Chapter 6: Three Years

"Go ahead, what's the matter?" Yang Chen said, propping himself up on the recliner as he spoke. He kicked off his rubber slippers and scratched his calf with one hand. The hot weather often led to some itching, and Yang Chen considered whether he should go buy some ointment to soothe it.Upon witnessing this scene, Lin Ruoxi's initial words were halted. She consciously covered her nose with her delicate fingers and frowned. "How can you do something so disgusting?"

Yang Chen shrugged indifferently. "Heh, scratching is just natural. What's disgusting about it? Enduring the discomfort is the real suffering."

Lin Ruoxi swore it was the first time she had ever seen such a shameless face in her life. Although she had a rough understanding that this man was just a street vendor selling lamb skewers, what could she do about it? The reality she faced couldn't be changed, and she could only go along with the situation.

"Yang Chen."

"Hold on!" Yang Chen interrupted Lin Ruoxi once again.

"What now?" Lin Ruoxi felt somewhat annoyed, her cold face showing signs of blood rushing to her cheeks.

Yang Chen said somewhat sheepishly, "Miss Lin, look, I know your name, and I know you were caught by the police. It's quite obvious after some investigation. But you know nothing about me, yet you're willing to discuss matters. Isn't that a bit..." He trailed off, greedily eyeing Lin Ruoxi up and down.

"Lin Ruoxi, can we discuss matters now that we know each other's names?" Lin Ruoxi suddenly regretted her decision. The man's face, contrary to her expectations of a decent person, made her hesitate. However, once she made a decision, there was no turning back. Thus, with a determined nod, Lin Ruoxi decided to see it through.

"Lin... Ruoxi," Yang Chen seemed to savor the name as he muttered it softly several times. "Interesting name."

"My grandfather gave it to me, but that's not the point. We need to focus on the matter at hand." Lin Ruoxi felt disgusted even hearing her own name being uttered by this ruffian.

Yang Chen looked at Lin Ruoxi warily. "Miss Lin, you're probably going to repay your bail bond, or else it's going to cost you your life."

Seeing Yang Chen's attempt at a pitiful expression, Lin Ruoxi felt a wave of irritation and couldn't be bothered to spare him another glance. She turned her head. "Marry."

"What?!" Yang Chen couldn't believe his ears.

"Marry," Lin Ruoxi repeated, her face flushing, her voice barely audible, like a whisper.

Yang Chen still suspected he had misheard. He carefully leaned closer, asking tentatively, "Miss Lin, please clarify. I feel like I might be hallucinating."

"No hallucination." Lin Ruoxi seemed determined now, her face regaining its cold expression. "I said, marry! Get married immediately!"

Each word echoed in Yang Chen's ears. He had to admit to himself that he wasn't hallucinating. With a wry smile, he said, "Miss Lin, this is too hasty. Just because we had one encounter doesn't mean we should get married. Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and it requires careful consideration, not impulsive decisions."

This time, Yang Chen didn't laugh. He looked at Lin Ruoxi seriously, hoping she would understand.

But Lin Ruoxi shook her head directly. "Being young doesn't mean not knowing what I want. I'm of age, and it's time to get married. I just haven't found a suitable candidate yet. And because of certain circumstances, what happened last night..." She hesitated briefly, her pretty face blushing involuntarily, but she continued, "I can tell you very clearly, I'm a very conservative woman. Instead of being forced to marry someone I know and dislike, I'd rather choose, at least giving my first time to someone of my own choice."

Yang Chen fell silent for a moment, his expression cold. "I see what you mean, Miss Lin. Marriage to you is just a formality, and as the leading male role, compared to those other candidates, I seem to be the easiest to control, right?"

Lin Ruoxi felt a bit uneasy at having her thoughts so accurately dissected, but she didn't deny it as she nodded. "Yang Chen, I can promise you that if, within three years, at most three years, once my career is completely stable, we'll each go our separate ways without any obligations. Furthermore, I'll compensate you and provide you with a reward, more than you would make selling lamb skewers for ten lifetimes."

"Miss Lin," Yang Chen's face had turned cold, his tone bitter. "It seems you haven't understood something. Though I may be poor, just a lamb skewer vendor, I won't stoop so low as to marry a woman without any foundation, even if it's a sham marriage. I may be hypocritical, foolish, and self-righteous, but one thing I am not is easily swayed. I have my principles, and in my dictionary, there's no such thing as a 'fake marriage.'"

Lin Ruoxi hadn't expected that a man she deemed as despicable as a lamb skewer vendor could reject her, even if it was a fake marriage. How many proud sons of the sea had hoped to get close to her in Donghai City, only to be rejected?!

But Yang Chen continued, "If you were truly a conservative woman, willing to accept the loss of your virginity to someone you barely know, then I would understand, and I would feel sorry and guilty for it.

If you were willing, I would sincerely pursue you until I genuinely fell in love. Then, we could get married without any reservations.

But to use me as a shield for your career for three years, pretending to be your husband? That's something I cannot accept."

"Hmph, pursue me? Pursue me with what? Your lamb skewers?" Lin Ruoxi was truly furious now, finding this man's arrogance inexplicable.

From childhood till now, no man had ever dared to refuse her anything unreasonable. Yet, now, there was this insignificant man daring to reject marrying her!

Yang Chen seemed to revert back to his ruffian demeanor, chuckling. "Look, I'm handsome, I have masculinity, and my grilled lamb skewers are delicious. I lead a simple life, possess the virtues of a traditional good man, and what's more important, I'm loyal to my wife. Isn't that even better?"

"Enough!" Lin Ruoxi feared she might lose her composure if this continued. "One billion! For three years!"

"This is not about money."

"Two years, one billion!" Lin Ruoxi lowered her offer, fuming with anger.

Yang Chen still shook his head. "Even if it were a hundred billion, it's a matter of principle."

"Do you think money can buy anything? I can make you leave the police station, and even get you out of prison for life!" Lin Ruoxi's eyes welled up with tears, feeling deeply wronged and resentful.

Yang Chen burst into laughter. "Why should I? Should I tell the police that you were raped last night? But I clearly remember Miss Lin being quite enthusiastic."

Lin Ruoxi's pristine teeth bit down on her lower lip, her face contorted with bitterness, tears suddenly flowing like a dam breaking. "Yang Chen, you're shameless!"