A sudden unfamiliar voice made Xiang Yang pause. Zhou Jin Bei introduced herself.
"I am Zhou Jin Bei, Chen Jiao Jiao's sister. You thought you could get a wife by reading a few famous quotes from Zhang Ailing? You're dreaming too big!"
"Nowadays, men need houses and cars to marry a wife. Jiao Jiao is so beautiful and successful, with countless men pursuing her."
"Stop with the empty words. If you really want to marry her, show us some material sincerity. Okay?"
He knew it couldn't be a man staying by her side.
No man would allow his girlfriend to be ambiguous with her ex-boyfriend, let alone talk to him on the phone right in front of him.
He had heard Chen Jiao Jiao mention Zhou Jin Bei before, knowing she was a blunt person.
Listening today, she lived up to her reputation.
While her words weren't pleasant, they were honest.
At least they gave him a clear signal: Chen Jiao Jiao was attainable.
"Can you make decisions for her? How much material sincerity do I need to show?"
Zhou Jin Bei could tell from his reaction.
This kid had little experience in the world and wasn't jaded yet. His attitude towards love was genuinely pure.
Since he prioritized love and didn't mind Chen Jiao Jiao's past, why should Chen Jiao Jiao care? Missing out would be a shame, so she decided to make the decision for Chen Jiao Jiao.
"We're not materialistic people. We don't ask for much. Five million. If you can produce five million, I'll agree to let Jiao Jiao marry you."
Chen Jiao Jiao, standing beside him, was speechless.
She expected Xiang Yang to be troubled, to think they were deliberately making things difficult for him, but he agreed immediately.
"Okay, I've recorded this. Tell her she can't go back on her word. Wait for me."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Chen Jiao Jiao looked at Zhou Jin Bei with a resentful expression.
"What are you talking about? He's only been in the entertainment industry for a few days! Where is he going to steal five million from?"
"If we don't interact, we don't interact. Don't act like I want something from him."
Zhou Jin Bei patted her shoulder.
"You're a classic example of a soft heart hidden behind sharp words. You talk a lot, acting fierce, making everyone think you're a hot chili pepper, but in reality, you're softer than anyone."
"You've seen a lot of money since you were young and don't care for it at all. You're deliberately making things difficult for him to test him. Don't worry too much."
"He knows his own capabilities better than anyone. We'll just wait and see his performance."
Chen Jiao Jiao had no intention of sleeping, so Zhou Jin Bei stayed with her.
They chatted aimlessly until they finally fell asleep past midnight.
Around five in the morning, Chen Jiao Jiao was sound asleep, dreaming sweetly, when the phone beside her buzzed.
Without checking who it was, she groggily grabbed it and answered. It was Sister Man's voice.
"Xiang Yang is injured. He's in the orthopedics department at the First People's Hospital. Can you come see him?"
"Xiang Yang is injured."
Chen Jiao Jiao rolled over sleepily, halfway through, her mind went blank, and she shot upright.
"Xiang Yang is injured, in orthopedics?"
She brought the phone closer to look at the time.
"What time is it? How did he get hurt so early in the morning?"
"You can ask him yourself when you see him. I'll send you the address."
Her startled cries woke Zhou Jin Bei as well.
She sat up, asking, "What happened? What's wrong with Xiang Yang?"
"I don't know. Apparently, he fractured something. I'm going to the hospital."
"I'll go with you."
"You're pregnant..."
"Oh, do you think I can sleep at home in this situation? Just let me go with you."
The two of them rushed to the hospital in a hurry.
In the corridor of the orthopedics outpatient building, Xiang Yang sat on a chair, leaning back. Sister Man stood opposite him, making a phone call with a subservient posture.
Upon seeing Chen Jiao Jiao, Xiang Yang attempted to stand up, using the wall for support. Chen Jiao Jiao rushed forward and held him down.
"You fractured something? Why are you messing around when you should be sleeping? Aren't you still training? How will you continue if you're injured? Is this a breach of contract? Do you have to pay a penalty? Why are you so careless?"
It was as if they hadn't broken up.
Xiang Yang sat while she knelt in front of him.
She must have run to get here, as she was slightly out of breath, her face filled with worry as she examined him from his neck to his shoulders, arms, legs, and knees.
Caring for someone couldn't be faked.
Her reaction was so genuine, Xiang Yang thought with satisfaction that his stubborn persistence was worth it.
"It's nothing serious. Get up."
Xiang Yang grabbed her arms and pulled her to her feet.
Chen Jiao Jiao was halfway up when he suddenly pulled her into his arms, seating her on his lap.
Chen Jiao Jiao tried to struggle, but he buried his head in her embrace, tightly circling her arms.
"I didn't sleep all night yesterday. I'm so tired. Don't move, let me rest for a bit."
Chen Jiao Jiao didn't want any further entanglement with him, but hearing him say that, her heart softened.
"Why didn't you sleep all night? What exactly were you doing yesterday?"
"I had the money ready. I planned to come to your house early this morning to get the marriage certificate with you."
"But I hadn't practiced the dance from yesterday well enough. I was afraid the captain wouldn't approve my leave, so I wanted to use the night to practice. I was too rushed and not careful, twisting my ankle.
"It's really nothing. I can walk, and I can still dance. Sister Man is overreacting."
He spoke as if it were trivial, but Chen Jiao Jiao's heart was tumultuous.
She took her arm out, cupped Xiang Yang's chin, and made him look up at her.
"You prepared five million, planning to come to my door at dawn to marry me?"
"Didn't your best friend say that as long as I had five million, I could marry you?"
"Where did you get five million?"
"It's none of your business how I got it. I have it now, and I didn't steal or rob. I recorded what you said last night, so don't think you can go back on your word."
Xiang Yang was wearing the standard training uniform for trainees: light blue suit pants, a white shirt, and white sports shoes.
Young and handsome, he exuded idol charisma.
Looking at Chen Jiao Jiao with such determined yet slightly spoiled eyes, speaking words that were moving yet naturally delivered, he appeared like a romantic male lead from an idol drama, utterly captivating.
Zhou Jin Bei had observed his appearance and admired his voice through the screen yesterday.
Seeing him up close today, she instantly became his fan.
She envied Chen Jiao Jiao, who was in his arms.
To have picked up such a young, handsome, gentle, and devoted little heartthrob – how many good deeds must she have done in her past life?
She had felt quite lucky herself, but compared to this, she suddenly felt a bit unsatisfied, *sob sob*...
Chen Jiao Jiao was rendered speechless by Xiang Yang. After a two-second silence, she lowered his chin.
"We're both adults now. Please don't take jokes seriously, Xiang Yang?"
Xiang Yang turned and held her chin.
"I don't think that was a joke, and I'm not joking with you."
"Chen Jiao Jiao, the only reason you wanted to break up with me is that you felt our relationship was awkward, and you couldn't hold your head up in front of Lu Ming Zhe."