"So, Yangyang, are you packing your bags and leaving tomorrow, or paying a huge penalty for breach of contract?" Xu Chengzhi considerately wiped Lin Yang's mouth with a tissue, his smile innocent and harmless.

Lin Yang stared intently at the last clause on the last page, the amount for breach of contract, her eyes wide open, her hand gripping the thick stack of contracts trembling slightly.

Faced with Xu Chengzhi's choice between two options, Lin Yang closed the contract and chose without hesitation...

"Honey~ will you pay the penalty for breach of contract for me?" Lin Yang said in a high-pitched, coquettish voice to Xu Chengzhi.

She said this for two reasons: first, she genuinely didn't want to be publicly shamed on any dating show; second, she wanted to test Xu Chengzhi's financial situation and see how much wealth he actually had, so she could figure out how to sideline him.

“Yangyang, this amount of money is really nothing to me. If it were something else, I would definitely pay the penalty for breach of contract for you without batting an eye, but…” Xu Chengzhi smiled and patted Lin Yang’s head, “Don’t even think about it.”

He stuck to his principles; cajoling was ineffective, and his refusal was firm.

"Sweetie, I'll pack your luggage for you. Just wake up tomorrow and wait to board the plane." Xu Chengzhi picked up the bowls and chopsticks, got up and left.

"Husband~ Husband~" Lin Yang was too tired to get up and grab him, so she could only weakly stretch out her arms, lying on the bed and sweetly calling his name, "Husband~ Husband~ Brother~"

No matter how sweetly she called to him, he resolutely kept walking away.

She couldn't keep up the act any longer. She lowered her tired hand, gritted her teeth, and called out his name directly, "Xu Chengzhi!"

Xu Chengzhi paused at the door, slowly turned around, still smiling, and said, "Get some rest, my wife."

"Click—" The door locked as soon as the words were spoken.

The room was empty; there was no one else in sight.

Damn it! Not only are they unwilling to pay back the money, but they're also taking advantage of her!

Who's your wife?!

Lin Yang slid down the headboard in a huff, pulled the blanket over her head, and went back to sleep.

Outside the door, Xu Chengzhi did not leave immediately, but stood with his back against the cold door.

The sharp-eyed servant at the door snatched the bowl and chopsticks from Xu Chengzhi's hands, secretly glancing at his young master, whose expression seemed quite different from usual.

The young master usually has a cold and aloof face, but now he's standing at the door, refusing to leave, covering his mouth and secretly laughing... and his laughter is so... seductive!

That's strange, really strange!

Of course, if the servants knew that their young master was secretly overjoyed at the moment because his wife called him "husband" and "brother," and even inwardly screaming like a groundhog, they would probably find it even stranger.

*

Inside a private room at the Hualin Hotel.

"Director Yuan, thank you so much for inviting Xi'er and me to participate in this variety show, 'Love Life.' Xi'er and I will toast you first!" Chu Yu gestured for Lu Xiangxi beside him to stand up, raise their glasses, and down a glass in one go to the pot-bellied middle-aged man opposite them.

"Hey, why are you being so polite? Today you and Xiangxi officially announced your relationship, and the comments section is full of 'blessings'. Your love is truly enviable." Director Yuan emphasized the word "blessings" and his undisguised gaze never left Lu Xiangxi.

Blessings? That's too kind of them.

The reason I posted on Weibo today is that I heard Xu Chengzhi and Lin Yang admitted to their relationship for the first time in order to get a spot on the variety show.

Although the comments on Weibo were all wishing the two of them to stop harming others, fortunately, they managed to arrange a dinner with the show's director.

Director Yuan Chuyu and Lu Xiangxi were no strangers. Back when he was still an unknown director, he had long coveted Lu Xiangxi.

Now, whether or not they can secure this opportunity depends on Lu Xiangxi.

"Xi'er, go and toast Director Yuan with this glass of wine." Chu Yu smiled and handed Lu Xiangxi a glass of cloudy wine.