Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Jiang Cheng realized that burying his head in the sand was useless. In Shang Zenian’s eyes, as long as he didn’t explicitly refuse, it meant he tacitly accepted their engagement.

He had no idea what to do now and didn’t dare to say he didn’t want to go through with the engagement or anything, so he quickly explained the whole situation to Chen Pingzhou.

Chen Yin: Can I just reject him directly?

Chen Pingzhou replied quickly with only three words: “No, you can’t.”

Jiang Cheng hastily typed: But I’m a guy. If I don’t reject him, I might get exposed, and besides, I’ll be leaving in a while. How do we explain it then?

Chen Pingzhou sent several voice messages in response. Jiang Cheng tapped to convert them to text.

“Listen, you can’t reject him. Doing so would make your identity suspicious to Lin Min and Chen Pingye. In their eyes, you marrying into the Shang family is only beneficial to me, so there’s no way I’d let you turn it down.”

“If Shang Zenian is interested in you and you still take the initiative to refuse, they’ll definitely think we’re guilty and afraid of not being able to handle the aftermath, so much so that we’d rather give up the benefits of this marriage than go through with it.”

“My brother is the most suspicious type. Right now, he only believes you’re Chen Yin because you look so much like my sister. If you reject, he’ll sense something’s off. Then he’ll secretly take your sample for a DNA test, and we’ll be exposed. You won’t get the hundred thousand, and you’ll end up in jail with a criminal record.”

Jiang Cheng: “...”

Seeing the words “jail” and “criminal record,” Jiang Cheng was scared out of his wits.

Is it really that serious?

QAQ He felt like running away.

But he was already here, and quitting now would probably lead to the same outcome.

No, even worse—he’d have to bear the penalty for breaching the contract with Chen Pingzhou. Chen Pingzhou had drawn up a contract precisely to prevent him from backing out midway. If he suddenly bailed, he’d have to pay triple compensation.

Triple meant 300,000. He couldn’t come up with that much even if he sold himself.

Chen Yin: Even if I pretend to be with him now, how do we wrap it up later?

Chen Pingzhou: At that time, I’ll pretend to send you abroad, saying you’re going to study abroad. You’ll break up with him, citing that you don’t want a long-distance relationship and that after two months together, you have no feelings for him. Leave the rest to me—I’ll handle it.

Chen Yin: But wouldn’t that make me a jerk?

Chen Yin: That’s not good. I don’t want to deceive him.

“Pfft, you’re overthinking it. What feelings? Shang Zenian doesn’t actually like you. This marriage alliance allows the Shang family to advance their business further and save them ten years of hard work. He’s just acting interested for the sake of benefit.”

“Otherwise, think about it: over the years, so many girls have chased after Shang Zenian. He’s seen all kinds. Why would he suddenly fall for you—that unsophisticated, ignorant, mute girl with only a middle school diploma?”

“Everything is for profit.”

That’s true. He was just a country bumpkin from a small town who couldn’t even tell what brands the cars Shang Zenian drove, and he was mute to boot. Jiang Cheng had also been wondering why Shang Zenian would take a liking to him.

With Chen Pingzhou’s explanation, he seemed to understand.

Chen Pingzhou: [Image]

“Look at today’s bride—she’s Shang Zenian’s cousin. She and her fiancé are also in a marriage alliance. Apart from putting on a show, they barely interact. Where’s all this talk of true love in the world of high society?”

Jiang Cheng opened the image and saw a photo of the bride and groom. They were a newly engaged couple, yet they sat with their backs to each other, completely ignoring one another, not at all like a loving engaged couple.

Jiang Cheng was shocked.

He couldn’t understand it. These rich people had so much money, yet they couldn’t even have freedom in marriage, tied to someone they didn’t love for life. What was the point of it all?

No wonder the wealthy had the most scandals—they didn’t marry who they loved.

Naive as he was, Jiang Cheng bought every word Chen Pingzhou said, completely taken in.

Just then, his WeChat buzzed again—it was a message from Shang Zenian.

Shang Zenian: I’m here. If you’re in too much pain to move, I’ll have the maid bring it up to you.

“...” So fast!

This felt like a choice Shang Zenian was giving him. If he chose to go down and get it himself, it meant he wasn’t rejecting the engagement. If he let the maid bring it, maybe Shang Zenian would give up.

Of course, Jiang Cheng didn’t know that once the Shang family’s eldest young master set his sights on someone, giving up wasn’t an option.

What to do, what to do? Was he really going to pretend to date a guy for two months?

The risk was too high! Getting found out as a man would increase the risk exponentially.

Before he could decide, another voice message from Chen Pingzhou came through.

“I know this is putting you in a tough spot, but we’re out of options. You don’t want to end up in jail, do you? Having a criminal record might even affect your upcoming college application.”

Those words hit Jiang Cheng right in his weak point.

Now, only two paths seemed to lie before him: reveal that he wasn’t Chen Yin and face consequences from the Chen family and the police—likely ruining his future and paying the penalty—or accept this fiancé.

Chen Pingzhou was far more cunning than Jiang Cheng. He knew how to follow a threat with a reward, so he sent another voice message.

“How about this: as compensation, I’ll give you an extra hundred thousand. You’re about to start college, right? Your grandmother is old; you can’t just leave her alone in the county town. With this 200,000, you can bring her along and settle in the city where you study.”

Jiang Cheng: “...”

Was this a test?

But Jiang Cheng knew he was tempted.

Shang Zenian clearly looked down on him, yet acted very interested—wasn’t that also deceiving him?

It was mutual deception anyway.

Gritting his teeth, Jiang Cheng thought: There’s no turning back now. It’s all just pretending to date a guy for two months. Let’s do it!

With that, he took a deep breath and opened the chat with Shang Zenian.

Chen Yin: No, I’ll come down and get it myself.

After sending that, Jiang Cheng quickly got up from the bed, smoothed out the dress he had rumpled, and checked himself in the mirror to make sure everything was in order and nothing gave him away. Then, with another deep breath, he went downstairs.

Dodging the maid who was tidying up, Jiang Cheng quietly slipped out the door, crossed the yard, and gently opened the small side door next to the main gate. Peeking through the crack, he saw the same Rolls-Royce Cullinan that had picked him up last time, parked at the entrance, and Shang Zenian was leaning against the car.

Since it was hot outside, he had taken off his jacket and was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms and prominent wrist bones. Beneath his polished appearance was a sense of understated power.

The guy was tall and had long legs. Even leaning casually, he was still taller than the car. In the darkness, the vehicle looked like a crouching monster, and he seemed its master. The streetlight fell on his sharply defined profile, outlining a cold, hard jawline that gave off a sharp, fierce vibe, as if he could snap someone’s neck at any moment.

Jiang Cheng was terrified and almost turned to run back.

At that moment, Shang Zenian probably noticed the movement and looked up, his gaze meeting Jiang Cheng's.

In an instant, his furrowed brow relaxed, and the sharp, chilly aura around him silently faded away, turning him languid and casual, as if the fierce, untouchable presence just now had been Jiang Cheng's imagination.

"Here you are," Shang Zenian said with a curl of his lips, "Why are you sneaking around like you’re afraid to come out? I’m not going to eat you."

"…" Not necessarily.

Jiang Cheng shuffled forward slowly, each step a struggle, aching to turn and run.

But he restrained himself and typed on his phone: "I was just checking if it was you, in case some creep was lurking at my door!"

Shang Zenian chuckled and ruffled his hair again: "I thought you were avoiding me."

"…" Even though he’d mentally prepared himself to play along with this charade for two months, being touched on the head by another man still gave him goosebumps.

"Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. This soup is a nourishing tonic. My mom also suffers from the same aches, and the traditional Chinese doctor prescribed her this soup. It helps a lot. The formula works for everyone, and I've put the recipe together with the soup. You can have your chef make it for you later."

With that, Shang Zenian pulled out an insulated thermos from the car and handed it to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng took it, deciding internally that he’d dump it out later.

"Thank you," Jiang Cheng typed, acting touched.

"Mm, go on back. Get some good rest these next couple of days."

Huh, letting me go that easily?

He’d thought… ahem, that there might be *that* kind of procedure.

"What, not ready to leave yet?"

Seeing Jiang Cheng hesitate, Shang Zenian’s voice turned teasing: "Or are you hoping I’ll walk you inside?"

Jiang Cheng shook his head vigorously, waved the thermos at him, then sprinted off.

Just as he was about to close the small door, he heard Shang Zenian call his "name": "Chen Yin."

Jiang Cheng froze.

"Though I’m not a fan of arranged marriages, I’m pretty satisfied with this childhood engagement so far. If you don’t bring up calling it off, I’ll take that as your acceptance of our relationship."

Jiang Cheng: "…"

He’d love to break it off, but calling off the engagement meant landing in jail. Could he do that?

Now Jiang Cheng only regretted getting on Chen Pingzhou’s wrong boat for just a hundred thousand yuan.

Jiang Cheng cried on the inside, then pulled out his phone and typed: "I'm really confused right now. I don’t even know what I want. Can I have some time to think it over?"

Thinking it over—that could take ten days, half a month, maybe even a month. Jiang Cheng gave himself a mental high-five. So clever!

Shang Zenian knew better than to push too hard. As long as he didn’t outright refuse, it was as good as agreement in his book.

"Fine," Shang Zenian generously agreed. But before Jiang Cheng could breathe a sigh of relief, he added in a stern tone, "But don’t you dare avoid me!"

Jiang Cheng typed: "Oh…"

Satisfied, Shang Zenian said, "Go ahead."

Back in his room, Jiang Cheng opened the thermos. Inside was still piping hot soup with a faint herbal smell.

It was a kind gesture, but since it was medicine, Jiang Cheng didn't dare eat it randomly. He dumped it down the bathroom sink, cleaned the thermos, and set it aside to give back to Shang Zenian later.

Lying back in bed, Jiang Cheng remembered the test scores. Though that whole mess had taken the edge off his initial excitement, he was still thrilled. He switched to his own WeChat and almost got buried by a flood of messages.

There were messages asking about his scores, others congratulating him, and even teachers asking what university he planned to apply to. Jiang Cheng quickly replied to each one.

His childhood friend He Jun had also messaged him.

He Jun: Saw your scores! So high, more than 50 points above mine!

He Jun: I told your grandma about your results. She was so happy she kept crying, but she didn't call because she didn't want to bother you.

Seeing that, Jiang Cheng felt guilty right away.

Evil Big Orange: Tell her I’m busy with work right now, I can't help it, but I’ll find a chance to call her.

He Jun must have been online, because he replied quickly.

He Jun: Don’t worry, I’ve already calmed her down. She’d gone to sleep by the time I came back.

He Jun: Still, congratulations! That's awesome!

Evil Big Orange: Thanks. You did great too.

Given He Jun’s usual grades, being only 50 points lower was a huge overachievement.

He Jun: Hehe, yeah. My folks are overjoyed. They’re already picking out a hotel, planning a graduation party for me lol.

He Jun: Are you planning to apply to Yanshan University?

Evil Big Orange: Yeah, my score should be enough.

He Jun: Nice! I’m aiming for Yanshan University of Technology right next door. We’ll be able to look out for each other.

He Jun: I saw on "Little Green Book" yesterday that the current campus heartthrob at Yanshan University is from the School of Physical Education—a real tough guy you don't want to cross. If he tries anything on you, I can take him on.

Evil Big Orange: ……

Evil Big Orange: I don’t even know the guy. Why would he hit me for no reason?

He Jun: Because you’re good-looking. That would definitely steal his spotlight as campus heartthrob.

He Jun: Guys like him, all brawn and no brains, with fists the size of sandbags. Maybe he got his title by beating people up. With your skinny build, one punch and you'd go flying.

Jiang Cheng was amused by his logic, but an image of Shang Zenian’s tall figure came to mind.

The campus heartthrob at Yanshan University had nothing to do with him, nothing to fear. But this Shang Zenian—he could actually send him flying with one punch.

Once this two-month mission was over, he’d run far, far away, never letting him find out he was a guy, or else he’d take a punch and go soaring up to shake hands with the sun.

Author's note:

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