A Dating Contract - Pretending Becomes Real
Money-loving, opportunistic, dramatic little ray of sunshine x hot nerd, quiet and restrained workaholic
Xiao Xiao's day of working a side job couldn't have gone worse. She'd barely left campus on her little electric scooter when she scraped a Rolls-Royce.
Her heart ached. She hadn't even earned any money yet, and now she was paying out instead.
The rear window was halfway down. The man inside was handsome but stern. Trembling, Xiao Xiao apologized and asked if she could pay him the damages later, once she'd saved up enough.
The man studied her for a moment. "You don't have to pay me back, but I have a condition."
*
His grandmother was seriously ill, and her only concern was her grandson, Yan Xu, who was still single. To reassure her and help her get discharged sooner, Yan Xu had no choice but to find someone to pretend to date him.
When he met Xiao Xiao again, Yan Xu handed her a contract. She saw the six-figure payment listed and her eyes went wide.
Having grown up watching every kind of romance drama, Xiao Xiao could slip into any style of romance with ease.
"What kind of couple dynamic do you want?"
Korean-drama romance, Taiwanese-drama melodrama, Japanese-drama healing, Thai-drama thrills, Western-drama sex appeal and heat... She excitedly rattled off one scenario after another, then noticed that Yan Xu across from her had fallen silent.
Xiao Xiao gave an awkward cough. "Okay... I'll make adjustments as needed to fit the situation."
After reading the contract, Xiao Xiao made three more demands:
"First: For our pretend dates, I get to choose the restaurant, and Party A pays."
"Second: For banquets, I'll choose our outfits and styling, and Party A pays."
"Third: While we're together, hugs and cuddles are fine, but no kissing or anything like that."
Yan Xu nodded and agreed to each one. "Sure."
Xiao Xiao exclaimed inwardly: Where did this absolute saint of a man come from?
*
Later, Yan Xu learned that Xiao Xiao visited and cared for his grandmother at the hospital even more often than he did. Since going back and forth between school and the hospital was inconvenient, he suggested she move into his place and let his driver take her around.
Xiao Xiao thought it over, then politely declined. "Wouldn't it be awkward for someone in my position to live at your place?"
Yan Xu: "So... you want to marry me?"
Xiao Xiao: "???"
[Bonus Scene 1]
To convince his grandmother that she and Yan Xu were dating, Xiao Xiao regularly posted snippets of their dates on her social media. One day, she brought home a fake male model, put him in a suit, and posed with her arm around his for a photo to send Yan Xu. She was just too clever!
Yan Xu, who was in the study next door, came over and knocked.
Yan Xu: "Don't use this again."
Xiao Xiao: "Why?!"
The model's arm could even bend around her waist. He'd cost a fortune!
Yan Xu: "It's too fake... His physique isn't as good as mine."
[Bonus Scene 2]
The day after Xiao Xiao accepted Yan Xu's confession, she regretted it and started stammering and dodging him.
Yan Xu asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Xiao confessed, "What if I only like you for your money?"
Yan Xu's lips curved. "Then that's perfect. I have lots and lots and lots of money."
[Reading Guide]
1. Six-year age gap (22 x 28), one-on-one romance, both leads have no prior sexual experience, happy ending
2. The heroine can be a little vain, but she's adorable. She tends to lie out of habit, but she's adorable. She loves money, but she's adorable. Basically, she's the cutest ever!!!
3. I'll add more if I think of anything
Theme: Work hard to make money!
