Marrying a Beautiful Older Sister First, Then Falling in Love - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Contract Marriage

“What? Marry that old woman? No way!”

In the Ruan family’s mansion, the magnificent hall was bathed in the blinding light of a crystal chandelier hanging high above the ceiling. Such ostentatious décor was typical of nouveaux riches.

Ruan Nan had just gotten back from a wild outing. At twenty-five or twenty-six, she wasn’t young, and naturally, her parents were anxious for her to marry.

However, Ruan Nan’s standards were sky-high. Regardless of whether the prospect was male or female, she either complained they were too old or too young. If they were the same age, she’d start nitpicking their looks.

But today, her parents’ expressions were unusually serious, brooking no refusal.

They opened the conversation by demanding she marry “that old woman.”

“Xiao Nan, your father is facing bankruptcy. Only Gu Qingyan can help,” Mrs. Ruan finally sighed, speaking the words softly.

This single sentence struck Ruan Nan like a bolt from the blue.

Gu Qingyan—her name matched her persona—was cold and aloof. Especially her phoenix eyes, which always put an inexpressible pressure on anyone she looked at. And she was the richest woman in A City, a genuine female tycoon.

However, Ruan Nan didn’t like her. The main reason was that Gu Qingyan had just celebrated her thirtieth birthday a few months ago.

She was a full five years older than Ruan Nan!

She was a thorough and complete old woman!

What good was being pretty if, in bed, she’d be useless, unable to move her hips or hands, just like a vase?

What would happen to the happiness of her second half of life?

“So you’re selling your daughter?”

Ruan Nan crossed her arms and propped up one long leg. She was wearing hot pants, and her fair calves were free of any excess fat, her ankles so slender they could be circled with one hand.

“Xiao Nan, how can you call this selling? We’re just having you meet and spend some time together. If you really don’t like her, we can still talk it over,” Mr. Ruan rubbed his hands, looking at Ruan Nan apologetically.

He had only this one daughter and naturally hated the idea, but now, he was out of options.

“The Li family suddenly pulled out their investment. We have so many projects waiting for settlement. If we can’t pay wages, how will the workers eat?”

“Dad, I know what you mean.”

“But do you know what a five-year difference means?”

“If Gu Qingyan were just one year older, she’d have been in college when I was in elementary school.”

“But she’s still a year shy of that…”

Faced with her parents’ tag-team effort, Ruan Nan felt frustrated.

“Fine. I only promise to meet her. I can’t guarantee anything else.”

“If you force me to marry, I’ll run away!”

After laying down the ultimatum, Ruan Nan turned and went back to her room.

She certainly didn’t want her father to go bankrupt. She hadn’t enjoyed her life as a princess for many years, and Ruan Nan didn’t want to return to the time when her parents were starting their business.

Back then, her parents were busy, and she had to be shuffled around between relatives. Being dependent on others was an unpleasant experience.

Midsummer. The sound of cicadas was incessant.

The meeting took place in a secluded private room. A waiter brought in wine. Ruan Nan didn’t even look at it, resting her delicate arms on the table.

She stared intently at the person across from her.

Gu Qingyan wasn’t dressed particularly formally for this meeting. Though she was only wearing a simple white T-shirt, it made her look gentle and graceful.

“I know you dislike me,” she said. Her voice was warm and gentle, quite different from her looks; it wasn’t cold, but carried a hint of approachability.

“But you don’t have a better choice, do you?”

“How could you know that…”

Did my parents tell her everything? Ruan Nan was surprised.

“Your parents told me. You also said I’m an old woman.”

Thirty wasn’t truly old, but to the twenty-five-year-old Ruan Nan, the age gap was definitely significant.

“Yes, you know, then.”

Ruan Nan had a naturally unpleasant personality. She grew up without much parental supervision since her parents were busy with business, almost like a wild weed.

As Gu Qingyan picked up her wine glass—a slender champagne flute filled with fine bubbles clinging to the rim—Ruan Nan watched her take a sip.

Ruan Nan licked her lips and said wickedly, “People like me are usually very focused on quality in bed. Miss Gu, you work overtime and stay up late all the time. You must be exhausted. If you can’t give me what I want, what’s the point of marrying me?”

“Cough, cough…”

Gu Qingyan hadn’t expected the seemingly pure and charming Miss Ruan to say something so shocking.

Gu Qingyan’s face flushed. She had completely lost her previous gentle composure.

But she regained her usual elegance and calm demeanor after only a moment of impropriety. She wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Ruan Nan, I won’t touch you.”

“I just need you to be my wife. If you’re concerned, we can write an agreement.”

There it is, the classic scene from CEO novels where the male lead pulls out a contract.

What does Gu Qingyan take her for?

A female CEO?

Well, to be fair, Gu Qingyan’s assets could probably rival ten CEOs.

“Why do you specifically need me?”

“Because you’re beautiful.”

Gu Qingyan finished the champagne in one gulp this time.

“You’ll look good taking you to banquets.”

Ruan Nan: …

That really is a superficial reason.

Fine, since the other person only wanted a contract marriage, Ruan Nan wouldn’t hold back.

“How much capital can you put in to help my dad?”

Gu Qingyan took a contract out of her bag and handed it directly to Ruan Nan.

“I will invest for three years. Our marriage will also last three years.”

Ruan Nan took the contract and looked at it. It was an agreement with her father’s company. Once Gu Qingyan signed it, her company would inject the capital.

“Alright.”

Ruan Nan tossed the contract back.

However, she took a piece of paper and a pen out of her own bag.

“But I want to add a few conditions. Do you agree?”

“I agree.”

“You won’t even ask what they are?”

“I won’t.”

Gu Qingyan was surprisingly easy to deal with.

Ruan Nan quickly scribbled three points onto the paper.

1. Gu Qingyan is not allowed to fall in love with Ruan Nan.
2. The first one to fall in love is the dog.
3. I sleep in the bed, you sleep on the floor.

After writing, she gently pressed the paper with her index finger and slid it across the table.

Gu Qingyan: …

Gu Qingyan fell into a brief silence after reading it.

“What, you don’t agree?”

“No, I do. Actually, I can sleep in the master bedroom, too.”

“Gu Qingyan, you must be joking. If you marry me, do you want the whole world to know we have a contract marriage?”

“In that case, it’s as good as not marrying.”

Ruan Nan had a point.

So, Gu Qingyan picked up the pen and added one more clause. Her handwriting was elegant and graceful, completely unlike Ruan Nan’s soft, elementary-school-like script.

4. Gu Qingyan agrees to all the above conditions.

After writing, she signed her name and the date at the bottom of the paper.

She propped her left hand on her cheek, brushing aside a few strands of hair, and slowly leaned closer, holding the paper in her right hand as she offered it to Ruan Nan.

Gu Qingyan smiled charmingly.

“If you agree, we’ll get married in three months, my wife.”

Support Marrying a Beautiful Older Sister First, Then Falling in Love