The CEO's Bargain Bride

“Sophia, listen up. Don’t chicken out. Go in there and ask about his car, his house, and the engagement gift upfront. Most men hate gold diggers, so if you keep talking about money, this date will be over before it even starts.” Outside the café’s bright glass windows, Sophia Shen absentmindedly listened to her best friend, Bella Jiang, rambling over the phone, feeding her bad advice. A faint smile played on her lips as the sunlight illuminated her fair complexion. However, the oversized black-framed glasses perched on her nose gave her a slightly nerdy, unassuming look. “If it works out, I’ll buy you bubble tea,” Sophia replied in a soft voice. “Remember, don’t show up early. Arrive at least thirty minutes late. If he’s got a bad temper, he’ll probably storm off before you even sit down.” “Got it. I’ll go in after 12:30.” “Good. Keep me posted.” With a sigh, Sophia hung up the phone and absentmindedly fiddled with the hem of her dress. Her grandmother, Lillian Li, had been relentless about setting her up on blind dates ever since she was discharged from the hospital. After battling stomach cancer, she now suffered from high blood pressure, and nothing worried her more than Sophia’s single status. Arguing was pointless—she could only play along and find a way to sabotage the date. The clock ticked forward. The moment her phone displayed 12:30, Sophia ran a hand through her hair, deliberately making it look messier. She tugged at her slightly faded dress, ensuring she looked as unpolished as possible before strolling into the restaurant. It was Valentine’s Day. The restaurant was decked out in romantic decorations, but since it was still early, the place was mostly empty, with staff taking a break on the side. No one greeted her as she walked in. Scanning the room, she spotted a man sitting by the window in a crisp white dress shirt. A single red rose sat in the slender glass vase on the table. That had to be him. Without a second thought, she marched over, yanked the chair opposite him, and plopped down. The chair screeched against the floor, breaking the silence of the nearly empty restaurant. “You must be Mr. Qin?” Sophia raised an eyebrow, deliberately lowering her voice. The man looked up, his expression mildly surprised. The moment she saw his face, she almost dropped her act entirely. She had never seen a man this strikingly handsome before—sharp features, an air of quiet dominance, and an aura of absolute authority. A little intimidated but determined to follow through with her plan, she squared her shoulders. “Sorry, my grandma set this up for noon. I overslept.” She spoke confidently, sticking to her pre-planned script. Alexander Qin studied the woman in front of him. Her fingers fidgeted with the tablecloth despite her forced nonchalance. He sighed internally. So this was the "business partner" his grandfather had mentioned? Turned out it was just another setup. “Oh.” His response was brief, his tone indifferent. Sophia hadn’t expected such a lack of reaction. She felt a bit uneasy. “Well, since this is a blind date, let’s be upfront. I love spending money. My monthly expenses easily hit seven or eight grand. You’re okay with that, right?” Seven or eight grand? Alexander almost laughed. “I don’t mind.” “You—what?” Sophia nearly choked on her words. “That’s fine,” Alexander repeated, his tone unbothered. Sophia quickly regrouped, pressing forward. “Okay, well, I’ll be handling all the money. You’ll hand over your paycheck every month, and I’ll generously give you a few hundred bucks as allowance. But every dollar you spend needs to be reported to me.” Her exaggerated expression made it seem like she was offering him the deal of a lifetime. Alexander, who had been slightly irritated earlier, now found himself amused. She reminded him of a little kitten—fluffing itself up to appear fierce, only to melt at the slightest touch. Leaning back slightly, he decided to humor her. “Alright.” Sophia’s poker face almost cracked. Is he serious? She cleared her throat and upped the ante. “Also, I want the house in my name—three bedrooms, at least 1,800 square feet, within prime city limits. Oh, and a car. Nothing under sixty grand. As for the engagement gift, my parents raised me with love and care, so the dowry should be no less than a hundred grand.” She rattled off the most outrageous demands she had seen on social media, fully expecting him to finally back out. Instead, Alexander calmly poured her a glass of water and pushed it toward her. “Drink some water first.” “Uh… thanks.” Without thinking, she took a sip. Alexander’s lips twitched slightly. “I already own a house. We can transfer the title at the real estate office. My car should be suitable as well. As for the dowry—” “Wait—what?!” Sophia almost choked on her water. What kind of man agrees to this nonsense?! She had gone overboard on purpose, but he was still saying yes? Was she getting old? Could she no longer keep up with modern dating mind games? “If you don’t believe me, I can pull up the electronic deed for the house,” Alexander said, unlocking his phone. Three minutes later, Sophia stared at the property details on his screen. A two-thousand-square-foot apartment in the heart of the city. At today’s real estate prices, this place was worth a fortune. Hands trembling, she returned his phone. “Do you have any other demands?” Alexander asked smoothly. Sophia: … You already said everything. What else am I supposed to ask for?! She had no idea how to continue this ridiculous conversation, so the silence stretched between them. Then her phone rang, breaking the awkward atmosphere. Without checking the caller ID, she quickly answered. “Sophia, dear! Your blind date, Qin Youcai, just called me. He said he’s already at the restaurant. He’s wearing a black shirt. He’s a great catch—you better make a good impression…” The words barely registered before Sophia felt her mind go blank. Qin Youcai? What kind of ridiculous name is that? But that wasn’t the issue. The issue was— She distinctly remembered the name on that property deed. Alexander Qin. A stiff smile formed on her lips as she clung to a sliver of hope. “Mr. Qin… what’s your full name?” Alexander frowned slightly. “Alexander Qin.”