Chapter Five: Think Again, and Your Wife Will Be Gone

A minute later, events unfolded just as Chen Fan had predicted—Xia Yaoyang’s phone rang. With a mix of skepticism and curiosity, Xia Yaoyang answered the call and immediately put it on speaker.

“Grandpa, great news! Our goods have just been returned. I’m loading them onto the ship right now and will head straight back to Dongcheng!” Xia Wenjie, who was in charge of the shipment, could barely contain his excitement.

Xia Yaoyang shot Chen Fan a doubtful glance before replying, “Alright, be careful on the road.”

At these words, the Xia family was stunned. They stared at Chen Fan in disbelief. For nearly half a month, the entire Xia family had been working tirelessly with no progress, yet with a single phone call, Chen Fan had resolved everything.

Sensing their astonished gazes, Chen Fan smiled and explained, “I once had the good fortune to save a powerful figure’s life, and we became close friends afterward. Over the years, he’s looked out for me. I asked for his help with this matter just now.”

He paused and looked at Xia Yaoyang with a playful yet earnest expression.

“Grandpa Xia, as for the third condition, I’d like to make a promise here to you and everyone in the Xia family: from this day forward, I will treat Xin’er well, follow her lead, and any children we have will bear the Xia surname. I hope this meets your approval?”

Xia Yaoyang narrowed his eyes, not answering directly. Instead, he turned to Xia Xin, who had remained silent all along. “Xin’er, are you willing to accept Chen Fan as your husband?”

Xia Xin walked over, took the two-million check Chen Fan had handed to Xia Yaoyang earlier, and pulled out a check for one hundred thousand. The rest she placed squarely in Chen Fan’s hand.

Before Chen Fan could comprehend what she meant, she slapped him across the face.

A crisp sound echoed through the room.

Then, turning away, Xia Xin addressed Xia Yaoyang, “Grandpa, I’m willing. But I think we should forget about the first condition. Since Chen Fan is marrying into our family, it’s only right that we provide the bride price.”

Instead of anger, being slapped left Chen Fan with a strange, new feeling. Xia Xin, it seemed, was unlike Huo Yuling and the others.

At that moment, Xia Jianye, standing beside Xia Yaoyang, immediately stepped forward. “Xin’er, what are you saying? This was decided by your grandfather—you can’t just change it on a whim!”

He had noticed the flash of anger in his father’s eyes and thought to himself that Xia Xin had truly incurred the old man’s wrath this time.

“The Xia and Chen families already had a marriage agreement. I haven’t changed anything. Chen Fan resolved the matter with our detained goods, which shows more than enough sincerity—there’s no need for a ridiculous ten-million dowry,” Xia Xin said calmly, unruffled.

Seeing his daughter’s impetuousness, Xia Jianye hurried to intervene, but just as he moved, Xia Yaoyang raised a hand to stop him. “Let it be. Xin’er is right. That settles it.”

He then turned a stern gaze on the family. “No one is allowed to object any further!”

With the old master’s word, no one dared voice another complaint.

After this unexpected turn, the festive mood was subdued, and by half past ten that evening, most guests had departed.

In the parking lot, Chen Fan waited quietly.

Not far away, Xia Jianye and Xia Xin were having a heated argument.

“My daughter, what are you thinking? Don’t you know your grandfather originally intended for you to marry Sun Zidong?”

“If everyone had so many opinions, then they shouldn’t have arranged this marriage in the first place!”

“Silly child, by refusing to marry Sun Zidong and choosing Chen Fan, you’ll never win your grandfather’s favor, let alone lead the Xia family one day.”

“I want to earn my way by my own abilities—not through some marriage alliance.”

“You—you’re out of your mind!”

Furious, Xia Jianye stormed off, leaving Xia Xin standing there for two or three minutes before she finally walked over to Chen Fan. Her gaze was icy as she stared him down. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Xin’er, I truly want to marry you!”

She sneered. “Young Master Chen, words like that roll off your tongue as easily as eating or drinking. Do you think I’ll believe you?”

Her eyes glinted coldly as she glared at him. “Don’t call me Xin’er anymore—you’ve lost that right in my heart. And let me warn you about a few things.”

“First, I agreed to marry you only because I don’t want Grandfather to use this as leverage against me. If, in five years, I still haven’t become head of the Xia family, we’ll get divorced.”

“Second, if you agree, we can draw up a contract. As long as you play the role of my husband for these five years, I’ll pay you ten million as compensation when it’s over.”

“Third, you can’t tell anyone about this. If you do, I’ll make sure you regret it. Also, unless absolutely necessary, there will be no intimacy between us. The thought of being touched by a playboy like you disgusts me.”

Chen Fan couldn’t help but laugh wryly after hearing this. He had thought Xia Xin’s agreement to the marriage meant she harbored some affection for her fiancé. He hadn’t expected to be nothing more than a shield.

Yet her genuine disdain only made Chen Fan more intrigued. He smiled and nodded. “Alright, I agree to all your terms. Anything else?”

“You accept so easily?” Her suspicion only deepened at his ready compliance.

“Why not?” Chen Fan replied. “You’re offering ten million—I’ll probably never make that much money in my life. Five years is a small price to pay.”

“I’m warning you, don’t get any ideas, or I’ll castrate you!”

She shot him a vicious glare, then continued coldly, “Give me your number. I’ll draft the agreement tonight. Once you sign it tomorrow, you’ll move in with me.”

At this, Chen Fan looked a little disappointed. “Oh? I thought I could go home with you tonight.”

“Get lost! Don’t make it sound so suggestive!”

Ten minutes later, Chen Fan was back in his car, recalling everything that had just transpired in the Xia household. A smile played on his lips as he murmured, “Xia Xin, you will be my wife.”

“Kirin, you—you didn’t manage to break off the engagement?” Kirin asked in surprise.

Chen Fan shook his head and, after a moment’s thought, said, “Kirin, send a report to headquarters—say that years of constant travel have taken a toll on my health, and I wish to retire.”

“This…” Kirin hesitated, then pleaded, “Are you sure about this, Lord Pluto? Can’t you reconsider?”

“No need. If I think about it any longer, I might lose my wife!”