Song Yuan has been transported into a book, becoming the spoiled foster son of a wealthy family. The original body was fragile, dramatic, and full of flaws.

Overnight, the family goes bankrupt, and he is used as a pawn in a marriage arrangement with a powerful figure.

In the original story, the powerful man is emotionally detached and indifferent to this throwaway partner. But the original character clings desperately out of loneliness. As the contract neared its end, he secretly altered it—only to be discovered, leading to a tragic fate.

But now, Song Yuan finds himself in this role on the very first day of the contract.

Song Yuan nervously mutters: I don’t want to be a throwaway spouse… can we just get a divorce?

Original plot: The throwaway partner acts overly clingy and flirtatious every day until finally, the powerful man hands him a large sum of money and kicks him out.

Song Yuan’s eyes light up: So all I have to do is act like an annoyingly affectionate cling-on? I can do that!

To speed up the divorce, Song Yuan picks up several “divorce (flirting)” techniques:

【Affection-seeking compulsively — must flirt with husband every day or he can’t fall asleep!】

【Separation anxiety — panics when not with his husband; only survives by clinging close!】

【Touch-starved — unable to walk alone without clinging and rubbing against him!】

…

Song Yuan chuckles: Heh heh, I guarantee within a month, he’ll be so fed up he’ll toss me out with a big check.

He puts in maximum effort, constantly showering his husband with hugs, touches, and kisses, convinced that his husband must hate him by now.

But instead, the coldness in his husband’s gaze begins to fade… Why does he keep looking at me like that now?

Song Yuan: !

Time for the final move — “Offend his taste and break through his defenses!”

Stammering, Song Yuan says: “I—I hate you… you never even react…”

As the powerful man’s eyes grow darker, Song Yuan’s voice shrinks lower: “I don’t like aloof guys… I like those who perform well… and are well-endowed.”

Gu Jingchi is naturally cold and reserved. When his family shoved a fiancé onto him, he treated the other like air.

But he hadn’t expected this fiancé to be sweet, adorable, and eager for closeness—even wanting to share a bed. Worried about scaring the timid man, Gu Jingchi planned to take things slowly.

What he didn’t expect was that one moment, his clingy fiancé was hugging him tight, and the next, he was standing at the door with a suitcase, politely explaining he prefers partners with better service mentality.

Gu Jingchi speaks calmly, but drags Song Yuan back inside along with the suitcase, his gaze darkening.

Holding Song Yuan’s hand tightly, he gently coaxes him.

“Yuan Yuan, earlier you said… what is it that you like?”

Song Yuan grips his waistband nervously: Waaahhh!

ᐠ( ᐢ ᵕ ᐢ )ᐟ

At nine o'clock in the evening, a heavy snow fell upon River City.

A black sedan pulled to a stop before the villa district.

The driver informed Song Yuan, "Young Master, we've arrived. Mr. Gu's residence is just a short walk straight ahead."

Song Yuan patted his cheeks, forcing himself awake. "Understood."

The driver, a hint of concern in his voice, said, "Young Master, the wind is picking up. Perhaps you should wait in the car?"

"It's fine." Song Yuan unbuckled his seatbelt, zipped his down jacket to the top, and waved to the driver. "I'll just find a sheltered spot. Uncle Chen, you should head back early."

Against the blustery wind, Song Yuan trudged forward, grumbling inwardly—

*Just my luck! The novel barely mentions a speck of ice all year, yet it snows on the very first day I transmigrate? How unlucky!*

Yes, Song Yuan had transmigrated.

He had transmigrated into a male-centric power fantasy novel where the male lead, at just twenty-six, ascended to the pinnacle of the business world through ruthless tactics, stepping over the flesh and blood of his own kin to become the supreme ruler of a trillion-dollar commercial empire. The entire story centered on the male lead's rise, interspersed with various cannon fodder characters suffering humiliating defeats—a quintessential power fantasy.

And Song Yuan? He had become the male lead's cannon fodder fiancé.

Not just any cannon fodder, but the kind who exited the story after less than ten chapters, having courted his own demise.

The original character was an adopted son of the Song family. When the Song family faced bankruptcy, he was used as a pawn in a deal, arranged for a contractual engagement with the male lead.

The male lead was not only an absolute workaholic but also emotionally distant. During their engagement, they never shared a meal, went on a date, or even held hands—their relationship was so pure it was practically platonic.

But the original character was an extremely clingy nuisance, often suffering from separation anxiety and constantly craving companionship. From day one, the male lead knew that the original character was not on the same wavelength as him.

A year later, when the contract expired, the male lead offered the original character compensation. But the original character didn't want money; he wanted love. Unwilling to give up, he forged and altered the agreement, only to be exposed and ridiculed by the entire elite society.

Upon reading this, Song Yuan felt his world shatter.

*No way am I going to be cannon fodder...*

Furthermore, his adopted younger brother, the Song family's biological son, had been running rampant under Song Yuan's name after the engagement, offending half the social circle and ruining his reputation.

If the plot continued as it was, once the agreement ended and he lost the male lead's protection, he would surely face retaliation from half the social circle.

After recalling the entire plot, Song Yuan couldn't sit still. He *had* to find a way to save himself.

He decided to break off the engagement with Gu Jingchi *before* his adopted younger brother could start causing trouble, take the compensation, and flee. This way, he could both avoid the cannon fodder fate and quickly sever ties with the Song family.

Killing two birds with one stone.

However, this was completely outside Song Yuan's realm of knowledge.

Forget engagement; before transmigrating, he was a virgin. He genuinely had no idea how to interact with Gu Jingchi, let alone propose ending the engagement.

After much thought, he decided to start with the "Three Rules."

Like most contractually engaged couples, Song Yuan and Gu Jingchi also had their own set of rules:

No unnecessary meetings.

Do not refer to each other as "fiancé" in public.

Maintain a stranger-like relationship until the agreement ends.

Song Yuan pondered carefully. If he wanted to sabotage this engagement, he would have to do the *opposite*—

Meet often, call him "fiancé," and cling to Gu Jingchi like a persistent nuisance until he lost his temper...

In addition, he would have to display his ill-mannered and unreasonable side. Gu Jingchi came from a distinguished family, raised with strict etiquette. If he saw his prospective spouse behaving disgracefully, he would surely reconsider their relationship.

This plan was audacious, brimming with an energy completely at odds with Song Yuan's introverted nature. But since he had already transmigrated, embarrassment was the least of his worries.

After all, what was pride compared to survival?

Once his mind was made up, he immediately set off to find Gu Jingchi.

Song Yuan found a relatively dry spot to sit, slowly rummaging through his pockets.

Before leaving, he had instinctively grabbed an individually wrapped mochi, which now seemed perfect for a quick bite.

Before he could find it, a sharp *clank* echoed from the gate.

The black garden gate swung open.

The next moment, a tall, imposing figure appeared in his sight.

A perfectly straight nose, a strong jawline, tightly pressed thin lips, and a gaze that held a hint of disdain—his entire being exuded an unapproachable aura.

Strangely enough, Song Yuan had never met Gu Jingchi, yet in that instant, Song Yuan recognized him.

Song Yuan stood up. "Gu Jingchi."

Gu Jingchi walked over to Song Yuan, looking at him expressionlessly.

Now that he had called out to him, Song Yuan had no idea what to say next.

This wasn't his fault; it was his first engagement, and he truly didn't know how to communicate with Gu Jingchi.

He thought about the purpose of his visit. It probably wouldn't be polite to immediately ask Gu Jingchi to terminate the agreement.

After a moment's thought, he tried to start with a casual greeting, "Busy day at work?"

Gu Jingchi didn't respond, his scrutinizing gaze fixed on Song Yuan.

Beneath Song Yuan's left eye was a tiny, faint tear mole, a delicate pale pink that seemed to shimmer with his every word.

Gu Jingchi stared at the mole near Song Yuan's eye for two seconds, then looked away.

The weight of his gaze persisted, and Song Yuan's palms began to sweat.

From the moment they met, Gu Jingchi hadn't put on the cold, imposing air of a superior. He spoke little, almost calmly—yet he naturally carried an oppressive presence. Even his expressionless gaze made people nervous.

Song Yuan didn't know if Gu Jingchi found him "rude," but he was already desperate to escape.

The silence stretched, until even the lamplight seemed to fall silent. Then, Gu Jingchi slowly spoke.

"Song Yuan."

A pleasant voice.

A terrifying effect.

Song Yuan's breath hitched, feeling like a student caught daydreaming in class. "...Yes?"

Gu Jingchi asked, "Do you need something?"

*Of course I do.*

*I need to break off this agreement with you.*

But Gu Jingchi's question was strange. What kind of engaged couple never met? This naturally diverted Song Yuan's attention, and he momentarily lost focus.

"Is it unacceptable to visit without a specific reason?"

Gu Jingchi ignored that question. "Nothing else?"

Song Yuan shook his head.

"The driver is at the gate. He will take you back." Gu Jingchi walked past Song Yuan and left without a word.

The hem of his black coat fluttered open before Song Yuan's eyes, and in the blink of an eye, Gu Jingchi was gone.

Song Yuan stood with his mouth half-open, his surprise undisguised.

He knew Gu Jingchi was cold, but he hadn't expected him to be *this* indifferent.

If they couldn't even meet, how was he supposed to bring up divorce?

Alarm rose in Song Yuan. "W-Wait! I..."

Just then, a piercing screech of brakes sounded from behind him.

The next second, a sleek black sports car pulled up smoothly in front of the villa. The young man in the driver's seat took off his sunglasses, tossed them onto the dashboard, and curved his charming peach-blossom eyes into a smile. He leaped out of the car with a devil-may-care attitude, exuding a lazy nonchalance. "Mr. Gu, long time no see."

No one acknowledged him.

The young man walked into the courtyard, muttering to himself. He looked up, and the moment he saw Song Yuan, a look of confusion spread across his face.

"Huh?"

"Huh???"

He hesitated, as if about to say, "Aren't you...?"

*The Song family's adopted son who's pretty but otherwise useless?*

But seeing Song Yuan's polite, deferential demeanor only deepened the young man's confusion.

Rumor had it that Song Yuan was delicate, arrogant, and riddled with flaws.

Yet, none of those words seemed to match the young man standing before him.

*He is indeed very pretty.*

*But why is his personality so different?*

Gu Jingchi's voice drifted from a distance, colder than before, but also more casual. "Pei Han, what are you doing?"

Pei Han was Gu Jingchi's friend, a notorious playboy in their circle, and consistently ranked second on the "Most Charming Men in River City" list.

(The top spot belonged to Gu Jingchi.)

Pei Han finally tore his gaze away. "The Song family is hosting a banquet tomorrow night. Young Master Song must have mentioned it to you, right? Are you going?"

Gu Jingchi's voice was flat. "I didn't know about it."

Pei Han raised an eyebrow, looking at Song Yuan with interest.

Attending an event with Gu Jingchi was sure to spark discussion. Most people with an agenda would have seized the opportunity to climb the social ladder.

Moreover, it was rumored that Song Yuan was merely an adopted son of the Song family, not highly regarded at home, and his social connections in the circle weren't particularly strong. By all logic, he should be more eager than most to seize this opportunity.

Yet, Song Yuan showed no such inclination.

*How strange.*

And *interesting.*

He was genuinely curious whether Song Yuan's innocence was an act or genuine. Grinning, Pei Han was about to tease Song Yuan, but Gu Jingchi cut him off.

"Anything else?" Gu Jingchi asked.

Pei Han wasn't annoyed by the interruption, but he was the type who couldn't resist stirring the pot. "The kid came all this way to see you. The least you could do is smile—don't be so rude."

Gu Jingchi's response was blunt. "Get lost."

"You'll smile for someone one day," Pei Han said, twirling his keys, utterly unbothered.

Before leaving, he winked at Song Yuan. "See you tomorrow."

Song Yuan nodded blankly.

To his surprise, Pei Han's smile widened even further. Even as he walked away, his lighthearted chuckle drifted back on the cold wind.

With Pei Han gone, the atmosphere turned icy once more.

Song Yuan felt a little uneasy, wondering how to begin, when Gu Jingchi spoke first.

"Since we are already engaged, there are some things I hope you understand."

Song Yuan nodded obediently.

"My life revolves around work, and that will not change."

"I will abide by the Three Rules, and I expect you to do the same."

"I will not be a 'good husband' in the conventional sense. You should be prepared for that."

"The only guarantee I can make is that I will not be unfaithful, nor will I allow your reputation to be tarnished."

"If you have any needs in your daily life, contact my second assistant or third secretary. They will fulfill all your financial requirements."

Gu Jingchi was surprisingly accommodating.

But Song Yuan began to panic.

If they couldn't even meet, how was he supposed to propose ending the agreement?

"Any other questions?" Gu Jingchi asked. "If not, you may leave. We won't need to meet again until the agreement concludes."

Song Yuan was timid, but his survival instinct compelled him to try. "Yes, there is."

Gu Jingchi waited for him to state his request.

Song Yuan took a deep breath. "Can we... not follow the Three Rules?"

Gu Jingchi lowered his eyes, gazing at him calmly and slowly. Behind him was an eternal night, and his gaze was even darker and more profound than the night itself. "Reason."

"You may try to convince me."

"Because I *need* to see you."

Only by meeting could he have a chance to propose divorce.

"We don't live far apart. Is it really impossible for me to see you sometimes?"

"Is that really not allowed? We don't live far."

Gu Jingchi remained unmoved. "So?"

Having finally mustered the courage to seek a proper meeting, only to be flatly rejected, Song Yuan felt a surge of annoyance. He stammered out his complaint, "H-how can this be? Other engaged couples get to meet, but I can't. That's completely unreasonable."

He said it as if he were a child complaining that all the other kids had friends to play with, while he, a poor little thing, was left to roll around alone in the park.

Gu Jingchi's demands were truly difficult, yet Song Yuan desperately needed to terminate the agreement.

He didn't want to be so unreasonable, but his current mission was to save his own skin, so he had no other choice.

Gu Jingchi resembled an impassive examiner, openly scrutinizing Song Yuan. His gaze settled on Song Yuan's face, where a once-vibrant red mole now trembled slightly, swaying as if about to dissolve into the ice and snow.

A flicker of an unreadable light passed through his eyes before he averted his gaze: "Come inside. Dust the snow off your shoulders."

Song Yuan froze for a few seconds.

"Wait until the snow stops, then I'll have the driver take you back." With that, Gu Jingchi turned and walked away.

*Click—*

The solemn, imposing black door swung open, revealing a black-veined gold marble slab. Their eyes met across the polished stone—one cold and distant, the other round and bewildered.

After a two-second standoff, Gu Jingchi was the first to look away.

Song Yuan stood stunned for a few seconds, surprised to realize that Gu Jingchi had actually allowed him into his private domain.

So, could they meet or not?

Gu Jingchi still hadn't given him a clear answer.

Though angering Gu Jingchi was terrifying, compared to those in the original plot who sought revenge on Song Yuan, he was practically a saint.

Song Yuan decided that if he could successfully divorce, he would definitely send Gu Jingchi a commemorative plaque inscribed with four bold characters: "You Are a Good Person."

Gu Jingchi's home, much like himself, exuded an air of extreme, almost rigid, seriousness from inside out.

The decor, though minimalist, was comfortable, but its sheer size made it feel somewhat desolate.

The foyer was so vast it seemed like a waste of space; one might mistake it for the living room.

By the time Song Yuan had changed his shoes and emerged from the foyer, Gu Jingchi had already gone upstairs, leaving only a retreating, indifferent silhouette.

And a butler who had been waiting for some time.

The butler, smiling, guided Song Yuan to the dining table, then brought him a bowl of ginger soup and a basket of dim sum. "Young Master Song, please enjoy."

He informed Song Yuan that the weather forecast predicted the snow would stop in ten minutes, he could proceed to the foyer to dress and change shoes in thirteen minutes, and the driver would arrive punctually at the door in fifteen minutes. If the roads were not icy, he would be safely home in half an hour.

Precise to the minute, meticulously exact.

Song Yuan nodded obediently, then realized the butler was heading towards the entrance.

"Are you going out? The snow is quite heavy outside."

"No, I'm going back to the next villa. The nannies, bodyguards, and drivers all live in the rows of villas opposite."

...Rows?

Looking out through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Song Yuan indeed saw several smaller villas across the sheltered pathway. He had assumed they were other residents.

"He's very reclusive; he doesn't like having people in the house," the butler added. "Nor does he like unrelated outsiders nearby, so this entire area is occupied by his own people."

Song Yuan: "..."

His boundaries were so strong that there was no way an outsider like him could possibly intrude.

The butler bid farewell with a smile, leaving Song Yuan alone in the empty house.

Once it was quiet, Song Yuan began to ponder how to bring up the divorce with Gu Jingchi.

He certainly couldn't initiate it, as he had no right to break the engagement. If it failed, he would be branded a "contract rogue," which would only add insult to injury.

While contemplating, he gently propped up a small flower that had drooped outside its vase. Watching the little flower lift its head again, Song Yuan unconsciously smiled.

Gu Jingchi had just finished showering and opened his computer when he saw Song Yuan smiling foolishly on the screen.

The surveillance feed popped up simultaneously with his computer's startup screen; he had forgotten to turn it off during the last system upgrade.

In the footage, the young man held a small bowl, quietly drinking soup. He seemed to be in a good mood, even able to straighten a fallen flower.

Just drinking soup; he wondered what was so amusing about it.

The young man leaned slightly forward, revealing a long, fair neck that looked so soft, one instinctively wanted to support it with a hand.

Gu Jingchi's fingers twitched.

"..."

A few seconds later, he expressionlessly closed the surveillance window.

Compared to the previous generations' family feuds and intricate schemes, the current Gu family could be considered harmonious. The direct descendants were all spoiled brats who had spent their teenage and early adult years knowing nothing but pleasure—utterly lacking ambition. Among the elders, apart from a few who no longer wished to associate with him, the others had voluntarily retreated, leaving the 26-year-old Gu Jingchi in full control of the Gu family's affairs.

The idle Gu family members, however, were not content to do nothing; they loved introducing potential marriage partners to him daily. But Gu Jingchi had rejected them all, remaining single to this day.

Not long ago, the Song family went bankrupt. The head of the Song family produced an old engagement contract, hoping the Gu family would honor the one-year engagement promise. After three rounds of verification, the legal team confirmed the contract was indeed valid.

Gu Jingchi was not one to renege on a contract either. He added three clauses to the agreement and declared it effective on the spot.

Family alliances were not uncommon, especially for just one year. Even after the agreement expired, he would compensate Song Yuan.

So, it wasn't too much trouble.

From the very beginning, he knew he didn't like Song Yuan. The best outcome would be for them to pass the contract period like strangers, coexisting peacefully.

As Song Yuan was putting on his coat in the foyer, Gu Jingchi happened to come downstairs.

Song Yuan looked up. "I should get going. Thank you very much for today."

Gu Jingchi gave a faint nod.

Silence followed the nod.

Song Yuan desperately wanted to ask questions, like, "Can we meet again?" But he had already asked once, and Gu Jingchi hadn't answered. Asking again would make his intentions too obvious.

After some thought, he rephrased it, "Will you be attending the banquet?"

Since Song Yuan's engagement to Gu Jingchi, the bankrupt Song family had miraculously revived, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

The entire family desperately needed an opportunity to create a buzz, hence the banquet.

Gu Jingchi remained silent.

This was a tacit refusal.

Song Yuan lowered his head. "Alright."

Gu Jingchi had seen many similar invitations—their predictable motives made him too lazy to investigate. But tonight, whether possessed or not, he actually spoke, "Are you disappointed?"

"A little," Song Yuan nodded.

"If you went too, I could see you," Song Yuan said very earnestly.

Although he hadn't yet figured out how to divorce Gu Jingchi, he had to meet him first.

Only by meeting would he have a chance.

But Gu Jingchi was unaware of Song Yuan's intricate thoughts; he simply believed Song Yuan genuinely wanted to see him.

Gu Jingchi: "..."

"I'm very busy."

Song Yuan's eyes sparkled; he sensed Gu Jingchi's stance softening. "Then, if you have time, will you go?"

Gu Jingchi stared at Song Yuan for two seconds before looking away.

He neither agreed nor refused.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a default!" Song Yuan couldn't resist, doing the most audacious thing he had done since meeting Gu Jingchi.

—He lowered his head, let his sleeve brush against Gu Jingchi's hand, and slowly extended his pinky finger, hooking it around Gu Jingchi's. He whispered softly, "No backing out, okay?"

Having done this, Song Yuan, utterly lacking courage, chickened out. He snatched his hand back like lightning, not daring to look at Gu Jingchi's expression, and turned to flee.

*

Song Yuan immediately took a shower after returning home, only calming down by bedtime.

Even now, it still felt incredible—he had actually done *that* to Gu Jingchi.

He would only do such a thing with friends.

He had been purely too excited and completely forgotten the fact that Gu Jingchi was not his friend.

The phone rang, startling Song Yuan.

He glanced at the caller ID: Song Shenyu.

Song Shenyu was the eldest son of the Song family, the current head, and Song Yuan's adoptive brother in name.

In the book, Song Yuan was adopted by the Song family at age seven. Over the years, as an adopted son, Song Yuan had endured cold shoulders and mockery within the Song family, while Song Shenyu, as the family head, stood by and never intervened.

Song Yuan suspected that their purpose in adopting him might have been to use him as a pawn, to be pushed forward and exchanged for benefits when needed.

Although he didn't entirely agree with some of the original character's actions, anyone would shake their head at this treatment.

Answer?

Or not.

Song Yuan seriously considered it and ultimately chose not to answer the call.

He was a perennial silent-mode user; unless it was an emergency that could be communicated via text, he would never choose to talk on the phone.

Moreover, this was Song Shenyu—a cold-faced, cold-blooded egoist.

A call from him never meant anything good.

After the call ended, Song Yuan slowly procrastinated for a long time before finally opening his phone and sending a message to Song Shenyu.

[Brother?]

The reply came quickly.

[Song Shenyu: Did you meet Gu Jingchi?]

Song Yuan replied that he had.

[Song Shenyu: Is Gu Jingchi really not coming to tomorrow's banquet?]

[He's very busy with work. He probably won't have time.]

Song Yuan added, [Do I still have to go?]

Song Yuan had no interest in the banquet; he would rather sleep at home.

[You must come.]

Song Shenyu mercilessly refused him.

[Even if he's not coming, people from his circle will be there. As long as you attend, there will be more discussion about you and the Gu family. Being infamous is still a form of fame; the more buzz you generate, the better it is for the Song family.]

[I'll send you an email later. Follow it closely and cater to President Gu's preferences.]

Song Yuan: ?

He was angry.

Even a doormat has its limits; he refused to endure this humiliation any longer. He was an independent individual, not a pawn to be arbitrarily placed.

Before he could react, a video suddenly popped up in the chat box.

It seemed to be an unreleased interview segment from a financial magazine, titled "[Gu Jingchi's Ideal Type]."

Song Yuan had no desire to watch it.

He absolutely did not want to be Gu Jingchi's ideal type. What he wanted to be was Gu Jingchi's *avoid-at-all-costs* type.

In the footage, the interviewer asked Gu Jingchi about his ideal type. Gu Jingchi maintained his usual cold detachment, making it impossible to guess his thoughts, but off-camera, Pei Han eagerly jumped in to answer.

"His ideal type? That's obvious! Someone rational, independent, and not clingy!"

Rational and independent—these traits indeed seemed well-suited to Gu Jingchi.

Suddenly, a somewhat daring thought flashed through Song Yuan's mind.

To become an unsuitable marriage partner, wouldn't the opposite work?

Like being irrational, dependent, and *super clingy*!