IMGH Chapter 41

If You Lose, You’ll Be My Spouse

The sudden remark left Jiang Yi’s mind momentarily unable to process what had been said. After a long moment, he blinked in bewilderment and asked, “What do you mean?”

Qiu Rui spread his hands. “You heard what your cousin said — my company is in trouble. How could I just sit back and do nothing? But right now I’m nothing but a wandering soul with no physical form, and I can’t stray far from your side. It’s genuinely inconvenient to do anything.”

Jiang Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Then tell me — how would this cooperation work?”

“It’s actually quite simple. I just need you to act as my representative and make contact with Han Yuancheng!”

Jiang Yi let out a cold snort. “Why not just say you want to borrow my body and be done with it? Why dress it up so poetically? Isn’t that exhausting?”

Qiu Rui suppressed his irritation. “Are you agreeing or not?”

“What’s in it for me?” Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow and looked at Qiu Rui. “Being possessed by a ghost is no pleasant experience. I’m not doing this for nothing without some benefit!”

Shameless! Qiu Rui cried inwardly, though his expression remained perfectly composed. His steady tone betrayed none of the fury beneath. “Once the formation is broken, I will repay you handsomely — name your price, any amount you like!”

Jiang Yi rubbed his chin and lowered his gaze in thought, looking as though he were contemplating just how much he should charge for the use of his own body.

Qiu Rui curled his lips into a cold smirk. Sure enough — everyone loves money.

“I don’t want money!”

Qiu Rui’s triumphant smirk froze on his face. Jiang Yi had already raised his head, holding up one index finger and wagging it lightly. “No, no, no! You must be disappointed. Not everyone loves money, you know — and money certainly can’t buy everything!”

Qiu Rui ground his teeth in frustration. “What exactly do you want?!”

Jiang Yi leaned in close to Qiu Rui, fixing his gaze steadily on his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling into a roguish smile. “You know what I want.”

Qiu Rui’s heart skipped a beat. Meeting the man’s burning, intense gaze, he refused outright. “Impossible!”

The man lay on his back, and Qiu Rui couldn’t see his expression — but he could well imagine it. Jiang Yi’s face at that moment was surely one that deserved a good smack.

“You’d have to be capable of winning first!” Qiu Rui laughed, his fury flipping into laughter, his smile laced with boundless contempt.

Jiang Yi chuckled softly. “Qiu Rui, let’s make a bet.”

“How childish.”

“Could it be that you’re afraid?”

“Your attempts to provoke me have absolutely no effect on me.”

“Then why won’t you dare to bet with me? Could it be that you’re afraid of losing both body and heart to me?”

The proud Qiu Rui was so provoked by Jiang Yi that he frowned in immediate displeasure. “Jiang Yi, I’ve said it before — I don’t like you!”

“Stop insisting that you don’t like me. Saying it so often makes me think you’re protesting too much.”

Jiang Yi half propped himself up and looked at Qiu Rui with a smile — a smile that carried a hint of provocation and just a touch of teasing.

Jiang Yi’s air of absolute confidence infuriated Qiu Rui, who blurted out, “Whatever terms you set for this bet, I’ll take them — just don’t come crying to me when you lose and try to back out!”

“I, Jiang Yi, am not someone who can’t handle losing.” Jiang Yi said slowly. “Within six months, I want your heart and soul.”

As if hearing the funniest joke imaginable, Qiu Rui burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. It took a good while before he managed to stop, and he fixed his gaze on Jiang Yi. “Jiang Yi, aren’t you a little too confident in yourself?”

Jiang Yi remained perfectly composed, remarkably unruffled by Qiu Rui’s contempt. “Qiu Rui, the six months aren’t up yet. Don’t draw your conclusions too early.”

“Never mind six months — even a year wouldn’t be enough for you to win my heart and soul!”

“If that’s the case, then do you dare to bet with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

“Good! Then it’s settled. The bet takes effect from this day forward!”

“Wait — what are the stakes?”

“If I win, you become my spouse. If I lose, you can do whatever you like with me.”

Qiu Rui laughed coldly. “Jiang Yi, you’ve really thought this through, haven’t you? No matter who wins or loses, you’re the one who benefits. And as for the stakes — you’re bound to lose. But even if you do lose, what could I possibly do to you?”

“Don’t speak with such certainty. The time isn’t up yet — anything is possible.” Jiang Yi clicked his tongue. “During this period, I will cooperate with you fully, and I won’t say or do anything that crosses the line.”

“Weren’t you the one who wanted to talk about cooperation? The bet is simply one clause of our arrangement. Since you’ve sworn up and down that you won’t fall for me — surely you’re not afraid of one small little bet?”