"Fifty thousand a month, even a top graduate from a prestigious university can't earn this salary. Little brother, you wouldn't make this much in two years delivering takeout. Sometimes, as a man, you have to take a gamble. You really have nothing to lose. Hesitate any longer, and the opportunity will be gone."
Pei Kexin had worked in the Pei family's enterprise for several years, and her skill in negotiating contracts was undeniable.
After her rapid-fire speech, Zhan Jingchen felt as if refusing her offer would be ungrateful.
A fifty thousand a month windfall for someone who didn't need money?
He wasn't sure how to comment on this situation.
But on second thought, it was also a bit amusing.
If he was destined to get married anyway, and didn't want a bland, unmemorable union like the common folk, a unique arrangement would be a good souvenir.
"The offer is good. I can consider it. But can I make a condition?"
Having finally persuaded him, Pei Kexin felt a sense of accomplishment. "You say it."
"Since it's fake, we'll divorce after a month. Can we not get a marriage certificate?"
"How can I prove I'm married to you without a marriage certificate?"
"There are plenty of places that do fake certificates. Spend fifty yuan, and you save yourself ten thousand in divorce compensation. It looks like your family doesn't care about you and won't check anyway. Why not?"
Pei Kexin had originally called Gu Wei out today to discuss marriage, and she had already prepared the contract.
The two quickly reached an agreement. Pei Kexin took out the contract and then remembered the most important question.
"What's your name?"
Zhan Jingchen raised an eyebrow. "Jiang Jingchen."
Pei Kexin signed her name and handed the contract to him.
"Take a look. If it's okay, sign it now, and we'll handle the formalities tomorrow."
"I can wait for you until noon tomorrow at the latest. You must come home with me for lunch."
The contract had few clauses, but the general content was:
The marriage would last for one month. The man would move into the woman's home as a live-in son-in-law and obey all her commands.
They would sleep in separate rooms, only acting affectionate in public and not interfering with each other in private.
The man was not allowed to bring anyone into the Pei residence without the woman's permission.
The man must unconditionally obey arrangements and ask for leave if he had matters to attend to.
If it was discovered that he had done anything to damage the woman's reputation, the contract would be automatically voided.
In short, it was a treaty of female superiority and male inferiority.
For anyone else, let alone a mere two hundred thousand, Zhan Jingchen wouldn't have agreed to such a humiliating affair even for twenty billion.
However, he was bored lately and decided to play along with Pei Kexin.
Both signed the contract with a flourish and pressed their fingerprints.
Pei Kexin put the contract away with satisfaction and looked at Zhan Jingchen. "I've said all I need to say. Is there anything you want to say?"
Zhan Jingchen looked back at her calmly. "Take a photo together. I'll have someone handle the formalities tomorrow."
"Exchange phone numbers for easier contact tomorrow."
Pei Kexin scanned the room. "Let's take it here. Call someone to help."
"Aren't you afraid of revealing secrets?"
Pei Kexin smiled slightly. "He wouldn't dare."
She made a call, and soon, Gu Wei came up with a piece of red cloth.
Seeing that Pei Kexin had settled the agreement so quickly, he was genuinely happy.
"Congratulations, congratulations! Happy wedding! May you have a hundred years of happiness!"
Pei Kexin retorted, "Congratulations to your head!"
Zhan Jingchen was somewhat surprised.
This guy hadn't left? Was he that close to her? Then just now...
Gu Wei chuckled and explained.
"I'm just an assistant to President Pei. At most, it's a relationship of using and being used. Don't worry, it's pure. Don't overthink it."
Pei Kexin exposed him. "Besides, Mr. Gu isn't interested in me, no matter how I dress up. He's just my sister."
Gu Wei was used to being teased and didn't get angry. He stuck the red cloth to the wall and brought over two small sofa stools.
"Come, come, newlyweds, sit here. Closer, and please smile."
The two sat down. One wore a takeout uniform, and the other wore professional attire. The scene was extremely discordant.
Gu Wei said to them, "Take off your jackets. Don't you have white shirts underneath? Let your shirts show."
Pei Kexin readily stood up and took off her jacket, but Zhan Jingchen didn't move.
Gu Wei urged him, "Aren't you off work? Hurry and take it off."
Zhan Jingchen had just finished a fight. Two of his shirt buttons were torn off, and there were wine stains on his chest.
He couldn't possibly undress in front of them.
"As a delivery person, how could I wear a shirt underneath?"
"...It's not a white shirt? Then what's showing on your neck?"
"Fake."
Gu Wei's eyes widened, as if to say, "Do you think I'm an idiot?" "This is acceptable?"
"Of course. Poor people buy fake shirt collars to appear gentlemanly and attract the opposite sex, haven't you seen it on TV? Okay, you've seen through me. Actually, I'm just a vain person who likes to pretend."
"..."
Pei Kexin didn't care. "Just take the picture like this. At worst, we can edit it later. Gu Wei, stop talking nonsense."
Gu Wei muttered as he took photos, "Still saying it's fake. They haven't even entered the house yet, and she's already defending him. A woman's heart is truly an unfathomable mystery."
The two took their photos. Zhan Jingchen added Gu Wei on WeChat using a secondary account. They exchanged photos and then parted ways.
Pei Kexin put on her jacket, grabbed her bag, and took a final sip of red wine. Before leaving, she instructed Zhan Jingchen.
"The contract is signed. Go back and prepare, and be here on time tomorrow. Don't go back on your word, or you won't be able to get by in Nancheng from now on."
Zhan Jingchen found it amusing but said, "No need to threaten me. Don't worry, if not for you, then for the two hundred thousand, I wouldn't go back on my word."
Pei Kexin was pleased with his straightforward attitude.
"Tomorrow, say you're my university classmate, a 2016 graduate from the Law School of Nanfa University, twenty-six years old, from Beicheng. Your parents died in a car accident two years ago. Besides me, you have no direct relatives. Can you remember that?"
That was quite malicious, cursing someone's parents.
Fortunately, the life was fake, and Zhan Jingchen didn't care.
"Yes."
"Alright then. We're leaving. Be careful on your way back."
Zhan Jingchen nodded and watched as the imposing Pei Kexin, arm in arm with Gu Wei, gracefully departed.
As the two left, he confirmed no one was around, then took out his phone again and dialed.
"I won't be coming home for a while. Don't call me unless it's important. Don't ask where I am. I'll come back when I want to. Don't force me."
A deep, powerful male voice came from the other end. "Zhan Jingchen!"
"You want to lecture me again? If you have that much time, why not educate my older brothers and sisters on how to behave first."
"Why could Big Brother live in Sucheng for an extended period while studying and start dating Sister-in-law early? Second Brother joined the company before even going to university, but I can't do anything?"
"If you keep using their current achievements to pressure me, I'll never come back. You've looked down on me since childhood anyway. If I'm gone, it'll save you embarrassment!"
After speaking, without waiting for Zhan Beijue to say anything more, he decisively hung up and turned off his phone.
Then, he took out another phone and dialed again.
"Why haven't you died yet? Come pick me up quickly!"