Chapter 10 Playing Out of the Box, Handling the Crazy Male Lead with Ease

In the long summer days, the slanting sun hung in the sky without setting.

The golf course was bustling with activity. Xia Yuan didn’t have much social experience. She only knew Yang Ying, who was Yang Yi’s sister.

Yang Ying had a round face and a very sweet smile. “Sister-in-law.”

Xia Yuan quickly replied, “We are about the same age, you can call me by my name.”

Yang Ying asked, “Yuan, don’t you like playing golf? Why have you been standing still?”

It wasn’t that Xia Yuan didn’t like it, but she didn’t know how to play. She could play several musical instruments, but she hadn’t tried golf and horse racing, which were expensive sports.

“I also don’t really like it. Instead of playing golf, I’d rather sleep in.” Yang Ying said.

Xia Yuan smiled, fragments of a plot flashed through her mind.

Yang Ying was bad at sports, she hated exercising, but she met fitness coach Zhou Weiqi and ended up falling in love with him. She married Zhou Weiqi at the cost of breaking ties with her family.

At first, they were deeply in love, but after having a child, Yang Ying gave up her job to focus on taking care of the child and the family, wearing herself out for seven or eight years and turning into a haggard woman.

When their child fell seriously ill and needed millions for treatment, Zhou Weiqi decided to divorce Yang Ying. The child was to stay with Yang Ying, and it was at this point that Yang Ying found out about Zhou Weiqi’s affairs during his socializing and business trips.

Regretting bitterly, after their child passed away from illness, she lost her mind.

Xia Yuan looked at Yang Ying’s sweet and lively face, she couldn’t imagine how such a vibrant woman could end up being driven insane by fate and life.

“You shouldn’t like…”

“Let’s rest for a while.” Yang Ying looked at Xia Yuan, “Yuan, what were you just saying?”

Xia Yuan smiled and shook her head.

Zhou Weiqi hadn’t made an appearance yet, and she had no evidence, so even if she told Yang Ying, she wouldn’t believe it.

Two girls went to the bathroom together, and Xia Yuan silently followed. They were likely the pawns who had their tongues cut out.

In the bathroom, as they washed their hands, they spoke.

“That Xia Yuan is Mr. Qin’s girlfriend, right?”

“Mr. Qin is dating her because of a bet.”

“After she found out the truth, she must be devastated.”

…

When Xia Yuan read through this plotline, she couldn’t understand it even after reading it twice. Was Qin Mohuai really in love with Ouyang Jing because of a bet?

Perhaps the author wanted to play with the readers’ emotions with this plot twist, but also didn’t want to push them away by making it too heartbreaking, so they left it ambiguous for the readers to judge.

Housekeeper Wang noticed Xia Yuan’s disappointment and asked her what was wrong.

Xia Yuan shook her head, her bright face dimming as she walked into the bedroom, burdened with silent sorrow. Her slender figure looked especially lonely as she disappeared into the room.

The butler, Wang, sensed something was seriously wrong and hurried off to find Qin Mohuai.

Back when Qin Mohuai first brought Xia Yuan back to Shenghai Manor, he treated her like a long-sought-after prize, clinging to her with the possessiveness of a tentacled boss who had finally found a wife. For three whole months, he stayed by her side and didn’t leave the manor even once.

Despite being kept like a gilded canary, Xia Yuan hadn’t lost her beauty. Instead, she became even more radiant and enchanting, her elegance shining through like never before.

Xia Yuan had risked everything, feeding herself to the devil, caring little for life, death, or freedom. But now, her sadness was so overwhelming that she couldn’t even speak a word, and the pressure was mounting. This pressure eventually landed squarely on Qin Mohuai’s shoulders.

Butler Wang approached, concerned. “Miss doesn’t seem happy. We tried asking, but she wouldn’t say anything. Could it be that she’s not having a good time?”

Qin Mohuai’s lips pressed into a thin line.

He headed toward the gym but quickly turned back to take a shower.

After all, who told him to raise such a neat freak?

—

The bedroom door opened quietly as Qin Mohuai tiptoed to the bedside.

Xia Yuan’s pale face was buried in the soft silk pillow. When her sleepy eyes caught a glimpse of Qin Mohuai, she immediately averted her gaze.

“Baby.” Qin Mohuai’s arm wrapped around her waist.

Xia Yuan whimpered a little in her heart, wriggling weakly before surrendering to his embrace.

The man was wearing a simple black shirt, but his body was anything but ordinary. His chest was muscular and full, tightly stretching the fabric, making it hard to resist wanting to touch it.

Qin Mohuai asked, “What’s made you so sad? You can tell me, you know?”

Xia Yuan perched awkwardly on his lap, which wasn’t the most appropriate position, given how quickly things could escalate from there.

She quickly moved to the couch at the edge of the bed, her long raven-black hair spilling over the white leather like a dark waterfall. Even down to the tips of her hair, she had been meticulously cared for by him.

“Are you ready to talk now?” Qin Mohuai didn’t follow her. Instead, he lazily sat on the bed, one leg propped up, his posture relaxed yet intense, like a bowstring pulled taut and ready to snap. His gaze locked onto her, unwavering.

Xia Yuan’s eyes were misty with unshed tears. Her delicate fingers gripped the edge of the couch tightly. “You’ve stayed pure for twenty-seven years. Why would you suddenly want to date me? I thought it was because you found me attractive—that my face and figure were what you liked. But now I know that wasn’t it. You made a bet. If you couldn’t find a girlfriend in three months, you’d lose and have to give away money to the whole city. You didn’t want to lose, so you chose me.”

She sounded genuinely hurt.

Qin Mohuai’s eyes narrowed, a flash of anger passing through them before quickly disappearing. He pulled her back into his arms, his strong arms like a vice. Xia Yuan squirmed, her frail body too weak to resist, and he responded by giving her a firm smack on her behind.

Tears, long held back, finally spilled down her cheeks as her soft voice choked, “You’re toying with my feelings and even hit me! You tyrant!”

Qin Mohuai frowned, his deep voice calm. “I’m not toying with your feelings. Now tell me, who’s been feeding you these lies?”

Xia Yuan snapped, “You *are* toying with my feelings! You did it and now you’re afraid of people talking? What, are you going to cut off their tongues? You’re the one who—”

“He should cut off his own tongue!”

She trembled with anger, pressing tightly against him. A soft, pale touch nearly slipped past his tense jawline, an act of betrayal to her master, yet flirtatious to him.

Qin Mohuai gently stroked her back, worried she might faint from rage.

There was no way to argue about it—the bet was real, but his feelings for Xia Yuan had nothing to do with it.

“I like you. It has nothing to do with the bet.”

“…I don’t believe you.”

“Could you trust me, just this once?”

A flicker of frustration crossed Qin Mohuai’s eyes, a trace of bloodthirsty cruelty at the corners. Who was it that had been speaking nonsense in front of her?

Just as he braced for Xia Yuan to explode, she suddenly leaned in and kissed his taut jawline.

Qin Mohuai, too late to hide the fierceness in his gaze, looked down at her, eyes locked.

“Baby?”

Xia Yuan whimpered softly, wriggling against him. Her cute, stubborn little movements sent a tingling sensation straight to Qin Mohuai’s heart.

It felt like his life and emotions were completely under her control.

His voice was husky, “Not mad anymore?”

Xia Yuan’s soft, delicate hands rested on his shoulder, tightening as they wrapped around his neck.

“Even if the bet is real, I’ll accept it. I like you that much. No matter if you like me or not, I’ll love you forever. I’m not going to let some misunderstanding cause a fight and push us apart.”

Qin Mohuai’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his proud eyes misting with warmth. His heart was hooked—completely at her mercy—and he could only smile and kiss his wife lovingly.

System: The crazy male lead’s affection level has increased by 86%.

Xia Yuan didn’t hear it though. She was too dazed by his kisses. Why… can’t it ever just be pure love…