Lin Yue was focused on her computer when she suddenly felt the atmosphere in the office change.
People were whispering.
Someone stood up quickly.
Another employee hurriedly fixed their posture.
Confused, Lin Yue glanced up from her screen.
Then she saw him.
A tall man in a dark suit had just walked into the marketing department. His presence alone made the entire room feel tense.
Everyone looked nervous.
Even the department manager quickly stood up.
"Good afternoon, President Li," he said respectfully.
Lin Yue froze.
President Li?
Her eyes widened slightly.
There was only one person in Chen Group everyone called that.
Li Wei Chen.
The CEO.
She had heard about him before. The youngest CEO in the company's history. Cold, strict, and impossible to approach.
And right now… he was standing only a few meters away.
Lin Yue quickly looked back at her computer screen, pretending to work.
Maybe he was here for something important.
Maybe he would leave soon.
But the footsteps stopped right beside her desk.
"Lin Yue."
Her name.
Lin Yue slowly looked up.
Li Wei Chen stood there calmly, his expression unreadable.
The entire office had gone silent.
Everyone was watching.
"Yes… President Li?" she said carefully.
Li Wei Chen studied her for a moment.
"Come with me."
Lin Yue blinked.
"Now?"
"Yes."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the elevator.
Lin Yue stared after him in disbelief.
Her coworkers looked just as shocked.
The department manager whispered urgently, "Go. Don't keep the CEO waiting."
Still confused, Lin Yue quickly stood up and followed him.
—
The elevator ride was painfully quiet.
Lin Yue stood beside him, trying not to look nervous.
Her mind raced with questions.
Did she do something wrong?
Was there a mistake in her work?
Why would the CEO personally call her?
Finally the elevator reached the top floor.
Li Wei Chen stepped out first and walked into a large office.
Lin Yue hesitated at the door before entering.
The office was huge.
Glass walls overlooked the entire city. Everything looked modern and expensive.
Li Wei Chen sat behind his desk and gestured toward the chair in front of him.
"Sit."
Lin Yue carefully sat down.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Li Wei Chen opened a folder on his desk.
"Lin Yue. Twenty-three. Marketing department. Graduated two years ago."
He looked up at her.
"Your performance reports are good."
Lin Yue nodded slightly.
"Thank you."
"But your financial situation isn't," he continued.
Lin Yue stiffened.
"How do you—"
"Your father's company went bankrupt three years ago," Li Wei Chen said calmly. "Your family still has debt."
Lin Yue stared at him.
She suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Li Wei Chen closed the folder.
"Because I have a proposal."
Lin Yue frowned slightly.
"What kind of proposal?"
He looked directly at her.
"Marriage."
Lin Yue thought she heard wrong.
"…What?"
"A contract marriage," he clarified.
For several seconds she simply stared at him.
Then she laughed awkwardly.
"President Li, if this is some kind of joke—"
"It isn't."
His voice remained completely serious.
Lin Yue stopped laughing.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
Her brain struggled to process the situation.
"The CEO of Chen Group just asked me… a stranger… to marry him?"
"It's only on paper," Li Wei Chen replied calmly.
Lin Yue leaned back in the chair, still stunned.
"Why?"
"My family is forcing me to marry within one month."
"And you chose me?"
"Yes."
Lin Yue shook her head slowly.
"This is insane."
"Perhaps," he said.
Then he slid a document across the desk toward her.
"A one-year contract."
Lin Yue looked down at it.
Contract Marriage Agreement
She looked back up immediately.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
"And what exactly do I get out of this?"
Li Wei Chen answered without hesitation.
"Ten million yuan."
The room became completely silent.
Lin Yue blinked.
"Ten… million?"
"For one year," he said.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That amount of money could erase her family's debt completely.
But still…
She crossed her arms.
"You expect me to pretend to be your wife for a year just because you offered money?"
Li Wei Chen looked completely calm.
"Yes."
Lin Yue stared at him.
Then she leaned forward slightly.
"President Li."
"Yes?"
"You're crazy."
For the first time, a faint hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
"Think about it," he said.
"After all…"
He paused slightly.
"Most people wouldn't reject the opportunity to marry a CEO."