Hu Tu gesticulated excitedly, "Once there's a mistake, it's eternal damnation, and the election will be lost!"
"This outcome is unacceptable to the Zong Family, the Grand Princess, and me, Hu Tu!"
Xia Chujian was a little puzzled.
Is running for a Lower House Senator really that difficult for a family like the Zong Family? She asked, perplexed, "What do you mean? Isn't Young Master Zong's election a sure thing?"
Hu Tu slapped his thigh, looking heartbroken, and said, "Xia Chujian, you have great insight! That's what we all thought!"
"But who knew, a competitor would suddenly emerge!"
"This competitor just retired from the military, is a Combat Hero, and got into Beichen University through his own efforts. He's also a top student!"
"This kind of person is very popular with the grassroots Commoner voters!"
"Everyone knows that electing a Lower House Senator is completely different from electing an Upper House Senator."
"Lower House Senators need the votes of all Commoners, citizens, and Nobles!"
"And it's one person, one vote. As soon as Teng Pingmao ran, his campaign team used the slogan 'Commoners helping Commoners,' and public opinion immediately went up!"
"In the most recent campaign polls, this Teng Pingmao has already surpassed our Young Master Zong!"
"We really have no other choice but to resort to this tactic, asking Xia Chujian to help us!"
Xia Chujian was even more stunned, "Me? How can I help you? I know nothing about elections and have no interest in them."
"And as you all know, my family is poor, has no resources, and even less connections. I used to have to rely on Young Master Zong to avoid a lot of trouble."
"Young Master Zong even saved my life, you can ask him."
Xia Chujian didn't pay too much attention to Hu Tu's words.
Because she knew her own weight, how could she possibly help Zong Ruoan at the election level?
Hiring her as a bodyguard would be more like it...
Of course, if the campaign team could afford it, she could also be Zong Ruoan's bodyguard.
Zong Ruoan did save her life, and she didn't know how to repay him before, but she still remembered this kindness.
If Zong Ruoan really needed her help, she would definitely not refuse.
Once there was an opportunity, Xia Chujian would of course repay the favor.
At this moment, Hu Tu seemed to have discovered some great secret and exclaimed, "So Young Master Zong saved Xia Chujian's life?! This relationship is extraordinary! We didn't even know!"
"Young Master Zong, why didn't you ever say anything?!"
Zong Ruoan had only told his sister and mother about this, and Hu Tu only knew from Zong Qianxi that Zong Ruoan had helped Xia Chujian, but Hu Tu didn't actually know the specifics.
And at this time, Zong Ruoan was just thinking, what was there to say?
It was just a small effort at the time...
Moreover, because of that incident, the Fan Family was set on a path of no return.
A perfectly good Noble family was stripped of its title and had its home confiscated.
They weren't given a chance to correct their mistakes.
Zong Ruoan's mood was very complicated, and he sighed, "That was a long time ago, not worth mentioning."
Xia Chujian quickly said, "Young Master Zong, you don't have to take it to heart. But for me, I will never forget it."
"You saved my life, and my life is very important to me."
Hu Tu, without waiting for Zong Ruoan to reply, jumped in and said, "Xia Chujian, that's even better!"
"I just posted a confession to you on Star Blog on behalf of Young Master Zong, can you respond and talk about that life-saving grace?!"
Xia Chujian: "..."
Holy crap!
This guy is serious?!
She knew they were just trying to ride her coattails when she saw the campaign team's talk about "admiration."
She didn't believe a word of it and didn't take it to heart at all.
But if she responded, the whole thing would take on a "fake it till you make it" vibe.
Xia Chujian said without hesitation, "That's not a good idea... After all, Young Master Zong and I are just ordinary friends. Even if we both know it's fake, it wouldn't be fair to Young Master Zong's future girlfriend, fiancée, or even wife."
Hu Tu waved his hand dismissively, "That doesn't matter! Young Master Zong doesn't have a real girlfriend right now!"
"Besides, Young Master Zong is at the most critical point in his campaign. Does Xia Chujian really want to stand by and watch him fail?!"
Xia Chujian frowned, "...Is it that serious?"
"It is that serious!" Seeing a glimmer of hope, Hu Tu immediately exaggerated, "What is Young Master Zong's status?! If he can't even get elected as a Lower House Senator of the Senate, what will people think of him?!"
"Besides, Young Master Zong's character and talent are perfect for being a senator!"
"Does that Teng Pingmao deserve it?!"
Hu Tu looked contemptuous, but after noticing Xia Chujian's displeased pursed lips, he quickly changed his tone.
"Xia Chujian, Young Master Zong is noble and doesn't expect anything in return for his kindness. We're not asking you to do anything for us."
"We just hope you can help us at this crucial moment by being Young Master Zong's 'Contract Girlfriend' during this election, campaigning for him and helping him win this election battle!"
Xia Chujian couldn't believe her ears, "What? What did you say?!"
If Hu Tu were standing in front of her right now, Xia Chujian felt she could point a gun at his head and make him explain what the hell he meant by a 'Contract Girlfriend' during the election! Zong Ruoan felt a little embarrassed and suddenly realized it wasn't appropriate, so he was about to explain, but Hu Tu stepped in front of him and said excitedly to Xia Chujian, "It's like this, because our opponent, Teng Pingmao, is focusing on being a hero of the Commoners."
"And his campaign team is attacking Young Master Zong, saying he's too high up and too far removed from the Commoners, and that he won't speak for their interests if he becomes a senator."
"This nonsense has actually convinced a lot of people, so that even voters who used to support Young Master Zong have now turned to support Teng Pingmao!"
Xia Chujian thought to herself, what that guy's campaign team is saying isn't exactly wrong...
Isn't Zong Ruoan just someone who's particularly out of touch?
But she thinks this person's character is impeccable and he is a gentleman.
So she didn't speak, quietly listening to Hu Tu continue to argue.
Hu Tu continued, "We were at a loss and didn't know how to counter this."
"But we discovered from this National Higher Education Entrance Examination that Xia Chujian's results were actually the best in the entire Empire!"
"Moreover, Xia Chujian also comes from a Commoners background, even lower than Teng Pingmao's Commoners!"
Xia Chujian chuckled dryly, thinking, so Commoners are also stratified in the eyes of the Nobles! If Commoners were divided into eighteen levels, she might be below the eighteenth level...
She chuckled and said, "I know Young Master Zong is noble and of high character, and he definitely didn't authorize this kind of underhanded thing."
Zong Ruoan felt a warmth in his heart at Xia Chujian's affirmation.
He chuckled softly and said, "Chujian, I knew you'd understand me."
Hu Tu was a little unhappy that Xia Chujian was mocking him for being underhanded, but seeing that Zong Ruoan didn't intend to speak up for him, he had to pretend he didn't hear it.
He continued effusively, "So we changed our campaign strategy and decided to take the Commoners route!"
"And what kind of Commoners route is most suitable? According to our investigation, it's to find Young Master Zong a girlfriend from a Commoners background, so we can prove that Young Master Zong is not completely unrelated to the Commoners!"
Xia Chujian was speechless.
She couldn't help but say, "Why do you think that finding a Commoners girlfriend can prove a connection to the Commoners?"
"Why do you think we Commoners are fools? That having a Commoners girlfriend means Young Master Zong will stand on our side?"
"Do you know that we Commoners will think that this Commoners girlfriend will cross the class divide and have nothing to do with Commoners anymore!"
"Are you helping or hurting Young Master Zong with this terrible idea?!"
Xia Chujian's point of view was something that Zong Ruoan's campaign team hadn't considered.
Hu Tu had been frowning as he listened, but the more he listened to Xia Chujian, the more he liked her, and he finally couldn't help but clap his hands and say, "...You're absolutely right!"
"So, we need a truly intelligent Commoners woman to stand by Young Master Zong's side!"
"Xia Chujian, we think you're really qualified to be this Contract Girlfriend!"
"Of course, we won't say you're a Contract Girlfriend to the public. Everyone will think you're Young Master Zong's real girlfriend!"
"But, you can't act like you're about to marry into a wealthy family and have nothing to do with the Commoners ever again."
"You have to show that you disdain the Zong Family, disdain the wealthy, and that you only value Young Master Zong as a person, not the Noble status attached to him!"
"This is very important to our campaign strategy!"
"And I firmly believe that only Xia Chujian can demonstrate this!"
"If you really had designs on our Young Master Zong, I wouldn't suggest you be Young Master Zong's Contract Girlfriend!"
Xia Chujian's mouth twitched.
However, she roughly understood what the other party meant.
They were actually playing the sympathy card, trying to win the hearts and votes of the Commoners.
The Contract Girlfriend thing, in essence, was no different from those politicians putting on a show and holding babies in front of the public.
Hu Tu's bluntness made Xia Chujian less awkward.
She spoke matter-of-factly, "So you just want to find Young Master Zong a campaign partner from the Commoners?"
Hu Tu excitedly clapped his hands, "Yes, yes! That's it!"
Xia Chujian said, "Then why call it 'Contract Girlfriend'? Can't you just call it a campaign partner?"
Hu Tu coughed and said, "Well, we really can't directly call it a campaign partner."
"After all, to outsiders, only a genuine girlfriend recognized by Young Master Zong and our official team, even Her Highness the Grand Princess and the Zong Family, can make the Commoners believe that our Young Master Zong isn't aloof and out of touch."
Zong Ruoan said softly at this time, "Chujian, this is just a public title, and you may have to attend some campaign events with me. I promise it will absolutely not exceed the scope of normal, ordinary friends."
This is the Second Update. The First Update was already updated at 12:05 AM, don't forget to read it!
There will be a Third Update, a long chapter, at 1 PM.
It's the last day of October, everyone, if you still have Moon Tickets, please vote!
-----------
This high quality machine translation is powered by: https:// randomtranslator.com/
To read the full translation, as well as more than 444+ fanfic and original translations or request new translations, check out: https:// randomtranslator.com/
You can also join the RandomTranslator community on Discord to connect with other readers: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------