CH 36

Establishing A Deal

(TL: Same plastic as in plastic sisters – meaning the relationship is merely skin-deep)

“…”

He Jünle-style stare.jpg

“…”

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“…”

He Jünle-style watch.jpg

Murong Jihua is thinking, … the Gary Stu full of lackeys and harem halos sure is imposing!

Half a minute later, Murong Jihua, still waiting for a “what deal?” from the person gives up on establishing a powerful aura over him. He clears his throat to dispel the embarrassment and tells him what happened first.

“This is a hotel near the Entertainment Street. You were quite drunk, and Xüeru was worried, so she told me to take you here.”

The young man observes the room about him, and he nods slightly once he saw the electrical socket in the corner of the room, saying, “thanks.”

——Not a transmigration, it seems.

Is the thought and slight disappointment Murong Jihua swears he saw coming from He Jünle, which makes his eyes twitch – what, you’re so disappointed it’s not a transmigration?!

He Jünle tilts his head a little, saying, “so, give me an explanation, Mr CEO?”

——The young man flashes his ring finger at him.

Murong Jihua almost chokes on his words. He decides to reveal his offer first. He stands up, turns about and tidies up the collar He Jünle pulled on earlier, before saying,

“If you agree to my deal, after everything is done, I can provide as much money and woman as you want, and that extends to your gang——You should know that for your line of business, a good backer is sometimes far more endurable than the gang itself.”

He Jünle listens closely and retracts one of his legs, then leans his face on it as he shows his interest on his facial expression, and says,

“Of course. But let it be clear, I will never give up on my woman for anything in the world.”

What powerful words! He sure is touched for those three thousand ‘acquaintances’ of his.

Murong Jihua is unfazed, and with a calm, lowered tone, he says the following very clearly,

“I want to hire you to be my girlfriend.”

Before he spoke out, Murong Jihua already has lots of backup plans in his mind——

If He Jünle readily accepts (5% possibility), then all is well;

If He Jünle is insulted and outraged (60% possibility), then Murong Jihua will do all he can, especially employing that crafty tongue of his to convince him. He can even add more stakes to the table if he wants;

If He Jünle just turns to leave without a single word (24% possibility), then Murong Jihua can only be even more shameless than him——Employing means such as threats or coercions or whatever…

That, or begging and pleading with him?

Therefore, CEO Murong, who has everything accounted for, and has sewn a great big net for He Jünle to jump right in, the man that dwells prominently in his mind, without backing off, chooses——

The remaining 1% of scenario that Murong Jihua did not expect.

He Jünle is furrowing his brows. His usually proud eyes are slightly downcast. He hesitates for a while before speaking up,

“You… sure have my sympathies as a man.

Even if you haven’t actually met someone you like, that is a girl with my kind of personality, you don’t have to be so thirsty and desperate, to spend everything you have just to have me acting as your girlfriend? Hoho…

Still, I know what’s going on now, so bro, if you trust my eyes, then I’ll do you a favour and introduce someone to you, how’s that?”

Murong Jihua goes “… … sure.”

Then he goes “?! No! I’m serious! Don’t try to take over my initiative!”

Murong Jihua, who spent quite a while to finally explain everything clearly, has ‘that’s it, so, deal?’ written all over his place.

He Jünle was resting his face on his fist the entire time, his facial profile looking gentle under the yellowy glow of the candlelight. With knit brows, he replies——

“What if I refuse?”

Murong Jihua, who was expecting that as an answer, smiles to say, “did you think you still have the choice in your hands?”

He opens up the small terminal on his wrist, saying, “tomorrow——I mean, today, your engagement photo with me will be distributed through all mass-media connected localities in the entire country.”

He glances over at He Jünle, whose expression seems unexpectedly calm. There might even be hints of a smile by the corner of his lips.

While slightly surprised inside, Murong Jihua continues——”Refuse the deal, and you shall make enemies with the entire Murong conglomerate——The whole Christine Corporation as a common folk;

Agree, and I can provide anything you want. I do not have to reiterate all the benefits now, do I?”

He Jünle looks unchanged entirely.

Murong Jihua’s face turns slightly grim as he readies his ultimate stake,

“And of course——A video of your drunken self plus sound from last night, I might be ready to send it to Mo-er at any time.”

“Puh.”

He Jünle suddenly chuckles, making Murong Jihua, who is highly mentally focused right now, blank out.

With a smile on his face, he walks past Murong Jihua, heading for the balcony, and pulls the curtain open. Then he puts a hand under the water running down the small artificial cliff and waterfall decoration.

——Then he turns around slightly, and Murong Jihua can see his dark pupils practically glimmering in the dark.

The man says,

“Interesting. Though I am certainly curious that Mr CEO is asking me this despite your position.

What else is there to think about? My answer is——Obviously yes.”

Murong Jihua “?!”

The man curls his finger, altering the flow of the water down the gap between his fingers,

“If you’re worried about my reputation, don’t. I’ve been through a lot, turning from a little weakling that didn’t even fight back when I was bullied up to a whole gang leader——People that begrudged me or hated me are just a number at this point.

‘My feelings are not for sale’? ‘I can’t pretend to be in love’? ‘Being with a man is no good’?

Derisions? Taunts?

Why should I care about what other people think? If I only live for what others force onto me, is there even any worth left to it?

——For my career, for my dream, ha, why would I refuse such a small price on my part?”

“——Also, I’ll be repaying a favour.”

Murong Jihua is just standing there in astonishment. He has suddenly realised that he never did know this man well, this man that is bathing in the glow of the stars.

Can a true Gary Stu really come about through some sort of protagonist halo?

“You’re… really special,” Murong Jihua can hear his own voice saying.

He Jünle wipes his hand clean and answers with a question, “do you know why that is?”

“Why?”

“Because, I’m a tall, proud, man.”

Murong Jihua is dissing inside, ‘… why can this guy act so damned cool even in such a farcical setting! He really is sour!’

He Jünle suddenly adds, though, “I won’t accept one point, though. I can be employed as your boyfriend, but I refuse to be your girlfriend, or I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold myself back from wanting to screw you dead.”

Murong Jihua answers, “hmph… Then what about the Princess… mm, wait a second?”

He seems to think of something and shows a slightly devious smile.

“If it’s that Princess… That should work. Sure, a boyfriend then. Just like you, this shaoye couldn’t care less what the public would say.”

“Then——Glad to be working with you.”

The sun has dawned.

He extends his hand to him, and says,

“Let’s go, my plastic boyfriend.”