A Year as a Live-in Son-in-Law

Jian Shuyi had a strict upbringing. How much she ate at every meal, what shoes went with each outfit, and who she could befriend were all strictly regulated. She was the perfect example of a young lady from a prestigious family. On the night she came of age, she rebelled. The moment she left the banquet, she rushed to a private club and picked the most beautiful woman there. She threw down a fortune and asked, "There's a million yuan on this card. Will you date me?" Qiao Jinyuan was fabulously wealthy and had spent years moving mountains behind the scenes. As soon as she retired from the game, she was mistaken for a woman of the night. Looking into Jian Shuyi's beautiful Persian-cat eyes, Qiao Jinyuan took the bank card and drawled, "Sure." * But Jian Shuyi still couldn't escape being dragged along by her parents to social functions to build connections. Every time she came back from a banquet, she'd sprawl across Qiao Jinyuan and chatter endlessly. "Do you think Qiao Jinyuan is deliberately putting on airs? Someone spent three months preparing just to meet her, and she couldn't even give them a reason." Qiao Jinyuan: "Mm." Because last week you said you wanted my pear soup. "And at that cocktail party, she left after ten minutes. I didn't get to meet her. Who does she think she is?" Qiao Jinyuan: "Mm." Because that day you texted to say you were tired and wanted to go home early. * Later, Jian Shuyi's family arranged a blind date for her. She didn't want to break up, so she planned to sneak off and get through one meal. She opened the private-room door. Her blind date hadn't arrived, but her little lover was sitting there with her cheek resting on one hand, watching her with a lazy smile. Jian Shuyi assumed her lover had followed her and grabbed her, ready to leave. A server hurried after them. "Miss Qiao, would you like to change your reservation time?" Jian Shuyi: ? She slowly turned around. The server was bowing slightly to Qiao Jinyuan, holding a reservation book. Change whose reservation? Qiao Jinyuan's? Qiao Jinyuan discreetly slipped her wrist free, took a business card from inside her coat, and held it up in front of Jian Shuyi. "Miss Jian, shall we get properly acquainted?" Jian Shuyi stared at the name of the vast business empire printed on the card. It felt like her brain had been reformatted. She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out. Qiao Jinyuan put the card away and smoothly took Jian Shuyi's fingers, closing her hand around them. Her fingertips were cool, but her grip wouldn't let her escape. Then she lowered her head, leaned close to Jian Shuyi's ear, and spoke in a low voice with a faintly amused edge: "Now, don't you think it's your turn to explain?" She paused. "Who are you going on a blind date with?" Theme: None