NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Jinzhou, Fu Jinzhou
The words fell.
Ning Heng was instantly stunned.
Yuan Qing also widened his eyes, staring in disbelief at the man!
Ning Heng's heart skipped a beat.
After a long while, she slowly spoke, "What... what did you say?"
"Miss Ning," the man's eyes darkened, his gaze filled with an enigmatic glow. "I believe my meaning is clear. As compensation, I will marry you."
Ning Heng was momentarily at a loss.
It seemed the man had noticed her confusion and continued, "Miss Ning, don't be in a hurry to refuse. As far as I know, you were greatly humiliated at the wedding today, and soon, this will spread far and wide, leaving your reputation in ruins. Given your awkward position in the Ning family, your future path will likely become even more difficult."
At the mention of this, Ning Heng stiffened.
"It has nothing to do with you."
The man gazed at her with calm, yet slightly piercing eyes.
"Now it does."
Ning Heng looked up.
He said, "If you marry me, no one will remember how humiliating the bride's position was at this wedding. Instead, they will only laugh about how Shen Mubai missed the wedding and lost his wife."
"You will also be able to leave the Ning family with ease."
His voice was low and soothing, almost as though casting an alluring spell: "I can give you everything you want."
"What do you think?"
The room was quiet, with only the faint sound of breathing.
Ning Heng's heart gave a sharp tremor.
His gaze seemed like a whirlpool, pulling her in.
Her heart raced.
But she forced herself to remain calm.
"...Since you know everything about me, you should understand that marrying me would bring you no benefit."
"I told you, this is compensation."
The man paused, then added, "Or, you can think of it as... I urgently need a wife."
Ning Heng clenched her fingers tightly.
Should she?
Should she agree?
If she agreed, would she have a home?
The golden rays of the setting sun streamed in through the window.
Outside, the clouds shifted gently, unmarred by a trace.
A soft breeze brushed against her brows, bringing warmth.
Her mind, which had been in chaos, now felt dizzy. By some strange impulse, she heard her own voice—
"Alright."
As soon as the word left her lips, a barely perceptible smile tugged at the corners of the man's thin lips.
"Since that's the case, it's settled."
Ning Heng suddenly snapped back to her senses. "I…"
He raised an eyebrow slightly, decisively sealing the matter: "My secretary has already recorded our conversation. Miss Ning, once you agree, you can't go back on your word."
Yuan Qing nodded politely to her. Recording was a basic professional habit when his master was negotiating.
The man stood up, his voice low: "I'm a bit busy these days, but I will arrange for someone to take care of you. When you're discharged, I'll come to pick you up."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room.
Ning Heng watched his retreating figure and called after him, "Wait."
He stopped.
His dark eyes landed on her, filled with deep suspicion and an underlying pressure. "Hmm?"
Ning Heng's breath caught.
She opened her lips gently, "But... I still don't know your name."
The man gave a soft laugh.
He walked up to her, bending down so their eyes met at the same level, his dark pupils reflecting her image—
"Jinzhou, Fu Jinzhou."
The light outside the window silently framed his tall, elegant figure.
He stood with a noble, composed demeanor, like a refined gentleman.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
Ning Heng blinked in a daze.
---
Fu Jinzhou left the hospital room.
Yuan Qing followed behind him. His phone rang, and he received a message from the driver, who had been waiting outside for a long time.
[When will you come out, sir?]
[What happened? Why did you suddenly ask me to hit the young lady? Although you are very capable, you never harm innocent people.]
[Especially since she is just a commoner...]
Yuan Qing recalled the intense conversation they had in the room and replied: [She is no longer just a commoner. From now on, she is our lady...]
The driver replied: [???]
Fu Jinzhou suddenly paused.
Yuan Qing almost bumped into him. "What... What's wrong?"
Fu Jinzhou said, "From now on, when you're around her, just call me 'sir.'"
Yuan Qing: "...Understood."
It seemed like his master still wanted to keep his identity hidden.
That made sense.
Otherwise, it might scare her.
---
Ning Heng was left alone in the room, her thoughts in disarray.
What had happened earlier was hard to digest.
Now, as she calmed down more, it seemed even more absurd.
She regretted it.
But that man had such a strong and oppressive presence that if she went back on her word...
She felt a sense of frustration.
In the evening, when the TV was turned on, the entertainment channel was broadcasting the news of the day. The host was vividly discussing, "The recent marriage alliance between the Ning and Shen families, where the groom publicly fled the wedding, has caused a huge uproar. Let's hear what people think about this."
"It's romantic! Who wouldn't want a man willing to flee a wedding for them?"
"I think the man is also at fault. If he didn't love her, he should have said it earlier. Fleeing the wedding like that, it's really unfair to the bride."
"I heard the second daughter of Ning and the eldest son of Shen grew up together. Isn't Ning's eldest daughter the third party in the relationship? She probably deserves it."
Ning Heng turned off the TV.
Just as she was about to lie down to rest, the door to her room suddenly burst open.
It was Su Yan.
She seemed to have rushed here, her voice urgent. "Ah Heng, why didn't you say anything before you left? And you didn't even bring your phone. I've been looking for you all day. Do you know how worried I was?"
Ning Heng felt guilty. "I'm sorry..."
Su Yan looked her over, relieved, "I'm just glad you're alright. What about the person who caused this?"
The area behind the castle was a blind spot for the surveillance cameras.
She had to work hard to gather the details, only hearing rumors that Ning Heng had been in an accident.
She was nearly terrified out of her wits.
"I'm fine. I just let him leave first," Ning Heng deliberately omitted some details.
Su Yan sighed, sitting by the bed and handing her the phone. "The wedding is over, and the guests have left. Your phone has been ringing non-stop. It seems like your parents have been calling, but I didn't pick up."
Ning Heng nodded, placing the phone aside without returning the call.
Su Yan stayed and comforted her for a while.
Most of it was just to ease her mind.
Eventually, Su Yan took out her phone again. "I have 200 handsome young men in my contact list. One call and they'll come over! Pick whoever you like!"
Ning Heng smiled faintly, not responding.
By late night, Su Yan was getting ready to leave.
"Can you manage on your own?"
Ning Heng nodded. "Go back, you have work tomorrow. Rest well tonight."
"I'll come see you tomorrow night."
"Mm."
Once Su Yan left, Ning Heng quickly went to sleep.
Although she had slept a lot during the day, the stress from the wedding had kept her mentally tense.
Now that things had settled, she was able to sleep soundly.
The next morning.
After waking up, the door to her room was knocked again.
This time, it was Yuan Qing—