Chapter Four: A Gentle "Chirp"

Jiang Mengnan stood frozen in place, feeling as if she had been struck by lightning.

For that fleeting moment, her heartbeat seemed to come to a complete halt.

"Th-thirty million?" she repeated, stammering.

Lu Yu curled his lips in satisfaction. "The marriage will last three years. Once the term is up, I will compensate you with an additional property. How about that?"

Hearing such an enticing offer, Jiang Mengnan couldn't help but feel curious. "Is this pampered young lady really that terrifying?"

He would rather spend thirty million plus a property to act out a charade with a stranger he had only known for a few days than marry the candidate his family had vetted for him. By any calculation, Lu Yu was the one losing out. No matter how easily celebrities made money, this was no small sum.

Lu Yu shrugged indifferently, offering a vague explanation. "She is a spy sent by my older brother. If I don't want to die young, I have to find a way to save myself."

Jiang Mengnan nodded, understanding only half of what he meant. It sounded like the situation was quite dire. Much like her own life, there were many things one had to face alone. Thinking of their "shared misfortune"—she needed money, he needed a shield, and they both happened to be in positions to help each other out of a jam—she could not resist the temptation of the "thirty million."

Jiang Mengnan finally nodded readily. "Just tell me what you need me to do."

Lu Yu quietly let out a sigh of relief. He glanced down at the luggage on the floor. "Shall we talk when we get home?"

Jiang Mengnan felt a pang of anxiety. "Ah? Home?"

It was truly unfortunate that fate had chosen today to take her home away. The so-called moving was merely a pretext. Jiang Mengnan hesitated, wondering if she should tell him the truth. If Lu Yu knew that she was burdened with thirty million in debt, homeless, facing the constant threat of being sued, and even in danger of losing her bookstore, would he still propose "marriage" to her?

On one hand, Jiang Mengnan couldn't bear to let go of the thirty-million-dollar reward; on the other, she felt she shouldn't keep it a secret. She struggled, torn by indecision.

Lu Yu clarified, "I meant my home."

This statement startled Jiang Mengnan again. "Your home?" Were they living together so soon?

Casting a faint glance at her, Lu Yu looked at his phone. "We're moving anyway, so just move directly to my place. It will save us trouble later."

Before long, Lu Yu's assistant, Qin Jiu, walked in through the back door. Without a word, he lowered his head, picked up the luggage, and left.

"Let's go. Qin Jiu will handle the rest." With that, Lu Yu walked out the back door first and climbed into the van.

Just as Qin Jiu returned to fetch the remaining luggage, Jiang Mengnan pinched her own cheek.

"Ouch... it hurts."

Confirming she wasn't dreaming, Jiang Mengnan turned off the lights, locked the door, and followed Qin Jiu out.

Lu Yu’s home was located in the sub-center of Hai City, only a twenty-minute drive from the bookstore. The residential complex was called "Seaview One." As the name suggested, standing in the six-hundred-square-meter duplex, one could enjoy an unobstructed, panoramic view of the beautiful, winding Huangpu River.

Jiang Mengnan looked at the glittering river view before her and couldn't help but swallow hard. No wonder thirty million sounded so trivial to Lu Yu. This apartment alone was worth several times that.

While Jiang Mengnan was still immersed in the allure of wealth, Qin Jiu approached her and respectfully reported, "Miss Jiang, your belongings have been placed in your room upstairs."

"Thank you, Mr. Qin," Jiang Mengnan said politely.

"Just call me Qin Jiu. Please take a look at this document."

After handing her the papers, Qin Jiu bowed politely and departed. Jiang Mengnan sat on the sofa and began to read carefully. It was a prenuptial agreement, its contents quite simple: it merely detailed the terms Lu Yu had just promised. The thirty million would be paid in full on the day they registered their marriage. Jiang Mengnan only needed to play the role of "Lu Yu's wife" well, and she would regain her freedom after three years. As for the only thing she had to observe during these three years, it was the word "confidentiality." Any breach of contract would result in a massive penalty.

Jiang Mengnan nodded in understanding. After all, Lu Yu was a top-tier star; exposing his marriage and relationship would naturally affect his career.

Lu Yu changed into loungewear and walked downstairs with a relaxed air. He glanced at Jiang Mengnan and sat in a single-seat sofa. "Is there anything that needs to be added?"

Jiang Mengnan shook her head. "No, it's very comprehensive."

Lu Yu picked up a pen from the table, signed his name on one copy of the document first, and then handed it to Jiang Mengnan. She understood the gesture and gave him the copy she held. With their signatures affixed, they each kept one copy. The partnership had officially begun.

Looking at the agreement with satisfaction, Lu Yu asked, "I have half an hour tomorrow morning to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register. Do you have any issues with that?"

Jiang Mengnan waved her hand. "No problem, I'm quite free." Having said that, she awkwardly rubbed the back of her head. Once she thought about the thirty million she was about to receive, she seemed to have lost all concern for her image.

Lu Yu stood up, his expression calm. "Nine o'clock tomorrow morning, we leave on time."

Jiang Mengnan nodded. "Okay."

Before going upstairs, Lu Yu added, "Your room is the first one on the right when you go upstairs. If you need anything, call the housekeeper. I'm going to rest. Goodnight."

After saying this, Lu Yu rubbed the bridge of his nose, shoved his hands into his pockets, and strolled leisurely upstairs.

Jiang Mengnan watched his back until he disappeared, still finding the whole situation unbelievable. Her thirty-million-dollar debt had been solved so easily? She picked up the prenuptial agreement and stared at it for a long time, but her heart remained unsettled. Could there be some hidden motive behind this? She imagined various horror scenarios in her mind, but quickly dismissed them one by one. It shouldn't be that bad, right? At most, he might have some bad habits. If worse came to worst, she would just lock her door when she slept. For the sake of thirty million, she would just have to endure it.

At this moment, Jiang Mengnan wore a look of "resignation to fate," earnestly comforting herself. She lifted the agreement and her gaze landed on Lu Yu's dashing signature, which she admired at close range for a long while. Regardless of anything else, she could now say she had indirectly obtained Lu Yu's autograph. This signature must be worth something, right?

Jiang Mengnan proudly aimed her lips at Lu Yu's signature and planted a light "muah" on it. Before she could pull her red lips away, she heard a soft cough from ahead.

Lu Yu coughed quite deliberately, as if to remind Jiang Mengnan of his presence.

She abruptly dropped the document, her eyes widening in panic as she stared at Lu Yu, stuttering, "Y-y-you..."

Her mind went blank. She stood there saying "you" for a long time, not knowing what to say.

Lu Yu suppressed the slight curl of his lips and said with a straight face, "The housekeeper will bring dinner up in a little while."

Jiang Mengnan remained motionless, responding dully, "Oh."

Lu Yu turned to the side and added, "I won't be eating."

Jiang Mengnan blinked. "Oh."

The topic was exhausted, and the two fell into a moment of silence. Lu Yu nodded, turned, and left. Seeing him go upstairs, Jiang Mengnan finally felt relieved enough to slump back onto the sofa, letting out a long breath.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yu suddenly turned around and looked at Jiang Mengnan with a meaningful expression.

Jiang Mengnan jerked upright, pretending to sit like a lady, and gave an awkward smile. "Is there something else?"