BANG!!!
A deafening noise erupted at the entrance of the hospital's inpatient department. The front bumper of the Mercedes G-Wagon was completely shattered, and the pricey Bentley hadn't fared much better. The brand-new rear of the car was caved in, and even the two rear wheels looked like they were about to fall apart.
Su Qingkun's head slammed hard against the steering wheel's deployed airbag. The pain was excruciating, but he couldn't care less. Livid, he leaped out of the car, determined to see which audacious fool had crashed into him. When Su Qingkun saw that his vehicle was nearly totaled, he felt a crushing sense of despair.
This was my new car! I hadn't even warmed the seat yet!
Just then, the door of the G-Wagon opened, and an absolute stunner of a woman emerged. Su Qingkun, who had been on the verge of an outburst, was left dumbstruck. He never would have dreamed that the person who hit his car was Shao Mei'er.
This is my goddess! I can't even get a glimpse of her on a normal day.
"Mei'er, you... you hit my car?" Su Qingkun asked with a forced smile.
Shao Mei'er answered coquettishly, "Oh, so this is your car? I'm terribly sorry! My driving isn't the best, and I couldn't stop in time. How about I compensate you for the damages?"
Lin Xiao got out of the car and, upon seeing the scene, couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.
Shao Mei'er really is a true femme fatale.
"No need, no need! It's just a car, the Su Family can afford another. The important thing is that you're okay!" Su Qingkun quickly replied.
Despite his words, his heart was bleeding. He had begged his father for ages before he finally agreed to buy him this car. But to win over his goddess, Su Qingkun was willing to make the sacrifice.
"Wow, Su Qingkun, you're such a real man. I absolutely adore real men like you!"
BOOM!
Hearing his goddess say such a thing made Su Qingkun's mouth go dry; his soul felt like it was about to leave his body.
"Mei'er, c-can I take you out for dinner tonight?"
"Oh, I'm busy tonight."
"Oh, well, alright then."
"Goodbye, Su Qingkun!"
As she spoke, Shao Mei'er discreetly shot Lin Xiao a sultry wink before getting back into her car. With a roar of the engine, she sped off, disappearing without a trace and leaving Su Qingkun standing there, utterly dumbfounded.
Smiling, Lin Xiao turned and entered the inpatient department, where he spotted Su Qingning at the payment window. Her elegant, poised figure was truly captivating.
Lin Xiao walked over to her. "What are you doing, my dear wife?"
Su Qingning shot him a cold glance. "You're just in time. I need to talk to you."
"What's up?" Lin Xiao asked with a smile.
Su Qingning took the receipt from the counter. "Follow me."
Lin Xiao followed her to the seating area in the lobby.
"Two things," Su Qingning said indifferently.
Lin Xiao nodded. "Go on."
"First, my uncle wants me to bring you to the Su Family mansion for dinner tonight."
So that's what Su Qingkun wanted to talk to her about. No wonder her expression suddenly became so bleak.
Lin Xiao chuckled. "That's good news!"
"Good news? They clearly want to humiliate us!" Su Qingning retorted.
"Don't be afraid," Lin Xiao declared emphatically. "If anyone dares to humiliate you, I'll smash their head in!"
"Hmph, all you do is brag."
Despite her words, a flicker of emotion stirred in her heart. She truly hoped Lin Xiao could intimidate the people at the Su Family mansion, but that was clearly impossible. The guy was just a beggar, and a braggart at that. How could he possibly handle the Su Family?
Lin Xiao smiled. "Alright, my dear wife, what's the second thing?"
"Let's make an agreement."
"What kind of agreement?" Lin Xiao asked, looking at her with an eager expression.
Su Qingning said gravely, "You should know that the only reason I married you is that Zhao Qingqing blackmailed me, using my mother and my bar as leverage."
Lin Xiao nodded. "Yeah, I didn't just see it, I overheard it. I get the part about your mother, but what's the story with the bar?"
"I don't mind telling you. The bar is the key to whether I can take back the Su Corporation."
"What? The Su Corporation is yours?"
"My father built it from scratch," Su Qingning said coldly. "After he passed away, my uncle conspired with outsiders and stole it."
"That's shameless," Lin Xiao said grimly.
"It is."
"So what does the bar have to do with getting the corporation back?"
"I'm currently in a selection process to become the next head of the Su Corporation. It's a three-year competition. During this time, each member of the Su family's third generation has to manage a company. Whoever gets the best results becomes the heir."
"I get it. And you were assigned the bar?"
"Exactly," Su Qingning confirmed coldly.
Lin Xiao laughed. "If I'm not mistaken, you must have been given the worst asset. Besides, assigning a bar for a girl to manage... they clearly have malicious intentions. After all, a place like that is a gathering spot for all sorts of riffraff!"
Su Qingning's heart skipped a beat. I didn't expect Lin Xiao to be so sharp, seeing through so much at a glance. Then again, he's a local. He must have heard plenty about the Su family's affairs. It's not surprising he'd know all this.
"Who set up this selection?" Lin Xiao asked.
Su Qingning's expression dimmed. "My grandfather. Unfortunately, he passed away six months ago."
"The old man had some conscience, at least. But it must have been your uncle who assigned you the bar, right?"
"Yes," she stated coldly.
"Alright, I have no more questions. What's your agreement?"
"The assessment ends in three months. Once it's over, regardless of the outcome, we get a divorce!"
"That's your agreement?"
Su Qingning nodded indifferently.
Lin Xiao smiled. "I see. Once the assessment is over, Zhao Qingqing won't have any leverage over you, so you'll be free to divorce. But aren't you afraid you might fall in love with me in these three months? And then be unable to go through with it?"
Su Qingning sneered. "Fall in love with you? I'd fall in love with a pig before I ever fell in love with you."
Lin Xiao's eyes lit up as if in realization. He teased, "Oh, so you're into pigs!"
Furious, Su Qingning struck him with her fist. "Since you're not objecting," she huffed, "I'll take that as your agreement."
"Actually, Su Qingning, I have a better idea."
"What do you mean?" she asked seriously.
Lin Xiao smiled. "We can get divorced right now, but pretend we're still married for everyone else."
Su Qingning's heart jolted. She had to admit, that was a much better idea. Even if she divorced him now, no one else would know. And without the shackles of this marriage, she would be much freer, both mentally and physically.
"You're willing to divorce me right now?" Su Qingning asked.
"I am, but I have one condition."
"What condition?"
"Before we divorce, you have to sleep with me once."
BOOM!!!
Su Qingning exploded with rage. I almost forgot what a lecherous rogue this guy is. He doesn't want to divorce me; he just wants to sleep with me!
"You bastard! Could you possibly be any more shameless?"
Lin Xiao thought for a moment. "And when we do it, you have to wear black stockings!"