"You're a lot like her, but cheaper."
Across from the cold marble desk, he pushed a document over, and the metal pen reflected its ruthless luster under the light. The black suit wrapped an almost perfect figure, but there was no trace of warmth in those deep eyes, only the scrutiny like evaluating a product.
My name is Lin Wei, I am thirty-eight years old, divorced, with a seven-year-old daughter, and... I am silently counting down the last seconds of my life. I gathered up the white-washed knitted cardigan on my body, glanced at the "Partnership Agreement" on the table, and then slowly looked at him - Shen Ke, the legendary figure in Jiangcheng's business world.
I smiled softly, and the fine lines at the corners of my eyes stretched. There was no trace of the humiliation or excitement he expected. He reached out, took the expensive pen, and signed his name steadily with his fingertips. At the same time, the mouth of the old canvas bag on my lap was slightly open, revealing a corner of the edge of the hospital medical record, with glaring black writing printed on it: "Advanced ovarian cancer, with multiple metastases."
"Mr. Shen, it's a pleasure to work with you." My voice was calm, even with a hint of relief.
He frowned slightly, seemingly surprised by my too calm reaction, but in the end he didn't say anything and just nodded indifferently.
He didn't know that this "cheap" agreement in his eyes was, to me, the guarantee of my daughter's future life and the last roof before the storm. And my time may be shorter than the three months stipulated in the agreement.
