My former business partner set me up. I was 800,000 yuan in debt, and my life fell apart.
Just as debt collectors threatened to come to my door, a full 800,000 yuan suddenly appeared in my account.
The transfer note contained just four words: “For your umbrella.”
An umbrella? What umbrella?
I suddenly remembered that in high school, I’d once braved the rain to buy a 25-yuan floral umbrella for the teacher I had a crush on.
She asked me to meet her at a cafe where the average bill was equal to my monthly living expenses,
then slid an agreement and a bank card across the table:
“Debt Settlement and Marriage Agreement”
The terms: be her contract husband for one year and pretend we’re happily married in public.
Penalty for breach: 1,000,000 yuan.
I thought it was just a cold transaction, with each of us getting what we needed.
Until I found out that in her study, she’d secretly been investigating the person who’d ruined my reputation.
Until I saw that her encrypted photo album was filled with pictures she’d secretly taken of me.
Until her business rival humiliated me in front of everyone at our class reunion: “Enjoying the free ride?”
She presented the evidence in public, took my hand, and said each word clearly:
“He’s my husband. I’ll personally restore the good name he lost.”
The umbrella has been repaid, but the debt remains.
It turned out that all along, her every move was meant to repay me with more than money.
She also wanted to return the wholehearted love buried by time.
“If you were me, would you sign a marriage agreement worth a million?”
