The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

“You…” An Mi pushed Bai Yi away, looking at the man with a complicated expression in her eyes. He kissed her and bit her!

Should she say what just happened was romantic or a prank?

Seeing An Mi's reproach, Bai Yi did not apologize for his actions. He did not regret kissing her, nor did he regret biting her!

Taking a step forward, Bai Yi extended his large hand, gently lifted An Mi's chin, and lightly wiped away the blood from An Mi's lips with his fingertips. His eyes remained so deep that they were frightening.

"What do you mean by 'different strokes for different folks'? Do you really have absolutely no feelings for me?" Bai Yi's deep voice rang out, his slanted eyebrows furrowed tightly, as if questioning, yet also like a puppy wagging its tail begging for its master's affection.

An Mi was slightly taken aback. These were the words she had just spoken to the Emperor. How did he know?

"You...you have spies among the Emperor?" An Mi would be lying if she said she wasn't surprised. Just now in the Emperor's palace, even Liu Guang and Yi Fei were sent away. Those present must be the Emperor's confidants. She didn't expect that Bai Yi would have such audacity, such ability, and even know so quickly what the Emperor and she had talked about.

Bai Yi twitched the corner of his mouth, clearly unwilling to talk about the spy. The reason he was here tonight, and the reason he acted so out of control just now, was all because he was angered by the woman in front of him.

"Answer me, do you really not like me at all?" Bai Yi narrowed his eyes, seemingly eager to hear an answer, and one that would satisfy him.

An Mi met Bai Yi's eyes and lowered her brows slightly. "Yes, I don't think I've ever shown that I like you. If Your Highness has misunderstood anything, I hope you will forgive me."

"Forgive me? To hell with forgiveness!" Bai Yi scoffed, gripping An Mi's shoulders and forcing her to look directly into his eyes. He said, word by word, "It doesn't matter. As long as I like you, that's enough. Even if it's a forced marriage, I'll accept it. Just remember this: even if you try to distance yourself from me in front of my father, you must know in your heart that you will be mine!"

An Mi was intimidated by his domineering presence. Was this man so overbearing when he wasn't being gentle?

She found that she didn't actually dislike her assertiveness. How could that be? Shouldn't being pressured like this by someone you don't like be a terrible thing?

Anmi didn't want to think about it, seemingly afraid of getting an answer she didn't want to see.

Shaking off her thoughts, An Mi looked at Bai Yi and even smiled. "Your Highness, since you already know what I said to the Emperor, you should also know what will happen to me if I have any involvement with you, right?"

Bai Yi was taken aback. Of course, he knew about the threat his father had posed to her!

"Your Highness, I don't want my marriage to be randomly assigned to someone I don't like, and I certainly don't want to be a concubine!" An Mi smiled bitterly. In the Emperor's eyes, deciding a person's fate was too easy, but she only wanted to control her own destiny.

Bai Yi gritted his teeth and said firmly, "There are no concubines. I know what you want is to be the only one. You wait for me, and I will give you the only one."

An Mi frowned. "Do you know what you're saying? The only one? Let alone you nobles, even ordinary families have multiple wives and concubines. Your Highness, can you decide who you marry? If you can't even decide who you marry, how can you promise me the only one?"

Now that things have been out in the open, An Mi no longer has any reservations. Perhaps it's a good thing to let Bai Yi come to his senses at this time. As long as the Ghost Festival ends, she can return to her Rongjin City and stay away from the intrigues of the palace.

Silence, an eerie silence. Bai Yi stared straight at An Mi, his hands clenched into fists, as if he were suppressing something. An Mi endured his gaze, but told herself not to care; they were destined not to be from the same world.

After an unknown amount of time, the storm in Bai Yi's eyes seemed to gradually subside. He continued to look at An Mi, his gaze unwavering, until An Mi felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze. Only then did Bai Yi speak, "I can promise you only one. All you have to do is believe in me!"

An Mi's lips twitched. She thought he would come to his senses, but she didn't expect to be met with his stubbornness!

Bai Yi smiled, his eyes softening again, and gently stroked her lips with his large hand. "I went to great lengths to bring you to the capital, with no intention of letting you go back. The old Bai Yi was too lonely. Now that I've finally met you, how could I let myself be lonely again? I know you don't like me now, but you can look at me more. You say I have a noble status and a dignified appearance, so why don't you like me? Give me some time. I'm confident that you will eventually fall in love with me."

An Mi seemed to freeze in place. Bai Yi... was there really such a domineering, confident... or perhaps narcissistic man?

But she found him more adorable at that moment than ever before.

He promised her only love, and all she had to do was believe him. But could she really believe him?

For a moment, she almost believed it, but ultimately dismissed the idea, saying, "Let's talk about it later!"

The obvious delaying and avoidance made Bai Yi's expression change. What did he mean by "we'll talk about it later"?

The veins on the back of Bai Yi's hands, which were gripping An Mi's shoulders, bulged. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were calm again. He had already experienced this woman's stubbornness long ago. "I overstepped my bounds tonight."

Bai Yi spoke, his voice suppressing something, a smile blooming on his face, "But what I just said was serious, you... will be my only wife!"

After saying that, he pulled Anmi into his arms without further ado. Anmi was stunned for a moment, but this time she did not struggle.

A only wife? What an alluring promise!

She even felt a strong urge to believe and let herself indulge in it, and she actually did just that.

A smile appeared on Bai Yi's lips, and her anxiety finally subsided a little. She did not push him away!

But when he thought of his father, Bai Yi's eyes narrowed. He would never allow anyone to interfere with his marriage, not even his father!

Not far away, in the darkness, a pair of cold eyes watched the two embracing. The corners of his resolute lips trembled slightly, and a feeling of jealousy seemed to be gathering in those icy eyes. Why was he always one step too late?

The next morning, as soon as Anmi opened her eyes, she heard a commotion outside. Just as she was wondering what had happened, Liuguang pushed open the door and walked in. "Miss, you're awake."

Anmi nodded. "What's going on outside? Why is it so lively?"