chapter 1

chapter 1

My biological father, seated across from me, tossed a bank card onto the table.

“There’s ten thousand yuan on it. That’s your allowance for the next six months.”

“Now that you’re back in the Pei family, you’ll follow the Pei family’s rules.”

“First, you are not to bully Nian. She may not be our biological daughter, but we’ve raised her for twenty years. Don’t even think about taking her place.

“Second, don’t go telling people who you are. For now, we’re saying you’re a distant relative.

“Third, leave all those country habits of yours behind. Keep your head down, and don’t embarrass the Pei family.”

Beside him, my mother, Zhao Wan, was dressed every inch the society wife.

“Nian is sensitive, and her health is delicate. She can’t handle being upset. Be considerate, and don’t make her cry.”

According to the plot of the original novel, I was the biological daughter who had gone missing and was finally brought home. Starved for affection, I let the whole family manipulate me.

My parents and brother despised my lack of polish. The adopted heiress, Pei Nian, ostracized me with smiles in public and spite in private. Even my fiancé, Shen Huaidu, seized every chance to humiliate me.

The original heroine studied etiquette desperately, humbled herself, and tiptoed around everyone in hopes of entering their world.

In the end, they still threw her out. She died in despair, hollowed out by grief.

Now I had awakened in her body. I looked around at a villa worth hundreds of millions and decided it was time to think bigger.

If leading with my heart would kill me, then I’d lead with the ledger.

I picked up the card and smiled.

“Sorry, but I did my due diligence.”

“The Pei Group made a net profit of four billion yuan last year.”

“And as far as I know, Miss Pei Nian spends well into six figures every month.”

“You two care so much about her feelings, and you’re terrified that your country-raised daughter might embarrass you.”

“So why bring me back at all?”

“Because the Shen family specifically demanded the biological heiress for their marriage alliance, didn’t they?”

Pei Zhen, who had been about to rise, froze. His eyes sharpened.

“Who told you that?”

Still smiling, I drew a printed document from my bag: Family Member Performance Agreement.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is the business proposal I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Integrating a blood relative who is otherwise a stranger into an existing household is, in essence, a high-risk merger and restructuring.”

“I understand that neither of you has much choice.”

“Since this arrangement makes everyone miserable, why not commercialize it?”

“You need me to serve as a mascot, an arranged-marriage pawn, and, whenever necessary, a foil for Miss Pei Nian’s refinement.”

“I’m willing to perform all those duties—but not for free.”

Pei Zhen and Zhao Wan’s expressions changed at once.

Afraid they might try appealing to family affection, I hurried on.

“Chairman Pei, President Zhao, please don’t give me a speech about blood being thicker than water. That’s agrarian-era logic.”

“In a commercial society, emotional labor and professional scapegoating both require expensive manpower.”

“If I’m made to suffer in this house, that’s a workplace injury.”

“If you send me to deal with that bastard Shen Huaidu, that’s a hazardous assignment. I charge by the job, and I expect the highest available insurance coverage.”

“As for the ten thousand yuan Chairman Pei just offered? That’s alms for a beggar.”

“Given the specialized and irreplaceable nature of my position, I require a monthly salary of five hundred thousand yuan, a full statutory benefits package with the housing fund paid at the maximum rate, and a separate year-end bonus.”

“Have you lost your mind over money? You really are a vulgar little hick!”

My eldest brother, Pei Qingchuan, had been watching coldly from the side. At last, he spoke.

I shook my head.

“There is no sham affection between us. Money is the only thing holding this relationship together. Why shouldn’t I be paid for doing the work?”

“Think about the return on investment. Five hundred thousand a month in exchange for domestic peace. Sounds like a bargain to me.”

As a capitalist, Pei Zhen was the first to calm down.

He and his wife truly felt nothing for this uncouth, unpresentable stranger from the countryside, daughter or not.

Five hundred thousand was barely the price of one bottle in his wine cellar.

If the cost of one bottle bought him an obedient, professional, trouble-free marriage pawn, the value proposition was excellent.

After all, in a wealthy family, anything money could solve was not a problem at all.

He picked up his fountain pen and signed the contract with a decisive stroke.

“You’d better keep your word and behave yourself.”