Capítulo 41: Officially Married
The room held its collective breath as she began to write, the scratch of her pen the only sound in the cavernous space.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Feng Ruoxi's pen danced across the pages, her brow furrowed in concentration. The silence in the hall was deafening, the weight of anticipation hanging heavy in the air.
After what felt like an eternity, Feng Ruoxi paused, her gaze flickering up to meet Principal Li's. Without a word, she rose from her seat and approached him, the completed exam clutched in her hand.
Principal Li accepted the papers, his expression inscrutable as he flipped through the pages, scanning Feng Ruoxi's neat handwriting.
"Impressive," he murmured, a hint of surprise coloring his tone. "You've completed the entire English exam in under thirty minutes."
A ripple of hushed whispers swept through the crowd, but Principal Li silenced them with a stern look.
"Silence, please," he commanded, his voice carrying through the vast space. "We still have several more exams to go."
Turning to the gathered teachers, he nodded, his expression resolute. "Let's proceed with the next subject."
One by one, the teachers stepped forward, each presenting Feng Ruoxi with a fresh set of comprehensive exam papers. And with each passing hour, the tension in the room mounted as she tackled every subject with unwavering focus and determination.
Xia Xingxing watched with bated breath, her fingers twisted into knots as she silently urged her friend on. Across the hall, Feng Airi's expression grew increasingly sour, her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Feng Ruoxi rose from her seat, the final exam paper clutched in her hand. She approached Principal Li, her steps measured and confident, and handed him the completed work.
Principal Li accepted the papers, his brow furrowed as he leafed through the pages. A heavy silence hung in the air, the entire hall holding its collective breath.
At long last, Principal Li looked up, his expression one of reluctant awe.
"I must admit, Miss Feng," he began, his voice carrying through the hushed space, "your performance has been nothing short of extraordinary."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd, but Principal Li silenced them with a raised hand.
"Each and every one of these exams has been graded by the respective subject teachers," he announced, his gaze sweeping over the assembled students. "And the results are unanimous."
Pausing for dramatic effect, he allowed the tension to build before delivering the final verdict.
"Feng Ruoxi has achieved a perfect score on every single exam."
A collective gasp echoed through the hall, followed by a swell of hushed whispers and murmurs. Xia Xingxing's face broke into a beaming smile, her eyes shining with pride and relief.
Feng Airi, on the other hand, looked as though she had swallowed a particularly bitter pill. Her fists clenched at her sides, her knuckles turning white with barely contained fury.
Principal Li cleared his throat, his expression one of grudging respect. "It seems the allegations of cheating were entirely unfounded."
He turned to Feng Ruoxi, his gaze leveling with hers. "Miss Feng, on behalf of the entire faculty, I offer you my sincerest apologies for this gross misunderstanding."
Feng Ruoxi inclined her head, her expression serene and gracious. "I accept your apology, Principal Li. I harbor no ill will towards any of you."
Her words were met with a smattering of applause, which quickly grew into a thunderous roar as the students leapt to their feet, cheering and clapping in a show of support and admiration.
Amidst the chaos, Jiang Bin caught Feng Ruoxi's eye, offering her a respectful nod and a small, enigmatic smile.
As the celebrations continued around her, Feng Ruoxi allowed herself a brief moment of triumph. She had proven her detractors wrong and emerged victorious, her intellect and determination shining through like a beacon in the darkness.
As the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of the morning classes, Feng Ruoxi made her way out of the school gates, her steps purposeful and unhurried. Waiting for her was Chang Wei, Jiang Yukang's ever-present assistant, his posture ramrod straight as he caught sight of her approach.
"Miss Feng," Chang Wei greeted with a respectful nod. "Master Jiang is awaiting your arrival."
Feng Ruoxi arched a delicate brow, her expression inscrutable. "I trust this isn't another one of his whimsical notions?"
Chang Wei's lips curved into a faint smile. "On the contrary, Miss Feng. Today is a rather important day, as I'm sure you're aware."
Feng Ruoxi's gaze flickered to the sleek, luxurious car idling at the curb, and understanding dawned upon her. "Ah, yes. The formalities."
Without further ado, she slid into the backseat, her movements graceful and poised. Jiang Yukang sat across from her, his handsome features arranged into a smug, self-satisfied expression.
"Good afternoon, my dear wife," he purred, his voice rich with amusement. "Are you ready to make our union official?"
Feng Ruoxi leveled him with an impassive stare. "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."
The drive to the Civil Affairs Bureau was a relatively short one, punctuated by the occasional barbed quip exchanged between the two soon-to-be newlyweds. As they stepped out of the car, Chang Wei trailing dutifully behind, Feng Ruoxi caught sight of her father, Feng Zhaoxuan, standing near the entrance.
Feng Zhaoxuan's face split into a wide, fawning smile as he caught sight of Jiang Yukang, his obsequious demeanor a stark contrast to the coldness he typically exhibited towards his own daughter.
"Master Jiang," he simpered, bowing deeply. "It is an honor to bear witness to this auspicious occasion."
Jiang Yukang acknowledged the greeting with a curt nod before turning his attention to Feng Ruoxi. "Shall we proceed, my dear?"
The ceremony itself was a relatively brief affair, marked by the exchange of vows and the signing of official documents. Throughout it all, Feng Zhaoxuan hovered nearby, his expression one of barely contained glee.
As the proceedings drew to a close, Feng Zhaoxuan seized the opportunity to offer his daughter a few words of unsolicited advice.
"Ruoxi," he began, his tone dripping with paternal condescension. "Now that you are a married woman, it is imperative that you conduct yourself with the utmost propriety and grace. Remember, you are a reflection of the Jiang family's honor and prestige."
Feng Ruoxi met his gaze evenly, her expression betraying none of the disdain she undoubtedly felt towards her father's sanctimonious posturing.
"I shall endeavor to do so, Father," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion.
Jiang Yukang, ever the consummate actor, stepped forward and clapped Feng Zhaoxuan on the shoulder in a show of camaraderie.
"Fear not, my good man," he declared, his voice ringing with confidence. "I shall ensure that your daughter upholds the highest standards befitting her new station."
With the formalities concluded, Jiang Yukang turned to Feng Ruoxi, a sly smile playing upon his lips.
"Shall we return to the school, my dear wife?" he inquired, his tone laced with a hint of challenge.
Feng Ruoxi shook her head, her expression resolute. "I'm afraid I have other pressing matters to attend to in the city. I appreciate the offer, but I shall make my own way."
Jiang Yukang's brow furrowed, his gaze darkening ever so slightly. "Nonsense," he countered, his voice brooking no argument. "As your husband, it is my duty to accompany you on your errands."
Feng Ruoxi opened her mouth to protest, but Jiang Yukang silenced her with a raised hand.
"Chang Wei, please inform the driver of our change in plans," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for debate.
Chang Wei, ever the dutiful assistant, inclined his head in acknowledgment. "At once, Master Jiang."
Resigned to her fate, Feng Ruoxi allowed herself to be ushered back into the car, Jiang Yukang sliding in beside her with a self-satisfied smirk.
The first stop on their impromptu city tour was the bank, where Feng Ruoxi swiftly handled the necessary paperwork to acquire a new bank card under her new identity.
As she emerged from the bank, Jiang Yukang walked up to her, his expression one of barely contained curiosity.
"Is there anywhere else you require my services, my dear wife?" he inquired, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
Feng Ruoxi considered his question for a moment before shaking her head. "No, that will be all for now."
Jiang Yukang's lips curved into a sly smile. "In that case, perhaps we should partake in a late lunch? It would be a shame to deprive my new bride of a proper meal on our wedding day."
Before Feng Ruoxi could voice her objection, Jiang Yukang had already turned to Chang Wei, issuing a crisp set of instructions.
Chang Wei, ever the consummate professional, nodded in understanding. "I shall make the necessary arrangements, Master Jiang."
As the car pulled away from the curb, Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but steal a sidelong glance at her new husband. His expression was one of utter contentment, a smug smile playing upon his lips.
Chang Wei, seated in the front passenger seat, caught her gaze in the rearview mirror, his own features arranged into a stoic mask of impassivity. Yet, there was a glint of amusement in his eyes, as if he found the entire situation supremely entertaining.
"You seem awfully pleased with yourself, Master Jiang," Feng Ruoxi remarked, her tone carefully neutral.
Jiang Yukang turned to her, his smile widening. "And why shouldn't I be, my dear wife? Today marks the beginning of our new life together, and I fully intend to make the most of it."
Feng Ruoxi arched a delicate brow, her expression one of wry amusement. "Is that so? Well, I suppose only time will tell if your enthusiasm is warranted."
Jiang Yukang's eyes gleamed with a hint of challenge, his gaze holding hers captive. "Oh, I have no doubt that it is, my dear Ruoxi. No doubt at all."
As the car glided through the city streets, the two newlyweds engaged in a playful verbal sparring match, their words laced with hidden meanings and unspoken promises. It was a dance they had become well-versed in, a delicate pas de deux that hinted at the passionate flames simmering beneath the surface.
And as the day drew to a close, with the sun dipping below the horizon, Chang Wei couldn't help but steal a glance in the rearview mirror, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
For it seemed that the master had finally met his match in the form of the enigmatic Feng Ruoxi, and their union promised to be anything but dull.
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