Every day at work, he would unconsciously reach into his pocket and touch the bank card, just to make sure the one million yuan was still there.
The machines in the workshop continued to roar as usual. Old Wang still came over to gossip about the factory going bankrupt, but Lu Changfu felt completely different listening to him now.
On the fourth day at noon, in the cafeteria.
Lu Changfu carried his tray over and sat down across from Chen Lili. It was the corner where she usually sat—by the window, quiet and peaceful.
“Is something wrong?” Chen Lili looked up at him before continuing to eat.
“About what happened last time…” Lu Changfu carefully chose his words. “I want to ask you for another favor. Come home with me for the New Year. Seven to ten days. I’ll pay you 20,000 yuan.”
Chen Lili’s chopsticks stopped in midair.
Twenty thousand yuan was no small amount to her.
Her monthly salary was only 3,800 yuan. After rent, utilities, and food expenses, she was lucky if she could save 1,000 yuan a month.
When she broke up with her ex-boyfriend, he had taken 80,000 yuan of her savings. It was money she had painstakingly saved over three years of working. She still owed 20,000 yuan on her credit card, with monthly interest of 450 yuan.
“Why me?” she asked softly.
“My mom has already settled on you.” Lu Changfu smiled bitterly. “Suddenly changing to someone else would look even more suspicious. Besides…” He paused and looked into her eyes. “I think you did a pretty good job acting.”
Chen Lili lowered her head and took a bite of rice without saying anything.
“I’ll cover the round-trip tickets and give you a private room to stay in. There won’t be much physical contact,” Lu Changfu added. “Think of it as… a short-term job.”
The noisy voices in the cafeteria, the calls from the food counter in the distance, and the sound of traffic outside the factory walls all blended together.
Chen Lili remained silent for about a minute.
“I need to think about it,” she finally said.
“Can you give me an answer this weekend?”
Chen Lili nodded.
Lu Changfu breathed a sigh of relief.
He picked up his tray and was about to leave, but after taking two steps, he turned around.
“Oh, right. When we sign the agreement, I’ll transfer 10,000 yuan to you as a deposit first.”
Chen Lili’s shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly.
That afternoon, Lu Changfu received a WeChat voice message from his mother.
“Changfu, your Auntie said that since you already have a girlfriend, you should settle the marriage soon. What do Lili’s parents do? Shouldn’t we arrange a time for both families to meet?”
Lu Changfu’s heart tightened.
He walked to an empty area outside the workshop and lowered his voice as he replied.
“Mom, there’s no rush. We’ve only known each other for three months. I want us to spend more time together.”
“Three months is long enough!”
Peng Jiali’s voice was filled with anxiety.
“You’re already twenty-eight, and the girl is young. You’re not in a hurry, but she might be! What if…”
“Mom!”
Lu Changfu interrupted her.
“I know what I’m doing.”
After hanging up, the system notification sounded in his mind:
【The anxiety level of your parents has increased, while their happiness level has decreased by 5%. Please handle the relationship appropriately, or it may affect this month’s reward distribution.】
Lu Changfu leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
Yesterday, he had transferred 50,000 yuan to his parents, telling them it was a “project bonus.” His mother had been so excited that she almost cried. She had talked nonstop on the phone for half an hour, saying that she would save the money for his future wedding.
There was still 1.08 million yuan in his account.
100,000 yuan every month…
But now, he needed Chen Lili’s cooperation—at least until the New Year.
Before the end of the workday, Lu Changfu went to the office.
Chen Lili was organizing some reports. She looked slightly surprised when she saw him come in.
“How did you decide…” Lu Changfu asked.
Chen Lili hesitated.
“Why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t you say I could give you an answer this weekend?”
“Alright.”
As Lu Changfu walked out of the office, he ran into his colleague Zhao Feng.
The man, who was in his early thirties, was the leader of the packaging team.
Seeing Lu Changfu come out, he approached with a teasing expression.
“Oh? Looking for Lili?”
“Just something work-related.” Lu Changfu kept a straight face.
“Come on.” Zhao Feng blew out a ring of smoke. “I’ve already heard about it. Not bad, kid. You quietly managed to win over the factory flower.”
Lu Changfu’s heart skipped a beat.
“Who told you?”
“Who else? Old Wang and his big mouth.”
Zhao Feng chuckled.
“He said he saw you and Lili going on a date at a noodle shop, even hugging and getting all affectionate.”
Lu Changfu secretly cursed.
Old Wang and his big mouth.
“It was just two coworkers having a meal together,” he explained.
“Yeah, right.”
Zhao Feng patted him on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, brother. I won’t spread it around. But…” He lowered his voice. “Are you really together with Lili?”
Lu Changfu didn’t know how to answer.
If he said yes, Chen Lili would definitely be unhappy if word got around. If he said no, it wouldn’t fit the false relationship they were trying to maintain.
“We’re still getting to know each other,” he finally said, choosing a neutral answer.
Zhao Feng gave him a knowing look.
“Got it, got it. That ambiguous stage is exciting… By the way, are you free this weekend? I invited Liyuan out for dinner. Want to come?”
Song Liyuan.
Lu Changfu remembered the girl who worked as a manager at a clothing store. Zhao Feng had been pursuing her for two months but still hadn’t won her over.
At their previous two gatherings, she had been talkative and outgoing, dressed fashionably, and was indeed more sociable than Chen Lili.
“Sure,” Lu Changfu agreed.
Perhaps he should meet some other girls as well.
In case things didn’t work out with Chen Lili… it was always better to have a backup plan.
Saturday morning.
Lu Changfu went to the bank and withdrew 20,000 yuan in cash. As he stuffed the thick bundles of banknotes into an envelope, it finally felt more real.
Not long ago, he had still been worrying about how to save enough money to get married. Now, he could casually take out 20,000 yuan to hire a “girlfriend.”
At noon, 12:00 p.m., outside the factory.
Chen Lili arrived on time. She was still wearing the same cream-colored sweater, paired with jeans that had faded from repeated washing.
Lu Changfu handed her the envelope.
“10,000 yuan deposit. Count it.”
Chen Lili agreed to pretend to be his girlfriend during the New Year.
She took the envelope without counting the money in front of him and put it directly into her bag.
“I’ve drafted the contract.”
Lu Changfu took out a sheet of paper.
“Take a look. If everything’s fine, sign it.”
It was a simple agreement with several clauses:
Chen Lili carefully read it twice, took a pen from her bag, and signed her name.
“Looking forward to working with you.”
Lu Changfu extended his hand.
Chen Lili hesitated before gently shaking it. Her hand was very cold.
“Um…” Lu Changfu looked at her and suddenly blurted out, “Since we’re going to act anyway, why don’t we get used to it beforehand? Maybe… spend more time together?”
Chen Lili frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Lu Changfu gathered his courage. “Since everyone at the factory already thinks we’re dating, why don’t we… make the fake relationship real? I mean, you could actually become my girlfriend.”
After saying it, his heart pounded heavily.
Having one million yuan behind him gave him the confidence to say things he would never have dared to say before.
Chen Lili froze.
Her expression changed from confusion to surprise, before eventually returning to calmness.
“Lu Changfu.”
She called his name, her voice cold.
“We’re just in an employer-employee relationship. Don’t read too much into it.”
“I can treat you well,” Lu Changfu hurriedly said. “I have money now. Really. I can…”
“Having money makes you so great?”
Chen Lili interrupted him.
“I broke up with my ex-boyfriend because he thought money could solve everything.”
She turned to leave but stopped.
“I’ve accepted the deposit. I’ll fulfill the agreement during the New Year. But that’s all.”
Watching her walk away, Lu Changfu stood there like an idiot.
It was the first time in his life that he had formally confessed his feelings to a girl—if that even counted as a confession—and he had been rejected.
After obtaining one million yuan, of all times.
He tugged at the corners of his mouth, wanting to laugh, but couldn’t.
That afternoon, Lu Changfu spent some time writing novels in the dormitory.
He wasn’t in a good state of mind. After writing only a few hundred words, he couldn’t continue.
He simply shut down the computer and lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
His phone vibrated.
It was a WeChat message from Zhao Feng:
“Six o’clock tonight, Xiangyue Restaurant. Don’t forget!”
Xiangyue Restaurant was the most upscale Hunan restaurant nearby. Without ordering expensive liquor, the average spending was around 100 yuan per person.
In the past, Lu Changfu would go there once or twice a month.
He glanced at the time. It was 4:10 in the afternoon.
He decided to take a shower and change his clothes.
At 5:30, Lu Changfu arrived at Xiangyue Restaurant.
When the waiter led him into the private room, Zhao Feng and Song Liyuan were already there.
“Brother Lu!” Song Liyuan was wearing a tight black dress today, with a cream-colored cashmere coat over it. Her makeup was exquisite.
She stood up with a bright smile. “Long time no see!”
“Long time no see.” Lu Changfu nodded.
He noticed that Song Liyuan was wearing perfume today, a sweet and somewhat cloying floral fragrance.
“Brother Lu, you look really handsome today.” Song Liyuan naturally took the coat Lu Changfu had removed and hung it over the back of a chair. “I heard you’ve made some money recently?”
Lu Changfu glanced at Zhao Feng.
Zhao Feng shrugged. “I just mentioned it casually.”
“I made a little money writing novels,” Lu Changfu replied vaguely.
“That’s amazing!” Song Liyuan’s eyes lit up. “I like talented men. Those nouveau riche and crude businessmen have no substance at all.”
She had chosen her words cleverly. She was complimenting Lu Changfu while also implying that he wasn’t one of those “kind of” rich men.
Zhao Feng began ordering the dishes.
He specifically picked expensive ones: chopped chili fish head, Mao-style braised pork, stir-fried yellow beef… He even ordered a bottle of Moutai.
“Don’t spend too much,” Lu Changfu said.
“It’s fine. I’m treating today!” Zhao Feng thumped his chest. “To celebrate Brother Lu making a fortune!”
Lu Changfu wanted to say that he would pay, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back. He might as well let Zhao Feng show off a little, considering that he was pursuing Song Liyuan.
Once all the dishes had been served, the wine glasses were filled as well.
Song Liyuan was very good at keeping the conversation lively. One moment she was telling amusing stories from the shop, and the next she was asking Lu Changfu about his writing.
When drinking, she lightly supported the bottom of her glass with her fingertips and took small sips, her movements elegant.
“Brother Lu, what’s the name of the novel you wrote? I definitely have to read it!” she asked for the third time.
Lu Changfu told her the title.
Song Liyuan immediately took out her phone and searched for it. She then exclaimed, “Wow! So many readers! Brother Lu, you’re really low-key!”
Under the table, her knee “accidentally” bumped against Lu Changfu’s leg.
The first time, Lu Changfu moved away.
The second time, he didn’t move.
The third time, he felt Song Liyuan’s leg lightly pressed against his, its warmth coming through his trousers.
Zhao Feng had drunk too much and began enthusiastically talking about his plans for starting a business.
“Let me tell you guys, manufacturing is finished! If I’m going to do something, I’m going into the internet business. I’ll do livestreaming and sell products…”
Song Liyuan responded perfunctorily, but her eyes kept drifting toward Lu Changfu.