The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

He Tiantian took care of Qiao Zhenbang and had lunch.

Qiao Zhenbang kept looking at He Tiantian, wanting to speak but hesitating.

His expression was too obvious; He Tiantian wanted to pretend she didn’t see, but she couldn’t help but understand.

Finally, she had no choice but to ask awkwardly: ”Professor Qiao, do you have something to say to me?”

”...Little He, we’ve known each other for a while, so let’s not beat around the bush!”

”Your daughter is already in college, an adult. Have you ever thought about remarrying?”

Qiao Zhenbang seemed very eager; he didn’t even bother with preliminaries.

He didn’t talk about feelings with He Tiantian but went straight to the point.

So straightforward and decisive, He Tiantian didn’t need to pretend, and her surprised expression was visible.

Her eyes widened, and there was a slight, imperceptible hint of shyness and panic.

Seeing He Tiantian’s reaction, Qiao Zhenbang smiled wryly, saying:

”Alas, you should already know, my wife passed away a few years ago.”

”At that time, someone advised me to find a companion again, but I always felt that the kids were grown, and I’m getting older, remarrying didn’t seem appropriate.”

”But, having gone to the verge of death this time and almost not coming back, I suddenly realized—”

”Children, students, friends, relatives, none of them can be relied upon; the one who can stay by your side in the end is still the partner!”

”I’m being blunt, maybe even presumptuous, but we’re not young anymore. Talking about love or romance at this age is unrealistic! Let’s focus on more practical and real issues!”

Qiao Zhenbang’s words were straightforward, but his attitude was very sincere.

It was clear that he meant what he said.

He didn’t rush to hear ”He Xiutian’s” response, but continued on his own—

”I’m fifty-four years old, a finance professor at A University.”

”I’m not exactly a billionaire, but I’ve saved up a bit of wealth.”

”Besides the current faculty dorm I live in, I have an apartment, a villa, and some savings!”

”Though, we’re both parents, and you can surely understand that this wealth, after I pass on, will go to my two children.”

”Of course, aside from these assets, I still have my salary and other income.”

”I’ve roughly calculated that, with the salary and bonuses, it amounts to 20-30 thousand yuan a month.”

”After retirement, there will still be pension and consultancy fees from some companies, not less than 30 thousand yuan monthly.”

These funds are Qiao Zhenbang’s personal income, considered marital property after marriage.

”Having suffered a cerebral infarction this time, there’s always a chance of relapse or other illnesses in the future, but no need to worry about medical expenses.”

”I have social insurance, and I’ve purchased critical illness, major disease, etc., commercial insurance. Even if I get cancer or need a major surgery like a heart or kidney transplant, the medical costs will be reimbursed!”

So, he won’t cause financial difficulty for a partner due to elderly sickness or severe illness.

Qiao Zhenbang wasn’t like a man discussing marriage with a woman; it was as if he was sitting at a negotiation table, listing conditions beneficial to himself one by one.

He Tiantian:...

Such a straightforward man, so bluntly ”weighing-in” while discussing marriage, for ”He Xiutian,” a rural middle-aged woman, apart from shock and helplessness, there isn’t much else to respond with.

He Tiantian measured this perfectly.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but again didn’t know what to say.

There seemed to be intentional movement beneath her eyes—Professor Qiao wasn’t looking for a wife, but a caretaker.

Yet, he is straightforward, without talking about feelings, thus avoiding moral coercion.

He’s made his stance clear, that his wealth will go to his children, rather than deceiving women to treat him like an ancestor.

Moreover, he’s not asking women to be unpaid caretakers; his monthly income is marital property, available for women to spend.

Even half of it, there’s still one or two thousand monthly.

That’s far higher than the typical resident nanny’s salary.

As a middle-aged single mom wanting to make money for her daughter’s education, He Tiantian surely felt moved.

But she hesitated again—

She herself doesn’t want to remarry; if she did, she would have done so shortly after her husband’s death.

Instead of struggling alone with her daughter to survive.

Now her daughter is in college, soon to marry and have kids, her task is almost complete.

Then, alone and free, doing whatever she wants, what need is there to serve a ”lord”?