Contractual Cohabitation GL - Chapter 17

Ye Luochen arrived at the agreed meeting place with Jing Xiaonan before the scheduled time.

Compared to a typical restaurant, this small Italian eatery was somewhat styled like a café. Sitting quietly in a corner by the window, the beauty dressed in a white shirt and light blue jeans accepted the menu from the waiter, but only placed it aside. Her delicate and refined face was turned to look out the window.

Several passing pedestrians who inadvertently saw the cool, elegant Chinese woman inside the restaurant slowed their steps slightly, their eyes fixed on her exquisite and refined beauty, finding it difficult to look away. They silently hoped she would glance back.

But Ye Luochen, without exception, disappointed the people who continuously walked by. Accustomed to such attention, her gaze wasn’t focused but scattered over the lawn by the roadside, and her expression remained pensive.

The purpose of her visit today was to agree to the proposal Jing Xiaonan made in the seaside cafe three days ago. Just as Jing Xiaonan expected, it took her a long time to finally make this decision. Now that she had made up her mind, she felt no trace of conflict. Therefore, what she was currently thinking about was not the spousal immigration itself, but Jing Xiaonan, the person with whom she would enter into a contractual cohabitation.

Her previous hesitation wasn’t only because of considering the plan; she actually trusted and felt reassured by Jing Xiaonan’s words. How much of that trust stemmed from the fact that the person was Jing Xiaonan, she couldn’t say. If the person proposing cohabitation had been any other girl, even if that person was equally trustworthy, her rational side would have deemed it appropriate, but her emotional side might not have been able to accept it. But since the person proposing was Jing Xiaonan, Ye Luochen felt no repulsion emotionally, but precisely because of this, she was so hesitant rationally.

Every time she spent time with Jing Xiaonan, she could vaguely sense a subtle change between them. Whenever they faced each other, there was a faint, intangible feeling of something taking root in their touching gazes or intertwined fingers. As time progressed, this feeling entwining the two slowly took shape and became clearer, giving Ye Luochen a kind of intuitive foresight deep inside: contractual cohabitation, because the person was her, would artificially accelerate this change. Perhaps it would advance the change, but perhaps the opposite; these were all difficult to predict.

Hence, her prolonged indecision.

However, the phone call last night had an unexpected effect on her. It turned out that Jing Xiaonan was not the person she had mistaken her for, and she should not harbor such fantasies about this person.

And it was true, the basis of their acquaintance was merely a so-called date that was not much better than a one-night stand. Although nothing substantial happened between them, Jing Xiaonan must have had dozens, if not hundreds, of such experiences. Moreover, the second time she appeared at Peng Ju as a Maple Leaf representative, Jing Xiaonan had rushed back from a date to work. Not to mention last night…

Something vague mixed into her clear gaze. Ye Luochen closed her eyes, then turned back to look at the glass of water the waiter had left on the table. The liquid in the glass appeared calm, but a closer look revealed tiny ripples.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Led by the waiter from the restaurant entrance to Ye Luochen’s table, Jing Xiaonan, in a formal suit, was slightly out of breath. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her hairline, silently proclaiming the haste of her journey. Yet, this person smiled without a care, a smile a little warmer than the winter sun, her eyes bright and focused on Ye Luochen.

Her eyes flickered, and Ye Luochen turned her face away, choosing not to look at her like that.

“You’re not late. The appointment was for six, and it’s still a few minutes before that. I was early.”

With a chuckle, Jing Xiaonan sat down across from her, naturally picked up the glass of water by Ye Luochen’s hand, and without asking if it had been used, took a drink. Only then did she smile: “No matter what time the appointment is, if I didn’t arrive before you, then I’m late.”

They were originally beautiful words, but to Ye Luochen’s ears, they inexplicably brought a hint of bitterness to her heart. She didn’t respond, but instead opened the menu and lowered her face to study the dish names, making it impossible for Jing Xiaonan to discern any emotional change from her angle.

Seeing her like this, Jing Xiaonan’s originally brilliant smile diminished slightly, but she still maintained a gentle smile on her lips. She didn’t quite understand the reason for Ye Luochen’s indifferent attitude this time, but the person she had been intermittently missing for several days was now right in front of her, making it truly difficult for her mood to be bad.

They each ordered their dinner. The waiter recorded the dishes on his iPad and then bowed and asked if they would like any drinks. Before Jing Xiaonan could speak, she felt Ye Luochen’s gaze, which had not been directed at her all afternoon, now fall upon her, an intense feeling emanating from her face and posture.

Although she didn’t fully understand some of her reactions since the afternoon, she at least understood Ye Luochen’s look this time. Jing Xiaonan smiled and declined the waiter, ordering only a glass of watermelon juice and a glass of “Lemon Delight.”

Ye Luochen heard her order the same drink she had ordered at the previous dinner between Maple Leaf and Peng Ju. Without any objection, she handed the menu back to the waiter. Jing Xiaonan watched her action, her eyes flowing with a compassion she didn’t even know she possessed. Just as she was about to speak and break the silence, Ye Luochen spoke first this time, her voice still characteristically cool.

“Does your proposal from last time, about cohabiting to help me with immigration, still stand?”

“Naturally,” Jing Xiaonan replied, her peach blossom eyes slightly nervous as they rested on Ye Luochen’s face. She watched her every expression, subconsciously trying to gauge her mood and thoughts.

Ye Luochen raised her hand to tuck her hair behind her right ear, a gentle and graceful motion. She nodded, and after a sigh, her voice was so soft it sounded like a murmur: “You’re right, this is the best way out for me now, and the only way out.”

Raising her head to meet Jing Xiaonan’s gaze, but deliberately ignoring the compassion in her eyes, Ye Luochen slowly said: “I accept the proposal, but on the condition that we establish three rules.”

Oh? Jing Xiaonan tilted her head with slight interest, the words causing a suspended heart to drop: “Tell me.”

“First, our cohabitation is only a nominal agreement. During its duration, you must not force me to do anything against my will. Our status as husband and wife is only for external appearances; privately, there is only this contract between us.”

Jing Xiaonan had no objection to the first half of the sentence, but upon hearing the latter part, her previous joy was significantly discounted, and she felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of loss. Although she hadn’t expected this woman to readily accept a substantial marital relationship between them, Jing Xiaonan had still hoped that many things could progress naturally. She adjusted her slightly stiff expression, took a small, quiet breath, and nodded: “That’s reasonable.”

“Second, although there is no substantial relationship, we are still partners in name. I hope that from the beginning of the contract to the end of cohabitation, Deputy Director Jing will respect our agreement not to bring people home when not on a date, to avoid embarrassment for both parties.”

Such a basic request! “That goes without saying.”

“And you are not allowed to take her to the farm.”

“Definitely.”

“Nor can you take her on a yacht, or eat and stargaze with her.”

“Uh… okay.”

“You can’t drink coffee, look at the sea, take walks, ride horses, or sit on swings.”

Jing Xiaonan’s mouth twitched between helplessness and amusement. Sister, you might as well just say I can only drive her around!

Before she could agree, Ye Luochen added: “You can’t even let her sit in your car!”

Well, that completely ruled out any possibility of dating. Jing Xiaonan was both helpless and amused, pursing her lips and shaking her head.

Actually, Ye Luochen’s original intention was to say that she wouldn’t interfere with Jing Xiaonan’s seeking pleasure, but she must do so discreetly, as that would be reasonable and respectful of each other. However, once spoken, it involuntarily turned into a different meaning, completely denying Jing Xiaonan any possibility of external ambiguous relationships.

Noticing the added warning in Ye Luochen’s eyes, Jing Xiaonan smiled instead. Was this woman worried that she would date other girls as she had before? In fact, even without her saying anything, Jing Xiaonan had no such intention. But this way, she felt much more comfortable inside. Still, she curved her lips to conceal her amusement, and Deputy Director Jing nodded: “Fine, I agree to this rule too: no being with other girls.”

Ye Luochen withdrew her gaze, picked up the “Lemon Delight” served by the waiter, and took a small, elegant sip. Her satisfied expression was like a clear sky after rain. Jing Xiaonan watched her, and asked lightly: “Then what is the third rule?”

Ye Luochen’s small hand paused, and she didn’t answer immediately. She had used the idiom ‘three rules’ (yue fa san zhang), but had only thought of these two regulations, and no third chapter, as Jing Xiaonan asked. But as the direct granddaughter of the Maple Leaf Group chairman, this small challenge naturally wouldn’t stump her. She put down the glass and looked at Jing Xiaonan with a half-smile. Bring it upon yourself, you cannot live! Jing Xiaonan was covered in black lines (a visual representation of embarrassment/exasperation).

Seeing the black expression on the person’s face, Ye Luochen’s mood brightened for some unknown reason, but this good mood did not last long. She became serious again, perhaps thinking of something. Her jade-like fingers gently traced the rim of the glass, and she mused:

“This contract is indeed an ideal solution for me. In return, Deputy Director Jing, what are your conditions?”

Having understood Ye Luochen’s personality, these words were in line with her style. Jing Xiaonan just hadn’t expected her to say such a thing in such a cold manner. She took a deep breath, remaining silent for a moment.

“Then how about I make a suggestion?”

When she didn’t fully understand or grasp the development of events, Jing Xiaonan’s usual approach was to wait and see. Hearing her say this, her sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed, but she still nodded.

“Actually, as myself, I don’t have anything I can offer in return. But regarding the cooperation between Maple Leaf and Peng Ju, hasn’t Deputy Director Jing always wanted to jointly establish a subsidiary agency and thus acquire shares? How do you feel about this as compensation?”

Jing Xiaonan stared intently at the woman in front of her. From her cool language to her noble demeanor, everything fit the identity of the Maple Leaf Group Chairman’s direct granddaughter. In a moment of distraction, Ye Luochen’s image in the flower field, by the waves, and at their house, after shedding this identity, flashed through her mind. She forcefully released her tightly clenched molars and nodded with a businesslike expression:

“Very satisfied. Then, do you think it’s necessary to sign a contract?”

Seeing this person revert to her lawyer self, Ye Luochen felt relieved. Indeed, the interaction between Miss Ye of Maple Leaf and Deputy Director Jing of Peng Ju was much simpler than the interaction between Ye Luochen and Jing Xiaonan. However, she couldn’t ignore the faint sense of loss in her heart.

“No need. I know very little about the law. Let this agreement be an oral one.”