Xie Youci leaned in close, bending down.
His breath wafted over her, his low, lazy voice slipping into her ear, sending such a shiver through Chi Yang that she nearly melted.
But the glaring red she caught in the corner of her eye—
Chi Yang snapped back to reality in an instant, pushing him away with a shove. “You shameless rogue! Who’s your Mrs. Xie?!!”
The newlywed Miss Chi was instantly furious with embarrassment.
Arrogantly, she snatched the marriage certificate from him and tossed it aside, showing no intention of acknowledging this plastic husband of hers.
Yes.
They were already married.
Just yesterday.
Arranged by their parents, a marriage of convenience.
But the two of them had been like fire and water since childhood, to the point where even if they posted their marriage certificate on social media, they’d be teased about their excellent Photoshop skills—what a shame it wasn’t April Fool’s Day.
Xie Youci had expected this. “Suit yourself.”
He believed he had no feelings for this new wife of his, so facing Chi Yang’s disdain and rejection didn’t bother him in the slightest.
Although last night had indeed…
Thinking again of the scene where Chi Yang had teased him, Xie Youci frowned, lowering his head to rub his temples.
It really was strange.
He had almost lost control last night.
He’d never thought Chi Yang could be so alluring when drunk, leaving him somewhat bewildered and enchanted.
Xie Youci suddenly threw off the covers and got out of bed.
Chi Yang immediately wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, eyeing him warily. “You’re not allowed to tell anyone about last night.”
“Not interested.”
He bent down to pick up the marriage certificate, the sexy expanse of his back muscles still marked with several red scratches from her nails.
Two clothing brand bags were placed by the bed.
From his own bag, he pulled out a new pair of suit pants, leisurely sliding his long legs into them before lowering his head to fasten his belt with an air of refinement.
Chi Yang’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “And you’re not allowed to tell Xiao Tianli and Xue Rang about the marriage either.”
Xie Youci lifted his eyelids to glance at her, raising his head with a leisurely smile. “Fine.”
He hadn’t planned on announcing it to the world anyway.
Chi Yang finally let out a sigh of relief.
She hadn’t expected Xie Youci, that dog, to be so easy to talk to—not at all like the annoying, difficult person she’d imagined.
But they’d grown up together, their social circles highly overlapping. While the elders believed they were a match made in heaven, their friends mostly teased them for being like fire and water.
Among the younger generation in the capital’s elite circles, there was even a saying:
“If Chi and Xie can get married, pigs will fly.”
If everyone found out this had actually happened—and had progressed at lightning speed to sharing a bed—she might as well be dead.
So Chi Yang pressed her luck further. “Then… shouldn’t you give me some kind of wedding gift?”
Xie Youci: “…”
He turned his head, lazily narrowing his eyes, his probing gaze revealing a hint of arrogance and defiance.
Chi Yang looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Full of anticipation.
Xie Youci slowly pulled on his belt, taking his time until he finally fastened it, as if stretching the moment out.
“Three hundred million.”
He casually gestured a number with his hand. “Within three hundred million, as many items as you want. Pick whatever you like.”
Chi Yang kicked her feet happily, suddenly feeling that this arranged marriage might not be such a bad deal after all.
This wasn’t just three hundred million.
It meant many more three hundred millions in the future!
She didn’t have many hobbies.
Her biggest one was spending money recklessly, buying lots and lots of beautiful things that could make her happy.
Xie Youci chuckled softly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.He hadn’t originally had this kind of awareness—using money to win the favor of the Chi family’s little princess.
But his parents had reminded him that since he had agreed to marry the girl, he should fulfill the duties of a husband and treat her well, especially since Chi Yang had lacked affection since childhood.
Xie Youci had taken those words to heart.
Though he couldn’t offer love, satisfying Chi Yang’s extravagant material demands was something few in their social circle besides him could fully manage.
Fine.
“Five billion it is,” Xie Youci relented. “And pick yourself a wedding ring you like.”
Chi Yang nearly squealed and lunged at him.
But she was still undressed. Xie Youci pressed a fingertip to her forehead, pushing her back onto the bed while bending down to retrieve the change of clothes he had prepared for her.
He added casually, “Don’t forget to take your marriage certificate when you check out.”
This time, Chi Yang didn’t throw the document away.
She hugged the marriage certificate, nodding eagerly like a chick pecking at grain, as if she were holding a massive ATM.
Seeing her so happy and the way she looked at him had changed, Xie Youci felt an inexplicable sense of pride, his lips curling into a faint smile.
“I’m off.”
He straightened lazily, buttoned his shirt up to the top, and shuffled out of the hotel room.
Chi Yang hummed a cheerful tune.
The frustration from last night was quickly replaced by the thrill of shopping. She picked up her phone, ready to start browsing for her five-billion-yuan wedding gift.
But the financial news notification that popped up made her eyes widen in shock—
“Mamma mia!!!”
Instantly.
The entire hotel suite echoed with Chi Yang’s frantic, hopping screams.
Her phone lay pitifully cracked on the floor.
The screen was still lit.
Displayed prominently was the morning’s breaking gossip news:
#Chi Yang Drunk and Acting Shamelessly#
#Huayou Capital’s Xie Youci Harassed#
Chi Yang couldn’t believe it—the incident she had tried so hard to hide had already been exposed by the paparazzi!!!
Done for.
Chi Yang collapsed back onto the bed.
Too ashamed to ever show her face again.
…
Chi Yang didn’t move into the marital home.
She spent three days in a daze at her own small villa, claiming jet lag, but in reality, she was hiding out of embarrassment while her friends tried to organize a welcome-back gathering.
It was true she had just graduated from Italy and returned home, immediately rushing to get married upon arrival.
Jet lag was a reasonable excuse.
But some things couldn’t be avoided forever. Her childhood best friend, Jiang Li, eventually bombarded her with calls:
“Chi Xiaoyang! Are you hatching eggs at home? It’s been days since you got back, and you still won’t come out to see us!”
The phone was filled with noisy chatter.
It sounded like a gathering was in full swing.
Her childhood friend Xue Rang chimed in from the background, “Yeah, Chi Xiaoyang! It’s been three days—surely you’re over the jet lag by now? Come out for your welcome drinks! Brother Ci is here too!”
Brother Ci…
Xie Youci!
The Xie Youci whom the media had exposed to all their friends as the one she harassed, the Xie Youci she had tried to keep secret from everyone—her newlywed husband, Xie Youci!!!