In his twenty-six years of life, this was the first time anyone had ever said such a thing to Pei Cheng.
Xu Huan’s sudden request was like a stone cast into the calm, stagnant pool of Pei Cheng’s bored, monotonous existence. It stirred up ripples, adding a splash of something different to his world. It made him feel, quite suddenly, that the world wasn’t so dull after all.
Pei Cheng carelessly pulled an exquisite cigarette case from his pocket. With a flick of his fingertips, a cigarette popped into the air, and he caught it between his lips with practiced ease.
As the smoke began to curl upward, his voice, hazy and laced with a hint of mockery, drifted through the mist. "Buying my affection isn’t cheap. Are you sure you can afford the price?"
*Not cheap...*
Looking at the man’s face—a visage as if sculpted by the gods themselves—Xu Huan felt her courage faltering. A man with such an extraordinary, refined face would surely rise to the pinnacle if he entered the entertainment industry; wealth and fame would come pouring in like a rising tide. Could the pittance in her pocket possibly move him?
Her reason whispered a warning in her ear, urging her to stay grounded and abandon such delusional thoughts. Yet, her feet felt anchored by invisible ropes; no matter how she struggled internally, she couldn't take that decisive step away.
The flame of her life was already flickering out. She only wanted to weave a brilliant dream for herself in this brief twilight, to let this illusory beauty stand as proof that she had once lived in this world—a final journey without regrets. If no one loved her, then she would use money to buy love.
With this thought, Xu Huan slowly pulled a card from her handbag. Her fingertips brushed against it, soft yet resolute, as she spoke with a tremor of finality that was hard to detect, as if this were her last act of defiance against the world. "There is one hundred thousand here."
Pei Cheng lowered his gaze to the bank card Xu Huan was cautiously holding out. He raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
One hundred thousand?
For Pei Cheng, that was merely the price of a single meal, or not even enough to cover the loose change he might drop on a new piece of clothing. Yet, this girl, thin as a piece of paper, was presenting that sum as if it were her entire stake, handing it to him with such gravity, as if it were the only thing of value she possessed.
Pei Cheng’s lips curled into a faint, meaningful smile. His tone was lazy, laced with a trace of subtle mockery. "One hundred thousand? Is that all you think my affection is worth?"
Xu Huan’s fingers tightened involuntarily, digging into her palms until a faint sting spread through her skin. A look of distress crossed her eyes, and she shook her head frantically. "No... I never thought you were only worth one hundred thousand. It’s just... this is the absolute limit of what I can offer. It’s all I’ve managed to save through years of scrimping and saving."
Pei Cheng’s gaze remained locked on Xu Huan, not wavering in the slightest. Her eyes were hollow and fragile, like thin ice ready to shatter, and her expression flickered like a withered leaf about to be swept away in the wind, stirring a sudden sense of pity in him.
Pei Cheng had seen too many people approach him for money, but Xu Huan seemed to have pinned every hope on this one hundred thousand, as if it were her final lifeline.
As if possessed, he reached out and took the bank card from her. His fingers were long and strong, pinching the corner of the card as if he were toying with a precious artifact. Glancing at Xu Huan, Pei Cheng’s voice dropped, becoming a low, melodic murmur like a whisper in the night, tinged with an unexpected gentleness. "It wouldn't be impossible for me to agree."
Upon hearing this, Xu Huan jerked her head up, her eyes flashing with disbelief. "You agree?"
"Mm." Pei Cheng nodded, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His voice was low, laced with teasing. "Though, one hundred thousand won't buy you a lifetime of me." He tilted his chin slightly. "Set a time frame."
Xu Huan had never intended to buy a lifetime. Glancing quickly at the man’s peerless face, she spoke with caution mixed with expectation. "One... no, would half a month be alright?"
She had originally meant to say a month, but changed it before the words left her lips. She feared that being too greedy would make him resent her—and besides, she might not even live for a month.
"Fine."
As he tucked the card into his pocket, Pei Cheng suddenly thought of something and asked, "Does dating you require kissing and sleeping together?"
*Kissing and sleeping together?*
The man’s topic was so blunt and explicit that Xu Huan’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She waved her hands frantically, like a bobblehead. "No, no need for that..."
Pei Cheng lowered his gaze and asked, "Then what do I need to do?"
Xu Huan had never been in a relationship before. She didn't know what couples usually did. "Wait, let me search for it."
She took out her phone and began scrambling to search for dating tutorials. Watching her clumsy actions, Pei Cheng realized she was a blank slate who had never known love. He couldn't help but be curious: how could a girl with her looks end up having to pay someone to date her? Had no one ever pursued her?
Though he was curious about her story, Pei Cheng had no particular desire to dig deeper. For him, agreeing to this was simply a way to cure his boredom; he was looking for a little amusement to pass the time.
Xu Huan found a list online of things to do while dating. She handed the phone to Pei Cheng. "Can we do what it says here?"
Pei Cheng glanced at it. They were all very innocent requests: watching the ocean together, going to the movies, riding a Ferris wheel, and saying goodnight to each other every day. It only required a bit of his time. And time, for Pei Cheng at the moment, was something he had in abundance.
Without much hesitation, he agreed. "I can do that."
Hearing his words, joy lit up Xu Huan’s eyes. She lowered her head to open her WeChat QR code and held it out to him. "Let’s add each other on WeChat."
Pei Cheng pulled out his phone with familiar, fluid motions. With a quick scan, they became WeChat friends.
At that moment, Xu Huan’s heart felt flooded with sweetness; a sense of happiness surged through her like a tide. Her eyes curved into crescents, and her lips turned up into a smile, as if she were a child on an autumn afternoon who had unexpectedly stumbled upon a glittering piece of candy—her face brimming with pure, innocent satisfaction and joy.
Pei Cheng’s gaze settled on her radiant, happy face, but he felt an inexplicable sense of constriction in his chest. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of life she had lived for her soul to be so fragile, that such a trivial, meaningless gesture could make her smile so brilliantly.