Chapter 33 Testing Danger with One’s Own Body

Yun Jinxian didn’t believe it and insisted on trying it herself.

Xu Chengyan worried about her, speaking earnestly, “The car accident was already serious. If anything worse happens, it could be life-threatening.”

Yun Jinxian said, “Didn’t your mom say that as long as they ‘confirm’ the relationship, I’d be considered one of you? Even if something happens, it won’t be life-threatening. So let’s ‘confirm’ the relationship first, then try it.”

Xu Chengyan: “…”

Did his mom really say that?

Don’t try to fool him—his elder sister-in-law was there at the time, after all.

Anyway, no matter how they negotiated it, from Ruan Yaoyao’s perspective, these two seemed like they were just “messing around recklessly.” A few days later, they suddenly told her they were together.

“What? When did this happen? How come there wasn’t a single sign?”

“Are you two… serious?”

【Could the second son be lying to her?】

【Does she even fully understand his situation? Or does she genuinely love him and is willing to risk herself to be with him, knowing the danger?】

Ruan Yaoyao looked at Yun Jinxian in disbelief.

【If that were true, the second son would be terribly unfair to her.】

“It’s not like that, Mom. You misunderstood. Didn’t you say before that I should find someone to pretend to be my girlfriend?” Xu Chengyan, embarrassed, hurriedly explained, “I discussed it with Yun Jinxian. We agreed to pretend to date for a while. If nothing happens, we can just break up later.”

“What if something happens?”

Xu Chengyan gestured with his eyes for Yun Jinxian to answer.

Yun Jinxian said, “If something happens, then we’ll spend more time together and see how things go.”

“Do you know how dangerous this is?”

Yun Jinxian nodded. “I know, but I’m also very curious about this. It feels too fake—what with the plot, the female side character, it’s like a novel. Novels are novels; reality is reality. How could they be connected?”

“But what if it really happens? Last time it was just a car accident, but this time, who knows?” Ruan Yaoyao looked serious, suspecting Xu Chengyan hadn’t fully explained the situation and was taking advantage of Yun Jinxian’s feelings to trick her.

【If that’s the case, it’s utterly unforgivable!】

【Knowing she has feelings for you, yet doing this—he’s worse than his own worthless father. Is this even human behavior?】

Yun Jinxian felt slightly embarrassed.

When she negotiated with Xu Chengyan, she hadn’t mentioned having any feelings for him.

Xu Chengyan thought: Even if you don’t say it, I know. Nothing escapes my mom’s eyes.

Ruan Yaoyao said, “Make sure you’ve thought this through.”

Yun Jinxian: “I have. I’ve thought it through very clearly. If something really happens, it’s my own life, and it has nothing to do with anyone else.”

Since she chose to take the risk, she would bear the consequences.

Yun Jinxian was clear about this. She had always been rational, and this situation with Xu Chengyan was no different.

Her feelings for him were real; her curiosity and desire to verify the truth were real too. If it turned out to be fake, there would be nothing left to say—she would have fully seen through him, and her heart could move on.

But if it were real…

Ruan Yaoyao still felt uneasy. After confirming things repeatedly, she asked how many people knew the relationship was fake—ideally, as few as possible. Since Yun Jinxian wanted to “test” whether the plot’s power was real, too many people knowing wouldn’t benefit her.

After all, in the original story, Yun Jinxian, as a female side character, survived so long because of her “true feelings” for Xu Chengyan.

Once it was confirmed that only five people—including herself—knew, Ruan Yaoyao had them move into the old mansion. She reassured Yun Jinxian that she’d prepare a guest room and that Xu Chengyan would “compensate” her afterward.

Yun Jinxian smiled and said, “Aunt, you don’t need to go to all this trouble. Being with a capable, handsome guy like Xu Chengyan, even if it got out, people would only praise my taste.”

【Praise your taste, or call you experienced in relationships? That’s uncertain.】

【I know those old ladies, all gossipy.】

Ruan Yaoyao thought this silently, without saying it out loud.

Yun Jinxian: “…”

Sometimes, hearing other people’s thoughts isn’t necessarily a good thing!

Although the relationship was fake, to announce it publicly, proper preparations had to be made—sending flowers to each other’s companies, posting on social media.

The effect came immediately that day.

Someone rushed to Xu Chengyan’s office, questioning how he could treat Li Tingting like that—Li Tingting loved him, yet he treated her so badly. “Xu Chengyan, I misjudged you!”

Xu Chengyan was dumbfounded because the person confronting him wasn’t anyone else but his best friend and business partner, Wei Kaihao.

How close were they?

When Xu Chengyan “ran away from home” to start his business, everyone doubted him. Wei Kaihao emptied his own pockets, lent him money, and invested in Xu Chengyan, claiming to help a brother.

“Even if it fails, we can start over!”

He was mentally prepared for Xu Chengyan to fail and not repay the money.

Yet now, this good brother suddenly stormed over, accusing him of seducing and abandoning a woman?!

Xu Chengyan gaped. “How do you know Li Tingting?!”

“How do I know her? Hmph! You dare ask me that?” Wei Kaihao snorted. “You brought this on yourself! If Li Tingting hadn’t stopped me—fearing you’d misunderstand my relationship with her—I would have asked you long ago. Such a kind and beautiful girl by your side, yet you don’t cherish her, flirting with everyone, keeping multiple girls at once… How can I have a brother like you?”

“When did I keep multiple girls?”

“You haven’t yet? Then what’s this?” Wei Kaihao immediately pulled up Xu Chengyan’s social media and showed him the post: “This is my girlfriend.”

“Official announcement, this is my girlfriend.”

“You actually admit it? And what about Tingting? What about her?”

“What does Li Tingting have to do with it? I have nothing to do with her.”

“Good, so you dare not admit it?” Wei Kaihao angrily rolled up his sleeves. “Xu Chengyan, what did you say back then? You said you wouldn’t be like your father. If you were as flirtatious as him, I would beat you to death… And now I’m about to!”

As he finished speaking, his fist landed squarely on Xu Chengyan’s face.

Xu Chengyan was completely unprepared and got hit full on.

“Wei Kaihao! You’re crazy! Are you out of your mind? I already said I have nothing to do with Li Tingting, can’t you understand human words?!”

Xu Chengyan was furious. If it weren’t for Wei Kaihao being his close friend, he would have fought back.

“You still don’t admit it? You shameless, abandoning scoundrel!” Wei Kaihao struck even harder.

With no choice, Xu Chengyan fought back.

Before long, the commotion in the office alarmed people outside, startling them.

“Oh no! Mr. Xu and Mr. Wei are fighting!”

“Someone come quickly!”

“Mr. Xu, Mr. Wei, calm down, don’t fight!”