A/N: Hello! Thanks so much for the positive responses so far to my first two chapters in this series of one-shots! I'm probably gonna post more married life one-shots as chapters of this series in order to have some continuity since I already wrote a wedding scene. I think it might be confusing if I jump the timelines too much and go back to pre-married/school life haha. May post a new story if I decide to write on filler scenes during the series itself or pre-married life for SiCai!
Hope you guys enjoy this one!
Daoming Si smiled politely as his mother introduced him to a businessman from Hong Kong. These events were always so predictable – him making rounds with his mother, shaking hands with important guests, making small talk that he hated. He wished Zhuang-jie were here to take some of the heat and attention off him. Even though he is now the Managing Director of Daoming Group, and these were part and parcel of his duties, he still found it a bore.
He glanced around, looking for Shancai. Ever since they had gotten married and she had been introduced in the press officially as his wife, her appearance at such events with him were mandatory, according to his mother. He knew Shancai probably enjoyed these much less than he did, but it was his mother's wishes, and they were just glad she had accepted Shancai as part of the family to include her in such important events.
Daoming Si spotted the F4 guys at the side chatting with each other, but Shancai was not with them. Frowning slightly, he excused himself from the conversation and walked away, grabbing a glass of champagne from a waiter as he surveyed the room for a sign of her.
Sighing in frustration when he was unable to spot her, he decided to step outside for some fresh air. The amount of pretence and façade in this room was enough to suffocate him. He swiftly dodged a Korean businessman whom he knew had been clamouring to get Daoming Group to invest in his crappy start up and escaped through the large glass doors to the outside of the ballroom.
Walking towards the pool, he spotted a woman in a soft pink gown, her hair in an up do and crystal earrings dangling from her ears. She sat on a deck chair as she gazed at the calm water, tapping her foot to the soft music coming from inside.
'Found you,' he thought to himself, as he made his way over to her.
Removing his burgundy suede jacket, he placed it around her shoulders, startling her as she turned to see who it was. She gave a tiny smile as he sat down next to her, and he adjusted the jacket around her to make sure she was warm.
"What're you doing out here?" Shancai asked, resting a hand on his knee.
"I was bored, and I was looking for you," Daoming Si replied, stroking her back.
"I was bored too," she admitted. "I think I'll never get used to these events."
"Sorry you have to come to these. Was anyone giving you a hard time today?" he asked softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Since the announcement of their engagement, the press had been clamouring for more information on Shancai. His business partners and other wealthy acquaintances were also interested in who this seemingly common girl was who captured the heart of the heir to Daoming Group.
"A couple of wives of your partners did come up to speak to me, but I managed to escape fairly quickly," Shancai assured, patting him on the knee.
"Good, if anyone crosses the line, you tell me and I'll break them," Daoming Si threatened, a slight frown forming as he creased his brows.
Shancai rolled her eyes.
"Still so childish," she chided.
"I don't want anything to happen to you!" he growled.
"I know, but there's nothing to worry about. I can take care of myself," Shancai replied, giving his knee a light reassuring squeeze.
Daoming Si nodded. He knew his Shancai was a tough one. The memory of his birthday party years ago where Shancai confronted his mother for the first time came to mind. He loved that about her, the fact that he wanted to use all his might to protect her, yet at the same time he knew she was as strong as the weeds that grew around the flowers, never backing down without a fight.
"You look beautiful today you know?" he said, his expression softening as he smiled at her.
"You already said that just now when we were getting dressed at home," Shancai smiled.
"I know, I just want to keep reminding you," he grinned at her.
He leaned in to kiss her.
"Eh! What're you doing?" Shancai exclaimed, leaning backwards away from him.
"Stupid woman, I'm kissing you of course," said Daoming Si incredulously.
"You can't do that here, many of your business partners are inside. And your mother! What if someone sees us," Shancai replied indignantly, covering Daoming Si's mouth as she tried to push him away.
Daoming Si grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away.
"I don't care if anyone sees us. You're my wife and I love you, they're just going to have to deal with that. Only you matter to me," he insisted, as he leaned in once again and planted his lips firmly on hers.
He smiled against her lips as Shancai responded and kissed him back, despite her earlier protests. Her hand came to rest at the side of his face, the other clutching the collar of his shirt, as she kissed him softly and gently.
'Maybe these events aren't half so bad anymore," Daoming Si thought to himself.
Inside, Ximen chuckled as he glanced out the large window at the scene by the pool.
"Hey guys, what do you think if Ah Si's business partners saw that," he said, nodding towards Daoming Si and Shancai outside.
Meizuo and Lei joined him by the window and laughed.
"What a sight, Daoming Group's Managing Director stepping outside to have a make out session with his wife," Meizuo guffawed.
Daoming Si didn't care what anyone in that ballroom thought. At that moment, it was only him and Shancai.
