Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The next morning, Zhou Yubai and I met at a law firm.

He brought a lawyer.

So did I.

The two of us discussed marriage as if we were negotiating a merger and acquisition.

The first page of the agreement made everything very clear.

The marriage would last one year.

Both parties’ assets would remain separate.

Aside from necessary public occasions, neither party was to interfere in the other’s private life.

Neither party was to use the marriage to seek benefits from the other’s company.

Neither party was to create any romantic scandals during the marriage that would affect the reputation of either family or company.

I turned to page five, looked up, and asked him, “Do you sign these things often?”

Zhou Yubai lifted his eyes.

“It’s my first marriage.”

“You don’t look it.”

“Miss Wen looks quite practiced as well.”

I smiled.

This man did not speak in a way that made people like him.

But fortunately, he wasn’t sleazy.

The lawyers read through the clauses one by one.

I added separate bedrooms.

He added separate accounts.

I added no sharing of social media account passwords.

He added no entering the other’s bedroom unless necessary.

When we reached the end, Zhou Yubai suddenly picked up his pen.

I watched him write a line in the blank space.

During the existence of the marriage, neither party shall fall in love.

My lawyer coughed.

His lawyer lowered his head and drank water.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed out loud.

“Mr. Zhou, do you have that little confidence in yourself?”

Zhou Yubai capped his pen.

“I have no interest in trouble.”

“And if someone breaches the agreement?”

He looked at me.

“The party in breach will cooperate unconditionally with the divorce.”

I nodded. “Fine.”

When I signed, my hand was very steady.

Steadier than when I signed the contract for the Nan’an Project for the first time all those years ago.

Because I knew this all too well.

This wasn’t love.

This was two people backed into a corner by their families, temporarily gripping the same knife.

Getting the marriage certificate was quick, too.

There weren’t many people at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

When we took the photo, the staff member told us to move a little closer together.

I shifted half a step toward him.

Zhou Yubai also shifted half a step.

The moment our shoulders touched, we both stiffened at the same time.

The staff member smiled. “Newlyweds shouldn’t be so nervous. Sir, put your arm around your wife.”

Zhou Yubai’s hand paused in midair.

I said quietly, “Contractual occasion.”

He lowered his head to look at me.

“Which clause?”

“Necessary public occasion.”

Only then did his hand land on my shoulder.

Very lightly.

As if he was afraid of wrinkling a borrowed piece of clothing.

When the photo came out, I glanced at it.

It actually looked pretty convincing.

That evening, he placed a key in front of me.

“The cohabitation address.”

I frowned. “The agreement doesn’t say we have to live together.”

“My mother will check.”

“So will my father.”

We looked at each other for three seconds.

I put the key into my bag.

Zhou Yubai added, “During our cohabitation, you’re not allowed to bring anyone else home.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And you’re not allowed either?”

He glanced at me.

“I don’t have that hobby.”

At the time, I thought this marriage would be very low-maintenance.

A man with strong boundaries, a blunt mouth, and a clear purpose.

Suitable for cooperation.

And just as suitable for parting ways when the time came.