Crossing the Line After Marriage

Song Zhi's long-awaited reunion with You Yi took place at a business dinner. He was the guest of honor, while Song Zhi watched her client, who had been giving her the cold shoulder, practically fawn over him as they presented him with a lavish gift, afraid he might refuse it.

She failed to close the deal, but got a ride in his car.

She never expected that this one ride would lead them to start a special relationship, united by their shared headache of being pressured to marry: a somewhat ridiculous "fake marriage partnership."

A lowly office worker and a famous group CEO, they were worlds apart in status and family background.

They were both just trying to deal with their elders, and Song Zhi knew this was a relationship they would only keep up halfheartedly.

She never expected him not only to agree, but to take his role far too seriously.

At their first meeting with the parents, he put an arm around her waist. "Don't move. Mom's sneaking a look."

During a video call with the whole family, he held her hand the entire time, yet warned her, "If you blush any more, they'll all know we're faking it."

In public, he would even hug her under the pretext of giving her a coat, holding her so tightly…

At the dinner table, they acted like an affectionate couple. In their double bed, they kept firmly to their respective sides.

Every now and then, Song Zhi would take stock of his increasingly bold behavior and reassure herself: So what if he put an arm around her waist?! So what if they held hands, or hugged? She was the one who said they had to act the part properly.

But gradually, she realized something was off… First, how had they ended up kissing? And then, wait, why were they kissing again?! That wasn't in the contract!

Ah… She wouldn't hold it against him. A kiss was no big deal. She quietly pulled out her phone and sent him a payment code.

Y: [?]

Song Zhi, without changing her expression: [The fine for last night: 100,000.]

Y: "Get your facts straight. You were the one who made the first move."

The contract said that if she crossed the line, she'd have to pay double.

That meant a full 200,000!

Song Zhi didn't reply. She played dead.

A little while later, the man sent another message, as if he had seen right through her.

Y: [You can pay me back later. Maybe you can try making it up to me another way.]

Song Zhi immediately asked: [What?]

The man went silent.

Until one day, she woke up in bed with swollen lips and a foggy mind. Looking at her huge bank balance and the marks on her waist that wouldn't fade, she began to suspect something was wrong: Could that guy You Yi actually be serious…

At last, she saw the light. She pulled on her pants and ran.

Divorce! They had to get divorced!

So what if they'd slept together? That was crossing the line, crossing it badly!

That demanding client again invited Song Zhi to discuss business, only to toy with her. In front of everyone at the dinner table, he criticized her competence and humiliated her. You Yi patiently listened to the whole thing, then got up and sat beside Song Zhi, his hand resting across her waist. With an almost indulgent smile, he said, "My wife has always been quite capable. I'm afraid your eyesight is poor and you've mistaken her for someone else."

Everyone was astonished, and all eyes turned toward them.

Song Zhi's hand shook as she gripped the documents. Her waist still ached, and her mind was full of scenes she couldn't describe. His words, "quite capable," made her ears burn.

She could barely withstand everyone's scrutinizing stares. She glared up at him: What wife?! They'd agreed to keep their arrangement secret for the duration of the contract! Besides, they were getting divorced tomorrow!

*Bonus scene

Song Zhi rubbed her sore waist and watched the man in the chat window change the subject.

Y: [Did you get the fine for crossing the line?] He followed it with a screenshot of a huge transfer, with the note: For my wife, personally.

Y: [By the way, Mom says the wedding date is set. When can you go try on wedding dresses?]

Y: [What do you think of this uncut diamond? I just won it at auction. It's your favorite color, red. Should I have it made into a wedding ring?]

Y: [Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?]

The money arrived. The diamond looked lovely. It would be even prettier cut into a square. As for the honeymoon…

Song Zhi held her phone and pondered hard, then suddenly realized…

Wait, why was he being so serious? Honeymoon, h-honeymoon?! Weren't they getting divorced?

What was this scheming, devious man plotting now?!

This blurb was written on 2024.9.10. Screenshots have been taken of every version, so please behave yourselves.

*The title and blurb may be revised later, but the core story will stay the same.

*I write in my spare time, and it takes a lot of effort, so please don't post irresponsible, baseless judgments, make up plot points to criticize, give unsolicited writing advice, or attack me personally...

*There are other completed stories in my collection. Love you all (heart)~

Theme: A long-planned scheme