Chapter 2: Flash Marriage with a Stranger

A silver sports car sped along the road, its sleek body gleaming under the sunlight.

On her way back to the old mansion, Qiao Lan received a call from Old Han. Her hands, gripping the steering wheel, suddenly tightened. After a moment of silence, she reached out to answer the call.

The phone crackled with the old man’s frail voice, “Lanlan, why did you leave the hotel?”

Qiao Lan pursed her red lips, not concealing anything. “Grandpa, Chu Zhiheng and Qiao Yue are together.”

Her marriage to Chu Zhiheng was a sham. He could be intimate with any woman, but not Qiao Yue.

This was an insult to her!

Old Qiao was furious, his anger erupting as he slammed his hand on the table. “That little girl Qiao Yue is getting more and more out of line. Lanlan, don’t worry about anything else, go to the hotel and complete the wedding with Zhiheng. We’ll deal with them later!”

Qiao Lan’s heart sank with each word. She had anticipated her grandfather’s reaction, but hearing him say it out loud still pierced her heart. Her gaze hardened as she said, “Grandpa, I won’t go.”

Old Qiao’s voice deepened. “Lanlan, do you remember what you promised me?”

“I do.”

Some time ago, Old Qiao was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The cancer cells had spread throughout his body, leaving him at death’s door. He had at most half a year left.

His biggest wish was to see her married before he died.

Old Qiao sighed helplessly. “Grandpa isn’t forcing you. But if you don’t marry Chu Zhiheng, who else will you marry?”

Chu Zhiheng was the perfect husband she and Old Qiao had meticulously chosen. She never expected him to do something so absurd on their wedding day.

She had no better options at the moment, but she believed there would be in the future.

Qiao Lan said, “I will get married, but my husband will never be Chu Zhiheng!”

The other end of the line fell into a heavy silence. Qiao Lan was afraid to hear hurtful words, her throat tightening. “Grandpa, I’m driving. We’ll talk about this when I get home.”

She ended the call, and as she looked up, a white figure suddenly darted out, heading straight for her car.

The man was moving fast, and Qiao Lan had no time to react. Her pupils dilated, her breath hitched, and fear gripped her soul!

Ssss!!!

The screech of brakes pierced the air.

Qiao Lan’s body lurched forward due to inertia, her face pale, her mind blank. She stared blankly ahead, forgetting how she even managed to step on the brakes.

The honking of cars behind her brought her back to reality. Her dull eyes instantly turned to rage. She unbuckled her seatbelt in a frenzy, ready to get out of the car.

The back door suddenly opened, and an unfamiliar scent filled her nostrils.

Qiao Lan’s scalp tingled as she turned and glared at the uninvited guest. “Who let you in? Get out!”

The man lying in the passenger seat was tall and well-built, his imposing aura making the car feel cramped.

The man leaned weakly against the seat, his white shirt stained, the hem loosely tucked into his black suit pants. A crimson flower bloomed on his chest, stained with fresh blood.

Qiao Lan’s sixth sense told her this man was dangerous. She didn’t want to get involved in unnecessary trouble.

“You…”

The man opened his dark eyes, his thin lips slowly parting, his voice deep and hoarse. “Drive!”

He was clearly weak, yet his command was undeniable.

Qiao Lan had never been ordered around. She scoffed. “Why should I listen to you? Get out of my car, or I’ll call the police and report you for attempted fraud!”

Before her words could finish, a cold gleam flashed, piercing her clear eyes. The man’s dagger pressed against her waist, just a centimeter away from piercing her skin.

“Listen to me, I owe you a favor. Don’t listen to me, I owe you a life.”

He never offered favors, but now that he did, he wouldn’t allow refusal.

The man’s dark, deep pupils were like whirlpools, as if they were going to suck her soul away. His handsome face was cold and ruthless, reflecting his decisiveness in killing.

Qiao Lan had faced her share of storms, but being stared at like this by the man still made her scalp tingle. And his speed was incredible; she hadn’t even seen how he had drawn the dagger.

She wasn’t ready to die, not so casually. She gritted her teeth in anger and restarted the car.

The police station was just ahead. As she caught a glimpse of the man’s seemingly sleeping profile, her mind was in turmoil.

“If you don’t want to be in trouble later, don’t have any funny ideas.”

Qiao Lan: “…”

Even in a coma, the man was clutching the dagger, maintaining maximum vigilance. There was no way to outsmart him.

Qiao Lan asked angrily, “Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere.”

Qiao Lan was speechless. There was no place called “anywhere” in the world.

“I don’t…”

Qiao Lan was about to say she didn’t know, but when her gaze fell on the man’s handsome face, the rest of her words got stuck in her throat.

The man had a face that had been kissed by an angel, his features sharp and defined, his features three-dimensional and deep. His eyes were closed, his long, thick eyelashes casting a faint shadow. His lips were pale, but his thin lips were incredibly sexy, making one want to kiss them.

The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the man’s pale, weak face, creating a sense of fragile beauty.

Qiao Lan’s heart skipped a beat. In a moment of impulsiveness, she started the car.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Qiao Lan snapped out of her daze, feeling like she had been struck by lightning. She bit her lower lip in annoyance, wondering how she had driven the car here.

Beauty really was a curse.

Qiao Lan restarted the car, preparing to leave, when the man in the passenger seat slowly woke up. His voice was hoarse as he asked, “Where are we?”

Qiao Lan: “…”

Was it too late for her to leave now?

The man’s head was already turned towards the window, and it was too late.

When Mo Qian saw the three gilded characters “Civil Affairs Bureau,” his thick brows furrowed sharply.

Qiao Lan’s heart hardened. She asked directly, “You said you owed me a favor, right? You haven’t forgotten?”

Mo Qian could probably guess what she was thinking. He didn’t expect this woman to be so greedy, wanting the position of Mrs. Mo.

But since he had promised, he wouldn’t break his word.

“No.”

The man’s voice was tight, revealing no emotion.

Qiao Lan boldly said, “I need a husband right now. If you’re single and don’t mind, let’s go in and get the license.”

The Chu family’s marriage was a precedent. No wealthy family would offend the Chu family for her sake. She didn’t want to marry into another family either, so she would only consider men from ordinary families who were simple and easy to control.

She didn’t know the man’s identity, but his face was so perfect that it was almost blasphemous. Even if she married him just for his looks, it would be a pleasure to the eyes.

Mo Qian pursed his lips.

He thought the woman would make more outrageous demands. Instead, these conditions were all in his favor.

Didn’t she know his identity?

She was actually offering him five million in compensation.

“Are you serious?”

Qiao Lan nodded. “I won’t take advantage of you. If you don’t want to, you can refuse.”

“No, let’s go.”

Mo Qian opened the car door, pushed himself out and walked towards the Civil Affairs Bureau. He didn’t hear any footsteps following him. He turned his head and looked at Qiao Lan, who was stunned. “Aren’t you going to get the license?”

Qiao Lan nodded dumbly.

She was going to get the license, but she didn’t expect the man to agree so readily.

Come to think of it, marrying her was a win-win situation for him. Besides the title of a second marriage, it was all upside and no downside. Any fool would refuse.

Mo Qian reminded her, “Get out of the car quickly, or they’ll close soon.”

“Oh.”