In the end, Yuchen decided to focus on reading the contract, reassured by the notion that the suspicious person wouldn't pose any immediate danger.
As he skimmed through the document, Yuchen found it quite standard for a contractual agreement. Elena was designated as Party A, and he was Party B. The contract outlined that Party A would provide financial support to Party B in exchange for a contractual marriage with certain conditions.
The first condition required them to maintain a public image as a loving and committed couple, attending events together when necessary. Yuchen thought this was quite doable. After all, he did act before as a spy, he knows he can do that well.
The second condition required that both parties must treat each other with respect and refrain from any behavior that may bring harm or embarrassment to one another or their respective families. This, too, seemed reasonable to Yuchen.
The third condition required party B shall keep the details and terms of this contract confidential, ensuring that no unauthorized parties are made aware of its existence..
Yuchen's forehead creased as he read the third condition where only he was required to keep the contract confidential.
"Did you tell other people about this contract?" Yuchen inquired, glancing at Elena.
Elena, who was still busy with her cell phone, looked up and removed her sunglasses, smiling sweetly.
"Yes," Elena responded casually. "I informed my lawyer and my secretary," she added.
Yuchen couldn't help but feel a tinge of confusion as he witnessed Elena's sudden sweet smile directed at him. There was something peculiar about her expression, as if it were carefully crafted and forced. It seemed as though she was making a deliberate effort to appear cute and endearing in his presence.
"Wait, is the person hiding over there one of your people?" Yuchen asked, nodding toward 8 o'clock.
Elena appeared slightly taken aback by the unexpected question.
"Not really. He's a reporter, but he's not affiliated with me. I'm surprised you noticed him," she admitted, now smiling genuinely.
Elena had recently become aware of a persistent reporter seemingly tailing her. Despite not being a celebrity, she speculated that the heightened interest arose from the numerous comments on her birthday post, questioning why she was still single.
The idea struck her that the reporter might assume she had a secret boyfriend, leading her to take deliberate advantage of the situation.
She decided to meet Yuchen in a public place like this, Elena hoped the reporter would catch them together, resulting in favorable press. After all, they were planning to marry in just two or three months. She believed it would ease people's curiosity about the sudden marriage to a man they had never seen before.
"Ah, so you want a publication," Yuchen said, nodding as he grasped the woman's intentions.
Continuing to read through the contract, Yuchen's forehead furrowed in surprise when he discovered a crucial detail.
"Two years?" he pondered, realizing the duration of their contract marriage.
In truth, Yuchen hadn't planned on an extended stay in China. His intentions were to remain for a few months, maybe a year at most, allowing him time to investigate Weiyang and carry out his plan.
"What is it?" Elena asked when she noticed the change in Yuchen's expression
"It's nothing," Yuchen replied, masking his emotions and resuming his focus on the contract.
"Let's just try it. I can travel back and forth between China and London," Yuchen thought. After all, this was merely a contract marriage, it didn't mean they would get married and he had to tell his wife about his activities.
As long as they maintained their public image and attended necessary events. That's enough, right?
While waiting for Yuchen to read the contents of the contract, Elena suddenly felt bored because she already replied to all the incoming emails
She then started to pay attention to Yuchen who sat in front of her, engrossed in reading the paper in his hands
Today the man was wearing a white T-shirt, making his appearance look more casual than yesterday.
"He's really handsome," Elena's sudden thought caught her off guard as she observed Yuchen's focused face. His red lips were firmly sealed, almost like he was posing for a photoshoot. Not to mention, the afternoon sunlight seemed to bestow an ethereal glow upon him, enhancing his charm.
"Oh?! What was I thinking?!" thought Elena who hastily shook her head to drive away the strange thought. What's wrong with her ? Why did she even think like that?
"Well, what else can I do? He sure is handsome! That's a fact! Not that I'm attracted to him!" Elena thought, trying to find the reason why she suddenly thought that man was handsome.
"Not that I'm interested! The man is indeed handsome!" she reaffirmed to herself.
Elena finally made up her mind to ignore Yuchen and chose to pass a piece of material to the reporter who was still taking pictures of her. She started smiling, laughing, and looked like she was in love.
Elena's attention then shifted to the cake that Yuchen had placed on the table earlier. To be honest, she deliberately didn't want to order cakes because today she wanted to start her diet.
She would be wearing a wedding dress two or three months later, shouldn't she start her diet to look perfect in that dress she thought she would never wear?
However, despite her resolution, her hand couldn't resist reaching for the spoon on the table, indulging in the irresistible temptation of the black forest slice.
"Let's start the diet tomorrow!"
Elena then savored the cake with casual indulgence. After all, she is the one who is gonna pay for the cake! So it is acceptable to ask for an extra bite or two, right?
"Oh? I'm glad you like the cake," Yuchen said when he saw that Elena seemed to be enjoying the cake he ordered.
Yuchen's sudden voice caught Elena off guard, causing her to fluster slightly. She instinctively covered her mouth, chewed, and swallowed before responding.
"Is there any reason not to like it?" Elena asked back, feeling that Yuchen's question was really weird.
"Well… some people don't like it. They find it too sweet," Yuchen replied casually.
"Well, that means there is something wrong with them. How can they not like the black forest?" Elena asked while rolling her eyes and putting her spoon back on the plate since she had already eaten half of the cake.
"You can eat all of it if you want," Yuchen offered, noticing Elena's gesture.
"Really?" Elena's excitement unwittingly seeped into her voice, but she quickly regained composure. "Ehem, well… if you don't want to eat it because I already touched it, it can't be helped," she hastily added, returning to her poised demeanor.
"Ah, it's not really like that. I noticed you were enjoying it so much, and there are no more black forests being sold in this cafe. So, go ahead and enjoy it," Yuchen explained hurriedly, ensuring Elena wouldn't misunderstand his gesture.
Yuchen found himself puzzled as to why he felt the need to explain to Elena to avoid any misunderstanding. Maybe because Elena's attitude was different from before?
Yesterday the woman looked confident and powerful, like a leader. But this time the woman looked approachable and actually looked a little cute, especially while indulging in the cake.
Elena didn't say anything when she heard the explanation.
"He's surprisingly considerate too," thought Elena who was satisfied with what Yuchen was doing. Apparently, she hadn't made a wrong choice in selecting him as her contract husband.
"So, what about the contract?" Elena suddenly shifted the conversation's focus.
"I'm fine with it," Yuchen replied promptly. "Do you have a pen? I didn't bring one," he continued, eager to sign the contract immediately.
"Ah, you can sign it in my office later. It will be beneficial for our public image," Elena suggested, realizing the significance of having him visit her office.
After all, he was the man she would soon marry. It would be odd if he had never been to her workplace or seen by her employees, right?
"Okay," Yuchen nodded, placing the contract back into the envelope. He then raised his glass and began sipping the tea he had ordered.
"Oh right, what's your insta? We have to follow each other," Elena said suddenly thinking about that.
The scenario is that they are lovers who have been dating for a long time, so they should at least follow each other's insta, right?
Moreover, Yuchen has been in London for a long time, so he at least has an insta account, right?
Yuchen was slightly taken aback by the question.
"Ah, I don't use insta or other social media," Yuchen replied casually, placing his glass back on the table.
For him, using social media was simply a waste of time, and he preferred to limit his online presence to the messenger application for connecting with friends.
After all, as a mafia member, Yuchen didn't want to expose his information so easily to the public that his enemies might have access to it later.
"Why?" Elena's smile was intrigued as she leaned forward, genuinely curious about his reason. "Do you have a secret identity or something?" she playfully inquired.
Elena clearly remembered that her sister-in-law didn't use social media either and it turned out that she had a secret identity as a hacker.
Does her contractual husband-to-be also have a secret identity like that?