Chapter 7

Su Nian's face showed an awkward expression. She just smiled and did not reply.

However, Qin Yu continued to look at Chu Hao and asked, "Su Nian, where are you working now? How is the pay? Would you like to come work at our company? You can be my secretary. You won't really have to do much—how about a monthly salary of one hundred thousand?"

Hearing this, Chu Hao was slightly surprised!

He guessed that Su Nian had kept a very low profile in college, and Qin Yu had no idea of her true identity.

"Sorry, my current job is great!" Su Nian said.

Qin Yu frowned, then turned his gaze back to Chu Hao. "I wonder which university this brother here graduated from, and where you're working."

Chu Hao was momentarily speechless, then gave a dry cough and said, "I didn't go to school. Right now... I suppose I'm an unemployed vagrant!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu instantly wore a look of disdain and said, "How about I hook you up with a job too? Come work at our company as a security guard, room and board included, with a monthly salary of five thousand!"

Chu Hao was speechless. He felt that this guy was somewhat out of his mind.

Chu Hao knew that this fellow must have designs on Su Nian, and wanted to show off his family's wealth to make Su Nian fall for him!

When he found out Su Nian wasn't interested, he shifted his target to the person accompanying her.

"No need!" Chu Hao smiled politely.

Qin Yu talked endlessly along the way. Fortunately, the cable car ride wasn't long, and they arrived just a few minutes later. As soon as they stepped out, Su Nian hurriedly pulled Chu Hao and said, "Accompany me to the restroom!"

With that, she pulled Chu Hao off the cable car, heading toward the restrooms.

Behind them, Qin Yu said with a dark expression, "We're following them. Su Nian has never gone out alone with a guy. The relationship between this punk and Su Nian is definitely unusual!"

Su Nian dragged Chu Hao along, jogging all the way away from the cable car exit toward the distant restroom.

As they walked, she said, "Are you upset because I introduced you as a friend just now?"

"Uh... no." Chu Hao gave a dry cough.

As if she hadn't heard him, Su Nian continued, "This Qin Yu is like a piece of sticky plaster. We were in the same class in college, and his family is considered wealthy in Donghai City. To avoid trouble, not many people knew my true identity during college, but that Qin Yu kept pestering me.

"And this guy is pretty outrageous," Su Nian said. "Back then, whichever guy got close to me, he would find a way to beat him up. Although that warded off quite a lot of harassment for me, his... his character is deeply problematic.

"This fellow is terrified that people won't know he's a second-generation rich kid, so he shows off everywhere, even on the internet..." Su Nian said speechlessly. "If I told him you were my..."

At this point, Su Nian's face flushed slightly. "...He would definitely make a big fuss again, and I don't want to invite trouble."

Chu Hao was taken aback. Hearing Su Nian put it this way, this Qin Yu was absolute scumbag material.

Donghai City... the Qin family. Chu Hao pondered in his mind. He remembered once treating a patient with the surname Qin in Donghai, someone who should be considered a figure of some standing and influence in Donghai City. He wondered if that person had any connection to this Qin Yu.

"Why didn't you just reveal your identity straight out to make him back off?" Chu Hao asked.

"No need!" Su Nian said. "I have no contact with him anymore, and... given this guy's personality, if I told him my identity, he'd probably get even more excited. Once he knows where I am, he'd definitely keep clinging on."

Chu Hao was speechless. Looking at Su Nian's expression, he could easily imagine just how relentlessly this Qin Yu had pestered her back in college.

As they chatted, they reached the restroom. Su Nian said, "I'm going to the ladies' room. Wait for me here!"

Chu Hao nodded. "I need to go too."

With that, he walked into the men's room. He really did feel a bit of urgency.

Just as Chu Hao was relieving himself, Qin Yu and Yang Tian stepped up on either side of him. Qin Yu tilted his neck and glanced over at Chu Hao's side. Immediately afterward, his expression went slightly blank, revealing a look of envy and inferiority, and he quickly zipped his pants back up, abandoning his intention to pee.

"Brother, what's your name?" Qin Yu asked in a calm tone.

"Chu Hao!" Chu Hao didn't hide it either, offering a slight smile."Who are you..." Qin Yu trailed off, then waved his hand, dropped an arm over Chu Hao's shoulder, and said, "Never mind, I can't be bothered what kind of person you are anyway. Judging by your clothes and style, you're just a bumpkin!"

With a hint of threat in his voice, he continued, "Su Nian is the woman I like. I don't like seeing her talk to other men, so clear out of here in a minute!"

Chu Hao gave a dry cough and said, "She already deleted your WeChat and all your contact info, which suggests she doesn't seem to like you!"

Qin Yu flared up, then sneered, "That's none of your business. Just get lost, I'm going to catch up properly with her!"

"That won't work!" Chu Hao smiled and said, "She invited me here to have a good time, I can't just abandon her and leave."

"The fuck can't you understand plain human speech!" Beside them, upon hearing Chu Hao's words, Yang Tian gave Chu Hao a hard shove.

Clearly acting somewhat like a lapdog around Qin Yu, seeing that Chu Hao dared to talk back to Qin Yu, he couldn't hold himself back and shoved Chu Hao directly!

With that push, Chu Hao's whole body swayed sideways, and the urine he hadn't finished relieving splashed out, landing right on Qin Yu.

"Uh... sorry, sorry!" Chu Hao said quickly. "I was pushed."

Qin Yu's face darkened instantly. Looking at the wet patch on his trousers, he glared at Yang Tian and cursed, "What the hell are you doing!"

"This brat did it on purpose," Yang Tian said hastily. "I didn't push him that hard!"

Chu Hao zipped up his trousers, gave a dry cough, and said, "Well, if nothing's wrong, I'll be off first."

Chu Hao started walking outside, but he had barely taken two steps when Qin Yu stepped forward, grabbed Chu Hao by the collar, and demanded, "Did I tell you you could leave?"

"What do you want?" Chu Hao asked with a frown.

"Right now..." Ignoring the wet spot on his trousers, Qin Yu stared at Chu Hao and said viciously, "Take out your phone, give me Su Nian's number, and then get the hell off Baiya Tower. Don't you ever provoke me again, or you'll die a very ugly death! My name is Qin Yu, from the Luo family in Donghai City—go ask around in Donghai City, or look it up online to find out what kind of person I really am!"

As he spoke, he reached out to grope around in Chu Hao's trouser pocket.

Chu Hao quickly shielded his pocket and said, "Don't you guys go too far."

"Let go of your fucking hand!" Qin Yu roared.

With that, he yanked fiercely. Chu Hao beat him to it by pulling out his own phone and raising it high above his head.

Along with the phone, a small red booklet came flying out with it and dropped to the ground.

It was the marriage certificate of Chu Hao and Su Nian, which he always kept in his pocket.

When Qin Yu saw the red booklet on the ground and spotted the three words "Marriage Certificate" on it, he froze for a second, then chuckled softly. "So you're married, huh."

He squatted down, picked up the marriage certificate, chuckled again, and opened it up—whereupon his expression froze solid.

Once opened, the photograph of Chu Hao and Su Nian side by side looked painfully glaring; he felt as though his chest had taken a bullet.

Meanwhile, Chu Hao gave a dry cough and said, "Sorry about that, accidentally dragged my marriage certificate out."

Chapter 18: Su Nian's Trouble

Qin Yu's gaze stared blankly at the marriage certificate in his hand. At that moment, he felt like he was losing his mind!

The goddess he had chased for several years in college, the one who refused to spare him even a proper look, had actually... gotten married.

And the man she married turned out to be the ordinary fellow standing right in front of him, dressed in rags and looking every bit like a bumpkin.

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!" Qin Yu gritted his teeth and stepped back two paces!

Staring dotingly and furiously at Chu Hao, he said, "How am I worse than you? How could Su Nian possibly marry you and yet refuse to even look at me?"

With that, he raised both hands, wanting to tear the marriage certificate to shreds.

With quick eyes and swift hands, before Qin Yu could move, Chu Hao snatched the marriage certificate straight back.

"Give it to me!" Qin Yu said in a tone that allowed no argument.

Chu Hao smiled and said, "Look, whatever kind of relationship you and Su Nian had in the past, right now she is my wife. I hope you won't pester her anymore. Rest assured, I'll treat her very well!"

Chu Hao's words were like a spark to a powder keg.

Qin Yu had already been extremely unhappy about Chu Hao and Su Nian spending time alone together; now that Chu Hao had turned out to be Su Nian's husband and was telling him not to pester her, how could a young master like him possibly endure it!

"I'm gonna fucking kill you!" he shouted, raising his fist as he lunged forward at Chu Hao, throwing every ounce of his strength into a smash aimed at Chu Hao's head.Having already opened his eye aperture, Chu Hao could see that Qin Yu's punch was full of openings. He shifted sideways and easily dodged the punch. With his punch missing its mark, Qin Yu lost his balance, hunching over as he lunged forward several steps. "Thud!" Throwing too much force into it, his head slammed hard straight into the wall nearby, producing a dull, heavy thud. "Qin Yu!" Yang Tian's expression changed as he rushed over to help him up! Qin Yu rolled over. Warm blood was trickling down his scalp where he had hit his head. He was dizzy and lightheaded. Giving him a slight smile, Chu Hao tucked the marriage certificate into his pocket, crossed his arms, and swaggered out of the restroom. Seeing this, Qin Yu was consumed by fury; his vision went completely black, and he passed out. Arriving at the entrance, Chu Hao found Su Nian waiting there and walked over. "What on earth was going on in the men's restroom just now? Was some pervert throwing things against the wall of the women's restroom?" Su Nian asked. "Oh!" Chu Hao replied awkwardly, "Someone banged his head against the wall and knocked himself out cold." Su Nian glanced toward the men's restroom and said, "I really want to go in and take a look!" "Better not!" Chu Hao said. "The people he came with are helping him, so he's probably fine. Let's head to your destination first!" "Okay!" Su Nian nodded. The two followed the mountain path of Baiya Tower upward. Before long, they reached the top, where an antique temple stood. Stepping into the area, Chu Hao felt an immediate sense of peace and mental clarity. "This ancient temple is rather interesting," Chu Hao remarked. "Let's go sit over there for a bit. They have some quiet rooms where we can have tea or coffee, though it is a bit pricey," Su Nian said, pointing to a building not far away. That building was a landmark of Baiya Tower, shaped like a white crescent and full of striking modern design. The two entered the third floor of the building, requested a window booth, ordered a pot of tea, and sat down by the window. Chu Hao looked outside. The location was prime, offering a panoramic view of the entire Baiya Tower scenery! "The scenery here at Baiya Tower really is lovely!" Chu Hao said with a faint smile. Su Nian nodded. "Yes, whenever I used to feel restless and upset, I'd come to Baiya Tower to sit quietly for a while and have a pot of tea. All my worries would just melt away!" Chu Hao turned his head to look at her and asked, "Tell me then, what are your worries? Or rather, what is your true purpose in wanting to marry me?" "So you've figured out something is fishy," Su Nian said with an amused laugh. "Your motives were just too obvious," Chu Hao chuckled. "I'm not an idiot; how could I not have noticed at all?" "All right!" Su Nian nodded and said, "The reason I came to marry you actually boils down to two things. First, it was my grandfather's request." "And who is your grandfather?" Chu Hao asked. "My grandfather is Su Quan," Su Nian replied, looking straight at him. Chu Hao searched his memory, but no recollections of such a person came up. He looked at Su Nian skeptically and said, "I don't think I know your grandfather. Could you have made a mistake?" "My grandfather doesn't make mistakes," Su Nian shook her head. "Then what is the second reason?" Chu Hao asked. "The second reason..." Su Nian let out a long sigh. "Is that I want to escape an arranged marriage!" "Escape a marriage?" Chu Hao looked at her in surprise. "The Su family of Beijing is supposed to be one of the top elite aristocratic families in the country, easily among the top five. You're the eldest daughter of the Su family—who would dare force you into a marriage?" "In that entire massive Su family, aside from my grandfather, everyone else is forcing me," Su Nian said with a bitter smile. Chu Hao's expression shifted slightly. "No way. Why?" "To ordinary people, the six great families of Beijing are the center of the nation's financial power, but..." She looked at Chu Hao. "You should know that there are many extraordinary people in this world, just like you!" "Is it that person you saved in your WeChat contacts as 'Disgusting'?" Chu Hao asked. "Right!" Su Nian nodded. "What's his background?" Chu Hao asked again. "He's from the Ye family, the head of the six great families," Su Nian smiled bitterly. "His name is Ye Hao, the heir to the Ye family. He took a fancy to me and declared that he would marry no one else. If our family is unwilling to give me to him, he will have our Su family erased from the six great families of Beijing." "My family was driving me to despair. Later on, my grandfather transferred all of his shares in the family business to me and told me to come find you. I used the excuse of coming to Jiangcheng to look for investments to get away here," Su Nian said, a hint of a bitter smile appearing on her pretty face. "Grandfather said that you could help me solve this trouble." "I don't have money, and I only have one life," Chu Hao coughed dryly. "You've seen my situation. But that makes me think of something!" "Hmm?" Su Nian asked. "What is it?" "Now that I'm married to you, that guy named Ye Hao probably won't let me off the hook, right?" Chu Hao said. Hearing this, Su Nian froze. Upon learning of her predicament, Chu Hao's very first thought was actually... this. Then she heard Chu Hao muttering to himself, "Sigh, now that we've already gotten the marriage certificate, it's too late to back out. I guess we'll just... face it together!" *Hanging out with master means starving nine times in three days.* Hearing Chu Hao's final words, a look of stunned disbelief appeared on Su Nian's pretty face. Chu Hao chuckled and said, "When I was a little boy, my grandfather always told me that with my personality, I wouldn't be able to find a wife when I grew up, so he arranged a childhood bride for me named Lin Qinyi. And then that fell through!" "Now that I've finally managed to find a wife as pretty and wealthy as you, I definitely have to hold onto this tight," Chu Hao coughed dryly. "Otherwise, who knows, I might end up a bachelor for the rest of my life!" Su Nian brightened up and hurriedly asked, "Can you make the Ye family submit?" Chu Hao spread his hands. "I'm just a country boy with no money and no power. The Ye family are super-tycoons—why on earth would they submit to me?" "Then... what do we do?" Su Nian asked blankly. "We'll take it one step at a time," Chu Hao said cheerfully. "Since we're married now, we're husband and wife. Whatever comes our way, we'll face it together!" Over the years of practicing medicine to save lives, he had built up a certain network of connections and left behind ways to get in touch! His grandfather had told Chu Hao that whoever came seeking medical help—regardless of whether they were good or evil—should be saved whenever possible, unless he truly had no desire to act. Moreover, they never charged a single penny; they only traded in favors! As for how many people were actually willing to repay those favors, Chu Hao had no idea. The most crucial part was that the people targeting him and Su Nian were from the Su family of Beijing! Of course, Chu Hao wasn't particularly afraid either. He had already stepped into the Aperture Opening Stage, and by the time all nine apertures were fully opened, there wouldn't be all that many people in this world who could pose a threat to him. Su Nian stared blankly at Chu Hao. For a moment, her mind was in a tangle of conflicting emotions, and she didn't know whether her grandfather's choice had been right or wrong. At that exact moment, a sudden commotion broke out downstairs. "Go die outside if you want to die!" "Don't play dead with me! Trying to pull a scam, are you?" ... A wave of noisy commotion rang out, interrupting Su Nian's thoughts. Su Nian frowned and asked, "What's going on?" Chu Hao shook his head. "Want to go down and take a look?" Su Nian nodded. The two of them walked out of the private room and headed downstairs. The first floor was a spacious lobby, currently surrounded by a good number of onlookers. Chu Hao and Su Nian stood on the stairs, looking down at the scene below. In the middle of the crowd, a little monk was lying flat on the floor—the very same little monk they had encountered when entering Baiya Tower. Clutched tightly in his arms was a dented iron alms bowl containing some scraps of food. He held onto it with all his might, refusing to let the contents spill out. His small, thin-looking frame was twitching continuously, and white foam was bubbling from his mouth. An opulently dressed woman was pointing at the child and yelling, "Stop pretending, stop pretending! I just brushed past you. What are you faking for? Just a good-for-nothing beggar, go die outside if you're going to die!" "I clearly saw you slap him just a moment ago!" someone muttered under their breath. Behind the woman, a fierce-looking man glared around and snapped, "What did you say? Which eye saw that?" The person wanted to retort, but someone next to him pulled his arm and whispered, "Don't go looking for trouble. That woman is from the Luo family!" In an instant, not a single person in the entire lobby dared to speak up. "Stop arguing and call an ambulance already! This clearly looks like epilepsy," someone said at that moment. "If it's any later, someone's going to die, and that won't be pretty." The woman looked a little guilty, but then she sneered, "Call one yourselves if you want, it has nothing to do with me." Quite a few people were also standing on the stairwell. Beside Chu Hao, someone whispered quietly, "Those people from the Luo family are really overbearing. That little beggar monk just came up wanting to beg for two cups of tea, and accidentally bumped into that woman. Without a second thought, she turned around and slapped him right across the face!"