Chapter 7: A Bargain Wife and Daughter

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Bargain Wife and Daughter

"You can refuse. Get out of the car now."

"But you can forget about this month’s salary. Also, give me back the money I gave you."

’Money, money, money... it’s my lifeline. If I have to pay her back, where am I supposed to get the cash?’

’Forget it, I’ll just go along with it. I get to be a dad, and I even get a gorgeous wife for free. All things considered, it’s not a bad deal.’

Seeing Jiang Fan hesitate, Yin Ruxue thought he was unwilling, so she took out the contract he had signed earlier.

"The contract clearly states that for everything I need done, you, Jiang Fan, must cooperate with me. Otherwise, the agreement is void, and you’ll have to pay three hundred thousand in damages for breach of contract."

"What???"

"I don’t remember signing a contract like this." Jiang Fan took the contract from Yin Ruxue’s hands.

He was dumbfounded.

’The contract I signed wasn’t this one.’

"Article 1: Pretend to be Mengmeng’s father. You are not allowed to be a bad influence on the child. Otherwise, money will be deducted—500 to 5,000, depending on the circumstances." Jiang Fan complained internally, ’These fines are brutal.’

"Article 2: Be responsible for picking up and dropping off the child daily and giving her warmth and affection. On the days I’m at the company, you need to take extra care of her." ’So I’m a dad and a nanny? Doesn’t that just make me a stay-at-home dad?’

.....

He gave it a quick scan. Aside from the fines, there was nothing that went against social morals.

But Jiang Fan was sure he had never signed such an unfair contract.

This woman must have used some unknown method to trap him. After all, he had seen this contract before.

It was in black and white. If he took it to court, it would be legally recognized.

’The city’s full of schemes. I want to go back to the countryside.’

An imperceptible curve flashed across Yin Ruxue’s frosty, beautiful face, gone in an instant.

Since he couldn’t change it, he decided to accept it. Jiang Fan also raised his own point, "Everything on here is about deducting money. It’s all deductions and no additions. If you’re in a bad mood one day, won’t you just deduct it all?"

"I’m not that petty," Yin Ruxue replied coldly.

"In a 30-day month, Mengmeng has school for 20 days. I’ll pick her up on two of those days. You can consider those two days your vacation to arrange as you see fit."

"Additionally, you’ll receive all the standard benefits a regular company offers—a full benefits package, a 5,000 perfect attendance bonus, and so on."

Jiang Fan’s eyes lit up. ’A salary of fifteen thousand, plus a five thousand attendance bonus? This is so much better than my old delivery gig.’

"So it’s just being a stay-at-home dad? I’m in."

Hearing Jiang Fan say "I’m in," Yin Ruxue’s delicate brows furrowed. "You can’t use vulgar language in front of the child in the future."

’I’m in? That’s considered vulgar?’

’Whatever. She calls the shots. Can’t argue with the money.’

"Alright, you’re the boss."

Just then, the school bell rang.

The young, bright-faced lower-grade students lined up in an orderly fashion, waiting for their parents to pick them up.

In the crowd of children, a little girl with chubby cheeks and twin ponytails stood out, waving energetically in their direction.

When Yin Ruxue saw the little girl, her cold, glamorous expression finally thawed a little.

"Mengmeng is in first grade this year, in Class Two. Her teacher’s name is Xia He. Don’t forget."

"Mm."

After a quick introduction to the teacher, the two of them picked up the child and left.

At the school gate, Mengmeng’s big, bright eyes darted around. "Mommy, who is he?"

"Mengmeng, sweetie, he’s your daddy."

Mengmeng stood frozen for a second, then threw herself into Jiang Fan’s arms.

The autumn clothes were thin, and Mengmeng was just tall enough to reach his stomach. He could clearly feel the little girl crying.

"Daddy, you finally came to see me."

"You’re a bad daddy."

Mengmeng was crying, but her arms only hugged him tighter.

For some reason, Jiang Fan felt his nose tingle. He suddenly understood why this woman, Yin Ruxue, had gone to such lengths to find a father for her.

"Don’t worry, Mengmeng. From now on, Daddy will be with you every day. I’ll take you to school and pick you up, and I’ll spoil you like a princess."

"Hmph, you big meanie, you big liar."

Jiang Fan suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Mengmeng had bitten him.

"If you ever leave without saying goodbye again, Daddy, I’ll bite you to death! Bite you to death!"

Jiang Fan wanted to retort, but Mengmeng started crying again, which made his heart soften.

’She’s just a child, after all. It’s only normal for her to want her father’s attention.’

Yin Ruxue watched them getting along and felt a sense of relief. It had been a long time since she had seen Mengmeng cling to someone like that.

A light rain began to pitter-patter against the car windows.

Yin Ruxue had originally intended for Jiang Fan to drive, but since Mengmeng was clinging to him, the task of driving fell to her.

"Daddy, Mommy runs a company. What do you do?"

Jiang Fan was stunned. ’What am I supposed to say? The woman never told me about this.’

Yin Ruxue came to his rescue. "Your daddy does scientific research. It’s very hard work."

"But I can’t say what he does specifically. It’s a national secret, and children aren’t allowed to ask."

Mengmeng said, "Oh," as if she half-understood. "Then my daddy must be a great man. A very, very great man."

Jiang Fan broke into a cold sweat. ’A great man? Would a truly great man be working for a salary of fifteen thousand?’

"Daddy, I’ll tell you a secret. I discovered I have magical powers."

"A few days ago, on my birthday, I made a wish on my cake for Daddy to appear right away."

"And today, it came true."

"Don’t you think I’m amazing?"

"Yes, Mengmeng is the most amazing."

Jiang Fan thought about the cake he was supposed to deliver a few days ago. ’Yin Ruxue must have bought it for Mengmeng, and I’m the one who lost it.’

"Daddy, you still owe me a birthday present," Mengmeng said, suddenly holding out her hand to demand a gift from Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan was flustered. ’A gift? What gift?’

’I didn’t even know it was your birthday.’

Yin Ruxue, who was driving, had also forgotten.

Seeing the eager anticipation in Mengmeng’s eyes, he couldn’t bear to hurt the child’s feelings.

He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out his old-school phone.

"Mengmeng, Daddy will give you a game console."

With that, he brought up a Tetris-like block game.

He taught her how to play.

Growing up, Mengmeng hadn’t been exposed to things like this. She usually just read books or played with the nanny at home.

She quickly grew interested in this novel new thing.

"Daddy, it’s about to fall!"

"I think this block can go here."

"Daddy, let me try by myself."

"Daddy, your game console is so heavy. It’s not like the one my classmate showed me."

Of course it was. It was an old-school phone, built to be sturdy and drop-proof. The person might break from a fall, but the phone would still be intact.

"This game console is different from your classmate’s."

"You can crack walnuts with it, and it won’t break easily even if a car runs over it."

"Wow, really?"

"Daddy never lies."

"AHEM." Yin Ruxue, in the front seat, suddenly coughed twice.

Through the rearview mirror, he saw Yin Ruxue’s murderous glare.

If she let Jiang Fan keep spouting nonsense, she was afraid he would be a bad influence on the child.