Zhou Xingluo stood in the entryway, pushing his silver suitcase, frozen solid.
His eyes were wide as his gaze bounced back and forth between Qiao Mai and He Sinian, finally landing squarely on He Sinian’s face.
That expression looked for all the world like he’d run straight into the Grim Reaper in broad daylight.
“He—”
A single syllable popped out of his throat.
He Sinian lifted his eyelids and glanced his way.
That look carried zero emotion, yet it forced Zhou Xingluo to swallow the rest of his words back down.
Qiao Mai’s scalp tightened, her brain cells working at absolute overdrive.
We’re totally screwed!
Could this guy be Jenny’s sugar daddy?!
Trespassing was illegal; if he called the police, her socialite persona would completely collapse tonight!
That absolutely wouldn’t do—she had to strike first!
“Who even are you? Why are you just walking into someone else’s house? Have you got any manners at all?!”
Zhou Xingluo was stunned by the sudden bark, pointing at his own nose. “Me? Someone else’s house?”
This was clearly the house he bought for his little pet!
“Otherwise what? Could it be that all four of our eyes are wrong?” Qiao Mai said righteously, though internally she was apologizing nonstop. I just hope kneeling down to apologize tomorrow still works.
Just as Zhou Xingluo was about to blow a fuse, He Sinian stood up from behind Qiao Mai.
He didn’t speak; he just picked up a tissue and wiped his hands.
Seeing his provocative actions, Qiao Mai’s heart leaped into her throat. Big brother, your persona right now is a bankrupt CEO—could you not go around provoking arrogant rich second-generation heirs like this? A single hair from his leg is thicker than your current waistline!
Zhou Xingluo felt a chill run all the way down his spine under He Sinian’s gaze.
This VIP Buddha usually only went to private clubs—why was he dressed like this today, hanging out in his rundown little villa eating takeout?
Experiencing life? Going undercover?
Whichever it was, it wasn’t someone he could afford to anger.
“Ah… I went to the wrong place! I’m supposed to be at Building 5, this is Building 2.”
He grabbed the handle of his suitcase, backing out while apologizing. “Really sorry, you guys carry on.”
As he stepped outside, he thoughtfully pulled the front door shut behind him.
Quiet returned to the house.
Qiao Mai let out a long breath of turbid air, patting her chest. Thank goodness he went to the wrong house; otherwise, she’d have checked out right here tonight.
“You’re sweating. Are you nervous?” He Sinian lowered his gaze to look at her.
“Not at all!” Qiao Mai answered with absolute certainty. “This food is a bit spicy, that’s why I’m sweating. Come on, keep eating, don’t waste it.”
He Sinian withdrew his gaze and didn’t speak again.
That night, while He Sinian went to take a shower, Qiao Mai dove straight into the study.
She had already talked a big game about bringing Jenny along to make money, so she had to deliver, otherwise she’d judge herself.
Still, she wasn’t truly skilled at investing; after looking through several new-energy stocks, she still had no clue who to put her money on.
Even though He Sinian was bankrupt, his brain was still sharp—she’d ask him later.
After his shower, He Sinian walked over to the guest bedroom door. Seeing it empty, he immediately knew Qiao Mai had gone into the study.
Passing through the living room, he noticed the pile of unfinished takeout scattered casually across the table and stepped forward.
His gaze landed on that 88-yuan “high-end private kitchen meal” on the table. The plastic delivery containers shone with a cheap layer of grease.
His eyes darkened slightly.
Just then, his phone rang.
It was a call from Zhou Xingluo.
“Speak.”
“Brother He, what kind of crazy stunt are you pulling? I just got back to the country, went to that house in the southern suburbs to find my little web celebrity, and when I pushed open the door, I saw you eating takeout in there with a woman! Do you have any idea how shocked I was?!”
Zhou Xingluo still couldn’t digest that mental image.
He Sinian’s tone was leisurely. “So?”
“No, don’t you think you’re being completely bizarre?” Zhou Xingluo pressed, panicked. “You! The dignified head of the He Group, worth tens of billions, and you’re running off to live in a house bought by someone else for their kept mistress? The whole social circle is gossiping that your capital chain broke and you’re bankrupt—you didn’t actually go broke, did you?”
“Mn, I’m bankrupt.”
“Oh, please!” Zhou Xingluo refused to believe it at all. “Day before yesterday, the old man in my family said those Wall Street cutthroats were still talking at a banquet about how ruthless your methods were, swallowing up that big European project. Are you pretending to be poor to trick ghosts?”
He Sinian gently arched a brow, his gaze drifting toward the direction of the study.
“If nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
“Bro, don’t be so calm, you’re freaking me out!” Zhou Xingluo took a sharp intake of breath. “You aren’t playing some kind of bankruptcy-test-of-true-love game with that woman, are you?”
“I’m telling you, even though she’s pretty, pretty women are the best at lying. Don’t play around and end up sinking yourself in!”
“You’re overthinking it.”
Only then did Zhou Xingluo relax slightly. Fine, his brain is still functioning.
“Still, I’m super curious—what’s so great about that woman that even my Brother He is interested?”
“Her name is Qiao Mai,” He Sinian stated.
Zhou Xingluo thought for a moment, drawing a blank. “Which family’s socialite daughter is she?”
“Not a wealthy daughter. Just a fake socialite full of lies.”
Zhou Xingluo: “…”
After a long pause, he finally spoke up: “Are you out of your mind? Gold diggers like that are a dime a dozen, wouldn’t throwing some cash at her get rid of her? What are you trying to get out of playing along with this act?”
He Sinian bent down to pick up the lighter on the coffee table, replying flatly, “I have nothing better to do.”
“Pfft!”
Zhou Xingluo couldn’t help laughing out loud.
“Fine, if you want to play, your buddy will definitely cooperate. You can stay in the house as long as you want, I’ll go stay at a hotel for a couple of days. But Brother He, let me give you a piece of advice: a woman like that has way too many tricks. Play around if you want, but don’t actually get invested.”
Get invested?
Impossible.
He Sinian twitched the corner of his lips and hung up the phone directly.
A vain, deceitful woman like Qiao Mai wasn’t his type. Playing with her was just because her routine was different.
He wanted to see just how far her act could go.
“He Sinian, come over here.”
Qiao Mai opened the study door and beckoned to him.
He Sinian felt like her posture looked like she was calling a dog. He glanced at her and didn’t move.
Left with no choice, Qiao Mai had to take the initiative, walking over to sit beside him and saying with a righteous expression:
“I’ve been thinking carefully about our current situation. A big guy like you can’t just hang around the house acting like a lazy couch potato every day—it’s bad for your physical and mental health.”
He Sinian lowered his gaze to look at the tablet computer in her hand.
Qiao Mai seized the opportunity to pick it up, pointing at the screen as she told him: “So I suggest you get a job, preferably a part-time gig with daily cash payouts. It’ll be just enough to cover our living expenses.”
He Sinian was hit square in the eyes by the blazing red title on the screen.
His voice turned slightly cold: “You want me to apply to be a male model?”
Completely oblivious, Qiao Mai nodded vigorously in agreement. “Yeah! This is a VIP private-room male model gig! With your looks and build, making one hundred thousand a month isn’t a dream!”
“Besides, those wealthy women love this kind of fallen-aristocrat vibe you’ve got going on. Don’t worry, I’m very open-minded—I definitely won’t mind you earning hard-earned money like this!”
He Sinian sneered. “Why don’t you go take a nap in the daytime?”
Sensing he wasn’t happy, Qiao Mai immediately flipped to the next page.
“Don’t like male models? Then what about a matrilocal son-in-law?”
“This is the hottest micro-drama genre right now, and you’d be the male lead! Two thousand a day, plus two boxed meals included!”
“It’s practically tailor-made for you! Well, aren’t you tempted?!”