Forced into a Contract Flash Marriage with the Ice-Cold Beauty - Chapter 1

The slanting rays of the sun pierced through the clouds, creating a brilliant golden Tyndall effect.

Ji Nanchan leaned against the window while taking a call, a beam of dazzling light resting on her slender, upright shoulders, her wavy long hair shimmering with a light chestnut glow.

“I’ve already ruined nine blind dates for you. Why are your aunts and relatives still so persistent?” Her tone carried a hint of helplessness as her delicate, well-defined fingers traced circles on her coffee cup, the chilled droplets leaving uneven trails.

Whatever the other person said seemed to spark a gleam of greedy delight in her captivating, almond-shaped eyes.

A smile spread across her lips as she confidently promised, “Money talks. I guarantee I’ll ruin today’s blind date absolutely wreck it.”

Miss Bai was a regular client. As long as Ji Nanchan managed to drive away her blind date, she would earn a handsome commission.

During working hours, the café was sparsely populated.

A graceful figure suddenly appeared at the entrance, capturing her attention.

The woman’s vibrant, alluring lips were adorned with a glistening crimson hue, and her clear eyes exuded an aloof sense of arrogance.

She walked gracefully toward Ji Nanchan’s direction, leaving a trail of ethereal perfume in her wake.

Her favorite window seat was already taken, so she reluctantly chose the adjacent table, sitting directly across from Ji Nanchan as if in silent defiance: You shouldn’t have taken my favorite spot.

Feeling unsettled by the woman’s imposing aura, Ji Nanchan took a small sip of her coffee, a sense of irritation brewing inside.

A waiter approached, breaking the inexplicable tension just in time.

“A hot latte, no sugar,” the woman stated directly, without waiting for the waiter to ask.

Her voice was cold and concise, as if unwilling to waste even a single word on trivial matters.

In that fleeting moment, their eyes met unintentionally.

Ji Nanchan offered a friendly smile, but the woman arrogantly turned her head to gaze out the window, ending the interaction before it could even begin.

Tch, acting like I owe you a fortune. What’s with the attitude? Ji Nanchan grumbled inwardly, just as another tall, elegant figure approached, piquing her curiosity,

“Yuxi, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Su Yuxi lowered her gaze, her tone icy. “You’re late.”

Used to her coldness, Ji Yan chuckled lightly and teased, “You always set such high standards for those around you. It’s hard to be liked that way.”

“I don’t need to please you,” Su Yuxi retorted dismissively, as if uttering even one extra word was beneath her.

Ji Yan was notorious as a player, a woman who showered affection on anyone she fancied. Her reputation was built on nothing but promiscuity.

Su Yuxi was her legitimate fiancée.

Their families had been close for generations, but the two shared no emotional bond. Their marriage was merely a shackle to maintain corporate interests.

“You asked to meet so suddenly, what’s this about?” Ji Yan had barely sat down before checking her watch several times, clearly feeling every second was torture.

Not wanting to waste time either, Su Yuxi cut straight to the point. “Call off the engagement. It’ll be a relief for both of us.”

Such an abrupt proposal was naturally met with refusal. “No, this isn’t a small matter. It’ll be hard to explain to our parents.”

“More like hard for you to explain,” Su Yuxi retorted sharply. With a slap, she tossed a stack of photos onto the table, the sound echoing like a stinging rebuke.

The images depicted Ji Yan in a steamy card game with a woman she was keeping.

Even so, Ji Yan remained unruffled, not even bothering to ask where the photos came from. Her gaze shamelessly roamed over the pictures, gradually revealing a brazen appreciation.

“I’ll handle these matters, I promise it won’t happen again. The engagement absolutely cannot be canceled.” Based on his scumbag nature, Ji Yan spoke with no conviction.

Su Yuxi treated it as a joke, retorting sarcastically, “How will you handle it? There will always be overconfident people trying to take the main position. I’ll step aside, I’m not sticking around for this.”

Ji Nanchan pricked up her ears, eavesdropping intently, a grin spreading across her face like an auntie cracking sunflower seeds and relishing the drama, excited as a melon-hunting badger scurrying through the fields.

Suddenly, a massive moving blob of fat plopped onto the sofa, completely blocking her view of the “melon field.”

The man was late but offered no apology, instead complaining, “Miss Bai, why did you come so early?”

Ji Nanchan looked him over. His nearly bald, Mediterranean-style head connected to a body that had piled up at least four chins.

Tsk! As for where his neck was, it had probably run away from home.

The man unbuttoned his suit jacket, his beer belly popping out. It was clear he hadn’t missed a single item from the “middle-aged spread and balding” combo package.

He deliberately loosened his tie to flash a large gold watch, boorishly summoning the waiter, fully embodying the essence of a nouveau riche.

Thoroughly assaulted by the greasiness, Ji Nanchan couldn’t help but wonder.

What heinous crime had Miss Bai committed for her family to pick such a “gem” to punish her?

Had all the decent men on Earth died out? Shouldn’t this type be permanently on the PASS list?

Affecting a delicate pose, she pulled out her phone to check the time, her inner drama queen taking over: “Mr. Lai, you’re only an hour or so late it’s fine, I don’t mind.”

The greasy man couldn’t miss the sarcasm. Under the guise of explaining, he was actually boasting: “You have to understand, I was late because I had a multi-million dollar deal to discuss.”

“Oh, multi-million?” Ji Nanchan deliberately drew out the words, then feigned modesty: “If I didn’t understand, I would’ve left long ago. See how considerate I am?”

“Never mind, never mind. You women wouldn’t understand business matters. Let’s not waste time. I prefer to get straight to the point just state your conditions.” The man spread his arms over the sofa, looking every bit like a local tyrant, a sight that was downright painful to behold.

“Listen to you aren’t you afraid the neighboring tables will laugh? This is a proper blind date, not some love transaction.” Ji Nanchan covered her mouth in a fake laugh, every word dripping with high-level tea-artistry.

“Then I’ll go first, my requirements aren’t high. After marriage, you won’t need to show your face in public. A woman’s virtue is her lack of talent; you should stay home to care for your husband, raise children, and support your parents. Preferably, give me two kids, a son and a daughter to make a perfect pair.”

The greasy man’s confidence seemed bottomless. How could he spout such shameless, animalistic nonsense?

Ji Nanchan wasn’t angry. She smiled sweetly, playing along: “Two? That’s not enough! I’ll dedicate my whole life to being your baby-making machine. We should have at least four. When you’re old, the kids can take turns playing mahjong with you, sharing the joys of family.”

“You!” The man, stung by her sarcasm, was momentarily at a loss for a retort.

“But Mr. Lai, how tall are you? I’m 178cm barefoot, I can definitely compensate for your short, stumpy genetic shortcomings.” Ji Nanchan seized every chance to hit where it hurt, each word sharp as a blade: “If we’re lucky, the kids’ heights might average out to at least over 150cm.”

Not satisfied with just talking, she stood up and spread her hands, proudly twirling in front of the other person. Her tall and graceful figure was indeed enviably superior.

At the same time, the woman from the scandalous photos stormed over furiously. Without a word, she rushed to the table, grabbed Su Yuxi’s cup, and prepared to splash its contents.

Ji Nanchan caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. Her bodyguard instincts kicked in, sensing danger.

In the blink of an eye, she picked up a glass and threw it in a perfect, calculated arc, with precise angle and force.

The glass struck the woman’s wrist, redirecting the splash. Coffee drenched Ji Yan and the greasy man, a truly satisfying sight! (Seal clapping emoji)

The man, distressed over his expensive custom-made suit, seized the opportunity to point at Ji Nanchan and curse, “You crazy woman, what the hell is wrong with you? I’ve had enough of you!”

Finally shedding all pretense, Ji Nanchan didn’t hold back either, unleashing a torrent of sharp words: “A toad lusting after swan meat, a short potato dug out of the mud, you’re ugly but full of grand delusions! I suggest you get a hair transplant first, then treat your fatty liver. Be careful you don’t end up dead before you even find a wife!”

Thoroughly insulted, the man’s face turned livid. He threw a punch, trying to salvage some dignity.

In Ji Nanchan’s eyes, his move wasn’t even worthy of being called a fancy flourish at best, it was like an overinflated sponge ball.

She caught his fist and twisted it back fiercely, leaning in with a dark expression as she retorted, “Still planning to have a son and a daughter to make a ‘perfect pair’?”

The man grimaced in pain and immediately gave in: “It hurts, it hurts.No, no, I won’t, I won’t have any.”

“Then get lost already.” As soon as Ji Nanchan released him, the greasy man staggered away and vanished in a flash.

Su Yuxi’s gaze lingered on her, filled with surprise.

Ji Nanchan flashed her a bright smile, walked over to the woman, and insincerely apologized, “Sorry, did I hurt you?”

“Yan Yan, my hand hurts so much, it’s all red!” The woman completely ignored her, her eyes reddening as she put on a pitiful act, showcasing her manipulative skills.

Ji Yan was already overwhelmed, but the woman’s coquettish whining softened her heart, evoking a wave of tenderness: “Let me see.”

“It’s all her fault, it’s because of her.” The woman unreasonably shifted the blame to Su Yuxi.

Her attempt to sow discord was so clumsy it made people shake their heads.

Su Yuxi remained seated, detached like an onlooker, calmly observing the utterly disgraceful performance.

“Green tea paired with a trashy woman, pfft, an unbeatable combo.” Ji Nanchan instantly became the voice of reason, delivering a sharp remark that left the two speechless.

Ji Yan didn’t want to escalate the situation either. She knew Su Yuxi wasn’t someone to be trifled with, and if those scandalous photos reached her parents, the consequences would be unthinkable.

“Enough, stop making a scene!” she hissed, grabbing her kept “tea polyphenol” and hurriedly leaving the café.

With two farces concluded one after another, only the two people here for the blind date and its cancellation remained, staring at each other in silence.

Ji Nanchan felt a bit unsatisfied, how could the drama end just as it was getting good?

Unaware of it herself, she had single-handedly taken down the greasy man, smashed the green tea bitch with a cup, and blasted the player, truly a hexagonal warrior in tearing people apart. No wonder the show had to end.

Pulling out her phone, Ji Nanchan sent a message to Miss Bai: [Your happiness is protected. Mission accomplished perfectly.]

When she looked up again, Su Yuxi’s figure was already fading into the distance.

“Hey! I helped you twice and still can’t get a single word of thanks? That’s just not right,” Ji Nanchan complained bitterly.

The other person slowed their pace at the sound of her voice but continued walking without looking back.

Infuriated by the dismissive attitude, Ji Nanchan stomped her feet, planted her hands on her hips, and snapped, “Don’t let me run into you again. What rotten luck.”

Suddenly, her phone rang, interrupting her anger. “Hello?”

“Are you sneaking around doing side jobs during work hours again?”

“I, I wasn’t.”

“Let’s get to the point. There’s a cleanup mission with a hefty bounty. You handle it alone tonight at eight.”