The man’s movements weren’t exactly gentle. When Xia Qianqian’s face hit his chest, she bumped her nose, and it stung.
Still, his soothing tone comforted her fragile, helpless heart.
Her voice muffled against him, she murmured, “Thank you.”
Fu Beichen said nothing. His large hand gently stroked the back of her head, again and again.
As if soothed by him, the anxiety, unease, and fear in her heart miraculously settled.
She sniffed and slowly closed her eyes, savoring this moment of quiet.
At the same time, she silently prayed that Grandma would make it safely out of surgery.
Grandma, you have to hold on. Don’t leave Qianqian all alone…
She didn’t know how long it had been when the operating-room doors finally opened.
Xia Qianqian immediately left Fu Beichen behind and rushed to the doctor, anxiously asking about Grandma’s condition.
Just like that, Fu Beichen was completely forgotten.
He stood with his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.
“Doctor, how did my grandmother’s surgery go?”
“The surgery went very well. But given her age, she’s still in a critical period and needs to be monitored closely.”
Xia Qianqian wept with joy. “Thank you, Doctor. You’ve all worked so hard!”
She hurried after the doctors as they took Grandma to the intensive care unit for observation.
Xia Qianqian stayed outside, not daring to go in and disturb her.
The doctor had said that what Grandma needed most now was rest, and it wasn’t suitable for family members to visit her yet.
After keeping watch outside for a long time, Xia Qianqian belatedly realized that she seemed to have forgotten someone.
She’d left a certain man outside the operating room.
She looked around, but Fu Beichen was nowhere to be seen. Could he have gotten angry and left because she’d forgotten him out there?
Xia Qianqian stood uncertainly where she was. It suddenly struck her that she didn’t have Fu Beichen’s contact information, so she couldn’t even apologize to him.
Just then, a man dressed in black walked toward her.
“Miss Xia, my CEO is waiting for you at the hospital entrance.”
Xia Qianqian recognized him as Fu Beichen’s assistant. His name was… Song something?
Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Song Tao introduced himself.
“Miss Xia, my name is Song Tao.”
“Hello, Mr. Song,” Xia Qianqian said politely.
Song Tao gave a little cough. “Miss Xia, please just call me Song Tao. I’m only an ordinary assistant; I’m not important enough to be called ‘Mr. Song.’”
Xia Qianqian thought for a moment. “Then I’ll call you Assistant Song.”
Song Tao nodded. “That works too.”
Xia Qianqian turned and took one last, reluctant look at Grandma inside the ward.
“Please don’t worry, Miss Xia,” Song Tao continued. “The CEO has made all the necessary arrangements. If your grandmother wakes up, someone will be there to look after her.”
“He’ll also cover all of her medical expenses from now on.”
Xia Qianqian lowered her eyes.
She knew Fu Beichen was willing to help her for one reason only: he wanted her to have his child.
All she had to do was give him a child, right?
Then Grandma’s medical expenses would be taken care of.
Grandma was the person who cared for her most, loved her most, and mattered most to her. As long as Grandma was all right, anything Xia Qianqian had to do would be worth it.
She quickly left the hospital with Song Tao.
At the entrance, she saw the familiar black Rolls-Royce.
Song Tao opened the rear door and courteously helped her into the car.
Xia Qianqian gave a slight nod and slipped inside.
The moment she entered, she felt a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
The man sat in the back with his legs crossed, looking relaxed and distinguished.
But his handsome face was cold and impassive, his presence impossible to approach.
Sensing that he was in a bad mood, Xia Qianqian bit her lip and braced herself as she climbed in.
She sat as far away from him as she could, nearly pressed against the window. She curled herself into a tiny ball, like a quail.
Was she afraid of him?
Fu Beichen glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his gaze darkening slightly.
Outside the operating room, she’d clung to him tightly enough.
And now? She’d used him and tossed him aside, then sat as far away from him as possible.
Fu Beichen tugged casually at his collar and asked in a cool voice, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
Xia Qianqian looked up at him and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
“Thank you for helping me and my grandmother.”
Fu Beichen had wanted to hear something other than her thanks.
But he wasn’t sure what, exactly.
After all, the things he’d done for her were insignificant to him. He just hadn’t expected this little matter to require his personal involvement.
It went completely against his usual principles.
After a moment’s silence, Fu Beichen said, “We each get what we want. Just obediently have my child.”
“Okay. I-I’ll… try my best to have your child.”
Xia Qianqian bit her lip, its color bright and alluring.
After all, the thought of having a child with a man was deeply embarrassing for an innocent young woman like her.
And last night…
He’d been so fierce.
He’d wanted her all night long.
“This is the agreement I just had drawn up. Read it over, and sign if you don’t see any problems.”
Fu Beichen shifted, spreading his long legs as he handed her the agreement.
Xia Qianqian stared at the document he’d passed her, stunned for a moment before slowly reaching out to take it.
Of course. A businessman like Fu Beichen would want an agreement to bind her to him.
He was probably afraid she’d change her mind.
But when she took the agreement and saw the bold title, she was shocked.
“Trial Marriage Agreement?”
“We’re getting married?”
Fu Beichen replied, “Yes.”
Xia Qianqian stared at him in disbelief. “Didn’t you only want me to have your child? Why do we have to get married too?”
Fu Beichen glanced at her, his low voice as cool as ever. “Do you want my child to be born illegitimate?”
Xia Qianqian had no answer to that.
Someone like Fu Beichen, with his status and standing, couldn’t exactly have a child out of wedlock without becoming a laughingstock.
“But why marry me?”
He had plenty of other options.
She was ordinary, with no money and no status. Why would he marry her and have her bear his child?
She didn’t get it!
Fu Beichen’s dark eyes settled on Xia Qianqian. His cool voice sounded exactly like a businessman negotiating a deal.
“My family is pressuring me to get married. I need an obedient, well-behaved wife to deal with them, and to carry on the family line.”
“You happened to appear, and we ended up sleeping together. I’m picky about women, but you suit me well enough. You need my help, too. We’re just getting what we each want.”
All right.
Xia Qianqian understood now.
Fu Beichen needed a wife who could handle his family and have children—a convenient, easy-to-manage tool. Someone sensible and obedient, who would help him deal with family matters and wouldn’t cause him trouble.
Her background was simple, so she wouldn’t get tangled up in his family’s interests. If he got tired of her during the marriage, he could always keep the child and get rid of the mother!
No wonder he was a ruthless capitalist. He really was shrewd and sinister!
Once she’d figured that out, Xia Qianqian couldn’t help reading the agreement again. The more she read, the more shocked she became.
—After marriage, the wife may enjoy all the rights and benefits of Mrs. Fu and will receive a monthly allowance of at least five million. In return, she must fulfill her marital duties at least ten times a month (excluding her menstrual period), until she becomes pregnant.
—Once the wife becomes pregnant, the husband will cover all expenses. The wife only needs to take good care of herself and the child: eat, drink, and sleep as she pleases, keep her spirits up, and provide the child with a healthy environment to grow in.
—After the wife gives birth, she will receive a reward of fifty million for one child, one hundred million for two children, three children…
Xia Qianqian was speechless.
Wait, the more she read, the stranger it got!
Was she a pig?
Could she really have that many children?
Then she remembered Fu Beichen saying she was highly fertile.
Even if she was, that didn’t mean he could treat her like a breeding sow!
Still, the amount he was offering was tempting—more than enough to make it hard to refuse.
Fifty million for one child, one hundred million for two!
She was going to become a billionaire by having children!
And even if she and Fu Beichen divorced in the end, he would still compensate her—with money, cars, and several villas worth tens of millions each.
All she had to do was play Fu Beichen’s wife and have his children, and she’d get all that.
How was that any different from money falling from the sky?!
Unsure, Xia Qianqian read the agreement over and over, afraid there might be a catch.
Fu Beichen’s cool gaze swept over her pretty face. “If you think anything in the agreement is unreasonable, you can add to it.”
“For example, are you okay with fulfilling your marital duties at least ten times a month?”
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Xia Qianqian choked on her own saliva, her face turning completely red.
Fu Beichen kindly reached over and patted her back.
When she finally recovered, her cheeks were still rosy and alluring.
The man gazed at her intently and continued in his low voice, “If you think it’s unreasonable, we can change it.”
But his tone made it sound as if this was her one and only chance.
Xia Qianqian had been about to feel bad for him, thinking he was giving her so much and getting a raw deal. But his main concern was how often they’d have to fulfill their marital duties each month?!
Wasn’t he supposed to be worried about his money?!
Still, Fu Beichen was the head of the most powerful family in the country, with a fortune worth hundreds of billions. What he was offering her was just a drop in the bucket.
He didn’t even consider the amount worth thinking about.
In that case, Xia Qianqian decided she had no reason to feel embarrassed about accepting so much.
“I think the agreement is quite reasonable. I don’t have anything to add.”
At least ten times a month for marital duties… She thought she could handle that. It wasn’t as if they’d be doing it every day.
Even if she couldn’t handle it, she’d just have to try her best!
“Good. Then sign it.”
Fu Beichen handed Xia Qianqian a fountain pen.
She took it and quickly scrawled her name, afraid the man might change his mind the next second.
Watching Xia Qianqian hurriedly sign her name, Fu Beichen’s thin lips lifted almost imperceptibly.
She’d signed.
Xia Qianqian handed the agreement back to Fu Beichen with both hands, her manner utterly deferential, as if he were her Sugar Daddy.
“Done.”
Fu Beichen raised an eyebrow and took the agreement from her. His long, pale fingers seemed to brush against the rounded tip of her finger by accident, making her tremble.
His deep eyes fixed on her. “Now that you’ve signed the agreement, we’ll go to the civil affairs bureau to register our marriage. You still have a chance to change your mind.”
“Are you going through with this marriage or not?”