Chapter 2: The Conditions
Lin Chaoxi flipped through the contract with growing disbelief.
There were the usual terms—duration: one year, confidentiality: strict, payment: generous.
But then came Clause Seven.
"The wife must accompany Mr. Shen to all public and private events as his real spouse. Emotional detachment is not an excuse. No scandals. No acting out. No other romantic involvement."
She scoffed. "Sounds less like a marriage and more like a prison."
As she muttered to herself, the door opened. Without knocking.
Shen Muyan stepped in, his expression unreadable. He was wearing a dark grey suit, and he looked exactly like what he was—untouchable, powerful, and cold.
"You've read it," he said simply.
Chaoxi didn't stand up. She held the contract loosely in her hand.
"This clause," she tapped the paper, "you want me to act like your loving wife in front of everyone, all the time?"
"Yes," he replied without hesitation.
"Why?"
He walked over and stood in front of her. "Because I don't do things halfway. If I marry you, I expect you to play the part fully. I need the world to believe it."
"And what about behind closed doors?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
He didn't blink. "You'll follow the rules. You'll live in my house. You'll wear the ring. You'll smile in front of the cameras. That's all."
"No love?" she asked.
"No expectations."
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she stood up slowly, facing him directly. "You're really cold, you know that?"
He tilted his head slightly. "And you're desperate. That's why this works."
His words hit hard, but they weren't wrong. After the scandal with her ex and the fake rumors online, she had no way back into the industry—unless she had a powerful name next to hers.
And Shen Muyan's name was gold.
Lin Chaoxi looked down at the pen beside the contract. Her hand hovered over it.
"One year," she said. "You promise this ends in one year?"
He nodded once. "And after that, we go our separate ways. Clean and quiet."
She picked up the pen.
"Then congratulations, Mr. Shen. You just hired yourself a wife."
He extended his hand, and she shook it.
His grip was strong. So was the look in his eyes.
"Welcome to the contract, Mrs. Shen."