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He possessed supreme power and inexhaustible wealth, marrying her was naturally out of a sense of responsibility, what more could there be.

"You once saved me. There’s no need for so much formality between us. As long as it’s something you want to do, I agree," Bai Yaxuan’s starry eyes shone with sincerity.

Gu Xiaoxi pursed her lips, "Alright then! I will draft the agreement, we’ll divorce a year after getting married. By then, all our debts and grudges will be settled."

She had saved him, that’s why he married her.

She married him, only to claim what was rightfully hers.

Marriage was merely a formality, it had to be made clear, she wouldn’t hold back his life. She needed her freedom too.

Bai Yaxuan’s genteel hands were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the sofa, sizing up Gu Xiaoxi.

The woman before him was dressed simply, her delicate features unadorned by makeup, yet stunning in every way. She seemed transformed into someone else, as if she were strategizing over everything, including her approach to this marriage.

"If that’s really what you think, suit yourself!

As long as you don’t do anything that harms my interests," Bai Yaxuan stood up, hands in pockets, his gaze indifferently turned towards Mi Xi, "I have other matters to attend to, and hence I must take my leave.

I expect no mishaps at the wedding a month and a half from now. "

"Yes!" Mi Xi stood up boldly and assured Bai Yaxuan, "We will be careful."

Bai Yaxuan left the hotel, sitting in the presidential limousine.

He leaned back in his seat, seemingly tired, he stretched out his pale, jade-like fingers, kneading his nose bridge.

He couldn’t understand why a voice in his heart kept reminding him, insisting he marry Gu Xiaoxi.

He thought, perhaps only by truly marrying her, would he understand what all this was about.

Gu Xiaoxi had fallen out with Gu Hua, and for the sake of appearances, the father and daughter acted very amicably on the surface.

But behind the scenes, both sides were jostling.

Gu Hua hoped Gu Xiaoxi would not take away her mother’s inheritance, as it was not good news for the Gu Family’s company.

But Gu Xiaoxi made it clear that she was merely inheriting her mother’s legacy to take over all the industries her mother had left behind. She wasn’t withdrawing her mother’s shares from the company.

This left Gu Hua with no grounds to object.

During this period, Gu Xiaoxi’s room caught fire once, and there was one car accident where the vehicle lost control.

Yet each time, Gu Xiaoxi narrowly escaped, safely reaching the day of her wedding.

On her wedding day, Gu Xiaoxi put on her wedding dress, welcomed by a convoy of over a hundred vehicles from the Gu Family to the Presidential Mansion, an event that shook the world.

At the climax of the wedding, the lawyer announced Jiang Li’s wishes.

Gu Xiaoxi successfully obtained her mother’s fortune, thereby becoming the happiest woman in the world.

From then on, she was not only the young mistress of the Gu Family but also bore the title of the First Lady.

Wherever she went, she was the focus of everyone’s attention.

After the wedding, the Presidential Mansion was plastered with decorations of joy.

Gu Xiaoxi removed the ring from her finger and handed it to Bai Yaxuan, "Here, take it back!"

Bai Yaxuan looked down at her, his eyes gradually darkening, "You don’t need to be in such a hurry to distance yourself from me, a year’s time. You still need to wear this ring, lest you give others something to talk about."

He snatched the diamond ring from her hand, pulled over her delicate, boneless hand, and slid the ring back onto her finger.

Gu Xiaoxi coughed, annoyance stirring within her; she hadn’t thought things through.

"I’m tired, I’m going to sleep," said Gu Xiaoxi, her fiery red gown trailing behind as she headed to the upstairs bedroom.

Pausing at the doorway, she looked back at Bai Yaxuan, who still sat on the sofa, "I’ll sleep in that room?"

After all, this was the Presidential Mansion, she couldn’t just take over the best room in the entire mansion and let the host sleep in a side bedroom.

Bai Yaxuan walked upstairs, opened the bridal chamber, and approached the innermost door, gently pushing it open, "You stay here!"

No matter what, she was his newlywed wife. They couldn’t blatantly sleep separately.

That would be giving people something to talk about.

When the bridal chamber was decorated, he installed two side rooms inside, though entered through the same door, they were part of a very spacious master bedroom with two smaller bedrooms.

One on the left, the other on the right, the bed in the master bedroom was just a decoy.

Taking into account his thoughtful considerations, Gu Xiaoxi turned around to thank him before entering her own room.

The room was decorated very formally and luxuriously, not just like a little girl’s fancy for a princess bed.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, Gu Xiaoxi removed her makeup, gazing at herself in the mirror.

She occasionally noticed how much she had changed.

She seemed to have suddenly become more composed, a feeling that left her feeling alien.

In reality, she could live her life entirely independently, detached from everything Gu Xiaoxi related, to roam freely.

But strangely, she didn’t leave, opting instead to take up Gu Xiaoxi’s past and future.

Marriage, such a grand affair, yet for her, it felt as casual as playing house.

After removing her makeup and taking a bath,

she let her long hair down, wearing a golden robe, always feeling that this version of herself was so unfamiliar.

At night, she couldn’t sleep, sitting on a wicker chair on the balcony, staring into the deep night.

Suddenly, she heard a melodious flute playing from the room next door.

It was lovely!

She was even drawn by the sound of the flute, putting on a light jacket, and stepping out of her room.

Outside was a huge double bed, neatly made now, with big red "happiness" characters, full of festive joy.

Clearly, the sound of the flute was coming from Bai Yaxuan’s room.

She had never stopped to listen to such beautiful music, even in the music she felt a resonance called loneliness.

She stood at his doorway for a long time, listening intently to the entirety of his ethereal music.

She didn’t know when the music stopped.

The door in front of her creaked open, Bai Yaxuan looked up, and saw her standing there in a daze. Surprised and delighted, "Why aren’t you asleep?"

Gu Xiaoxi felt this might be inappropriate and said awkwardly with a smile, "Your flute is beautiful, I really like it."

"Really?" Bai Yaxuan stepped out of his room, "It’s strange, I can’t play any other instruments, just this one the best. If you like it, I can play for you again."

"It’s too late, let’s sleep early!" Gu Xiaoxi felt too embarrassed to bother him.

Today’s wedding had been exhausting. She believed he was as tired as she was.

Bai Yaxuan chuckled lightly, graceful as ever, and did not insist. He only asked, "Do you need some water? I can get it for you!"

"No need, I have some in my room." Gu Xiaoxi said as she retreated back into her room.

Two people who didn’t know each other at all became husband and wife, it was indeed a strange feeling. Being together was bound to be awkward.

Gu Xiaoxi went back to her room and slept.

The next day, she left the house early.

Because she was set to inherit her mother’s estate, there were shares to be liquidated and several industries to be sorted through. There was still much to do.

Having no understanding of these matters, Mi Xi had enrolled her in a CEO financial training course.

She was naturally smart, and given enough patience, she could learn anything.

In the Gu Family estate, Gu Hua was so angry he was pounding on the table.

Gu Xiaoxi’s actions couldn’t be more clear, her earnest studying was surely to take over his company, aiming to split the Gu Family’s wealth.

Yet, he felt utterly powerless to stop it.

"Daddy, did Gu Xiaoxi really take forty percent of the Gu Family’s shares?" Gu Yuxin’s face turned ashen with rage, her fists clenched tight, wishing Gu Xiaoxi would just drop dead.

"Not only did she take it, but she’s also attending some financial training.

Seems like she wants to have her cake and eat it too!

" For Gu Hua, the company was his life’s work.

After struggling for more than a decade to integrate Jiang Li’s assets, he couldn’t bear the thought that, just by getting married, Gu Xiaoxi had taken away a large portion of his wealth.

He had only twenty percent of the shares in the entire company, while she unexpectedly held forty percent.

Now with Gu Xiaoxi attending the financial training, it was clear she was planning to come back and vie for the chairman’s seat.

"We never should have kept that little wretch. She was a nuisance when she was dim-witted, and now she’s causing even more trouble." Tian Mei was always ruthless and had long disliked Gu Xiaoxi.

If it wasn’t for Bai Yaxuan’s protection, she would have personally strangled Gu Xiaoxi in her cradle...

On the last day of Gu Xiaoxi’s training course, she packed up her books and computer.

Right then, her phone rang.

She picked up the call to see it was from Mi Xi!

"Bro! Is something up?"

"I’m waiting for you outside your training class. I’ll take you out for some fun tonight. You’re still young; don’t overwork yourself," Mi Xi said, worried about her being under too much pressure, especially with the Gu Family’s large company at stake.

And with so many people in the Gu Family, each one of them a tough customer to deal with. Taking over the company wasn’t something that could be done overnight.

And with Gu Xiaoxi becoming smart, his real power in the company was gradually being undermined.

Who knew when he might be kicked to the curb.

Gu Xiaoxi left the training class with her books in tow, only to see a black business car parked at the curbside.

Approaching the car, Mi Xi rolled down the window and urged, "Get in!"

"Where are you taking me?" Gu Xiaoxi asked in surprise, guessing where Mi Xi might take her to play.