A Fake Marriage And We Still Have To Kiss? - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: California Encounter—If a Project Fails, We Can Depend on the Boss to Sell His Looks.

Before heading to the appointment, Chu Fuxuan stared at the living room wall clock for at least two hours, mentally preparing himself.

He had scrolled through some blind date horror stories and felt the probability of hitting a landmine in this kind of social interaction was near 100%. However, he was there to discuss a “partnership,” not to find true love. Surely it wouldn’t be that treacherous?

Think of it as going to a wet market—just finding some eggs for my tomatoes. Chu Fuxuan hooked his car keys around his finger and stepped out, his pace light.

Public transport wasn’t great in the area, so he drove a compact hatchback he’d had for years. Old-school rock music flowed from the modified speakers.

For some reason, starting from when he tied his hair in the mirror, Chu Fuxuan felt an inexplicable sense of unease. Even with the music playing, he felt restless.

While waiting for a red light, he did something out of character: he opened an electronic fortune-telling website. Silently asking how this meeting would go, he drew a random result.

“Meat buns hitting a dog.” (Meaning: Gone forever, a total loss.)

Chu Fuxuan: ?

The description was so ominous, it felt like he was about to have an audience with a terrifying world leader.

Full of rebellion, he exited the platform, clicked “Report,” selected “Does not match facts,” and smoothly stepped on the gas.

The meeting spot was in a popular commercial district. It happened to be the lunch rush, and the nearby parking lots were packed tight.

Chu Fuxuan leaned over the steering wheel, slowly circling twice. Since he was running late, he took advantage of his car’s compact size and squeezed into a spot right in front of an SUV with a wing-shaped logo.

His logic was simple: that SUV looked like a corporate car for successful business types. Those people could talk from dawn till dusk; they probably wouldn’t mind being blocked by him for a short while.

Just in case, Chu Fuxuan left his phone number on a sticky note before hurrying into the shop to give his name.

“Hello, the other guest is already here. I’ll take you to the second floor,” the waiter said with a professional smile.

At the stairs, Chu Fuxuan casually asked how the guest looked. The waiter answered in Mandarin with a slang term meaning “Wow, incredible.”

Dou Can wouldn’t sell him out, that was for sure. Chu Fuxuan gave an “OK” gesture in thanks, then knocked on the door, lightly turned the handle, and pushed it open.

Inside the private room, the view was bright and expansive. Across a long, charcoal-colored table, a young man had deliberately chosen a seat against the light. He leaned back lazily in his chair, most of his body cast in the shadow where light met darkness.

Detecting Chu Fuxuan’s entrance, he looked up. His entire face was illuminated as he turned, allowing Chu Fuxuan to see him clearly.

The man’s look was sharp and heroic. Because his aura was so domineering, it almost overshadowed his handsome features; the immediate impression was one of overwhelming brilliance.

Too bad he’s a bit of a blockhead, Chu Fuxuan thought. He would ask a question, and the man would give a one-word grunt, his tone becoming increasingly hesitant as if his brain was stalling.

By the time Chu Fuxuan asked about his blind date status, the atmosphere had gone completely dead.

Is his English too poor to understand? Chu Fuxuan had been speaking the local language, but now he kindly switched to Mandarin.

“This is my first time on a blind date. How many have you been on? Why are you also in a hurry for a fake marriage?” He spoke with perfect, rhythmic clarity.

Then, he discovered to his distress that the man’s originally indifferent expression had turned vacant, as if he were suffering from such bad jet lag in California that he was hallucinating.

Just as Chu Fuxuan was about to try sign language, Qi Yingzhu scanned the room and said meaningfully, “This place was arranged for a date?”

Maybe my friend set this up without explaining the situation properly, Chu Fuxuan thought. He was momentarily stunned by the question.

He said, “Not exactly. How much did Dou Can explain to you?”

Qi Yingzhu knew Dou Can was the headhunter for this role but hadn’t met him, so he hesitated for a moment.

Seeing the blank look on his face, a lightbulb went off in Chu Fuxuan’s head: My friend definitely didn’t have time to tell him the details!

“I’m preparing to go back to China. You know that, right?” Chu Fuxuan leaned on the table, peeking at him curiously.

This time, Qi Yingzhu replied quickly, as if his IQ had finally come back online: “Yes, I’ve seen your portfolio.”

Chu Fuxuan had never lacked attention; the projects he led were permanent fixtures on the bestseller lists. Being mentioned by a blind date guest didn’t make him feel awkward or arrogant; he simply brushed it off.

He got straight to the point: “The next job isn’t the problem. The main thing is my parents are pressuring me about my personal life.”

Qi Yingzhu couldn’t help but ask: “Is the job really not a problem?”

Chu Fuxuan suspected this guy’s intelligence was unstable and had no intention of discussing career development with a blockhead. He kept it brief and explained his current predicament.

Since this kind of blind date was about mutual benefit, and he had chosen to come, he might as well be frank. There was no need to be coy.

“Anyway, I couldn’t hold out against my parents’ tag-team nagging. I sent a photo of Qi Yingzhu to use as a placeholder. Now they ask me every day when I’m bringing my boyfriend home.”

Having explained the whole story, Chu Fuxuan breathed a long sigh of relief, only to notice the man’s expression was quite strange.

He paused and emphasized his innocence: “I have absolutely no feelings for Qi Yingzhu, okay? Deliberately bringing an industry leader into the house—that’s just too tacky.”

“It’s just a coincidence that I had a candid photo of him. It’s so blurry and dark you can’t see his face, so I can use it to bluff my way through.” Chu Fuxuan believed the truth was important.

After hearing this, Qi Yingzhu stared at him, finally understanding the play that was currently unfolding.

“You were at a dead end, so you let a headhunter play matchmaker?”

Chu Fuxuan sighed: “I was afraid he’d just grab someone off the street. If he grabbed someone who looked nothing like the photo, that would be a problem… I didn’t expect him to be so resourceful. When I walked in, I wondered why matchmaking in California was so reliable. I almost thought I was in a dream.”

As his clear voice faded, Qi Yingzhu maintained his composure, using his left hand to pinch his right under the table.

Good, it hurts. He wasn’t sleepwalking.

Then, Qi Yingzhu curled his lip into a wicked smile and said, seemingly considerately, “I look so much like that industry leader. Doesn’t looking at me make you feel uncomfortable?”

This guy is pretty sensitive, Chu Fuxuan thought. He assumed his earlier comment about them looking similar had offended the man’s pride.

“I was just talking. Honestly, you’re much easier on the eyes. Your nose is straighter than his, your eyes are bigger, and the visual effect is much higher definition than him,” Chu Fuxuan lied to appease him.

He tried to make amends, comforting: “His reputation is bad anyway. Why would I put you two in the same category?”

Now it was Qi Yingzhu’s turn to be speechless: “Why? What’s bad about it?”

Chu Fuxuan listed the points: “I don’t know him, but I’ve heard he has a fierce temper, is a workaholic, and is a gay man who’s quite difficult to get along with.”

Qi Yingzhu wondered how he had become a gay man, but he quickly remembered—to avoid a setup by the board of directors once, he had indeed used the excuse that his orientation wasn’t compatible.

“I thought anyone with a brain could tell that was a deliberate excuse,” he thought, marvelling at the irony.

Chu Fuxuan snorted and gave a biting critique: “A straight man pretending to be gay? What kind of good person is that? That’s an extra crime.”

“But if you join Hongni, wouldn’t working with a ‘criminal’ be a bit troublesome?” Qi Yingzhu showed some “humanitarian concern.”

Chu Fuxuan was quite clever and stayed on guard.

“Dou Can didn’t tell you my ‘backyard’ was on fire, but he talked to you about where I’m going for work?” he calculated.

Qi Yingzhu probed: “Mr. Chu, I don’t need to guess to know many companies are headhunting you. Only top-tier companies can handle your salary. Hongni should be within your consideration.”

Seeing him mention work every three sentences, Chu Fuxuan analyzed quickly: Is this guy trying to steal Dou Can’s business?

Chu Fuxuan played it cool: “Yeah, but if you have other recommendations, please hold off. Let me finish their process first.”

Qi Yingzhu didn’t panic at the cold rejection in his words, nor did he space out or avoid the topic as before.

After the chaotic shock, he returned to his most natural state and looked at Chu Fuxuan silently.

Probably because he was used to being in power, his gaze, even without deep intent, still carried a hint of scrutiny. His domineering aura tended to put pressure on those around him.

But while Chu Fuxuan felt the distance, he wasn’t intimidated. He blinked lively eyes at him.

Qi Yingzhu asked with amusement: “Why are you more interested in them? Is it the pay or the environment?”

Chu Fuxuan didn’t understand why he was talking so much nonsense and decided to act up.

“Neither. The boss has a good image, and the company will survive for a while. If our projects fail, we can at least depend on the boss to sell his looks,” Chu Fuxuan said, not telling the truth.

After the teasing, the waiter brought coffee and juice and asked if Qi Yingzhu needed sugar.

Having just messed with Qi Yingzhu, Chu Fuxuan now acted considerate and thoughtful, interjecting: “He might not understand. Please bring some brown sugar and sugar cubes so he can choose for himself.”

Qi Yingzhu could only pretend he really didn’t speak the language, watching as Chu Fuxuan reached out to stir his fresh pear juice.

The ice clinked against the glass. Outside, the sun was intense, making the strange standoff in this space even more bizarre.

Seeing Qi Yingzhu’s silence, Chu Fuxuan worried the man was an old-fashioned prude who couldn’t take a joke.

“You didn’t actually believe that, did you? Actually, I win the ‘Excellent Manager’ award every year,” he said.

Qi Yingzhu said: “No, I was thinking that if I were the recruiter, I would definitely hire you.”

Chu Fuxuan was puzzled: “Why?”

“Because you’d have an enemy among your colleagues that you can’t kill,” Qi Yingzhu replied while thinking.

Chu Fuxuan: “.”

He took a sip of the iced drink, his voice carrying a hint of laziness: “It really has nothing to do with the pay. If I return to China, I’m going to the best platform. They are currently number one, and I’m leaving myself no other options.”

This reason sounded completely unreliable. He expected to be criticized, but Qi Yingzhu didn’t question him.

After a moment, Qi Yingzhu said: “Are you ranked that high among their candidates?”

Chu Fuxuan didn’t give him a subjective answer. He said gloomily: “Oh, I haven’t thought about it.”

“Haven’t thought about it?” Qi Yingzhu thought he misheard.

“Lately, I’ve been busy looking for a bargain husband. It’s annoying,” Chu Fuxuan said innocently.

Even though Qi Yingzhu had seen his share of storms, he had never encountered such a difficult situation in his life. He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words.

They had been chatting back and forth for ages. Qi Yingzhu’s attitude was by no means gentle; someone more timid would have given up long ago. Yet Chu Fuxuan was still fixated on that “fake marriage” business.

He was overly ambitious—even stubborn. But if he weren’t stubborn enough, he probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve such results in a foreign land on sheer willpower.

At least for now, Chu Fuxuan had no intention of giving up. Seeing that the coffee hadn’t been touched, he carefully picked it up and placed it in front of Qi Yingzhu.

With his fingertips carrying the warm aroma of the drink, he went a step further: “I’m working hard to earn your cooperation. Any needs you have can be discussed.”

Qi Yingzhu watched him withdraw his hand and met his eyes: “What kind of ‘needs’ do you think I would have?”

Having already promised his parents the moon, Chu Fuxuan casually gave Qi Yingzhu a blank check: “I don’t know, but I think I can do it.”

As soon as he said it, he felt embarrassed. He pointedly looked around, avoiding Qi Yingzhu’s gaze.

“Is the salad taking this long? Did the chef go to the green belt to pick the vegetables fresh?” Chu Fuxuan said.

Qi Yingzhu felt a bit numb: “It’s fine, I have no appetite.”

“Don’t waste food,” Chu Fuxuan scolded him.

After that, Qi Yingzhu noticed Chu Fuxuan began to bite his straw idly, and he observed him quietly for a while.

Chu Fuxuan seemed like someone who could have fun by himself; he even started poking the ice with his straw. Seeing him get more and more into it, Qi Yingzhu suddenly curled his lip into a wicked smile.

“There’s something I haven’t finished discussing with you. Since we’re free now, why don’t we talk more?”

Interrupted in his self-entertainment, Chu Fuxuan agreed: “David, you still haven’t answered why you are looking for someone to settle down with.”

Qi Yingzhu felt even more numb. He clarified: “My name isn’t David.”

Chu Fuxuan: ?

His brain hadn’t quite processed it, but his body sensed danger even faster. He frowned and shrunk back slightly, seemingly hesitating while looking for an excuse to escape.

The man beside him didn’t give him the chance to flee. At that moment, he took out a business card. The front had a few lines in English.

Chu Fuxuan froze on the spot as if he didn’t recognize the words. The card was flipped over. On the back were two lines in Chinese:

Qi Yingzhu Senior Vice President of Hongni Group, and Main Head of the Interactive Entertainment Business Group