Chapter Six: What If I Really Can Come Up with Fifty Million?

Back at her apartment, Xia Xin had barely stepped through the door and changed her shoes when she was dragged into the living room by her scantily dressed best friend, Lin Fei, who wore an exceptionally serious expression.

“Xin Xin, do you know what major event I ran into on the high-speed train back today?” Lin Fei’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Xia Xin, only to notice her heavy expression and clear fatigue. Frowning, she asked, “Don’t tell me you went to your grandfather’s birthday celebration today and got pressured into marriage again?”

Xia Xin gave a bitter smile and replied, “It was even more dramatic than that!” With a sigh, she seemed utterly exhausted.

“What? Even more dramatic?” At Xia Xin’s words, Lin Fei jumped up, dashed to the fridge for a soda and some chips, then settled in, poised for gossip. “Come on, tell me, what happened?”

Xia Xin shot her a look, but couldn’t resist her friend’s relentless pestering. “Today, I was planning to find a decent-looking guy to pretend to be my boyfriend and muddle through the celebration, but I couldn’t find anyone suitable. Just as I was about to reach the Xia family’s old residence, I ran into a man who was good-looking enough, so I dragged him along to the birthday party.”

She paused, excitement creeping into her voice. “Who would have thought that the random guy I picked was actually Chen Fan, the youngest son of the Chen family, the very one who was once engaged to our Xia family?”

“My god, that’s straight out of a romance novel! Wait…” Suddenly, something clicked in Lin Fei’s mind, and she asked in confusion, “Xin Xin, wasn’t Chen Fan always your favorite? Now that he’s back, why don’t you look happy?”

“Don’t even mention it. He’s nothing like he used to be—he’s lost all his backbone. He even agreed, in front of everyone, to marry into our family! I was utterly disappointed. I’d rather he never came back.”

“He’s marrying into your family? Are you serious? Young Master Chen, reduced to living off you? That’s honestly kind of tragic!”

Xia Xin waved her hand irritably. “Let’s not talk about him. I’m already upset enough!” With that, she got up to go take a shower, but after a few steps, she glanced back, remembering Lin Fei’s earlier seriousness. “What was it you wanted to tell me when I first came in?”

Reminded by the question, Lin Fei instantly perked up. “Today, on the high-speed train, I experienced something most people might not encounter in a lifetime!”

“What? Some pervert harassed you? That happens every day,” Xia Xin teased.

Lin Fei rolled her eyes dramatically. “Can we be serious for once? And any man who tries to harass me better be prepared to live the rest of his life as a eunuch! So, do you want to hear this or not?”

“Alright, I won’t interrupt—go on!”

Lin Fei, apparently thirsty, took a big gulp of soda before continuing animatedly, “The train was delayed by almost two hours, but that’s not all. On the way, I saw from the carriage window a group of soldiers lining up outside, and then two big shots boarded, going straight into one of the first-class carriages. No one else was allowed in that carriage!”

“That doesn’t sound like much. Maybe some high-ranking official was coming to Dongcheng for an inspection,” Xia Xin offered, not particularly surprised.

Lin Fei smirked. “I knew you’d say that, but listen: I was on the express train from Nanchuan to Dongcheng—just one stop along the way. When I bought my ticket, first class was already sold out, but when I boarded, the entire Carriage 10 was empty. That’s not all—one of the two men even carried a gun!”

Then Lin Fei described everything she’d witnessed on the train in detail. When she finished, Xia Xin’s face was tinged with surprise. “Are you saying he fired a shot in front of everyone, and then saved a one-year-old child who was in danger?”

“Why would I lie? I’m convinced that whoever was in Carriage 10 was no ordinary figure—at the very least, someone from the capital. Nobody else could command such privilege!”

Her eyes sparkled with longing. “If only I could have a husband like that! Every woman in the world would look up to me—except you, of course, Xin Xin. You’d be my equal, since we’re best friends!”

Xia Xin laughed. “The big shot you’re talking about is probably in his fifties or sixties. He could be your father. If you married someone like that, Uncle Lin would probably have your hide!”

Lin Fei shot back, “What do you know? True love knows no age!”

Xia Xin grinned, “Aren’t you worried he might not be able to satisfy you? What if he only lasts a minute?”

Lin Fei replied, “I’ll just use cucumbers! As long as my husband has power, that’s enough for me!”

Xia Xin made a face of utter defeat and went straight into the bathroom.

After a while, Lin Fei suddenly remembered something and rushed into the bathroom. “Xin Xin, you never did tell me—judging by your expression, are you really planning to marry Chen Fan?”

Used to such questions, Xia Xin just nodded. “I don’t have much choice for now. I’ll draw up an agreement with him to appease Grandpa and the others for the time being. But you mustn’t tell anyone about this.”

“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed!” Lin Fei promised.

Xia Xin said seriously, “Really, Fei Fei, I’m not joking. If anyone else finds out, it’ll be a mess.”

“I get it. If I spill the beans, I’m a dog! But be careful you don’t end up falling for Chen Fan for real—what if this fake marriage turns real? I might be a godmother by next year!”

“Get out—you never say anything nice!” Xia Xin shot back.

The next morning, in a private room at the Tea Pavilion.

Xia Xin handed Chen Fan a copy of the agreement she’d drafted the night before. “Take a look. If you have any objections, speak up. If not, just sign it.”

“You’ve covered everything in detail,” Chen Fan remarked, glancing at the agreement. “So, in summary, I can’t touch you in private, can’t meddle in your affairs, have to cooperate with you in everything, and if I’m wronged or humiliated I have to endure it—all for five years?”

He looked at her with a hint of amusement, as if the agreement had been drawn up to prevent him from ever taking advantage of her on a whim.

Xia Xin nodded, “I know it’s a lot to ask, but if you stick it out for five years, I’ll give you ten million as compensation. That should be enough for what you’ve put in.”

Chen Fan hesitated, his expression troubled, making Xia Xin’s heart sink. Was he really going to refuse?

After a moment, Chen Fan gave a wry smile, looking at her with a meaningful glint. “I noticed the clause that says if I sleep with you, I have to pay five times the penalty—fifty million. Have you considered what happens if I can actually afford to pay that?”