Chapter 660: Chapter 660: Shen Siyi x Xie Suzhi (4)

Half a month had passed since the incident with the man in black, and Shen Siyi hadn’t seen him since. Naturally, she hadn’t given him a second thought.

Mrs. Qi’s pressure on her increased daily. She was always forcing Shen Siyi to go on outings with elderly dignitaries or dragging her to banquets held by noble family circles.

Shen Siyi loathed this and had reached the end of her rope.

After careful consideration, she decided there was only one way to completely put an end to Mrs. Qi’s schemes: ruin her own purity.

In this ancient era, she was well aware that a woman’s reputation was a matter of life and death.

But she wasn’t a woman of this era. She was a female starship captain who had transmigrated from a post-apocalyptic future. All she wanted was freedom; she couldn’t care less about her reputation.

After all, a lack of purity couldn’t kill anyone. The only thing that could was societal prejudice.

As long as she didn’t care about prejudice, who could possibly restrain her?

Through a human trafficker, Shen Siyi got to know a poor scholar who had repeatedly failed his exams. He was dirt poor and rather plain-looking. His only advantage was that he was desperate for money.

After communicating through the human trafficker, the man agreed to put on a good show with Shen Siyi, as long as she paid him enough silver.

A young lady from a rich family falls in love with a poor scholar and is willing to elope with him.

Shen Siyi figured that if she caused such a scene, it would surely infuriate Mrs. Qi. And once the dignitaries in the Capital City heard about it, they wouldn’t dare think of arranging a marriage with her again.

After the poor scholar agreed, Shen Siyi arranged to meet him in a private room at the Qiong Lou Inn.

After all, he was about to be her acting partner. She needed to ’inspect the goods’ first.

It was noon on a late autumn day. The sun was making people drowsy, and lunchtime had already passed. The street where the Qiong Lou Inn was located had few pedestrians, suffused with a warm tranquility.

Shen Siyi hadn’t taken a carriage; she had walked over herself.

She was exceptionally beautiful, with fair, delicate skin. Dressed in a vibrant red autumn skirt, she looked like a fiery maple tree in the fall—dazzling and eye-catching.

Her appearance alone stirred the sleepy afternoon atmosphere of the entire street. At one of the nearby taverns, a waiter even ran out, standing behind the door to wave and call out to her.

"Miss, come dine with us! We have some great specials today."

Shen Siyi didn’t even spare a glance, heading straight for the Qiong Lou Inn.

The poor scholar was already waiting in the private room. When the door opened and the great beauty appeared in the doorway, the scholar, who had been sitting inside, immediately stood up, looking nervous and flustered.

He clasped his hands in a salute. "Greetings, greetings, Miss..."

Shen Siyi hummed in acknowledgment, her posture relaxed. She closed the door behind her, crossed her arms, and sat down at the table. Her gaze as she sized up the poor scholar was undisguised, carrying the sharp scrutiny of someone inspecting merchandise.

’Tsk, so plain-looking,’ Shen Siyi thought.

’If only he were as handsome as that man in black from the other night. I’d be happy to lose myself in the script I’ve created. But alas, with this scholar’s looks, I’m just too clear-headed to get swept away!’

"The human trafficker told you all my requirements, didn’t he?"

She got straight to the point, which made the fidgety scholar freeze for a moment. Once he came to his senses, he quickly nodded.

"He did, he did. It’s just... for a humble and poor man like myself to have the fortune of acting out a deeply passionate romance with a lady as beautiful as you... I am truly blessed beyond measure."

Shen Siyi found his words flowery and a bit cheesy. ’Are all poor scholars from this era like this?’

She furrowed her brow. "You’re providing your time, and I’m providing the silver. There’s no fortune involved, just a fair trade."

The poor scholar nodded reservedly. "Yes, you’re right..."

Shen Siyi patted the stool beside her. "Come sit over here. If you’re always this shy and reserved, how are we supposed to make anyone believe we’re in love?"

Looking both flustered and flattered, the poor scholar cautiously sat down next to Shen Siyi. His face immediately flushed, and he didn’t even dare to look up at the great beauty before him.

"Why are you shaking?" Shen Siyi asked in surprise. She noticed his hands, which were resting on his knees, were trembling terribly.

’Does he have some kind of hidden illness?’

The poor scholar stammered, "I... I’ve never seen a woman as beautiful as you, Miss. And-and, I’ve never sat so close to another woman before."

Shen Siyi was speechless.

She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "After we eat, you’re coming with me to see a doctor."

"Are you sick, Miss?"

"No. I’m having a doctor examine you to see if you have any underlying health conditions."

"Underlying health conditions?" The poor scholar didn’t understand. "Rest assured, Miss, I’m not sick. I’m perfectly healthy, just a bit thin because my family is poor."

Shen Siyi shook her head.

’That wasn’t what she was worried about. She was afraid of infectious diseases. After all, in the future world she came from, everyone had to provide a health report before starting a job.’

’This was basically her interviewing a new employee.’

The poor scholar’s stomach let out a loud GROWL, and he looked a little embarrassed.

"Miss... I haven’t eaten yet."

Shen Siyi was exasperated. ’He’s really taking this whole "kept man" thing to the next level!’

She called for the waiter and ordered four dishes and a soup.

Seeing how beautiful she was, the waiter even brought them a complimentary pot of warm wine.

The poor scholar thought his luck had truly turned.

He couldn’t help but say, "Miss, before I met you, I had no idea you were so beautiful. So I’ve decided—I was originally going to charge you five taels of silver, but now I’ll only take two taels."

Shen Siyi thought nothing of such a small amount of money and just hummed casually in response.

The poor scholar watched her from the side and mustered his courage. "However, during the performance, if we engage in any... intimate acts, you’ll have to pay me extra."

Shen Siyi was just about to drink some wine. Hearing this, she frowned. "What did you say? What intimate acts?"

"Well... it’s a bit embarrassing to be so direct, but for example... sharing a bed, hugging, kissing. If any of that is involved, I can’t just give those things to you for free, Miss."

The poor scholar finished, his face beet red. Seeing Shen Siyi’s thunderous expression, he quickly added, "Miss, don’t get me wrong! It’s not that I’m unwilling. To share a bed with you would be a blessing from a past life! But, the silver can’t be lacking. I can’t just sell my body for nothing, can I?"

"You absolute moron!" Shen Siyi snapped.

She shot to her feet. "What on earth did the human trafficker tell you? I just asked you to act out a scene with me in front of Mrs. Qi, and you’ve already dreamed up all this? Should I marry you and have your child, too?"

Hearing her last sentence, the poor scholar’s eyes immediately lit up.

"Miss... you’re actually willing to have my child?" He immediately lowered his head shyly. "But I have no money, I can’t afford a bride price. But if you’re willing to turn this act into reality, Miss, I would abandon everything to elope with you."

Then, as if remembering something, he added, "And even if you are the one paying the silver, Miss, I am not marrying into your family. Please be clear on that point. Any children we have must take my surname."

Shen Siyi couldn’t take it anymore. She yelled, "Abandon everything? What do you even have to abandon? That leaky thatched hut you call a home? That broken trunk with your two sets of clothes?"

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