"Do you have to think about money all the time?"
She pursed her lips in response. Is that even a valid question? She had been telling him time and time again just how poor she was. It's either his comprehensive ability is that low or he's really just ridiculously dumb, she thought inwardly.
"Alright, I understand." He continued. "I need you to pretend as my girlfriend and show up with me during family events."
"Like parties?"
He nodded. "I'll be paying you a monthly salary."
"How much are we talking about?"
"A million per month."
Suspicions immediately arose within Li Yue's mind. "Why is it that big? Do you have a hidden agenda or something?"
"Then we can make it five hundred— "
"No! I'm not telling you to lower it! I'm talking about the terms that come with it. Are you going to—try and sleep with me?"
"You're not my type."
"Really?" she asked. "Why not? You think I'm not pretty enough?" Of course, this man's ideal type should be the white lotus female lead.
He only silently stared at her in response, clearly unamused by her question.
"Hey, what's with that face? I'm just glad that I'm not your type! I don't like you either."
"I can see that." He said. "That's also the reason why I asked you to pretend to be with me. I know you don't like me. So… "he shrugged.
"So, what's the catch?" she asked.
"Just pretend you like me in front of people. I'll give you a bonus if you end up irritating my stepmother and even better my half-brother as well."
"Really? How much is the bonus exactly?"
"Depends on what happens to them. If you anger them enough for them to faint, then… that would be fantastic." a slight grin flashed by his face.
Li Yue stared at him in disbelief. Does he really hate his stepmother that much?
[She will be the reason of his downfall.] The robot uttered.
'Really? Why don't you tell me more about this?' However, just as she had expected, the robot stayed silent.
"And your halfbrother too?" she asked him.
"Hm."
"I see. What about your father? You are the son of a rich man, right?"
"You could say that."
"And? What if he sends his people to kill me?"
"That's not something he'd do" He answered nonchalantly. "Kidnap you? Maybe. Kill you? Probably not."
Li Yue didn't know how to react to his words. Is she supposed to laugh at this? Kidnap? Really? And what's with the 'probably'? That's not reassuring at all!
"I understand your concerns, but I'll protect you." He answered. "So… I will live here and— "
"Whoa! Whoa! Hold it right there!" She held up her hand in front of his face. "That, is not going to happen!" She shook her head as if her life depended on it. "People are going to ask questions and once they know that I am living with a man… they will think that… that… you know, we are sleeping together!"
"Then… you can live in my condominium."
"Huh?" Did he just listen to the words that she said?
"I said… you can live with me since you're so concerned about what others think. My flat is secure. No one would know that we are living together. And… it's big enough for the two of us to avoid each other."
This rendered Li Yue speechless. What kind of situation is this?
[The closer, you are with the villain, the better,] her useless robot reminded her. Be that as it may, Li Yue only stared at Mo Li in silence.
"Then one million would too small."
"Really?" he lifted an eyebrow. "I don't think you're worth that much, you know."
"You—then go ahead and find someone else!" Crossing her hands across her chest, she sat on the swivel chair next to her art supplies. "I'm not going to compromise my name and reputation just for a million." She was a dignified human being, alright? One million a month is too small to buy her… purity.
Wait… just what was she thinking?
"Why is your face so red?" he asked. "If you're thinking that I would touch you then… you are wrong. As I said…"
"I heard you the first time!" she huffed. "I was just thinking about the possible rumors!"
"Oh, if that's how it is… are you going to say yes?"
Her lips thinned. "I will live in a big room?"
He nodded.
"And…you will pay me, two million every month aside from bonuses?"
Once again, he nodded.
"Aside from your family, no one else will know that we are living together, right?" Now that she thought about it, she only has a few months left before graduation. What are two or three months with this man? That shouldn't affect her life too much, right? Furthermore, this would also prevent him from getting any closer to Li Weiwei, which means he won't have the time to fall for the female lead and attempt to kill the male lead.
"Yes, my family includes my father, stepmother, and half-brother as well as a few cousins."
"Cousins?"
"Yes. My stepmother would surely ask them to check on you. So… they will probably know you as well. Besides, our family events have always had them attending so the attendees will know about you too."
"Am I going to be in any danger while I am with you?" If she dies, it would mean her mission had failed. That is the simple truth. The robot had told her something about a potion that could heal wounds and another that had the effect of making her invisible for a short period of time, but she needed points to buy that.
Points, of which she didn't have.
She's not only poor in this world! She's also poor in points! In such a pitiful state, will she really survive the dangers of this world?
"Not really, so no" he answered. "I will protect you, and my father is not some murderous old man. He is pretty reasonable. But my stepmother is different. Thankfully though, she won't hurt you because she still fears my father."
Li Yue heaved a long sigh as she stared at him. Slowly, she nodded. "Alright, I agree! But we should set some sort of a contract just to make sure that you pay my salary." She lifted her chin up to meet his face. She would never let any guy swindle her!
"Alright, we have a deal. My lawyer will reach out to you soon!" for the first time since she met him, a soft, sincere smile shone on Mo Li's handsome face.
