"You're going to be my fiancée."
Jian Qingshan had never dreamt that he would say such thing, and the statement leaves her blinking in disbelief.
A millisecond later, she collects herself and crosses her arms.
"Why me? I can bring you other worthy candidates."
"I thought I told you. I like the way you work. You know how to execute. You realized that woman's careless mistake right away. And you covered for her, naturally distracting from her screw up by putting the blame on yourself."
"…"
"You seem like you'd be very easy to work with. And most importantly of all—"
Once again, he closed the distance between them, and presses her against the wall.
"You don't even flinch when I try to make a move on you."
Wang Zhixin looks the woman up and down, evaluating her like a scientist carefully examining the subject of his experiment.
It was not as if it was a sensual gaze, yet for some reason, it made her heart throb.
"In other words, you think I'll be easy to use."
"I've got the optimum materials right in front of me. I'd have to be stupid not to use them."
It was a typical answer, the man was making excuses himself. To put it bluntly, he just wants her to be his fiancée.
To Jian Qingshan, it wasn't a bad idea because it was her only chance to get close to the man and find Code X. Then again, the closer they were, the more difficult it will be to act without attracting suspicion.
But first and foremost, an arrangement like that would probably mean she needs to be around the ice prince 24/7.
Feelings starts to rise up inside her, but she swallows them before they made themselves known on her face.
Every chance worth taking comes with a risk.
"Before I say anything else, you should know. I don't have the kind of pedigree you need to get your board of directors off your back."
"We'll figure something out. If you believe your precious 'love' to be a worthy cause, then regardless if your personal feelings, you shouldn't be able to turn me down. Not based on what you said, at least."
"Ha-ha!"
"What?"
"Nothing, I just remembered the way you mentioned Article 24 of the Constitution even as you broke off your engagement. That was very impactful, especially coming from you. I was absolutely floored."
"…"
"I'm sorry. Don't be angry. I'm getting to the point. I was there for that conversation. You even made a point of asking Li Bai if you saw me."
"…"
"Plus, I also told your receptionist and secretary who I am and why I had come to see you. They could figure out we don't know each other very well."
"We can deal with that. They're professionals, after all. I know exactly who I can trust and who I can't at my company."
"I see. Then, the one we need to watch out for is—"
"Li Bai. He's pretty sharp. We're going to have to come up with a plan. Come with me."
With that impassive declaration, the man walks off. Although she followed him, her wariness doesn't fade even a little.
-
"Hold my calls. Actually, wait."
After leaving the luxury hotel, both Qingshan and Zhixin headed to the man's office.
Having received the man's instructions, the secretary is about to leave when the man stops her.
"Get rid of the documents we discussed. That's all."
"Yes, sir."
After watching the secretary leave with some sort of documentation in her hands, Jian Qingshan looks at the man.
"That's a lot of documents. What are they?"
"That's the file I've been keeping on you."
"…"
"Wu Nianzhen, consultant at Persona Solutions. Your job, your achievements, your personal life, other details about your personal history and relationships."
The real reason for him to go out of his way to tell her that was because he was watching to see how she'll react.
"Ha-ha, when did you manage to do all that? I feel like you've stripped me naked."
"Pfft, well that's a sexy way of putting it. Although, I suppose that's basically what a background check does."
"Then what if I stripped you naked, too?"
"I'd like to see you try. But—still you seem to be virtually flawless. Which is all the more reason why the idea of hiring you as my partner is so appealing."
The woman couldn't have done it without the help of her agency when it comes to constructing fake identities.
"Alright. Well then—"
"Yes, let's talk business."
Warm, orange light floods into the office as the sun begins to set. With the western sunlight casting a scorching crimson tone on their skin, negotiations begin.
"First of all, the nature of our relationship cannot be made public. The media can't find out. The people I'm attempting to fool are, after all, my employees. Also, I told them I had a fiancée, but something close to that will do."
"Then my actual position would be a serious girlfriend to whom you intend to propose? And while you'll be leading Li Bai and you board of directors to believe that, you don't want anyone else to know anything about us. Correct?"
"You catch on fast. And I'd like if you keep this conversation between just the two of us."
"That goes without saying. This will be completely confidential."
"Well then, moving on. As you know, unnecessary feelings have no place in this agreement. I can't have you developing real feelings for me, so there will be no ring. When we're not pretending to be a couple, we won't interfere in each other's lives."
"It's important to draw a clear line in the sand. I understand."
"However, there are always unforeseen circumstances. The terms of our agreement are subject to change, and I need you to abide by those changes."
"…"
"I obviously won't be making any bizarre requests. The terms of our agreement will only change if absolutely necessary."
"I understand."
The man was keeping his best cards close to his chest. Jian Qingshan was understanding the man's personality better by the day. And, when he says he won't make any bizarre requests, he probably means it.
"Let's move on to the last details, the duration of our contract and compensation. As far as my pay goes—"
"I'll give you 10 million yuan."
"…"
"And as for the duration—"
"—hold on just a second. I can't do this indefinitely. I have a life."
Although she was shocked to hear the amount, she didn't hesitate to tell him what she can and cannot do.
Due to the nature of her mission, that point was non-negotiable.
"One month. If you want me to do this for any longer, we don't have a deal."
"In that case, it's going to be a very busy month. I am announcing a new product, and that means a perfunctory party. I have a number of appearances—"
The words resonate with her deeply. The new product he was talking about was the new AI device.
According to her intel, chances are his new product contains a virus.
"—you'll have to accompany me to all those events. If you're able to do that then I'll pay you 10 million yuan for the month."
She was thinking he'll lower his offer, but the man was not flinching. On the other hand, it could indicate problems down the line.
He was expecting a lot out of her. In other words, the mask he's asking her to wear is a double-sided one.
She is to play the part of his soon-to-be-fiancée while in the presence of his employees, and when she's not, she has to make herself invisible, attracting as little attention as possible.
10 million yuan in the length of one month.
She couldn't speak a word of this to anyone, and there's no negotiating the terms of the contract. However, she has to accept that the terms of the contract could change without warning.
It was indeed a simple, elegant deal.
"I'll be by your side for the next month. We should let your employees know we share a deep connection."
"Yes, a month isn't a very long time, but I'll spend it doing my best to appease the people around me."
"Alright. Then it's a deal. However, I'd like to add something to the terms of our contract. I have no problem acting like a fiancée, or rather your soon-to-be-fiancée, but—"
"But what? Tell me."
"But you're not allow to touch me."
She said, flashing him a joking smile. However, despite her playful expression, she was dead serious.
She doesn't sell her body for a living.
The man had tested her before, even when she played along, she never gave him anything.
Although he never tried to make a move on her outside of those tests he's given, that doesn't mean she shouldn't nip the issue in the bud before it has a chance to become a problem.
His eyes, locked with her, goes wide. Then he laughs.
"Very well."
Everything she had done or willing to do was to get her hand on Code X. She is working on the side of right to keep the world a safe place.
Jian Qingshan has come too far to mess things up.
"Well then, Mr. Wang, or should I say, Zhixin. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful working relationship."
"I couldn't agree more, Nianshan."
For Qingshan and Zhixin, there was no longer any need for handshakes. Two phony lovers joined by a secret. In the waning light of twilight, they quietly enter into a loveless union.