"Honestly, any man would want to marry you—me included. But if this is just self-punishment or a tantrum, I refuse." Ye Chenghuan's tone softened with feigned tenderness.
Lin Peishan blinked back tears, her icy mask reforged. "This decision is calculated. I just need to know if you'll act like a man."
"Fine. I'll... reluctantly agree."
She nearly choked. Reluctantly? Her status had humbled herself to beg, yet he acted like granting a favor. "Three conditions," she said tonelessly. "First, I'm marrying you out of necessity, not love."
Ye nodded. "We're from different worlds—I know that much."
"Second, this marriage is in name only. No illusions of being real husband and wife."
"Why?"
"Because if our... mistake leaks, I'm ruined. Marriage seals the secret."
"Or you could have me killed. Neater."
"I considered it. You're not worth the effort." She set down her cup wearily. "This is for my company. For the Lin family..."
Ye smirked. "Ah, I'm your bargain husband. How noble of me to suffer this role."
Lin's glare could freeze magma. "One year. If you make me fall in love, I'll truly marry you. Otherwise, take 5 million and vanish."
"You'll love me."
"Arrogant fool."
"Confidence is my middle name."
She slid a check across the table. "500,000 deposit. The contract comes later."
"Love isn't for sale!" Ye pocketed it swiftly.
Lin's lips curled. Same greedy trash as the rest.
"Deal struck. We're husband and wife now, yes?"
Her silence screamed louder than words. She'd shackled herself to this stranger—a living monument to her shame.
Tears welled despite her iron will.
"Let it out. My shoulder's yours, bao—"
"What did you call me?!"
"Shouldn't spouses use pet names?"
Lin shuddered. "Where do you live?"
"Why?"
"Pack tonight. My driver fetches you tomorrow."
"To where?"
Her ears flushed crimson. "My home. We need... preparations before the wedding."
"Trial marriage?"
She stared at her trembling hands, mind a tangled mess.
"All my possessions are on me. Let's go now."
The BMW sliced through Longdu's coastal highway. Salt air whipped Lin's hair into wildfire tendrils as Ye gazed at the paradox outside: sapphire skies above a city where skyscrapers clawed at heaven while sewage festered in their shadows.
"Wife, where's our love nest—"
CRASH!
Lin swerved into a guardrail. Ye's forehead kissed the dashboard.
"Call me that again," she hissed, "next crash ends at a cliff."
Ye rubbed his nose—then froze. Three black SUVs closed in through the rearview.
Danger etched his face. Gripping Lin's wrist, he flashed a wolfish grin. "Let me drive."
Before she protested, he hauled her onto his lap.
"Release me!" She squirmed, humiliation burning hotter than the engine.
"Hold tight." He downshifted. The BMW's V12 roared awake.
220 km/h. 250. 300.
Lin's scream died in her throat as storefronts blurred into streaks. The speedometer redlined—engine temperatures critical.
Ye laughed maniacally. "BMW 760Li Steinway—4.6s zero-to-hundred! Let's waltz!"
A 180° drift sent trash cans flying. Lin's nails dug into his thighs.
The SUVs cornered like rabid hounds. Police sirens joined the chaos.
320 km/h.
Tires screeched as Ye threaded through an alley barely wider than the car. One SUV T-boned a fruit cart; two others rammed police barricades.
Lin glimpsed flashing red lights ahead—spike strips.
"Brace!" Ye yanked a hidden lever.
The BMW's suspension lifted. They vaulted over the traps like a metallic gazelle.
Three blocks later, the SUVs were smoking wrecks in the rearview. Ye eased into an abandoned dockyard.
Lin stumbled out, knees buckling. "You're insane!"
"Adrenaline's the best aphrodisiac, wife."
She slapped him—handprint blooming on his cheek.
They stood panting, the BMW's hood crumpled like discarded foil. Somewhere in the distance, waves crashed like the chaos between them.
Ye touched his stinging face. "Feel better?"
Lin trembled—with fury, fear, or something darker. Without warning, she seized his collar and kissed him savagely.
When they broke apart, her whisper carried lethal sweetness: "If you ever risk my life again..."
"I'll deserve whatever comes."
The SUVs' blackened shells reflected in her eyes. "Who were they?"
"Your enemies outnumber your shoes, Mrs. Lin. Welcome to my world."
Dawn tinged the horizon bloody as they limped toward a future neither could escape.