After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 321 Pretend to Date

Chapter 321: Chapter 321 Pretend to Date

She could feel the arm she was holding stiffen for a moment, the tension spreading through the entire body.

Zhong Keke turned around and looked at Xie Yunkai, asking, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing..."

Xie Yunkai snapped back to reality, glanced at Ye Li again, and saw that she had already headed toward the center of the banquet hall.

Zhong Keke gave him a peculiar look.

It was always like this.

Every time she brought him out, he would go cold, as if even the faint smiles he had in the lab had disappeared.

But cold as he was, the thought of him one day smiling at her, teasing her, and letting the spark in his eyes be solely for her made Zhong Keke feel that perhaps it wasn’t such a big deal after all.

She was determined to win Xie Yunkai!

The birthday star was Su Nanjin, the Second Young Master of the Su Family, turning 29 this year.

The Su Family was vast and powerful, comparable to the Qin Family. The two families often collaborated in business.

Qin Zhongsong had his eyes on Su Nanjin for one reason: Su Nanjin was also a child born out of wedlock, the product of Mr. Su and a woman outside.

In short, Su Nanjin was also an illegitimate son.

The only difference was that Mrs. Su was exceptionally skillful. When she first found out about Mr. Su’s illegitimate child, she made a scene—crying, arguing, even threatening her own life—and swiftly informed her maiden family.

Before Mr. Su could even process the situation, her brothers and cousins had handled everything.

Before Su Nanjin’s first month passed, he was brought back to the Su Family. For all these years, he had grown up under Mrs. Su’s watchful eye.

Nowadays, nearly all of the Su Family’s assets were controlled by Mrs. Su’s eldest son, Su Nanchen.

Both Qin Zhongsong and Mr. Su understood that Su Nanjin’s fate had been sealed the moment the decision to keep the son while abandoning the mother was made years ago.

Because he bore the surname "Su," he was destined for a life of opulence.

However, if he intended to dip into the family business and seize a share of the wealth originally meant for Su Nanchen, it would be nothing short of dreaming.

Not to mention Mrs. Su—her maiden family wouldn’t sit idly by either.

The reality was, Su Nanjin played the role of a debauchee quite well.

After returning from studying abroad, he neither joined the family business nor set up his own. He simply relied on the shares given to him by Mr. Su, raking in tens of millions in dividends each year, living extravagantly.

All year round, he was either hanging out at bars and race tracks or spending time at equestrian clubs and golf courses.

A life of leisure, with no surprises on the horizon.

Watching Su Nanjin’s flamboyantly handsome face, Ye Li turned her head and whispered to Qin Chu, "President Qin must think the two of you share an interest in cars and might have common topics to discuss."

Qin Chu nodded, "Maybe."

"Well? Do you feel anything for him?"

Ye Li asked.

Qin Chu stared at Su Nanjin for a long time, then replied with another question, "Don’t you think he lives like a puppet?"

???

Ye Li turned to look again.

A young man in his twenties, dressed in a white suit.

His smile was bold and striking.

It was said that the Second Young Master of the Su Family was a master at having fun. Yet there wasn’t even a hint of depravity or indulgence on him.

Despite knowing his position, he neither fought nor contested anything. Even outwardly, he showed utmost respect to Mrs. Su, as if she were truly his mother.

Qin Chu pursed her lips. "Too fake!"

If not for the stigma of being an illegitimate child, Su Nanjin would undoubtedly be one of the hottest picks among the elite circles of the Imperial City. At lavish banquets, those noble ladies and socialites would probably have eyes burning holes into his back.

But the reality was, he was stuck in an awkward place.

Families with a better background than the Su Family wouldn’t even consider him.

Those less privileged than the Su Family were riddled with hesitation.

One way or another, things had dragged on until now.

"So, pass?"

Ye Li asked.

Qin Chu nodded, raising her glass to Ye Li.

Before their glasses could clink, a deep, magnetic voice sounded from behind. "Lady Qin..."

Turning around, they came face to face with Su Nanjin’s radiant smile.

"Mrs. Fu, it’s an honor to see you here!"

With a nod to Ye Li, Su Nanjin turned to Qin Chu. "May I borrow you for a moment?"

"No need!"

Qin Chu’s words were blunt. "Mrs. Fu is like a sister to me, neither sharing the same father nor mother. She’s not an outsider. Whatever you want to say, just say it."

Seemingly unfazed by Qin Chu’s straightforwardness, Su Nanjin nodded and got straight to the point. "Aside from the elders in our families, you and I hardly have any private interactions. We both know why you’re here tonight."

"You have your own pursuits and surely won’t conform to President Qin’s wishes. As for me, I don’t want to face another arranged proposal with a ’Lady Qin’ that destroys her happiness. So how about we strike a deal?"

Qin Chu raised an eyebrow. "What kind of deal?"

"Let’s pretend to date."

Su Nanjin smiled. "That way, President Qin won’t set you up with more matches, and the Su Family will stop scheming. We’ll both get some breathing room. During the ’relationship,’ you’re free to do whatever you want—romance, projects, anything—as long as you keep it hidden from President Qin and the Su Family. How about it?"

His openness was almost disarming, and he looked at Qin Chu with a rare sincerity.

It was as though, with just one nod from her, he would comply with her every demand.

A deal that seemed to hold mutual benefits.

"A deal?"

Watching the champagne swirl and bubble in her glass, Qin Chu raised her eyes to meet Su Nanjin’s. "But I don’t see how I’m gaining anything from it."

It wasn’t as though Qin Zhongsong had been coercing her.

Even Yao Wanying’s pressure only frustrated her for an evening before she pushed back.

If it happened again, she could just push back again.

But working with Su Nanjin carried an unintended allure, one that hinted at unseen troubles down the line.

"Of course, you will!"

Su Nanjin smirked. "Agree to be my girlfriend, and the entire resource pool of the Timing Club will be at your disposal. Plus, as your boyfriend, I’ll gift you a race-grade car on our anniversary each year. How does that sound?"

A master fisherman demonstrating expert angling!

Ye Li was witnessing it firsthand!

If it weren’t for the fact that supernatural powers weren’t allowed after the founding of the country, Ye Li was convinced that at this moment, Qin Chu’s bushy fox tail would be showing.

Fortunately, Qin Chu held her alcohol well.

Fortunately, she was drinking only champagne tonight.

Qin Chu swirled her glass, her expression composed. "Sounds interesting. But I tend to procrastinate and enjoy dragging things out. If Second Young Master isn’t in a hurry... allow me a few days to think it over?"

"Take your time!"

Su Nanjin nodded in gentlemanly fashion and glanced toward a waiter.

When the waiter approached, Su Nanjin picked up a glass of wine and raised it to Qin Chu. "Qin Chu, trust me—whether it’s romance or marriage, I’ll be an excellent partner. Take days, take months, however long you need—I’ll wait. You can think it through thoroughly!"

Clink!

The glasses lightly touched. Su Nanjin tilted his head back and emptied his glass, then turned toward Ye Li and Qin Chu with a warm smile. "Feel free to enjoy yourselves!"

Su Nanjin walked away.

Ye Li turned back to find Qin Chu’s eyes shining brightly.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Pass?"

Qin Chu gave a faint smile but said nothing.

Originally planning to leave halfway through the banquet, Ye Li and Qin Chu found that, thanks to Su Nanjin’s unexpected appearance, the evening didn’t seem so dull after all.

They indulged in desserts and sipped world-class champagne, treating the event like a casual cocktail party as they had done before.

Midway through the event, Ye Li stepped away to use the restroom.

As she pushed the door open and walked out, Ye Li looked up—and the smile on her face immediately faded.

Leaning against the marble wall of the hallway, Xie Yunkai straightened up. "Ye Li, I have something to say to you."