Refusing Divorce After a Contract Marriage - Chapter 11.1

Chapter 11.1: The Perfectly Matched Socialite Wives

In the blink of an eye, the weekend arrived. Shen Qingye woke up early as usual, while Jiang Chumian woke up a bit later perhaps because she was preoccupied with her hotpot cravings, so it wasn’t actually that late.

After breakfast and freshening up, Jiang Chumian sat on the sofa, seriously looking for a suitable hotpot restaurant near the archery range.

Shen Qingye left her to it, letting her choose. By the time she picked one, it was already 11:00 AM.

“If you don’t hurry up, we’ll miss the lunch rush,” Shen Qingye reminded her with a smile.

Jiang Chumian finally settled on a place with decent reviews.

“Can I invite Xiao Jinyu?” Jiang Chumian asked, looking at Shen Qingye.

“Why?” Shen Qingye asked, not quite understanding, since she hadn’t invited any of her own friends.

“More people means we can order more dishes.” Jiang Chumian’s reason was so practical that Shen Qingye found no excuse to refuse.

“Then should I invite someone as well?” Shen Qingye asked with a light chuckle.

Jiang Chumian nodded in agreement: “Sure.”

Upon receiving her answer, Shen Qingye immediately sent a message.

“The heir of Wanxing Group, my childhood friend Meng Zhu. It’s a good time to introduce you two,” Shen Qingye said warmly to Jiang Chumian.

Despite knowing each other for a while, they rarely introduced their respective friends to one another. It usually only happened if they bumped into someone by chance. It was rare, like today, to specifically invite friends out for a meal.

“Okay.” With the place decided and the guests invited, the two tidied up and headed out.

By the time they reached the restaurant, Xiao Jinyu had already arrived. It seemed she had dashed out the moment Jiang Chumian called her. She had even secured the table, claiming that if they waited for Jiang Chumian to come and find a seat, they would starve to death.

“What do you mean by that?” Shen Qingye asked curiously.

“Even though Mianmian is excellent at everything, unless it’s an emergency, she’s never in a hurry to leave the house. If she can sleep for an extra minute, she won’t settle for fifty-nine seconds. Doesn’t the Goddess think so too?” Xiao Jinyu exposed Jiang Chumian’s habits without mercy.

Though she called it “exposing,” it sounded more like the playful bickering between close friends.

Shen Qingye looked at Jiang Chumian and chuckled: “I actually have noticed that.”

Jiang Chumian could only smile shyly in response.

As the three chatted, another woman dressed in a water-blue gown walked toward their table.

Meng Zhu arrived at Shen Qingye’s side: “Finally remembered me? I thought you’d forgotten I existed.”

Shen Qingye chuckled: “Did I forget you? When I got married, you said you were busy climbing a mountain. Is that my fault?”

The wedding back then had been a casual affair meant mostly for the elders. Shen Qingye hadn’t forced her friends to attend, since it wasn’t a marriage based on true love. Others, hearing it was just a business alliance, didn’t take it to heart either such unions were common in their circles. Since the couple themselves didn’t care much, a gift was considered more than enough.

Meng Zhu’s gaze fell on Jiang Chumian. Looking at this woman whose appearance differed so much from the rumors, she extended a hand with interest: “Hello, I’m Meng Zhu. I grew up ‘sharing the same pair of pants’ with Shen Qingye.”

The remark carried a hint of provocation.

But Jiang Chumian merely smiled: “Hello, I’m Jiang Chumian.”

She didn’t even add “Shen Qingye’s wife” to provoke her back. It was unclear if she truly didn’t care or was just being composed.

“Alright, sit down. Check the menu and see if there’s anything else you want; I didn’t order for you.”

“Oh? We haven’t seen each other in so long that you don’t even remember my tastes?”

Meng Zhu was different from Lin Xingmo; she was more like Xiao Jinyu, having been pampered since childhood. Compared to Xiao Jinyu, the Meng family spoiled their only daughter to the heavens, and the Meng estate was far larger.

“Why should I remember what you like to eat? Eat or don’t eat.” Shen Qingye gave her a look, warning her to stop making a fuss.

Meng Zhu sat down obediently next to Xiao Jinyu: “And who is this?” She asked curiously, looking at Xiao Jinyu’s pretty doll-like face.

“My friend, Xiao Jinyu,” Jiang Chumian introduced them.

Xiao Jinyu’s jaw dropped when she realized Meng Zhu’s identity.

Hearing Xiao Jinyu’s name, Meng Zhu thought for a moment: “The Xiao family from Jinxing Group?”

Jinxing was a national chain of high-end hotels famous for their service and environment extremely comfortable but equally expensive.

Xiao Jinyu paused, then shook her head, waving her hands with a frank smile: “No, no. If Jinxing belonged to my family, how could I be this low-profile?”

“My family just has a small company. Miss Meng probably hasn’t heard of it,” Xiao Jinyu said to Meng Zhu, her doll-face looking even more adorable.

Hearing this, Meng Zhu laughed: “You’re really cute.”

This compliment left Xiao Jinyu momentarily speechless.

The food arrived, and the hotpot base began to boil. Jiang Chumian quietly started adding ingredients.

Shen Qingye looked at her eager expression and asked jokingly: “In such a hurry?”

Jiang Chumian nodded seriously: “Very. There’s something wrong with the philosophy of anyone who isn’t proactive about eating.”

“Oh? You know that now? Who was it that used to get so busy they forgot to eat, hmm?” Shen Qingye teased her back.

Jiang Chumian turned slightly red: “It won’t happen again.”

Xiao Jinyu joined in the scolding, saying Jiang Chumian already had a weak stomach and shouldn’t mess around unless she had a death wish. Jiang Chumian could only listen to the lecture obediently.

Meng Zhu watched the interaction between Shen Qingye and Jiang Chumian. As a lifelong friend, she could immediately tell that Shen Qingye was acting out of character.

However, Meng Zhu enjoyed the show and even sent a message to Lin Xingmo: “Why do I feel like Qingye actually really likes her little wife?”

Lin Xingmo: “Chumian?” “She is quite cute. It’s not surprising Shen Qingye would like her.”

After their previous coffee meet-up, Lin Xingmo felt the two were quite a good match. More importantly, Shen Qingye’s attitude toward Jiang Chumian was indeed different. Though they still seemed a bit unfamiliar, it was clear Shen Qingye looked after her.

“Tsk, to think the day would come when she actually likes someone,” Meng Zhu was genuinely surprised.

Over at the table, Jiang Chumian had finished accepting her lecture and started inviting Meng Zhu to eat, noticing she hadn’t prepared her dipping sauce yet.

“Right, save some tripe and duck aorta for me!” Meng Zhu realized she had forgotten the sauce and specifically reminded the others before walking to the sauce station.

Jiang Chumian agreed with a smile. By the time Meng Zhu returned, Jiang Chumian had just finished poaching the tripe and was distributing it to everyone.

“Thank you.”

Jiang Chumian was visibly happy to finally be eating hotpot. After ordering a bottle of “happy water” (soda), she seemed even more delighted. Shen Qingye enjoyed seeing her so relaxed.

She and Meng Zhu began catching up. Meng Zhu had recently returned from a trip to climb Mount Everest.

On this topic, she and Xiao Jinyu had much to talk about. They even exchanged WeChat contacts and planned to go out together. Jiang Chumian realized belatedly that the two were quite compatible; Xiao Jinyu loved rock climbing, bungee jumping, and surfing all things Meng Zhu enjoyed as well. Since neither was in a hurry to inherit their family businesses, they hit it off immediately.

The hotpot meal was very pleasant. Meng Zhu’s opinion of Jiang Chumian improved significantly, and she had made a new like-minded friend.

After eating, Shen Qingye mentioned they were going to do some archery and asked if the other two wanted to join. Meng Zhu thought it was a good idea, and while Xiao Jinyu didn’t know how, she was enthusiastic about learning.

And so, the four of them moved to the archery range.

To Shen Qingye’s surprise, Jiang Chumian was quite good at archery—much better than she was at ice skating.

“Did you learn this before?” Shen Qingye asked after seeing Jiang Chumian hit the bullseye.

“Yes, I learned it back in university.”

Jiang Chumian paused after saying this. Thinking back, the reason she started learning was because of Yu Xuan. She stared at the bullseye, her eyes darkening slightly. Her next shot was not as accurate as the first.

Xiao Jinyu laughed from the side: “Goddess, you didn’t know? Mianmian used to be great at archery. She even won first prize in a club competition.”

At the mention of it, Jiang Chumian remembered again. That time, she had used the prize money to buy a gift for Yu Xuan. When she went to deliver it, she saw a senior student confessing his feelings to Yu Xuan. She had stood at a distance, clutching the modest gift, not daring to approach.

But Yu Xuan had rejected the senior and walked over to her side, hugging her gently and asking: “Why didn’t you come over just now?”

“I was afraid of interrupting you,” Jiang Chumian had whispered.

Yu Xuan held her and said softly: “How could you? No one is more important than you.”

That day, she had accepted the gift and called Jiang Chumian her most important person. Back then, Jiang Chumian thought they would always stay together; even if life wasn’t easy, they would persevere.

But later…

Jiang Chumian lowered her gaze and put down the bow: “I’m going to rest for a bit.”

Seeing her expression, Xiao Jinyu realized she shouldn’t have brought it up. She knew better than anyone why Jiang Chumian had learned archery in the first place. She tapped her forehead in frustration and gave Shen Qingye an awkward smile: “Goddess, I’ll go back to learning.” She then ran back to Meng Zhu’s side.

Meng Zhu saw her return and, after firing an arrow, gave her a wink. Xiao Jinyu turned red with embarrassment.

Seeing the two of them, Shen Qingye could tell there was a “story” brewing there. She took a sip of water and sat down next to the resting Jiang Chumian, watching Xiao Jinyu and Meng Zhu.

Shen Qingye realized she was actually feeling bothered. Bothered by the “Yu Xuan” in Jiang Chumian’s past, and bothered by whether her past was tied to Yu Xuan. Once she thought about the possibility that Jiang Chumian had learned archery for Yu Xuan, a faint sense of discomfort rose in her heart.

“Let’s have a match. Twenty arrows. Whoever loses has to do one thing for the other,” Shen Qingye said, looking at Jiang Chumian. Ultimately, she was a businesswoman she could turn anything into a transaction.

“Okay.” Jiang Chumian was confused at first, but nodded.

“Not afraid of losing?” Shen Qingye asked with a smile.

“Winning and losing is normal.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll make an unreasonable request?” Shen Qingye asked again.

Jiang Chumian smiled and looked at Shen Qingye: “Would you?”

Though it was a question, her eyes revealed her trust in Shen Qingye, as if she were certain she wouldn’t do anything excessive.

“That’s hard to say,” Shen Qingye scoffed. She wasn’t even sure of her own restraint, yet Jiang Chumian was.

“It doesn’t matter. I might not lose,” Jiang Chumian said with a smile in her eyes.

The two began their match with a coach watching from the side. Ten arrows each to see who could score more points.

In the end, Shen Qingye won. Jiang Chumian put down the bow and let out a breath: “President Shen really is amazing at everything.”

“You weren’t really in the zone,” Shen Qingye said, her phoenix eyes narrowing with a smile Jiang Chumian couldn’t quite decipher. Compared to her relaxed shots earlier, Jiang Chumian indeed seemed distracted during the match.

Jiang Chumian took a drink of water, avoiding the question: “So, President Shen, what is your condition?”

Shen Qingye stared at her for a long time before finally sighing. She couldn’t really do anything to Jiang Chumian what could she do if the girl insisted on keeping secrets?

“I haven’t thought of it yet. I’ll tell you when I do,” Shen Qingye said plainly, her interest seemingly waning.

“You can do that?” Jiang Chumian wiped her sweat and tilted her head at Shen Qingye.

“Why? Does President Jiang want to back out?” Shen Qingye stared at her mischievously, her mood finally improving a bit.

Jiang Chumian sighed: “How would I dare? You’re the boss; what the boss says goes.”

Shen Qingye shook her head: “That flattery was quite low-level.”

Jiang Chumian wrinkled her brow in distress: “Should I sign up for a class to learn? I’ll strive to satisfy President Shen next time.”

Shen Qingye caught the trace of playfulness hidden in her voice. She looked like a clever little fox, so cute that one wanted to reach out and rub her head.

“Then President Jiang had better study hard.”

Jiang Chumian chuckled: “Alright, I’ll sign up as soon as I get back.”

It was rare for them to joke like this. Shen Qingye liked this version of Jiang Chumian much more vivid.

While Xiao Jinyu and Meng Zhu continued their session, Jiang Chumian, despite her decent aim, lacked stamina and went to rest for real. Once Xiao Jinyu was tired as well, Meng Zhu went to freshen up with her, then came out to ask Shen Qingye and Jiang Chumian what they wanted for dinner.

They definitely couldn’t have hotpot again. In the end, they chose Hunan cuisine. This was because Jiang Chumian refused to eat anything too bland. Shen Qingye had suggested something light, but Jiang Chumian just looked at her with pleading eyes. Though she didn’t say it, her resistance was written all over her face.

Shen Qingye eventually compromised and let her have Hunan food, but reminded her not to get anything too spicy.

“Hunan food around here can’t be that spicy, trust me,” Jiang Chumian attempted to convince her again.

Once they were there, even if it was spicy, Shen Qingye couldn’t say much. Fortunately, it wasn’t overwhelming. Perhaps because of the day’s exercise, Jiang Chumian ate quite a lot.

As Jiang Chumian had predicted, this was their last bit of relaxation. By the end of the year, every company became incredibly busy. The two of them rarely saw each other, often returning home very late. Jiang Chumian was busy preparing for year-end audits, and Shen Qingye had it no easier, with several projects needing reports for the board of directors.

After finishing three meetings in a row, Jiang Chumian finally got off work. She had her assistant order a meal to her office, but before she could take a bite, she saw a missed video call on WeChat. It was from her mother.

Jiang Chumian hesitated for a long time before deciding not to call back. She replied with a message: “Mom, what’s wrong?”

The moment she sent it, a video call request came through.

“Mom,” Jiang Chumian said coolly as she looked at the beautiful woman on the screen. Even with age, her beauty was undeniable.

“So you married Shen Qingye?” the woman asked sharply.

Jiang Chumian found it almost funny. She had been married for nearly a year, and her mother was only just finding out. She had sent a text about it, but her mother kept her blocked on WeChat for most of the year to avoid letting people know she had a daughter. Looking at the background, she was likely traveling abroad with some man, having completely forgotten her daughter’s existence.

“Yes,” Jiang Chumian said softly. “The wedding was at the beginning of the year.”

“Where are you now?” the woman asked again.

“The office,” Jiang Chumian answered calmly.

“Let me see,” the woman demanded.

Jiang Chumian switched to the rear camera. She looked at the woman’s face a face similar to her own but more glamorous. Despite being nearly fifty, she looked like she was in her thirties; she had always known how to take care of herself.

“Tsk, not bad. It seems Shen Qingye treats you well?” The woman evaluated after seeing the office.

Jiang Chumian switched the camera back: “Mhm, it’s fine.”

“That’s good. I didn’t think you had it in you to seduce Shen Qingye quietly.” Jiang Chumian just pursed her lips, saying nothing.

“How does she treat you?” She watched the woman she called her mother. The red lips moved, but not a single word was what she hoped to hear. After all these years, she should have been used to it, yet she still held onto a tiny, lingering hope.

“Fine,” Jiang Chumian lowered her gaze, hiding the disappointment in her heart.

“So you have quite a bit of money now, don’t you?” the woman asked, her tone rising.

Jiang Chumian felt a sudden tightness in her chest. Even though she told herself repeatedly not to expect anything, she couldn’t help but feel sad.

“How much do you want?” Jiang Chumian asked, suppressing the urge to hang up.

“One million,” the woman said without hesitation.

Jiang Chumian’s thin lips pressed into a line, her expression turning cold.

“Don’t look at me with that dead expression. I’m your mother,” the woman said, her disgust completely undisguised.

“Five hundred thousand. Nothing more,” Jiang Chumian said after a long pause, her throat feeling dry.

“Are you treating me like a beggar? Think your wings are strong now? Forgot who sent you back to the Jiang family? You wouldn’t be where you are today without me!”

“Five hundred thousand? Who are you looking down on? You’re a CEO now; you can’t be short on money. If you are, just ask Shen Qingye. The Shen Group is massive; surely they can afford to support a mother-in-law?”

Jiang Chumian was beyond exhausted by these words, but her face remained calm. To the woman, she looked like an immovable object someone who seemingly never felt joy or anger. She had been like this since childhood, like a monster. The more she looked, the more the woman felt disgusted, and she made no effort to hide it.

“Are you giving it or not? If not, I’ll cause a scene at the Jiang house and in front of Shen Qingye. I’ll let her see how filthy you are.”

Hearing the threat, Jiang Chumian let out a scoff. Threatening her? If her life became difficult, the woman’s life would only be worse she would lose the financial source for her extravagant lifestyle.

“Six hundred thousand. Take it or leave it. I really don’t have that much money.” It wasn’t that she couldn’t give a million, but if she gave it too easily, the next time it would be two million, then five million.

“Fine, fine. Just transfer it quickly.” With that, as if she couldn’t stand to look at her for a second longer, the woman hung up.

Jiang Chumian called her secretary in to help with the transfer. After the secretary left, Jiang Chumian looked at the lunch her assistant had brought, but she had lost her appetite entirely. She forced down a few bites but couldn’t finish. Remembering Shen Qingye’s reminder, she forced herself to eat half.

She remained busy all afternoon. It wasn’t until 8:00 PM that Jiang Chumian realized she had forgotten to eat dinner again. Her stomach was starting to ache slightly. She sighed and asked her assistant to order some porridge.

Despite the heating in the office, she felt a sudden chill both in her body and her heart. She wanted to go home, but realized there was nowhere in her world she could truly call “home.” Even the villa she shared with Shen Qingye was just a place to stay.

She lay on the office sofa to rest for a bit until her assistant knocked.

“Thank you,” Jiang Chumian said softly as she took the porridge.

“President Jiang, aren’t you going home yet?” the assistant, Zhu Tao, asked cautiously.

Jiang Chumian gave her a smile: “You all can leave. I still have some documents to finish. Send Secretary Han in.” Secretary Han was the previous manager’s secretary, kept on because of her competence. Zhu Tao was someone she was training personally as her private assistant.

“Okay,” Zhu Tao said and turned to leave. She sometimes felt Jiang Chumian worked too hard. She thought Jiang Chumian was already amazing and didn’t need to push herself this much. Perhaps that’s what happened when someone excellent worked harder than everyone else.

She carefully closed the door but nearly bumped into someone. Looking up, she saw Shen Qingye’s face, which looked even more intimidating. Zhu Tao was bewildered why was President Shen here?

“President Shen,” she greeted nervously. Realizing she hadn’t told Shen Qingye about Jiang Chumian missing meals today, she felt a wave of embarrassment.

“Mhm. Is President Jiang in?” Shen Qingye nodded slightly.

Zhu Tao just wanted to run away. Shen Qingye’s aura was too strong even scarier than Jiang Chumian’s. “Yes, she’s in,” she answered fearfully.

“Alright. You can go. I’m here to pick her up,” Shen Qingye said plainly, seemingly not understanding why the girl was so nervous.

Shen Qingye simply thought they should occasionally maintain the image of a good relationship, so she had the sudden idea to pick Jiang Chumian up after work. Upon entering, she saw Jiang Chumian eating porridge. Shen Qingye checked the time it was after 8:00 PM, and she was only just eating dinner? Thinking of her stomach, Shen Qingye couldn’t help but frown.

Hearing the door open, Jiang Chumian thought it was her secretary: “Have a seat. We need to talk about the suppliers.”

“Mhm.”

The cool, clear voice made Jiang Chumian look up. Seeing Shen Qingye, she couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Why are you here?” Jiang Chumian asked softly, seeing Shen Qingye’s somewhat dark expression.

“I called you, but you didn’t answer,” Shen Qingye said coldly.

Jiang Chumian checked her phone and saw the missed calls. That afternoon, after her mother had called her “useless” and sent several insulting messages, she had put the phone on silent and forgotten about it. Usually, if there was an emergency, people would contact her through her assistants, and she had a separate work phone.

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Chumian apologized.

“Why are you only eating now? Porridge for dinner?” Shen Qingye sat next to her and asked stiffly.

“I don’t have much of an appetite. I wanted something light.” She didn’t dare tell Shen Qingye that her stomach hurt; she knew it would only make her angrier.

“What’s wrong?” A hint of concern crept into Shen Qingye’s tone.

Jiang Chumian took a sip of porridge, hiding her emotions: “Nothing. Maybe I just haven’t been resting well lately.”

Shen Qingye didn’t respond, and the office fell silent except for the sound of Jiang Chumian eating. Perhaps because Shen Qingye was there, Jiang Chumian finished the entire bowl. Her back still felt a bit cold, but she felt better after eating.

Seeing she had finished, Shen Qingye’s expression softened. “Do you still need to work overtime?”

Jiang Chumian shook her head: “No.”

Shen Qingye looked at the documents on the desk teasingly. Jiang Chumian cleared the trash: “I was going to talk to the secretary about this plan, but since you’re here, it can wait until tomorrow.”

Shen Qingye smiled: “I can wait for you.” Her voice, usually cold, carried a trace of cheerfulness.

While Jiang Chumian was hesitating, there was a knock at the door. Having been notified by the assistant, the secretary had timed her arrival perfectly. Jiang Chumian had no choice; she couldn’t send the secretary away now.

“Come in,” Jiang Chumian said.

The secretary froze when she saw Shen Qingye on the sofa the assistant hadn’t warned her, and she was unprepared.

Shen Qingye checked the time: “How long will you need? I’ll wait.”

“Give me twenty minutes?” Jiang Chumian estimated.

“Okay.” Shen Qingye nodded and went back to her phone.

With Shen Qingye waiting, Jiang Chumian went through the plan with her secretary. This was the first time Shen Qingye had seen Jiang Chumian work. When the girl was serious, she had quite an aura. Her face, which usually seemed gentle and quiet, became cool and professional, making her seem less approachable. But to manage the difficult people at the company, she couldn’t afford to be too easygoing.

Jiang Chumian said twenty minutes, and it was exactly twenty minutes.

“I’ll be going then, President Jiang.” The secretary didn’t want to stay a second longer. Between Shen Qingye’s “keep away” aura and Jiang Chumian’s cool professionalism, she couldn’t imagine the two of them as a romantic couple. To her, it was clearly a business marriage with no emotional foundation. Even if they seemed affectionate, it must be for show. How could sparks fly between two people like this?

Only the little assistant firmly believed the two were truly in love. To most people, the idea of true love between elites in a business marriage seemed impossible.

Jiang Chumian packed her bag, and Shen Qingye stood up. Since they were still at the company, they had to maintain the act. Jiang Chumian took Shen Qingye’s arm and gave her a gentle smile. But it wasn’t entirely an act; Jiang Chumian truly felt relaxed around Shen Qingye, and that feeling wasn’t faked. Smelling the faint scent of Shen Qingye’s perfume gave her a strange sense of peace.

“What made you come today?” Jiang Chumian asked once they left the office.

“There’s a gathering with friends. I was going to ask if you wanted to come, but you didn’t answer. I was passing by, so I thought I’d check on you.” Shen Qingye gave an awkward explanation. While the gathering was real, her coming to the office wasn’t because she was “passing by.” But she felt it would be embarrassing to admit that, so she chose a lie.

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Chumian apologized again.

“It’s fine. It’s not too late. Do you still want to go?” Shen Qingye asked softly.

Jiang Chumian felt guilty after the explanation and didn’t want to ruin her gathering, so she didn’t refuse. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Mhm,” Shen Qingye responded nonchalantly. At some point, she had taken Jiang Chumian’s hand. The girl’s hand was small and soft, and Shen Qingye found herself unwilling to let go. Jiang Chumian noticed but didn’t know if she should pull away—it seemed impolite.

While waiting for the elevator, Shen Qingye remembered something: “There’s a charity gala on Wednesday. Want to go together?”

“Okay.” Jiang Chumian remembered the event. The charity gala invited many entrepreneurs and celebrities and received a lot of attention. Every year, the Shen and Jiang families attended together.

“Should I pick you up after work on Wednesday?”

“No need. There’s roadwork on that route lately; it’ll be congested. I’ll go on my own.” Jiang Chumian declined after a moment’s thought.

“Fair enough. I’ll arrange a stylist. Go there early in the afternoon.”

Since it was a gala, they couldn’t just wear work clothes. Over the years, Shen Qingye had worked hard to build the group’s image and even had many “wife fans” online. After her wedding video was made public, she gained many “CP fans” (shippers) as well. Though they weren’t a mainstream couple, it had become part of the corporate image. Occasionally, they needed to show up together.

“Got it,” Jiang Chumian agreed without hesitation.

The rush hour had passed, and the elevator arrived quickly. They entered, but Shen Qingye hadn’t parked in the underground garage. She had parked in an outdoor spot since she planned to leave quickly.

“Which floor?”

“First floor. We’ll take my car. I’ll have the driver bring you in tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.”

Outside the elevator, Jiang Chumian asked about the location of the gathering. Shen Qingye looked down and answered. They chatted softly. Shen Qingye was taller than Jiang Chumian and occasionally looked down at her. The girl’s features were delicate, her face usually wore a somewhat indifferent expression, but Shen Qingye had seen her smile with genuine joy.

To the secretary who had left work a bit late, this looked like a picture of a loving couple. She had previously thought there was no love between them, but now she felt corrected. Though both were cool-tempered, they seemed strangely in sync when together. You couldn’t feel any explosive passion, but like a gentle breeze on a summer night, it was comfortable. Especially the way Shen Qingye smiled at Jiang Chumian it didn’t look like an act. As the girls online would say, their eyes were practically “making honey.” It couldn’t be fake.

Zhu Tao poked her head from behind Secretary Han: “I told you my CP was real! You didn’t believe me, but do you now?”

Secretary Han laughed: “Fine, fine. You’re the master of shipping.”

After Jiang Chumian’s reorganization, the atmosphere at Xiguang was much more relaxed. Though Secretary Han was older than Jiang Chumian and Zhu Tao, she wasn’t rigid and was actually quite fun in private.

Stepping out of the building, Jiang Chumian couldn’t help but shiver from the cold wind.

“Cold?” Shen Qingye noticed and asked.

Jiang Chumian nodded: “A bit.”

“Wear more tomorrow,” Shen Qingye said as she felt Jiang Chumian grip her hand tighter.

“It feels fine indoors,” Jiang Chumian explained.

“Really?” Shen Qingye found that hard to believe.

“Truly. The office and the house both have heating. Usually, I just drive to the company and go straight up from the garage. I haven’t needed to go out to check venues lately,” Jiang Chumian explained further.

Shen Qingye laughed: “Alright, I get it. Why so serious?”

Fortunately, the car wasn’t far. Shen Qingye turned on the heat immediately, and Jiang Chumian finally warmed up.

They drove to a clubhouse. It was exceptionally lively, and it seemed the place had been booked for the night.

“This place belongs to the Su family. Their youngest son just took over today. He just came back from studying abroad and is quite extravagant, so he closed the place for the day.”

This gathering was different from a simple dinner with Shen Qingye’s close friends. Upon entering, Jiang Chumian saw many people, all looking like they were having a great time.

“Oh, Sister Qing is here!” A young man with white-dyed hair greeted them from a distance.

“Mhm,” Shen Qingye nodded plainly. She held Jiang Chumian’s hand, giving it a light squeeze as if telling her not to be nervous.

Jiang Chumian scanned the crowd and realized most of them were second-generation wealthy heirs. She even spotted Lin Xingmo and Meng Zhu.

“Sister Qing, why so late?” As the host of the night, Su Yuan walked over. He looked young and naive.

“I went to pick up your sister-in-law,” Shen Qingye answered plainly.

Su Yuan looked Jiang Chumian up and down with a somewhat condescending gaze. Almost everyone in their circle knew about Jiang Chumian, but since she never participated in their activities, it was as if she didn’t exist. Occasionally, they would hear gossip about her from Jiang Xiaofan usually nothing good. They treated it as a joke, viewing her like a clown.

However, Jiang Chumian met Su Yuan’s gaze with a calm expression and a slight nod.

After seeing Jiang Chumian’s demeanor, Su Yuan awkwardly stepped back. Seeing Shen Qingye holding her hand, he gave a polite smile: “Is Sister-in-law always this busy?”

He remembered what his sister had said that Shen Qingye’s wife was by no means a simple person. He had initially scoffed at the idea. In his memory, Jiang Chumian was about his age; Jiang Xiaofan was a bit older, but Jiang Chumian was a peer.

Because he had heard so many bad things about her since childhood, and because whenever there was an event with the Jiang family, this illegitimate daughter was either absent or hiding in a corner, he had looked down on her. Even when bullied by Jiang Xiaofan, she had said nothing. Back then, Su Yuan thought she was like a rat in a gutter someone who could never stand on a grand stage. Since she never entered their circle, all his impressions came from others.

But seeing her today, Su Yuan realized his sister was right. Jiang Chumian had a certain temperament and aura that he couldn’t quite describe, but he knew she was the same type of person as Shen Qingye and his own sister. His experience told him that this type of person was not to be trifled with.

Shen Qingye noticed Su Yuan’s gaze lingering on Jiang Chumian and, feeling displeased, led her further inside. “Where’s your sister?”

On the surface, Su Yuan was the host, but Shen Qingye knew his sister was the one behind it all. She would definitely be here.

“She’s upstairs, having tea with Sister Xingmo.” Su Yuan pointed upward. Shen Qingye looked up and saw Lin Xingmo, Meng Zhu, and Su Yuan’s sister, Su Jun, standing by the railing.

“Mhm. I’m going up.” Shen Qingye had no interest in chatting with this “little brat.” She seemed to have forgotten that Jiang Chumian, whose hand she was holding, was about the same age as Su Yuan.

Shen Qingye led Jiang Chumian to the second floor. Downstairs, Jiang Xiaofan stamped her feet in anger, her eyes burning with resentment. How could Jiang Chumian be allowed near Su Jun?

Even at a gathering of wealthy heirs, there was a hierarchy. Those who hadn’t taken over any family business, like Jiang Xiaofan, were only fit to play with other idle heirs. The people on the second floor were on a completely different level they were the ones qualified to inherit.

Perhaps the only exception was Meng Zhu, who hadn’t taken over the business yet, but as the only daughter with no rival relatives, the estate would be hers regardless of how much she played. Besides, everyone knew she was capable; she just wasn’t ready to settle down.

As Shen Qingye led Jiang Chumian upstairs, Meng Zhu whispered to Lin Xingmo: “I never thought the day would come when Shen Qingye would be this possessive. How strange.”

Su Jun also noticed. Just because her brother looked at Jiang Chumian for a bit longer, Shen Qingye seemed displeased. It was truly surprising.

Shen Qingye brought Jiang Chumian to them. Meng Zhu gave Jiang Chumian a hug: “Mianmian, it’s been so long. I missed you!”

Jiang Chumian hugged her back with a smile: “It’s been a while.”

“Why didn’t you bring ‘Little Goldfish’?” Meng Zhu asked, genuinely finding Xiao Jinyu interesting.

Jiang Chumian smiled: “I was also a last-minute addition by Qingye.” She gave Meng Zhu an innocent shrug.

Meng Zhu didn’t press her, just laughed: “She wouldn’t fit in here anyway. Little Goldfish is too innocent.” It was true; Xiao Jinyu would have a hard time getting along with these people.

Jiang Chumian’s gaze swept over Jiang Xiaofan downstairs, who was looking at her with undisguised jealousy. If Xiao Jinyu were here, they’d probably get into a fight, Jiang Chumian thought. Back in childhood, Xiao Jinyu had fought Jiang Xiaofan on her behalf and even ended up at the police station. But in the end, the one who was scolded at home was always Jiang Chumian.

After chatting with Shen Qingye, Su Jun looked at Jiang Chumian. “President Jiang, I’ve heard much about you,” she said, extending a hand.

Jiang Chumian shook it: “As have I of you, President Su.” Su Jun’s reputation was far greater than Jiang Chumian’s. No matter how much she was praised, Jiang Chumian knew her own standing. Comparing herself to Su Jun was too generous.

Su Jun was only a few years older than Shen Qingye. When her parents died in a sudden accident, eighteen-year-old Su Jun had taken over the family business, not only reclaiming it from the “wolves” but also expanding it significantly. One could even say Shen Qingye was slightly behind her.

Furthermore, she had successfully managed the business without neglecting her brother or her own studies. Jiang Chumian had known about her for a long time and held her in high regard. Seeing her in person felt a bit like how Xiao Jinyu felt when seeing Shen Qingye.

Shen Qingye noticed that Jiang Chumian’s gaze toward Su Jun was more fervent than usual. She glanced at her, then looked away. She couldn’t allow herself to show that she was bothered.

Lin Xingmo laughed: “It seems Chumian is also a fan of Sister Jun.”

Jiang Chumian nodded shyly: “I suppose so. Sister Jun is amazing.”

Su Yuan, who had followed them upstairs, piped up: “My sister is definitely amazing.”

Su Jun tapped his head: “What are you doing here? Not playing with those idle friends of yours downstairs?” In Su Jun’s eyes, those high-and-mighty heirs were just useless “idle friends.”

Su Yuan scratched his head and gave a sheepish laugh, looking like he wanted something.

Shen Qingye laughed and asked: “Any food?”

“Sister Qing, you haven’t eaten? We have food; new dishes are coming soon. If you can’t wait, there should be some pastries in my sister’s private room. Want to go there first?” Su Yuan figured Shen Qingye and his sister were close enough that she wouldn’t mind.

“Sure,” Shen Qingye nodded and led Jiang Chumian into the room.

Meng Zhu looked lazily at Su Yuan: “What ‘ghostly idea’ do you have now?”

“No, no idea. Just some friends who want to invite you all downstairs for some games and drinks,” Su Yuan scratched his head.

“I think you want to invite Chumian downstairs,” Meng Zhu said, seeing through his plan. She just couldn’t be bothered with those people anymore. When it came to being arrogant and unruly, Meng Zhu had done it all years ago. Back then, she was the legendary “Demon King” of the second-generation circle.

Then she went to university and somehow changed. Later, she started traveling and was rarely home, so the younger heirs didn’t know her old reputation. They only knew she was the pampered only daughter and would naturally try to flatter her.

Lin Xingmo had always been gentle and was now a public figure, appearing easy to get along with. But no one who had been friends with Shen Qingye and Meng Zhu for over twenty years could be truly “easy.”

Su Yuan scratched his head at Meng Zhu’s question. He didn’t dare say it out loud, fearing Shen Qingye would snap at him.

“I don’t mind going down for a drink, but you’ll have to ask your Sister Qing,” Meng Zhu said lazily.

Su Yuan looked at his sister.

“I’m not as bored as you all. Play if you want, but if you offend your Sister Qing or your sister-in-law, don’t expect me to help you,” Su Jun said with a smile as she took a sip of wine.

Su Yuan looked miserable. He had just bragged to his friends that he would definitely bring Shen Qingye and Jiang Chumian down. If he failed, it would be embarrassing.

“Alright,” Su Yuan slumped his shoulders. Just then, a staff member arrived with more food. Su Yuan took it and brought it into the room himself.

He looked at Shen Qingye and Jiang Chumian with a smile: “Sister Qing, Sister-in-law, want to come down for some games and drinks after you eat?”

Jiang Chumian thought of her stomach and felt conflicted. She already felt unwell today; drinking would surely cause more pain, and she wasn’t eager to experience that.

Shen Qingye gave him a lazy look and scoffed: “Did they ask you to come up?”

Su Yuan wanted to say no, but under Shen Qingye’s scrutinizing gaze, he couldn’t lie.

“Wait until I finish eating,” Shen Qingye said before scoffing again.

“Got it, Sister Qing!” Su Yuan ran out immediately.

Shen Qingye picked up a pastry: “The pastries here are quite good. Try some?”

Jiang Chumian agreed and took one.

“You don’t have to go. Jiang Xiaofan is there; those people probably just want to watch me for entertainment,” Jiang Chumian said, clearly seeing Su Yuan’s real intention.

“Planning to just ignore it again?” Shen Qingye asked.

“What’s the point in arguing with them?” Jiang Chumian didn’t quite understand. Even with Jiang Xiaofan, she couldn’t be bothered. In her eyes, Jiang Xiaofan was only slightly better off than she was.

“That’s no fun,” Shen Qingye scoffed. “When you were the second Miss of the Jiang family, I didn’t care if they joked about you. But now you’re my wife. If you’re taken advantage of, it’s the same as me being taken advantage of, and I won’t allow that.”

“Just a bunch of brats. Their tricks are what I used to play years ago.” Back when Shen Qingye and Meng Zhu “ruled” the circle, these kids were still in school. But she suddenly realized these “brats” were about the same age as Jiang Chumian. She couldn’t help but marvel at the gap between people Jiang Chumian was already planning to swallow the Jiang Group, while these people were still playing petty games.

“I understand,” Jiang Chumian lowered her gaze, saying nothing more.

Then Shen Qingye added: “Your stomach is weak. You don’t have to drink; I’ll drink for you.”

“But if I drink too much, President Jiang had better make sure I get home safely,” Shen Qingye joked.

Jiang Chumian stared at her, unsure of how to respond. Shen Qingye had been like this lately—reminding her of their marriage agreement and the need to “perform,” yet constantly looking after her in ways that went beyond any agreement.

“What? Is Chumian finding it difficult?” Shen Qingye asked with a smile.

Jiang Chumian shook her head: “No, I… thank you.” In the end, all she could say was “thank you.”

Shen Qingye waved her hand: “No need.”