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A chill crept around Gu Xiaoxi’s waist, startling her so that her eyes instantly misted over.

All she could do was roar furiously, "Bai Yaxuan, stop it. I’m going to kill you, you bastard!"

Bai Yaxuan looked down at the woman, the hot tears flickering in her eyes, and that delicate little face that no matter how one looked at it, was heartbreakingly beautiful; waves of heat tumbled in his chest.

His hand pinched her button but did not move any further, only staring straight at her little face with a sneer, "Xiao Xi, do you know what a bastard looks like? Maybe your husband should be a bit more of a bastard for you to see."

Gu Xiaoxi blinked, tears swirling in her eyes, vastly outpowered; in front of him, she was but fish on the chopping board.

She was scared of him, instinctively begging, "Don’t!"

"Don’t what? Hmm..." Bai Yaxuan asked purposely, his gaze locked onto her misty eyes.

"Don’t bully me!" Gu Xiaoxi bit her lip, feeling both ashamed and indignant, and also stifling a surge of grievances. She had always thought that Bai Yaxuan would at most threaten her, but he had turned out to be serious about his threats.

She didn’t like him, let alone seek a deeper relationship with him.

"Then are you going to be good?" Bai Yaxuan’s voice turned hoarse like it had been scorched by fire as he looked at her flushed lips.

Gu Xiaoxi bit her lip, tears sliding down from the corner of her eyes, her heart full of grievance, "I’ll be good!"

"Are you going to the banquet?"

"...I’ll go!"

Only then did Bai Yaxuan withdraw his hand, pulling down her nightgown to cover the spring scenery at her waist.

He let go of her hand and gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes with his pale fingers, his voice returning to its usual softness, "Xiao Xi, now that you have married me. I will be good to you, from now on I’ll spoil you, take care of you, protect you, love you for a lifetime. Stop thinking about divorce."

Gu Xiaoxi pushed him away and jumped off the bed, angrily rushing into the bathroom.

Bai Yaxuan left her to it, just standing at the door waiting for her, "It’s getting late; the banquet starts at six o’clock. I’ll give you ten minutes to wash your face, wake up a bit."

Gu Xiaoxi stood at the door, like a cat with its fur on end, fiercely kicking the bathroom door, clearly because she could not do anything about Bai Yaxuan and was taking it out on the door.

Threatening her, taking off her clothes!

Bai Yaxuan, the bastard!

Gu Xiaoxi lingered in the bathroom for a long time, it was about fifteen minutes before she washed her face and opened the door.

She deliberately took five extra minutes; she just didn’t want to listen to him!

She thought Bai Yaxuan would scold her, but instead he stood at the door, hands in pockets; when he saw her come out, he touched her long hair, looked at her red eyes, and asked gently, "Did you hide and cry?"

"You’re the one who cried!" Gu Xiaoxi strode over to the vanity mirror, saw her slightly red eyes in the reflection, and pursed her lips.

She would get her revenge on this day.

Seeing her looking as if she bore deep resentments, a ripple of emotion passed through Bai Yaxuan’s heart. He had only wanted to scare her; perhaps he had been a bit too harsh and had frightened the young girl?

But he hadn’t actually done anything to her!

Was it just lifting a piece of clothing? He hadn’t seen anything he shouldn’t have...

She was still his wife, after all; even if he saw something he shouldn’t have, it would be fine, right?

"Jiaolan is waiting in the dressing room, just go there. I’ll be waiting for you downstairs."

He waited for an hour, and it was already half-past four in the afternoon when Bai Yaxuan heard footsteps upstairs.

Jiaolan came down with three assistants, and after seeing Bai Yaxuan, she greeted him politely before teasing, "Your Excellency is truly fortunate; our First Lady is indeed as beautiful as a celestial maiden."

"Where is she?" Bai Yaxuan was more concerned about whether Gu Xiaoxi had obediently gotten ready.

"Well, here she comes now!" Jiaolan looked towards the staircase.

Everyone’s gaze followed, and they saw a young lady in a sky-blue cocktail dress standing at the rear of the staircase.

The woman’s hair was soft and supple, her chestnut curls cascading down, a crown on her head made her look like a Queen, imposing and unapproachable.

The crown was adorned with one hundred and eighty-nine diamonds of various sizes, symbolizing the First Lady’s sacred and inviolable status and authority.

Women are naturally beautiful, with delicate facial features, skin like ice and bones like jade, draped in a water-blue strapless gown that reveals enticing shoulders and arms as smooth as white jade.

No matter how you look at her, she seems charmingly vulnerable, enough to overthrow realms and cities.

Gu Xiaoxi slowly descended the stairs, and everyone’s gaze heatedly followed her snow-white feet.

Bai Yaxuan stared at her, sending all the servants and bodyguards out of the living room.

"Jiaolan, go get her a shawl, it’s too cold with so little clothing."

As soon as Bai Yaxuan finished speaking, Jiaolan raised an eyebrow. Was he genuinely worried about the First Lady being cold, or did he think the little demon was too enticing and did not want others to gaze upon her?

Thus, without changing his expression, he went upstairs to the walk-in closet.

All of Gu Xiaoxi’s clothes had been designed and tailored by him, so he knew better than anyone how to match and wear them.

Gu Xiaoxi sat on the sofa without speaking. A moment later, Jiaolan brought over a thin, light-colored long-sleeved shawl. The sheer fabric, draped over her shoulders, covered yet still accentuated her beauty, drawing the eye.

It was a significant improvement over the way she had looked earlier, which could have driven men to sin.

Only then did Bai Yaxuan nod with satisfaction, saying, "Let’s go! It’s about time."

Gu Xiaoxi walked behind Bai Yaxuan, not wanting to get too close to him, her lovely eyes still tinged with a hint of red.

After a few steps, Bai Yaxuan looked back at her and extended his hand, "Hurry up and keep up!"

Gu Xiaoxi lowered her head and ignored him. As she passed by him, she strode forward without any intention of having him hold her hand.

Bai Yaxuan frowned deeply. If they went out like this, what would people think? He feared that it would only bring more trouble for Gu Xiaoxi.

Then, the effects of the party would be completely reversed...

Bai Yaxuan quickly caught up with Gu Xiaoxi and pulled her entire body into his embrace, his left arm encircling her waist and arm.

Gu Xiaoxi instinctively struggled, thinking he should not assume she had capitulated and would follow his every command.

This was impossible!

Bai Yaxuan’s aura turned icy as he spoke with a detached fury, "If you truly don’t want to go, we can forgo the party. I wouldn’t mind canceling it and doing something else in bed together!"

"You... shameless..." Gu Xiaoxi turned around, her fists clenched as she aimed for his face.

But before her hand could touch his cheek, she found herself immobilized.

Bai Yaxuan narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze fixed on her. He took her hand into his, "I won’t repeat myself. You either attend the party properly, or we cancel it and have a thorough talk in the bedroom."

As if deliberately doing so, he leaned in close, his gentle breaths raining down on her neck as he spoke.

"Bullying a woman, what kind of man are you?" Gu Xiaoxi’s heart trembled involuntarily, her ears reddening. She bit her lip and turned her head away, stepping back swiftly as soon as she could move.

Her demeanor was still assertive.

Yet compared to her earlier defiance, she had become much more submissive.

Bai Yaxuan stepped forward, gently wrapping his arms around her, pinching her delicate hand before contentedly saying, "Do what’s expected of you and spare me any negative expressions in front of others. Gu Xiaoxi, you’re not a child anymore. You need to understand boundaries!"

"Are you saying I’m immature? It’s you who are forcing and bullying me. You’re nothing to me, why should I listen to you?" Gu Xiaoxi bit her lip, and though her heart was filled with grievances, she did not want to show them in front of him.

Just then, the driver brought the car to the front, and soldiers came forward to open the door.

"How exactly have I bullied you? Gu Xiaoxi, let me remind you again, you are my wife, Bai Yaxuan’s wife, now and in the future, for life!" Bai Yaxuan stood facing her, turning to look at her.

He was tall and imposing, and when she lowered her head, his dominant presence enveloped her.

Gu Xiaoxi’s lips quivered, and she wanted to list a hundred of his impertinences, but the words stuck in her throat.

This was because the soldiers around them were staring, their eyes filled with an indescribable suggestiveness.

With a man like Bai Yaxuan, one who was accustomed to commanding others from on high, she had no recourse to reason.

She got into the car first, turning away; silence was her best weapon of self-defense against an arrogant man—with nothing good left to say to him.

Watching her lip quiver with hurt, Bai Yaxuan felt an unsettling agitation weighing on his heart.

This woman, how was he to lavish her with affection so that she would ripen and become his utterly?