Chapter Three: Could You Be My Boyfriend for Just One Night?

A few minutes later, Huo Dongnan and his companions arrived at the front gate. The group took one look and realized it truly was Chen Fan. His appearance matched Huo Yuzun’s description almost perfectly—he looked no different from a rural migrant worker from out of town, a far cry from the spirited youth he once was.

This sight crushed Huo Yuling’s hopes entirely. All her previous fantasies vanished, leaving only endless contempt in her eyes. How could Chen Fan possibly be worthy of her now?

Chen Fan, upon seeing the Huo family, greeted each of them politely. With a gentle smile, he turned to Huo Dongnan, “Uncle Huo, I’m here today to fulfill the engagement with Yuling—”

He hadn’t finished before Huo Dongnan cut him off, “Chen Fan, here’s a check for two hundred thousand. It should be enough for you to live comfortably. As for your engagement with Yuling, let’s call it off.”

With that, he signaled the butler, who promptly handed the check to Chen Fan.

Chen Fan was a little taken aback, his expression one of shock. “Uncle Huo, can’t you give me just one more chance?” he pleaded, glancing toward Huo Yuling, his voice tinged with supplication. “Yuling, you once promised to marry me. Can’t you at least say something?”

Huo Yuling stared at Chen Fan coldly, a sneer twisting her lips. “Chen Fan, you used to be the esteemed young master of the Chen family, its future head, shining with boundless promise. Naturally, I loved you with all my heart. After all, the title of Mrs. Chen sounded rather appealing.”

Her tone shifted, a trace of resentment glimmering in her gaze. “But you insisted on pursuing your childish dream, saying you wanted to carve out your own path. You left for ten years, and because of you, I’ve gone from a vibrant young woman to a nearly thirty-year-old spinster. Now you show up, penniless, asking to marry me—do you think I’d agree?”

Yang Lijuan, impatient, interjected, “Why waste words with trash like him?”

She stepped forward, her manner domineering as she glared at Chen Fan, her eyes sharp and unforgiving. “Chen Fan, the Chen family isn’t even a third-rate power anymore. Your parents are no longer in charge, and look at you—reduced to this sorry state. Stop dreaming of marrying above your station.”

“This two hundred thousand is compensation from our family. You can refuse it, but if you dare to spread any rumors, beware—we won’t be so polite.”

Despite her words, Chen Fan was not at all disheartened. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips as he took the check from the butler without hesitation.

He spoke calmly, “Aunt Yang, rest assured. Since the Huo family has given me this money, I won’t entertain any further delusions. I’ll tell everyone that I, Chen Fan, was unworthy of Huo Yuling and chose to dissolve the engagement myself.”

“Hmph, at least you know your place. Just look at yourself—thinking you could be my brother-in-law? Maybe in your next life!” Huo Yuzun sneered, full of disdain.

Chen Fan was unruffled. He glanced across the assembled Huo family and said slowly, “I hope that one day, you won’t regret your decision today.”

With those words, he turned and walked away.

Huo Yuzun was furious, clenching his fists, ready to chase after Chen Fan and teach him a lesson. Huo Dongnan stopped him, “Enough, let him go. Even if Chen Fan has some talent, Dongcheng is no longer the fiefdom of the Chen family.”

After walking about two hundred meters and confirming that no one from the Huo family was watching, Chen Fan climbed into a black SUV parked by the roadside. Qilin, sitting in the car, glanced at the back seat and noticed Chen Fan’s unusually good mood, his face adorned with a faint smile.

“Lord of the Netherworld, what happened?”

“Nothing. I just pocketed two hundred thousand for free, and the Huo family, full of disdain, canceled the engagement outright.”

“If they ever learn your true identity, they’ll regret it to their bones.”

“Isn’t that just human nature? When our Chen family was at its peak, everyone rushed to curry favor, competing to offer their daughters. Now that the Chen family has fallen and I look destitute, they’re eager to sever all ties.”

Chen Fan remained composed, entirely unsurprised by the Huo family’s abrupt reversal. He leaned back against the seat, muttering, “But the Huo family has no idea. In their eyes, my parents are long dead, but they’re actually enjoying a carefree vacation overseas!”

If his parents hadn’t wanted grandchildren and made him return to choose a bride from one of the five engagements, he wouldn’t have come back to Dongcheng at all.

The Huo family was quite cooperative, not only canceling the engagement but also handing over two hundred thousand as hush money.

If, in the future, they discover they once had a chance at a son-in-law who is a five-star general, their expressions would be priceless!

Time passed swiftly, and soon it was six o’clock in the evening.

Qilin drove Chen Fan to the last family with whom he had an engagement—the Xia family.

“Things went surprisingly smoothly. The Huo family gave two hundred thousand, the Qin family three hundred thousand, the Jiang family five hundred thousand, and the Han family was the most generous, giving a million. I never expected to earn two million so easily.”

Chen Fan did not feel at all upset about being repeatedly rejected. He never expected these families to honor their engagements. All he needed was to report the results to his parents; everything else could unfold naturally.

After gathering his thoughts, he gazed at the Xia family’s gate, and a memory of Xia Xin’s face surfaced in his mind.

His impression of Xia Xin was vague—he only recalled that, as a child, she was a pretty girl with twin ponytails, fond of playing mischievous games with him. She grew up and went abroad early, while Chen Fan himself left Dongcheng for ten years.

So he truly had no idea how Xia Xin looked now.

“Qilin, wait for me here. I should be out quickly.”

“Understood.”

After giving instructions, Chen Fan checked his appearance, found nothing amiss, and stepped out, heading toward the Xia family’s gate.

Halfway there, someone suddenly called out to him.

“Hey, wait a minute!”

A graceful figure approached, finally stopping at Chen Fan’s side. Even Chen Fan was briefly dazzled by her beauty. She was stunning—a pair of clear, gemstone-like eyes, elegant willow brows, a high nose, delicate lips glowing with vitality, radiating a deadly allure like a poppy flower. Most captivating of all was the charming blush on her exquisite, cool face, brought on by her hurried approach.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said, coughing lightly to interrupt Chen Fan, “do you know anyone in the Xia family?”

Only then did Chen Fan realize he had been staring too long. He quickly looked aside, but replied, “Oh, I don’t think I do. Why do you ask, beautiful lady?”

The woman considered his answer, her voice suddenly serious. “Could you pretend to be my boyfriend for one night?”