Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

"Sister-in-law, table 11 at Huiyue Pavilion, right? Got it."

Qin Ran ended the call with a trace of irritation.

At twenty-one, she was on the brink of her final undergraduate year, deep in preparations for graduate school.

"Always with the books. Isn't college enough? Now it's graduate school. Where do we find the money for that? Look at Wang Ming's sister from building seven—went to a trade school, got a job, married by twenty. Not like your sister, still living off the family at her age..."

This snippet from her sister-in-law's conversation with her brother two days ago had slipped through the slightly ajar door, reaching her ears.

Contemplating renting a place near campus to move out, she was taken aback when her sister-in-law arranged a blind date for her this morning.

Despite knowing the setup, she showed up, though her annoyance simmered beneath the surface.

"Help! Someone help..."

As Qin Ran approached the entrance of Huiyue Pavilion, a faint plea for assistance caught her ear.

An elderly man in worn-out clothes had collapsed on the roadside near the entrance. Passersby streamed past, indifferent to his plight.

In these cautious times, aiding a stranger is fraught with risks. A misstep could lead to financial ruin for those without means.

Qin Ran pulled out her phone, capturing photos and a video of the man on the ground before stepping forward to assist him.

"Sir, are you alright? Did you injure yourself?"

"Ouch, my backside is killing me."

The old man rose, rubbing his backside, and thanked Qin Ran with a pained smile.

"Young lady, without your kindness today, who knows how long I'd have lain there. I owe you my gratitude."

Qin Ran observed the man. Despite his ragged attire, his face bore no signs of hardship; he appeared more like someone accustomed to comfort.

Assured of his well-being, Qin Ran hastened into Huiyue Pavilion.

What's there to thank for a simple act of kindness?

Huiyue Pavilion sprawled across two levels.

Her sister-in-law mentioned table 11, but a thorough search of the first floor yielded nothing, pushing her to ascend to the second.

The upper floor was a serene lounge, bathed in soft light, each table adorned with a vase of fresh blooms.

A gentle breeze wafted through the lakeside windows, suffusing the air with floral scents—a truly refined ambiance.

Qin Ran navigated the aisle, halting abruptly at the sight of table 11.

Seated there was a strikingly handsome young man!

With bold eyebrows, large eyes, refined features, and a sun-kissed complexion.

He resembled a stoic prince from a medieval portrait.

He sat in quiet repose, a coffee cup resting on the table, his fingers gliding over a tablet.

As Qin Ran neared, his fingers paused, and his deep, enigmatic gaze met hers.

So dashing!

Qin Ran couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

So aloof!

That was her second impression.

A man both attractive and distant—was this the suitor her sister-in-law had chosen?

Baffled, she double-checked the table number. It was unmistakably table 11.

Yes, it had to be him!

Qin Ran drew a deep breath and approached with resolve.

She seated herself across from him.

The man's expression shifted to one of surprise, his cool gaze sharpening.

Was this the Miss Lin his grandfather had arranged for him?

Qin Ran paid no heed to his reaction. She was here merely to fulfill the formalities of the blind date.

"Hello, I'm Qin Ran, twenty-one, about to start my senior year in college."

For most women, initiating conversation with such a reserved man would require immense courage.

But Qin Ran remained composed.

Her calm and collected demeanor earned her a modicum of respect from the man.

The man's lips tightened. So, she wasn't Miss Lin?

An idea sparked within him.

"I'm Lu Sheng, twenty-nine, a graduate of the University of Science and Technology, currently a programmer at Lu Corporation. My monthly income exceeds thirty thousand, and I'm paying off a mortgage of twelve thousand a month."

"Understood. Let's exchange WeChat contacts. Consider this our formal introduction."

Lu Sheng's credentials were impressive. Not only was he strikingly handsome, but his financial stability was notable. Affording a mortgage in Bin City at thirty made him a prime candidate in many women's eyes.

Yet, knowing this was her sister-in-law's doing, Qin Ran felt a lingering distaste, eager to conclude the encounter swiftly.

"Miss Qin, did you bring your ID today?"

Qin Ran looked at him, startled. "...Yes."

"I have no reservations about you, Miss Qin. You're a student, I'm employed—we're both quite occupied. Since we've crossed paths today, if you're agreeable, let's proceed to the civil affairs bureau and formalize our marriage today."

"Today?" Qin Ran's eyes widened in astonishment.

Lu Sheng's brow furrowed with impatience. "Are you implying I don't meet your standards, necessitating further deliberation?"

Qin Ran pondered briefly, then nodded. "...Alright, I have my ID, but not my household register. I believe that's required for the marriage certificate."

Lu Sheng raised an eyebrow. "Is your residence far from here?"

"Not particularly, about three kilometers."

"Then I'll drive you to retrieve it. It's currently..."

Lu Sheng glanced at his watch. "10:30 AM. The bureau closes in an hour and a half. We should manage."

"...Alright."

Though the arrangement was her sister-in-law's doing, Lu Sheng's attributes were satisfactory. She sought a partner for cohabitation, primarily to legitimize her move from her brother's household.

Descending from Huiyue Pavilion's second floor, they encountered a elegantly dressed woman rushing upstairs, nearly colliding with Qin Ran.

Qin Ran sidestepped instinctively. The woman, in her haste, offered no apology. Upon reaching the stairs, she glanced back at the descending man, freezing momentarily.

That man bore an uncanny resemblance to the Lu Sheng she was meant to meet.

Qin Ran followed Lu Sheng out of Huiyue Pavilion, oblivious to the man in his thirties at table 11 in the lobby, anxiously engaged in a phone call.

Lu Sheng drove Qin Ran to her apartment, a relic from the nineties, three units per floor, sans elevator.

Qin Ran resided on the fifth floor.

With her brother at work and her sister-in-law absent, Qin Ran retrieved her household register from her room and hurried back down.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the marriage registration office, just before 11:00 AM.

The crowd had thinned. Lu Sheng and Qin Ran completed the application, posed for their marriage photo, photocopied the necessary documents, and approached the service window.

The process was seamless. When queried about their voluntary consent to marry, both affirmed with stoic 'yes's.

With two red booklets and a bag of wedding candies in hand, they exited the bureau, both exhaling in unison.

Lu Sheng produced his phone, displaying his WeChat QR code to Qin Ran.

"Add me. I'll send you my address. Move in within the next few days. Since you're still studying, we'll postpone the wedding festivities."

"Deal!"

Qin Ran agreed without hesitation, scanning his code and adding him on WeChat.