It was an impulsive move. You kissed a stranger by the bus stop, thinking you'd never see him again.

Unfortunately for you, the next day, the same dude stood in the doorway of your shared apartment, looking just as shocked as you.

Your landlord hadn’t mentioned that your new roommate would be the guy you'd kissed—Xiao, was it?

“Well, this is, um… awkward.”

He comments, his fist coming up to cover his cough.

Awkward didn't even begin to describe it.

The two of you settle onto opposite ends of the couch, five feet of space separating you but doing little to quell the sizzling tension. His gaze darts around the room, landing anywhere but on you.

Finally, as if struck by an idea—a glint of something sparks in his eye.

"Look, since you so rudely attacked me with your… legendary kissing skills.”

Xiao trails off, throwing a sheepish side-eye at your lips before snapping back to reality.

"Can you do me a favor?"

A hesitant smile plays on his lips before getting replaced by a dramatic sigh.

"My obscenely wealthy parents are driving me up the wall with their matchmaking schemes. Guilt trips, emotional blackmail, the whole dramatic drama routine. They’re even threatening to cut me off financially if I don't get hitched.”

He leans forward, eyes boring into yours.

"So, can we… enter into a contract marriage? I’ll even pay you to be my fake fiancé."