The young lady hired me to help her and the young master have an online romance.

After the call was answered, both of them fell silent.

Jiang Wan broke the silence first, calling out to him, "Brother..."

As soon as the sound faded, a very soft "hmm" came from the other end.

With each question and answer, they opened up a floodgate of conversation.

Shang Shixu took a breath and said in a deep voice, "You've finished talking about tonight's events. Now it's my turn to speak."

"First, regarding your request for male models, as you said, I have no right to complain."

"But—" he paused, his voice cold, "you're not allowed to order it again."

"Secondly, I can let bygones be bygones regarding your lying."

"But from today onwards, you are not allowed to lie to me anymore."

Jiang Wan slowed her breathing and unconsciously clenched her fingers.

"Third, you say we're just friends now, so let me tell you, from this moment on—"

"We are in a romantic relationship."

After the words were spoken, the receiver was so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing.

Jiang Wan felt as if something was blocking her throat.

She should be happy, overjoyed.

But after hearing his decision, I felt a strange unease.

Because this means she will have to be even more careful to conceal the truth.

Jiang Wan let out a breath and calmed herself down.

The young lady's million-dollar reward is just waiting to be deposited into her account.

The thought of money filled Jiang Wan with joy, and she said in a light tone, "I promise, from now on, my brother is my boyfriend~"

"But I'm warning you, you're not allowed to call me 'little toad' anymore."

Her sudden display of coquettishness startled Shang Shixu. He smiled slightly, but his tone remained defiant.

"What's wrong, Little Toad? This is the nickname I gave you."

Jiang Wan retorted, "Your nickname comes from a toad; who calls a beautiful woman that?"

"Are you a beauty?" Shang Shixu teased.

"Of course I'm beautiful!" Jiang Wan said with great confidence.

Objectively speaking, Gu Manning is definitely a beautiful woman.

Even if you are a beautiful woman, I will not change how I address you.

Jiang Wan wasn't going to back down, "Okay, then I'll give you a nickname too."

"I'll call you—Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs."

"Why?"

"Because my favorite food is sweet and sour pork ribs!"

After Jiang Wan finished speaking, she giggled.

The laughter reached Shang Shixu's ears, traveled through his blood, and surged into his heart.

He chuckled softly.

In just two hours, my emotions were like a rollercoaster ride combined with a drop tower.

Falling to the bottom, rising to heaven.

What this means, Shang Shixu is not unaware of.

After laughing, Jiang Wan called him sweetly, "Brother, it's getting late, I'm going to wash up."

"Go."

Jiang Wan hung up the phone and couldn't wait to call Gu Manning.

The phone rang three or four times before being answered.

"Wanwan?"

Jiang Wan's heart raced slightly, unable to contain her joy at what she was about to say.

"What's wrong? Is it completely hopeless for Shang Shixu?" Gu Manning's voice suddenly became tense.

Jiang Wan quickly replied, "No, it's good news."

"What good news?" Gu Manning gripped her phone tightly, her anticipation rising to her throat.

Jiang Wan took a breath, her tone becoming more serious.

"Shang Shixu and I are officially together now."

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone.

"What...what did you say?" Gu Manning's voice trembled slightly.

Jiang Wan curled the corners of her lips, her voice light and firm, "I said, Shang Shixu just told me personally that from today onwards, he and I are lovers."

"ah--!"

Gu Manning's scream exploded from the receiver.

Jiang Wan instinctively moved the phone away a little, but the laughter still came through the receiver, sharp and bright, carrying the release of something suppressed for too long.

"Really? Wanwan, is what you said true? Am I dreaming?"

Jiang Wan listened with a smile as she finished shouting, "Absolutely true."

Gu Manning took several deep breaths, finally managing to calm herself down.

"Wanwan, thank you so much! I don't know what I would have done without you."

Jiang Wan: "You're welcome. You paid for it, so it's what I should do."

Gu Manning's tone was exceptionally serious, "I'll transfer the one million yuan bonus to you tomorrow."

Jiang Wan tightened her grip on her phone slightly.

One million.

Add to that the 500,000 she has here.

It can pay off most of the family's debts.

"Thank you, Ningning."

"No need to thank me, you deserve it." Gu Manning's voice was loud and clear, with undisguised pride. "Wanwan, I can go see my dad tomorrow. Now that I've taken down Shang Shixu, let's see if he still dares to let that illegitimate son take a share of my property."

"Once I get the share transfer agreement, I'll be completely free and never have to put up with his attitude again!"

Hearing the triumphant tone in Gu Manning's voice, Jiang Wan's lips curled up. "Okay, I'll keep you updated on anything that requires my cooperation."

"Okay, oh right, Wanwan," Gu Manning said in a more serious tone, "before I get the share transfer document, you need to keep Shang Shixu in check."

"Once things are settled on my end, you can break up with me."

"The longer we talk, the greater the chance we'll be exposed."

"We're in the same boat, you know what I mean?"

Jiang Wan knew what she was reminding her of.

She was warning herself not to fall for him.

Because once she gets emotionally involved, the deal between the two will inevitably be exposed.

Actually, no warning was needed; she didn't want to be exposed more than anyone else.

From the second point just mentioned regarding the business timeline—

Judging from the message "You're not allowed to lie to him again," Jiang Wan doesn't even dare to imagine the consequences if she knew that she had lied to him from beginning to end.

Perhaps the scene from her dream when she had a fever last time will really happen.

Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; some things you just have to see through to the end.

Jiang Wan replied firmly, "Don't worry, I will follow your decision and will definitely not cause any unforeseen problems."

Gu Manning was completely relieved.

*

Across the ocean, Boston.

Pei Heyun had already finished school and returned to her apartment.

He hadn't dared to call Shang Shixu for the past two hours.

I know he won't answer even if I call.

But so much time has passed, I should at least ask him how he is doing.

Pick up your phone and speak in the group chat.

Pei Heyun: [@Shangshixuge, are you alright?]

Pei Heyun: [If you're feeling down, talk to your brothers, even vent your frustrations, don't bottle it up inside.]

A few minutes later, there was a new message in the group.

Di Wenjun: [@Shang Shixu, what's with the melancholy?]

Di Wenjun: [After cutting ties with her completely, did he become withdrawn?]

Di Wenjun didn't even need to think about it; given Shang Shixu's personality, he would never accept Gu Manning's behavior.

The breakup is already an accepted fact.

Pei Heyun and Di Wenjun shared similar thoughts. Although Gu Manning was a bit special to Shang Shixu, eight male models were still too much, and Shang Shixu definitely couldn't stand it.

Two new messages suddenly popped up.

Business Timeline: [What's wrong?]

Shang Shixu: [We're officially together now.]

Pei Heyun and Di Wenjun: Σ(ŎдŎ|||)ﾉﾉ!!