Chapter 32: Fair Competition

After Lin Qiongjiu left, Lin Zhiwei finally let out a sigh of relief and stretched her limbs, saying, “It’s finally over. Pretending is just too exhausting.” She quickly worked the muscles of her face. Keeping up that graceful, cordial smile for so long... her face was about to cramp.

Ling Ziheng shook his head helplessly. He knew it—once she relaxed, her true colors would show.

“Ling Ziheng, you’re something else. You can sit so composed even in front of Lin Qiongjiu. I admire you,” Lin Zhiwei leaned over the table, giving him a thumbs up.

Ling Ziheng spread his hands indifferently. “What’s there to be afraid of?”

Hearing this, Lin Zhiwei shot up and said, “Don’t you think that man... he’s like the King of Hell, the kind that could kill someone at any moment? If he’s in a bad mood, just—snap—”

“No, not really,” Ling Ziheng frowned, embarrassed by her description.

Lin Zhiwei waved her hand, slumping into exhaustion. “Alright, alright, I get it—you’re not an ordinary person.”

“Come on, let’s get something to eat,” Ling Ziheng leaned closer, inviting her.

This version of Lin Zhiwei was the most comfortable to be around—laughing, joking, showing every shade of her personality.

At the mention of food, Lin Zhiwei perked up a little, rubbing her temples. “Yes, yes, I’m starving. An entire hour, smiling until my face nearly cramped. I really don’t know how you celebrities train for this sort of thing.”

Just as they were about to leave the hall, an angry figure blocked the doorway, eyes blazing.

“Ling. Zi. Heng!” The bellow nearly deafened Lin Zhiwei. With lungs like that, it was a waste he hadn’t practiced the Lion’s Roar kung fu.

“I demand fair competition!” Liang Qisheng strode up to Ling Ziheng, shouting imperiously.

Lin Zhiwei glanced at him. From the very first time she’d met Second Young Master Liang, he seemed perpetually ready to pick a fight. One had to admit, he had plenty of spirit.

“I’m going to have a meal with my fiancée. If you don’t mind being in the way, you can join us,” Ling Ziheng said as he wrapped an arm around the bewildered beauty beside him, clearly intent on leaving and not in the mood for more conversation.

Lin Zhiwei hadn’t yet figured out what was happening when she felt herself being dragged away.

But Liang Qisheng wasn’t about to give up. He reached out to block their path and turned to Lin Zhiwei with what he thought was an irresistibly charming smile. “Fairy, I know you two are just pretending. Give me a chance. You can pick any restaurant under my family’s name.”

Lin Zhiwei’s eyes flickered. The Liang family had always dominated the restaurant business. But as for Liang Qisheng himself, his intentions were rather... opaque. She politely declined, “Thank you, Young Master Liang, but Ziheng and I already made plans. Perhaps another time.”

Liang Qisheng instantly deflated like a punctured ball, pouting with a heartbroken expression. “Fairy, I just want to marry you.”

Lin Zhiwei nearly choked on her own saliva. For years, she’d had no romantic luck at all. And now—well, it hardly counted as luck—one side had a movie king pretending to be her fiancé, and the other, a rich young master eager to marry her...

Ling Ziheng drew a sharp breath, face cold as he pulled Lin Zhiwei away at lightning speed, shoving her into the car before she could react.

“Ling Ziheng, it’s no use hiding the fairy. I’ll prove myself to you with actions...” Liang Qisheng took a few steps forward, waving his fist in a mock threat.

Lin Zhiwei heard him say something and was about to stick her head out to listen.

Ling Ziheng mercilessly shut the car door.

Damn, is the boss trying to kill me?

Leaning against the car door, arms folded, Ling Ziheng spoke lazily, “So you mean, you want to marry my fiancée?”

“It’s fake! It’s fake!” Liang Qisheng protested, hopping with agitation.

Ling Ziheng lifted his head calmly, his dark eyes gleaming with a rare seriousness. “Pretend can become reality.”

“…”

After a few seconds’ pause, Liang Qisheng asked, “Are you serious?”

“Of course.” With that, Ling Ziheng got into the car and instructed the driver to leave.

Lin Zhiwei glanced at him in confusion. What on earth were they talking about outside? The soundproofing of this car was too good—she hadn’t caught a single word.

Liang Qisheng stared in the direction the car had gone, fuming inwardly. No matter—there would still be chances. It wasn’t certain that the fairy would end up liking Ling Ziheng. Cold, scheming, and humorless—what’s so great about that?

Lin Zhiwei poked Ling Ziheng, noticing his frosty expression, and quietly asked, “What is with that fool? I can never understand what he’s saying.”

“Just ignore him,” Ling Ziheng’s voice was utterly devoid of warmth.

Lin Zhiwei was entirely baffled by Second Young Master Liang. The first time, he seemed to want to kill her; the second, he wanted to marry her. His resolve to serve his country, or perhaps save the world, was certainly admirable. While she admitted the last few years of her life had been a bit of a waste, it hardly warranted such drastic measures.

Ling Ziheng was just as perplexing. Why was he so angry when someone wanted to marry him?

But now that the two of them had publicly tied themselves together in the nameless circles, even if the engagement was fake, it still touched on a man’s pride to have someone else declare they’d marry his fiancée. Understandable.

Ling Ziheng gazed out the window, lips pressed tightly together. It seemed the road ahead in pursuing his future wife would not be easy... This girl... Well, perhaps it was best not to reveal his hand too soon; he didn’t want to scare her off. There was still time.