"Wearing it on your ring finger means you are engaged or married," Wong Qifu said indifferently.

Xu Ke's fingers stiffened.

"And you didn't put it on the wrong one. This is an engagement ring," Wong Qifu continued.

Xu Ke was astonished. "This..."

"If you dare take it off, you won't be walking out that door," Wong Qifu threatened.

Xu Ke gave a bitter smile. "I wasn't planning on taking it off, but our relationship..."

Some things aren't as simple as just deciding to be together. The gap between them was as wide as the heavens and the earth.

Now, Xu Ke's feelings for Wong Qifu had gradually become more complex. He could even admit that he was beginning to have feelings for her.

She was a woman who had saved him several times during his lowest moments.

When everything around him was gray, Wong Qifu was the sole color in his world.

But that wasn't a reason he could calmly accept marrying her.

They weren't right for each other!

But Wong Qifu picked up her knife and fork again, interrupting Xu Ke imperiously. "If you don't intend to take it off, then you can shut up."

Xu Ke smiled bitterly.

The ring on his finger was a surprisingly perfect fit, as if it had been custom-made for him.

But he knew this ring was probably older than he was. Just from its patina, he could tell it wasn't a recent creation.

"Are you planning to start a business?" Wong Qifu suddenly asked.

Xu Ke, who had been staring at the ring, hesitated at her question. "I guess you could say that."

"So if I hadn't asked, you weren't planning on telling me?" Wong Qifu looked at him, her tone questioning.

Xu Ke shook his head. "I didn't think it would make any money, so I didn't mention it."

He hadn't taken the matter very seriously himself.

"I see." Wong Qifu looked at Xu Ke. "In that case, would you like a job at the corporation?"

Xu Ke hesitated before refusing again. "I'm not suitable for that."

In terms of both status and ability, Xu Ke felt he couldn't possibly join the Wang Family Corporation.

"Actually, if you agree to the engagement, I can let all of Tianhai City know you're my man by tomorrow. Then all your problems would be solved," Wong Qifu said nonchalantly.

In truth, Wong Qifu wasn't afraid of the news of their engagement going public. She was the helmsman of a major corporation, not a celebrity; a romance would have a negligible impact on her. If the story broke, the Wang Family would have a more legitimate reason to protect Xu Ke.

But Wong Qifu knew that from the very beginning, Xu Ke had never intended to rely on the Wang Family's power.

From an outsider's perspective, that wasn't very smart.

But Wong Qifu knew that was just how Xu Ke was. He never liked taking shortcuts. The untouched ten million was proof of that. Her transferring him money from a private account was a way of looking after him, not a move made out of fear of exposure. Choosing to dine in a secluded villa was also out of consideration for his pride.

This was her brand of tenderness, albeit a rather domineering one.

Hearing her words, Xu Ke sighed. "Sister Wang, some things are beyond me. I'm not worthy."

Even if they could both ignore the world's judgment, he couldn't ignore his own feelings. His marriage to Wong Qifu would be of no help to her. In fact, he would be a complete liability, a burden. A kept man.

"I say you're worthy, so you are," Wong Qifu stated, her tone full of authority.

Even if Xu Ke's background was lacking, she could increase his net worth a hundredfold in just three months.

Xu Ke fell silent.

Suddenly, he looked up at Wong Qifu, his gaze unwavering. "Sister Wang, can I ask you a question?"

"Speak."

"Can I ask... what you like about me?"

Wong Qifu stared at him calmly. "Are you looking to die?"

Xu Ke was left speechless.

Twenty minutes later, Xu Ke left the villa with the ring still on his finger.

Before he left, Wong Qifu had told him, "Next time you want to invite your big sister to dinner, just be direct. No need to beat around the bush with excuses."

Xu Ke nodded.

He didn't dare tell her he genuinely just wanted to thank her in person, with no other intentions. If he had, he imagined she would have thrown the silverware at him in the next second.

Watching Xu Ke's retreating figure, Wong Qifu fell into deep thought.

She had first made contact with Xu Ke eight months ago, simply wanting to see what kind of man could make the ring glow. After getting to know him, her impression was quite good. He was diligent, hardworking, and ambitious. Plus, he was very handsome. With such good qualities, both internal and external, she naturally didn't dislike him.

Back then, she had tried to poach him as a private trainer, planning to observe if the ring would have any further reactions up close. She hadn't expected him to actually refuse her—because he was afraid of making Siao Jia jealous.

At that moment, a playful impulse had taken root in her. That's why she had said those words about finding her if he ever got tired of struggling.

So, his late-night call for help had been quite a surprise.

At first, her talk of marriage had just been an offhand comment. It was his repeated rejections that angered her, leading her to leak those statements to the media. In her mind, if she changed her mind about the marriage, she could just retract it the next day. There was no formal invitation, no legal binding—what power did it hold over her? Those engagement rumors circulating in public could be recalled whenever she wished.

But some things just happen so inexplicably, so confusingly.

And now, she was a little reluctant to take it all back.

「Urban village.」

"I'm home," Xu Ke texted Wong Qifu. After getting a reply, he collapsed onto his bed.

Staring at the glaring ceiling light, he felt dazed. The past few days had been like a dream.

But as he glanced at the ring on his finger, he knew it was all real.

He didn't wake up until 9:30 the next morning. The red wine from last night had a strong kick.

As he slowly became lucid, Xu Ke felt the urge to roll his eyes at himself.

To think I actually asked Wong Qifu a question like that... I really must have gotten that courage from the wine.

He rubbed his temples.

His computer was still on. On the screen, the bold, capitalized letters of a job-hunting website served as a stark reminder that he was still unemployed.

Just then, an even more jarring sound erupted—his phone was ringing.

It was an unknown number.

Who could this be? he wondered as he answered.

A familiar voice snarled through the speaker, "Xu Ke, where the hell are you?"

It was Siao Fan.

Xu Ke's expression darkened. "What are you calling me for?"

"Cut the crap! Where are you?" Siao Fan's voice was thick with impatience.

Xu Ke hung up.

So irritating... he thought, promptly blocking Siao Fan's number.

Still, his brow furrowed slightly.

Something about this feels strange...

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