Lin Yue stared at the contract on the desk for a long moment.
Ten million yuan.
The number kept repeating in her mind.
It was more money than she had ever imagined having.
Enough to pay off her family's debt.
Enough to give her parents a peaceful life again.
But still… the situation felt unreal.
She looked back at Li Wei Chen.
"You can't seriously expect me to agree to this immediately."
"I don't," he replied calmly.
"Then why offer it so casually?"
"Because it's a practical solution."
Lin Yue leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms.
"You want a fake wife to satisfy your family."
"Yes."
"And after one year we divorce?"
"Yes."
She studied his face carefully.
He looked completely serious.
No hesitation. No embarrassment.
Just pure business.
"You treat marriage like a business deal," she said.
Li Wei Chen didn't deny it.
"In this case, it is."
Lin Yue picked up the contract and flipped through the pages.
The agreement was detailed.
Very detailed.
Finally she stopped at a page and raised an eyebrow.
"Rule number one: we must appear as a happy married couple in public."
"Yes."
"Rule number two: we must attend family events together."
"Yes."
"Rule number three…" she paused slightly.
"We live in the same house."
Li Wei Chen nodded.
"My family will find it suspicious if we don't."
Lin Yue looked up again.
"Separate rooms?"
"Of course."
She continued reading.
"No romantic involvement."
"No emotional expectations."
"Complete confidentiality."
Lin Yue slowly closed the contract.
"You've really thought this through."
"I prefer clear agreements," he replied.
She placed the document back on the desk.
"And what happens if I refuse?"
Li Wei Chen answered without hesitation.
"Then I find someone else."
The honesty of his answer surprised her.
He wasn't trying to convince her emotionally.
To him, this was simply a transaction.
Lin Yue stood up from the chair.
"Then I think you should find someone else."
Li Wei Chen didn't move.
"Why?"
"Because I'm not interested in fake marriages."
She grabbed her bag.
"Thank you for the… unusual offer, President Li."
She turned toward the door.
"Lin Yue."
She stopped but didn't turn around.
"You need the money," Li Wei Chen said calmly.
The words made her pause.
"Your family's debt is three million yuan," he continued. "Your current salary would take years to repay it."
Lin Yue clenched her hands slightly.
He wasn't wrong.
But hearing it said so directly irritated her.
She turned back slowly.
"You investigated me very thoroughly."
"I prefer knowing who I'm working with."
"Working with?" she repeated.
"Yes."
Lin Yue walked back toward the desk.
For a moment she simply looked at him.
"You're very confident, President Li."
"I'm realistic."
She tilted her head slightly.
"What if I create problems for you?"
"You won't."
"How do you know?"
Li Wei Chen met her gaze calmly.
"Because you're responsible."
Lin Yue blinked.
That answer surprised her again.
He had judged her personality after reading a simple file.
"Still," she said slowly, "this is a ridiculous situation."
"Perhaps."
"But ten million yuan is a lot of money."
"It is."
Lin Yue crossed her arms and thought for a moment.
Then she looked at him again.
"I have conditions."
Li Wei Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I'm listening."
"First," she said, "you respect my personal life. Just because we're pretending to be married doesn't mean you control everything I do."
"Agreed."
"Second," she continued, "no embarrassing public situations."
"That depends on your definition of embarrassing."
Lin Yue ignored the comment.
"Third… if your family starts treating me badly, the contract ends."
Li Wei Chen nodded once.
"Fair."
Lin Yue tapped the contract lightly on the desk.
"One year."
"Yes."
"Ten million yuan."
"Yes."
She exhaled slowly.
Then she picked up the pen beside the document.
Li Wei Chen watched quietly.
"President Li," she said before signing.
"Yes?"
"If this turns into a disaster…"
"It won't."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You sound very sure."
"I always am."
Lin Yue shook her head slightly.
Then she signed her name.
Lin Yue.
She placed the pen down and slid the contract back toward him.
"There."
Li Wei Chen glanced at the signature.
Then he closed the folder calmly.
"Good."
Lin Yue frowned slightly.
"That's it? No congratulations?"
"This is a business agreement," he said.
She sighed.
"Right."
Then she turned toward the door again.
Just before leaving, she stopped.
"By the way," she said.
"Yes?"
"You might be the strangest boss in the world."
Li Wei Chen didn't respond.
But after she left the office, Zhang Ming rushed in immediately.
"So?" he asked excitedly.
Li Wei Chen placed the signed contract on the desk.
"It's done."
Zhang Ming stared at the paper.
Then his eyes widened dramatically.
"Boss…"
"Yes?"
"You just hired a wife."