Cheating CEO

Chapter 11: Legitimate Obligations of Wife

Even as the gala drew to a close, Gong Shichen could still discern the faintly suggestive smile playing on Ling Yanhong’s lips, stirring a primal sense of unease within her.

Did he truly intend to make her his wife in every sense of the word?

The realization sent a wave of panic through Gong Shichen. A careless jest had prompted him to turn back, ready to devour her, a scenario she had never wanted. To be precise, while she had entertained the thought of cultivating feelings for him after their marriage, had felt the sting of his indifference and the despair of a lonely marriage bed, the prospect of truly being with him like that—the dread and apprehension that seized her heart were so intense, she felt an urge to flee, to run as far away as she possibly could.

"Goodbye, Mr. Ling! Goodbye, Mrs. Ling."

"Goodbye, Mr. Zhuang, Mrs. Zhuang."

"Goodbye, Old Master Gong!"

As the evening concluded and guests exchanged their farewells, Ling Yanhong’s grip on her hand was ironclad, causing her palm to break out in a nervous sweat. When she saw Luo Wenke approaching with Zhuang Wentian, the picture of happiness, the ache in her heart intensified. To share a bed with a man who did not love her—what a truly sorrowful fate.

"It was a true pleasure tonight, Yanhong. You must bring your wife to visit us sometime!"

Luo Wenke was radiant, always like a lush, dew-kissed rose by Zhuang Wentian’s side, beautiful and captivating. Gong Shichen managed a faint, strained smile in response.

"We certainly will. I hear Wentian and Shichen are alumni of the same university. I'm sure you had plenty to discuss—"

Ling Yanhong’s smiling words were laced with a poison that wounded more than one person in its path. What a despicable man, Gong Shichen thought, her cheeks flushing as she offered an apologetic smile to Zhuang Wentian. Noticing the flicker of displeasure on Luo Wenke's face only fueled her anger.

"What are you talking about? How could I possibly compare myself to my senior—"

Earlier, Ling Yanhong had questioned her about her animated conversation with Zhuang Wentian, his demeanor akin to that of a jealous husband, sniffing out any trace of his wife's infidelity. Exasperated, Gong Shichen had simply stated that she and Zhuang Wentian were from the same university, never imagining he would use it to mock her now. Her face clouded over, all inclination to play along with his charade utterly gone.

"Ms. Gong, to have completed a Cambridge MBA at such a young age is quite an achievement in itself."

Zhuang Wentian interjected smoothly, as if seeing no hidden meaning in Ling Yanhong’s remark. He then turned to his own wife, whose expression had soured.

"It's getting late. We should be heading back."

Gentle, courteous, understanding. In her mind, Gong Shichen's estimation of Zhuang Wentian rose yet again, while her opinion of Ling Yanhong plummeted. A trace of despair flickered across her pretty face. Was her own happiness truly beyond her grasp?

Luo Wenke offered a faint smile and departed under her husband’s tender care, leaving Gong Shichen and Ling Yanhong alone in an atmosphere crackling with a strange, volatile energy.

"Father, Big Brother, it's late. We're going home now!"

Not wanting to reveal any discord in front of her family, Gong Shichen quickly forced a smile and said her goodbyes. Gong Jialiang and Gong Shijun knew better than to press them to stay and could only watch with smiles as the stone-faced Ling Yanhong led Shichen away.

"Dad, perhaps… there's still a chance for things to turn around."

Gong Shijun's gaze followed the retreating figures of Ling Yanhong and Gong Shichen. In the distance, under the lamplight, Shichen had tilted her head up, arguing with Ling Yanhong. She looked furious, but she was small and outmatched. A faint mist was gathering in her eyes as she glared at him in defiance and grievance.

"It's just unfair to Shichen. This is all my fault—"

Gong Jialiang’s voice was thick with self-reproach. He turned away, helpless. Gong Shijun followed. The typically optimistic Gong Jialiang was anything but, while the ever-pragmatic Gong Shijun was now nursing a sliver of hope.

"As long as Ling Yanhong can let go of his resentment, I believe he will treat Shichen well," Gong Shijun murmured to himself. Gong Jialiang glanced at his son but said nothing more.

At that moment, Gong Shichen's gesture of wiping her mouth with the back of her hand ignited a violent storm in Ling Yanhong's eyes. This woman’s defiance was growing more intense. Had he misjudged her? Was she not at all the demure, gentle, and easily bullied fool he had imagined?

"You can't kiss me like that!"

Gong Shichen sniffled, struggling against him. He had become so dangerous tonight. His talk of sharing a bed had sent her heart into a frantic rhythm. Right now, she was a small hedgehog, curled into a tight ball, spines bristling and ready for battle.

"Then how should I kiss you? Don't forget, you are my wife. I have every right—to kiss you, to have you—"

Her visceral reaction of scrubbing at her mouth infuriated him. Was his touch so repulsive? Countless other women would beg for it!

"You don't love me! Why must you humiliate us both like this? I've already played my part as you demanded. What more do you want?" she accused him, an involuntary sense of injustice welling up inside her.

"I want you to fulfill your wifely duties. We are legally married, you know. Weren't you the one who lamented that I didn't treat you as a wife? Well, now I am."

He smirked, an air of absolute certainty about him as he bundled her into the car. Seeing the stubborn defiance warring with the hurt in her eyes, Ling Yanhong felt a sudden, sharp vexation. And what's more, this woman he had intended to ignore indefinitely had genuinely stirred his desire. What was happening? Was this merely his competitive nature?