The next day, as Li Xinyue was organizing her things, her phone unexpectedly rang.
She glanced at the screen, a strange number flashing. Her brows furrowed, but she answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
"Miss Li," came a deep, calm voice. It was unmistakably Mu Zhenyu, her supposed fiancé. "I'd like to meet with you today."
Her surprise was evident. "How did you get my number?"
A faint chuckle followed. "I have my ways," he replied smoothly. "Can you meet me? I'll send you the address."
Curiosity mingled with suspicion, but Li Xinyue's instinct told her to see what he had to say. "Fine. Send the location," she replied.
Shortly after, an address pinged on her phone. She recognized it as a high-end café in the city. She quickly prepared .
Within the hour, was seated across from Mu Zhenyu, who looked as composed and unreadable as ever. His dark eyes studied her as she took her seat.
He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I'll get straight to the point," he began, voice calm but firm. "I propose a marriage contract—an arrangement to last no more than three years. After that, we can annul it quietly."
Li Xinyue's expression stayed neutral, but internally, she was processing. "Why three years?" she asked, curious about his reasoning.
"Three years will be enough time for both of us to fulfill any obligations to our families," he replied evenly, his gaze unwavering.
"It will also give us time to handle public appearances and any expectations from our families without any unnecessary complications."
Li Xinyue thought about it. She wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea, but she had no solid plan at the moment.
Her adoptive family was pressing her into this marriage, and she needed time to establish herself without their interference. A contract marriage… it wasn't ideal, but for now, it might be her best option.
She nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll accept."
Mu Zhenyu's face remained impassive, though his eyes held a hint of approval. "Good. Then get your identification and documents ready. We'll register the marriage tomorrow."
She blinked, slightly taken aback. "Tomorrow?"
"Yes," he confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact. "There's no point in waiting. It's better if we handle this efficiently."
Li Xinyue was quiet for a moment. This man was clearly direct and didn't waste any time. She admired that about him, in a way. Taking a deep breath, she agreed. "Fine. I'll be ready."
The two of them finished their meeting with a quiet understanding. As she left the café, she found herself feeling both wary and oddly relieved.
She'd found an ally of sorts in this complex situation, someone who wouldn't intrude on her plans but would help keep the Zhang family's demands at bay for a while.
The arrangement was far from perfect, but for now, it was her way to freedom.