"Wha—what?" At her words, Luo Chenggong, Luo Jianghe, and his wife were utterly stunned!
They all suspected they had misheard!
Even Chen Xiao couldn't figure out what this woman was up to. Could she have been conquered by my power? Does she want to marry me right away?
Luo Chenggong reminded her again, "Qingli! Arranged marriages are out of style. You have to think about your own happiness!"
Luo Qingli said flatly, "The Luo Family is a prominent household. Our word is our bond. If we were to break the engagement, it would tarnish our family's reputation, wouldn't it?"
Li Sufang lost her composure on the spot. "Qingli! Are you insane? If you marry him, what about Young Master Qin?"
Luo Qingli's red lips curled into a smirk. "What? You want me to buy him a doll to comfort him?"
The Luo family was speechless.
…
Chen Xiao was also speechless.
…
Luo Jianghe trembled with rage. "He… he's just a country bumpkin! He's not worthy of you! Don't ruin your own happiness just to spite your father over a petty argument! Young Master Qin is the right match for you!"
"Why don't you divorce Mom and marry him instead?" Luo Qingli retorted coolly.
Luo Jianghe nearly choked on his rage. He collapsed onto the sofa, clutching his chest. "Unfilial daughter! You're an unfilial daughter!"
Just then, Chen Xiao spoke calmly. "There's no need for all this trouble. Just give me the Jade Pendant, and I'll leave."
"You, come outside with me!" Luo Qingli walked past him, shooting him a fierce glare.
Chen Xiao followed her with a nonchalant swagger, admiring her figure. As he recalled their earlier intimacy and wildness, the blood in his veins stirred restlessly...
In the Luo family's living room, the faces of Luo Chenggong and the others were terrifyingly grim.
Once they were outside, Luo Qingli crossed her arms and spoke coldly. "You mentioned an engagement token earlier. Is it very important to you?"
"That's none of your business. Just give it back to me," Chen Xiao said coldly. "Last night was a first for both of us. We don't owe each other anything, so there's no need to make a big deal out of it, right?"
The engagement token was a Jade Pendant, and it was connected to his origins. My unique constitution, the Celestial Yang Body, means that even with my master's best efforts, I can only live to the age of twenty-four. The Jade Pendant in Luo Qingli's hands very likely holds the key to curing my condition. I have to get it back.
Luo Qingli was exceptionally sharp. Seeing from his eyes how important the token was to him, she smiled. "I have the Jade Pendant. Let's make a deal."
"Agree to a contractual marriage with me. After three months, I can give it back to you!"
Chen Xiao's gaze turned frigid. "Are you threatening me?"
Seeing him lose his composure, Luo Qingli felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. "What do you think?"
Chen Xiao enunciated each word. "I don't know why you're trying to give me a hard time, but no one in this world can threaten me!"
Staring into his sharp eyes, Luo Qingli felt an unexpected shiver. She never imagined that this man, who had seemed so harmless in her presence, could possess such a powerful aura.
In the end, Luo Qingli was the first to break eye contact.
She said sullenly, "You've seen it for yourself. My family is constantly setting me up with disgusting lowlifes. So, I need you to enter a contractual marriage with me to act as my shield."
"If you refuse, I guarantee you will never get this Jade Pendant!"
"A shield?" A cold smirk formed on Chen Xiao's lips. "Is that all?"
"What else?" Luo Qingli's smile was laced with sarcasm. "Did you really think that just because we slept together once, I fell in love with you?"
"Just a reminder," Chen Xiao said evenly, "it was at least a dozen times."
Luo Qingli was so angry she was rendered speechless, glaring at him icily.
Chen Xiao held up three fingers. "Three months is too long. I will do three things for you. Once those three tasks are complete, we get a divorce, and you return the Jade Pendant to me!"
With less than half a year left until his twenty-fourth birthday, he had no time to play house with this woman.
Luo Qingli scoffed mockingly. "Anything?"
His tone was calm, yet brimming with confidence. "Anything."
"Such big words!" Luo Qingli nodded. "I hope you don't regret your bragging today. I bet you'll never get that Jade Pendant back in your life."
"Now, get in the car. We're going to get registered!"
「Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau.」
The two emerged after finishing the paperwork.
Chen Xiao held the marriage certificate, a dazed look on his face.
Luo Qingli added, "Remember, this is a contractual marriage. We don't interfere in each other's lives. I won't try to control you, and I don't like being controlled."
"Fine!" Chen Xiao nodded, completely unconcerned. "Suits me. I'm not about to give up an entire forest for a single crooked tree like you."
Luo Qingli laughed in anger, her eyes filled with disdain. "You? Who would even look twice at you? You're so narcissistic!"
Chen Xiao couldn't be bothered to respond. He got into the car, closed his eyes, and feigned sleep.
Meanwhile, the Luo family's house was already in turmoil.
Besides Luo Chenggong, Luo Jianghe, and his wife, a young man and woman had arrived. It was Qin Zihao, the Young Master of Yuncheng City's top-tier Qin Family. With him was Su Yingxue, the young mistress of the Su Family—another second-tier family like the Luos—and the woman Luo Qingli had once considered her best friend.
Behind them stood several burly, towering men, their presence intimidating.
Breaking the heavy silence, Luo Chenggong took a deep breath. "Young Master Qin, what is the meaning of this?"
Qin Zihao fought to control his fury. "Old Master Luo, Luo Jianghe had already promised Luo Qingli to me, but then she turned around and made a cuckold out of me! Is your Luo Family playing me for a fool?"
He played a video on his phone. It was the clip of Luo Qingli dragging Chen Xiao into a car and kissing him passionately.
Su Yingxue, standing beside him, quickly tried to soothe him. "Young Master Qin, a slut like her isn't worth your anger. Please, calm down, calm down!"
She was the one who had arranged for Luo Qingli to be drugged the previous night, aiming to make her lose her virginity so she could take her place.
Luo Jianghe quickly tried to explain, "Young Master Qin, there must be some kind of misunderstanding…"
"Misunderstanding my ass!" Qin Zihao snarled, slapping him hard across the face. "I'll give you one chance. Have that slut Luo Qingli deliver herself to my door tonight for my entertainment. If you do, I might consider letting your family off the hook!"
Luo Jianghe was stunned by the blow. Li Sufang rushed forward to support him. "Young Master Qin, you…"
"What?" Qin Zihao licked his lips. "You want to make it a mother-daughter special? You've certainly held up well…"
A chill ran down Li Sufang's spine, and she stumbled back.
Luo Chenggong's beard trembled with rage as he slammed the table and shot to his feet. "Young Master Qin, you've gone too far!"
He had lived a long life, and now some junior dared to ride roughshod over him? He felt a sliver of relief that his granddaughter hadn't married such a scoundrel!
Su Yingxue sneered, "Your Luo Family produced such a disgraceful slut, and now you're telling us we can't come here and demand justice? Get Luo Qingli out here to explain herself!"
"Su Yingxue, who are you calling a slut?" A clear, cold voice cut through the air as Luo Qingli entered, arm in arm with Chen Xiao, her high heels clicking on the floor.
"I'm talking about you!" Su Yingxue retorted with a sneer. "It's a shame I couldn't get a picture of you in bed with this country bumpkin. Otherwise, the sight of the so-called 'Ice Queen' acting like a whore in bed would have caused a massive sensation in Yuncheng City!"
Luo Qingli clenched her teeth, a sharp pain piercing her heart.
Betrayed by my best friend. My virginity stolen. This is a thorn in my heart!
Su Yingxue pursed her lips in a provocative smile, swaying her hips as she approached the pair.
"My, my, you only slept with him once and you've already brought this country bumpkin home? Hmm… He has that sour stench of the countryside. It suits you perfectly."