"Your parents are pretty easy to get along with," Yancy Shaw remarked, turning his head toward Lauren Shaw as the elevator doors slid shut.

Lauren Shaw nodded. "They just worry I won't be happy. They never liked Yvonne Sung—they always thought he was a bad person. But I still went against their wishes." She sighed. "I have to admit, elders really do have better judgment."

Yancy Shaw wrapped his arm around her waist. "So, how do you think they feel about me?"

The warmth of his touch made her tense up. "Well... I think that'll take some time to find out."

Her slender waist fit perfectly under his hand. Yancy Shaw frowned; she was far too thin. He'd have to make sure she ate better.

After just a few moments, he let go and turned to retrieve his suitcase from the room.

"Come on, you'll stay at my place. It isn't safe for you here anymore," he said. He couldn't help but worry—if he wasn't around, that lunatic Yvonne Sung might show up to bother her again.

Thank goodness he’d been here today. If he hadn’t, who knows what sort of humiliation she might’ve suffered.

Lauren Shaw let him take her hand, allowing herself to be gently led along like a young bride. Staring at his tall figure from behind, she couldn't help but wonder—was this really what married life would be like? It was so different from what she had expected.

Once inside the car, Yancy Shaw slipped a diamond ring out of his pocket. Taking her hand, he gently slid it onto her ring finger.

The ring was a little old-fashioned in style but fit her perfectly.

"If you don't like it, we can go pick out another one at the mall later," he offered.

Lauren Shaw shook her head and smiled softly. "No, I really like it."

Back at Yancy Shaw’s apartment, he unpacked her suitcase and started hanging her clothes in the walk-in closet. She tried to help, but he stopped her.

Watching him carefully hang up even her most intimate clothing, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Just relax on the sofa. I’ll handle this."

She watched him methodically hang her clothes next to his own. His side of the closet was mostly cool, muted tones—suited perfectly to his character.

The feeling of being cared for so thoroughly—it was addictive.

She wandered into the living room, where her phone buzzed incessantly on the table. Several missed calls—one from Claire Xu, others from unfamiliar numbers.

Lauren Shaw picked up the phone and settled on the sofa, calling Claire Xu back.

"Babe! Yana Quinn just publicly apologized to you online, you have to see this!" Claire Xu’s voice was almost gleeful.

Lauren Shaw calmly clicked the link Claire Xu had forwarded.

As expected, Yana Quinn had ended up shooting herself in the foot this time. All Lauren Shaw had really wanted was to call off the engagement, but Yana Quinn’s stunt, acting the victim while causing trouble, had truly crossed the line.

The official statement clarified everything: from engagement to marriage, Yvonne Sung and Yana Quinn had already broken up, and Lauren Shaw had never interfered in their relationship.

In fact, around the time of their almost-wedding, Yana Quinn had suddenly returned to China, purposely staying tangled up with Yvonne Sung.

Women who play both the victim and the villain—disgusting.

All those who spread rumors had nowhere left to hide.

Yana Quinn was a celebrity. For her, a scandal like this would be a nightmare to manage.

"So—what's the deal with you and Dr. Shen?" Claire Xu teased.

Just then, Yancy Shaw came out of the bedroom, unaware she was on a video call. "I've put everything away. Let me know if you're missing anything and I’ll go out to buy it."

Claire Xu perked up, hearing a man’s voice through the call. "Wait—did I just hear a guy?" She stared at Lauren Shaw, suspicious. "You don’t look like you’re at home. Just where are you, anyway?"

"I’m at Yancy Shaw’s place."

"What—what’s going on between you two?" The shock on Claire Xu's face was palpable.

"We registered our marriage."

Claire Xu: ...

A few silent seconds passed. Lauren Shaw wondered if the signal had dropped and called her friend's name.

"Am I dreaming, or are you? Maybe we’re just not hearing things right." Claire Xu hung up abruptly, only to call back a few seconds later.

"Babe, say that again."

Lauren Shaw placed her marriage certificate on the table and aimed the camera at it for Claire Xu to see, crystal clear.

"When did this happen? So sudden?!" Claire Xu finally realized it wasn't a dream.

"Today," Lauren Shaw replied. Though it had only been this very morning, she already felt as if she and Yancy Shaw had known each other forever.

"Shengsheng, are you only doing this to get back at Yvonne Sung?" Claire Xu asked. She knew Lauren Shaw wasn’t rash, but after all Yvonne Sung’s betrayal, it wouldn’t be strange if she’d acted impulsively, marrying someone just to spite him.

"No," Lauren Shaw answered firmly. She would never risk her entire life just to vent her anger. Marrying Yancy Shaw was because he made her feel different.

"Qingqing, marrying Yancy Shaw is a lifetime thing for me. He’s wonderful. It even feels like... he’s healing me."

Every time she saw Yancy Shaw, she naturally felt happier. He was gentle, attentive—a man truly impossible to resist.

Back when she’d been with Yvonne Sung, she was always anxious, doubting herself, often losing sleep, torn and insecure.

Those days, she’d been far from happy.

But Yancy Shaw was different—he had a magnetic warmth, capable of soothing her heart, chasing away anxiety. With him, her worries vanished.

She’d even thought, even if they didn’t have passionate love, just being with him every day was comfortable enough.

"But do you like him?" Claire Xu pressed.

Standing on the balcony, Yancy Shaw overheard their conversation. He stayed where he was, not too far nor too close, quietly waiting for her answer.

"I think I do. I don’t really know. But being with him, I feel so happy. In this life, if I have to marry someone, I just want it to be someone who makes me feel at ease."

Claire Xu laughed. "You know, Dr. Shen seems way too good to you... are you sure he hasn’t secretly liked you from the start?" She’d suspected as much even back at the hospital.

"I doubt it. He actually has someone he likes," Lauren Shaw remembered the question she’d asked him that day.

Claire Xu chuckled. "Who doesn’t have that one person in their heart? Everybody has someone they loved but couldn’t have, and you—trust me, you’ll win him over."

The two of them chatted a bit longer, then ended the call. Yancy Shaw came in from the balcony.

"Dr. Shen, what did you say just now?" Lauren Shaw looked up at him.

Yancy Shaw lowered his gaze, standing silently in the shadow. His eyes, obscured by the light behind him, revealed nothing—but somehow, he seemed a little strange.

"Shengsheng, we're married now. You don't have to call me 'Dr. Shen.' Just use my name."

Lauren Shaw stared at him, taken aback. "I’m just so used to it. It feels weird to change now."

He understood. She'd need time. If he pushed too fast, the timid rabbit might run away—and that, he couldn’t risk.