The car was silent.
Lu Chen sat with his long legs elegantly crossed, his hands resting casually on his knees. His posture was relaxed and languid.
Seeing him like this only made Chen Mengyao more nervous. Her small hands twisted together uneasily, her head lowered, even her breathing became cautious. The car was much warmer than outside, and with her nerves stretched so tightly, a thin layer of sweat quickly formed on her fair forehead.
Her soaked clothes clung tightly to her body, outlining her graceful curves.
“We… where are we going?” Chen Mengyao finally broke the strange silence and asked cautiously.
Lu Chen lifted his eyelids and glanced at her.
Her skin was pale, like delicate porcelain that looked as though a touch could shatter it. Her jeans wrapped tightly around her long, slender legs, and beneath them her fair ankles were faintly visible, stirring endless imagination. Her black short hair, still wet, clung to her neck, making her look especially soft and pitiful, fragile enough to break.
After giving her a look, Lu Chen retracted his gaze and said lightly, “To the mall, to buy you a clean set of clothes.”
“There’s no need. I can change at home,” Chen Mengyao shook her head and refused hurriedly.
But Lu Chen ignored her words and continued, “Also, I’ve prepared a new contract for you. I’ve already signed it. You only need to look it over.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a new contract from his briefcase.
Chen Mengyao’s beautiful eyes widened instantly, her pupils contracting sharply as she stared at him in shock. “Wha… what… you…” She was completely dumbfounded, unable to form a full sentence.
A contract was something you signed for yourself—how could someone else sign it for you!?
“You… you can’t… what you did has no legal effect!” Chen Mengyao stammered, finally squeezing out this one line.
Lu Chen chuckled and tossed the contract onto her lap. “In Yanjing City, my word is the law.”
Chen Mengyao held the contract in a daze, her lips twitching as bitterness welled up in her heart. Was this what power truly was?
Taking a deep breath, she forced down the sourness in her chest. Her trembling hands slowly unfolded the contract. The more she read, the more her expression grew serious, until finally, she was completely stunned.
The contract really was as Lu Chen had said—there were none of the filthy conditions she had imagined. She didn’t need to sell her soul, or even her body.
It wasn’t a contract to sell herself.
According to its terms, all she needed to do was clean at the Lu Family’s home and cook one dinner each day. She didn’t even need to stay overnight. Once she completed her daily tasks, she could return home anytime. She could continue school as usual, receive a generous monthly salary, and even a large year-end bonus. You are reading on novelping(.)com, the official source.
It was practically a job tailored perfectly for her.
When her eyes landed on the string of zeroes under salary, her heart pounded wildly.
10,000 yuan a month.
And the year-end bonus—200,000 yuan.
Either figure was something she had never dared to dream of. With this salary, she could save enough for her mother’s surgery in less than a year.
Her fingers tightened around the contract, her knuckles turning white. Excitement and hope flooded her chest.
Lu Chen saw all of her reactions and smiled faintly. “Well? Did I lie to you?”
It wasn’t that he was stingy, giving her only 10,000 yuan a month. If the amount was too high, with Chen Mengyao’s personality, she would feel more resistance and unease. But this number—not too much, not too little—was just right.
Hearing him, Chen Mengyao turned to look at him. His refined features were sharp and striking, his tall nose and thin lips carrying a gentle smile. He looked cultured and noble.
This was the first time she truly studied the wealthy young master who had suddenly intruded into her life. The last time, he had worn sunglasses and she hadn’t seen clearly. Now that he had taken them off, she realized how beautiful his eyes were.
His black pupils were like a starry night sky, deep and mesmerizing.
Yet the aura he exuded was noble and distant, giving an impression of being untouchable, cold and aloof, as if separated by an uncrossable chasm.
And when those deep eyes fell on her, Chen Mengyao felt as though she was being stripped bare, every part of her laid open. It made her feel extremely uneasy.
She quickly shifted her gaze away, the surge of excitement within her fading, replaced by wariness and guardedness.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
She didn’t believe Lu Chen was helping her without expecting anything in return. He must have some hidden motive—she just hadn’t discovered it yet.
Biting her lip, Chen Mengyao hesitated, then gathered her courage to look at him again. “Will you really follow the contract strictly… and not do anything excessive?”
Chen Mengyao lowered her eyes, staring at the contract with complicated feelings. She pressed her lips together and fell silent. After a long while, she calmed her emotions and hid the turmoil in her gaze. “Alright.” She said softly, head lowered.
Lu Chen’s lips curved slightly. “To let you work at the Lu Family without distraction, I’ll invite the best medical teams from both home and abroad to cure your mother. You don’t need to spend a single cent—I’ll cover everything.”
The words hit her like a bomb, leaving her stunned for several seconds. She looked up at him, shock flashing in her eyes. “You… you mean it?” Her voice carried disbelief, yet could not hide the joy seeping through.
Lu Chen nodded, his smile gentle. “Of course. I, Lu Chen, wouldn’t exaggerate about this.”
“I… I’ll repay you as soon as I can,” Chen Mengyao clenched her fists tightly, her gaze firm.
Lu Chen arched a brow, smiling faintly. “With the salary I give you?”
Her cheeks flushed instantly. She lowered her head in embarrassment and muttered, “Then I won’t take the salary. I’ll work part-time elsewhere to repay you…”
Lu Chen let out a low hum, his tone domineering and resolute. “Since we’ve signed, this is an employment relationship. Salary must be paid. All you need to do is work properly.”
Chen Mengyao lifted her head, wanting to argue further, but before she could speak, his slender finger pressed gently against her lips, making a gesture of silence. He whispered, “Rest for a while. We’ll be there soon.”
For a moment, Chen Mengyao’s mind went blank. She stared wide-eyed at his handsome face so close to her own. Those dark, bottomless eyes seemed to hold a force that could draw her soul away.
She quickly averted her gaze, turning toward the window.
Yanjing City at night was beautiful. Neon lights shimmered like countless rays of dazzling brilliance. Towering buildings lined the streets, shopping malls bustling with activity, pedestrians hurrying under the rain, and streetlamps stretching the shadows of passing cars.
Outside, it was vibrant and lively. Inside the car, silence hung heavy. Chen Mengyao could hear her own erratic breathing.
Lu Chen noticed, his smile deepening. He lowered his hand, leaned back against the seat with his arms crossed, and closed his eyes.
Chen Mengyao stole a glance at his profile, her heart beating wildly. For just an instant, she thought Lu Chen didn’t seem so bad. But only for that instant.
The next moment, she reminded herself.
No… Chen Mengyao, you must not be fooled by his appearance. He has an agenda. You must stay alert and never lower your guard.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied her heart, returning to calm like still water.