CHAPTER 255: 234: ZHIZHI, I REALLY WANT TO LOCK YOU UP

Shi Wei, who was still fuming, didn’t realize that his impulsive actions had caused the delicate girl he always held like a fragile treasure to bump into something.

Ten minutes into the drive, the car was shrouded in silence.

He waited for a long time without getting a reply from her. His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his distinct, bony fingers turned pale.

The man’s sustained low pressure made Yu Zhi feel increasingly confused and strangely aggrieved.

She lowered her head slightly, her long, butterfly-wing-like lashes trembling gently. The light in her almond-shaped eyes gradually dimmed.

Their wordless standoff only made the atmosphere grow increasingly tense.

By the time they arrived at the Shi Family residence, it had already escalated into a cold war.

Yu Zhi changed into her indoor slippers and walked straight toward the stairs, intending not to talk to him for the rest of the evening.

Just as she had stepped onto the second stair, a voice dripping with frost came from behind her: "Have you fallen for Wen Renche?"

Shi Wei had held it in for so long but could no longer contain himself.

If he didn’t get to the bottom of this, he feared he wouldn’t be able to sleep for a single night in the future.

Yu Zhi let out a quiet sigh. "Shi Wei, I’ve already told you before. Ah-Che and I are just friends, and he also has—"

"Someone he likes?"

Shi Wei let out a derisive laugh and strode up to the girl, tilting her chin up with his pale, jade-like fingers.

"Can’t you tell who Wen Renche really likes?" His eyes were filled not only with mockery but also with an obsessive possessiveness that bordered on madness.

Yu Zhi winced from the pressure of his grip, her delicate brows knitting slightly. She stepped back half a pace. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"What exactly are *you* thinking?"

From the day Wen Renche returned, Shi Wei had noticed.

He noticed her open coat being buttoned up. He noticed her fondness for the bunch of daisies. He noticed the particular way she spoke about Wen Renche.

At first, he could console himself.

But today’s hug had been unbearable.

He didn’t know how much intimacy had occurred in places where he couldn’t see.

He didn’t know, in her heart, whether he or Wen Renche was more important, who occupied a deeper place in her thoughts.

Seeing how irrational he was being, Yu Zhi set aside her earlier grievance for now and softened her tone. "Shi Wei, you need to calm down."

"Calm down? How?" Shi Wei pulled her into his arms, his thin, pale lips curving into a sarcastic smile.

With a stormy expression, he stared straight at her, his tone rising slightly at the end: "Am I supposed to calmly watch as Wen Renche takes my woman away?"

"He won’t take me away." Yu Zhi tugged at his wrist in an attempt to pull his arm down, a trace of exasperation in her expression. "And I won’t go with him."

"What if he insists?"

"He won’t."

Unable to free herself from his grasp and irritated by the pain in her chin, Yu Zhi’s annoyance flared. "Could you let go of me first?"

At her words, Shi Wei paused.

His obsessive gaze traced every detail of her face. Suddenly, he murmured softly, "Zhizhi."

His thumb gently caressed her cheek, his eyes a stormy torrent of emotion, and his tone carried an eerie tenderness: "I really just want to lock you up."

If he locked her up, the girl would never leave him.

If he locked her up, her eyes would only have him.

Only if he controlled her every movement, could he finally put his restless heart at ease.

Yu Zhi’s eyes flashed with a faint hint of alarm. When she saw the seriousness in his gaze, a shock rippled through her heart.

Her tightly knit brows slowly eased, and the last bit of her earlier grievance completely dissipated. "Shi Wei, let’s get married over the winter break."

Rather than watching him repeatedly torment himself with insecurity, she figured it was better to settle the matter directly and put his mind at ease.

She was determined to marry him anyway. Sooner or later, they were going to wed—moving it forward by half a year wasn’t a big deal.

"What?"

"I said, let’s get married over the winter break."

Yu Zhi looped her arms around his neck, a faint curve appearing on her lips. "Do you have any connections at the Civil Affairs Bureau?"

"Yes."

"Then you can get in touch with them in advance. Also, look for a wedding venue—let’s have the ceremony in the Imperial City."

It wasn’t until Shi Wei instinctively agreed to every request that he finally registered the meaning of what she had just said.

His voice trembled slightly, and his dark, almond-shaped eyes seemed to be illuminated by a ray of warm sunlight. "Zhizhi, we’re really getting married for New Year?"

"Mm, but you still need to propose first."

Yu Zhi was very particular about the matter of a proposal.

She never missed an opportunity to remind him to propose, to buy her the sparkliest engagement ring, and so on.

"Alright, I’ll make sure my wife is satisfied." Shi Wei, overjoyed, even changed the way he addressed her.

The darkness and possessiveness that once filled his gaze were entirely replaced by happiness.

The earlier sinister desire to lock her away was also cast to the winds.

Now, he was singularly focused on their upcoming marriage.

"Wife, what kind of wedding do you want?" Shi Wei carried the petite girl in his arms all the way to the sofa in their master bedroom.

He placed her on his lap, bent slightly, and kissed her cheek lightly.

"A Chinese-style one."

"New Chinese, or traditional?"

"What’s the difference?" Yu Zhi raised her brows in curiosity. It was her first time hearing such a distinction, and she found it rather intriguing.

"Wait a second." Shi Wei grabbed the tablet lying nearby, quickly unlocking the screen to search for two wedding-planning videos with different styles.

The so-called ’modern Chinese’ style incorporated elements of culture from the early 20th century, blending tradition with contemporary aesthetics. It struck a balance between Western and Chinese elements.

While it retained classical charm, it added modernized features, though brides and grooms still wore wedding gowns and suits.

Traditional, on the other hand, revived costumes like the ancient phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes.

When Yu Zhi saw the red attire in one of the videos, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with star-like brilliance. "Shi Wei, I want to wear *that*."

Seeing the excited girl clutching his sleeve, Shi Wei’s eyes softened, sparkling with fragments of light.

His voice brimmed with indulgence. "Alright, I’ll find the best embroiderers tomorrow to tailor the most beautiful gown for my wife."

Yu Zhi nodded. She leaned against his chest, her round, fair fingertips scrolling through the tablet. "Shi Wei, let’s not pick a venue that’s too modern-looking."

After comparing various designs, she pinpointed a consistent issue: most weddings were being held in hotels.

Even if the banquet hall was decorated with traditional elements, stepping outside broke the illusion entirely.

"Alright, anything else?"

"Don’t place photos at the entrance—they don’t match the vibe."

"..."

Yu Zhi shared her ideas with him, particularly about attire design, where her explanations were notably detailed and professional.

It wasn’t hard to see the excitement and anticipation in her eyes.

"Wife, leave the rest to me." Shi Wei took the tablet from her hands and kissed the side of her face.