As she reached for the light switch, Yue froze, her eyes drawn to the kitchen. The closed door had a narrow crack, from which soft light and the aroma of stir-fried dishes escaped. Yue tiptoed to the door, widened the gap, and peered inside.In the kitchen, a man wearing a paper hat and a floral apron was happily humming as he cooked. With a flip of the spatula, he neatly transferred the dish to a plate beside him. Turning to leave, he nearly dropped the plate as he shuddered and screamed, "A ghost!""Ghost, my foot!" Yue Zitong flung open the door, pointed outside, and coldly ordered, "Li Nanfang, get out."Chapter 69: I Can Be the Father of Your Child"Don't be so heartless, will you?" Li Nanfang's smile froze as he placed the plate on the cabinet."Is there any affection between us?" Yue Zitong felt an overwhelming sense of grievance. "You talk to me about feelings? Hah, if it weren't for you causing me trouble, Director Jin wouldn't have targeted me. And I wouldn't have been stripped naked last night, terrified to the point of tears."Li Nanfang had no retort. After a moment of silence, he removed his paper hat and floral apron, forced a smile, and headed for the door.Yue Zitong stepped back to let him pass. As he brushed past her shoulder and walked into the guest room to pack his few belongings—a blanket and some clothes—Yue's heart softened under the streetlight's glow that illuminated his lonely figure. "Wait," she called out.Li Nanfang halted mid-step and turned to look at her. "It's late. Stay until tomorrow," Yue Zitong said before swiftly ascending the stairs and shutting her bedroom door.Leaning against the door, Yue rubbed her face and murmured, "My biggest flaw is being too soft-hearted. I must change."Though she told Li Nanfang to leave the next day, she had already forgiven him and allowed him to stay. She believed he could sense her insincerity and would be grateful.Humming a tune, Li Nanfang was diligently wiping the furniture when Yue descended the stairs. He pulled out her chair without a word.Yue sighed contentedly at the sight of the dishes. The two ate in silence; Yue with优雅 poise, Li Nanfang with unbridled gusto. After finishing, Li Nanfang promptly cleared the dishes and did the chores.When he emerged from the kitchen, Yue was lounging on the sofa, wine glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Li Nanfang grinned at her and was about to leave when Yue spoke. "Wait, I need to talk to you.""Go ahead," Li Nanfang replied, standing attentively.Yue was pleased with his subservient attitude but feigned displeasure. "I don't like looking up at people when I speak."Li Nanfang immediately sat cross-legged on the floor, grinning obsequiously. "Is this better?"Yue had intended for him to sit on the sofa, but since he preferred the floor, she let it be. "Due to reasons known to both of us, I can forgive your rudeness last Friday. Consider it erased, but this is a one-time exception," she declared."Thank you, Auntie," Li Nanfang bowed deeply. "So, I don't have to leave tomorrow?""You don't have to leave, but—"Yue paused dramatically, observing Li Nanfang's growing anxiety. "But you must tell me who your girlfriend is."Li Nanfang feigned confusion. "I don't have a girlfriend."Yue's expression darkened. "Shall I call the other drivers to testify? Min Rou already knows about the short-haired beauty who thrashed Sun Daming for calling you 'Pants-Pissing Hero.'""Ah, I see. Heh, I do have a fiery girlfriend," Li Nanfang admitted, then quickly backtracked. "But it's all a misunderstanding."In a few sentences, he explained how Bai Ling had apologized to him, and upon hearing Sun Daming's taunt, had lashed out. Yue understood—it was Bai Ling. Her demeanor softened, though she maintained a cold exterior. "So you provoked Bai Ling into教训 those disrespectful ones just because you resented being called 'Pants-Pissing Hero'?"" Auntie, you're as perceptive as Zhuge Liang and Liu Bowen combined," Li Nanfang complimented with a thumbs-up.Yue scoffed inwardly at his flattery but feigned indifference. "You're the sly one. You didn't mind being called 'Pants-Pissing Hero' but waited for Bai Ling to apologize, using her to settle scores."Li Nanfang boasted, "I occasionally employ the strategy of using others to do my bidding—though my petty schemes are but a firefly's glow compared to the sun's brilliance in your eyes."Yue ignored his ingratiating remarks, swirling her wine as she hesitated to speak. Li Nanfang sat quietly, awaiting her words."Li Nanfang, there's something I must clarify," Yue finally said, steeling herself. "I have someone in my heart. Regardless of our past or what Grandpa and my sister hope for us, I believe we're not suitable for each other."Li Nanfang's brows twitched. "Is it He Lan Fus?""You know He Lan Fus?"Yue was taken aback, then realized. "My brother-in-law told you, didn't he?""Yes. My mentor mentioned it in a call the other day."Yue pressed, "So, what's your take on it?"Li Nanfang countered, "Does it matter what I think?""Of course not," Yue blurted out, then realized her tone might have been too domineering. After all, Li Nanfang was a man with pride."You needn't feel awkward," Li Nanfang reassured her with a shrug. "Truth is, I never planned to spend my life with you. I stayed to avoid disappointing my mentor."Any guilt Yue felt vanished. Her expression soured. "So, what are you implying?""It's simple. You need to humor your grandfather; I need to humor my mentor. To keep them at ease, we'll continue the charade we agreed upon. Outwardly, we can be a married couple, even go through the motions of a wedding."He brushed dirt off his pants. "Privately, we lead separate lives. You do your thing, I do mine. No interference. As long as we don't slip up and expose ourselves, that's all. And even—" Yue cut in coldly, "Even what?""Even I can be the father of your child," Li Nanfang said nonchalantly. "When you meet with your lover, I can mimic Fang Yigui and stand guard for you."Fang Yigui, the second son of Tang Dynasty minister Fang Xuanling and the husband of Princess Gaoyang, was infamous for holding the door while his wife met with Monk Bianji, earning him the title of the ultimate cuckold.Before Li Nanfang finished, Yue hurled her wine glass at him. He didn't dodge, letting it shatter against his forehead. Glass fragments flew, but he licked the wine from his face and remarked, "At least it's seven-year aged, quite mellow."Yue, ready to pounce and vent her fury, froze. She claimed to have someone in her heart and refused to be with Li Nanfang, yet due to her grandfather's orders, she had to stay with him. If that wasn't the story of Fang Yigui and Princess Gaoyang, what was?"Now I'm just a shield for your pursuit of love. You're obliged to provide for me. Don't treat me like a Fool anymore. We're equals. Remember that," Li Nanfang said, wiping his face and striding into the guest room with a loud slam.The force of the door shutting jolted Yue Zitong.Chapter 70: A Forced Melon Isn't SweetThe next morning, as Yue Zitong descended the stairs with a hand on the railing, Li Nanfang had already prepared breakfast. As if no prior discord had existed between them, upon seeing her, Li Nanfang still warmly smiled and pulled out her chair, urging her to sit with a "little aunt, please."However, Yue Zitong could discern a detached aloofness in his eyes. His current attentiveness was merely a performance of his role as the Yue family's prospective son-in-law. His face, though forced into a smile, couldn't conceal his fatigue, evidence of a restless night. Yue Zitong felt a pang of regret.She regretted her words from last night that had wounded Li Nanfang's masculine pride. Yet, it was the truth. Despite the carefree days they'd shared and even the fleeting thought of marriage, she had never truly considered him as her one and only love. As an exceptional beauty with no intention of remaining single forever, having a special someone in her heart was perfectly normal—a fact she saw no reason to withhold from her "contract partner."But why, upon sensing Li Nanfang's emotional distance, did she feel remorse, considering herself heartless for inflicting such pain? Yue Zitong's mind was in turmoil as she mechanically finished her breakfast.Li Nanfang proactively took on the chores of washing dishes, treating his stay with Yue Zitong as a job—work devoid of personal sentiment, despite his cheerful tunes."Mother will be visiting this weekend," Yue Zitong remarked, setting down her phone on the sofa as Li Nanfang emerged from the kitchen.Pausing briefly, Li Nanfang laughed and replied, "Great! I'll stock up on groceries a day in advance. When she arrives, she'll get to taste my cooking.""You can—"Yue Zitong pursed her lips, then chuckled, "Forget it, never mind.""Rest assured, I always keep my promises. I'll ensure she sees how loving we are. Aunt, trust me, my acting skills are beyond ordinary—" Li Nanfang stopped mid-sentence as Yue Zitong sharply screamed, "Don't mention acting!"Watching Yue Zitong's heaving chest, Li Nanfang offered a faint smile but remained silent."I'm sorry," Yue Zitong stared at him for a long moment before dejectedly sitting down. "I've been acting out of turn. I apologize.""No need. You haven't done anything wrong," Li Nanfang shook his head, glanced at his phone, and said, "It's seven o'clock. You should get dressed for work.""Li Nanfang, I can assure you, I will never marry He Lan Fus!" For some reason, as Li Nanfang was about to enter the guest room, Yue Zitong blurted out loudly."Whether you marry He Lan Fus or not makes no difference to me," Li Nanfang turned around and replied with a smile.Yue Zitong was left speechless. Whether she married He Lan Fus or someone else, as long as it wasn't with genuine affection for Li Nanfang, he would merely play the role of a contractual partner.Then I'll just marry you! Especially recalling Li Nanfang's indifferent gaze upon her, Yue Zitong's blood began to boil with impulsiveness. She reasoned that in the modern world, women had the freedom to choose their spouses. Unlike in feudal times, where a woman would only discover her husband's appearance on their wedding night, accepting whichever fate dealt her—whether a cripple or a blind man—Yue Zitong found Li Nanfang, despite his flaws, a far better option than a physically challenged spouse.At least Li Nanfang, for all his scoundrel ways, was preferable to a cripple or a blind man. Yue Zitong strode forward, kicked open the door, and faced Li Nanfang's astonished expression. She declared firmly, "I will marry you.""What?" Li Nanfang was taken aback."I said, I will marry you, bear your children. If you don't believe me, you can take me now, and afterward, we'll go to the civil affairs bureau and get married," Yue Zitong stated, beginning to unbutton her pajamas. With a shrug, her white cotton robe slid to the floor. She unclasped her black bra and let it fall aside, revealing her ample breasts to Li Nanfang's view.The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over her body, enhancing her allure and sanctity. Yue Zitong disrobed with natural ease, devoid of embarrassment, as if this was how things were meant to be. Shedding her slippers, she stepped toward Li Nanfang, hooked her arm around his neck, and placed his hand on her breast. Her voice trembled slightly as she whispered, "Now, I am yours. Do with me as you please."Li Nanfang's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his cheeks puffing and deflating with labored breaths. His eyes gradually reddened. Having undressed before him before and shared an intimate moment, Yue Zitong felt no shame now, her movements fluid and unselfconscious.She stood before him, utterly exposed. The morning light bathed her in gold. Yue Zitong closed her eyes, only for images of three men to emerge in her mind: the gentlemanly He Lan Fus, the enigmatic and powerful Black Phantom, and the culinary-skilled Li Nanfang. She fused these three into one perfect man—a composite of their virtues.Every girl dreams of such a man, but Yue Zitong could not have all three. She chose Li Nanfang, the one who could cook. It was her destiny. Even without her grandfather's pressure, fate had intertwined their paths during their time in America.Resigned to her fate, Yue Zitong let out a sigh of relief as Li Nanfang's trembling hand encircled her waist. Yet, another image flashed before her eyes—a
delicate and beautiful flower being ravaged by a storm. She was the flower, and Li Nanfang was the impending tempest. She could do nothing but endure.Li Nanfang laid her on the bed. The wooden surface was hard and uncomfortable, but Yue Zitong, determined to show indifference, smiled and asked, "What position do you prefer?""I prefer rolling," Li Nanfang's voice was peculiar, as if it belonged to another."How do you roll?" Yue Zitong wondered, just as she was enveloped in a cocoon of sheets, only her head and snow-white feet exposed."Never undress before a man so casually again. Do it again, and I'll spank you," Li Nanfang warned, turning away from the bed, rubbing his face, and striding to the door."Bastard, when else have I undressed in front of you?" Yue Zitong retorted after a daze, then called out, "Li Nanfang, what do you mean by that?""A forced melon isn't sweet," Li Nanfang declared before slamming the door shut."A forced melon isn't sweet? Since when did this scoundrel start caring about such things?" Yue Zitong mused, sitting up with effort, her face etched with disbelief. "He rejects a meat bone thrown right at him—does he even have the guts to be a man?"When Yue Zitong emerged from the living room, she had resumed her aloof and chilly corporate president demeanor. Li Nanfang was squatting by the east wall, tinkering with a half-new mountain bike."Are you riding that bicycle to work?" Yue Zitong asked, having failed to notice the bike upon her return the previous night."Yes, I don't have a driver's license, and I can't have the big boss chauffeur me around. Riding a bike is the best option—environmentally friendly and good for exercise," Li Nanfang replied with a grin, revealing a set of pearly white teeth."Suit yourself," Yue Zitong murmured, as if only now noticing his straight white teeth. She feigned disdain, hummed nonchalantly, and climbed into her car, starting the engine and driving out of the villa."Think I'd find it hard to get a driver's license? Dream on, you're just trying to escape being my chauffeur," she muttered to herself, catching Li Nanfang's reflection in the rearview mirror as he pedaled after her. She slowed down deliberately, her mood inexplicably brightening.After her bold advance was rejected, there was no awkwardness between them. It was as if they had merely shaken hands, nothing more. What mattered was that when Li Nanfang glanced back with a smile, Yue Zitong detected no trace of indifference in his eyes—their relationship had returned to its pre-conflict state.Yue Zitong was certain that after dinner tonight, Li Nanfang would insist on flipping a coin. "Flip if he dares, I'll match him," she thought, glancing at the rearview mirror once more before gently pressing the accelerator, immediately picking up speed.Li Nanfang followed suit, his pedals spinning like wind-driven wheels. He shouted something, likely urging her to slow down. Yue Zitong extended her left hand, flipped him the middle finger, and accelerated, soon leaving him in the dust."Dares to flip me off? Do you even have the guts?" Li Nanfang sneered, bending over and pedaling desperately. Riding a second-hand bike to work served two purposes: it kept him from becoming sedentary and allowed him to trail behind Yue Zitong, observing any unusual circumstances around her.In the city, cars couldn't outpace bicycles by much. After a few minutes of furious pedaling, Li Nanfang caught sight of Yue's sturdy vehicle again. Just as Yue Zitong's car passed the intersection, Li Nanfang sped up, arriving just as the green light turned red.He had no intention of stopping—there were no traffic officers at the intersection, and he wasn't worried about cameras. He could shoot through like an arrow—until a scooter materialized before him out of nowhere. With no time to brake, he could only curse inwardly and brace for impact.Who the hell was this guy, riding a Broken motorcycle so fast, like he's eager to meet his maker? As Li Nanfang focused on Yue Zitong's car, a scooter seemed to materialize from thin air, leaving him no time to react. He could only swear under his breath and brace for the collision.