The Devouring Knight - Chapter 23 - 22: Coin, Chains, and Choices

When Qin Yan was five years old, she left the capital with her mother and went to the Pingxi Army under the command of her grandfather, Duke of Zhenguo, in the Northwest. When she returned twelve years later, things were different.

After the mother was attacked and disappeared, everyone in the Prime Minister Mansion only knew of Concubine Song, but not her mother, the honorable mistress. They only knew that there was only one Miss Nian in the mansion, and they did not know that there was also her, the only eldest young lady of the first wife.

The concubine took over her mother’s dowry and pretended to be rich and generous to win people’s hearts. The concubine-born younger sister, with the identity that belongs to Qin Yan, was mixed up like a fish in water in the circle of noble daughters in the capital, and she also intended to get involved with Qin Yan’s fiancé.

The people in Prime Minister Mansion thought that Qin Yan could only be at their mercy when she returned to the capital alone. However, they never thought that within a few days of returning to the capital, Qin Yan was granted the title of Princess of Zhaoren by the emperor and given a palace as the Princess Mansion.

When Qin Yan took back the dowry that belonged to her mother, only then did her father Prime Minister Qin and Concubine Song knew that Qin Yan was the owner of Yu Qingfeng, the first bank in Great Xia.

The City Master of Gu City, an important town outside the Northwest Pass, was known as the owner of Yu Qingfeng, the first bank in Great Xia which claimed to be able to reach half the national treasury.

How many secrets have not been uncovered on Qin Yan?

- Description from Novelupdates

He Youran grew up in the countryside. Her father did not love her, her stepmother did not love her, and her grandmother was very annoyed with her.

When she was 18, her father gave her away to the handicapped Lu Qingzhuo to cancel out his bad luck.

On the first day she moved into the Lu family, she fell to the ground and almost broke Lu Qingzhuo’s manhood.

On the fifth day after she moved into the Lu family, she ruined Lu Qingzhuo’s famous painting worth ten million with a cup of coffee.

On the 20th day after she moved into the Lu family, she burned down the kitchen.

Lu Qingzhuo, who could not move easily, nearly choked to death from the smoke.

He Youran, “I’m really sorry. As compensation, let me treat your leg, okay?”

Lu Qingzhuo, “…Is this country bumpkin wife of his dumb?”

The Lu family heard the news and happily waited for the Lu family to kick Youran out of the family, only to find out that things did not progress the same way they expected them to be.

The best hospital in Imperial Capital, “Professor He is the best surgical professor our hospital ever has.”

The number one school in the world, “He Youran is the most excellent student our school has ever produced in a century.”

Hua Country’s virology research base, “Professor He is our department’s highest executive officer.”

The most sought-after singer in the entertainment circle, “Allow me to introduce He Youran to everyone. She’s my number one composer, Lan Zhao.”

Everyone who knew He Youran nearly went mad.

A certain handicapped man posted on Weibo: [@heyouran, baby, when are we registering our marriage?]

He Youran: [Huh? Didn’t we agree that our marriage is canceled?] The Lu family, “...”

How did the world transform so rapidly suddenly?

Setting: Female lead: Seemingly innocent and scatterbrained, but truly possessed impressive powers.

She was the creme de la creme in many fields. Male lead: Silent, reticent, loyal, and sincere.

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

I finally managed to kill the demon lord.