When they arrived in Qingcheng, it was four in the afternoon.


    Before getting off the car, Lu Yudong said to Jiang Ci, "Remember to change how you address me."


    "Hmm? What?" Jiang Ci didn''t understand.


    "Don''t call me Mr. Lu anymore."


    Jiang Ci thought for a moment and said without hesitation, "Okay, my husband."


    Her quick response and the natural way she called him "husband" caught Lu Yudong''s attention. He guessed she often called her boyfriend that, as girls nowadays were quite open. This thought made Lu Yudong feel inexplicably uncomfortable.


    But Jiang Ci knew well that since he had given her so much money, she had to play her role convincingly. Jiang Ci was always professional and not the type to be reluctant unless forced by her boss. She was very sensible.


    ***


    Upon reaching Grandpa''s house, Jiang Ci became serious instantly, knowing she was there to comfort a gravely ill old man. She feared that any careless action might upset Grandpa.


    She reminded herself to be cautious at all times.


    Lu Yudong''s grandfather used to be a professor at Qingcheng University''s law school, highly respected in the legal field, and had even appeared on TV as a regular guest to discuss legal disputes in marriage. No wonder Lu Yudong had said earlier that Grandpa would spot a fake certificate; such a high-level intellectual would surely see through a fake marriage certificate.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Lu Yudong''s grandmother had passed away last year, and this year, his grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. Lu Yudong had lived with his grandparents since childhood and was deeply attached to them. Grandpa wanted to see Lu Yudong''s life complete before he could leave in peace.


    Grandpa''s kind eyes looked Jiang Ci up and down, "How old is Little Jiang?"


    "Twenty-three," Lu Yudong replied.


    Jiang Ci was slightly taken aback, wondering how Lu Yudong knew her age.


    But then she remembered that he had glanced at her identity card before registration, and that one glance allowed him to answer naturally and appropriately in front of Grandpa. He was someone who planned ten steps ahead.


    "Quite a bit younger than you," Grandpa said to Lu Yudong again, "Eight years younger?"


    "Yes," Lu Yudong smiled, using a gentle tone Jiang Ci rarely heard.


    "She''s so much younger than you, you must treat her well," Grandpa said with an even kinder smile.


    "Of course." Both Lu Yudong and Jiang Ci sat on the sofa, and Lu Yudong naturally grabbed Jiang Ci''s hand and kissed it lightly.


    In an instant, it felt like an electric current surged through Jiang Ci''s body, making her feel tingly and numb. She wanted to pull her hand back from Lu Yudong''s grasp but was afraid of breaking character, so she let him hold it, her palm sweating profusely.


    "Jiang Ci is an intern, and she doesn''t want people at the company to know about the marriage to avoid gossip. But," Lu Yudong''s tone suddenly turned ambiguous, and he glanced at Jiang Ci, his eyes seemingly speaking, with a hint of mockery and mischief, "but recently, the time was right, so we registered and brought the certificate for you to see."


    There was no doubt that by "the time was right," Lu Yudong meant "they had slept together."


    "You came at a bad time; you didn''t mention you were coming, and the hourly worker auntie took another job, so there''s no one to cook at home. Let''s go out to eat," Grandpa said, then suddenly remembered something, "If your grandma were still here, she would have made hand-rolled noodles for you. You loved them since you were a child."


    Before Grandpa finished speaking, his eyes turned red.


    Grandpa was an intellectual and used to live with Grandma without ever hiring help. After Grandma passed away, Lu Yudong had always wanted to find a full-time helper and a few caregivers for Grandpa, but Grandpa said, "I''m half dead already, don''t bother."


    Grandpa lived alone, occasionally having an hourly worker auntie to help with meals.


    "I can make hand-rolled noodles. If Grandpa doesn''t mind, I''ll make them. I often make them for Yudong, right, husband?" Jiang Ci stood up, speaking naturally and appropriately.


    She volunteered partly because she was touched by Grandpa and Grandma''s story and partly because of the money. She clearly remembered the agreement stating: a delicious meal was worth twenty thousand.


    Moreover, with her and Lu Yudong''s "affectionate" act being so convincing, Grandpa would be happy and at ease when he left.


    Lu Yudong sat on the sofa, legs crossed, one hand on his chin. He hadn''t expected Jiang Ci to be so proactive, unsure if she was trying to "make the fake real" or just acting, but her performance surpassed that of professional actors.


    "Yes, Grandpa. Let her do it," Lu Yudong said, pulling the corners of his lips into a smile.


    Then, Lu Yudong''s gaze swept meaningfully over Jiang Ci''s face, and with a look of being seen through, Jiang Ci headed to the kitchen.