Chapter 10  –   Breaking the Rules, Easily Handling the Crazy Male Lead

The summer days were long, and the slanting sun hung on the horizon, refusing to set.

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

Yang Ying had a small round face and a sweet smile. “Sister.”

Xia Yuan quickly replied, “We’re about the same age. Just call me by my name.”

Yang Ying smiled, “Yuan, do you not like playing golf? You’ve been standing still this whole time.”

It wasn’t that Xia Yuan disliked golf; she simply didn’t know how to play.

She was skilled in many instruments, but expensive sports like golf and horse riding were out of her realm of experience.

Yang Ying said, “I don’t like it much either. I’d rather sleep in than play golf.”

Xia Yuan smiled softly, her mind flashing through fragmented memories of the plot.

Yang Ying was a sports failure and hated exercise, yet she eventually fell for a fitness coach, Zhou Weiqi, and married him at the cost of cutting ties with her family.

At first, they were deeply in love. After having a child, Yang Ying gave up her career to focus on caring for the family, working herself to the bone for seven or eight years until she became worn out and haggard.

When their child fell seriously ill and required a million yuan for treatment, Zhou Weiqi decided to divorce Yang Ying. The child was left in her care, and only then did she learn that her husband had been cheating on her during every business trip.

Yang Ying regretted her decisions deeply. After her child died, she completely broke down and went mad.

Xia Yuan glanced at Yang Ying’s sweet and vibrant face. She couldn’t imagine that this lively woman would eventually be driven mad by fate and life.

“Don’t fall in love…”

“We should take a break,” Yang Ying said, turning to Xia Yuan. “Yuan, what were you just saying?”

Xia Yuan smiled and shook her head.

Zhou Weiqi hadn’t appeared yet even a trace, even if she said something, Yang Ying wouldn’t believe her.

Two other girls walked together to the restroom, and Xia Yuan quietly followed. These girls were likely the cannon fodder who would have their tongues cut out later.

In the restroom, they chatted while washing their hands.

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

“President Qin is only dating her because of a bet.”

“She’ll cry herself to death once she finds out the truth.”

…

When Xia Yuan first read this part of the story, she had to go over it twice and still couldn’t fully understand if Qin Mohuai really liked her because of the bet.

( It seemed the author wanted to use this storyline to create emotional tension but also feared driving readers away, so the truth was left ambiguous, leaving it up to the readers to decide. )

Butler Wang noticed Xia Yuan looking downcast and asked her what was wrong.

Xia Yuan shook her head, her bright face dimming as she quietly retreated to her bedroom, visibly heartbroken. Her slender figure seemed especially lonely.

Butler Wang sensed something was amiss and hurriedly sought out Qin Mohuai.

When Qin Mohuai first brought Xia Yuan back to Sheng Hai, it was as if he had finally found a wife after millennia of searching. His possessiveness was overwhelming, and for three whole months, Xia Yuan didn’t step foot outside the mansion.

Instead of wilting like a caged bird, Xia Yuan had only grown more dazzling, with an ethereal beauty and grace.

Having sacrificed everything to this demon, even her life and freedom, she was now so heartbroken that she couldn’t speak. Everyone around her felt the weight of the situation, and this pressure finally fell on Qin Mohuai.

Butler Wang said, “Miss seems very unhappy. We asked her, but she wouldn’t tell us. Could it be that she didn’t enjoy herself today?”

Qin Mohuai’s thin lips pressed together.

He walked to the entrance of the gym, then turned back to take a shower.

After all, he had a bit of a cleanliness obsession.

–

The bedroom door was pushed open, and Qin Mohuai quietly walked to the bedside.

Xia Yuan’s fair face was buried in the silk pillow, her eyes lightly glazed and hazy as they briefly met Qin Mohuai’s before she quickly averted her gaze.

“Baby,” Qin Mohuai wrapped his arm around her waist.

Xia Yuan whimpered inwardly and, after a slight struggle, melted into his embrace.

The man was wearing a simple black shirt, but his body was far from simple. His firm, muscular chest pressed against the fabric, tempting one to reach out and squeeze.

Qin Mohuai asked, “What’s making you sad? You can tell me.”

Xia Yuan was sitting on his lap, a rather precarious position—one where a small argument could easily turn into something more.

She moved to the sofa at the edge of the bed, her waist-length raven hair cascading over the white leather, every strand meticulously maintained under his care.

“Can you tell me now?” Qin Mohuai didn’t follow her but propped up one leg on the bed. His posture was lazy and relaxed, like a bow fully drawn and ready to fire, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Xia Yuan’s eyes were misty, her delicate fingers gripping the sofa tightly. “You’ve kept yourself clean for 27 years, so why did you suddenly start dating me? I thought it was because you found me attractive, that I matched your taste. But it turns out, it wasn’t like that at all. You made a bet. If you couldn’t find a girlfriend within three months, you’d lose and have to give away money to the entire city. That’s the only reason you started dating me.”

She was genuinely a little sad.

Qin Mohuai’s eyes narrowed slightly, a fleeting flash of anger passing through them. He pulled her back into his arms, his strong arms clamping around her like a vice. Xia Yuan wriggled her fragile body in protest, which only earned her a firm slap on her bottom from the man.

Tears that Xia Yuan had been holding back finally spilled over, and she sobbed in a soft, trembling voice, “You toyed with my feelings, and now you’re even hitting me. You tyrant!”

Qin Mohuai frowned, his deep voice calm. “I never toyed with your feelings. Now tell me, who’s been talking behind my back?”

Xia Yuan retorted, “You *did* toy with my feelings! You’re afraid of people talking after what you did? What are you going to do, cut out their tongues? You should cut out your own tongue!”

She was shaking with anger, pressed up close to his chest, her soft, pale skin almost grazing his tense jawline as she struggled.

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

He had no excuse to offer—there really was a bet. But his feelings for Xia Yuan had nothing to do with it.

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

“…I don’t believe you.”

“Just trust me this once, okay?”

Qin Mohuai was getting frustrated, a flicker of cruelty flashing in his eyes. Who on earth had filled her head with these lies?

Just when he thought Xia Yuan was about to explode, she surprised him by planting a soft kiss on his tense jawline.

Qin Mohuai’s bloodthirsty gaze softened immediately as he looked down at her.

“Baby?”

Xia Yuan whimpered, twisting in his arms, her petite and spoiled demeanor making Qin Mohuai’s heart melt.

It felt as if his life and emotion were entirely in her hands.

His voice grew husky, “You’re not angry anymore?”

Xia Yuan’s soft hands rested on his shoulders, tightening as they looped around his neck.

“Even if the bet is real, I don’t care. I like you so much. Whether you like me or not, I’ll still love you, to death and beyond. I won’t let a misunderstanding like this make me angry or push you away.”

Qin Mohuai’s throat tightened, his usually proud eyes filled with a steamy warmth. He was completely captivated by her, helplessly drawn to kissing her with a smile tugging at his lips.

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

Xia Yuan didn’t hear it—she was already dazed from all the kisses. Why… couldn’t this just be pure love?