From Fake to Forever

He was sincerely discussing a transaction with her, he didn't intend to shortchange her due to any naivete or ignorance on her part.

100 million?

Zhen Bao almost laughed out loud. If this guy could really take out 100 million, why would he marry a country girl like her? He must be trying to scam her. She had heard that fraud tactics nowadays were becoming more and more advanced. They could first make extra money appear in your account, then retract it later.

Firmly believing that Fu Mingshi was a scammer, Zhen Bao didn't even want to keep talking to him. She turned around to walk back. "Really can't do it, Fu always should go back." She was very satisfied with her current life, there was no need to marry a stranger for money.

Her refusal was so blunt that it made Fu Mingshi frown. He followed behind her and asked, "What would it take for Ms. Zhen to agree?"

With her back to him, Zhen Bao sighed, "I don't want to trick people, and I don't want to fake marry a stranger. Fu always, please don't make things difficult for me, okay?"

Though she was only 20, her face was still very youthful. Fu Mingshi was a business tycoon who dominated the commercial sphere, he certainly wouldn't be deterred by Zhen Bao's cold demeanor. He just felt a headache coming on, understanding on one hand that his request was preposterous, but still needing to fight for it on behalf of his grandfather.

"I'll leave the agreement here for you, Ms. Zhen can take a look first. I'll come again tomorrow." Fu Mingshi held out the prenuptial agreement, looking at Zhen Bao with a sincere gaze. After getting to know her temperament today, he would think of a new strategy tonight.

Zhen Bao just wanted to hurry up and send him away, so she took it.

"See you tomorrow." Fu Mingshi bid her farewell lightly and turned to leave.

Zhen Bao continued to herd geese. She tossed the prenuptial agreement onto the ground and was about to sit down when Fu Mingshi suddenly turned back around. Zhen Bao paused briefly, then shamelessly sat down since it was too late to pretend otherwise. He was just a scammer, she didn't need to give him any face.

Fu Mingshi looked at the prenuptial agreement she had used as a seat cushion on the ground, and silently swallowed back the words urging her to come down the mountain sooner. He quickened his pace down the hillside.

Zhen Bao knew he was angry but felt quite satisfied.

Her little black dog Hei Dan ran back and snuggled up to his owner.

Zhen Bao hugged Hei Dan and looked again at the seven white geese leisurely eating grass in the bamboo grove, feeling carefree and content.

~

50 li from Zhen Bao's home there was a small town. Hongfa Hotel was the only hotel in town. The driver had stayed here last time. Of course Fu Mingshi would take the best room, though the best room in a small place like this couldn't compare to the bathroom in Fu Mingshi's villa.

The driver was experienced and had specially prepared new bedding and quilts in the trunk, diligently helping to change them out. "Boss Fu, please bear with this for now."

Fu Mingshi stood by the window without saying a word.

His phone rang, it was his grandfather. "Did you meet with Zhen Bao?"

Fu Mingshi's tone was cold. "She's unwilling. I said I would give her 100 million as a betrothal gift and she still refused. Grandfather, forget it. You feel that having her marry into our family would be taking care of her, but she's gotten used to living in her rural hometown..."

"Stop blabbering. I don't believe that you can't even persuade a little girl. Mingshi, I'm telling you, if you don't bring Zhen Bao back, don't bother coming back yourself either!"

Leaving him with that relatively calm threat, Elder Fu decisively ended the call.

Fu Mingshi looked at the screen, a feeling of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

The driver pretended not to have heard the voice from the phone. He tidied up the room, then silently slipped on gloves and went to disinfect the bathroom like a dutiful servant. After finishing up the chores he scurried back to the next room carrying his supplies.

Fu Mingshi locked the door, quickly rinsed off, and came out wearing only boxer briefs, exposing his fit, muscular chest and defined but not exaggerated eight pack abs. His long legs were enough to make all the male models on the runway lose their color. The driver had laid out a new bamboo mat on the chair for Fu Mingshi. As he sat down and opened his laptop to check emails, Fu Mingshi, a workaholic, quickly put Zhen Bao out of his mind.

The next morning, Fu Mingshi got up at his usual 5 AM.

At 6 AM, the shuttle bus was on the road again.

Fu Mingshi gazed out the window absentmindedly at the hills. Money didn't tempt Zhen Bao, and he couldn't think of a better way. There seemed to be a lot of contracted marriage tropes in TV dramas, but usually the female lead owed the male lead something first and had no choice but to agree. Zhen Bao didn't owe the Fu family anything.

The man knitted his brows. The driver could see it clearly through the rearview mirror. As a professional bodyguard who didn't want to keep playing dual roles as caretaker here, the driver coughed and tentatively suggested, "Boss Fu, I think you could try persuading Ms. Zhen to come back with you first, then develop feelings before proposing.

They were two complete strangers. With the situation as is, how could Ms. Zhen agree to a proposal just like that? She'd either be after Boss Fu's money or looks if she readily agreed. Her motives would be impure."

Fu Mingshi glanced over with a piercing look.