Chapter Two: The Son-in-Law Contract

Xiao Feng was unable to pay the enormous compensation owed to Grace and had no choice but to sign a contract of servitude with her. The sum was astronomical for him, but to Grace, it was a trifle, not even worth mentioning. This was the gulf between the rich and the poor.

Through a conversation with the driver, Grace learned that yet another suitor had come to her home to propose. Disgusted, she glanced at the pure, handsome, honest, and kind Xiao Feng and became intrigued. “Xiao Feng, now that you're my slave, do you have your identification with you?”

“Miss Grace, you can't bully people too much, can you?”

“Enough nonsense. Take it out.”

“Miss Grace, do you really want to silence me forever?”

Grace was amused by his innocent candor. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Miss Grace, I can do all sorts of things...”

Grace widened her beautiful eyes in a slightly threatening way. “Hand it over!”

Xiao Feng felt a pang of bitterness and despair, lowering his head. After a moment’s hesitation, he took the ID from his pocket and reluctantly handed it to Grace. “I've got nothing left in this world, anyway. There's nothing here to keep me…”

Grace hadn’t expected Xiao Feng to have such backbone, but she still questioned, “Are you really not afraid to die?”

“It was my fault you crashed your car. I don’t want to owe you. I’m willing to honor our contract.”

“I can see you have an honest heart. Even if I sell every part of you, your heart should remain!”

“Do as you wish, Miss Grace. I only hope you’ll let me die with some dignity.”

Grace was utterly wicked; even in this situation, she continued to tease him. “No, no, you don’t get to die with dignity. You’re my slave!”

“You're truly ruthless!”

Grace replied with proud arrogance, “Stop being dramatic. You said you have no one. You don’t have a wife?”

Xiao Feng shook his head. “I have nothing. I can’t drag anyone else down with me. Besides, who would want to be with a penniless man?”

“That settles it, then.”

“What exactly do you want?”

Grace didn’t answer, ordering the driver, “Take us to the marriage registry!”

Xiao Feng was even more bewildered. “What are you trying to do?”

“Get a marriage certificate. Let you soar to the sky in one leap.”

“I’m not going. With your status, if I marry you, I’ll die even more miserably. Don’t tell me you want to use me as a shield?”

“That’s an order!”

Xiao Feng protested weakly, “You’ll ruin my reputation, strip me for parts, and dump my body in the wilderness. How can you be so cruel?”

“You’re my slave. You should consider it a blessing I even allow you to speak, let alone play with you!”

“I…”

Grace, seeing Xiao Feng flustered, continued to poke fun at him. “What’s wrong? Overwhelmed by sudden happiness and lost for words?”

“I’m not going.”

“If you won’t listen, I’ll kill you right now…”

Xiao Feng was truly speechless and could only resist in silence. Soon, they arrived at their destination. Grace got out of the car triumphantly, but Xiao Feng didn’t move.

“Get out!”

“Miss Grace, please reconsider…”

Just then, a pickpocket who had been lurking at the entrance looking for a target set his eyes on Grace’s bag. Seizing the moment while she was distracted talking to Xiao Feng, he snatched her bag and dashed off.

“Someone stole my bag!”

Through the car window, Xiao Feng saw what was happening and darted after the thief. He was so quick that the thief barely made it thirty steps before Xiao Feng grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back, sending him sprawling on his back.

“Ow, help! He’s attacking me…”

Realizing he couldn’t escape, the thief decided to lie on the ground and play the victim. His cries quickly attracted a group of young men, who crowded menacingly around Xiao Feng. “Hey, punk, picking on someone in broad daylight?”

From their attitude and words, Xiao Feng immediately knew they were all in on it. Yet, without money, power, or background, he was wary of getting himself into more trouble. Nervously, he said, “I know you’re all together. Give back the bag, or else…”

“Go on, try it. Hit someone in broad daylight—see if you don’t land in jail…”

The young men closed in, clearly trying to buy time for their accomplice to escape.

At this critical moment, Grace arrived and confidently declared, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

With Grace’s backing, Xiao Feng was no longer afraid. No matter how tough the petty thugs were, they couldn’t compete with someone rich and powerful. “I wasn’t worried to begin with,” he said offhandedly.

Before the words left his mouth, he delivered a swift side kick, sending one of the youths flying. Taking a step forward, he struck out with both fists, knocking down two more. The last one, seeing his fallen comrades, was left dumbfounded—he hadn’t even seen Xiao Feng make his move.

Xiao Feng asked coldly, “Do you need me to deal with you as well?”

“N-no, no need, I’ll handle it myself…”

The last young man dropped to his knees, and the thief, still on the ground, fearfully handed the bag back. “This is your friend’s bag!”

Xiao Feng took the bag and, not wanting to make things any harder for them, growled, “Get lost!”

“Yes, yes…”

Truly frightened by Xiao Feng’s speed and fighting prowess, the group scrambled away, tripping and stumbling over themselves.

Onlookers gave Xiao Feng a thumbs up. “There aren’t many good people like this anymore!”

“Wouldn’t it be great if he were my son-in-law?”

“Look at those moves—so sharp and clean…”

Xiao Feng ignored their remarks and turned to return the bag to Grace. “Miss Grace, here’s your bag.”

Grace hadn’t expected Xiao Feng’s skills to be so extraordinary. She felt a warmth in her heart but still couldn’t resist a jab. “Seems you’re useful in a pinch, after all!”

“Let’s go. They’re not good people. If they double back to take revenge on me, I’ll be in trouble.”

This time, Grace didn’t put him down, but spoke honestly. “This world is unfair. Doing a good deed doesn’t guarantee a good outcome.”

“Mm.”

After this incident, Grace saw Xiao Feng in a new light. At the very least, his martial prowess pleased her. She decided he was worth dealing with and, by carrot and stick, coaxed him into registering their marriage.

Back in the car, when she put all the documents into her bag, Xiao Feng quietly asked, “Miss Grace, whether you’re using me as a shield or making me your slave, shouldn’t you at least let me keep my ID?”

“What ID? Everything of yours is mine now. What difference does it make where it’s kept?”

“You’re bullying me too much…”

Grace replied smugly, “Now, on the surface, you’re basically marrying into my family. But let’s be clear—I’m just making use of a waste product. You have no right to interfere with or inquire about anything in my family.”

Xiao Feng was only too happy to agree. “Don’t worry, even if you wanted me to meddle, I wouldn’t.”

“From now on, my word is law. All you need to remember is absolute obedience.”

“You wouldn’t really harm me, would you? Now that we have that little red book, you can’t get rid of your legal husband, can you?”

Grace grinned wickedly. “Don’t forget, the contract of servitude is even more binding than the marriage certificate!”

“That contract isn’t legally protected. That’s private punishment.”

“And who do you think you are? In this day and age, if things were handled officially, you’d fare even worse. My private punishments, however harsh, aren’t as dark as all that!”

Holding Xiao Feng’s contract, Grace seemed invincible. Xiao Feng didn’t argue, realizing she wasn’t entirely wrong, and could only sigh in resignation.

“Don’t tell anyone about what’s between us…”

Before Grace could finish, her phone rang. Seeing it was her mother, she answered, “Mom, do you need something?”

“Who are you hiding from? It’s already noon and you’re not home yet?”

Grace replied irritably, annoyed by her mother’s constant nagging about marriage. “Something came up—I won’t be home at noon.”

“Come to Yunzhou International Hotel at once. The four young heirs of Yunzhou’s prominent families are all here.”

Grace was taken aback. The driver had told her only one person would be there—now there were four. She asked, displeased, “Wasn’t it just Ye Feng?”

“Young Master Ye is our host, and the other three are attending as companions. Hurry over!”

After hanging up, Grace punched the backrest in frustration, glanced at Xiao Feng, and shot him a mischievous smile. “See, this is where your usefulness comes in!”

“Sigh, since I’ve signed the contract, I accept my fate. Let’s go.”

“Good, you’re quick on the uptake…”

They soon arrived at Yunzhou International Hotel. In the private dining room, Grace’s mother sat in the center—a stunning Western European woman with golden hair, blue eyes, a sculpted nose, dressed in a white silk blouse with ruffled collar and cuffs, cinched waist, and a flowing hem, exuding both simplicity and regal elegance. She wore black high-waisted chiffon straight-leg trousers with a rear zipper, accentuating her figure and long legs, and black leather heels.

The seat to her left was empty, presumably reserved for Grace. To her right sat a middle-aged woman in a pink satin high-collared cheongsam, flamboyantly dressed—she must have been a beauty in her youth. The other seats were occupied by four young men—undoubtedly the heirs of Yunzhou’s four great families. All were slickly groomed in suits, none particularly tall, and none as handsome as Xiao Feng.

The woman in the cheongsam greeted Grace warmly as she entered. “Grace, you look lovely today! We were just waiting for you to order.”

“Aunt Ye, you’re too kind!”

Grace sat beside her mother and then pointed at the young man next to her. “Switch seats. Let Xiao Feng sit beside me.”

Grace’s mother, clearly pleased by Xiao Feng’s handsome appearance and graceful manner, asked, “Darling, what does this young man do?”