The CEO's Substitute Bride

Chapter 9: Jealousy and Temptation

The atmosphere of the dinner party became more and more lively. Every face under the lights was smiling and hypocritically friendly, and the exchange of interests flowed between words. Although Su Qian was dressed in decent clothes, she seemed to have never really integrated into this circle. Her eyes wandered among the crowd, but her heart was full of anxiety and confusion. She didn't belong here, and even she couldn't convince herself how to find her true self in such a completely unfamiliar world.

Li Tingchuan didn't seem to care about her feelings, or he didn't want to pay attention to her at all. Although the two were nominally husband and wife, his indifference and neglect of her had become an inevitable reality in her life. Whenever she tried to get close to him, his eyes were always distant and cold, as if she was transparent and not worth his extra look.

And the situation tonight seemed to be worse. Li Tingchuan and his business partners gathered together to talk about business and discuss projects, and obviously didn't intend to pay attention to her. Su Qian stood beside the crowd, and the people around her whispered and greeted each other, as if she was the only discordant existence. She could only stand and eat the simple meal on the table silently, trying not to make herself look abrupt.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind: "Su Qian, you don't seem to be used to the dinner tonight, right?"

She turned around and saw that it was Lu Chenyi standing behind her. He was still gentle and elegant, but his eyes were full of concern. He seemed to have discovered her loneliness a long time ago, and he approached her gently and stood beside her.

"I'm fine." Su Qian smiled and replied, trying to hide her inner uneasiness, "I'm just not used to such occasions."

Lu Chenyi didn't say anything more, just nodded, and then glanced forward, as if he realized that this place was not suitable for her. He whispered: "If you feel uncomfortable, we can leave together. You don't need to stay here all the time."

Su Qian's heartbeat accelerated slightly. Seeing Lu Chenyi caring about her so much, she couldn't help but feel a warm current in her heart. However, she immediately realized that she could no longer be shaken by this kind of care. Although her marriage with Li Tingchuan was without love, she still couldn't betray the responsibilities she had undertaken.

"No, thank you." She tried to force a smile, looked up at Lu Chenyi, "I'll be fine, don't worry too much today."

Lu Chenyi looked at her, a hint of complexity flashed in his eyes, but he didn't insist, just nodded, "If you change your mind, tell me at any time." After he said this, he turned and left, returning to the crowd.

Su Qian stood there, but Lu Chenyi's words just now echoed in her mind. That tenderness and concern seemed to be an irresistible force, eroding her heart bit by bit. And Li Tingchuan, although sitting opposite her and under the same roof, seemed like a distant stranger. Her mood gradually became heavy, and she felt more and more that she was trapped in an unsolvable puzzle.

Just then, Li Tingchuan came over. His eyes swept over her interaction with Lu Chenyi, and his face instantly became a little cold. Although he didn't say anything, Su Qian still felt the oppression. She knew that Li Tingchuan was not a person who was good at expressing his feelings, but the indifference he showed from time to time at that time still made her feel a little inexplicable fear.

"You and Lu Chenyi had a good chat?" Li Tingchuan's tone was not too fluctuating, but the subtle displeasure was still conveyed from his words.

Su Qian was stunned for a moment, and her face changed slightly, "We just chatted for a few words, nothing."

Li Tingchuan looked at her deeply, then turned and walked away, leaving a cold word: "Some people are not worth your attention."

That sentence was like a heavy hammer, hitting her heart hard. She couldn't help but bite her lips lightly, staring at Li Tingchuan's back, her heart full of countless questions and confusions. His indifference made her tired, and his possessiveness made her feel breathless.

She knew that Li Tingchuan didn't like her to be too close to other men, especially Lu Chenyi. Although nothing happened between them, Lu Chenyi's concern alone was enough to make Li Tingchuan feel inexplicably unhappy. This kind of jealousy may be one of the deepest emotions in his heart.

Su Qian didn't want all this to develop. She knew that her marriage with Li Tingchuan was just a deal, and Lu Chenyi's concern was just a little warmth she got in this loveless marriage. She knew that she could no longer indulge in it and let this emotion influence her judgment.

However, when her eyes fell on Li Tingchuan again, she began to waver unconsciously. Perhaps, it was this cold possessiveness that was Li Tingchuan's true attitude towards her. And she might be the deepest weakness in his heart.

She took a deep breath and tried to keep herself calm. No matter what, she couldn't be swayed by this emotion. She had promised herself that no matter what, she would never let anyone enter her heart again.

However, the inner struggle seemed to be a knot that could never be untied, making her heart unable to calm down.