"I wonder if Juren Qing will let us go to the Yan family's main residence. The treatment there is much better than in her own villa area. Not only can we taste the freshest ingredients, but we can also drink the best wine."

Qiao Mei immediately understood why Shang Duojin, who didn't care much for food and drink, would specifically bring this up.

But now...

She glanced at Shu Qingqing, who hadn't noticed anything amiss, and sighed deeply.

Both of them felt a little awkward, and she didn't want to be the one to break the ice, so she could only pretend that she didn't know anything.

They haven't officially set off yet; they're still waiting for Yan Qing's reply.

Soon, Yan Qing returned Shang Duojin's call via personal terminal: "People can come, but the main family definitely can't come. Let's go to my villa. You know the location. I'll prepare the dishes for lunch. You can bring Rose and the others now."

Shang Duojin: He knew it!!

That stingy giant Qing, what's wrong with letting them go to the main family?!

Although he was complaining in his heart, Shang Duojin still agreed readily on the surface.

Qiao Mei didn't care where they went, nor did she feel that Yan Qing's house in the Yan family's main residence was anything particularly different.

To be honest, there are quite a few restrictions.

After she visited last time, Yan Qing specifically told her that some room doors could not be opened.

As a guest, even if she didn't know which room doors couldn't be opened, she wouldn't just wander around and open doors randomly in other people's rooms, so she didn't think much of it.

Unexpectedly, after welcoming them into the house, Yan Qing reiterated this matter.

Shang Duojin seemed unfazed and ignored her completely before asking what she wanted for lunch.

"I cooked some myself, but it's not finished yet. Why don't you all sit in the living room and watch TV or play some games while we wait?"

Yan Qing was still wearing an apron, her neat, short hair was covered by a chef's hat, and she wasn't wearing the bright red lipstick that Qiao Mei usually saw; instead, she was completely without makeup.

Looking at her like that, Qiao Mei wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that her face looked a bit androgynous.

"He's even wearing a chef's hat, he looks quite professional!" Shu Qingqing exclaimed, glancing at the dishes already laid out on the table.

Fried blue crabs, sashimi platters, coconut chicken, and other dishes—the menu is very comprehensive. Not only do they look appealing, but they also smell delicious when you get close.

It's no exaggeration to say that the dishes were almost identical to those she had eaten at some five-star hotels before.

Upon hearing this, Shang Duojin proudly replied, "Of course! None of my friends are lacking!"

Shu Qingqing rolled her eyes: "You talk so proudly, anyone who didn't know better would think you cooked this whole table of food!"

"Tsk, so what if I didn't do it? What's my relationship with Giant Qing? We've been playing together since we were kids. What do you know!"

Shang Duojin's words, at some point, stung Shu Qingqing. She opened her mouth as if to refute something, but in the end, she swallowed her words and remained silent.

But this scene made Shang Duojin feel that Shu Qingqing was speechless after being confronted by him. She was like a rooster that had just won a battle, shaking off her feathers and happily finding a spot on the sofa to take out her game console and play games.

Shu Qingqing, on the other hand, sat in a place far away from him.

It's as if an insurmountable chasm now separates the two of them.

Qiao Mei: "........."

She suddenly understood why Shang Duojin hadn't met any girls who liked him for so long.

Being a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur) is one thing, being too straight-laced is another.

She sat down between the two of them with Ao Cang, and was about to change the TV to see what was on.

Then Yan Qing came out of the kitchen again, still holding a spoon, as if she wanted to ask for help.

Shang Duojin and Shu Qingqing were still having a tiff, and Ao Cang wasn't familiar with Yan Qing. Qiao Mei thought for a moment, then told Ao Cang, and got up to walk up to her: "I'll go help you. Boss Shang and the others are probably too busy."

Yan Qing felt the same way. She didn't expect Shang Duojin to be of any help, and she wasn't familiar with Shu Qingqing and Ao Cang. Only Qiao Mei could help.

Upon entering the kitchen, the smell of cooking oil wasn't as strong as Qiao Mei had expected; there was only the aroma of lotus leaves, glutinous rice, and chicken.

It looks like Yan Qing is making sticky rice chicken.

"Could you wash some more lotus leaves for me? I'll process the chicken a bit more."

Yan Qing put down the spoon and started cutting the chicken.

During the conversation, she casually asked Qiao Mei why Shang Duojin had brought them here today.

Qiao Mei didn't say it outright, but instead asked Yan Qing first: "Do you have a boy you like right now?"

"A boy you like?" Yan Qing's expression was complicated. She shook her head. "No, I don't think there will be."

Qiao Mei asked curiously, "Why? Is it because your standards are harder to meet?"

In that case, she might not agree to Shang Duojin's request.

People with high standards generally won't be too casual about marriage.

Yan Qing didn't know how to tell Qiao Mei, so she could only go along with what Qiao Mei had said: "You could say that, so I've never considered it."

"But why did you suddenly bring this up?" After asking, Yan Qing remembered the question she had asked Qiao Mei at the beginning, and immediately got goosebumps. "Don't tell me that Shang Duojin has fallen for me, do you?"

Qiao Mei: "...No, it's just that the thing he asked you for help with today is quite related to this matter, but he'll have to tell you the specifics himself later."

All the dishes were ready, and it was already 12:30 pm.

During the meal, Shang Duojin, taking advantage of his familiarity with Yan Qing, directly told her about his desire to become her fake fiancé.

"I believe you, and I know you would never develop any feelings for me that you shouldn't have."

Yan Qing felt like vomiting after hearing this. She looked at him with a complicated expression as his mouth opened and closed, and said, "I refuse."

That's disgusting!

If she no longer needs to hide her secret, how will others view her and Shang Duojin?

Shang Duojin was taken aback by Yan Qing's quick refusal and then deflated.

"If you won't help me, who else can I ask for help?"

Yan Qing remembered that Shu Qingqing didn't have a boyfriend yet, and subconsciously pointed at her and said, "Why don't you go find her? Aren't you two on good terms?"

Shang Duojin wanted to say yes, but he felt that Shu Qingqing would refuse without him even having to say it.

Just as he was about to tell Yan Qing to give up, Shu Qingqing unexpectedly spoke up the next moment: "It's not impossible, but the money has to be right. If we have a fake marriage, it will really affect my relationships with other people later."

Shang Duojin: "? Are you serious? You're not kidding me, are you?"