Chapter 1: The Heiress Destined by Fate
“Auntie, I don’t want to work hard anymore.”
“Then go die!”
Damn, blocked again...
Lu Ye glanced at the message from a certain wealthy woman in his WeChat, shook his head in disappointment, and turned off his phone, returning to his tedious shift.
Lu Ye was a lowly security guard at the Yiren Group, and his dream was to meet a rich woman who would love him so desperately she’d be on the verge of slitting her wrists if they broke up. He wanted nothing more than to live a comfortable life as a kept man.
“January 8th, 2020. Today is colder than yesterday; the temperature, like my mood, has hit rock bottom. I’m still here in the unheated security booth, waiting in vain. My destined rich lady has yet to appear...”
Closing his diary, Lu Ye prepared to take a stroll upstairs under the pretense of patrolling—an excuse to bask in the warmth of the office radiators among the white-collar workers.
But as soon as he stepped out of the guardroom, he bumped headlong into a young woman.
She was Su Qianqian, the chairwoman of Yiren Group, twenty-five years old.
Lauded as the most beautiful woman in Pearl City, her face and figure were flawless, as if she were the proudest creation of the goddess Nuwa. Her tailored business suit accentuated every perfect curve, and her cold, arrogant expression radiated the aura of a workplace queen from head to toe.
Clutching her chest where Lu Ye had collided with her, Su Qianqian snapped, “Lu Ye, do you walk around with your eyes closed?”
“Injustice, President Su! Have you heard of the law of attraction? Us bumping into each other is nothing but physics!”
Dark lines of exasperation creased Su Qianqian’s forehead. She still didn’t know where her father had dug up this oddball two months ago, insisting on planting him in her company as a security guard, claiming that, should danger arise, Lu Ye would protect her.
But Su Qianqian doubted anything dangerous would ever happen to her. If things kept on like this, she’d go mad from frustration well before any real crisis struck.
Since this troublemaker joined Yiren Group, she had received constant complaints from staff below, saying he spent his days mingling in other departments, flirting with the female employees and ruining the company’s reputation...
If she weren’t in such a rush, Su Qianqian would have liked nothing more than to give him a good dressing down.
“Have you seen Xiao Wang, the driver? Tell him to get the car ready immediately—I need to go home for something urgent!”
Lu Ye replied, “What a coincidence. Xiao Wang’s sister is getting married, so he took leave early this morning and asked me to cover for him for a few days.”
“You? Never mind... Just go bring the car around to the entrance and wait for me.”
Su Qianqian really had an emergency to deal with at home and had no time to be picky about who drove her.
“Got it.”
Lu Ye took her car keys, dashed down to the underground garage, and brought a Porsche Panamera to the front of the company. Picking up Su Qianqian, they sped off toward the Su family estate.
On the way, Lu Ye said, “President Su, I’m truly grateful you gave me this job.”
Su Qianqian paused. Did she just hear him say something normal for once?
She kept her face cold, though. “It was my father who hired you, so you don’t need to thank me.”
“But you’re the one who pays me, the real boss. I know my place—I must thank you! I’ll roll up my sleeves and work hard, won’t let the company down!”
It was just a bottom-of-the-ladder security guard job—did he really need to be so grateful? Pathetic.
Su Qianqian curled her lip. “Lu Ye, you’re not that old. Why resign yourself to this dead-end job? What did you do before this?”
“Me? I used to be a special forces operative. Participated in hundreds of anti-terrorism campaigns in the Middle East, was awarded the UN Peace Medal, and was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize...” Lu Ye boasted nonchalantly.
“Stop! That’s enough! How much did you drink at lunch today? Are you driving under the influence right now?”
“I haven’t had a drop! I’m telling the truth!”
Su Qianqian leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, not wanting to bother with this lunatic.
...
A dozen minutes later, the Panamera rolled to a stop outside the Su family estate.
A middle-aged man was waiting at the door: Su Shiming, Su Qianqian’s father.
As soon as she got out, Su Qianqian anxiously asked, “Dad, why did you call me back so urgently?”
“We’ll talk inside...”
“Hello, Uncle Su!” Lu Ye parked the car and greeted him.
Su Shiming replied, “Ah, Xiao Lu, you’re here too? Come in and have a seat.”
Lu Ye nodded and followed Su Qianqian into the living room.
Pouring a pot of tea, Su Shiming said with a worried face, “Qianqian, your grandfather has decided to marry you to Zhang Yunjie, the son of the Zhang family. He made this engagement with the Zhangs behind my back and just told me to inform you to prepare for marriage.”
Su Qianqian’s grandfather was the head of the Su family, and all matters, big and small, were decided by him.
Clearly, this was a marriage alliance designed to further the family’s interests. The Zhang family, until a few years ago, was still a second-rate clan. Then Zhang Boquan, the patriarch, found a mysterious backer and suddenly became the richest man in Pearl City.
Zhang Boquan’s son, Zhang Yunjie, was notorious for his arrogance and bullying, abusing his power to oppress men and women alike. Her grandfather wanted her to marry someone like that?
Su Qianqian said coldly, “I refuse!”
Su Shiming replied, “I don’t accept it either. Everyone in Pearl City knows Zhang Yunjie is a scoundrel. How could I let you marry such a degenerate?”
“But your grandfather is dead set on sacrificing your happiness for the family’s benefit. And the Zhangs are so powerful now, refusing this marriage would be a slap in their face. I’m afraid they’ll retaliate.”
Su Qianqian asked anxiously, “Is there no way out?”
Su Shiming shook his head. “There is a way. I thought it over last night.”
He went on, “If we find you a husband before your grandfather and the Zhangs make the engagement official—just go through a fake marriage—then Zhang Yunjie will give up.”
“A fake marriage?” Su Qianqian was taken aback.
“Yes. I have no other solution. You know what your grandfather is like.”
Su Qianqian slumped on the sofa, dumbfounded. She’d never even held hands with a boy before, and now she was being rushed into marrying a stranger?
Her father comforted her, “Don’t overthink it. It would just be a marriage in name only, to keep up appearances. I suggest you find someone honest, with a clean background and no real power or connections. Pay him off afterwards, and once the storm passes, get a divorce.”
“That’s the only way.” Su Qianqian, thinking it over, realized there was no better option.
“But where do we find such a man? We can’t just pick someone off the street. Do you know anyone suitable?”
Su Qianqian pondered, then glanced toward the corner of the living room, where Lu Ye was teasing her father’s pet parakeet...
“Hey, how about marrying me?”
Both Lu Ye and Su Shiming were stunned, each inwardly exclaiming, What the hell!
Su Shiming was surprised because he knew Lu Ye’s background was anything but simple, though there was much he couldn’t reveal to his daughter.
Lu Ye, on the other hand, felt deeply insulted.
She’d just said she needed someone honest, with no abilities or connections, and immediately thought of him? Was he really that pathetic?
A man of honor can be killed but not humiliated!
Lu Ye’s fist clenched, a scowl on his face—then, suddenly, his expression turned sly. “Wife, when shall we get our marriage certificate? I need to book a haircut!”
“Bastard!”
Su Qianqian collapsed back onto the sofa in shock.
What the hell? What happened to dignity?
A minute ago, he looked like a tragic hero; the next, he’s calling her wife? Was he trained in face-changing opera? She’d never seen anyone so shameless in her life.
Su Shiming was dumbfounded too. He remembered Lu Ye as a decisive and formidable man—when had he become so cheeky?
Still, if Lu Ye was willing to play the part, he was delighted.
Clearing his throat, Su Shiming said, “Ahem, since you’ve settled on a person, you should get married as soon as possible.”
“Of course, Father-in-law!”
Lu Ye nodded. “Wife, are you free this Sunday?”