Chapter 36: Qin Zhihua’s Choice

Beside the fountain.

Yun Xuan’s hand paused as a new special mission appeared on the virtual screen.

“I can help you, but you have to promise me one thing,” Yun Xuan withdrew his hand, his tone calm.

“Yun Xuan?” Qin Zhihua lifted her head, looking at Yun Xuan in disbelief.

“Wipe your tears. Let’s find somewhere to talk,” Yun Xuan scratched his head, feeling as if he was the one forcing himself into this situation.

“Oh, okay.” Qin Zhihua hurriedly wiped her tears and followed Yun Xuan to a private room in a café inside a large store.

“I can only help you once. You have to choose: do you want to escape the arranged marriage, or the Qin family’s control? You can only pick one,” Yun Xuan said.

“To break free from the Qin family’s control,” Qin Zhihua answered without hesitation.

After crying, she had thought things through. If she only avoided the marriage, the same thing could happen again.

“Are you sure you’re okay with no longer being the heiress?” Yun Xuan looked into her eyes.

“Do you really think I like being some untouchable heiress?” Qin Zhihua snorted coldly, crossing her arms.

“Let’s not talk about that. My condition is simple—after it’s done, don’t fall in love with me,” Yun Xuan said seriously.

“Huh?” Qin Zhihua’s mouth dropped open. What did that mean? Was this some new joke?

“I’ve already thought of three plans. I’ll use the simplest,” Yun Xuan’s mind was clear—he didn’t want to be entangled with Qin Zhihua, but it seemed inevitable now.

At this moment, Qin Zhihua seemed less aloof than usual, and he could see her true self—pure, almost like a little girl.

If what Qin Yun said was true, that Qin Zhihua was doing all this to protect Qin Yue, Yun Xuan would feel some affection for her too.

“Three plans?” Qin Zhihua clearly didn’t believe him.

“The first plan is the most clichéd: I pretend to be your boyfriend. With how much money I’m making now, if we tell the Qin family we’ve already… been together, they’ll be angry but there won’t be much they can do,” Yun Xuan said casually.

“Been… been together? I—I’ve never done anything like that with you!” Qin Zhihua’s face turned crimson as she stammered.

“Seeing you act shy really makes me uncomfortable,” Yun Xuan replied, looking genuinely disgusted.

“You! In any case, that plan is out of the question,” Qin Zhihua’s teeth clenched in anger at his expression.

“The second plan: I hire you as my maid for a year at one million’s interest. Once you sign the employment contract, even the Qin family can’t interfere. Of course, you’d still have to pay me back the million,” Yun Xuan said directly.

“To become your maid? That’s shameless! Is this just an excuse to do whatever you want to me under the guise of a contract?” Qin Zhihua looked at him with clear disdain.

“The third plan, and the last: I give you my original light novel. You’ll enter the light novel industry with it—all the profits will be mine, and you’ll owe me a reasonable favor in return,” Yun Xuan said every word carefully.

“An original light novel? Can your work really make money?” Qin Zhihua was dubious.

“Have you heard of this account?” Yun Xuan showed her his phone.

“Miss North? You—you’re the original creator of Miss North?” Qin Zhihua stood up in shock.

“Surprised? Sit down. Now do you believe my light novels can make money?” Yun Xuan looked at her, calm and collected.

“I believe you, but… I refuse,” Qin Zhihua replied with a bitter smile.

So Yun Xuan was Miss North’s creator all along. She’d thought she was the young artistic prodigy, but he was even younger, already earning millions by his own hand.

“Pick one. I told you, if you won’t accept, I have nothing else to offer,” Yun Xuan frowned as he sipped his coffee—bitter.

“The three most effective plans, huh?” Qin Zhihua lowered her head. The idea of holding an art exhibition was out of reach; she realized how naïve she’d been.

Yun Xuan stayed silent. There was another plan he hadn’t mentioned—founding the Miss North Emoji Studio, letting Qin Zhihua join and create more Miss North emojis, plus expanding to his future original emoji lines.

One person’s abilities are limited. Yun Xuan was stepping into the manga world, with light novels only as the vanguard—he’d get busier.

He didn’t want to keep Qin Zhihua around. Deep down, he was resistant toward heiresses of her kind.

He was a selfish person; as an orphan, he had never known the warmth of a family, so he disliked those born into wealth who still complained about their lives.

“I’ve decided. I’ll become your maid, sign the work contract, and give up university. But you have to give me time to create—I’ll prove my worth and make money with my art,” Qin Zhihua said seriously, lifting her head.

“Happy to work with you.” Yun Xuan extended his hand.

Qin Zhihua reluctantly shook it.

…

After leaving the café, Qin Zhihua glanced back at Yun Xuan’s departing figure.

Knowing his identity, her first thought was to join the creation of Miss North, even if she didn’t have rights to the sales.

But in that instant, she understood—if she could think of it, why wouldn’t Yun Xuan? The answer was simple.

“Does he really see me as some sort of monster? Or does he just hate my status that much?” Qin Zhihua muttered.

There was no answer—no one could provide one. People’s hearts are complicated by nature.

She turned to leave. Confident in her appearance as always, this was the first time Yun Xuan’s reaction made her doubt her own allure.

…

Yun Xuan walked down the street, unsurprised by Qin Zhihua’s choice.

The employment contract held supreme authority—documents signed at the Signing Bureau carried the highest legal effect.

A maid contract might sound unrealistic, but it was recognized both in Huaxia and worldwide.

Maids could earn a living and enjoy stable working conditions. Of course, the employer was forbidden from exploiting them—any violation meant contract termination and a fine of over ten million, or five to ten years in prison for serious offenses.

Generally, maids were responsible for housework, similar to a housekeeper but without the same ease.

Professional maids could earn a million a year—those managing estates, for example.

The contract Qin Zhihua and Yun Xuan were about to sign was much the same. Due to the nature of maid work, even marriage required the employer’s approval.

As long as Yun Xuan refused, the Qin family couldn’t go over the Signing Bureau’s authority and marry Qin Zhihua off to someone else.

At eighteen, one had the right to sign contracts. Only after passing a physical examination and confirming no coercion could someone sign at the Bureau.

“I remember maids are supposed to warm the bed too… well, as long as I don’t touch her, this could be interesting,” Yun Xuan chuckled.

(P.S.: This is purely fictional, don’t take it seriously. I don’t actually think maids have such duties. Please vote for me…)