"An open partnership?"
Mu Qingxue blinked. What kind of corporate jargon was that?
Was he hinting that her bow hadn't been "open" enough? Or that her assets were insufficiently "cooperative"?
Her mental CPU began to overheat, frantically searching through every lesson, memo, and boardroom scenario she'd ever encountered for a clue to this alien phrase.
Meanwhile, chaos rippled through the room.
"What did he just say?""An open partnership? Is that some kind of new-age interview test?""Open? Cooperative? Why does it sound so sophisticated? I need to study this!""Oh no, Mu Qingxue's blanking! I told you she was just a pretty face!""Quick, note it down! This'll definitely be on next year's test!"
Jiang Xun watched the flush drain from her face with quiet amusement.
He hadn't meant anything serious—just tossed out a random line.
In his old world, open partnership was a meme, a joke used online to tease people who were emotionally confused.
He never imagined that here, in this absurd world, it would become an official interview question.
Watching sweat bead along Mu Qingxue's temple, Jiang Xun leaned deeper into the sofa and cleared his throat, deliberately slow. His posture screamed I'm running out of patience.
Pressure—when applied correctly—was a powerful tool.
And then, just as he was about to tease her further, Mu Qingxue's body relaxed. Her lips curved into a flawless professional smile once again.
"Mr. Jiang," she said smoothly, "by open partnership, you mean that after marriage, you reserve the right to pursue intimate relationships—or even additional marriages—with other women. Is that correct?"
Oh?
Now this was interesting.
Jiang Xun's brow lifted slightly.
If she hadn't become a corporate magnate, she could've been a champion of reading comprehension.
"If my understanding is correct," she continued, voice calm yet laced with a barely perceptible excitement, "I am in complete and unconditional support of that arrangement."
"According to the current Male Rights Supreme Act, all male citizens enjoy full freedom in their marital and romantic decisions. Your choices are sacred and beyond interference."
She took a small step closer. The air between them thickened with the faint scent of orchids—and something far more primal.
"I would not only refrain from interference," she added softly, "but would personally screen, manage, and train any subsequent sisters who join our household, ensuring they provide you with the highest quality of service—without causing you stress."
"That is what I understand as an open partnership."
"Mutual benefit, shared success—all for your satisfaction."
When she finished, she bowed again—deeper this time, her silhouette bending like a sculpted curve of submission and grace.
Jiang Xun was utterly speechless.
Lady… I was joking.
You just turned a throwaway line into a full-blown corporate policy statement.
Congratulations—you've reinvented romance as a business plan.
The women around them exploded in outrage.
"Damn it! That's what it meant?!""I'm such an idiot! It was a trick question!""Mu Qingxue, that sly fox—she's too quick!""Game over. Totally game over."
Inside, Jiang Xun was grinning ear to ear, though he kept his face composed.
He opened his phone, pulled up the matchmaking interface, and tapped on Mu Qingxue's profile photo.
Confirmed.
At that exact moment, the rhythmic clack of heels echoed across the marble floor.
A middle-aged woman in a sharp uniform stepped forward, a badge reading Tianhe Program gleaming on her chest. She spoke into a microphone, her voice amplified through the hall.
"Silence!"
Instantly, the room fell still.
She adjusted her glasses and announced solemnly:
"Congratulations to Mr. Jiang Xun and Ms. Mu Qingxue for successfully achieving preliminary Tianhe Intent."
"According to the new Male Health Protection Amendment, in order to safeguard the renal and cardiac wellbeing of all male citizens—and to ensure equitable allocation of social resources—effective immediately, each male citizen may marry no more than one new legal spouse per month."
A wave of ecstatic cheers erupted.
Not a single woman looked disappointed. In fact, their eyes lit up with a feverish glow, as if injected with pure adrenaline.
"Sisters! Did you hear that? One slot per month!""Perfect! I thought this year was hopeless—but next month, I'm back in the game!""This month's Mu Qingxue, next month might be me! I'd better start training—pole dancing's going on the schedule!""Mu Qingxue! You'd better serve Mr. Jiang well! Don't embarrass us women, or we'll come for you!"
Their gazes toward Mu Qingxue changed—from envy to reverence.
It was as if she'd become the chosen champion of womankind, carrying the hopes of the entire gender on her slender shoulders.
Jiang Xun, meanwhile, was completely stunned.
What kind of psychotic society was this?
Before he could process the madness, a cold, mechanical voice echoed inside his head:
Ding!"Detected: Host has successfully established a marital bond with Female Lead [Mu Qingxue]. Activating—God-Tier Family Head System!"
"Loading: Beginner Family Head (Level 1) Template."
Family Reputation: 3000 (Acquired through S-Rank Marriage with Mu Qingxue)
Celestial Jade: 1 (Special Reward for Marrying First Female Lead; note: Treasure Vault unlocks at Level 2.)
A blue holographic panel materialized before his eyes, visible only to him.
[Family Dashboard]
Member: Mu Qingxue
Affection: 60 (Passable)
Health: Excellent
[Reputation Shop]
Basic Health Scan: 100 rep / scan
Minor Stamina Potion: 200 rep / bottle
[Standard Lottery Wheel]
Cost: 100 rep / spin
Rewards: cash, consumables, skill fragments
Jackpot: low chance of acquiring a full base skill book (e.g., Silver Kidney Fighter)
Jiang Xun's mouth twitched.
So this was basically a half-baked browser game system.
Still, something was better than nothing.
He closed the panel and refocused on the world around him.
The middle-aged official had already finished the paperwork and handed several documents to Mu Qingxue.
The woman practically glowed with triumph, as if she'd just secured an intergalactic merger. She turned and approached Jiang Xun, her steps measured and low.
"Mr. Jiang," she said breathlessly, "the formalities are complete. From now on, I belong to you."
Her voice trembled—not with fear, but with excitement and something close to… relief.
"Mm." Jiang Xun nodded lightly. Then he added, in the same even tone that froze everyone in place:
"Help me enroll at Jinling University."
"…What?"
Mu Qingxue blinked.
University?
You? Study?
Wasn't this the part where you recline on a pile of cash and decide which woman to "bless" next?
"Is there a problem?" Jiang Xun asked mildly.
"N-no problem!" Mu Qingxue snapped back to attention. "Jinling University is the finest in the nation! All male citizens receive automatic admission and the highest privileges. I'll handle the arrangements immediately—you'll move into the best villa dorm tomorrow!"
Her efficiency was terrifying. She pulled out her phone and made a call, her tone clipped and commanding.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xun stood, ready to leave the perfume-saturated air of the hall.
As he walked past the rows of women still dazed from the announcement, they finally saw him up close for the first time.
From afar, they'd only noticed his tall build and poised demeanor.
Up close, he was almost unreal.
Sharp jawline. Deep, dark eyes. A clean, sun-kissed complexion. The kind of masculine beauty that felt both dangerous and impossibly pure.
And that nonchalant arrogance—lethal.
"Oh my god… he's gorgeous…""Why didn't I step forward?""If he'd just looked at me once, I'd have given him half my company!""This is a tragedy. A billion-dollar tragedy!"
One CEO even clutched her chest dramatically, as if she'd just lost not a husband—but a hundred-million-dollar contract.
Jiang Xun ignored their burning gazes and headed straight for the exit.
Behind him, Mu Qingxue hung up and hurried after him, matching his stride half a step behind.
"Mr. Jiang," she said softly, "the car's ready. Shall we go to Jinling University now?"