To Escape an Arranged Marriage, I Became the Heir’s Fake Girlfriend - Episode 1

Haishi

Spring, March

On her first day of work, Qi Jinyou started to regret taking over the weekend part-time job at F&F Club, replacing Su Jiayao.

The part-time wage was calculated by the hour: 200 yuan per hour, paid daily. If she worked a full 8-hour day, it would be almost the same as the pay for nearly a week of her full-time job’s probation period.

It was also much more than what she made at the bookstore every Saturday.

So, she was still unsure about it.

F&F was the largest supercar club in Haishi.

Most of the busy member activities were scheduled for weekends.

The club was located in the suburbs, with a long commute. Even if the salary exceeded 10,000 yuan, it was hard to attract full-time workers. The club owner, being careful with expenses, decided to hire young and attractive girls to assist with member reception.

Qi Jinyou had been assigned the task of contacting members and collecting data.

She arrived at 9 AM. The busiest part of her job was already over, so she sat at her desk, staring at the spreadsheets on her computer, feeling distracted.

“Xiao Qi, how’s it going?” The person asking was Sister Zhou, who was over ten years older than her and one of the few full-time employees at the club. Qi Jinyou had been working with Sister Zhou all morning.

This position used to be Su Jiayao’s, but after two months, she had quit.

Seeing Qi Jinyou, with her cool and composed demeanor, was quite different from Su Jiayao’s charming, outgoing personality.

It seemed like Qi Jinyou could handle this job long-term.

After all, it wasn’t a very demanding job.

Qi Jinyou didn’t show her emotions on her face and quickly put on a smile. “It’s okay.”

Before she could make up her mind, she still cherished this opportunity.

After all, it was impossible to save enough for studying abroad in two years with just her full-time salary.

When the morning shift ended, she had a two-hour break and could rest in the club’s small storage room.

The members who had signed up for activities wouldn’t arrive until the afternoon.

Lying on a folding bed, Qi Jinyou couldn’t sleep. She silently made a deal with the heavens, hoping not to run into those two people. She was sure one of them would show up.

She had seen Song Chu and Cheng Zian’s names on the membership list.

None of the members who had signed up for the event that day were Song Chu or Cheng Zian, but according to her aunt, Song Chu was not someone who followed the rules, and no one could control him with logic.

It was possible he could show up unexpectedly.

Actually, Song Chu didn’t worry her. She had met him several times at social gatherings with her aunt, and every time he was distant and indifferent. He never even looked at her directly, and their only exchange had been a brief “Hello, Brother Song” when they first met. She was sure he wouldn’t remember her any more than he would remember a pair of chopsticks on the dinner table.

If they met outside, he probably wouldn’t recognize her.

It was Cheng Zian she worried about. Every time they met, he was very friendly, calling her “cousin” and asking how she was.

If he found out she was working part-time, her aunt would definitely find out too.

She was planning to keep her plan to study abroad a secret from her aunt and the family until it was successful.

But wherever Song Chu was, Cheng Zian was sure to be there too.

Even if they didn’t meet today, with her once-a-week part-time job, she would definitely run into them eventually.

Qi Jinyou couldn’t help but feel anxious.

In the afternoon, when she started work, Qi Jinyou pretended to be curious and pointed at the number one member on the list, Song Chu.

“Why is this person a diamond member?”

“The most expensive global limited edition supercar in Haishi belongs to him. Manager Zhang worked hard to recruit him as a member and make him the club’s star attraction.”

She then pointed to a black sports car on the cover of a catalog next to Qi Jinyou. “This is the car.”

Qi Jinyou counted the zeros behind the number 7 in the catalog, using six fingers. Even though she had seen luxury from wealthy families at her aunt’s house, she couldn’t help but exclaim at how extravagant it was.

The most expensive supercars naturally came with the most powerful resources and value.

The supercar club collected membership fees, but members were looking for connections, and sometimes even romance.

“But this person, in the three years since the club was established, has only attended two or three events. Most members sign up on their own, but for him, it’s always an invitation. Even with the boss personally inviting him, it’s hard to get him to attend. Whether he comes or not depends on his mood.”

Qi Jinyou felt a little better.

Sister Zhou then reassured her: “If he doesn’t come, the second-ranked member, Cheng Zian, is said to be his good friend, but he doesn’t come either.”

She felt a bit more at ease.

“Is he handsome?” Sister Zhou’s eyes were on the photo on the screen.

The man in the leather jacket was leaning against his car, his tall and strong figure giving off a proud and rebellious expression, but his exquisite face couldn’t be ignored.

Qi Jinyou nodded, unable to deny it.

“He’s even more handsome in person. With someone like him, all the girls in Haishi with supercars are fighting to join our club. Even those without supercars borrow money to buy one just to join.” Sister Zhou gave a sly smile.

Qi Jinyou half understood and nodded.

“He looks too arrogant and wild, but with his status, appearance, and wealth, he has every right to be like that.” Sister Zhou lowered her voice to gossip.

Qi Jinyou nodded in agreement.

Everything Sister Zhou said was true.

Around 2:30 PM, the members began to arrive.

Qi Jinyou took a sign-in sheet and stood by the front desk.

Most of the members who signed up were men. When they signed in, their gazes lingered on Qi Jinyou’s face for a few seconds.

She was a new face, and she was very beautiful.

Qi Jinyou had her hair tied in a neat high ponytail. She wore a light blue polo shirt with the club’s logo, which fit her perfectly and subtly highlighted her figure.

Her skin was porcelain white, translucent, with full pink lips and almond-shaped eyes. Her expression wasn’t too close or too distant—she didn’t appear flirtatious or arrogant, but there was a gentle, cool aura about her.

Qi Jinyou ignored their looks, only noticing someone might be taking pictures of her, so she furrowed her brows slightly.

The members kept arriving, and after nearly an hour, the sign-in sheet was finally filled.

She handed it over to Sister Zhou.

Sister Zhou checked it again, then reminded her to stay at the front desk while she went to the VIP room to handle the next task.

The club’s Manager Zhang approached and took the sign-in sheet from Qi Jinyou.

She didn’t dare look around and stood waiting for him to speak.

Out of the corner of her eye, she heard the sound of a car screeching to a halt. A black car glinted in the spring sun, and the light briefly blinded her.

After a moment, she focused and recognized the car model—it was the same one she had seen in the catalog just an hour ago.

Qi Jinyou’s heart skipped a beat.

She glanced out the window.

Behind the car, several staff members, wearing the club’s outdoor work vests, were running to catch up.

No other cars seemed to follow.

Qi Jinyou felt a bit calmer.

After about five or six seconds, the driver’s side door opened, and a man stepped out.

The man was over 6 feet tall, with a strong build. He wore casual clothes, but his presence didn’t lessen in the slightest. Even from behind the window, she could feel his imposing aura.

He ignored the staff who were still gasping for breath behind him, his usual relaxed and domineering attitude clear.

Qi Jinyou shifted her gaze from the man and stared at the passenger side, afraid that Cheng Zian’s smiling face would appear.

She didn’t notice that the man had already entered.

The staff members who followed him spoke in a quiet voice: “Sir, the car has a designated parking area. It can’t be parked right at the entrance.”

Manager Zhang looked back upon hearing this. When he saw who it was, his previously calm face immediately lit up with a warm, unexpected smile. He swallowed the words he had been about to say.

The passenger side door remained shut.

Qi Jinyou finally relaxed her gaze, putting on a professional smile.

She glanced at Song Chu. She wasn’t sure if he would recognize her.

Their eyes met for a second, and Qi Jinyou felt at ease.

The man’s cold, proud gaze only met hers briefly before he turned toward Manager Zhang.

Manager Zhang had already extended his hand. “Mr. Song, what wind brought you here today?”

He gave a glance to the staff behind him, signaling them to leave.

Two young men bowed their heads and left.

One of them, named Zhou Yang, was also working his first day as a part-time employee. They had met briefly in the office, and as he left, he waved to Qi Jinyou. She smiled back.

“Manager Zhang, if there’s any wind here, it must be the kind that brought me here.”