In the center of the dance floor, the cello’s melody was soft and winding.
Chu Anhe’s palms were sweaty, stiffly resting on Xie Jingran’s broad suit shoulders.
He was so tall that even in heels, she had to tilt her head slightly to see his perfect jawline.
Compared to her nervousness, Xie Jingran seemed completely at ease.
His hand rested lightly at her waist, his expression cold and detached, as if conducting a serious academic discussion.
But in reality, Xie Jingran’s mind was in chaos.
System: Host! Waist-to-waist contact during the dance must reach 90%! Right now there’s enough space to fit a pig! Please close the distance immediately! Mission reward: Life +1 hour, Female lead heart +5!
Xie Jingran furrowed his brows subtly, thinking coldly, “So noisy.”
System: Haha, host, I can hear your heart racing. Stop pretending, complete the system mission!
Xie Jingran’s eyelid twitched.
The next second, Chu Anhe suddenly felt the large hand at her waist tighten. She gasped, stumbling into Xie Jingran’s firm embrace.
Their bodies pressed together seamlessly.
“Xie… Xie Teacher?” Chu Anhe looked up in panic, her nose nearly brushing his chin.
Xie Jingran’s face remained calm, his eyes still carrying that indifferent serenity. “Sorry, someone bumped into me just now.”
Guests three meters away: “??”
Chu Anhe dared not look further, lowering her head to whisper, “Oh… okay, then… be careful.”
System: Well done, host! Adrenaline detected, you’re enjoying this!
Xie Jingran internally: Noisy.
At that moment, Chu Anhe lost her balance while turning, her heel crushing Xie Jingran’s custom leather shoe.
“Ss—” Xie Jingran drew a quiet breath.
“Sorry! Sorry!” Chu Anhe’s face went pale. “I didn’t mean to! I’m so clumsy…”
Looking at her pitiful apology, Xie Jingran’s irritation, instigated by the system moments ago, inexplicably melted away.
He leaned slightly, whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry. Even if it’s damaged, I won’t charge you.”
His voice was clear, yet it made Chu Anhe’s ears tingle.
By the end of the banquet, thick snow was falling outside.
Old Master Xie, leaning on his cane, stood at the door, smiling like a cunning old fox. “Ah, the snow is heavy, the roads icy and unsafe. Jingran, don’t go back tonight. Stay at the old residence with Anhe.”
Xie Jingran glanced at the snow outside, then at Chu Anhe, shivering in her cheongsam. He nodded. “Alright.”
Wang Ma immediately approached, smiling. “Young master, your room has been prepared. Hot water is ready too.”
Before Chu Anhe could react, she was led to a room at the end of the second floor.
The room was large, more like a miniature library than a bedroom.
Two walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with foreign books and complex architectural models.
Aside from a wardrobe, desk, and large bed, there was nothing else, perfectly tidy to the point of oppression.
This was the room Xie Jingran had grown up in?
“Sit anywhere.” Xie Jingran removed his suit jacket, hung it, and unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt, looking relaxed.
Chu Anhe cautiously walked to the desk, her eyes catching a photo frame on the corner.
In the photo was a young couple with a seven- or eight-year-old boy.
The couple stood far apart, smiling politely for the camera.
The little boy wore a small suit, holding a giant trophy, expressionless, his gaze exuding a coldness and loneliness beyond his years.
It was clear that boy was Xie Jingran.
“That was taken when I won the International Math Olympiad Gold at age ten,” Xie Jingran said from behind, casually.
Chu Anhe curiously asked, “And your parents…”
“Still alive.” Xie Jingran walked over and poured her a glass of water, his tone as calm as if speaking of someone else. “If you want to meet them, I can arrange it another day. But they’re busy my father is in Europe with his mistress at an art exhibition, and my mother is in New York handling a company acquisition. Their communication is limited to quarterly financial reports and dividends.”
Chu Anhe was stunned.
“They’re a typical wealthy arranged marriage,” Xie Jingran’s lips curved in a faint smirk. “A union of interests, no interference, perfect efficiency. Only flaw: they produced me.”
Silence filled the room for a few seconds.
Chu Anhe looked at this man, at the top of the social pyramid yet seemingly so lonely. Compared to him, her home, though poor, was full of warm meals and laughter.
“Why the look?” Xie Jingran turned to meet her pitying gaze, raising an eyebrow. “Sympathizing with a capitalist?”
“No.” Chu Anhe shook her head. On impulse, she said, “If your home feels too lonely… you can visit mine sometime. My mom’s braised pork is really good.”
Xie Jingran paused mid-hold of his cup.
System: Ding! The host’s defenses were breached by 15%! Female lead’s ‘warmth attack’ critical! Host, you’re falling!
Xie Jingran cleared his throat to deflect, changing the topic. “Speaking of your mother, I’ve arranged for a suitable kidney donor. Although her surgery was successful, it’s temporary; only a kidney transplant can resolve the problem. And your grandmother—she can move tomorrow morning to the VIP suite at Songhe Sanatorium in the south, with dedicated nurses and doctors 24/7. Don’t worry.”
Xie Jingran’s consideration extended even to the minutiae of his family.
Chu Anhe bit her lip. “Xie Jingran, this is too costly, beyond what we agreed. I can write an IOU. I only work part-time now, but I’ll repay you, even if it’s slowly in installments…”
A long hand suddenly reached over, gently pressing her head, stopping her rambling.
“Chu Anhe.” Xie Jingran’s voice turned low. “I’m a businessman. I don’t do loss-making deals.”
He looked into her eyes seriously. “What I want is a Mrs. Xie who can perfectly cooperate with me in two years, cause no trouble, and ease my and Old Master’s mind. Helping you ensures no worries, so you can perform your role better. Consider this… an employee benefit.”
“Employee benefit…” Chu Anhe blinked. This benefit was incredible.
“But…”
“No buts.” Xie Jingran withdrew his hand, pointing to the bathroom. “Go shower. You have twenty minutes.”
Only then did Chu Anhe realize a serious problem.
She glanced at the large bed in the center of the room, gray sheets neatly spread, and stammered, “Um… tonight… how do we… sleep?”
There was only this one bed.
Xie Jingran leaned against the desk, about to speak, when the system suddenly screamed in his mind.
System: Which CEO brings his wife home and sleeps in his own bed? logical! Storyline glitch!
Trigger event: Host must have female lead in bed within 10 minutes to achieve “Sharing a Bed” achievement.
Mission complete: Life +2 hours. Failure penalty: Public confession to the entire school tomorrow, ending with a heartfelt performance of “Wife is the Greatest”!
Xie Jingran’s face darkened.
He took a deep breath, looking at Chu Anhe, expressionless, and said something shameless. “Of course we’ll sleep together. That old fox, Grandfather, surely has someone listening at the door. If we sleep separately or you sleep on the floor, he’ll know tomorrow and might tear down this building.”
Ignoring Chu Anhe’s instantly flaming face, he calmly added, “Don’t worry, I’m not interested in elementary school girls. If it helps, we can put a bowl of water between us.”
Chu Anhe glared at her own curves, fuming as she grabbed her pajamas and stormed into the bathroom. “Who are you calling a ‘little kid’! If you don’t know how to speak properly, don’t!”
Watching the bathroom door close, Xie Jingran finally relaxed his tense shoulders slightly.
System: Host, your heart rate was 130. And you lied, your gaze lingered on the female lead’s chest for 1.5 seconds.
Xie Jingran, embarrassed and angry: “Shut up!”