Faux Tenderness

[Sorry for changing the premise because I couldn't find inspiration for the original one. Feel free to delete or unfollow.]

The young actress Chu Rou was born with the face of a delicate, innocent beauty, pure and guileless, the sort who makes people want to protect her.

Unfortunately, she wasn't famous and couldn't get any acting roles, so she took a job.

The assignment was a little unusual.

The client wanted her to pretend to be his fiancée, and insisted that she be gentle and obedient, so the elders would like her.

A handsome, cold man sat across from her, his gaze calm. "Please take a look at the contract, Miss Chu."

Chu Rou opened it. Eight major clauses and thirty-two subclauses were laid out in front of her.

Chu Rou: "..."

No wonder this man had inherited a vast family fortune at such a young age and held such power.

What a freak.

For the money, she would put up with it!

Chu Rou signed the contract and diligently played the role of his girlfriend. At last, her employer let her go early, and she was free.

Her employer gave her a ride. As soon as she got out of the car, she eagerly sent her friends a voice message: "I'm finally free of that freak employer! Girls, let's go party!"

Unfortunately, she accidentally sent the message to her employer.

Chu Rou quickly recalled it. Her employer seemed not to have seen it, and their chat remained as silent and empty as ever.

Relieved, Chu Rou blocked her employer, put on some gorgeous makeup, and went out to hang with her friends.

A sequin skirt, a little camisole, big waves, and bold red lips.

The bartender said a gorgeous guy had arrived at the entrance. Half-drunk, she went out to take a look, her eyes hazy.

Under the neon lights, a man stood with his back to her, dressed in a crisp suit, radiating coldness.

Someone nearby tried to strike up a conversation with him. He only said coolly, "I'm here to take my wife home."

Chu Rou thought his voice sounded familiar. The man glanced at her, then, to everyone's astonishment, took off his jacket, draped it over her shoulders, and pulled her into his arms.

His pupils were pitch-black. He curved his lips into a smile. "It's been four hours and thirty-seven minutes since you cursed me and blocked me."

"Had enough fun?"

His palm clasped her slender waist as he leaned close to her ear and whispered seductively, "My dear fiancée."

To deal with his family's constant pressure to get married, Qi Sheng chose a gentle, obedient young actress who matched his grandmother's tastes, signed an agreement with her, and had her play his girlfriend.

She was shy and rarely spoke much to him. Her gaze brimmed with affection whenever she looked at him, but if he caught her at it, she would silently look away, blushing.

She was gentle, too, and his grandmother adored her.

He had thought that was simply her nature.

So he planned to end their contract and start a real relationship with her.

Until, on the first day after the contract ended, he heard her voice message sent to the wrong person.

Only then did he realize that her soft-spoken manner had all been an act.

And he had already fallen deeply for her, believing it was real.

*The tenderness you gave me was fake. The tenderness with which I love you is real.*

Theme: Love requires sincerity