi closed his laptop and glared at her. She glanced up to him and laughed.

"No. Of course not. It's our last day." She sighed and looked up to the ceiling.

"Yes," he agreed while he toyed with the long strands of her hair. His eyes looked distant.

"Thank you for helping me," she whispered to him. His eyes went back to her face, seeing her smiling at him. "You know, when I went to this vacation, I was broken and depressed. I also think that my life is so worthless that the people I care and love the most left me behind." She explained. "When I met you on the top deck, I didn't know what to do with my life anymore. So thank you for giving me a chance to fix my life."

Lu Xinyi wasn't about to tell him how miserable the life she was coming back to was—the harsh life she would return to as soon as they got married. But with him beside her, she couldn't ask for more. He was the only one who reminded her that she mattered.

---

"Come on, Miss Lu. We're going to be late."

"Wait for me!" Lu Xinyi straightened her sundress for the last time, picked up her suitcase, and followed Shen Yi outside his suite. The ocean breeze greeted her, and she smiled. This will be a new beginning for her.

"Ready?"

"No, not yet, I forgot something." She took something from the pocket of her handbag and showed it to Shen Yi. It was a silver ring. The ring that Gong Yijun gave her a year ago.

She gave Shen Yi a crooked grin and threw the ring into the sea.

"Now, I'm ready," she told herself.

Shen Yi returned her smile as if satisfied with what she had done. He pulled her hand into his and led the way.

"Come, my lovely bride. We have a secret wedding to attend today."