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Regarding how Jin Chengyan applied medicine to Qiao Nuo's face, her consciousness was hazy. The only thing she could recall was his warm hand gently caressing her cheek, leaving a sensation that was both cool and fiery wherever he touched.
In the end, she nearly fled back to her guest room in a panic.
That night, Qiao Nuo suffered from insomnia. Despite being on a long-awaited comfortable bed, she tossed and turned all night without getting any rest.
In the morning, sporting dark circles under her eyes, she was driven by Jin Chengyan to the small apartment building where she was temporarily staying.
Just as she was about to get out of the car, she spotted Qiao Chen coming down from the building. He was still wearing the uniform of that private high school, and he looked noticeably thinner.
Qiao Nuo hesitated to exit the vehicle, fearing that Qiao Chen might see her.
Jin Chengyan noticed Qiao Nuo's gaze and also saw Qiao Chen.
“Qiao Nuo, I don’t have much time to give you,” Jin Chengyan said in a calm, businesslike tone that made Qiao Nuo feel uncomfortable.
Was marriage just a business deal to him?
She remained silent, watching Qiao Chen’s figure.
He stood in front of a food truck selling breakfast, pulling money from his pocket as if to pay. However, he hesitated and ultimately put the money back, leaving without saying a word.
Seeing Qiao Chen like this, Qiao Nuo's heart was tightly tugged.
She knew that Qiao Chen had a big appetite, especially since he was still growing. Yet, at the last moment, he had pulled back the money because they were broke, unable to even afford breakfast.
"If you were alone, you could easily refuse my offer and find a job to support yourself. But you have a seriously ill father in the hospital, a younger brother who is still in school, and endless troubles...
"I can help you with all of this, and all you need to do is play the role of my wife. There is no love between us, and you don’t need to treat me with the same expectations you would have in a romantic relationship.
"Qiao Nuo, you can think of this as a partnership; all you are contributing is four years of your youth."
Qiao Nuo pulled her gaze away from Qiao Chen's diminishing figure and looked at the man sitting in the driver's seat—the one who had saved her from that group of thugs yesterday, almost like a godsend.
"Could it be…"
"No, Qiao Nuo. I cannot help you for no reason." He seemed to know what she was about to say and interrupted her.
Qiao Nuo fell silent. Yes, she wanted to ask Jin Chengyan why he couldn’t help her every day. Although it felt shameless and greedy to think that way.
But after experiencing someone else's selfless help, it was natural to develop a sense of dependency.
"I am a businessman; I never make unprofitable deals." His voice and expression were all businesslike.
Suddenly, Qiao Nuo understood. "You helped me multiple times because you wanted me to agree to your marriage proposal, not out of kindness for its own sake, right?" Although she was already certain, she still wanted to hear him deny it.
But the response to Qiao Nuo was the silence of Jin Chengyan.
Silence meant acquiescence; Jin Chengyan's help was not given selflessly without expectation. It was merely a prelude to her agreeing to his marriage proposal.
Qiao Nuo laughed at herself, realizing how foolish she had been to think that Jin Chengyan's assistance came from genuine goodwill.
This was Jin Chengyan, after all—someone who never engaged in a losing deal. If he had set his sights on something, he would find a way to achieve it, no matter the means he had to employ.
Qiao Nuo said nothing as she opened the car door and quickly left the scene.
In that moment, she felt as if she didn’t truly know Jin Chengyan.
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