** Beneath the Heart of Ice**

Chapter : Sealed with a Kiss

Chapter 2: Sealed with a Kiss

Li Yan stared at the two red booklets in her hand, her heart thudding. The marriage certificates felt heavier than they looked. She still couldn't believe this was happening, but there was no turning back now. Lu Zhen stood beside her, calm and composed as always. His face gave nothing away, the perfect mask of a businessman sealing another deal.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "We made a deal, didn't we?"

Li Yan swallowed, her mind racing. She had expected many things when she agreed to his proposal-funding her education, helping him with the Zhen Corporation launch-but marriage? That part still felt surreal. Yet here they were, official partners in every sense of the word.

They left the civil affairs office in silence, the weight of their new reality settling between them. The car ride back to Lu Zhen's penthouse was filled with tension, though neither said a word. By the time they arrived at his towering building, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the bustling city.

"I've already had your things sent over," Lu Zhen said as they stepped into the elevator. "You can move into the guest room. It'll be more comfortable for you."

Li Yan nodded. This was a marriage of convenience, nothing more. They both had their reasons, but love wasn't one of them.

As they entered his luxurious apartment, a woman in her late sixties greeted them with a warm smile. It was Lu Zhen's grandmother, the same woman Li Yan had stood up for just days ago. She seemed delighted to see them.

"Welcome, welcome!" she beamed, clapping her hands together. "I'm so glad to see you two are finally together. You make such a lovely couple!"

Li Yan forced a smile. "Thank you, Grandma."

"Come, sit! I've made tea for both of you. You'll need to relax after such a big day." The older woman's voice was soothing, and Li Yan, despite the strangeness of the situation, couldn't help but feel a little comforted.

They sat down on the plush couch, and the grandmother poured two cups of fragrant tea. Li Yan sipped it, feeling the warmth spread through her. But soon after, her eyelids grew heavy, her limbs sluggish.

Lu Zhen had barely touched his cup, but when he glanced at her and noticed her swaying slightly, his eyes narrowed. "Grandma, what did you put in the tea?"

The old woman gave them both a mischievous smile. "Just a little something to help you two... bond." Before either of them could protest, she turned and briskly left the room.

Li Yan's head lolled back against the couch, her thoughts clouded. "Lu Zhen... what's happening...?"

Lu Zhen cursed under his breath, though he seemed only mildly affected. He picked her up effortlessly, his firm grip steady as he carried her to his bedroom. She was barely conscious but aware enough to feel his arms around her, his scent surrounding her as he laid her down gently on the bed.

"I didn't agree to this," he muttered, more to himself than to her, as he sat beside her, rubbing his temples. He looked at her, his face unreadable once again. But something flickered in his eyes, a softening she hadn't seen before.

"Lu Zhen..." she whispered, her vision blurring as the room spun. She tried to sit up but failed, her limbs betraying her.

His gaze locked onto hers, and suddenly the tension between them shifted. The weight of their new status, the shared isolation in his grand but lonely apartment-it all pressed down on them.

Before either of them could process what was happening, Lu Zhen's lips were on hers, soft at first, then more urgent. She responded instinctively, her body moving toward him even as her mind fought the haze. It was a collision of frustration, attraction, and something neither of them fully understood.

The night passed in a blur of heat and tangled limbs, both of them succumbing to the tension that had been building ever since their first encounter. His touch was rough but careful, hers equally desperate. When she woke up the next morning, sunlight streaming through the windows, she found herself tangled in his arms, her body pressed against his.

Her heart raced. What have I done?

Li Yan bolted upright, her head spinning. The clock on the wall read 8:30 AM. I'm late! she realized, panic flooding her. She was supposed to be at university by now.

"Damn it," she muttered, scrambling out of bed, gathering her scattered clothes as quickly as possible.

Lu Zhen stirred, his dark eyes watching her with quiet amusement. "Running already?"

"I'm late!" she snapped, shoving her hair into a messy ponytail as she fumbled for her shoes. "This... this shouldn't have happened." Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she hurried to the door.

He smirked. "You're married to me now. Get used to waking up like this."

Li Yan shot him a glare before darting out the door. She practically flew to class, her mind still spinning from the events of the night before. What had she gotten herself into?

When she finally arrived at university, out of breath and disheveled, Xu Wei was waiting for her in the hallway, a grin plastered across his face.

"Well, well," he said, leaning against the wall with a teasing gleam in his eyes. "How was the wedding night, Mrs. Lu?"

Li Yan's face turned beet red, and she quickly looked away. "Shut up, Xu Wei."

"Oh, come on, spill the details! You didn't just get married and then nothing happened, right?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, thoroughly enjoying her discomfort.

Li Yan groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe this is my life right now."

"That good, huh?" Xu Wei teased, giving her a playful nudge.

She shot him a glare but couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips. If only he knew.