“Dad, what are you saying?” The moment she heard the word “engagement,” Lin Wanfeng panicked. Her voice was full of surprise as she quickly interrupted him.
She had been driven to find Ling Chen as a fake boyfriend simply because she couldn’t take the constant pressure to marry. She didn’t want to get married so early.
Now this perfectly good fake relationship was about to be forced into a real one. Her mind was a mess. She instinctively turned her head toward Ling Chen, her eyes filled with urgency and helplessness.
“Uncle, I’m very happy to have earned your trust.” Within less than two seconds, Ling Chen had gathered his thoughts. The more tense the situation, the faster his mind worked.
“But right now, I am not qualified enough to stand beside Wanfeng. I could marry into the family and live off her—that’s a fine meal ticket—but that’s a loser’s mindset. I wouldn’t deserve to be Wanfeng’s husband.”
Ling Chen held Lin Fu and Lin Mu’s gazes as he spoke slowly. “I hope that during the remaining three years of college, I can build something of my own—for example, the game I’m currently trying to develop. I want to prove I can be worthy of Wanfeng.”
Ling Chen’s heart was racing. He had no idea if this excuse would win the approval of Lin Fu and Lin Mu.
But since he had accepted the mission, he couldn’t put his employer in a difficult position. Not to mention that the future funding for his game depended on this.
“Mom~” Lin Wanfeng also used a coquettish tone, looking at her mother with pleading eyes. After all, the one who truly made the final decisions in the family was her mom.
“Alright, alright. Since you two lovebirds have this kind of idea, then we parents won’t stand in your way.” Lin Mu’s voice was gentle, but her tone carried an unshakable certainty. “Let’s set a three-year deadline. But you need to deliver real results every year.”
Lin Mu took a slow sip of tea and laid out the goals she had envisioned: “No matter what business you plan to do, the first year’s net profit must be one hundred thousand, the second year five hundred thousand, and the third year one point five million. If you fail in any single year, come back immediately and get married and have children. At least our family has some assets—it wouldn’t be a problem to support the two of you.”
Just as Ling Chen was hesitating whether to agree, Lin Wanfeng, sitting across from him, quietly tapped his foot with her toe and nodded silently at him.
With that, Ling Chen didn’t hesitate any longer. “Alright. It’s a deal.”
“By the way, Wanfeng,” Lin Mu had long noticed her daughter’s little gesture. She spoke calmly, “As his girlfriend, you can give him support in every way except money. But if I find out you’ve secretly transferred him a large sum, that counts as mission failure. Understood?”
Ling Chen felt that mother and daughter sometimes had exactly the same expression when they spoke.
“Hmph, I know.” Lin Wanfeng pursed her lips and agreed reluctantly.
After lunch ended, they watched Ling Chen and Lin Wanfeng walk out of the restaurant.
Only then did Lin Fu speak. “Honey, didn’t you say that as long as that kid is sincere with Wanfeng, we should settle things quickly? Why did you agree to postpone it now?”
“Look at you, so anxious. Of course we have to take it step by step. For Wanfeng to be willing to bring a boyfriend home is already a huge step forward.”
“Besides, didn’t you see how attentive your daughter was to him? She didn’t take her eyes off him the whole lunch.” Lin Mu wiped her lips gently as she spoke slowly. “And honestly, I was so worried before because I was afraid our daughter had issues with her orientation—she never showed any interest in boys before.”
“You’re really amazing, honey!” Lin Fu, though tall and sturdy, wore a simple grin on his face and nodded repeatedly.
“And the targets you set are way too high—one point five million net profit in the third year? How could they possibly achieve that? That’s brilliant!”
“Of course. Don’t you know who I am?” Lin Mu raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of pride in her expression.
Outside, the two of them didn’t feel so lighthearted. Just thinking about those exaggerated performance requirements would weigh anyone’s heart down.
“Boyfriend, do your best,” Lin Wanfeng took Ling Chen’s hand and leaned in to tease him softly, a playful, mischievous tone in her voice. “If you can’t meet the requirements, I’ll just have to become a widow.”
Ling Chen couldn’t imagine how such cold words could come out of this young lady’s warm mouth.
He replied helplessly, “Is there no way for me to survive?”
“Okay, okay, I’m just kidding.” Lin Wanfeng couldn’t help but laugh. The afternoon sunlight slanted across her face, casting a soft glow. The earlier panic faded, and she showed an especially gentle smile. “I really want to thank you for today. You worked so hard for me.”
Lin Wanfeng shook their joined hands, her voice tender. “So I’ll be counting on you from now on, Boyfriend!”
“I will live up to the young lady’s trust. I will do my best to fulfill your wishes and make you satisfied.” Thinking of the system reward, Ling Chen’s smile was as bright as the warm sun at that moment.
“Ding! Detected mission target—Lin Wanfeng’s satisfaction has increased. Stage 2 reward of 5,000 yuan obtained. 3 stages remaining. Keep it up!”
Warm satisfaction turned into an even warmer mission reward. Ling Chen’s eyes almost welled up with tears of emotion.
What kind of bitter life had he lived before? He had chased Chu Xiaoxiao for three months, and even after all that simping, his satisfaction only reached Stage 1. That had made him mistakenly think the system missions were incredibly hard.
Now looking at this wonderful person who effortlessly gave him satisfaction boosts, Ling Chen felt like he was admiring a rare treasure.
Lin Wanfeng felt a little embarrassed under his gaze. A rosy blush crept onto her cheeks, and her mind raced frantically: ‘There he goes again with that happy expression. Does he really like me that much?’
“Boyfriend, let’s go back now! I’m a little tired. If you keep looking at me with that creepy face, I might just have to kill you, you know.”
“Alright then, young lady. Goodbye. Looking forward to our next meeting.” After all, this was Ling Chen’s big sponsor. The progress of his game depended entirely on her. He wished he could accompany her every day.
As Ling Chen got into the black Maybach and drove away, Lin Wanfeng cupped her already burning cheeks with both hands.
She had been sheltered since childhood, with almost no close contact with members of the opposite sex. The sensation of holding his hand was still lingering in her palm. She couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “That guy’s hands are really big…”
Lin Wanfeng couldn’t stop her runaway thoughts. She bit her lip in annoyance. “I keep saying things like ‘widow’ or ‘kill you’—will he think I’m weird? Will he think I’m some kind of violent girl?”
Her heart in turmoil, Lin Wanfeng, acting on a whim, opened Ling Chen’s WeChat. She wanted to send him a red envelope or transfer money.
“I should just send him a red envelope. After all, he likes me so much, and I keep saying things like ‘kill you.’ Will he be sad?”
Her mother had said no financial support was allowed. But a small red envelope of a few hundred yuan was surely just normal communication between a couple, Lin Wanfeng reasoned.