Plunder
Chapter 96 - 96 96 Congratulations to Young Master Ding and

Chapter 96: Chapter 96 Congratulations to Young Master Ding and Miss Qiao! Chapter 96: Chapter 96 Congratulations to Young Master Ding and Miss Qiao! Ding Hao’s eyes shifted from anticipation to surprise.

“That’s great, En’en, you finally agreed to me,” he said.

He couldn’t contain his excitement and stood up, hugging Qiao En in one motion.

Just as he was about to lean in, Qiao En put up a hand to stop him.

“Doctor Ding, have you forgotten what the agreement says?” she asked.

Clause three of the agreement: Do not force the other party to do something they are unwilling to do.

Ding Hao grinned, “I remember, I remember.”

He let go of her, but his inner joy was indescribable. He simply started jumping around in Qiao En’s apartment.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

He let out a series of high-pitched screams.

Qiao En, however, was utterly calm, just as she had been three years ago.

She went into the kitchen, took out a saucepan, filled it halfway with water, and placed it on the gas stove. The blue flames licked the bottom of the pan.

She stood there silently, watching the water come to a boil.

“En’en, what are you doing?” Ding Hao asked, having calmed down from his excitement, leaning on the kitchen doorway.

Qiao En focused on the pot, and he focused on Qiao En.

“Boiling noodles, do you want some? If you do, I’ll make a bowl for you too,” she said, her voice low. After speaking, she took a package of opened dried noodles from the cabinet.

“No,” Ding Hao replied childishly. He approached, reached out, and turned off the gas.

“En’en, we’re getting married soon; you’re going to be Mrs. Ding soon. These noodles aren’t nutritious; I’ll take you out for a big meal,” he said.

He took the package of noodles from Qiao En’s hands and casually threw it into the trash, pulling her out the door.

She pulled her hand away, still managing to maintain a distance from Ding Hao.

“Doctor Ding, I hope you remember the contents of the agreement,” she said formally. Ding Hao wasn’t angry at all; on the contrary, he found this side of Qiao En rather amusing.

Something too easily obtained isn’t as satisfying.

“Alright, alright, alright, I promise you, I’ll memorize the agreement down to every last detail,” he said.

Ding Hao’s eyes twinkled as he took steps toward the balcony and looked down.

“Go change your clothes; I’ll wait here. If we don’t go out today, they might turn into the stone lions downstairs,” he said.

Qiao En understood Ding Hao’s intentions.

She wasn’t capricious. Once signed, she would be tied to Ding Hao’s interests forever.

And Zhou Jin’an would then be nothing but history.

“Alright,” she agreed obediently, going to her bedroom to change into a light pink sleeveless dress.

It was the dress she wore the first time she accompanied Zhou Jin’an to a social event—Zhou Jin’an had personally picked it out for her.

Perhaps it held a different significance. After wearing it once, she had kept it stored away in her wardrobe, never wearing it again.

Today was a significant day for her as well.

She pinned up her hair at the back of her head and inserted a pearl hairpin, giving her a classical and graceful appearance. Naturally, she was beautiful; with a slight touch of makeup, she looked as lovely as a lotus flower breaking the surface of the water.

Qiao En, dressed and ready, came out of the bedroom, and Ding Hao’s eyes widened.

“En’en, you’re so beautiful, you truly look like a fairy descending to earth,” he said.

He circled around Qiao En a few times. From a distance was not enough to satisfy his eyes, and he wanted to get closer but then remembered the agreement and restrained himself.

“I hope I won’t embarrass you,” she said.

Qiao En didn’t smile, like a cold beauty.

But Ding Hao didn’t mind at all; he smiled so broadly that the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes unfolded.

“Not at all, not at all. You’re making me look good. Are you ready? If you are, let’s go out,” he asked considerately.

Qiao En knew better than anyone that once she stepped through that door, she would have to embrace a new version of herself.

This was a gamble, with herself as the stake. The outcome would depend on her luck.

“Let’s go.”

Qiao En’s gaze was resolute as she took steps forward, while Ding Hao opened the door ahead of her.

He appeared like a general who had won a victorious battle, whereas she seemed more like a warrior making a desperate gamble.

Both entered the elevator, Ding Hao casually putting one hand in his pocket and extending the other arm.

“This is for you to borrow, doesn’t mean I’m taking advantage of you,” he said.

He smiled proudly.

Since they had to act out this play in front of everyone, the key was to make it realistic.

Qiao En was a naturally talented actress, and she knew what to do.

The moment the elevator doors opened, she naturally slipped her hand into the crook of Ding Hao’s arm.

Indeed, as Ding Hao had said, several reporters were camped out in front of the elevator.

The flashlights blazed; they had nowhere to hide.

“Miss Qiao, President Zhou Jin’an of Nanchen broke off his engagement with the An Corporation heiress because of you. What do you think about that?”

A reporter had already extended the microphone to Qiao En’s lips.

Ding Hao moved quickly, his hand smacking down.

He pointed furiously at the reporter and shouted, “Which media are you with? Can’t you speak properly? What’s my fiancée got to do with whom Zhou Jin’an breaks off an engagement? I’m warning you, if anyone dares to speak nonsense and upsets my fiancée, I will make sure you can’t find a job for the rest of your life!”

Qiao En had never seen such a domineering and unruly side of Ding Hao; he exuded an arrogantly carefree demeanor, perfectly embodying the disdain and brutality of a scion.

The crowd did not dare to provoke him anymore and chose to retreat wisely.

“Ding, why are you getting so angry? It’s not good for your health to be so upset. Let them talk; we don’t care, right?” she said.

Ding Hao’s eyes also widened in surprise; he had not expected Qiao En to show this side of herself.

She smiled sweetly, her voice as gentle as honey; one hand was looped through Ding Hao’s arm, and the other affectionately caressed his chest.

Happiness came too suddenly, and he was somewhat overwhelmed, his big hand grasping the small one that Qiao En had placed on his chest.

“En’en, you’ll soon be Mrs. Ding. I won’t allow them to slander you behind your back.”

He gazed at Qiao En with affection and then swept a cold look over the reporters.

“Let me make this clear, Qiao En is my fiancée, Ding Hao. We have been in love for nearly a year and have lived together for two months. In a week, we will have a grand wedding. If you’re interested, you are welcome to attend. But if anyone else dares to spread false rumors and damage my fiancée’s reputation, don’t blame me, Ding Hao, for being ruthless!”

In this manner, Ding Hao publicly announced his marriage with Qiao En.

Authoritatively, forcefully.

The reporters had received an anonymous call, which is why they had rushed to Chengnan Apartment to confront Qiao En.

Initially, they had hoped to capture images of Qiao En entering and leaving with Zhou Jin’an or to get her to reveal information about their relationship.

After all, Zhou Jin’an was at the center of a media storm, and gossip about his personal life was undoubtedly hot news.

They missed capturing the gossip on Zhou Jin’an, but they eagerly took up the bait Ding Hao threw.

They changed their tone immediately.

“Congratulations, Young Master Ding and Miss Qiao!”

“Can Young Master Ding reveal the details about your relationship?”

“What moment did Miss Qiao fall for you, Young Master Ding?”

…

A sly smile crept over Ding Hao’s face; his eyes, alight with mischief, held a deep meaning.

“Shush—”

He made a silence gesture, and the previously noisy reporters immediately quieted down.

“My fiancée is hungry; we are off to have a candlelit dinner. If you have any questions, we will give you time to ask them at the wedding. Now, could you please give us some private space?”

Ding Hao spoke slowly and gently, a tone he rarely used, suggesting a request but actually issuing a command.

Surprisingly, the reporters truly cleared a path.

“Baby, let’s go,” Ding Hao said, wrapping an arm around Qiao En’s waist.

His hand was burning hot, pressed against her waist like a bundle of fire. Qiao En glanced sideways at Ding Hao, whose face still wore an indulgent smile.

“Don’t look back; we have to act out the full play. You don’t want all our efforts to be wasted, do you?”

Although the act was for the reporters, Qiao En knew in her heart that it was primarily for Zhou Jin’an to see.

It didn’t matter whether others believed it; the crucial point was if Zhou Jin’an believed it.

An hour later, a photo of Ding Hao intimately leaving with Qiao En quickly went viral online.

And then, it also pricked Zhou Jin’an’s eyes.