Refusing Divorce After a Contract Marriage - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Meeting the Elders

Jiang Chumian had initially assumed that someone like Shen Qingye would have many social obligations.

As it turned out, that wasn’t quite the case. Shen Qingye seemed to decline auctions and galas whenever possible. Although invitations were a common sight around the house, Shen Qingye rarely attended them.

After living together for a month, Jiang Chumian noticed that Shen Qingye usually came straight home after work. Her preferred forms of relaxation seemed to be watching movies and playing video games.

That a prominent group CEO was quite addicted to gaming was something Jiang Chumian truly hadn’t expected. Shen Qingye had purchased quite a few gaming setups for the house; sometimes, when Jiang Chumian returned from work, she would see Shen Qingye sitting there playing alone.

She had assumed that someone like Shen Qingye would be surrounded by many friends, but after a month, she realized her circle was actually quite small. Furthermore, Shen Qingye never brought them home; if they had plans, she always went out to meet them.

This arrangement suited Jiang Chumian perfectly.

During the first month, Jiang Chumian was the one leaving early and returning late. Having just entered Shiguang, she had to clean up the previous mess while planning for the future; it felt as though there were never enough hours in the day.

On the contrary, Shen Qingye, the CEO of the entire group, seemed much more leisurely than her.

However, Shen Qingye’s leisure only lasted that first month. Over the following three months, both of them returned home late. Occasionally, they would bump into each other in the living room, but there was little conversation just a nod and a greeting.

They didn’t discuss work after hours; any business matters followed official company channels. Their most frequent interaction was during breakfast. Since Jiang Chumian moved in, Shen Qingye’s breakfasts had become much more substantial.

As usual, when Shen Qingye came downstairs, Jiang Chumian had already prepared breakfast. Today it was minced meat noodles. Shen Qingye sat opposite her and said softly, “Thank you for the hard work.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d like it, but I thought noodles might be a nice change of pace,” Jiang Chumian said softly, adding a bit of chili to her own bowl.

Shen Qingye took a bite. “It’s delicious.”

With that, they both lowered their heads and spoke no more.

“Grandpa asked if we wanted to go back for dinner this weekend,” Shen Qingye said after checking WeChat, looking up to ask for Jiang Chumian’s opinion.

Jiang Chumian nodded. “Okay.”

“I’ll reply to him, then.”

“Mhm.” It was necessary to visit, and occasionally they needed to “perform” to prevent rumors of discord. While they weren’t exactly intimate, they weren’t on bad terms either they were at least “ordinary friends.” Regardless of the truth, such rumors were bad for the cooperation between the Shen and Jiang families.

“I’m heading out first.” Shen Qingye finished eating and checked the time. She had a meeting this morning and needed to arrive early. She changed her shoes and headed for the door.

“Drive safely,” Jiang Chumian replied politely.

Once Shen Qingye left, Jiang Chumian put the dishes in the dishwasher and headed out as well.

By Friday, Shen Qingye had a meeting with managers from various departments at the headquarters, and it was late by the time she finished.

When she got home, Jiang Chumian hadn’t returned yet. Shen Qingye showered and went to her room, enjoying a rare, leisurely moment watching TV.

It was past midnight when Jiang Chumian returned, looking exhausted. Shen Qingye was still watching her movie. Hearing the door, Shen turned her head. Jiang Chumian was still in the same outfit from that morning, but her expression was weary and her face slightly flushed.

“Back so late?” Shen Qingye asked casually.

“Yes. There was a fashion show today, and we went for dinner afterward,” Jiang Chumian nodded.

Shen Qingye’s gaze lingered on her face. “Did you drink?”

“A little.” Jiang Chumian changed her shoes, glanced at the movie Shen Qingye was watching, and added, “I’m going up now.”

“Alright.” Shen Qingye nodded without prying. Socializing was a normal part of the job; when she first took over the group, she had more engagements than Jiang Chumian did.

However, Shen Qingye wasn’t sure exactly what the event was. The Shen Group had many subsidiaries, and she couldn’t keep track of every single activity.

Once Jiang Chumian went upstairs, Shen Qingye picked up her phone and scrolled through Jiang Chumian’s social media. Although there were only a few photos, it was clear it was a fashion show, and the quality looked decent. She put her phone down shortly after; she didn’t plan to investigate further. She only cared about the results Jiang Chumian produced.

After the movie, Shen Qingye felt sleepy. She turned off the TV and went upstairs. She noticed that Jiang Chumian’s door wasn’t fully closed, and she could faintly hear her on the phone.

“And you? Is he good to you?” She heard only this sentence. The tone was different from her usual detached voice—one could sense her genuine concern for the person on the other end.

Inside, Jiang Chumian sat on the sofa hugging her knees, listening to Yu Xuan’s voice and curling herself into a ball.

“It’s just… okay,” Yu Xuan laughed softly. “Let’s not talk about that. Why did you suddenly marry Shen Qingye?”

Three months ago, Yu Xuan had asked this on WeChat, and Jiang Chumian had replied with a single word. They hadn’t spoken since. Today, Yu Xuan had called out of the blue, her voice sounding exhausted.

Jiang Chumian didn’t know how to answer. The alcohol made her head feel heavy. She pursed her lips, but in the end, she didn’t mention the contract.

“She’s very good,” Jiang Chumian’s voice softened.

“Do you like her?” The other side was silent for a long while before asking.

Jiang Chumian felt a pang in her heart. This time, she didn’t stay silent for long: “And do you like him?”

After a long silence, Jiang Chumian was the one to break it. “Since you’re abroad, I sent some of the food you like. It should arrive soon.”

“Chumian.”

“Mhm.”

“Take care of yourself.”

“Mhm.”

Jiang Chumian was never a woman of many words, but for Yu Xuan, Jiang Chumian was the one person who always made her feel safe. She felt that no matter what, if she turned around, Jiang Chumian would be there.

They didn’t chat for long. Jiang Chumian was truly tired and hung up.

Because of the alcohol, she woke up late the next day it was almost 10:00 AM. Remembering they were supposed to have lunch with the elders, she got out of bed in a minor panic. After washing up, she saw Shen Qingye already sitting in the living room.

Hearing the door upstairs, Shen Qingye looked up and nodded. “Morning.”

“Morning. Sorry, I overslept. You should have woken me,” Jiang Chumian said apologetically.

Shen Qingye smiled. “No rush. I told Grandma we’d be there for lunch. I had breakfast delivered; have some first.” She pointed to a portion of breakfast on the table.

“Okay, thank you.” Jiang Chumian obeyed and began to slowly eat her porridge. It was simple, but it tasted good and was still warm.

As she ate, she watched Shen Qingye out of the corner of her eye. She had initially thought Shen would be cold and difficult to get along with, but in truth, she was quite kind most of the time.

After finishing, Jiang Chumian tidied up the trash and sat on the single sofa opposite Shen Qingye.

While flipping through a magazine, Shen Qingye asked nonchalantly, “How was the fashion show yesterday?”

“It was alright. During dinner last night, a few companies I was interested in expressed a desire to cooperate,” Jiang Chumian replied seriously.

Seeing her earnest expression, Shen Qingye smiled. She didn’t intend to probe; she was just making conversation. As for the results, she would see them in the reports soon enough.

“Let’s go. It’s an hour’s drive,” Shen Qingye said, checking the time and applying lipstick.

Jiang Chumian stood up. Today she wasn’t wearing business attire but a qipao that elegantly traced her silhouette. Looking at Shen Qingye, Jiang Chumian thought that the socialites described in books must look exactly like her.

“You look very beautiful,” Shen Qingye complimented her first.

In Shen’s eyes, the girl was wearing a pale green slip dress with a stylishly cinched waist, making her look slender and tall.

Jiang Chumian was slightly taken aback. She gave an involuntary smile. “Thank you. You too.”

Since they were going to a family dinner, they couldn’t drive separately. Jiang Chumian didn’t know the way, so Shen Qingye took the wheel.

When they arrived at the Shen villa, the butler helped open the doors. As they stepped out, Shen Qingye smiled at Jiang Chumian and offered her arm. Jiang Chumian naturally took it, carrying a small bag containing gifts for the elders.

The two elders beamed when they saw them enter so intimately.

“You’re back!” Old Mrs. Shen smiled as she walked toward them.

“Grandma.”

“Hello, Grandma,” Jiang Chumian followed Shen Qingye’s lead. Her smile was naturally endearing, and her well-behaved manner immediately won the old lady’s heart.

“Oh, come here, Chumian. Let Grandma have a good look at you.”

Shen Qingye let go of her and gave a reassuring smile. “I’ll go see Grandpa.”

“Okay.” Though nervous, Jiang Chumian answered dutifully. She gave the gift to Mrs. Shen a handbag, not excessively expensive, but exactly the old lady’s style.

By the time Shen Qingye and Old Mr. Shen came downstairs, Jiang Chumian was already deep in conversation with the old lady. Shen Qingye could see her grandmother truly liked her. However, she could also see that Jiang Chumian was a bit stiff, seemingly overwhelmed by the old lady’s enthusiasm.

Jiang Chumian greeted the grandfather and gave him his gift. Shen Qingye felt she had chosen the right person; Jiang Chumian cooperated with the “act” without needing much guidance.

Sensing that Jiang Chumian was struggling to handle the elders’ intensity, Shen Qingye suggested they leave shortly after dinner.

“Leaving right after eating? Won’t you stay a bit longer?” Grandma seemed dissatisfied.

Shen Qingye smiled. “Grandma, Chumian and I have other plans. We’ll come back next time.”

“Young people… oh well, I can’t keep you. Here are some pastries to take home, and this is for Chumian for her first visit.”

Grandma handed a food container and an exquisite box to Jiang Chumian, her eyes full of affection. Jiang Chumian, who had never experienced such elders’ love growing up, was suddenly at a loss.

“This… Grandma, I can’t take this,” Jiang Chumian protested. The box looked incredibly valuable. They were only in a contract marriage, after all.

Shen Qingye smiled. “If Grandma gave it to you, take it. It’s a gesture of her heart.”

Jiang Chumian finally accepted it with both hands. “Then… thank you, Grandma.”

“Oh, child, don’t be so formal,” Grandma smiled, placing the box in her hands. “And Qingye, really! You dated for so long and never brought her home. If the old man hadn’t mentioned the engagement with the Jiang family, how much longer were you going to hide her?”

The innocent Shen Qingye laughed. “Grandma, we had our own plans. And don’t get me started on Grandpa—suddenly giving me an engagement out of nowhere. If Chumian hadn’t happened to be from the Jiang family, would I have been forced to marry someone I didn’t like?”

“Speaking of that, your grandfather is getting senile!”

Hearing Grandma scold Grandpa, Shen Qingye winked at Jiang Chumian with a mischievous look. In that moment, Shen Qingye was actually quite cute.

After finally escaping, Shen Qingye sat in the car and sighed. “Grandparents are like that. My parents passed away early, so they’re a bit long-winded with me. Please bear with them.”

“It’s okay,” Jiang Chumian replied softly. “It’s actually quite nice.” Such nagging was something she envied.

Remembering the gift, Jiang Chumian handed the box back to Shen Qingye. “This is probably very valuable. Since we have a contract, it’s not right for me to keep it. You should have it.”

Shen Qingye opened the box to find a bracelet. She chuckled, grabbed Jiang Chumian’s hand, and slid it onto her wrist. “If Grandma gave it to you, keep it. I meant what I said back there this isn’t just for the act. Besides, if she gave it to you and you don’t wear it, how will you explain it later? The contract is for five years, remember?”

As she spoke, Shen Qingye drove out of the garage. Jiang Chumian opened her mouth to speak but eventually took it off and put it back in the box.

“Fine, I’ll keep it for now.” Her voice still carried that inexplicable sense of detachment, as if she were afraid of becoming too deeply involved. She was a different person from the girl who had been cautiously asking questions on the phone the night before.

Quite interesting, Shen Qingye thought.

On the way back, Shen Qingye received a call. Afterward, she asked Jiang Chumian if she wanted to go for coffee. Jiang Chumian agreed since she had nothing else to do.

The person meeting Shen Qingye was a friend she hadn’t seen at the wedding, who had supposedly just returned to Yucheng a few days ago. The café was in the city center with a nice river view.

Stepping out of the car, Jiang Chumian again took Shen Qingye’s arm, projecting the image of a newlywed couple. Shen Qingye’s friend was different from her; while Shen had an air of cold nobility, her friend was a striking, bright beauty.

Seeing them sit down, the friend smiled. “Very well-matched. Shen Qingye, I didn’t see this coming—quietly falling in love like that.”

“Lin Xingmo, my childhood friend,” Shen introduced. “Jiang Chumian, my wife.”

For some reason, hearing Shen Qingye say the words “my wife” made Jiang Chumian feel a surge of awkwardness and shyness.

“Miss Lin, I’ve heard much about you.” Lin Xingmo was a rising star in the financial world, and Jiang Chumian had naturally heard of her.

“No need for formalities. Just call me Xingmo.”

Lin Xingmo had called Shen Qingye out just to catch up and vent about her life after being away for so long. Then, she suggested they go get their nails done, but she immediately laughed at her own suggestion.

She looked at the two of them suggestively. “Ah, my mistake. It wouldn’t be very convenient for you two to get a manicure right now.”

Jiang Chumian didn’t get the implication at first, but when she did, her face turned bright red.

“Chumian, are you really this thin-skinned? No wonder Shen Qingye managed to catch you,” Lin Xingmo teased.

Shen Qingye coughed lightly. “How are you so sure I was the one who pursued her?”

“Oh? It was the other way around? I didn’t realize Chumian was so bold with the people she likes.”

Jiang Chumian felt she wouldn’t be able to handle much more of Lin Xingmo’s teasing. Fortunately, Shen Qingye stepped in. “Just kidding. You guessed right—I pursued her.”

Shen Qingye was the one who had approached Jiang Chumian with the contract, so technically, she was the one who pursued her; it wasn’t exactly a lie. She took over the conversation, and Jiang Chumian finally escaped the spotlight.

The day ended after dinner with Lin Xingmo. Returning home, Jiang Chumian felt more exhausted than if she had been working. It wasn’t just physical tiredness; it was the feeling of being overwhelmed—by the elders’ warmth and the realization that, contract or not, she was inevitably becoming a part of Shen Qingye’s life.

Perhaps because of the busy schedule, Shen Qingye didn’t play games after getting home. They both retired to their rooms early. Jiang Chumian carefully placed the bracelet Grandma gave her into her vanity drawer. She nearly fell asleep while soaking in the tub.

The next day, Shen Qingye was already up when Jiang Chumian woke. Shen had a habit of exercising; on weekends, Jiang would sometimes see her coming out of the home gym, catching a glimpse of her impressive abs.

She had to admit that Shen Qingye was the “dream partner” for many, both publicly and privately. She was lucky Shen wasn’t a celebrity, or she’d be caught up in even more drama.

Jiang Chumian was lost in thought, not noticing Shen Qingye walking up the stairs.

“What are you looking at?” Shen Qingye asked, puzzled.

“Nothing.”

Realizing how close Shen Qingye was, Jiang Chumian felt a sudden wave of fluster. Thinking about her random wandering thoughts made it even worse. Her face turned bright red again.

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