Chapter 17: “…Marry Me.”
“—Marriage is the biggest lie of this century.”
Even though many of Ming Fei’s views differed from those of her friend Li Xing when they first met, Ming Fei particularly agreed with this statement.
Due to her experience of being abandoned before transmigrating, and various conflicts during her growth, she held almost no expectations for love and marriage. That’s why she resolutely chose genetic matching.
But having no expectations didn’t equate to recklessness.
At this moment, the dire situation caused Ming Fei’s mind to become a chaotic mess, like a typhoon had swept through. She couldn’t understand why the marriage contract had her and Zhu Yiqiao’s names on it.
Extremely confused, she frowned and looked at the woman sitting in the high-backed chair.
“Chief Judge Zhu, I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“Also, as a citizen of the Independent State of Yi Meng, I have the freedom to choose my marriage partner. May I ask why my name and yours are on this marriage contract?”
Lan Lubai coughed softly and asked, “Teacher Xiao Fei, do you perhaps not understand what the secondary list means?”
Ming Fei readily admitted, “I really don’t understand these things.”
Before she had direct contact with Zhu Yiqiao, her understanding of these matters was pitifully limited, because she considered herself a law-abiding citizen, and her life would definitely not be involved with these complicated laws, regulations, and political procedures.
But things didn’t go as planned. On the bright floating display screen, the words “Ming Fei” on the contract were clearly visible.
Min Man, standing on the right, explained: “The so-called secondary list refers to a list of individuals involved in serious cases punishable by death or life imprisonment, which is not disclosed to the public but only recorded in the internal systems of the government, military, and Trial Court for future reference.”
“Individuals listed on the secondary list will be subject to different penalties based on their circumstances, such as confiscation of property.”
“There are 50 criminals sentenced to death in the gene theft case. These people were directly involved in the entire process of gene theft, and there are an estimated 33 people to be included in the secondary list.” Min Man paused. “As for whether you will be included in the secondary list, the two parties haven’t reached a conclusion yet.”
At this moment, Ming Fei felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, a bone-chilling cold quickly enveloping her, her whole body almost frozen.
“But…” she tried to defend herself, “But I didn’t—”
Lan Lubai shook her head and said, “Unfortunately, this is not our decision. The inclusion in the secondary list is controlled by the government and the military. If you are ultimately included, your punishment will be very light, just a fine.”
Just a fine… would that be all?
Hearing these words, hope rekindled in Ming Fei’s eyes.
If this was the punishment for misusing the genetic sample of a military officer, she could completely accept it without any complaint.
“May I ask what the specific amount is?”
Lan Lubai quoted a figure, and Ming Fei felt that the punishment was indeed light.
She immediately nodded: “Okay, I can pay this fine.”
In front of the three who had participated in war and later handled state affairs, her performance was really too naive. Lan Lubai and Min Man exchanged glances, then looked away and explained again.
“After paying the fine, you will also need to undergo regular random inspections by the government and military. The inspection process is lengthy and complex. In addition, your life will also be subject to some restrictions due to being listed on the secondary list, such as going abroad and participating in political elections.”
Clouds drifted and the sky cleared. Looking out from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the high-rise building, the afterglow of the setting sun cast an orange-red hue over the entire city of Xi He. On any other evening, Ming Fei would have taken a picture of such a beautiful sunset.
But the current strange silence made Ming Fei, who had fallen into the abyss, unable to appreciate the twilight.
She stood alone in the center, her white double-breasted trench coat making her look tall and slender, like a swaying gardenia.
Zhu Yiqiao watched her expressionlessly as she frowned, clenched her hands, worried, feared, and felt helpless. Beside her, Lan Lubai continued to explain the complexity of the whole matter.
“There have been two other gene theft cases in the Independent State of Yi Meng. The theft groups mostly served wealthy businessmen and powerful figures, and they would find ways to obtain the genetic samples of their targets.”
Lan Lubai’s voice took on a deeper meaning: “But in this gene theft, human experimentation has occurred.”
Hearing this, Ming Fei’s pupils constricted, and the color drained from her face.
“Human experimentation has been expressly prohibited since the founding of the Independent State of Yi Meng. We cannot disclose too much to you, but as a university teacher, you should be well aware of the dangers of human experimentation.” Lan Lubai continued, “Everyone on the secondary list has some connection to other gene thefts, but because they cannot be sentenced to severe punishment, they can only be listed on the secondary list and penalized as a warning.”
“Your situation is special. Compared to others, you are indeed innocent, so if you are listed, your punishment will be the lightest.”
“But if the misuse is leaked and not punished, more and more deliberate ‘misuses’ may occur. Those engaged in gene theft may find it easier to create such misuses than you might think. How would the government define these ‘misuses’ then? Would ‘misuse’ be a new method of human experimentation? These questions would pose greater dangers to the Independent State and even other countries.”
Hearing this, Ming Fei understood everything, as well as the government’s intention in creating the secondary list.
Her face was pale. She wanted to speak but found she couldn’t make a sound. After a moment, she began to try to understand the marriage contract.
If she was really listed, these punishments wouldn’t actually have a significant impact on her life. The fine was far less than she had imagined. The so-called random inspections, although complex, only needed to be done every three years. She didn’t care about elections at all, and the restrictions on going abroad weren’t a ban; she just needed to apply in advance and cooperate with the relevant department staff for inspection.
Then, why did Zhu Yiqiao say she had no right to refuse?
She tried to ask: “Then… why the marriage?”
After the half-hour explanation, Zhu Yiqiao, who had remained silent, switched the contract on the floating display screen to another page.
“Because of this incident, the Gene Cultivation Center is about to issue a new regulation internally.”
“—If there is misuse of a sample, the person who misused the sample and the person whose sample was misused will undergo a court review. If, after the review, the person whose sample was misused wishes to raise the child, the custody of the child born from the artificial incubation chamber will temporarily belong to the person whose sample was misused for three years.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Ming Fei felt a ringing in her ears, and the scene in front of her seemed to turn upside down.
…She could accept the punishment.
But she really couldn’t accept losing Ming Zaozao.
But she had no advantage in this matter. She had almost no chance of winning custody against Zhu Yiqiao.
…What to do?
What should she do?
The inverted scene became increasingly blurred. Just when Ming Fei felt that today would be the worst day of her life, Zhu Yiqiao’s voice broke through the fog.
She said slowly, “If you don’t want to be listed on the secondary list and don’t want to lose custody of Ming Yi, then sign this marriage agreement.”
“Marry me, and you can avoid all this misfortune.”
Just a moment ago, Ming Fei had been alone in a blizzard, but now someone had come to her, offered her a hand, and given her an umbrella. And Ming Fei, willing to make any sacrifice for her daughter, couldn’t possibly refuse this timely help.
She looked at Zhu Yiqiao with hopeful, eager, and grateful eyes for the first time, transforming from a wilting, almost defeated gardenia into a sunflower about to bloom towards the sun.
“Really… is that okay?”
Her voice was a little hoarse: “I’m willing to accept the punishment. I just want Zaozao.”
Lan Lubai reassured her: “Of course, our Chief Judge Zhu is true to her word.”
Facing Ming Fei’s eager gaze, Zhu Yiqiao brushed the pistol on the table with the fingertips of her left hand, and her right hand brought up the detailed terms of the contract.
“All you need to do is this.”
Ming Fei looked up nervously. However, compared to the dense text before, the terms Zhu Yiqiao required her to abide by were very few.
1.1 During the contract period, cohabitation is mandatory.
1.2 During the contract period, developing romantic relationships with others is prohibited.
1.3 During the contract period, all transgressive behavior is prohibited.
…
Ming Fei, having carefully read each clause, asked uncertainly, “Chief Judge Zhu, are these really the only terms?”
“Mm.”
Zhu Yiqiao switched to the next page: “These two sections are your compensation for agreeing to the contract marriage, and your compensation after the one-year contract ends.”
After dutifully reading the new page, Ming Fei refused: “Chief Judge Zhu, thank you. But please don’t pay me this extra compensation, because you have already given me the compensation I need most.”
Zhu Yiqiao didn’t speak.
Lan Lubai said with a smile: “Accept it. There will be many things you need to cooperate with in the future. And our Chief Judge Zhu is never short of money. Just consider it pocket money for Zaozao.”
Ming Fei subconsciously wanted to insist on refusing, but after meeting Zhu Yiqiao’s cold gaze, she changed her mind and chose to obey the arrangement with gratitude and fear.
She thought, she could keep it safe for now and return it all to Zhu Yiqiao after the contract ended.
As for why Zhu Yiqiao chose to marry her, although Ming Fei was puzzled, she didn’t ask for the reason.
She had her own purpose, and Zhu Yiqiao must also have a purpose that required her involvement. She just needed to accept and obey. She thought.
In the next twenty minutes, Ming Fei sat at the desk and carefully reviewed the paper version of the contract again. Then, Ming Fei wrote her name at the end and stamped her right index finger next to her signature.
Everything was settled, and the room fell silent.
Ming Fei, whose mood had gone from blizzard to clear skies, showed her first smile since entering the Trial Court compound.
She said gratefully, “Chief Judge Zhu, thank you.”
“I’m truly grateful that you are willing to help me. If you have any needs in the future, I will do my best to help you achieve them.”
Zhu Yiqiao said impassively, “Change the way you address me.”
Min Man had already left, and Lan Lubai, who was still there, agreed: “Right, you’re married now, why are you still calling her Chief Judge Zhu? That’s too formal. Don’t let others see through us.”
Meeting Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze, Ming Fei began to think about what would be a more appropriate form of address.
Zhu Yiqiao?
That was even more inappropriate.
Yiqiao?
That seemed too intimate, and she was three years younger than Chief Judge Zhu.
Ming Fei thought of the intelligent robot 008 at home. She had once read the “Complete Guide to Social Etiquette” recommended by 008. This best-selling book was very thin; she had finished it in just an hour.
After a brief moment of thought, Ming Fei chose a polite form of address that wasn’t too unfamiliar or too intimate.
She mustered her courage and softly said, “…Jiejie.” (Older sister)
The air seemed to be filled with bubbles, and these bubbles were all burst by Ming Fei’s new form of address, causing the unspoken tension between them to surge again.
Zhu Yiqiao responded in a low voice: “Mm.”
Ming Fei added, “Thank you very much.”
“Change the ‘nin’ (formal you) too.”
“I will.” Ming Fei was obedient. “Thank you, Jiejie.”
Lan Lubai, who witnessed all of this, smiled but said nothing. When she heard Ming Fei say goodbye and that she was returning to Hui Fu Garden, she offered to see Ming Fei downstairs. They were almost the same height, but Ming Fei was still a little taller. When they reached the Trial Court’s floating logo in the middle of the corridor, Lan Lubai suddenly spoke.
“The first night Yiqiao went to Hui Fu Garden, someone hacked into your defense system. The next morning, she found out that the intruder was someone from within the Trial Court.”
Ming Fei stopped in her tracks.
“The last link in the gene theft, the one who helped them close the net was a traitor within the Trial Court.”
Ming Fei was very surprised: “So… it was a traitor within the Trial Court that led to the theft of Chief Judge Zhu’s genetic sample?”
Lan Lubai said, “You can understand it that way.”
“Yiqiao is in a high position, iron-fisted and powerful, and she has offended quite a few people over the years. She has no ill intentions towards you. The marriage is also a form of protection.” She smiled. “Even after the agreement ends, she will send someone to protect you and Zaozao.”
Ming Fei didn’t know what to say, as she had already repeated her gratitude many times, and she felt that no matter how much she said, she couldn’t express her current gratitude towards Zhu Yiqiao.
So, she promised, “Please… rest assured, I will abide by the contract and never cause any trouble for Chief Judge Zhu.”
Back in the office, it was the official end of the workday in the Independent State.
Lan Lubai took off the hat that matched her uniform, her long curly hair cascading down to her waist, a playful glint in her emerald eyes.
She walked to the desk: “Yiqiao, you and Min Man were too serious at the beginning. You scared Teacher Xiao Fei.”
Zhu Yiqiao put down the encrypted file: “Only a rabbit would be so easily scared.”
“Her face turned pale.” Lan Lubai tapped the edge of the table with her fingertip. “Besides, she is your legal partner now. It’s only right for you to be gentler to her.”
“Not yet.”
“Won’t she be after you get the certificate tomorrow?”
“Even if you are only contractually married, you still have to maintain a superficial intimacy when attending various occasions in the future. If she is always so afraid of you, it will definitely arouse suspicion.”
Lan Lubai, single for thirty-one years and with no relationship experience, offered what she considered good advice to her friend.
“Last time Min Man and I gave her apology gifts, and she wasn’t so afraid of us afterward. Why don’t you try that?”
Five minutes later, Ming Fei, in the self-driving car, received a message notification.
[Your account has received a new transfer of 1,888,888.]
[Transfer remarks: Zhu Yiqiao.]
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