The sunlight that streamed through the tall glass windows of the luxury penthouse felt unusually harsh.
Zhang Mei slowly opened her eyes.
Her head throbbed violently, as if someone had struck it with a hammer. She groaned softly and lifted her hand to her temple.
"What… happened?"
Her memories were fragmented.
The charity gala.
The champagne.
The arrogant CEO Liang Wei.
Then… darkness.
She blinked again and suddenly noticed something strange.
This was not her room.
The ceiling was too high.
The décor too masculine.
And the scent in the air carried the faint aroma of expensive cologne.
Her body stiffened.
Slowly, cautiously, she turned her head.
Her heart nearly stopped.
A man was sleeping beside her.
Liang Wei.
The most powerful CEO in Jiang City.
His black hair was slightly messy, and his sharp features looked surprisingly peaceful while he slept.
But that wasn't the shocking part.
They were lying in the same bed.
Under the same blanket.
Zhang Mei's eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
Her scream echoed through the room.
Liang Wei jolted awake instantly.
"What the hell ?"
Their eyes met.
Silence fell.
Then both of them looked down.
The blanket slipped.
And their expressions froze.
Neither of them were fully dressed.
A terrifying silence followed.
Zhang Mei grabbed a pillow and threw it straight at his face.
"You shameless bastard!"
Liang Wei caught the pillow easily, though his face had turned darker than thunder.
"You think I wanted this?"
His voice was cold.
Zhang Mei's eyes burned with fury.
"Then explain why we woke up in the same bed!"
Liang Wei rubbed his temples.
His memory was hazy too.
The gala…
Too many drinks.
Chen Tao laughing.
Someone shouting congratulations.
Then darkness.
He suddenly noticed something on the bedside table.
A red booklet.
His brows furrowed.
Slowly, he reached for it.
The moment he opened it, his expression froze.
Zhang Mei noticed the strange look on his face.
"What is it?"
Liang Wei said nothing.
He simply turned the booklet toward her.
Her eyes scanned the page.
Then widened in absolute horror.
Marriage Certificate.
Husband: Liang Wei
Wife: Zhang Mei
Date: Last Night.
Zhang Mei's brain went blank.
"No…"
"This must be fake."
"This has to be fake!"
She snatched the certificate and checked it again.
Official government seal.
Legal registration number.
Fingerprints.
Everything was real.
They were legally married.
Her voice trembled.
"You… married me?"
Liang Wei's jaw tightened.
"You think I would voluntarily marry someone who threw wine on my suit last night?"
Zhang Mei glared at him.
"You deserved that!"
He stood up, wrapping a robe around himself.
The air between them grew tense.
Finally Liang Wei spoke calmly.
"We need to solve this."
Zhang Mei scoffed.
"There's nothing to solve. We divorce immediately."
But Liang Wei didn't answer right away.
Instead he stared at her thoughtfully.
Then something calculating flashed in his eyes.
"What if we don't?"
Zhang Mei blinked.
"What?"
Liang Wei walked toward the window slowly.
His mind was already racing.
His company was under pressure.
His mother was forcing him into arranged marriages.
His rivals were watching for weakness.
A sudden marriage… could be useful.
Very useful.
He turned back to her.
"What if we turn this accident into an advantage?"
Zhang Mei folded her arms.
"Speak clearly."
Liang Wei said calmly,
"A contract marriage."
Silence.
Zhang Mei stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
"You must be joking."
"I'm not."
He stepped closer.
"You need power."
She stiffened.
"And I need someone who can stand beside me without fear."
His voice lowered.
"A fake marriage could benefit us both."
Zhang Mei laughed coldly.
"You expect me to believe that?"
Liang Wei walked to the table and poured a glass of water.
"Your family disowned you."
Her expression instantly hardened.
"And my company is entering a dangerous phase."
He placed the glass in front of her.
"If we cooperate, we both win."
Zhang Mei looked at him silently.
Her pride screamed at her to refuse.
But deep down…
She knew he wasn't wrong.
After the Zhang family expelled her, she had been fighting alone.
Every door in the business world had closed.
But Liang Wei…
He was the king of that world.
Still, she refused to show weakness.
"What are the terms?"
Liang Wei's lips curved slightly.
"One year."
"A public marriage."
"No interference in each other's personal lives."
"And mutual support in business."
Zhang Mei raised an eyebrow.
"And after one year?"
"We divorce quietly."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled slowly.
"CEO Liang…"
"You really are ruthless."
He smirked.
"You haven't even seen ruthless yet."
Zhang Mei extended her hand.
"Fine."
"One year."
Liang Wei shook her hand.
"Deal."
Neither of them realized it yet.
But this fake marriage…
Would soon become the most dangerous relationship in Jiang City.
And someone had already heard the news.
Across the city, inside a luxurious office.
Wang Xiao slowly crushed a wine glass in his hand.
"So… Liang Wei got married?"
His assistant nodded nervously.
"Yes sir."
"To Zhang Mei."
Wang Xiao's eyes darkened.
"Interesting."
A cruel smile formed on his lips.
"Very interesting."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Looks like the game just became more fun."