"Why?"
Ji Shiyou, who had readily agreed before, now refused so decisively, a stark contrast that surprised Mingyue.
She looked up, staring at Ji Shiyou, and asked for the reason.
"This, Mingyue, let me explain slowly!"
Ji Shiyou looked as if he were about to die, his tone slow, trying to stall for time while his mind raced for excuses not to divorce.
"Firstly, you need to consider that Grandma is almost eighty this year. The wedding she so meticulously planned, and then to divorce right after getting married.
Such extreme joy followed by sorrow would be unbearable for an elderly person. If something were to happen to her, wouldn't that be unfilial of us?
You wouldn't want her to become despondent and fall ill because of our affairs, would you?"
Seeing that Mingyue got along well with Old Mrs. Ji, Ji Shiyou first played the family card, directly hitting Mingyue's soft spot.
"Also, as the CEO of Ji's, everyone thought I was going to die from this injury.
This has already affected Ji's, and the stock has hit its limit. If on the wedding day, the bride were to divorce.
Then, both shareholders and the public would believe that my time is short.
What awaits Ji's is bankruptcy, and then tens of thousands of employees at Ji's will be unemployed.
Think about it, tens of thousands of employees, and behind them are tens of thousands of families!
Some babies have just been born and have no milk powder, parents are hospitalized and waiting to pay the deposit.
Newlyweds bought a house and have no money to pay the mortgage.
Just because you proposed divorce, these families would lose their source of income.
Think of those crying babies, the elderly waiting for surgery.
The young people driven to desperate measures and ruined families by mortgage and car loan pressures.
How many human tragedies would our divorce cause? We absolutely cannot divorce."
Seeing that mentioning Grandma brought a look of compassion to Mingyue's face, Ji Shiyou knew Mingyue was a sympathetic person.
So he focused on this aspect, starting to spout nonsense, as if his divorce from Mingyue would cause an economic crisis, leading to widespread suffering, and Mingyue would be the root of all this misery.
Ji Shiyou described it so vividly that Mingyue could picture it, and a look of reluctance appeared on her face.
"I sympathize with them, but I really don't like you. Being together makes us both uncomfortable.
This is not good for either of us, and it's not the life I want. I still want to divorce."
Just as Ji Shiyou was secretly pleased, Mingyue's expression turned serious, and she still insisted on divorce.
The moment the words left her mouth, Ji Shiyou felt as if lightning had struck him. What had he heard?
Mingyue wanted a divorce not out of jealousy, but simply because she didn't like him!
"Ahem, ahem, how about this? You don't like me, I won't force you.
But you must give me time. Let's sign a hundred-day agreement, just three months.
For Grandma's health and the happiness of tens of thousands of families, let's maintain our marital relationship for three months.
Within three months, I will try my best to persuade Grandma to accept our divorce, and the company will not be affected.
Then, we can divorce, alright?"
Since you don't like me, then I'll strive to make you like me!
Ji Shiyou, having been in the business world for many years, immediately adjusted his emotions and proposed the hundred-day agreement as a strategic retreat.
He believed that Mingyue simply didn't know him well enough. If he were given three months, he was confident he could make Mingyue fall in love with him.
"Alright, I will cooperate with you for these three months and act as a couple on the surface.
However, some things need to be clarified beforehand. We are only contractual spouses for a hundred days.
No cohabitation, no intimate contact, and you cannot interfere with what I do."
Mingyue hesitated for a moment, carefully considered Ji Shiyou's proposal, and then agreed.
After all, it was her own impulsive decision to agree to the marriage, and now to go back on her word was her fault.
It's only three months, she thought, just bear with it, and it will pass quickly.
She wasn't a person who dwelled on things. Once she made up her mind, she agreed readily.
"Very well, I agree to your conditions.
However, to avoid suspicion, we are contractual spouses.
You cannot shirk your duties as a normal wife. I hope you have contractual spirit.
Also, I am currently weak and cannot be stimulated.
Within these hundred days, do not mention the word divorce again. I cannot bear it."
Seeing that Mingyue had taken the bait, Ji Shiyou was secretly delighted and began to play word games.
"No problem, I will cooperate and abide by the agreement."
Mingyue didn't know what a normal wife was supposed to do, but she was a person of her word. If she agreed, she would do it.
After agreeing, Mingyue and Ji Shiyou clapped hands in an oath. In her heart, she thought that after three months, she would be free.
"The contract is sealed. Wife, I haven't showered in a long time. Help me bathe!"
Ji Shiyou immediately changed his address. Calling her "wife" felt satisfying, and he began his plan to win her over.
Junhui had taught him that the bathroom was a good place to deepen feelings, and sometimes, it was appropriate to use male charm to tempt.
Ji Shiyou considered his physique to be quite presentable.
He didn't believe that after seeing his perfect physique and eight-pack abs, Mingyue wouldn't like him.
"Bathe? I'll call a caregiver."
Hearing Ji Shiyou call her wife, Mingyue felt a little awkward. She hadn't expected Ji Shiyou to get into character so quickly.
However, contractual spouses were still spouses, so calling her that was not entirely unreasonable, and she didn't object.
But when she heard that she had to help Ji Shiyou bathe, she felt a bit troubled. Was this something a wife was supposed to do?
She wasn't sure, but she was still resistant and wanted to find a caregiver.
"Taking care of a severely injured husband, feeding him, and bathing him are all a wife's duties.
I misjudged you. You have no contractual spirit at all, no integrity."
Ji Shiyou feigned anger, turned his head away huffily, and began to use the tactic of provocation.
Seeing Ji Shiyou's demeanor, like a child throwing a tantrum, Mingyue inexplicably found him cute.
However, bathing a man still made her feel a bit flustered, but Ji Shiyou's words had stimulated her.
She was a person of her word. It was just a bath, what was the big deal!
"Since I promised you, I will do it. Don't doubt me!"
Mingyue said expressionlessly and went to the bathroom.
Ji Shiyou, left on the bed, chuckled secretly. The first step of his plan was a success.
"I'll take you there."
It didn't take long to fill the tub. Five minutes later, Mingyue returned to the bedside and said robotically,
"Wait, can you help me up? Look at any wife who handles her husband like an object, picking him up and putting him down."
Seeing Mingyue reach out to grab his collar and waist, Ji Shiyou quickly stopped her. It was too undignified.
It made him feel like an inanimate object, and in this state, he appeared weak in front of Mingyue.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was afraid you might hurt your wound if you stood up. It's more stable to move you horizontally."
Mingyue explained. She genuinely meant well.
"Don't worry, the wound has healed. I just don't have any strength right now.
My body isn't that fragile. Didn't Junhui say that even consummation would be fine?"
Junhui had said that girls don't like men who are too serious, so Ji Shiyou deliberately said this.
Knowing Ji Shiyou's physical condition, Mingyue helped him to the bathroom, and they arrived in front of the bathtub filled with warm water.