Redemption Vows: A CEO's Forced Contract

Current Heartthrob Qiao Xiran

Zong Linlin was Rong Jingning's best friend during her middle school years. However, after Rong Jingning followed her divorced mother to Hong Kong, she cut off all contact with everyone in mainland China, including Zong Linlin.

When Rong Jingning returned this time, Zong Linlin somehow found out the news and asked several friends to get Rong Jingning's phone number.

"You foolish girl! You come back and don't even bother to see me. You've been gone for ten years, and I know the divorce of your parents back then had a huge impact on you, but you couldn't just cut off all contact with me!" Zong Linlin complained on the other end of the phone.

Rong Jingning smiled. The events from ten years ago indeed had a significant impact on her, but now, it didn't matter anymore.

At that time, she was still young and learned that her father, Guan Zetian, had hidden his marriage history and married Guo Siyun, the eldest daughter of the Guo Corporation, abandoning her and her mother, Rong Yun. He completely erased their existence. Her mother, being weak and unable to fight back, took her to Hong Kong and changed her name to Rong Jingning, cutting off all ties with the mainland.

After her mother's death, Guan Zetian, whether out of guilt or pity, brought her back to N City and gave her the title of "foster daughter." Since then, she became Rong Jingning, living under Guan Zetian's roof.

Recently, fearing that he would continue to argue with the Guo mother-daughter duo at home, Guan Zetian arbitrarily decided to marry her off to his trusted assistant, Lu Chao, using her beloved career as leverage, leaving her no room to maneuver. This led to today's dramatic events.

"Linlin, from now on, never call me Guan Yuxia again. You know how ruthless Guan Zetian is; no one can uncover his past."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Zong Linlin's serious voice came through: "I understand."

"By the way, Jingning, when are you free? Let's meet up."

"I'm afraid it'll have to wait a few days. The police station has been quite busy lately." Rong Jingning apologized.

"Aiya, I never thought that such a delicate and weak girl like you would become a police officer. Well, fine. Let's meet when you're free. Here's my number; remember it well."

Rong Jingning smiled, her eyes curling at the corners. "Alright, I've noted it down."

They chatted a bit more before hanging up. At this moment, Rong Jingning felt wide awake, but her stomach growled uncontrollably.

She had spent the day apologizing to the wedding guests and hadn't eaten much. Moreover, after the confrontation with Lu Chao, her energy was depleted, and now she was starving, which wasn't surprising.

She glanced at the bronze antique wall clock hanging on the wall. It was 11:20 PM. The only place still open now would be a 24-hour convenience store.

Rong Jingning casually put on a coat and hurried out the door.

There was a 24-hour convenience store not far from the villa. Located in an affluent area, it mostly sold expensive imported foods. Rong Jingning browsed through the foreign-labeled products and finally picked a box of relatively affordable instant noodles.

Although she was seen as a rich young lady by others, she preferred a more ordinary life.

Just as she was paying at the cash register, a elegant piano melody came from Rong Jingning's pocket. It was her ringtone,Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."

Rong Jingning took out her phone, and on the screen lit by the white glow, Qiao Xiran's name appeared.

"Hello, Xiran." Rong Jingning answered with a smile.

On the other end, Qiao Xiran's furious voice blared: "Rong Jingning, are you telling me that after being humiliated in front of everyone at the wedding, you calmly went to your new home?"

"Yes, I'm at a convenience store near the new home."

Qiao Xiran was speechless for a moment before roaring: "Rong Jingning, how could you be so foolish! Don't move, I'm coming to find you right now!"

Rong Jingning was about to ask, "Aren't you busy with a commercial today?" But before she could say anything, Qiao Xiran had already hung up the phone.

After only about five minutes, a flashy red Cadillac stopped in front of Rong Jingning.

A man wearing a black mask got out of the car. Even though his full face couldn't be seen, it was clear that he was extremely handsome. He wore the latest popular designer clothes, simple yet elegant and full of nobility, with fair skin and highlights in his hair. His peach blossoms-like eyes sparkled like flowing lights, as if he had just stepped out of a manga. This man looked like a stylish pretty boy, captivating at first glance.

The man walked up to Rong Jingning, grabbed her hand without a word, and said sternly, "Come with me!"

Rong Jingning found it amusing. She and Qiao Xiran had known each other in Hong Kong as neighbors for ten years. She understood his personality best—proud, sharp-tongued, but kind to her. When they first met, Qiao Xiran disliked her in many ways, thinking her personality was too pretentious and reserved. He tried to tease her, but every time, it was like throwing a stone into water without causing any ripples. This annoyed him so much that he eventually gave up, categorizing her as a third kind of being—neither a woman nor a man, but an alien.

From then on, Qiao Xiran became Rong Jingning's good friend, although he still often found fault with her and would scold her from time to time.

"Hey, big star, aren't you afraid of being photographed by paparazzi in broad daylight like this, holding my hand?" Rong Jingning withdrew her hand and shook her head with a smile.

Qiao Xiran had recently been signed by Xiaochao Film and Television Company under the well-known Wanhe Group and quickly became popular as the leading actor in several idol dramas due to his outstanding looks. He was two years younger than Rong Jingning.

Looking at the smiling woman in front of him, Qiao Xiran had a resentful expression: "Don't worry, I've shaken them off." After a sigh, he continued, "Rong Jingning, how could you be such a friend? You should leave here immediately and stay at my place. It's big enough for you to stay, even if it's just temporary. Don't worry, with your looks, you're not even in my eyesight, I won't do anything to you." With that, he tightly grabbed Rong Jingning's hand again and pulled her into his flashy Cadillac.

Rong Jingning couldn't resist, so she got in the car. She thought, why not go to Qiao Xiran's house? Anyway, she would return to the villa as usual tomorrow after work, avoiding unnecessary trouble.

Qiao Xiran didn't drive directly to his home but stopped at a restaurant that was still open. Without caring about Rong Jingning's willingness, he took her hand as if she were a treasure and threw her packet of instant noodles into the trash can. As soon as he got out of the car, he saw the noodles in her hand. This woman was always like this, wouldn't take care of herself, eating instant noodles or fast food every day, and didn't act like a rich young lady at all.

"Xiran, now that you're a big star, you shouldn't look down on instant noodles. That package cost me twenty-something yuan!" Rong Jingning hadn't reacted yet, and her noodles were already taken and thrown away. She felt both angry and amused.

Qiao Xiran ignored Rong Jingning's words, pulled her out of the car without any gentlemanly manners, and pushed her into the restaurant.

There were two other customers in the restaurant, two young women sitting by the window. When they saw the handsome man entering, they immediately widened their eyes. Although he was wearing a mask, they still recognized him as Qiao Xiran, the popular rising star. But who was the woman with him? She seemed to be very close to him.

The two women exchanged glances and secretly took out their phones to take pictures of Qiao Xiran and Rong Jingning to post on social media. The news of a chance encounter with a popular star in a restaurant would naturally explode in circles, and they seemed to have uncovered even bigger news—Qiao Xiran and a mysterious woman having a late-night dinner...

Just as they were about to raise their hands, a man suddenly walked up and took their phones. Qiao Xiran smiled, looking at the two blushing young women: "Little sisters, I can take pictures for you personally. It's not nice to take secretly."

The two immediately looked down in embarrassment and quickly paid the bill, hurriedly leaving the restaurant.

Qiao Xiran shrugged and walked back to Rong Jingning, seeing that she had ordered the cheapest noodles. He couldn't help but scold: "Rong Jingning, do you want to save money for me so badly?"

Rong Jingning glanced at the still swaying restaurant door and smiled: "Big star, eating noodles is the fastest. I think we should go back as soon as possible. I don't mind, but I don't want to bring you unnecessary trouble."

"Geez, thanks a lot." Qiao Xiran rolled his eyes in exasperation, still not saying anything else.

As Rong Jingning had said, she finished the noodles in just five minutes. Qiao Xiran couldn't help but cluck his tongue, even more convinced of his inner definition of her—"extraterrestrial."

"Let's go." Rong Jingning opened her mouth contentedly.

This guy was so easily satisfied! Qiao Xiran appeared to have a disdainful expression, but deep down, he felt a warm, fuzzy feeling.

"Incredible!" Qiao Xiran deliberately walked ahead, hiding the increasingly obvious smile on his face from Rong Jingning.

But just as the two of them stepped out of the restaurant side by side, someone secretly took out a camera from a dark corner and snapped a photo of them standing close together.