Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

Because of his casual gesture, many people turned towards them. Luo Lixi felt the first-hand awkwardness and chided him with rosy cheeks, "I am fine. Don't need your help. It's not as if we have done that…"

"Even if I didn't use my sword, you still came. So it's still the same…" The man muttered with a playful smile. She grabbed the flower bouquet in her arms tightly and finally sat down with defeated eyes. 

Luo Lixi glanced around and saw many people. Later, she learned from Sheng Ruming that it was arranged by the two influential families for their children to marry. Rather than marriage, it was more like a win-win deal between two families to grow their businesses. 

Just from the calm and unsmiling face of the lady who just got bound with a label called fiancée, Luo Lixi knew it was true. After the ring exchange ceremony was done, many people went up the stage and congratulated the couple. 

"Let's go." Sheng Ruming said as he turned to Luo Lixi. She nodded and both of them stood up as Sheng Ruming helped her. 

Luo Lixi didn't oppose his touch. Rather, holding the extremely beautiful flower bouquet with the left arm, she hooked her right hand around his left arm, looking all bright and elegant, they went up the stage with a bright face. 

As soon as they went forward, many people cleared the way for them. Luo Lixi had a stunning smile as many eyes stared at her intensely. Some held admiration while some held jealousy. 

The main stars of the function, the couple stopped talking with others when they saw Sheng Ruming and Luo Lixi walking towards them. However, Luo Lixi's eyes flickered when she saw the lady staring at Sheng Ruming with vague, depressing and longing eyes. 

"Miss Jiang, congratulations on your engagement!" Luo Lixi directly interrupted her. She wouldn't allow others to gawk at her man, not when she's present! He is only her eye candy and the rest dare not eye him in her presence!

The lady snapped out of her trance when Luo Lixi wished with a broad smile, the smile which didn't reach her eyes. When she was giving the bouquet, the lady's face turned fierce. Only the two people involved in the invisible fight knew it. 

"Thanks, Miss Luo… I…"

"Miss Jiang, it's not Miss Luo. It's Madam Sheng…" One of the ladies who was standing beside them reminded her with 'kindness'. The lady had a playful face when she saw the girl's face changing. 

"… Madam Sheng, thanks for coming." Miss Jiang forced out those words and tried to smile. She knew how hard it was for her to say those words, addressing Luo Lixi as Madam Sheng was something she never imagined she would do!

"I hope you will lead a great life with your other half." Luo Lixi chuckled and replied. Her smile was so innocent that Sheng Ruming's concerned face softened. 

Miss Jiang narrowed her eyes when she saw the man's change in expression. She pursed her lips and glared at her own fiancé who was busy thanking Luo Lixi. 

"We shall leave now." Sheng Ruming said and nodded at them. 

"Thanks for attending my engagement, Mr Sheng. Please enjoy the time here." The fiancé said and let out a flattering smile. Looking at this, Miss Jiang felt more embarrassed. 

While walking down the stage, Luo Lixi eyed him like a cunning fox and inquired, "Do you know that lady from before?"

Even though Luo Lixi knew it was a childish question, she asked anyway. It was Ming city and it's normal for people to know each other in the same circle. 

"Yes…" Sheng Ruming's smile immediately vanished when he was asked, even her narrowed eyes looking at him with judging yet murderous gaze didn't help him, and the man panicked inwardly. 'No… not again…'

In the next moment, Luo Lixi smiled like a cute angel. From before, many people's gazes were on them. After watching her smile which was enough to even dazzle the ladies, many youngsters felt their hearts throbbing like crazy.

"How do you know her, husband?" Luo Lixi chuckled without any restraint and squeezed his arms tightly. 

"Cough! She… She was once my date…" 

Hearing him, Luo Lixi's face fell. Sheng Ruming hurriedly explained. "Babe, don't get the wrong idea. It was a blind date."

"Blind date?! Ruming, you said you have loved me for so long… you…" Luo Lixi was saddened by his words. 

"It's not false. I have loved you before and still love you. My mother didn't know that I had someone in my heart. Years ago, I didn't know what happened but suddenly she began to pair me with lots of women. Sometimes, three women in one day..."

"…" Luo Lixi was speechless. "People out there are dying to find a date and you went to three blind dates a day?! I am afraid… people will beat you up if they know!" She knows she was just rambling nonsense but hearing him being with Miss Jiang on a date, she just couldn't control herself to question it. 

"If I had refused her, she would have cried. Thus… to appease her, I had to attend many blind dates… but I have rejected all of them. I also didn't want anybody to know my feelings." The man was sincere with his words and Luo Lixi knew it just from his eyes. 

"So, to say… this Miss is also one of your past dates? Blind date?" Luo Lixi asked again.

"Yes… I have also rejected her by saying, I don't like women… " Sheng Ruming said with a calm face. Nobody would have guessed he was discussing his dark history with his wife. 

Luo Lixi abruptly paused. Finally, she realised where the rumours of Sheng Ruming being bent came from. But she was pleased for a moment. 

No lady in a sane mind would marry a man who was labelled as gay in upper circle. Nobody wants to be a shield to ward off rumours. In those blind dates, many people had even rejected Sheng Ruming saying they didn't like Sheng Ruming. 

This Miss Jiang had liked Sheng Ruming a lot, just like Yan Ruomin. But when she heard that Sheng Ruming didn't like women, she felt disgusted and threw away all of Sheng Ruming's photos in a fire. 

Only when she saw the photos of Sheng Ruming and Luo Lixi's engagement, many people including her finally knew they were all terribly wrong. Just from the warmth and emotions from the man's eyes, all knew, he was madly in love with Luo Lixi. 

Just now, when Sheng Ruming was looking at Luo Lixi, Miss Jiang knew the tabloids and gossip magazines weren't lying and didn't get bought by the Sheng Industry and Corporation to whitewash the young man's reputation. 

The hidden feelings of hers got out and she regretted the time when she looked down on him secretly and blatantly rejected him with contempt. 

On the stage, as the couple was standing and getting many people's blessings, Miss Jiang thought with bitterness, 'If back then, I didn't believe in those rumours and accepted the position of Mrs Sheng, would he have also looked at me with those loving eyes?...'

While thinking, she glanced ahead. The man of her thoughts was busy smiling at his wife and helping her to pick some drinks. Who would dare to claim that he was bent and married this heiress of the Luo Corporation for money and to cover his sexual orientation?!

Sometimes, there is no turning back for regrets and Miss Jiang finally tasted that bitterness. Looking at the fiancée who was busy showing flattering smiles to others, Miss Jiang clenched her hands tightly and the nails dug into her skin as disgust filled her mind, 'Why did I agree to marry this idiot?!'

…

"Bro Sheng, you are here too?" Mu Jiang came from another place and sat down on the empty chair beside Luo Lixi. Even though she didn't mind, her husband did mind. 

Sheng Ruming threw a stern look and the man immediately understood. He stood up with an awkward smile and chuckled, "Sister in law, this chair isn't firm enough and I am afraid I will fall…"

"Hmm?" Luo Lixi was confused but when her eyes fell on Sheng Ruming's face, she understood everything. 

Mu Jiang walked up to Sheng Ruming and sat beside him. The man was relieved that Sheng Ruming didn't ask him to screw off. 

"Where is Yan Luhan? Didn't he come?" Sheng Ruming asked as he poured Luo Lixi's favourite pomegranate juice in a huge glass and then handed it to the lady. 

"Ah… he is busy." Mu Jiang smiled wryly. After Yan Luhan had left, all the important work in the company was left behind. The shareholders saw a ray of hope and wanted to take the position of the temporary CEO in his absence. 

Patriarch Yan would never allow outsiders to have any slightest opportunity to take advantage of the empty position and thus, directly threw Mu Jiang to sort out everything.