Chapter Text
A peaceful morning. Rays of sunshine lighting up the big dining room, shining on a 4 member family gracefully eating their breakfast in a comfortable silence. It was a normal, ideal morning.
"I want to get married."
The daughter choked on her orange juice not so gracefully, followed by a simultaneous, shocked "What???" Coming from the parents.
"Oh God calm down. I didn't mean like actually, really getting married and get myself involved in the cursed life of a married man."
He explained.
"What do you mean by not actually getting married while you just said you wanted to get married, Zhangjing?"
His mom asked, handing her daughter a tissue to clean her chin, now covered in orange juice.
"Well, you know I'm taking the exam for starting my master's degree, right? I thought about it a lot, and I need this married student privilege to survive. That's my only option."
Zhangjing said, sipping his coffee.
"There is another option and it is studying, you know."
His sister dead-panned. Zhangjing rolled his eyes.
"Zhi Ruo is right. This idea of yours is a bit...I don't know, it seems too much."
His father stated in confusion and disbelief.
"Oh come on what is the big deal about it? I just have a fake marriage, give uni my certificate and enjoy the 20% privilege."
Zhangjing nagged. His parents exchanged uncertain looks.
"Sweetie you know about our family's position in society. What will the news say if we fake a marriage? Or end up announcing divorce to escape the fake marriage headline?"
His mother asked calmly.
"We don't have to make it public. If we pay enough attention, it will be a secret between our family, my fake-wife's family and the uni economics department."
"Fake-wife oh my God he's so persistent about this."
Zhangjing rolled his eyes, again, and shoved a Luo buo gao in Zhi Ruo's mouth in order to silence her.
"We...we need to think more about this. Give us some time." His mother said.
"Okay, " zhangjing said cheerfully. "Just that I don't wanna go through what I experienced for the entrance exam, you know." He smiled brightly at his parents, now looking extremely uncomfortable, exchanging worried glances. He also caught her sister shaking her head in disapproval, knowing what he has done with that one simple sentence.
Zhangjing got up and went to his room, falling down on his bed and grabbing his phone, he went through his Instagram followings. All familiar youth from families in his own social class, Checking any account related to a female, trying to find one studying in Shanghai, probably preparing for the same level exam.
His hand stopped moving and he smiled.
"Found it!"
________________
That one simple sentence sure did wonders. His parents announced their approval that night. Took a bit longer than what Zhangjing expected, but still acceptable.
"But it has to be at least from a good family, it is fake but we can't let you have a fake marriage with a nobody."
His father demanded. Zhangjing laughed.
"Oh trust me on this. It's not like I'm going to stoop low either. I may or may not know someone who is willing to have this fake marriage as well."
He smiled at his parents' amused expressions, bowed politely and left to his own room. He took out his phone from his pocket, opening his DMs and re-read his conversation with the mentioned someone this morning.
@mezhangjing
Hey, Yang Mei Hua right?
@itsmeihua
Hey.
Yeah, that's me.
Are you the Zhangjing I met during Ziyi's birthday party or..?
@mezhangjing
Yup, that's me.
So I hope this doesn't sound too weird
But I saw your insta story, complaining abt pre-master's examination
And well same
So I was wondering if we could come to an agreement for a win-win situation.
@itsmeihua
What kind of agreement and what kind of win-win situation?
@mezhangjing
Studying less, still getting to study for master's.
which university do you go to btw?
@itsmeihua
Fudan University
Spill.
@mezhangjing
There is this 20% privilege for married students, in SUFE as far as I know since I attend SUFE.
Anyways I was thinking of a fake marriage and using this privilege.
Since I just need 80% of the last accepted student percentage
to be allowed for attending Master's degree classes.
@itsmeihua
Meh, you have it easy it's just 15% here.
You know what
I was thinking about this for a week now tbh
I wanted to go search for the opportunity but the opportunity found me lol.
I'm in.
@mezhangjing
Nice.
Well, talk abt it with your parents if you haven't yet and message me tonight.
@itsmeihua
Okayyy.
@itsmeihua
It's all good.
When are we settling a day to meet? To talk about the details.
@mezhangjing
Great.
How's this weekend?
@itsmeihua
I'm okay with it.
You can set the time and place.
Oh and my mom is coming too since she is still kinda reluctant.
He smirked at his phone. He went back to the living room where his mother was reading a book, father watching TV.
"I'm meeting with Meixi group's daughter this weekend. To confirm everything about the fake marriage." Zhangjing announced.
"You were talking about Mei Hua earlier??"
His mother almost dropped the book in her hands.
"Yup."
"That was...unexpected."
His father stated.
"Well, I'm just that good with words. Anyways we're meeting this weekend. She's bringing her mom, which I believe is unnecessary, so I think you should come along too."
He said to his mother. She sighed and nodded.
Zhangjing smiled at her. Took his phone out of his pocket and sent a message.
@mezhangjing
Saturday, 6 pm, seesaw cafe