A Fake Marriage And We Still Have To Kiss? - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Accidental Match—Bar… Bargain Husband.

The business card was of excellent quality, the printing sharp, and the design extremely clean and simple.

Group executives usually carry multiple titles—honorary member of some association or visiting professor at some university—but Qi Yingzhu only listed his name and his primary position.

The phone number listed was also very short; one look told you it wasn’t a private line, but likely connected to the secretary’s office landline.

Chu Fuxuan scrutinized the string of digits, silently recalling everything he had just said.

—“Deliberately bringing an industry leader into the house—that’s just too tacky.”

—“A straight man pretending to be gay? What kind of good person is that? That’s an extra crime.”

—“The boss has a good image… if our projects fail, we can at least depend on the boss to sell his looks.”

Chu Fuxuan had a good memory. He remembered every word of their previous conversation, and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to cough up blood.

He hesitated to look up, feeling as if the paper in front of him was covered in the words “Big Boss,” with the phrase “Meat buns hitting a dog” bleeding through the margins.

And yet, just two minutes ago, he had been explaining with absolute conviction that he was busy looking for…

Chu Fuxuan’s brain stalled, his entire being resisting as he was forced to face the correct answer:

A bar… bargain husband.

In over twenty years, he had never been this lightheaded. Even after the business card was placed on the table, Chu Fuxuan remained in a state of stupor.

He was like a music box with the “off” switch ripped out—silent on the outside, but clanging and clattering wildly on the inside.

He finally understood why Qi Yingzhu’s expression had been so complex at the start. The man had arrived as an industry elite, only to be patched into a “Date of the Century” as a guest contestant. The fact that he hadn’t walked out on the spot showed incredible restraint.

Wait, not only did he not leave, but they weren’t even talking about the same thing, and they had chatted for over half an hour?

The pear juice he’d drunk turned into a stomach full of bitterness. Chu Fuxuan didn’t stay dazed for long; he had already figured out which link in the chain had snapped.

He had thought Dou Can was being modest when he called the guy a “budget version” while providing a “deluxe” lineup…

Turns out, his buddy had accidentally matched him with the actual, living original.

“The font is a bit small… my eyes seem uncomfortable,” Chu Fuxuan said evasively.

After faking blindness, he laid the groundwork for his escape: “I’ll go to the restroom to rinse them out. If it’s serious, I might have to go to the hospital.”

Qi Yingzhu finally picked up his Flat White and gave a calm reminder: “Alright. Remember to come back.”

Chu Fuxuan seemed to be an optimist, still harboring a sliver of hope even now. He asked pitifully: “Do I have to?”

“Don’t waste food.” Unfortunately, Qi Yingzhu also had a good memory—and a cold heart. He had no intention of letting him off easily.

His own words were thrown back at him. Unfortunately, Chu Fuxuan’s ears were still ringing with his own phrase, “settle down together.” He had no mental energy left to care about Qi Yingzhu’s boomerang.

He prepared to float out like a ghost, but his legs felt a bit weak. He tried to stand but realized he couldn’t run very far at the moment.

Struggling not to show weakness but unable to look at Qi Yingzhu’s face, he simply changed his posture and pretended to admire the scenery.

Happily, there was a watercolor painting of a forest on the wall. Chu Fuxuan saved face just in time: “Actually, the tap is too far. Looking at some greenery isn’t bad either.”

He leaned there for a while to catch his breath, feeling like he’d digested some of the shock, then braced himself against the back of the chair and paced over to the wall.

Taking the opportunity to put some distance between himself and Qi Yingzhu, this outstanding Physics graduate suddenly developed a profound interest in fine art, leaning in to appreciate the painting over and over.

When the chef entered with the dishes, he could no longer stall. Chu Fuxuan reluctantly turned back, casting a silent glance at his interviewer.

The man was propping up his head with his right hand while stacking sugar cubes with his left, seemingly unaware that someone was peeking at him.

Chu Fuxuan tiptoed back to sit diagonally across from him, secretly glaring at that “wicked” man several times during the process.

His whole body was slightly tense. Judging by his face alone, he looked quite calm and obedient—but if he had a tail, he’d likely be curled up in a defensive ball by now.

While undercurrents surged between the two, the chef was oblivious, only wondering why Chu Fuxuan was sitting so far away.

He placed the platter in the center and asked Qi Yingzhu if the plating was acceptable.

Across the long table, Chu Fuxuan watched secretly as Qi Yingzhu fluently asked for the items to be moved over to his side.

Chu Fuxuan’s heart sank even further. Just moments ago, he had doubted the man’s English skills—and Qi Yingzhu hadn’t corrected him the entire time?!

The salad, steak, and tiramisu were moved to the near side, elegantly garnished with light-colored petals. In Chu Fuxuan’s eyes, they only made his situation look more desolate.

Still, since things had reached this point, he had to try to maintain some dignity. Chu Fuxuan held his knife and fork, feeling that eating it all alone wasn’t quite right, but he hesitated to take a bite.

“Boss Qi, are you allergic to carrots?” Being a bit of a picky eater, he chose something he didn’t like to show “goodwill.”

Qi Yingzhu saw right through him and advised: “Carrots are good for your eyesight. You should eat them; they’re probably more effective than staring at a watercolor.”

Chu Fuxuan sharply caught the opening and successfully presented the salad: “San Francisco is so sunny, windy, and dusty… your eyes must be tired too.”

Perhaps tired of bickering over trifles, Qi Yingzhu didn’t argue for once. Seizing the gap, Chu Fuxuan urgently changed the subject.

“Why are you on a business trip to the Bay Area? Is there a seminar recently?” he asked with a straight face.

“The suppliers are doing a tender review. I just changed roles and aren’t familiar with the people here, so it was better to come myself,” Qi Yingzhu replied.

Chu Fuxuan realized: “No wonder. I thought my interviewer would be an Executive President.”

Hongni was massive. Its gaming module had a complete structure with two main heads, and the “President” title could be spun into varieties like Senior, Executive, or Managing.

At the time, Chu Fuxuan had searched the management list, but it made him dizzy, so he closed it quickly. He figured an “Executive” title was relatively lower and more likely to handle the hiring phase.

Who knew Hongni would treat him with such ceremony?

Even if an outsider didn’t understand the internal hierarchy, they’d know that while this business line had two heads, Qi Yingzhu was definitely the key figure. His rank in the parent group was higher than the other, and his actual power was self-evident.

Thinking of this, Chu Fuxuan really wanted to ask why the company was making such a big deal out of this, having a max-level Boss host a newcomer.

“I was more on the way than the others. The Lead Designer vacancy has been open too long. We value efficiency; other things don’t matter as much,” Qi Yingzhu guessed Chu Fuxuan’s confusion.

He added: “I’m the one signing the appointment letter anyway, so I should see for myself.”

Chu Fuxuan said: “The producer spoke with me; this is your core project. I understand the importance you place on it.”

Qi Yingzhu said: “You’ve been through so many rounds with us. At this stage, there’s really nothing left to ask. HR just wanted me to have a casual chat—consider it a meal on the company’s tab.”

Too suffocating. He had fought through five stages and slain six generals, only to be one step away…

Chu Fuxuan responded: “Then… is there anything you’d like to ask me?”

Originally, Qi Yingzhu was going to say there was nothing left to pry into, but as Chu Fuxuan looked over expectantly, the words caught in his throat. He pondered for a moment and gave a meaningful laugh.

He said: “Quite a lot. First of all, what did that candid photo you sent look like?”

Chu Fuxuan: “.”

If eyes could shout a protest, he would definitely be screaming “You jerk!” right now.

Not daring to imagine his image in the other’s eyes, Chu Fuxuan gripped his phone and explained: “Actually, the photography wasn’t that bad. There was absolutely no ill intent.”

Qi Yingzhu nodded with great poise, appearing not at all petty, and casually echoed his earlier words.

“I understand. It just… wasn’t as sharp as the real person, the eyes weren’t as big as the real person, and the visual effect wasn’t as high-definition as the real person.”

Chu Fuxuan: “…”

He solemnly opened his photo album, quickly found the picture, and respectfully walked over to hand it to Qi Yingzhu for inspection.

While his heart was in his throat, he noticed the man hadn’t touched his utensils yet. Chu Fuxuan had a sudden flash of inspiration and put on a thoughtful act.

“Why aren’t you eating, Boss? Want me to test it for poison?” He understood a bit of workplace etiquette.

Unfortunately, Qi Yingzhu was also an expert in social dynamics.

“Better not. In case you get an upset stomach and it delays your date later.”

Chu Fuxuan said: “I’m planning a contract marriage. I have no plans for a romantic relationship.”

Qi Yingzhu assumed he was just being firm because of his pride: “You’re still young. It’s normal to have those thoughts.”

This was a very objective statement, but Chu Fuxuan acted as if he’d heard something bizarre and let out a scoffing laugh.

“No, I don’t understand why anyone would want to be stuck to another person for no reason. Dating is just a mutual waste of time, punctuated by swapping spit. If you want to do something alone, you have to consider the other person’s feelings. It’s like a ‘soft kidnapping’.”

Hearing his denial, Qi Yingzhu could relate, but he was three years older than Chu Fuxuan and had a more mature social circle; he had plenty of friends with families.

“That’s because some people are willing to be killed by the kidnapper just to swap spit,” Qi Yingzhu said chillingly.

Chu Fuxuan: “.”

He tried to open his mind and empathize with that concept.

However, his imagination was limited. As soon as his mind conjured an image of himself kissing a man who was entirely covered in “mosaic” pixels, he immediately felt helpless and fell into a non-committal silence.

Meanwhile, Qi Yingzhu was examining the picture. He had indeed been caught in the frame accidentally.

A wide-angle lens produces fisheye distortion, and poor lighting leads to noise buildup. Even if a stranger stood next to him with the photo, it would be hard to be certain it was the same person—especially since Chu Fuxuan had been misled by outside information.

Qi Yingzhu was curious: “What kind of person did Dou Can introduce to you?”

Chu Fuxuan replied gloomily that he hadn’t received a photo yet. If his friend hadn’t dropped the ball, how could he have caused such a massive disaster?

The current situation was truly unexpected. Reaching this point in the recruitment process meant that data like professional level and psychological resilience no longer needed testing; it was basically a re-evaluation of the candidate’s personality and background.

To put it plainly, it was an inspection of employee stability. A company spends a lot of effort cultivating talent, especially for an executive of Chu Fuxuan’s level; a sudden departure would be a crippling blow to the team.

What if he joins and then wants to fly away after a divorce or something? Qi Yingzhu pondered.

Considering the various farces across the table, he couldn’t help but press: “Is he reliable? What does that person do for a living?”

“A headhunter in the industry. I won’t know the details until I see him tonight,” Chu Fuxuan didn’t hide anything. “Why?”

Being questioned in return, Qi Yingzhu was momentarily stunned, but not because he couldn’t answer.

The two had unknowingly sat closer together. When he spoke, he politely turned his head and suddenly noticed the tips of Chu Fuxuan’s hair. He finally understood why he felt awkward being close.

Chu Fuxuan must have showered before coming out; the scent of body wash hadn’t fully dissipated, and his hair fell exceptionally softly on his shoulders.

Just by being slightly close, even with normal breathing, one could smell a faint, sweet fragrance.

Is that the scent of narcissus? Why would a guy use that fragrance? Do gay men like flowery things?

Qi Yingzhu had a fleeting, tangential doubt and almost subconsciously held his breath. This lapse lasted only two seconds before he snapped his thoughts back.

He stopped thinking about random things, his tone restrained and steady, showing no subjective emotion.

“The company doesn’t care about your personal issues, but if you create a mess, it will be troublesome for everyone. You’re easily fooled; what if it affects your planning?”

Chu Fuxuan really wanted to write a letter of guarantee: “I’m not that easy to trick. It’s just a contract marriage; I won’t let them interfere with me.”

Qi Yingzhu asked sharply: “What if you don’t find a suitable candidate? Won’t you return to China? Do we need to wait for the results of your date?”

If he answered poorly here, he’d probably be disqualified immediately. Chu Fuxuan took a moment to weigh his words.

“I just want to find someone to make do with. As long as they’re breathing, it’s fine. I’m not looking for Prince Charming.” He shrugged slightly.

He joked: “If I’m destined to be a ‘widow-maker’ and there are no survivors left, I just won’t go. I’ll just keep a safe time difference with my parents.”

Saying this, Chu Fuxuan felt he had done his best to win Qi Yingzhu’s approval.

The man across from him was a shrewd, intelligent person who was bound to be suspicious. If he made empty promises, he wouldn’t be able to bluff him, and he’d lose his existing credibility.

Instead of talking in circles or playing word games, it was better to be frank.

These words of Chu Fuxuan’s came entirely from the heart, with only one sentence being a stretch—the part about staying local.

He desperately wanted to return to China. This desire needed no other reason; he had only achieved his current success because his parents had given their all to help him.

The elders weren’t wealthy, but they used their savings to support his studies overseas. Chu Fuxuan knew very well that he had been lifted up unconditionally by his family back then.

Now that his parents were aging and the two sides had always been thousands of miles apart, he couldn’t even make it if something happened. How could he not worry while living in a foreign land?

Chu Fuxuan also wanted to seize the job opportunity before him. He spoke to Qi Yingzhu: “I apologize for the initial misunderstanding. I truly hope to work with you. As I said before, until Hongni finalizes this position, I’m not considering a second path.”

Qi Yingzhu didn’t give explicit feedback on the spot. Chu Fuxuan knew that he wasn’t the only one being invited by other manufacturers; they also had many candidates and would definitely make a horizontal comparison.

And he had caused such a huge disaster…

Chu Fuxuan felt very miserable, wishing he could flee the scene of the crime immediately.

At the same time, he acted submissive out of politeness, asking which hotel Qi Yingzhu was staying at, offering a ride.

Qi Yingzhu didn’t need the flattery: “It’s fine, I’m driving myself.”

No need to keep sucking up. Chu Fuxuan breathed a sigh of relief and followed behind him out of the private room.

The bill had already been settled, so there was no need for either of them to pay. The greeter pushed open the door for them, and a wave of sea breeze and heat hit them.

Qi Yingzhu asked Chu Fuxuan which way he was going. Having been through a storm this noon, Chu Fuxuan looked at the garage signs, feeling a sense of dazed confusion as if a lifetime had passed. Where was his car again?

Oh, right. He couldn’t find a spot earlier, so he picked an expensive SUV to block… Turns out successful people are just idle; who knows which “den of vice” he was lingering in? He hadn’t received a single complaint call!

Chu Fuxuan rolled his eyes, having no intention of sharing his opportunistic experience. He gave a perfunctory excuse: “I found a ‘nouveau riche’ car to block. I forgot where I tucked it. I’ll wander around for a bit.”

He was terrified that they’d be going the same way and cause more trouble, so he made up this vague excuse.

Qi Yingzhu didn’t react much but let out a short scoff in his heart.

It made sense; the area was already packed tight when he arrived. Chu Fuxuan had come even later, so there was absolutely nowhere to park. He wondered who the guy had victimized.

They didn’t linger and parted ways. Chu Fuxuan slowed his pace to widen the distance, even taking a half-circle detour in another direction.

However, it seemed they shared some ill-fated connection. Their cars appeared to be in the same spot. The further Chu Fuxuan walked, the more he spiraled.

Finally, he saw Qi Yingzhu stop in front of an Aston Martin. The wing logo and model looked… familiar?

There was no room to avoid him. Qi Yingzhu lowered his head to peel off the sticky note and entered the number into the dial screen.

In the quiet garage, a ringtone suddenly blasted. Symphony No. 40 began playing—clarinets, violins, and flutes all chiming in to cause trouble.

Just as the horn was about to join in, Chu Fuxuan covered his pocket in despair.