Li Mingyu looked at her with admiration.“Su Su, you’re amazing.”
Su Fu sat beside her, taking a few big sips of her drink.
“No big deal. Are they your old friends?”
Li Mingyu nodded.“Yeah. She came to the compound about five or six years ago, stayed with her uncle. I ran into her often, and over time we got familiar. I’d treat her to delicious food and pretty little dresses.
A couple of years ago, I heard her talking behind my back, so I stopped interacting with her. A few months later, her uncle was reported for having overseas connections.”
Su Fu clicked her tongue.“Wow… she’s ruthless too.”
Li Mingyu sighed.“I don’t like her anyway.”
The projectionist came in, closed the curtains, and the white screen in the center glowed.
When the movie ended, Li Mingyu cried uncontrollably.“How can there be such terrible people…”
Su Fu patted her back.“It’s fake, it’s fake. Movies are all fake.”
On the way home, she comforted her all the way. Once home, Li Mingyu let Su Fu go upstairs first.
“I only know my fiancé’s cousin. Tomorrow, when I arrange to meet him, what should I do?”
Su Fu waved her hand.“Just observe from afar. If you find you don’t like him, leave the rest to me.”
Hearing that, Li Mingyu happily went to make the arrangement.
Su Fu had been very accommodating that day — she waited her turn, finished eating, and went upstairs once things were settled.
The next morning, Li Mingyu brought her another outfit.“Su Su, I haven’t worn this one before. You’ll love it.”
Su Fu liked it — a sky-blue blouse paired with a cream-colored long skirt.
The red dress she wore yesterday had been washed and was drying outside on the terrace.
“Li Li has such good taste.”
As a child, Su Fu liked bright, colorful clothes, but as she grew older, she preferred simpler colors.
Li Mingyu beamed.“Of course. Go change; we’re heading out.”
They were meeting at a teahouse — one of the few places for entertainment.
Chen Jingyuan sipped his tea slowly, listening to the storyteller on stage.
Outside, Li Mingyu peeked in and immediately spotted her fiancé.
He was so handsome that everything else around him seemed dull in comparison.
“Su Su, the most beautiful one inside — help me handle him.”
Su Fu found it amusing — using “beautiful” to describe a man? But when she looked closer, she retracted that thought.
No other word fit. Beautiful suited him perfectly.
Jet-black hair, fair skin, bright slightly lazy eyes, a high nose with a small mole, a well-shaped mouth with a faint pink tint giving a hint of delicacy.
And those hands — long, slender fingers with taut bluish-brown veins.
Honestly, Su Fu had never seen someone so good-looking and clean.
“Li Li, I think he’s nice. You really don’t want to honor your engagement?”
Li Mingyu nearly cried.“I don’t like someone prettier than me!”
Su Fu sighed — her usual sneaky ideas wouldn’t work this time. Everyone naturally wants beauty.
“Li Li, wait somewhere. I’ll go talk to him.”
Li Mingyu sneaked upstairs to a private table.
Su Fu walked in and sat opposite the striking young man.
Handsome from afar, even more so up close — this man was a monster of beauty!
Chen Jingyuan lazily looked up.“Someone’s here.”
Su Fu nodded.“I know. I’m Li Mingyu’s friend.”
Chen Jingyuan raised an eyebrow.“So?”
Su Fu got straight to the point.“Li Li doesn’t like someone prettier than her. Can you propose breaking off the engagement?”
Chen Jingyuan tilted his head.“What if I refuse?”
Su Fu didn’t ask why — Li Mingyu came from a wealthy family. No one would give up an opportunity for a better life. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but they had to try.
“Then excuse me.” She stood up.
Chen Jingyuan said,“Wait.”
Su Fu turned.“What else?”
He tapped the table with his elegant hand.“You can break the engagement.”
Su Fu immediately sat back down, eyes full of anticipation.“Details!”
Chen Jingyuan rested his head on his hand, sizing up the girl who had caught his attention at the cinema.
“You can break the engagement, but you must give me a fiancée in return. Doesn’t need to be from a wealthy family — just comparable to Li Mingyu.”
Su Fu: …Where would she find someone with Li Mingyu’s background? If she could, she wouldn’t have come all the way here to take the job.
“Isn’t there any other option?” she asked.
Chen Jingyuan pointed at the table.“There is.”
Then he shifted slightly.“Are you doing this for money?”
Su Fu wouldn’t admit it in front of outsiders.“I just can’t stand a teenage girl being forced to marry someone she doesn’t like.”
He took a sip of tea.“You’re a good person.”
Su Fu nodded seriously.“Good. Now, can you say the rest?”
People in the big city were slow — even one sentence took time.
Chen Jingyuan said,“There’s an easier way. Might be forward of me to say it.”
Su Fu:“What?”
Chen Jingyuan:“We get married.”
Su Fu spat out her tea in surprise.“What did you say?”
He wiped his face with a handkerchief and the table’s water stains.“Not a real marriage. If you don’t mind, we can go somewhere private to talk.”
Su Fu was shocked — they had just met, didn’t even know each other’s names properly. Yet… marriage?
While he was undeniably handsome, Su Fu wasn’t someone who married just for looks.
Still… talking it over could be interesting.“You lead the way.”
Chen Jingyuan went to a private booth on the first floor.“Fake marriage means exactly that — one year, and we can sign an agreement.”
He needed a partner, someone who wouldn’t grieve if he died.
The girl across from him had eyes for money, energy, but no love — perfect. She had been the only one he ever felt attracted to.
Su Fu didn’t refuse.“What do I get? Don’t say ‘you get a handsome man’ — that’s nonsense.”
She cared about looks, yes, but not enough to chase just because someone was attractive.
Before coming to Shanghai, she might have thought, “as long as he looks okay, that’s enough.”
After seeing the city, her goal was clear: settle in the city and live well.
Hot water without heating, lights at a switch, pretty clothes, good food, soft beds.
Chen Jingyuan narrowed his eyes.“What do you want?”
Su Fu:“A house, a job, money.”