Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 4

The words whispered beside her ear sent a chill down Ji Tanyuan’s spine, but she quickly laughed it off. “What are you talking about?”

Zhong Yan crossed his legs and spoke to Shu Yun, who had been wearing a sour expression all along. “That’s enough. Look at you, she’s not going to eat anyone, but with that face of yours, it looks like you might just devour her.”

Shu Yun took a deep breath. This man was still as sharp-tongued as ever. “Do you even consider me not a friend anymore?”

Another woman in the room tugged at Shu Yun’s sleeve, trying to calm her down, and politely addressed Ji Tanyuan, “Miss Ji, please don’t take it to heart. She has a quick temper but means no harm.”

Ji Tanyuan smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine.”

“Tanyuan, did you earn a double degree from MIT?” someone suddenly asked. The question came from Cheng Gengxu. Ji Tanyuan looked up and saw a man with a clean buzz cut, radiating energy, his eyes sharp and captivating.

Ji Tanyuan nodded. “I’ve heard of you too, the senior who graduated with a master’s degree at 20 and was praised by the professor in class.”

Cheng Gengxu smiled, swirling his glass. “You’re outstanding as well, graduating with a double degree before even turning 20.”

“Didn’t you continue working on Wall Street after graduation?”

Ji Tanyuan’s hand tightened slightly, but she maintained a gentle smile. “No, my mother missed me, so I returned home.”

Shu Yun let out a mocking laugh. “What a waste of education.”

Cheng Gengxu nodded, though it was unclear whether he agreed with Ji Tanyuan’s reason for returning home or with Shu Yun’s sarcastic remark about her education being wasted.

When Ji Tanyuan excused herself to use the restroom, Zhong Yan turned to Cheng Gengxu. “Do you know her?”

Cheng Gengxu found it amusing. “She’s my junior. Didn’t you hear?”

Rong Xi sighed regretfully. “Such an impressive resume, combined with the Ji family’s background. Who would’ve thought she’d end up as nothing more than a pawn in an arranged marriage?”

Shu Yun clicked her tongue. “Who are you feeling sorry for?”

Rong Xi pinched Shu Yun and whispered, “For you, alright? You’re my best friend. I was just being polite. She’s just a tool for marriage, why are you so worked up over her?”

Shu Yun’s expression softened slightly. “Don’t you dare become friends with her.”

Rong Xi chuckled. “She’s in the ‘rich wives’ circle, and I’m in the ‘career women’ circle. There’s no way we’d become friends.”

Shu Yun raised her voice slightly. “True. She’s a wealthy socialite, probably an expert in buying bags and luxury goods. She might not have much in common with us. A-Yan, your wife seems bored here. Maybe don’t bring her next time.”

Zhong Yan’s face turned cold, and the sudden shift in his expression made Shu Yun flinch, even letting out an involuntary hiccup.

Zhong Yan’s voice was icy. “At your age, you still don’t know what’s appropriate to say and what’s not? She still carries the title of Mrs. Zhong.”

Insulting Ji Tanyuan was no different from insulting him. Even if he didn’t love her, she was still his wife in name, and disrespecting her was a direct affront to him.

Zhong Yan set his glass down with a sharp clink. The room fell silent, and no one dared to provoke him further. “Honestly, I don’t have much in common with you either, Shu Yun. Who do you think you are to be upset about my marriage? Since when do you get to dictate what my wife does or doesn’t do? And don’t let others use you as their pawn.”

Zhong Yan’s sharp tongue was well-known in their circle. Shu Yun was no stranger to his harsh words, she had grown accustomed to them over the years, even interpreting them as a sign of their closeness. But this time, his cutting remarks in defense of a wife he had been married to for less than three months cut her deeply.

The others at the table also felt that Zhong Yan’s words today were particularly harsh. “A-Yan, that’s enough. Shu Yun just isn’t used to it yet.”

“I’m used to it,” Zhong Yan replied. He was used to not being single anymore.

After speaking, Zhong Yan took the shawl from behind Ji Tanyuan, opened the door, and happened to run right into her.

Ji Tanyuan quickly put on a smile, naturally linking her arm with his. “Are we leaving?”

Zhong Yan showed no sign of embarrassment, his demeanor as composed as ever. Standing at 188 cm tall, he complemented Ji Tanyuan’s 175 cm height (with heels) perfectly, they made a striking pair.

After the two left, soft sobbing could be heard from the table. Rong Xi comforted in a low voice, “That’s enough. You openly belittled his wife in front of him, wasn’t that a slap in his face? Even if there’s no love between them, a husband and wife’s dignity is shared.”

Shu Yun wiped her tears, still somewhat choked up. “I meant to slap him in the face. I hate him.”

The first thing Ji Tanyuan said after getting into the car was:

“I don’t want any scandals during our marriage that could affect the stability of our families’ alliance.”

Straight to the point, no beating around the bush, and not the least bit subtle.

“What’s wrong? Can’t keep up the act anymore?” Zhong Yan chuckled lightly.

“Don’t worry, I don’t have a habit of cheating.”

He sat on the other side, turning to look at her:

“Are you jealous?”

Ji Tanyuan met his gaze. “Yes, my husband is just too attractive. It makes me anxious.”

Zhong Yan scoffed, so fake. “No need to feel anxious. The Zhong family needs a virtuous and sensible daughter-in-law like you. No one else could fill the role.”

“Although feudalism is outdated, my grandmother comes from that era. When the reform and opening-up happened, no one informed her. Now she’s halfway into the grave, and her mind can’t absorb new ideas anymore, so please bear with her.” Zhong Yan said.

Ji Tanyuan looked ahead at the road. “Understood.”

Zhong Yan added, “There’s a business banquet in a week. Keep your schedule clear.”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Ji Tanyuan said, “The wife of Tianzheng Group’s chairman called earlier to invite me to dinner. She mentioned something about changes in Tianzheng’s equity structure, I didn’t really understand the details. Anyway, she asked me to pass along a message, to see if you could meet with her husband sometime. Is that possible?”

She looked up after speaking, glancing at Zhong Yan’s profile. His sharply defined face gave away no emotion.

Zhong Yan kept his eyes on the road ahead and replied calmly, “You don’t understand?”

“Ms. Ji, with dual degrees in Business Analytics and Finance from MIT, doesn’t understand equity structures? Ji Tanyuan, did you spend all your college years fooling around?”

“Did your father donate to get you that diploma too?”

Ji Tanyuan exclaimed in protest. Who was he mocking? Did she need his sarcasm? “What kind of joke is that? I graduated on my own merit.”

“…I just don’t have experience in this area. Who do you think you’re looking down on?”

“Besides, I haven’t even said anything about you being an old-fashioned, patriarchal husband, and here you are criticizing me. Seriously, we’re two of a kind.”

Zhong Yan raised an eyebrow, his handsome features looking almost surreal under the neon lights of the night. He smirked at her, leaning in to touch her face. His enlarged features filled her vision, and she could see each distinct eyelash of hers.

He pinched her chin and gently shook her head, his tone laced with flirtation:

“Then I’m the slightly better half, three taels heavier than your half-catty.”

Ji Tanyuan: “…”

She blinked in confusion. “Are you insulting me?”

Zhong Yan was momentarily confused before realizing that half a jin equaled 250 grams.

Ji Tanyuan slapped his hand away. What kind of person was this?