"Spit it out. What's the matter?" As Yang Chen spoke, he propped one leg up on the leather seat, kicked off his rubber slipper, and began picking at his toes. His feet itched badly in the heat—he was thinking he ought to buy some ointment.
Seeing this, Lin Ruoxi froze mid-sentence. She instinctively covered her cute little nose and frowned. "Can you stop doing such disgusting things?"
Yang Chen grinned indifferently. "Hey, if my feet itch, I scratch 'em. It's only natural. What's so disgusting about that? Why suffer in silence?"
Lin Ruoxi swore she'd never met a more shameless man in her life. From her initial investigation, she knew he was just a kebab vendor—but that didn't change what had happened between them. She'd have to make the best of a bad situation.
"Yang Chen…"
"Wait!" Yang Chen cut her off again.
"What now?" Lin Ruoxi snapped, her cold face flushing with anger.
Yang Chen scratched his head, feigning embarrassment. "Miss Lin, you know my name, you knew I was arrested—obviously you looked into me. But I don't even know yours, and you want to talk business? That's a bit…" He leered at her, licking his lips.
"Lin Ruoxi. Ruoxi—like a gentle stream. Can we talk now?" Lin Ruoxi suddenly regretted her decision. This man reeked of mischief, nothing like the honest guy she'd imagined. But she never backed out of a decision once made. She'd see this through.
"Lin… Ruoxi…" Yang Chen murmured the name, as if savoring it. "Nice. Suits you."
"My grandfather named me. That's not the point. I need you to do something for me." Lin Ruoxi felt her name sound filthy coming from this rascal's mouth.
Yang Chen eyed her warily. "Wait—you're not asking me to repay you for bailing me out, are you? I've got no money, just a lousy life."
Watching him put on a "poor little me" act, Lin Ruoxi cringed. She looked away, saying coldly, "Marry me."
"What?!"
"Marry me…" Lin Ruoxi's face burned bright red. She repeated herself, her voice barely a whisper.
Yang Chen still thought he'd misheard. He leaned in, cupping his ear. "Miss Lin, speak clearly. I think I'm hearing things."
"You're not." Lin Ruoxi steeled herself, her expression turning cold again. "I said—marry me. Right now."
Each word hit Yang Chen like a hammer. He couldn't deny he'd heard correctly. He smiled wryly. "Miss Lin, that's… that's too rash. You can't marry me just because we slept together once. Marriage is a lifelong commitment. You need to think carefully—don't act on impulse."
This time, he wasn't teasing. He spoke earnestly, hoping she'd understand.
But Lin Ruoxi shook her head firmly. "I'm not a child. I know what I'm doing. I'm not young anymore—it's time to marry. I just haven't found the right person… and you're not the right one, either. Because of what happened last night…" Her cheeks flushed again, but she pressed on. "I'll be honest—I'm a very conservative woman. I'd rather marry you than be forced to wed some stranger I hate. At least I gave you my first time."
Yang Chen fell silent for a moment, then smirked coldly. "I get it, Miss Lin. You want a marriage of convenience. And compared to other candidates, I'm the easiest to control, right?"
Lin Ruoxi tensed, caught red-handed, but nodded without denial. "Yang Chen, I promise—if you cooperate, in three years, max, once my business is stable, we'll go our separate ways. No strings attached. And I'll pay you a fortune—more than you'd earn selling kebabs in ten lifetimes."
"Miss Lin…" Yang Chen's face turned icy. "You're missing something. I may be poor, just a kebab vendor, but I won't marry a woman I have no feelings for—even fake marriage. Call me hypocritical, stupid, or arrogant, but I'm stubborn. I have principles. Fake marriage isn't in my vocabulary."
"You…" Lin Ruoxi couldn't believe it. This lowly kebab vendor—this nobody—was rejecting her? Did he not know how many elite men in Blue City begged to be near her, only to be turned away?
Yang Chen didn't stop. "If you're truly conservative and can't bear losing your virginity to someone you don't love, I understand. I'm sorry, and I feel guilty.
If you'll let me, I'll court you properly—until you truly like me. Then we can marry. I have no problem with that.
As for whether I'll love you—don't doubt it. Any normal man would be drawn to you.
But… ask me to be your fake husband for three years, just a shield for your career? I won't do it."
"Hmph—court me? With what? Your kebabs?" Lin Ruoxi was furious. His arrogance was absurd.
No man had ever rejected her. Now this ant-like nobody was refusing to marry her!
Yang Chen slipped back into his rascally grin. "Well, I'm good-looking, masculine, make delicious kebabs, live a simple life—all the traits of a traditional good man. And I treat women well. Even better if she's my wife…"
"Enough!" Lin Ruoxi feared she'd lose her temper if she listened more. "One hundred million. For three years."
"It's not about the money…"
"One hundred million for two years!" Lin Ruoxi snapped, lowering her demand.
Yang Chen shook his head. "Not even a trillion. It's a matter of principle."
"Do you think I can't get you out of jail—and lock you up for life?" Lin Ruoxi's eyes glistened with tears of frustration and rage.
Yang Chen burst out laughing. "On what grounds? Tell the police I raped you? I remember you being very enthusiastic last night…"
"You… I… you…" Lin Ruoxi clenched her pearly white teeth on her pink lips. Tears burst forth, streaming down her face. "Yang Chen, you're shameless!"