Chapter 201 - 199: Supporting Each Other Through Life (Second Update)

Chapter 201: Chapter 199: Supporting Each Other Through Life (Second Update)

Looking at the man in front of her with a dazed expression, Xu Jing felt a bit like a bully taking an unfair advantage.

She believed Xiao Yi when he previously said he didn’t mind a fake remarriage with her. However, since he had hidden the truth about the fire at the Wang Family’s Mansion from her, he likely wasn’t too willing for the fake remarriage with her.

If it were only about the incident with Prince Xing, Xu Jing wouldn’t agree to such an absurd proposal. But now, with Wu Youbing and Xu Ya eyeing her covetously, she certainly had other ways to deal with them. However, to completely cut off their intentions and stop entanglements, marriage would be the only option.

Xu Jing did consider casually finding someone for a fake marriage, but Xu Ya and Wu Youbing were not ordinary people. Randomly finding someone might not deter their thoughts, and explaining this to Chang Xiao was another problem.

Rather than that, it would be better to fake remarry Xiao Yi. This way, once her true identity was exposed, with the support from Xiao Yi and Xiao He, she could minimize the impact on her. She could also leverage their social status and family background to further her own career in the Western Capital.

Once she had established herself firmly within the aristocratic circles in the Western Capital and gained a certain reputation and influence, it wouldn’t be so easy for others to scheme against her.

Then, she could find an excuse to amicably divorce Xiao Yi, the most perfect solution Xu Jing could think of.

However, this perfect solution was only beneficial to her. The fake remarriage with Xiao Yi didn’t actually benefit him and would instead add quite a bit of trouble to him.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was being targeted by Prince Xing due to his responsibility, he probably wouldn’t have said he didn’t mind the fake remarriage with her.

Seeing Xiao Yi silent for a long time, Xu Jing couldn’t help but lightly cough and say, "Of course, if Vice Minister Xiao is unwilling..."

Before Xu Jing could finish her sentence, the man in front of her suddenly parted his thin lips, his voice low, "Why?"

After a pause, as if feeling his question was too cold, he took a light breath and added, "Why did Miss Xu suddenly agree?"

Since she brought it up, she intended to tell him.

Xu Jing then told him about how Wu Youbing and Xu Ya discovered her identity and planned to coerce her into marrying Wu Youbing as a concubine.

Xiao Yi’s expression grew darker and darker, with an icy sharpness in his eyes. His grip on the cup tightened as if he might crush it in the next moment.

After Xu Jing finished speaking, she smiled wryly, "I am currently not capable enough and am still collaborating with the Zhou Family. I’m afraid if I don’t handle this matter properly, it will cause trouble for the Zhou Family as well. Originally, I wanted to find someone for a fake marriage casually."

Fake marriage?

With whom?

The young boy she met two days ago who saved her?

Xiao Yi’s hand gripped tighter, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, as the woman in front of him continued, "Although our marriage is fake, it will still affect our lives in the near future. Vice Minister Xiao should think carefully. If you have plans to marry another woman, just treat my words today as if I hadn’t said them. Even if we were to divorce in the future, your next wife might mind..."

"I agree."

A deep, mellow voice suddenly interrupted Xu Jing, leaving her a bit dumbfounded. She looked up to see the man’s eyes on the other side, deep as an abyss. His expression seemed serious and solemn, as if suppressed, and he spoke word by word, "I have said before that my wife will not be anyone else, and Miss Xu seems to have forgotten. However, Miss Xu, if... if I marry you again for appearances, won’t your reputation be affected, and don’t you care?"

Xu Jing finally snapped out of it, as if hearing a joke, "Is my reputation not bad enough already? I never had high hopes for marriage. If I meet someone I feel is suitable, living together is fine; if not, spending a lifetime alone isn’t bad."

Xiao Yi was a bit taken aback, then saw the woman in front of him suddenly take a piece of paper from her waist and hand it to him, "Vice Minister Xiao agreeing is just as well, so I won’t have to search for another candidate. Here are the preliminary terms of our fake remarriage. See if there’s anything to add. We’ll draft a contract and keep a copy each."

Clearly, she came prepared.

Xiao Yi’s heart inexplicably ached, and after a moment of silence, he raised his hand to take the paper from her hand and unfold it.

Neatly written in delicate handwriting were several terms:

1. During the fake remarriage, we only need to act as an ordinary couple in public. There is no need to perform any marital duties in private, unless under special circumstances.

2. During the fake remarriage, each party’s personal expenses will be covered by themselves. Shared household expenses will be split 50-50, settled semi-annually.

3. Both parties will jointly raise Chang Xiao. The fake remarriage will be kept secret from Chang Xiao, and even if we divorce later, we will continue to jointly raise Chang Xiao.

4. The fake remarriage will last for three years. If, within these three years, both parties agree, we may divorce earlier.

There were more minor points listed, but the first four were the most important.

Looking at it, Xiao Yi couldn’t help but secretly smile bitterly.

Sometimes, he didn’t know whether to say this woman was too rational or too heartless.

It was because he was dazed by the warmth of the moment that he had some unrealistic thoughts.

But knowing this was a gamble that would cost him his heart, he couldn’t help but leap in regardless.

Three years... Would he be satisfied to spend three years with this woman? Or would he, in these three years, fall deeper and end up in a more embarrassing situation?

Seeing him not speaking for a while, Xu Jing wondered if there was something inappropriate about the terms she listed. She thought for a while and said, "Do you think three years is too long? If you feel it’s too long..."

"It’s not too long."

Xiao Yi closed his eyes quietly, then unexpectedly pointed to the second point, "Everything else is fine, except that this point is unnecessary. My salary is enough to support you."

Xu Jing looked and said, "It’s not that I doubt Vice Minister Xiao can support me, but since we aren’t a real couple, it’s better to separate finances more clearly..."

For her, this was a matter of attitude.

"No need to separate." Xiao Yi’s voice involuntarily grew colder, and after realizing it, he lowered his eyes slightly and said, "Miss Xu has helped me solve so many cases, and recently even helped with the Smiling Killer’s case. No matter how much I reward Miss Xu, it’s not enough. Besides, I implicated Miss Xu into being targeted by Prince Xing’s faction. Just consider this little money as my reward and apology to Miss Xu."

Xu Jing was slightly stunned. She didn’t like taking advantage of others, but with Xiao Yi’s explanation, everything suddenly had a justifiable cause.

Pausing for a moment, Xiao Yi added, "And even though our marriage is fake, in the eyes of outsiders, we are a couple sharing joys and sorrows. I hope... Miss Xu won’t keep things so distinct with me. If there’s anything you need help with, feel free to ask. After all, in these three years, we should support each other."

Support each other...

Xu Jing suddenly felt at ease, her lips curling up, "Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony with Vice Minister Xiao. If there’s anything you need from me in the future, feel free to ask. Regarding Chang Xiao, I’d like to discuss with Vice Minister Xiao. Although we are Chang Xiao’s parents, we are not typical parents. If we remarry now and separate later, will Chang Xiao..."

Looking into her eyes earnestly, Xiao Yi said, "Saying that underestimates Chang Xiao. That child is strong and knows who truly loves him."

Xu Jing couldn’t help raising her eyebrows.

Indeed, she was overthinking it.

Their current strange relationship had no impact on Chang Xiao, let alone the future.

Things progressed so smoothly that Xu Jing felt an unspeakable elation, her lips curling up as she said, "Alright, then I’ll draft a formal contract when I return, and once we sign it, let’s pick a good day to remarry!"