Volume 1, Chapter 29: The Madman Takes Her to Try on Wedding Dresses

In the largest bridal boutique in Wangcheng, the lights were dazzlingly bright. Every wedding gown displayed on the racks was breathtakingly magnificent; the trains alone stretched for a hundred meters, with exquisite lace and scattered diamonds shimmering so intensely under the lights that one could hardly keep their eyes open.

Si Yan scanned the room, pointed casually at a stunning gown encrusted with pearls, and commanded with an air of absolute authority, "This one. Put it on and try it."

Su Yu looked at the dress. When the staff had taken it down earlier, it had taken five or six of them carefully cradling the skirt just to move it to the fitting area. The mere sight of it made her feel burdened and overwhelmed.

"I don't want to wear it." She looked up at Si Yan, her voice tinged with resistance. "I won't..." She didn't finish the sentence "marry you," because Si Yan hated hearing it, and he would punish her. Instead, she repeated, "I don't want to wear something like this."

Si Yan ignored her entirely. He walked her toward the changing area, his fingertips already brushing the buttons of her shirt. "If you don't want to change yourself, shall I help you?"

Startled by his boldness, Su Yu quickly compromised. "Fine, I'll change! You go out!" If she let him change her, she wouldn't be able to leave for an hour!

Si Yan finally stopped. He leaned down to kiss her cheek, his voice softening. "Be a good girl, darling." As he retreated out the door, he couldn't help but add, "Your husband is buying you a wedding dress," his excitement impossible to hide.

Once Si Yan had stepped out, Su Yu slowly began to take off her clothes. As soon as she pulled her shirt over her head, several boutique staff members rushed over, carefully cradling the wedding gown and surrounding her to assist. She lifted her arms, allowing them to drape the dress over her shoulders. The pearl pendants on the skirt brushed against her arms, feeling icy cold. She had barely put it on halfway before her shoulders felt heavy and strained—the gown must have weighed a hundred pounds.

At that moment, a woman in the boutique’s uniform approached, gently wrapping her arms around Su Yu’s waist from behind. As she hooked the laces to tighten the bodice, she lowered her voice to a whisper that only the two of them could hear: "I am a spy from the Northern Kingdom, stationed in Wangcheng for many years. My name is Jiang Wan."

The Northern Kingdom’s military had cultivated a group of female intelligence agents, all highly trained and battle-tested, currently embedded in various locations. Naturally, their primary objective was Wangcheng, where they waited for the day they could serve their country, ready to face death for their mission.

"Zhang Yue and the others have infiltrated Si Yan’s lair and are preparing to rescue our trapped comrades."

Su Yu’s entire body stiffened. Her grip on the neckline of the gown tightened. Without turning around, she asked in a hoarse whisper, "What do you need me to do?"

"You must find a way to delay Si Yan’s return to buy Zhang Yue and the others more time." Jiang Wan’s fingers moved rapidly, tying the corset laces into a secure knot. She added, "They have been lurking outside the manor for days and bribed a Filipino maid who sweeps the outer courtyard to get information. They knew Si Yan was bringing you to try on dresses today, and they realized this was the perfect opportunity to act."

She paused. While pretending to adjust the hem of the dress, Su Yu quickly wrote a string of numbers on her palm. She then spoke, "Call this number and tell her, 'The operation can begin.' Tell her to provide support."

The woman memorized the number, straightened the hem of the dress, and slipped out toward the back office. She rapidly dialed the sequence, and after two rings, the call connected. "The operation can begin!"

She hung up. In truth, Jiang Wan had been hesitant about acting at this time, but Si Yan had been inside the fortress, surrounded by layers of mercenaries. Today, with him having left, some of the guards had been withdrawn. They were terrified of missing the only chance they would ever have.

The curtains were slowly drawn back, and Su Yu stood in the halo of light wearing the gown.

Si Yan was waiting outside. His eyes locked onto her instantly. The soft light reflected off the pearls and diamonds of the dress and onto her fair cheeks, making even her hair shimmer with a soft glow. He couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from curling upward. He walked forward carrying an exquisitely crafted crown inlaid with rubies and placed it gently on her head, his voice low, raspy, and burning with intensity. "You look beautiful."

Si Yan took her hand and led her down from the platform, his gaze unable to tear itself away from her. "You are truly beautiful, darling."

Su Yu kept the woman’s instructions in mind; she had to find a way to stall for time. She looked at herself in the mirror—the dress was indeed dazzling—and followed the lead. "This... must be very expensive, right?"

"Is there anything I cannot afford?" Si Yan chuckled, his tone filled with disdain, though his eyes brimmed with pride. This dress cost a mere three hundred million; it was inlaid with nine hundred and ninety-nine South Sea white pearls, and the scattered diamonds sewn into the skirt were countless. It was barely good enough for his darling. He had promised her the grandest wedding of all.

"Si Yan, I don't like this one..." Su Yu felt her shoulders sagging under the weight of the gown. Even breathing felt laborious, and a thin sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead.

"Why?" Si Yan paused, then raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "Is my darling complaining that this three-hundred-million-dollar dress is too cheap?" In truth, he felt it was a bit low-key himself.

"No!" Su Yu shook her head hurriedly and tugged at his sleeve, her voice laced with urgency. "It’s just too heavy. I’m not comfortable in it. Can we try a different one?"

"Fine, whatever my darling wants." Si Yan did not hesitate for a second. He turned to the waiting attendants and ordered aloud, "Bring something more expensive! It needs to be lighter, but the material and design must be top-tier."

Before long, the attendants carefully brought out a pink wedding gown. The train was indeed much shorter than the previous one, but the pearls adorning it were each a size larger, shining brilliantly under the lights—it looked even more precious.

After Su Yu put it on, Si Yan fetched a crown inlaid with sapphires and placed it on her head, his fingertips gently brushing the stray hairs by her ears. The man leaned down and kissed her cheek, his voice soft. "How is this one?"

Standing before the mirror, Su Yu looked at the soft pink hue. It would be a lie to say she wasn't impressed—the fabric was light and soft, and the style was elegant. But remembering her mission, she steeled her heart. "I don't like it."

The attendants brought out new dresses, one after another. Su Yu tried on dress after dress, from ivory to champagne, with trains ranging from elaborate to minimalist. Eventually, even she grew weary of the process, her brow furrowed tightly.

Si Yan, however, showed no signs of impatience. Every time she changed, he would change the matching crown, whether it was pearls or diamonds, and he would constantly lean in to whisper, "Does this suit you?" or "Do you like this color?"

When the attendants brought out a silver-gray gown, Su Yu waved it away without even touching it. "I don't like it." Seeing the attendants trying to persuade her, she simply made up an excuse: "The skirt is too long; it’s inconvenient to walk."

As soon as the next dress, covered in starlight-like diamonds, was displayed, she frowned and shook her head. "It’s too flashy, it hurts my eyes, and it looks heavy."

No matter which one they brought, she always found a reason to dislike it. In her heart, Su Yu apologized profusely to them, knowing she was just stalling. But the attendants, thinking of their generous daily wages, didn't mind her pickiness at all.