Chapter 9: We Might… Have to Live Together First

Lin Xingmian quickly regained his composure, a gentle and slightly apologetic smile appearing on his face.

“I’m sorry, sir. We got married without notifying you.”

“My work is quite special… Zijin n  has been understanding, which is why we haven’t been living together yet.”

The elderly man across from him fixed his gaze on Lin Xingmian, his eyes unexpectedly sharp.

“So, you’re this kid’s partner, Lin Xingmian?”

“I know you—that actor, right? Let me ask you this: since you two got married without making it public or holding a wedding, do you look down on him, or are you just after his family’s wealth?”

The old man spoke bluntly, his tone aggressive.

Lin Xingmian smiled helplessly. “That’s not the case, sir. We’ve known each other for a long time… But I’ve been focusing on my career in recent years and have neglected him. That’s my fault.”

Lin Xingmian responded fluently, his tone humble and polite.

Jiang Zijin n , hearing his words, was momentarily lost in thought.

He stared at Lin Xingmian for a while before lazily speaking up.

“There’s nothing wrong with it, old man. My relationship with my Xingmian is great. I’m already married. If you don’t approve, then you can keep the position of Jingsheng’s heir vacant.”

“As long as I don’t inherit Jingsheng, those vultures will keep bothering you every day.” Jiang Zijin n  crossed his arms, appearing indifferent and unyielding.

“A seasoned lawyer like me won’t be threatened by those petty people! Anyway, Jingsheng won’t be handed over to you until you meet the requirements!” The old man declared firmly.

“Oh, then you can keep guarding it. I’ll just go back and spend some quality time with my wife.” Jiang Zijin n  picked up his phone and casually waved his hand.

“Hey, Jiang kid! You really…” The old man’s angry voice echoed behind him.

As the door closed, Jiang Zijin n  returned to his desk with his phone.

“You never told me that getting married to you would come with a marriage evaluation.” Lin Xingmian adjusted his glasses and flipped through the pages of his book.

Jiang Zijin n  placed his phone on the desk stand and shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t know either. He just told me after seeing the marriage certificate on my desk.”

“That’s Mr. Quan Ziming, a personal lawyer and close friend of Madam Jiang Rong.”

“Madam Jiang Rong finalized her will with him present. To inherit Jingsheng, I need his approval.”

Lin Xingmian paused mid-page flip, his brows slightly furrowed.

If the two of them continued to be at odds, this marriage in name only would drag on indefinitely.

That wasn’t good news.

Jiang Zijin n  quietly watched Lin Xingmian through the phone.

The warm yellow light fell on his slightly damp black hair, softening his usually cool demeanor.

The gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly, casting shadows under his eyes.

He exuded a gentle, husbandly aura.

Feeling Jiang Zijin n ’s gaze, Lin Xingmian looked up.

Jiang Zijin n  slightly averted his eyes and feigned curiosity. “Are those… DM glasses you’re wearing?”

Lin Xingmian was momentarily caught off guard by the sudden question. After a moment of thought, he nodded.

“Their glasses are pretty decent in quality.” Jiang Zijin n  nodded seriously.

“Oh.” Lin Xingmian replied indifferently.

The conversation ended, and the air fell silent for a while.

Lin Xingmian lowered his head and flipped through the pages of the book. “You still have the leisure to look at my glasses? You should be more concerned about your current situation.”

“The current situation is very unfavorable for you. If this drags on, when will you ever inherit Jingsheng?”

“What’s the big deal? If you have time, just go on a date with me occasionally to deal with him,” Jiang Zijin  said lazily, leaning back in his office chair.

“Ms. Jiang Rong has designated me as the sole heir. No matter how much he tries to stop me, it’s just a matter of time.”

Lin Xingmian, however, wasn’t as optimistic. Mr. Quan Ziming was clearly a seasoned player, and it wouldn’t be easy to fool him.

Moreover, although they were now married, they hadn’t publicly announced their marriage.

If they were caught by paparazzi while out with Jiang Zijin , it would be even more troublesome.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Xingmian pulled out a promotional booklet from under the book. The paper cover featured a famous loving couple from the industry, embracing under fireworks.

Since the dating show had achieved good ratings across various platforms, all sorts of dating and marriage shows had sprung up like mushrooms. Just the promotional booklets sent here numbered five or six.

Among them, “The Couple’s Travel Log” stood out with its excellent editing and outstanding atmosphere.

In his previous life, he had already been notorious by this time, ridiculed by everyone.

Now, being able to sit here and choose scripts was all thanks to him.

Moreover, the male lead of this book, Ji Ansheng, became the travel assistant for this show, successfully winning the favor of both the guests and the audience. In the second episode of the trip, he sparked a connection with the new guest male lead, becoming the most talked-about couple in the entire show.

He also wanted to see what kind of person this so-called protagonist was.

Lin Xingmian rubbed the pages with his fingertips, his eyes flickering.

“…Jiang Zijin , let’s go public?”

Jiang Zijin  suddenly sat up, almost being flung out of the overly soft and elastic chair.

Jiang Zijin  pressed hard on the armrests to avoid sliding off the chair on the spot.

Lin Xingmian glanced at him. “The contract already states that your side needs my fame. Going public is inevitable.”

“Since we’re going public, we don’t have to keep going on dates. We can join a marriage show together, which will also help you quickly pass Mr. Quan’s assessment.”

Lin Xingmian met his gaze. “What do you think?”

Jiang Zijin  had been keeping his eyes down, and it was hard to see his expression through the screen.

After a while, he looked up, his tone slightly raised. “Sure, I don’t mind~”

Lin Xingmian looked serious.

“I need to remind you that the guests participating in this show are all real couples, and the show is broadcast nationwide. Our identities on the show will also be as a married couple, but we both know that our marriage isn’t real.”

“When facing the cameras, you must always be mindful of your actions. At necessary moments, we need to act like a married couple.”

“Can you handle so many cameras? Once we confirm our participation, we can’t afford to slip up halfway. If the netizens find out, we’re both done for.”

Jiang Zijin  raised an eyebrow. “What do you think I relied on to get to where I am today? Life is like a drama, all about acting.”

“As for the cameras, I don’t mind. After all, my face is flawless from every angle. It wouldn’t be bad to let others admire it.”

Lin Xingmian pursed his lips in slight disdain but didn’t retort.

“Since you have no issues, I’ll go discuss with my manager. Recently, compile your preferences and habits into a document and send it to me. I’ll also send you a document to familiarize yourself with before the show…”

Lin Xingmian picked up the tablet beside her and contacted Qi Haian .

Jiang Zijin  nodded absentmindedly, his gaze also fixed on the electronic device in front of him, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Lin Xingmian received a message from her manager and said, “Haian  says it’s fine. After the official announcement, the show’s production team will coordinate the promotion.”

Jiang Zijin  responded lazily, his eyes still glued to the screen.

“However…” Lin Xingmian frowned slightly, “The first episode might start filming from home.”

“We might… have to live together first.”