Refusing Divorce After a Contract Marriage - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Opening Gifts Together

Jiang Chumian went downstairs to retrieve her shopping bags and the gift box from Xiao Jinyu. Earlier, because it had been difficult to change her shoes while holding them, she had placed them on the entryway cabinet, only to forget them once her shoes were swapped.

Turning around to find Shen Qingye still watching her, she felt awkward simply heading back upstairs. Instead, she carried the bags and the gift box into the living room, placed them on the coffee table, and sat on the sofa. “Have you eaten?”

Shen Qingye shook her head. “I haven’t left the house all day, so I’m not very hungry.”

“I bought some pastries. Would you like some? I think they’re quite good,” Jiang Chumian offered.

Shen Qingye didn’t hesitate long before nodding. “Thank you.”

Jiang Chumian retrieved the pastries she had just put in the fridge and opened a portion for Shen Qingye.

“What movie is this?” Jiang Chumian asked, glancing at the screen.

“A romance. I didn’t feel like looking at documents, and since it’s a rare day off, I didn’t really want to go out.” Shen Qingye gave her a mischievous smile. Sometimes she gave Jiang Chumian the impression of being a homebody just like herself, not at all like the socially adept head of a massive conglomerate.

Jiang Chumian’s lips curled upward. “So even the business genius Shen Qingye wants to slack off like a normal person sometimes.”

Shen Qingye took a bite of a pastry. It was sweet but not cloying—exactly to her taste. She looked at Jiang Chumian and chuckled. “There’s no such thing as a genius. Even ‘geniuses’ have to work hard. Otherwise, we’d all end up like Zhao Zhongyong—talented but eventually fading into mediocrity. If you don’t work hard, you just end up as part of the crowd.”

Jiang Chumian agreed with this sentiment and nodded. “True.”

She understood that the internal dynamics of the Shen Group were intricate and difficult, far from the easy ride outsiders imagined. Although Old Mr. Shen was still alive, he couldn’t provide much protection for Shen Qingye; given his age, his influence within the group had waned. Most of what Shen Qingye had achieved was due to her own efforts.

They watched the movie together for a while. Jiang Chumian realized that Shen Qingye truly enjoyed cinema and had a knack for finding hidden gems. After a while, Jiang Chumian turned her attention to her shopping bags.

Since she was already sitting there, it felt strange to just get up and leave, so she decided to open the gift box. It was a “blind box” from Xiao Jinyu, who had told her to enjoy the surprise.

Shen Qingye watched with curiosity. The box didn’t look like something Jiang Chumian would buy for herself. Her gaze followed Jiang’s hands as she patiently untied the ribbons, carefully picking at knots rather than tearing through them.

Shen Qingye knew she didn’t have that kind of patience. But through these small details, she could sense that Jiang Chumian was someone who deeply cherished the people around her. It was a trait that was both endearingly innocent and somewhat heartbreaking. Only those who have long yearned for something but have been denied it will cherish what they finally have with such intensity.

Neither the person untying nor the person watching felt bored. Watching her untie strings felt like a pleasant pastime. Shen Qingye told herself it was probably because Jiang Chumian was pretty—when a beautiful person does something, it’s rarely boring to watch.

Finally, the box was open. Inside the pink exterior was a chaotic jumble of items. It had a sense of ceremony, but only just.

“A gift from someone?” Shen Qingye asked.

Jiang Chumian nodded shyly. “Yes, a blind box from a friend.”

She patiently took the items out one by one. Xiao Jinyu had really packed it with a bizarre assortment of gifts. There was even a bubble machine.

Shen Qingye couldn’t help but laugh when she saw it.

Jiang Chumian’s ears turned hot. “She went traveling and said she wanted to bring me a copy of anything she found fun.”

“Your friend is very cute,” Shen Qingye said with a smile. She genuinely hadn’t expected someone with Jiang Chumian’s personality to have such a lively friend.

“She is quite cute.” Jiang Chumian smiled, remembering Xiao Jinyu’s eternally enthusiastic nature. She had been that way since they were kids.

Idly, Jiang Chumian pressed the button on the bubble machine. Instantly, countless bubbles floated through the room.

Jiang Chumian: “…”

The smile on Shen Qingye’s face broadened. To hide her embarrassment, Jiang Chumian set the machine down and dug through the rest: headbands, perfume, a small fan, cat-ear hair clips, and even a lighter. A variety of strange things, ranging from expensive to cheap, soon covered half the coffee table.

Just as she finished unpacking, Xiao Jinyu initiated a video call.

“Chumian! Well? Are you surprised? Do you love me?” Xiao Jinyu asked cheerfully, wearing a slip nightgown.

Listening to the voice, Shen Qingye couldn’t help but picture a happy puppy. Jiang Chumian was the puppy’s cat friend. They were indeed a good match for friendship.

“Childish,” Jiang Chumian answered honestly.

“It’s called having a ‘childlike heart,’ do you understand?” Xiao Jinyu retorted.

As they chattered away, Shen Qingye continued watching the movie, the conversation humming in her ears. Whether it was the sweet plot on screen or something else, the smile on Shen’s lips didn’t fade.

Just as the call was about to end, Xiao Jinyu suddenly gasped. “I forgot to ask one thing today!” She slapped her forehead in frustration.

“What?” Jiang Chumian was used to the “Little Princess’s” theatrics and forgetfulness, so her reaction was very calm.

“I forgot to ask—how did you end up married to my goddess? When did you two meet? Is my goddess sweet when she’s in love? Is she even better looking in person than in photos? And why didn’t you tell me you were married?!”

Jiang Chumian felt a headache coming on. How was she supposed to know if Shen Qingye was “sweet” in love? Though, the part about her being better looking in person was definitely true.

Jiang Chumian stole a glance at the person in question. Shen Qingye happened to be looking back and even winked at her.

Jiang Chumian promptly ended the video call.

“Sorry… I didn’t tell my friend that our marriage is just a contract. She…” she whispered to Shen Qingye, her face and ears turning a deep shade of red. Flustered, she struggled to explain. “She’s a fangirl of yours. She just thinks you’re amazing. She didn’t mean anything by it.”

Watching her pack the gifts back up, Shen Qingye’s eyes twinkled with amusement, but she remained calm. “I see. Thank her for the support. Your friend really is quite cute.”

“I’ll tell her her goddess called her cute,” Jiang Chumian teased back.

Shen Qingye smiled but said nothing more.

“I’ll go up now,” Jiang Chumian said softly.

Shen Qingye nodded. “Goodnight. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Even back in her room, Jiang Chumian’s face felt hot. She shouldn’t have opened the gift in the living room.

Downstairs, Shen Qingye let out a low chuckle, turned off the TV, and headed up as well.

The next morning, Shen Qingye was woken up at 8:00 AM by a call from Assistant Lin. She reluctantly got up to handle some work emails. Once her sleepiness faded, she washed up and headed down.

Auntie Zhang was there making breakfast. Shen Qingye watched the financial news and browsed a magazine. Around 9:00 AM, she heard movement upstairs. Auntie Zhang greeted Jiang Chumian: “Good morning, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Chumian yawned, looking a bit groggy, and gave Auntie Zhang a soft smile. “Morning, Auntie Zhang. Thank you for your hard work.”

It was the first time Shen Qingye had heard her voice sound so soft and sweet. She couldn’t help but look up. “Morning.”

Hearing Shen Qingye’s habitually cool voice, Jiang Chumian’s sleepiness vanished. She nodded shyly. “Morning.”

They sat at the dining table together. After checking a few messages, Jiang Chumian put her phone away, feeling it was impolite to ignore someone sitting at the same table.

“Our appointment is at 11:00. We’ll head out after eating,” Shen Qingye said.

Jiang Chumian, who was drinking milk, had a small white smudge on her upper lip. She licked it off and nodded. “Okay.”

She was still in her pajamas and looked very relaxed. Shen Qingye realized that Jiang Chumian usually dressed very professionally whenever they met—they were either leaving for work or coming home, and they rarely saw each other after evening showers. This was their first time having breakfast together at home on a weekend.

Shen Qingye looked away and finished her meal. Jiang Chumian habitually cleared the plates and went upstairs to get ready.

Both the Jiang and Shen families were high society, and Jiang Chumian had been raised to always maintain her image. She rarely left the house without makeup, viewing it as a matter of etiquette. Shen Qingye felt that the Jiang family was running out of true “socialites” in this generation; the eldest Jiang daughter showed no grace, only arrogance. But in Jiang Chumian, Shen saw someone who possessed true class not just wealth, but poise and character.

Knowing they were going ice skating, Jiang Chumian dressed casually in a hoodie and sweatpants, pulling her hair into a simple ponytail. Seeing the vibrant girl, Shen Qingye couldn’t help but sigh at how nice it was to be young.

She didn’t realize that Jiang Chumian was equally impressed by her. Jiang Chumian wondered how someone could look so elegant even in casual wear.

“Shall we?” Shen Qingye asked.

“Yes, let’s go.”

“I’ll drive. I know the way,” Shen suggested.

“Thank you.”

They were quiet in the car. Jiang Chumian stared out the window at the passing scenery. Shen Qingye glanced at her; the girl seemed to be in a daze. When silent, Jiang Chumian seemed even more quiet and ethereal—not like a fairy, but with an unfathomable quality.

When they stopped at a red light, Jiang Chumian snapped out of it. She looked at Shen Qingye’s hands on the steering wheel—long, slender, and elegant. Her gaze moved to Shen’s profile. The woman who was so commanding in meetings was surprisingly easy to get along with in private.

“What is it?” Shen Qingye turned her head and met her eyes.

“Nothing.” Jiang Chumian felt caught, her heart fluttering with a bit of embarrassment. Shen Qingye simply gave a low laugh and didn’t press her.

They arrived in about half an hour. As they walked toward the rink side-by-side, Jiang Chumian suddenly reached out and took Shen Qingye’s arm.

She looked at Shen and smiled. “For the public.” Her eyes held a trace of mischief.

Shen Qingye nodded. “Mhm.” She adjusted her arm slightly so it didn’t look like Jiang Chumian was the only one initiating the closeness. The small gesture made Jiang Chumian realize once again how easy it was to work with a smart partner.

At the reception, the staff greeted them immediately. “President Shen, President Rong is waiting for you.”

“Thank you.”

They were led to an area where a handsome man was skating with a female companion.

“That’s President Rong of Leigao Technology and his girlfriend,” Shen Qingye whispered to Jiang Chumian.

“Okay.” Jiang Chumian understood. Leigao was a giant in the tech industry. Since the Shen Group had plans to expand into the internet sector, this skating trip was clearly more than just leisure.

“President Shen is here,” the man skated over to the edge to greet them.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Shen Qingye said politely.

Rong Xiangdi scoffed. “Why are you being so formal with me? Won’t you introduce her?”

Shen Qingye looked at Jiang Chumian. “My wife, Jiang Chumian.” Then to Jiang, “This is President Rong of Leigao.”

Jiang Chumian shook his hand. “Hello, President Rong.” After a brief greeting with his girlfriend, the introductions were complete.

“We’re going to change shoes,” Shen Qingye said.

“Go ahead, go ahead.”

A staff member brought Shen Qingye’s personal skates and a brand-new pair for Jiang Chumian. The private coach Shen had requested stood nearby.

Once they were ready, the coach helped Jiang Chumian toward the ice. Jiang Chumian pursed her lips, her legs feeling shaky. Despite being scared, she stubbornly said nothing.

Shen Qingye watched for a moment before skating over. “I’ll help her,” she told the coach softly. Recognizing the wife, the coach stepped aside.

Shen Qingye took Jiang Chumian’s hand. The girl’s fingertips were cool, and she gripped Shen’s hand tightly.

“Nervous?”

Meeting those amber eyes, Jiang Chumian spoke the truth: “Yes, a little.”

“Don’t be afraid. It’s okay. I’m here with you.”

The tone was calm, but it surprisingly smoothed over Jiang Chumian’s anxiety.

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