Chapter 8
This is too risky.
If he gets exposed as a man, the risk of being discovered will increase greatly.
He still hadnât made a choice when Chen Pingzhouâs voice message came again.
ăI know this is a bit difficult for you, but we really have no way back now. You donât want to end up in jail, right? Having a criminal record might even affect your college applications.ă
These words hit Jiang Chengâs weak spot like a nail.
Now there seemed to be only two paths in front of him:
Reveal that he is not Chen Yin, and wait to be punished by the Chen family and the police, likely ruining his future and possibly having to pay a breach penalty.
Or⌠accept this âfiancĂŠâ identity.
Chen Pingzhou was far more skilled than Jiang Cheng. He understood the tactic of first giving a slap, then a sweet date, and sent another voice message.
ăHow about this, as compensation, Iâll add another 100,000. Arenât you going to university? Your grandmother is old, she canât stay alone in the county town. With this 200,000 total, you can take her with you and settle in the city where you study.ă
Jiang Cheng: ââŚâŚâ
You really think you can test a cadre like this?
But Jiang Cheng knewâhe was tempted.
Shang Zheyan clearly looked down on him, yet still pretended to be interested in him. Wasnât that also deceiving his feelings?
In the end, it was just mutual deception.
Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth. There was no turning back now. It was just pretending to date a man for two monthsâfine, heâd do it!
Thinking this, he took a deep breath and opened Shang Zheyanâs chat box.
Chen Yin: No, Iâll go down and get it myself.
After sending it, Jiang Cheng quickly got out of bed, put on the already messy dress, and checked himself in the mirror. After confirming there were no flaws or signs of exposure, he took another deep breath and went downstairs.
Avoiding the servants who were cleaning, he slipped out quietly, crossed the yard, and carefully opened the small side door next to the main gate.
He peeked through the crack.
Sure enough, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan from last time was parked outside, and Shang Zheyan was leaning against the car.
Because it was hot outside, he had taken off his coat and was wearing a black shirt with sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms. His wrist bones were sharp and defined, and beneath the appearance of a well-bred young master lay a sharp, restrained strength.
The tall young man stood casually, even slightly taller than the Cullinan beside him. In the dark night, the car looked like a crouching beast, and he was like its master.
The streetlight fell on his sharply defined profile, outlining his jawline with cold, sharp edgesâhe looked dangerous, like someone who could snap a neck at any moment.
Jiang Cheng was terrified and almost wanted to turn and run.
At that moment, Shang Zheyan seemed to notice the movement and looked up.
Their eyes met.
In just an instant, the frown on his face relaxed. The sharp, cold aura around him faded quietly, replaced by a lazy, relaxed demeanorâas if the earlier danger was just Jiang Chengâs imagination.
âYouâre here,â Shang Zheyan said with a smile. âWhy are you sneaking around? I donât bite.â
ââŚâŚâ
Thatâs hard to say.
Jiang Cheng slowly walked over, every step heavy, as if he wanted to escape at any moment.
But he held back.
He typed on his phone:
âI just wanted to see if it was really you. What if some bad guy was lurking outside my house?â
Shang Zheyan laughed and rubbed his head.
âI thought you didnât dare to see me.â
Even though Jiang Cheng had prepared himself for this fake relationship, being touched on the head by another man still gave him goosebumps.
âAlright, I wonât tease you anymore. This soup is nourishing. My mother also uses itâher doctor prescribed it. It helps a lot. I wrote the recipe and instructions together, you can have your chef make it later.â
Shang Zheyan said as he took a thermos from the car and handed it to him.
Jiang Cheng took it and decided he would secretly throw it away later.
âThank you.â he typed, pretending to be moved.
âMm. Go back and rest well these next two days.â
Huh? Thatâs it?
He thought⌠there would be some kind of âprocess.â
âWhat, reluctant to leave?â
Seeing him hesitate, Shang Zheyan teased him.
âOr do you want me to walk you in?â
Jiang Cheng immediately shook his head, waved his hand with the thermos, and ran off quickly.
Just as he was about to close the side door, he heard Shang Zheyan call his name:
âChen Yin.â
Jiang Cheng froze.
âAlthough I donât like arranged marriages, so far Iâm quite satisfied with this engagement. If you donât propose a breakup, Iâll take it as you agreeing to our relationship.â
Jiang Cheng: ââŚâŚâ
He wanted to refuseâbut refusing meant jail. How could he refuse?
Now he regretted it deeply. He really regretted taking Chen Pingzhouâs money and boarding this pirate ship.
Feeling like crying, Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and typed:
âIâm very confused right now. I donât know what I think yet. Can you give me some time to consider?â
This âconsideringâ would probably take ten days, half a month, maybe even a month. Jiang Cheng silently gave himself a thumbs-upâso smart!
Shang Zheyan knew not to push too hard. As long as she didnât directly refuse, to him it was basically a yes.
âMm,â he agreed generously.
Before Jiang Cheng could relax, he added in a slightly stern tone:
âBut donât avoid me.â
Jiang Cheng typed: âOhâŚâŚâ
Shang Zheyan seemed satisfied. âGo.â
After returning to his room, Jiang Cheng opened the thermos. Inside was still hot soup, faintly smelling of herbs.
Even though it was kind, he didnât dare drink it and poured it out in the bathroom. He washed the thermos and planned to return it later.
Back on the bed, he suddenly remembered his exam results. The excitement had faded after all this trouble, but he was still happy.
He opened WeChat and was almost flooded by messages.
Some were asking about his scores, some congratulated him, and teachers were asking about his university plans. He quickly replied one by one.
His friend He Jun also messaged him.
He Jun: I saw your score! So high! 50 points higher than mine!
He Jun: I told your grandma. She was so happy she cried but didnât dare call you because she didnât want to disturb your âwork.â
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng felt guilty.
Evil Big Orange: Tell her Iâm busy with work right now. Iâll call her when I have time.
He Jun replied quickly.
He Jun: Donât worry, I already comforted her. She went to sleep earlier.
He Jun: Congrats! You did great!
Evil Big Orange: Thanks. You did well too.
Based on He Junâs usual performance, being only 50 points lower than him meant he had done unusually well.
He Jun: Haha, yeah! My parents are super happy and already planning a graduation banquet.
He Jun: Are you going to apply for Beijing University?
Evil Big Orange: Yeah. My score should be enough.
He Jun: Nice! Iâm planning to apply to Beijing Engineering University next door. We can look out for each other.
He Jun: I also saw on Xiaolvshu that the current campus âschool grassâ at Beijing University is from the sports department. Heâs a scary big guy. If he hits you, Iâll help you hit back!
Evil Big Orange: âŚâŚ
Evil Big Orange: I donât even know him. Why would he hit me?
He Jun: Because youâre good-looking! You might steal his title!
He Jun: Guys like that are simple-minded, strong limbs, fists like sandbags. Maybe his school grass title was earned by fighting. With your small frame, one punch and youâd fly away.
Jiang Cheng couldnât help laughing.
In his mind, Shang Zheyanâs tall figure appeared again.
The Beijing University school grass had nothing to do with him.
But Shang Zheyan⌠really looked like someone who could send him flying with one punch.
After the two-month mission ended, he must run far awayâso far that Shang Zheyan would never find out he was actually a man.
Otherwise, one punch and he might be sent flying to the sun.
