Let's Get Married on the First Day of Rebirth - Chapter 3

To be honest, the contract with Guangju Media was only getting worse the longer it dragged on. Qu Ange wanted to resolve it quickly, so she didn’t bother sparing their feelings anymore. She was equally blunt with Zeng Xuejia: “I consulted some friends later, and this contract is nothing but a predatory one. But I’ve already signed it, so I know there’s no way out. If I stick to it, I’ll just be Guangju Media’s slave for the next fifteen years.

Hah, listen to her sweet talk. It’s been a year since you signed other than dragging you to drinking parties, what other resources have they given you? I’ve figured it out now. I’ll treat that two-million-yuan penalty as money fed to the dogs. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Perhaps Qu Ange’s words were too resolute, because Zeng Xuejia hesitated on the other end of the line before asking, “But what about the penalty? It’s such a huge sum. How are you going to handle it?”

Qu Ange paused before replying, “I don’t know yet. I’ll figure something out. I can’t let this contract tie me down forever.” She actually had some ideas in mind, but it wasn’t the right time to share them.

Hearing this, Zeng Xuejia assumed Qu Ange was just being stubborn. “If you’re feeling down, take a few days off. I’ll put in a good word for you with Zhou Yue. Just stop saying those things. The company won’t be happy if they hear.” Her voice lowered as she added, “This industry is complicated. If you offend the company, you won’t find opportunities elsewhere either. Ange, don’t be too reckless.”

Qu Ange knew she couldn’t convince Zeng Xuejia right now. Given the circumstances, what the other woman said made sense and was well-intentioned. This industry might seem glamorous, but it was filthy underneath. Some people with money and power acted as if they were above the law. Later, when the internet became more widespread, they’d at least fear exposure, but right now, in the early days of the web’s rise, many still acted with impunity. If you had no backing and got blacklisted, there really was no way to recover.

Qu Ange had no rebuttal, so she gave a vague acknowledgment and hung up. Scratching her head, she zoned out for a moment before remembering what she was doing. Just as she turned to knock on the door again, it swung open.

Xu Mi stood at the doorway, expressionless. “What’s going on with the contract?”

Qu Ange immediately flashed a sweet smile, hoping to soften Xu Mi’s stern demeanor. Caught off guard, she froze for a second but then grinned again, spreading her arms as if to embrace Xu Mi. “Are you worried about me?”

Xu Mi instantly raised a hand to push her away, but her palm landed squarely on Qu Ange’s chest. Startled, she jerked her hand back, but that moment of hesitation was enough for Qu Ange to pull her into a tight hug. The familiar scent of shower gel, warmed by body heat, enveloped her. Xu Mi’s eyes widened, her fingertips tingling as if they still remembered the softness they’d just touched. They had been locked in a bitter, endless cold war for months. Xu Mi couldn’t even recall the last time they’d shared a tender moment like this.

She still didn’t know what had come over Qu Ange. Maybe she was possessed by a ghost. But her heart was already trapped again by this sudden warmth. The resolve she’d hardened yesterday was softening, yet she didn’t dare let herself fully trust Qu Ange. Closing her eyes briefly before reopening them, she repeated, “What exactly is in the contract? How much is the penalty?”

Qu Ange said, “Don’t worry about it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Xu Mi’s stern expression tinged with detachment, and a sudden alarm went off in her head. Even if her emotional intelligence was low, she at least had enough life experience to realize that perhaps she shouldn’t have phrased it that way.

Thinking it over carefully, if something like this wasn’t shared with a partner, the other person would probably feel excluded, right? From any angle, this kind of behavior was definitely a red flag!

Qu Ange had an epiphany and immediately changed her tone, saying, “The specifics of the contract… I forgot, but there were a few key points. First, all work arrangements for the next fifteen years would be handled by Guangju Media, and then.”

Truthfully, she couldn’t remember much herself, only managing to piece together some of the most outrageous clauses. These terms, buried within tens of thousands of words in the contract, weren’t immediately obvious, but singled out like this, they were utterly absurd so much so that even Xu Mi, who was usually unflappable, couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows, her eyes glinting with cold fury.

She stared at Qu Ange and asked, “Are you an idiot? You actually signed this? Were you that desperate for fame?”

If this had been the Qu Ange in her twenties, she would’ve been furious at such words. But now, they barely registered, like a fleeting itch. She simply blinked and laughed it off, saying, “Don’t be mad. I’ve already realized how stupid I was.”

Xu Mi lowered her head in thought. What she really wanted to ask was whether this contract had been the reason they broke up. But for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to voice it perhaps because asking would lay bare her own expectations. She hoped Qu Ange’s decision to break up with her hadn’t been genuine but rather forced by external pressures. Yet, upon further reflection, even if that were the case, a breakup was still a breakup. There was no real difference.

She didn’t want to say too much, but an inexplicable anger burned inside her. Qu Ange had clearly taken a massive fall. If Xu Mi truly hated her, she should’ve felt vindicated. Instead, she was so furious she could’ve smashed a bowl. She stood up, paced in a circle, and then asked, “How much is the penalty for breach of contract?”

Not wanting Xu Mi to worry too much, Qu Ange halved the actual amount: “One million.”

Xu Mi was stunned. Though she didn’t speak, her expression clearly conveyed, “That much?” For recent graduates like them, it was an astronomical sum. She quickly calculated her current salary at her job. 4,800 yuan after taxes each month. Even if she saved every penny, including her year-end bonus, it would take her 20 years to amass that amount. Yet her first instinct was to help Qu Ange repay it, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “I shouldn’t have quit my job.”

Qu Ange, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, looked up at her and asked, “You quit your job?”

Xu Mi shot her a glare. “I even wasted my plane ticket.”

Qu Ange straightened up. “Where were you planning to go?”

Xu Mi fell silent again. Since she had already missed her flight, she wasn’t sure what to do next. She simply grabbed her keys and walked out the door.

Qu Ange desperately wanted to follow, but she was only wearing a tank top and shorts. Hardly decent attire for public scrutiny. By the time she changed, Xu Mi was long gone, leaving Qu Ange staring blankly at the glaring sunlight outside.

She zoned out for about a minute, with all sorts of thoughts flashing through her mind like how to make money, how to choose the first film to direct, or who to approach next. But these thoughts vanished as quickly as they came, ultimately turning into how to win Xu Mi back.

Xu Mi must have been utterly heartbroken. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so resolute afterward, refusing to leave even a trace of news for years. Yet, Xu Mi couldn’t have been completely devoid of feelings for her either. If there were no emotions left, there’d be no need for such guardedness. What harm would there be in meeting an ex-girlfriend who no longer mattered?

Whether it was true or not, Qu Ange stubbornly clung to this wishful thinking.

But how does one go about winning someone back? Honestly, this was currently even harder for Qu Ange than making money. Though she only had a thousand yuan to her name at the moment, she was brimming with confidence that she could make a fortune. But winning back a girlfriend? Rebirth hadn’t exactly given her much experience in that department. She sat back on the sofa, lost in thought, her gaze wandering around the room until it landed on the refrigerator by the kitchen door and an idea struck her.

She remembered a viral post from a while ago about filling a fridge with fresh flowers. The fridge in front of her belonged to the landlord, so she didn’t need to replace it.

Besides, she really didn’t have the money for that. But filling it with flowers? That was doable. No sooner thought than done. She changed clothes and headed out, asking around the neighborhood for the nearest florist before returning with an armful of blooms.

The fridge still had some food inside, proof that Xu Mi’s decision to leave had been abrupt. She hadn’t even had time to finish the groceries. To avoid ruining the aesthetic, Qu Ange moved the food to the sink and, drawing on the little floral arrangement knowledge she’d picked up later in life, began decorating the fridge. By evening, she stood back, admiring the lush, flower-filled refrigerator with a satisfied smile.

But as soon as she closed the fridge door, worry set in. Xu Mi still wasn’t back. Had she already run off?

The excuse about a missed flight this morning might have just been a way to lull herself into false security. Not bringing luggage could’ve been to avoid suspicion. Though logic told her this was unlikely, a decade’s worth of panic left her anxious and uncertain. Qu Ange closed the fridge and stepped toward the door just as the sound of a key turning in the lock reached her. Xu Mi pushed the door open, frowning. “Why didn’t you lock the door?”

Qu Ange’s racing heart settled back into place. “I was in a hurry and forgot my keys. I was afraid if I locked it, I wouldn’t be able to get back in.”

Truthfully, she had no idea where the keys were. Who could remember such details after returning from ten years in the future?

But the moment the words left her mouth, she noticed Xu Mi’s expression darken further. Qu Ange realized she’d angered Xu Mi again. This time for losing the keys.

She could somewhat understand the frustration, but she had no way to explain it. Qu Ange fell silent, pinning her hopes on the surprise to lift Xu Mi’s mood. Xu Mi, carrying groceries, stormed into the kitchen with a scowl. When she saw the contents of the fridge dumped in the sink, her eyebrows shot up. She glared at Qu Ange. “Why did you take everything out of the fridge?”

Qu Ange suppressed her excitement, feigning calm. “I thought they’d gone bad.”

Xu Mi scoffed. “Can’t you read? Don’t you know how to check expiration dates?”

Qu Ange stared blankly at Xu Mi, thinking to herself, Is this really Xu Mi’s personality? How can she be so cold?

But soon, a smug thought crossed her mind. As long as Xu Mi didn’t leave, she was determined to melt this icy exterior with warmth. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Even an iron rod can be ground down to a needle.

And the first step was…

Xu Mi frowned as she placed the items on the counter, then turned and picked up the things Qu Ange had taken out, heading toward the refrigerator. The moment the fridge door opened, Qu Ange clenched her fist, craning her neck nervously to catch a glimpse of Xu Mi’s expression, though her back was turned.

White lilies, red roses, blue hydrangeas, and pink-purple carnations. These flowers were crammed into the refrigerator in layers, practically spilling out the moment the door opened, forming a vibrant, riotous display.

Xu Mi lowered her head, her bangs covering her eyes, making her expression unreadable. Qu Ange stepped forward, intending to hug her from behind, but the moment she reached out, Xu Mi turned and shoved her away.

The push was forceful. Qu Ange stumbled back two steps before regaining her balance. At last, she saw Xu Mi’s expression clearly.

Xu Mi glared at her, her face devoid of emotion, teeth clenched as she spat out, “Are you out of your damn mind?”