Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

"I understand. Since you're married to Lu Sheng, I won't press further. When you have time, can you bring him over for me to meet? Maybe arrange a meeting between both families?"

Seeing her brother's pleading expression, Qin Ran felt conflicted.

Lu Sheng's marriage to her was purely to please the elders at home. He never came home, so how could he visit with her?

Though she knew little about Lu Sheng's family background or his status within the Lu Corporation, his appearance and demeanor suggested he wasn't from an ordinary family. Would he even consider visiting her modest household?

Forget arranging a family meeting; simply meeting him was already challenging.

"Brother, let me talk to him first."

Deciding to buy time, Qin Ran chose to delay.

She couldn't reject her brother outright, nor could she promise him anything. She'd have to handle things step by step.

"Alright."

Reluctantly, Qin Jian gazed at her. "Xiao Ran, though you're only twenty-one and still young, now that you're married, you should act like a married woman. Be reasonable and get along well with him, okay?"

A married woman? Huh, Lu Sheng didn't even come home. What kind of married woman could she be?

She believed Lu Sheng didn't take this marriage seriously either. It was just a temporary arrangement.

Their marriage would likely end at some point.

Still, Qin Ran nodded. "Brother, I'll go now. Take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything."

This simple reminder brought moisture to Qin Jian's eyes.

Ten years older than his sister, Qin Jian was just fifteen when their parents died in a car accident, while Qin Ran was only five. Though he had been accepted into high school, he later enrolled in a tuition-free technical school. At eighteen, he started working to support his younger sister.

He had raised her entirely on his own. Now that she was getting married and leaving home, of course, he was reluctant.

"Brother, I'll come back to see you."

Seeing her brother's red eyes, Qin Ran couldn't hold back her tears.

Though her sister-in-law could be sharp-tongued, her brother had always been good to her. Without his persistence, she wouldn't be here.

Watching Qin Ran walk away, Qin Jian quickly pulled out a card and thrust it into her hand.

"Brother, what are you doing?"

Qin Ran tried to return it immediately. She knew her brother kept this card, which held bonuses, overtime pay from his job, and some earnings from her part-time work.

This was his lifeline. How could he give it to her?

Besides, her sister-in-law managed his salary card.

"Take it!"

Forcing the card into her hands, Qin Jian said, "Your sister-in-law only cares about the bride price. Doesn't she know a dowry is expected after receiving the bride price? This is your dowry from your brother."

"There are 100,000 yuan on this card. You and Lu Sheng can figure out another 300,000 yuan to reach the bride price amount."

Qin Ran's nose burned, and her eyes stung.

Her sister-in-law might be sharp-tongued, but her brother couldn't divorce. Not only because Qin Jian lacked higher education, but also because he was just a worker at a gas company with a modest salary.

Qin Jian got married two years ago at twenty-nine, while Du Xiaomei was thirty-three. If not for the mortgage on the house he bought two years prior, Du Xiaomei, four years older than him, might not have married him.

Qin Ran still tried to return the card, but Qin Jian firmly pressed it into her hand.

"Xiao Ran, if your brother tells you to take it, you take it. Don't worry. I earn hundreds or thousands extra each month installing pipelines outside. I don't need this money right now."

Qin Ran knew her brother could earn some extra money, but her sister-in-law wouldn't give him money for meals outside.

"Alright, I'll take it for now."

Taking a deep breath, Qin Ran quickly left.

Though the marriage was fake, she couldn't let her brother know it was fake.

She had to hurry and earn another 300,000 yuan to reach the total of 400,000 yuan for her sister-in-law, or else her brother's life at home would be tough.

Qin Ran took the subway back to Songhu Garden, an old residential area in Binhai City, known for its prestigious schools and sky-high housing prices of 100,000 yuan per square meter.

Entering Songhu Garden, she remembered Lu Sheng only mentioned living there but didn't specify the building or apartment number.

Checking her phone, it was 3:30 PM, mid-afternoon.

Afraid to call him directly, she sent him a WeChat message.

At that moment, Lu Sheng was in a meeting.

As the president of Lu Corporation, he didn't bring his phone into the conference room during meetings.

Qin Ran sat quietly on a wooden bench by the lake in Songhu Garden, waiting for Lu Sheng to reply. By 6 PM, she hadn't eaten since lunch and was starting to feel irritable.

She knew Lu Sheng was distant. Though they exchanged numbers, she didn't want to bother him unless it was urgent.

Lu Sheng had just finished the meeting and returned to his office, finding the old man sitting on the sofa drinking tea, waiting for him.

"Grandfather, why are you here?"

"What about the arranged date I set up for you? How did it go?" the old man asked bluntly.

"It went well. This morning, we met, liked each other at first sight, and went straight to the civil affairs bureau for the marriage certificate."

"What? Marriage certificate?"

The old man was shocked. "Who told you to get the certificate so soon?"

"Grandfather, you wanted me to go on blind dates so I could marry sooner, right?"

Lu Sheng replied impatiently, "Now that I'm married, you don't have to worry about my blind dates, do you?"

"Oh dear, I wanted you to find the right person through blind dates."

The old man became anxious. "I arranged blind dates for you, but I didn't tell you to marry anyone hastily! That Miss Lin is absolutely not suitable for you."

"Grandfather, you're the one who praised Miss Lin and set up the blind date. Now you're saying she isn't suitable for me?" Lu Sheng complained.

"Oh dear, I did mention a trial period after the blind date. Who knew you'd rush to get the marriage certificate upon meeting her?"

The old man became anxious. "No way, that Miss Lin cannot be my granddaughter-in-law. Hurry up and change the marriage certificate to a divorce certificate. Pay a settlement fee if necessary."