Chapter 071: Consent
Song Wan was completely baffled, unable to make sense of what Jin Youqian meant by his words.
Seeing her confusion, Jin Youqian kindly explained, “Those so-called heiresses are completely useless. After marriage, they’re all dead weights, relying on their husbands to support them. I have no interest in that. You’re different—talented actress, beautiful, high emotional intelligence. In the future, whatever you want, you’ll be able to afford it yourself.”
If he wasn’t so successful, he might have considered marrying for money, but now that he was the richest man in the country, why would he marry someone who’d bring him no benefit and might even harm his interests?
His mother was already devoted to spending all his money. If he married a wife just as extravagant...
He couldn’t even imagine that life—it was horrifying!
At least with his mother, his father helped share the burden, but if he married someone just like her, he’d be supporting both women alone. He wasn’t sure he could handle it.
Song Wan: So, just because I can make money, you’ve got your eye on me?
“There are plenty of women who are good at making money. Why me in particular?” It wasn’t as if there weren’t strong, accomplished women among the rich second generation or the children of officials, not to mention among celebrities—surely there were many more successful than her.
“Because you’re the most beautiful.” Jin Youqian glanced at her, then quickly looked away.
But Song Wan had already noticed his reddened ears.
That was a truth as solid as steel.
What was it that set her apart from other actresses? Why would he choose her?
She was more beautiful.
She was younger.
Utterly exasperating!
At this point, Song Wan was speechless. She stared at Jin Youqian, her gaze indescribable.
She never would have guessed that Jin Youqian’s true nature would be so... eccentric.
Jin Youqian waited for a while, and when she said nothing, he couldn’t help but ask, “So, what’s your answer?”
“My answer?” Song Wan blinked in confusion.
“Yes. Didn’t I just propose to you? What’s your answer?” Jin Youqian’s expression remained calm, but inside, he was knotted with nerves.
Oh, he was so nervous!
“Mr. Jin, I’m only twenty,” Song Wan said, looking at Jin Youqian as if he were an idiot.
For an entertainer, twenty was still very young; many people entered the industry after that age. At such a promising age, was she supposed to focus on marriage instead of her career?
Song Wan considered herself perfectly sane.
But Jin Youqian clearly was not.
“Twenty? That’s exactly the legal age for marriage,” Jin Youqian replied calmly.
Song Wan: “...Mr. Jin, is there something wrong with your ears?” Did he not understand that her words were a subtle refusal?
She was still so young; she had never even considered marriage. Who in their right mind would get married at twenty, just as their career was taking off?
Song Wan didn’t think poorly of those who married young; it was just that people valued different things and made different choices.
But for her, her career was clearly more important.
She had been willing to seduce him for fame—wasn’t that obvious enough?
Did Jin Youqian really not understand this?
She looked at him suspiciously, only to see his own confusion. “Why do you ask? Did I say something wrong?”
Wrong? Every single word you’ve said today has been wrong.
But she couldn’t say that outright.
Song Wan thought deeply for a moment before realizing, “Mr. Jin, do you think I’m the type of woman who just wants to marry into a wealthy family?”
“Aren’t you?” Jin Youqian was genuinely baffled. “If you don’t want to marry into wealth, why are you trying to seduce me?”
Song Wan: ...Now that was awkward.
She studied his expression and realized he truly believed this.
“Ahem, Mr. Jin,” Song Wan managed a strained smile. “Have you never considered that I might be trying to seduce you just for the resources you can offer? I give you my body, and you give me a role in your productions.”
She put special emphasis on the word “just,” making her intentions crystal clear—
She wanted resources, nothing else. Marriage had never crossed her mind.
Song Wan paused, then spoke seriously, “I thought we both understood each other.”
“I do,” Jin Youqian nodded. “But you want to become famous—so you’ll have more leverage to marry into a wealthy family, right?”
Song Wan: ...How was she supposed to respond to that?
“Mr. Jin,” Song Wan took a deep breath, suppressing her rising anger, “I want to seduce you only because of your status and the rare resources that come with it.”
“I just want to be famous,” she emphasized again. “As for marrying into a wealthy family? That’s not only a delusion for me, but also completely unnecessary.”
But Jin Youqian still didn’t get it. “If you marry me, you’ll be the chairwoman of Apex Empire. With that title, wouldn’t you get even more opportunities in the entertainment industry than you would as my mistress?”
More than a little more—as Jin Youqian’s wife, the entire entertainment world would be at her fingertips.
She had to admit, the temptation was enormous.
“And I never said you couldn’t continue acting after we’re married,” Jin Youqian added, delivering the final blow.
Thinking of his conditions, Song Wan’s mind began to spin.
Sure enough...
“Even if you decide not to act after marriage,” Jin Youqian smiled, “that’s fine, but you’d still have to earn your own living expenses.”
My god, Jin Youqian was truly a rare kind of idiot!
Yet, she had to admit, his offer was tempting. She clutched her chest, feeling her heart pound—she was alive, and all she had to do was nod to obtain the success she’d dreamed of in her previous life.
Song Wan glanced at Jin Youqian.
He pressed his lips together, his heart racing no less than hers.
“All right,” Song Wan’s voice was airy, but her words were firm and without hesitation. “When do we get the marriage certificate?”
Why not marry him? If it would make her successful, she’d marry not just Jin Youqian, the nation’s most eligible bachelor, but even a potbellied fool if that’s what it took—even if she hesitated for a few seconds.
Success was her greatest obsession.
She did feel a little guilty toward Jin Youqian—after all, she was an old soul in a young body—but she’d make it up to him in other ways.
As for the reasons she’d thought about refusing him before? She’d already compromised once. If Jin Youqian insisted on throwing himself at her, she wasn’t about to pass up such a golden opportunity again.
Now it was Jin Youqian’s turn to be stunned: She agreed that easily? What happened to the long, slow campaign he’d prepared for?
If she was going to agree so quickly, why had she avoided him before? Was it all just for fun?
“Are you stupid? It’s obviously playing hard to get,” Xie Junchen said, taking a swig of beer, looking at Jin Youqian with amusement. “She probably never expected you to propose directly—maybe she’s secretly laughing about it at home right now.”
“Seriously, are you an idiot?”
Today, Jin Youqian had dragged him out in a rush, only to ask him such a question.
Wasn’t the plan just to have a bit of fun? To use her as a shield? Weren’t they supposed to be uninterested in each other?
And then—bam! Straight to marriage, skipping the dating altogether!
He must have been blind.
Jin Youqian drank in silence, but he doubted Xie Junchen’s theory. “Song Wan is clever, yes, and she’s never hidden her ambition. She’s always made her intentions clear, even her attempt to seduce me. She’s not the type to play hard to get.”
Every time Song Wan approached him, she made her goals plain, and Jin Youqian understood her character well.
“So, have you slept together yet?” Xie Junchen asked, getting straight to the point.
Jin Youqian froze.
“From what you’ve said, Song Wan is scheming but doesn’t bother to use those tricks on you. But in the end, she didn’t get what she wanted, did she?” Xie Junchen took another sip of beer, squinting in satisfaction. “Of course, maybe she realized you couldn’t give her what she wanted and is lying low, ready to pursue someone else.”
That one hit home.
But Jin Youqian thought about it and realized that last possibility seemed most likely.
His face darkened.
Xie Junchen burst out laughing, “Ha! Don’t tell me I guessed right?” Jin Youqian’s expression was indeed grim, which only made Xie Junchen laugh harder. “Your fiancée is a real powerhouse—saw through your act and moved on to greener pastures.”
“That kind of decisiveness—I respect it!”
He wasn’t joking. Judging by Jin Youqian’s behavior, he must have made plenty of mistakes in his dealings with Song Wan.
Which meant... Song Wan knew she still had a shot.
But seeing that she was about to strike gold and could still give it up so cleanly—she really wasn’t ordinary.
Jin Youqian felt increasingly dejected—he’d never considered this possibility.
Xie Junchen patted him on the shoulder, barely suppressing a grin. “At least you can be sure—she’ll never cheat on you just because of your personality.”
Jin Youqian shot him a glare, but Xie Junchen was unfazed, still laughing heartily.
To be honest, with the way Jin Youqian’s parents had shaped his character, he wasn’t easy to handle. Oddly enough, someone like Song Wan actually made him feel more at ease.
One had resources, one had money—a perfect match.
Jin Youqian fixed him with a cold look, then called the waiter over. “One Lustful Night, please.”
Xie Junchen paused mid-drink. “Lustful Night? Is that a new cocktail? How does it taste?”
He was a connoisseur—he’d tried every cocktail at this bar, though he preferred the simple flavor of stout. But whenever a new drink showed up, he had to try it to see if it suited him.
He ordered one as well, almost as an afterthought.
Jin Youqian’s face remained impassive, as if Xie Junchen’s order was expected. He waved the waiter away.
As the waiter left, he glanced at Xie Junchen, as if wanting to say something, but thought better of it. Jin Youqian was a regular here, surely he knew the drink’s effects—best not to meddle.
Xie Junchen didn’t notice the look, still chatting away with Jin Youqian.
He’d just come back from the military, on rare leave, and wanted to relax.