The person Lin Wangshu had a secret crush on in college, despite their never interacting, has invited her to a sham marriage!
A base salary of 300,000, all kinds of allowances, and a big house to live in. If Lin Wangshu hesitated for even a second, it would be disrespectful to money. She signed the papers in the afternoon, moved in that evening, and got their marriage certificate the next day. Just like that, she fell into the trap Qin Zhao had been plotting for ages.
After they got married, Qin Zhao tried every kind of hint and seduction. In the end, he was throwing flirtatious glances at a blind woman. Lin Wangshu wasn’t moved, while he ended up getting jealous all the time.
Netizen (Qin Zhao): Is Madam in love?
Lin Wangshu: Not exactly. There’s just someone close to me now.
Netizen (Qin Zhao): Does Madam like him?
Lin Wangshu: No.
Qin Zhao got jealous and tried to test Lin Wangshu, hoping to get closer to her, but he went about it the wrong way. Lin Wangshu deliberately kept her distance, and for a whole month she spent less than a day at home.
He panicked.
Qin Zhao: “You’re supposed to clock in and out twice a day. You missed fifty check-ins last month.”
“Each absence costs you 10,000, so you owe me 200,000.”
“The 2,740 yuan I pay you is the government-mandated minimum wage.”
...Qin Zhao managed to keep Lin Wangshu around for the time being, but he still couldn’t figure out what was in her heart. Even Lin Wangshu herself wasn’t sure whether she loved him...
Then one night, though neither of them had been drinking, they watched themselves soberly slip deeper and deeper into love. By moonlight, they confessed their feelings.
Qin Zhao: “Just answer me this: do you love the 300,000 or do you love me?”
Lin Wangshu: Hesitates, wanting to speak
Qin Zhao: “Don’t say you love my money.”
Lin Wangshu: “You! You were like this before, too!”
Nothing hurts more than becoming strangers after passion! Qin Zhao grew colder and colder, and though they lived under the same roof, they could barely have a meaningful conversation. Just as Lin Wangshu decided to ask him what was going on, he brought up divorce...
Reading Guide:
Happy ending.
They have mutual crushes but can’t figure out each other’s feelings. They could have gotten together in college, but it took them until now.
Lin Wangshu’s feelings for him are a contest between absolute reason and relative emotion. She loves him, but he isn’t her whole life. Without being completely sure, she doesn’t want to gamble on that one percent chance, until emotion finally takes the lead.
Qin Zhao fell in love with her when he was at his most insecure and sensitive, while she was at her most confident and radiant. Lin Wangshu’s light only made him feel more inadequate, so he worked himself to the bone to become better and prove himself. Only when he felt he was good enough did he dare to pursue her with all he had.
Theme: A love hidden in the heart is set free by an absurd contract
