Hao Jian lay on the sofa, looking at the ceiling with an expression as if there was nothing left to live for, "I'm getting married."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiang's delicate body shuddered, her head bowed, a hint of loss suddenly appeared on her face:
"Why the rush, you've never mentioned it before."
"I only found out today myself."
Hao Jian forced a bitter smile, cursing Shu Yuntu and Boss Liang in his mind countless times. If not for these two bastards, he wouldn't have to face his execution day so soon.
"Then congratulations to you, I guess."
Xiao Qiang said somewhat insincerely, her smile appearing rather forced.
"What's there to congratulate, I don't even want to marry her."
Hao Jian curled his lips, blaming his own soft heart for agreeing to Shu Ya in the first place.
Now great, he had to play the "upright gentleman" for three years. Just thinking about it made him want to die, as he wouldn't even have an excuse to cheat anymore.
Besides, when that time came and Shu Ya walked away dusting off her pants, continuing her role as a female president while he was left aged and unwanted, what would he do then?
Alas, heaven envies the talented!
Am I just too handsome or what? Is that why this is happening to me?
"What? Then why are you still marrying her?" Xiao Qiang exclaimed incredulously, a glint of hope, or maybe fantasy, flashing in her eyes.
"I was forced by the circumstances. She coerced me with death, I had no choice but to marry her," Hao Jian said helplessly.
"No way, how can there be such a shameless woman, you don't even like her and yet she's still clinging to you."
Xiao Qiang also voiced her indignation for Hao Jian, finding this type of woman the most detestable. Clearly, the other person doesn't love you, yet you still cling desperately, without any dignity.
Hao Jian shrank his neck, not daring to respond, knowing that if Xiao Qiang realized she was talking about Shu Ya, whom she respected the most, he couldn't imagine her reaction.
"So what are you going to do now?"
Xiao Qiang asked urgently, not understanding why she was so agitated. Simply hearing Hao Jian mentioning getting married made her feel very uncomfortable.
"What else can I do? Farewell, my little grove! Farewell, my harem," Hao Jian wailed in despair.
Xiao Qiang couldn't help but laugh at his antics, "Don't be so informal, you're about to be a husband. How will you provide your future wife with a sense of security with this behavior?"
"She doesn't need me to give her a sense of security, she just wants to be married to me for three years. Once the three years are up, she'll divorce me and walk away."
"What? What do you mean?"
Xiao Qiang was somewhat confused, then looked at Hao Jian with a peculiar expression:
"She wouldn't happen to have someone else's child that she's planning to find a father for, and that's why you ended up being chosen, right?"
That was the only explanation that made sense as to why that woman would make a three-year agreement with Hao Jian.
Hao Jian's face darkened, "Have you been watching too many soap operas?"
"Life imitates art. What I said has happened before, it's not just alarmist talk," Xiao Qiang chuckled.
"Hey, why do I feel like you are particularly happy that I'm stepping into the grave?"
Hao Jian grew a bit annoyed. He couldn't grasp why Xiao Qiang seemed so cheerful.
"Me? No way," Xiao Qiang said, a bit guiltily as she lowered her head. A marriage lasting only three years before ending in divorce wasn't entirely unacceptable.
Hao Jian looked Xiao Qiang up and down doubtfully but didn't think much more of it and sighed:
"Enough about me. Let's talk about you. Has that scumbag boyfriend of yours come looking for you?"
"No more, I heard he left Hua City after that last incident. Speaking of which, I ought really to thank you. Why don't you find some time to come over for dinner at my house? I'll cook for you myself."
Xiao Qiang was full of anticipation, his bright, shiny eyes extremely lethal.
Hao Jian took a cautious step back and murmured tensely, "Are you trying to hit on me?"
"Huh?" Xiao Qiang's expression instantly froze.
The atmosphere immediately fell silent, with something called "awkwardness" permeating the air.
"How could that be, why would you think that? Really, haha, hahaha."
Xiao Qiang was the first to break the silence, but the more he smiled, the more unnatural his expression appeared, making it seem increasingly forced.
"You are indeed trying to hit on me!" Hao Jian declared, subconsciously tightening his collar.
Xiao Qiang grew increasingly angry, his face red and neck thickening, thinking: this deadbeat is so unbearable!
"You are, from those spring-like eyes of yours, I can see all the desire! Plus, when you talk, that slight tremble in your voice, it shows how agitated you are at this moment, indicating you really want to possess me. Not just that, even the slightly lascivious expression on your face from time to time, it isn't hard to guess your intentions.
Talking about having dinner at your place, I think you actually want to devour me!" Hao Jian said indignantly.
Eyes brimming with desire?
That lascivious expression?
Xiao Qiang's complexion gradually darkened until it turned completely livid.
"Ah, never mind, I don't blame you. If anyone's to blame, blame my handsome face which even made a rich woman force marriage on me, and now even my boss has lost her nature, planning to take advantage of me. My fault, I suppose, for being too handsome. If the heavens were to gift me beauty but had to take something else away in return, then I am willing to bear it!"
Hao Jian, with a seductive look, began to tear at his clothes while licking his dry tongue:
"COMEONBABY! Let me go crazy one last time before getting married, else you'll never get another chance!"
Xiao Qiang directly threw a thick stack of messy documents at Hao Jian.
The door to the minister's office slammed shut, and Xiao Qiang walked out with a dark face, still cursing:
"This goddamned jerk."
Just as Yuan Shanshan arrived at the office doorway and was stunned by the scene, she didn't even get a chance to greet Xiao Qiang, who stormed off, seemingly without noticing her.
No need to ask, it must have been that scoundrel Mr. Hao Jian who angered Minister Xiao.
Yuan Shanshan pushed the door open, only to see Hao Jian lying on the sofa, covered with all kinds of documents, even a shredder resting on his head.
Then, Yuan Shanshan saw Hao Jian's body jerk once, then again.
This truly frightened Yuan Shanshan, so she quickly cleared the stuff off him and helped him up:
"What happened to you, who did this to you?"
"A woman who wanted me but couldn't have me, holding a grudge in her heart." Hao Jian said solemnly, as if it were exactly so.
"You mean Minister Xiao?"
Yuan Shanshan was stunned. It couldn't be, even if Xiao Qiang couldn't get Hao Jian, she wouldn't resort to physical violence, right?
Besides, with her credentials, would she even fancy Hao Jian?
"Who else but her? That malicious woman!" Hao Jian said resentfully.