Volume One, Chapter 36: Does Your Hometown Break So Many Rules?

Si Yan had been awake for a long time, but he was reluctant to get up, preferring to linger on Su Yu’s sleeping face for as long as he could. If only his darling would give him a good morning kiss when she woke up; unfortunately, that was all just wishful thinking.

*Ring-ring.* The phone on the nightstand buzzed. He hurriedly silenced it, and seeing that his darling showed no signs of waking, he carefully shifted his body to let Su Yu down from his chest. The man took his phone to the balcony to answer the call.

Not long after he left, Su Yu woke up, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Sir, Master Si Zhou has returned." Huang Yu’s voice on the other end of the line was cautious.

"Heh, so he finally decided to come back." Si Yan paused, a towel draped over his arm. A cold, mocking smirk played on his lips as he looked up and asked, "Where is he now?"

"He is with the Second Mistress." Huang Yu quickly replied, then added, "Our people have already quietly returned to the old estate to keep watch, ensuring he won't have another chance to slip away."

"He’s using his head, at least." Si Yan let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of disdain. "He knows that as long as his mother is around, I will keep the old ties in mind and not kill him just yet. But does he really think he can hide behind her forever?"

"Also, Sir, the Second Mistress heard that you are getting married. She said she wants you to bring your bride-to-be back to pay respects to the First Mistress!"

"I got it!" The man replied coldly. Wasn't the Second Mistress bringing up his mother at this time just because she was afraid of what he might do to her son?

Si Yan hung up. Seeing it was only six o'clock, and knowing Su Yu usually didn't wake up until after eight, he thought he could hold her a little longer. He felt pleased with the idea, but as soon as he stepped back into the room, he saw that Su Yu was already up. She was fully dressed and sitting on the floor chair by the bed.

Si Yan, wearing only a towel, strode over and insisted on squeezing into the same chair with her, despite there being plenty of room elsewhere. He held her, pulling her onto his lap. "Did you sleep well last night, darling?"

Looking at him, a strange feeling bubbled up in Su Yu. After hesitating for a long time, she finally gathered the courage to speak: "Si Yan, I want to go home."

The man’s expression turned cold instantly. He set his phone aside, turned to look at her, and spoke with a hint of impatience. "Why are you talking about this again? You’ve already agreed to marry me; this is your home."

"Yes, I agreed to that." Su Yu gripped the hem of her shirt, her gaze stubborn as she frantically searched for an excuse. "But according to the customs of my Northern Kingdom, a young couple about to be married cannot see each other before the wedding. We have to live apart."

She kept her head down, not daring to meet his eyes. This "custom" was something she had made up on the spot, just to find a way to escape him for a while and catch her breath.

"What kind of ridiculous custom is that? Can’t you follow the customs of my Wangcheng instead?" Si Yan grabbed her hands, his tone becoming one of negotiation. He believed her, after all—her homeland was quite traditional.

"Hmph!"

"And you say you like me? You don't respect me or the customs and culture of my hometown at all..." Su Yu whimpered, tears falling. "You’re a liar! You said last night you wouldn't touch me, but then you snuck into my bed while I was sleeping!"

Caught in the act, Si Yan felt no shame. He only focused on wiping away her tears. "Fine, how about we don't see each other for three days before the wedding?"

Living apart was something Si Yan would never agree to; if he didn't keep an eye on this troublesome darling, she would fly away! "What else? Are there any other pre-wedding customs in your land?"

Si Yan’s face had darkened halfway, his tone laced with a sense of grinding teeth. He reasonably suspected that this little girl was using the excuse of marriage to manipulate him.

"There's... there's more! We aren't allowed to have sex before marriage, and no premarital pregnancy, or I'll be cursed by the people back home!"

As soon as these words were out, Si Yan’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and the air pressure around him plummeted. Not seeing each other was one thing, but not letting him do *it* was the most painful part. Did this mean he wouldn't be able to touch his sweet, soft little wife for at least a month?

He reached out and pinched Su Yu’s chin, his tone a mix of anger and helplessness. "Wife, why does your hometown have so many broken rules? You aren't doing this just to torment me, are you?"

"I'm not. If you don't agree, then go marry someone else!" Su Yu turned her head away, refusing to look at the ambiguous bite marks on his body.

Si Yan gritted his teeth. If he didn't agree, would this little girl say he didn't love her or respect her culture again? "Wife, what if we use protection?"

"No! Protection isn't a hundred percent foolproof! If you want me to be cursed by others, just say so!" Su Yu pushed him away and sat on the bed.

"This is Wangcheng, who would dare curse you..." he grumbled under his breath, biting his lip in restraint. If it came down to it, he would just look at photos of her and handle it himself, then take it all back after the wedding! Si Yan convinced himself. "Fine, you win. I won't touch you for the three days before the wedding, deal?"

"I said a month, not three days!"

"Si Yan, you’re moving the goalposts again!" Su Yu glared at him, her mournful eyes accusing him.

Si Yan felt like he was going crazy. Normally, there were seven days a month he couldn't touch her, and those days he lived in agony, relying on cold showers and boxing sessions to relieve the tension. Now, to be told he couldn't touch her for a month was worse than killing him.

The man hugged her, acting shamelessly. "Then... let’s start counting after your period ends in three days, okay? You can't really starve me for a whole month!"

He remembered the dates of her period better than anyone. It was true; only during those few days could she sleep soundly without being pestered by him for intimacy. And during those times, he could only take cold showers; even when he came back, he dared not hold her too tightly, or he’d have to go soak in cold water all over again!

But this time, it involved "pre-wedding customs." Su Yu wouldn't budge an inch, and Si Yan was an expert at being a rogue. Before she could say "no," he leaned in and pressed her onto the bed, kissing her fiercely. A barrage of kisses fell upon her, carrying an irresistible dominance.

Before long, Su Yu’s body softened under his touch. By the time she was breathless, sprawled on the bed, and too weak to even lift an arm to push him away, she could only gasp for air.

Si Yan took the opportunity to lean into her ear, his breath scorching. "Wife, if you don't say anything, I’ll take that as a yes."

"I... mmph!"

Before Su Yu could protest, her lips were sealed by another fierce kiss. All her words were swallowed back into her throat, leaving only fragmented whimpers.

Did she ever have a chance to say no? Never make demands of a rogue, because they are experts at playing dirty.

The man only let her go once her lips were swollen. He rested his chin gently on her chest and gave his orders. "Wife, I won't be home for dinner tonight. Be a good girl at home alone. You can watch some TV after you eat, and make sure you’re showered, smelling sweet, and in bed waiting for me by 8:30. I’m going to *you*."

"Husband, I’ll be back before nine."

Su Yu finally caught her breath and pushed his large face away. "Can I go see Brother Han Yan and the others?"

"Absolutely not, unless you want something bad to happen to them!"

"We have another rule in the North—you can't call each other 'wife' before the wedding. You’ve crossed the line!" Su Yu snapped.

"Understood, darling." Si Yan kissed her fingers with a cheeky grin.