Wang Family Corporation, the top floor office.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Xu Ke took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "Sister Wang, it's Xu Ke."
"Come in. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Wong Qifu's languid voice rang out.
Xu Ke swallowed, his hands trembling nervously as he pushed open the office door.
A mature, captivating figure came into view. Her black curls draped over her shoulders. Her delicate face, though bare of makeup, was incomparably stunning, and the long black dress made her smooth skin appear even fairer.
Wong Qifu.
The Wang Family Empress.
Gazing at this woman, Xu Ke closed the door and felt the air in the room grow hotter. His breathing grew rapid with nervousness.
"Do I look that good? You've been staring for so long." Wong Qifu blinked.
Xu Ke quickly averted his gaze. "Sorry, Sister Wang, I didn't mean to."
He had been in close contact with her before in the private training room at the gym, but he had never realized the full extent of this woman's charm.
"Take a seat. Relax. Let's just chat about… how we're getting married."
Wong Qifu's tone was gentle, but she applied a subtle emphasis to the last few words, gripping Xu Ke's heart tightly.
Xu Ke lowered his gaze, not daring to meet hers, and quickly found a chair.
"Xiao Ke, I'll transfer ten million to your card. If that's not enough, just ask me for more," Wong Qifu said, smiling at Xu Ke's nervous expression.
Xu Ke shot his head up. "Sister Wang, there's no need for so much! Just enough for me to sell my house is fine."
He didn't want to be so deeply indebted to Wong Qifu.
"No." Wong Qifu stood up and perched on the desk in front of Xu Ke, looking down at him. "What's the problem with giving my man ten million?"
Smelling the fragrance wafting from Wong Qifu, Xu Ke felt his heart accelerate. He instinctively created some distance. "Sister Wang, isn't this whole marriage thing a bit too…"
"Too inconceivable?" Wong Qifu asked, looking at Xu Ke.
Xu Ke nodded.
Wong Qifu suddenly leaned forward, closing the distance between them, her gaze captivating. "Would marrying me be such a terrible burden for you?"
Xu Ke steeled himself. "Yes… it would be a burden on you."
He planned to tactfully refuse Wong Qifu.
"This is the second time you've rejected me. Do you think I'm not good enough for you?" Wong Qifu's tone suddenly grew cold.
The color drained from Xu Ke's face. "Sister Wang, that's not what I mean. I was just trying to say…"
But Wong Qifu simply stood up and turned to look out the window. "Go home."
Xu Ke gave a bitter smile. "I'm sorry, Sister Wang."
After saying this, Xu Ke stood up and bowed. "I will pay you back your money. If there's any way I can help you, I'll do my best, but marriage… that's really out of the question."
This wasn't just because he had no romantic feelings for Wong Qifu, but also because of her status and position… The two of them were from completely different worlds. Why force something that wasn't meant to be?
"Get out."
Wong Qifu did not turn around.
Seeing this, Xu Ke bowed his head once more, then left the office.
He let out a sigh of relief.
Although he had upset Wong Qifu, not having to get married was a huge weight off his shoulders.
Wong Qifu was beautiful, but Xu Ke knew his own place.
Still, despair settled in his heart. After rejecting Wong Qifu, the last path he had to repay his debt was likely gone, all because of his stubborn pride.
After Xu Ke left, however, Wong Qifu suddenly broke into a smile. "This Xu Ke is certainly interesting."
She took out a dim ring, which was now flashing with a red light. But is he really the one the sage spoke of?
Looking at the ring in her hand, Wong Qifu recalled the words left by an old master: "Find the man who makes this ring glow and marry him. He will guide your Wang Family through its great calamity."
She had never believed in divination or fortune-telling. However, on the day she met Xu Ke, the ring had begun to pulse with red light and grow warm. That was what made her finally start to believe.
Even so, the Wang Family Empress couldn't just rashly decide to marry Xu Ke. She had found an opportunity to become his client at the gym, observing him up close.
Xu Ke was positive, upright, and devoted in his relationships. Furthermore, when she had tested him by suggesting he wouldn't need to struggle if they were together, he had still politely but considerately refused her.
This was what sparked Wong Qifu's interest in him. She had wanted to tease him with the idea of marriage, just to see what kind of man this person who could save the Wang Family was really like.
But before she could take back her joke, Xu Ke began hedging and pushing back, acting completely disdainful. That was what made her truly angry…
In what way am I not good enough for you?
DING.
A message notification popped up.
It was a message from Xu Ke: "Sister Wang, I'm sorry."
The corners of Wong Qifu's lips curved up. Trying to escape?
Suddenly, she picked up the phone on her desk and dialed a number. "Transfer ten million to my personal trainer."
"Understood," the voice on the other end replied.
Wong Qifu continued, "Also, find me a top-tier event planner. I want to hold the grandest engagement party Tianhai has ever seen."
Silence fell on the other end of the line for a long moment. "Who… is getting engaged?"
Wong Qifu stared playfully at Xu Ke's message. "Me. Wong Qifu."
The person on the phone: "…"
...
"The Wang Family Empress is holding an engagement party in three months."
The news sent shockwaves in all directions. The entire city of Tianhai was thrown into an uproar.
Everyone began to frantically dig for information.
Which young master from a great family was the groom?
Which War God from the borderlands was the groom?
Who exactly was the groom?
「At that moment.」
Xu Ke, who had just been dropped home by his driver, stared at the news notification on his phone, completely dumbfounded…