153 Just Signed I (1/2)
Ye Jiayao clarified, ”What? You're going to use me as your shield?”
”You don't have to sound so surprised,” Xia Chunyu said, rolling his eyes. ”After the contract expires, we can just divorce. Anyway, people in Jin Ling already knows that you're mine. Even your ancestral home recognizes me. This deal just makes sense.”
Ye Jiayao doesn't really think so. In fact, she actually felt insulted.
”What if I do not agree?”
Xia Chunyu thought about it for a moment before saying, ”Then the Heavenly Residence would have to be given as a gift to Princess Liu Li. I will announce your real identity and let you return to your family in Yang Zhou. Oh, and I'll dismiss Zhong Xiang and the others and hire my own workers.”
She wasn't even surprised that Chunyu resorted to baiting her like this.
Zhong Xiang and the others have yet to make a name for themselves. They were all following her so that they'd earn money to put food on their table. If they were dismissed on such a short notice, where would they go? Furthermore, her family had already counted on him caring for her. If he ends up marrying Liu Li, her grandmother would be angry.
F*cking hell! He doesn't have anything to lose here!
Ye Jiayao had to think of something to even out the playing field. Heavenly Residence earns an estimated daily income of 5,000 and a monthly income of 450,000. That's a very substantial amount and that's not even including their peak season.
She just found her leverage.
”You mean we'll have a fake marriage?”
Xia Chunyu nodded. ”But you still have to fulfill your obligations as a Lady. You'll have to respect your parents-in-law, preserve my reputation...”
”Are we going to be sleeping in separate beds?” she tacked on.
”That's impossible. There are people serving in the room who'll see that and I definitely can't withhold.”
If they were going to do all that, it's not really a fake marriage now, was it?
”Don't think that I want this. There's a reason why people easily believed your male disguise...” Xia Chunyu looked her up and down, disgusted.
Ye Jiayao kicked him and yelled, ”You're shameless!”
He rubbed his calf painfully and glared at her. ”You really are not a lady!”
Go to hell, you f*cking bastard! She really wanted to spit on his face.
Was this how her life going to be from now on? A business transaction? She'd have a source of wealth and a loveless marriage.
It really doesn't matter, does it? No matter if they're handsome or ugly, from the ancient era or the modern world, men are unreliable pigs.
”If I agree to this, I have two conditions,” she started, throwing daggers at him.
”Tell me.”
”First, I will leave after two years and eight months and the people must know that it was me who asked to leave.”
Xia Chunyu frowned lightly, ”Why must the people know? We can just separate quietly.”
”That would also be my decision if I wanted to go that route or not,” Ye Jiayao riposted. She has to protect her reputation.
Xia Chunyu conceded with a smile. ”It's up to you.”
”Second, during this period, I want 50% of the income of the restaurant, the common property of the husband and wife.”
Xia Chunyu deliberately considered it for a long time before answering with gritted teeth, ”Fine.”
”Third is-”
”Third? Didn't you say that there are only two conditions?” he interrupted.
”I just thought of it.
”What is it this time?”
”While we're married, you are not to have any promiscuous sexual relations with others. If I hear of such things, I promise you that I'll save my reputation before yours.”
Xia Chunyu raised a brow questioningly. ”How do you propose I satisfy my needs?”
”I really don't care,” Ye Jiayao said meanly.