A racing heart

But why did Ning Shile think he would call off their engagement?

Zheng Mother had already explained everything very clearly to Zheng Ye.

If they really were living inside a novel, then all the main plotlines would be predetermined, and the Zheng Corporation might truly face bankruptcy. Ning Shile could spoil the plot for them and help them avoid those disasters, so a one-year contract marriage between the two of them was the best possible arrangement.

Ning Shile would get his money, and the Zheng Corporation would stabilize its business. A win-win.

Zheng Ye had no intention of breaking off the engagement. He was going over this time to discuss their marriage with Ning Father and Ning Mother.

Even if it was a contract marriage, they still had to observe the proper formalities.

Meanwhile, worried that Zheng Ye's subordinate might overhear him, Ning Shile agonized for a while before taking out his phone, opening his notes app, and starting to type.

"Some relatives are coming over tomorrow. Could you please play along and act like we're a loving couple? You don't have to overdo it. Just make them think our relationship is real."

After typing that, Ning Shile spent ages deleting and revising it. Then he gritted his teeth and handed his phone to Zheng Ye.

Zheng Ye read it and nodded.

[There's hope!]

Ning Shile pressed his advantage and kept typing.

"Thanks, Brother Ye ^^ Then could you wait until the relatives leave before discussing the marriage with my parents?"

Zheng Ye nodded again.

[Yay!!!]

Ning Shile was delighted. Even his downcast eyes lit up.

He thought for a moment, then continued typing.

"Brother Ye, do you dislike sweets?"

Zheng Ye gave a quiet "Mm."

The moment he said it, Ning Shile whisked away the pudding and milk.

Zheng Ye: ?

Ning Shile ate as he walked toward the door, still arguing his case inwardly. [A villain really is a villain. He doesn't even like sweets! This little pudding is so delicious!]

[I guess I'll just have to force myself to finish it~]

Zheng Ye: "..."

How did everything somehow come back to him being a villain?

Even after Ning Shile left, Zheng Ye was still brooding over it.

Did he really seem that much like a villain?

Besides, it wasn't that he disliked sweets. Quite the opposite—he loved them. Delicate little cakes, sweet little puddings, and milk could all bring a touch of ease and pleasure to his busy, monotonous life.

Just now... he had only answered that way because Ning Shile seemed to really like that pudding.

“President Zheng?” The person on the other end of the call sounded nervous as he softly called out to him.

Zheng Ye had only been at the company for half a month, but he had already established his authority over his subordinates.

Young as he was, his presence was every bit as imposing as Chairman Zheng's, and his methods were exceptionally shrewd. Within his first week at the company, he had secured the deal they had been working on for six months.

On top of that, he never wavered in his work. Decisive and clear about his goals, he left his subordinates rather afraid of him.

The man had finished his report, but Zheng Ye still hadn't responded. His heart was practically leaping out of his chest as he ventured, "Is it... that our plan for the concessions isn't thorough enough?"

Zheng Ye came back to his senses, put Ning Shile out of his mind, and returned his attention to the deal.

He looked through the documents, tapping his fingertips lightly against the desk, and asked in a low voice, "If you knew it wasn't thorough enough, why did you submit it and hope for the best?"

At those words, the man on the other end was already composing his resignation letter in his head.

And why did Mr. Zheng seem even stricter than usual?

Was he in a bad mood?

"No, no, that's not it. We weren't sure what form the concessions should take either," the man explained. "Besides, Mr. Li hasn't made his position clear, and there aren't any competing offerings on the market. I wanted to ask what you thought. Should we still offer the concession?"

Zheng Ye closed the file.

"Yes. Adjust it to ten percent."

Zheng Ye rubbed between his brows. He knew Mr. Li was testing them. If his guess was right, Mr. Li wasn't genuinely interested in working with them either.

The other party kept making unreasonable demands for no reason other than to test Zheng Ye's limits. But Zheng Ye's real target wasn't the Li Corporation—it was the Pei Family at the port, and he had already coordinated with them.

As for the Li Corporation, he had more than enough resources and means to play their game.

Knock, knock, knock.

As he was thinking, another knock came from behind him.

Zheng Ye turned and saw Ning Shile poking his head in with a bright smile, holding a bowl of rice porridge and a fried egg.

He trotted over, set the tray in front of Zheng Ye, then took out his phone, opened his notes app, and handed it over. Two lines had already been typed out.

"It's better to eat something in the evening. The housekeeper said she didn't dare bring it up, so I did it for her ^v^~"

"Brother Ye, your health is what keeps you going! Make sure you eat properly!"

Those two lines, paired with Ning Shile's innocent, sincere smile...

Zheng Ye couldn't deny it: his heart skipped a beat.

It had been a long time since anyone had shown him concern.

He had spent three years bedridden and fallen far behind on work. In the half month he had been at the company, he had often worked until one or two in the morning.

As for meals, he could only eat food that had already gone cold. No one had ever shown any concern for his health.

A perfectly round egg, fried golden.

Steaming rice porridge.

And the smile of the person before him.

An unfamiliar feeling began to grow in his heart.

Like a spark falling from a silent river of stars into a barren wilderness, then spreading into a sweeping blaze with a gust of wind.

Warmth rippled through his chest. It felt so good to be cared for.

Zheng Ye nodded. "All right."

Then he added, "I'll eat it."

After Ning Shile left, Zheng Ye's thoughts wandered for a long time before returning.

Then, as though something had suddenly occurred to him, he spoke. "Mo Yu."

The man on the other end froze. The shock of suddenly hearing his name sent his heart racing, and he nearly fell out of his chair in fright. He hurriedly sat up straight. "I'm here! Wh-what is it?"

Zheng Ye remained silent for a while. Mo Yu didn't even dare breathe loudly.

President Zheng had never called him by his name so formally before! What had happened?

Then he heard Zheng Ye hesitate, as if struggling to speak.

Mo Yu grew even more uneasy.

From the look of things, something major must have happened! When had Mr. Zheng ever acted like this?

Could something be wrong with the deal? Had someone in the department made a mistake?

Help! It couldn't be me, could it?

"Do you..." Zheng Ye began.

"Go ahead!" Mo Yu sat bolt upright.

"Do you know..."

"I'll tell you everything I know, without holding anything back!" Mo Yu declared his loyalty firmly.

Zheng Ye finally got the question out. "Do you know how to act like a loving couple?"

"?" Mo Yu hesitated for a few seconds, then let out a single syllable of utterly genuine confusion. "Huh??"

Zheng Ye, however, began explaining seriously. "I mean, the kind that makes other people think you're deeply in love."

Zheng Ye had never been in a relationship, and he didn't know how he should act. Ning Shile seemed to care a great deal about this, though, so he absolutely couldn't let him down.

"Hmm..." Mo Yu rubbed his chin.

"I guess it means taking care of every little detail and handling the big things yourself?" Mo Yu said. "My girlfriend taught me that. If you want a woman to feel happy, you have to be attentive and considerate, remember her preferences, and take her seriously."

"And as a man, you also need to step up and take responsibility."

"I see," Zheng Ye said, listening intently. "What else?"

"You can also prepare little surprises and gifts," Mo Yu said. With his guard down, he became more talkative. "Back in college, I saved up to buy my girlfriend a handbag and gave it to her on her birthday. She was absolutely thrilled! She still carries it now!"

"She even kissed me that day!" Mo Yu said. "You're so handsome, Mr. Zheng. It'll definitely work even better for you!"

At that, Zheng Ye coughed, pretending to be composed. "This is very helpful. I've made a note of it."