CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 112: THE URGED MARRIAGE CANDIDATE

During the incense offering, the temple was crowded with people.

Though there were signs inside the temple prohibiting loud noise, the place was still bustling with various sounds mingling together.

People lighting lighters, unwrapping incense, praying for blessings...

Sophia followed beside Zane, who was holding incense, as most people held their incense above their heads to avoid the smoke getting on others.

Everyone steadily moved forward, there was no queue, nor any shoving.

They only waited for a bit longer, the ash on his incense accumulated and started to fall, landing on his clothes on the back of his hand and forearm.

"Hey—"

A voice came from behind, and a graceful figure bumped into Zane’s back.

Zane stood steady like a mountain, only slightly leaning back.

Sophia also turned her gaze towards it.

The woman barely kept her footing, incense ash landed on her fair hand, leaving a slight burn mark with a nearly imperceptible wince, but she didn’t make much of a fuss.

"I’m sorry." She raised her eyes and met the gaze of the couple standing beside her, "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling..."

"Manager Morgan." Zane slightly furrowed his brows and then relaxed them.

Sophia remembered, this was the general manager of Zane’s autonomous vehicle company, Beau Morgan; she nodded without responding.

"Sorry, I just..." Beau explained awkwardly.

"It’s okay." Zane replied.

Beau apologized with a nod to Sophia.

Sophia nodded back.

They continued walking forward, and this little incident quickly passed.

After offering incense, everyone headed to the dining hall to eat vegan meals.

Everyone gathered together, but Beau and her parents joined in.

Beau was chatting quietly with Zoe Walsh, occasionally smiling at each other’s remarks.

Beau was someone who had followed Zane since his early entrepreneurship; they were well acquainted, and their parents had become friends after meeting through them, so they got along well.

Grandpa Sterling whispered nearby that if Zane hadn’t suddenly announced his marriage, Beau and Zane might have been next in line for getting urged to wed.

Moreover, the marriage likelihood seemed quite high.

Beau’s parents are scholars, both university professors, understanding of the situation; knowing the family ties couldn’t be made, the relationship maintained the proper distance.

Sophia paused for a moment, no wonder Beau seemed a bit off when she saw her in the office last time.

On the next encounter, that proper distance was swiftly established.

It seems Beau is one who understands propriety.

Just then, Zane tapped her forehead playfully.

"Your little brain, all your thoughts are written all over your forehead, looks like I’ll have to ask the servants to prepare more pig brains for you."

Sophia frowned, covering her forehead as she looked at him.

She actually found Zane quite amusing; his pursuit history could be written into a colorful book.

"I haven’t even said anything yet." She feigned annoyance.

Before everyone, Zane didn’t shy away from this intimate little act.

Sophia, bashful, lowered her gaze.

Was this the cold-faced, stoic man she knew? He was so childish.

"Do you even need to say anything? It’s all written on your face."

"I did not, it’s your mind that’s corrupted." She whispered, firm in her rebuttal.

"How do you know if my mind is corrupt or not? Hmm? You said you weren’t imagining things."

"Zane, you should have the master recite scriptures for you..."

Chanting: ’Form is emptiness, emptiness is form...’

Even though they spoke softly, the conversation could still be overheard by those nearby.

Grandpa Sterling chuckled on the side.

Across the table, Beau and Zoe watched the young couple bickering playfully, smiling without commenting.

Sophia didn’t let him off the hook, taking vegetables from her own plate that he disliked and putting them on his plate.

Those around didn’t notice, and Zane’s expression darkened.

"Eat more." Sophia suggested.

"I should indeed—" He bit the words out, delivering them directly to her ear.

Sophia could almost see on his face the words: ’You’re dead tonight.’

After indulging in gourmet meals at The Sterling family home recently, today’s vegan meal felt refreshing, greatly uplifting her mood.

She felt that continuing to eat like this, it might exceed her expectations on the scales soon.

After finishing, everyone dispersed.

Beau’s parents went off with Zane’s parents, leaving Beau alone, Zoe suggested Zane give her a ride home.

Beau declined.

Yet Zane agreed.

Beau awkwardly scraped her toe on the ground, unwilling to be the third wheel in the car.

"Hop in." Zane held the steering wheel with one hand.

Beside him, Sophia leaned out, "It’s hard to hail a cab here, come with us."

Though kidding, Beau intentionally kept her distance, knowing her boundaries; Sophia could see it clearly.

After all, she had been following Zane in the workplace for so many years; if anything were to happen, it would have happened already. Besides, they were now married.

Judging from Zoe and The Sterling family’s attitude towards Beau, she didn’t seem to pose any threat.

Only later did it become apparent that some people are naturally good actors.

Zane asked for her address.

"I’m still living at the old place." Beau responded from the back seat, playing with her phone.

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat, as if struck by something.

So familiar?

Zane acknowledged and started the car.

Along the way, none of them spoke.

Until they dropped Beau off at her apartment.

"Thank you, Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling!" Beau respectfully saw them off, a slight smile on her lips.

On the road leaving the complex, Zane pinched the cheek of the woman in the passenger seat.

Sophia dodged.

"Mrs. Sterling, you could fish with that pout of yours."

She hummed lightly, "Not sure if this fish would bite."

"You actually got jealous." He laughed.

Sophia didn’t respond.

Zane stopped the car by the roadside, undid his seatbelt, elbow leaning on the center storage compartment, turning to look at her.

"What are you doing..." Sophia furrowed her brows slightly at the man so close to her.

"At which point did you get upset?" he asked, "Was it having dinner together, agreeing to give her a ride, or earlier?"

His tone carried a playful note, as if curious to see Sophia’s angry expression.

"Do you really want me to be mad?" She countered.

"With just a twitch of your backside, I can tell what action you’re about to make—Mrs. Sterling, your eyes can’t deceive me."

His cheeky words made Sophia unable to stay angry; her face gradually blushed.

Her annoyance wasn’t because of giving Beau a ride, but rather, when giving her a ride, the usually conversational Zane fell silent, ran out of topics.

Usually, even during minor banter, Zane would chat a bit; today, during the nearly hour-long drive, his mouth seemed sealed like Harry Potter’s curse.

Her occasional attempts at conversation were met with a simple response and then silence.

Sophia felt discomforted, it bothered her.

Thinking maybe she was inadequate?

She pursed her lips, withholding further comments.

If she cared about such trivial matters, it would be pointless to discuss them; she almost brought it up several times but held back, not wanting to say it.

Zane, a man worth countless billions, wouldn’t care whether Sophia had money or did anything; he simply wanted her.

"I won’t give her a ride next time, okay?" Zane glanced at her pouting lips.

Sophia smiled, agreed, but didn’t speak further.

Zane wasn’t sure if she’d let it go, cupping her nape, kissed her deeply, lightly biting her lip as punishment.

Sophia gently pushed him away, feeling a bit soothed, though she thought herself pitiful.

Reflecting on when they got their marriage license initially, there wasn’t any intent to develop feelings.

As time went on, emotions took root.

She tightly pressed her lips, realizing now she was affected by feelings.

She continuously reminded herself to love others three parts, but love herself seven parts, to avoid getting ensnared in love’s whirlpool, to love, with moderation.

Don’t be too jealous.