Chapter Three: How About Marrying Me?

"Regarding the payment for the house, the buyer transferred the full amount to Mr. Jiang Yulin's account last week. You might want to confirm this with him directly."

"According to the contract, within one week of the buyer paying the full amount, the seller must complete the property handover and the transfer of household registration."

"Ms. Jiang, the conflict between you and your father has nothing to do with the buyer. Please abide by the contract terms, otherwise, you will be liable for significant penalty fees."

Jiang Mengnan sat dazed in the Yuanmeng Bookstore, her mind reeling from the devastating news she had heard that morning, tears unable to fall. She did not know why Jiang Yulin had done this; she only knew that she would never be able to repay the debt she owed the bank in this lifetime. She was facing an impending lawsuit from the bank, and her bookstore might be lost as well.

With less than three days left before the bank's deadline, where could she possibly find thirty million to fill this hole? A sudden, chilling premonition washed over her that her life was over.

Jiang Mengnan’s despondent appearance caught Lu Yu's attention. He glanced at the task card he had just drawn, hesitated for a few seconds, and walked directly toward her.

"Ms. Jiang?"

Immersed in her grief, Jiang Mengnan did not hear him. She stared at the tabletop with vacant eyes, murmuring something to herself.

"Ms. Jiang?" Lu Yu tried calling her again.

This time, she snapped back to reality and looked up at him. "Yes?" Her eyes were dim, her eyelids heavy, and the tip of her nose was red; she looked pitiable and helpless.

"It's nothing." Lu Yu couldn't help but sigh. It seemed Jiang Mengnan was in no mood to follow through with their collaboration plan from last night. But what kind of trouble had she gotten herself into?

Before filming officially began, Lu Yu pulled Qin Jiu to the second floor of the bookstore. After looking around, he typed a message and whispered, "Help me look into someone."

Qin Jiu nodded. "Understood, Young Master."

Lu Yu cautioned him, "Remember, keep it low-key."

"Don't worry, Young Master," Qin Jiu replied solemnly.

With that settled, Lu Yu hurried downstairs to join the recording of the new episode. Even without Jiang Mengnan's help, he performed his tasks brilliantly. After the recording, he sat in the lounge, feeling sullen.

He didn't know why; even though the feedback for today's recording had been great and he had successfully earned points, he should have been happy.

His agent, Brother Qiang, walked over with a coffee and sat down beside him. "I heard you're going to marry into the Song family of the Capital?"

Lu Yu took the coffee, his expression turning cold. "Who told you that?"

Brother Qiang whispered, "Who else? Ever since Rachel became your sister-in-law, she hasn't been shy about spreading gossip from the Lu family."

Lu Yu sneered and looked down at his phone. His previously relaxed brows furrowed tightly.

Brother Qiang looked distressed. "If you really are getting married, you need to tell me in advance so I can discuss your career transition with the higher-ups. And the advertisers, I need to smooth things over with them, and—"

"There is no marriage," Lu Yu interrupted firmly. He put his phone away, glanced behind Brother Qiang, and stated with certainty, "It's just wishful thinking on the old man's part."

Hearing this, Brother Qiang let out a sigh of relief. "That’s a relief."

Brother Qiang looked around and, not seeing Qin Jiu, said, "It's getting late, let me take you back."

Lu Yu declined the offer. "No need, I’ll leave in a bit."

"Alright, I'm heading out then; I have a social engagement tonight." Brother Qiang patted Lu Yu on the shoulder. "Remember, if anything happens, tell me immediately."

Lu Yu hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'll let you know before I post anything on Weibo."

Brother Qiang was left confused by this remark, feeling there was more to Lu Yu's words. He instinctively wanted to ask for clarification, but his phone rang. He took the call in a hurry, waved goodbye to Lu Yu, and left.

As he pushed open the door, he happened to see Jiang Mengnan standing by the roadside, negotiating with a truck driver. Brother Qiang nodded to her briefly and drove away.

Jiang Mengnan was in no mood for pleasantries. Looking at the packed bags being unloaded from the truck, she dialed the property manager, Mr. Qiu. "Mr. Qiu, I already told you I would clear everything out by tomorrow. Can't you make an exception?"

"Ms. Jiang, I'm sorry. The new owner is insisting that the contract be followed, and there's nothing I can do. We only arranged for the company to help you transport your luggage out of consideration for your situation..."

Jiang Mengnan stopped listening. It was all just polite rhetoric. Human nature was truly cruel.

With a bitter, powerless smile, she hung up and bent down to move her belongings back into the shop. Suddenly, a figure appeared beside her and took the bags from her hands.

Surprised, she looked up to see Lu Yu. Ignoring her own embarrassment, she asked, "Actor Lu! Why haven't you left yet?"

Lu Yu, now wearing his work clothes, a baseball cap, and a mask, replied, "Waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?" Jiang Mengnan was even more confused.

Lu Yu pointed to the luggage on the ground. "Let's move these inside first, then we can talk."

"Oh, right."

Coming to her senses, Jiang Mengnan picked up the bags and followed him inside. Over the years, she had lived frugally; to keep the bookstore running, she had sold everything of value. All that remained were daily necessities and clothes. Soon, the two of them had everything settled.

Jiang Mengnan took a bottle of soda from the fridge and handed it to him. "Thank you for today."

Lu Yu took it and drank a large gulp. "Moving?"

Jiang Mengnan hesitated and nodded without saying more. Lu Yu didn't press, having already figured out the situation. He put the bottle down and looked at her. "Our collaboration—is it still on?"

She hadn't expected him to bring that up; it seemed Lu Yu cared quite a bit about the show. "Of course," Jiang Mengnan replied firmly—if, that is, the bookstore could still be saved.

Lu Yu leaned closer. "Then, can I add something to it?"

An A-list actor proposing a deeper collaboration? It sounded tempting. "What kind of content?" she asked blankly.

Clearing his throat, Lu Yu leaned in slightly, meeting her eyes directly. "For instance, how about marrying me?"

As Jiang Mengnan's eyes widened and her cherry-red lips parted in surprise, she stammered, "M-marry you?"

How could that be? Lu Yu couldn't possibly like her. She must have misheard.

Knowing she couldn't process it immediately, Lu Yu began to act. "My family is forcing me to marry a pampered girl I don't know. If I don't, they'll cut off my career, and my life might even be in danger. So I have no choice but to..."

He paused, watching as she listened in a daze. Looking aggrieved, he tentatively asked, "You'll help me, won't you?"

Jiang Mengnan remained silent.

Lu Yu played his final card. "Of course, I won't ask you to do this for nothing. As compensation, I'll give you thirty million. How about that?"