Chapter 5: The nightmare begins
1211 Words
Li's house.
At one o'clock in the morning, the noise of the Galaxy Club had dissipated.
Su Wanyin sat in the car, looking at the night view outside the window, but Lu Wanqing's words echoed in her mind again and again-
"Her child..."
She knew very well that this secret marriage could not be concealed for too long. Especially about the child.
Li Jingchen never asked her who the father of her child was, and never took the initiative to touch her. Even their marriage skipped the "bridal chamber".
Between them, it was like a cooperation agreement.
"Jingchen." She said softly.
The man tilted his head to look at her, his dark eyes like ink.
"Thank you tonight."
"Hmm?" He raised his eyebrows and said indifferently, "Thank me for what?"
"Help me out." She said calmly, "Also... protect me."
Li Jingchen smiled lightly, but there was no ripple in his eyes.
"Su Wanyin, do you think this is acting?"
"You are my wife, nominally and legally, whether it is true or not, I must protect you in front of outsiders."
He said it calmly, but he clearly drew a clear line.
Su Wanyin's heart stagnated and she lowered her eyes.
She knew that this was the first rule of their contractual marriage: no pretending to be real, no emotional involvement.
He kept it too well, but she began to waver.
The next morning.
As soon as Su Wanyin went downstairs, the servant reminded her carefully: "Madam, the master and the lady asked you to go over."
She was stunned.
Someone from the old house of the Li family?
She thought she was just a "shield" used by Li Jingchen to evade the elders, but now it seems that she has to face reality.
When she came to the living room, she saw the elders sitting in the main seat——
Li Zhengting, the head of the Li family, Li Jingchen's father, a well-known iron-fisted figure in the business world of the imperial capital.
Next to him was Li's mother, Tang Zhilan, a woman from a well-known family, well-mannered but extremely particular about family status.
The two were sitting on the sofa, expressionless.
"Miss Su." Tang Zhilan spoke first, her tone gentle, but with a look of scrutiny, "I'm glad you can come."
Su Wanyin stood straight and nodded slightly: "Hello, uncle and aunt."
"We are not strangers anymore, call us mom and dad." Tang Zhilan smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
Su Wanyin nodded gently and called out: "Dad, Mom."
Tang Zhilan seemed more satisfied.
"We know about your marriage with Jingchen." She paused, "It was just a little hasty, and we didn't have time to hold a decent wedding for you."
"I was abrupt." Su Wanyin said frankly, "But I really want to live a good life."
Li Zhengting remained silent, always looking at her with a calm look.
"I checked you." He suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Three years ago, you got pregnant before marriage and raised the child alone. You disappeared for two years, and now you suddenly appear and become the daughter-in-law of my Li family."
"Do you think that with such a background, you are worthy of our Li family?"
This sentence was like a cold water poured over the head.
Su Wanyin's fingertips tightened slightly, but she still kept her emotions stable: "I don't ask for a high-profile family, nor do I seek power, I just want to live my own life."
"Since Jingchen is willing to marry me, I am willing to keep my marriage well."
"Even if others say that I am marrying above my station, I will not give in."
Tang Zhilan's expression moved slightly, but she didn't expect the girl to say it so directly.
"Your child..." Li Zhengting's eyes were sharp, "Whose is it?"
Su Wanyin's heart was shocked.
She knew that this question would be asked sooner or later.
"It's mine." She said slowly, "It doesn't matter who the father is."
"He's not important, but he's very important to the Li family." Li Zhengting said coldly, "You've entered the Li family, and the origin of the child must be clear, otherwise how can we rest assured?"
Su Wanyin gritted her teeth and was about to speak-
"Dad, that's enough."
A deep male voice interrupted the deadlock.
Li Jingchen walked down from upstairs slowly, his expression cold.
"She is my wife, not the criminal you are interrogating."
"Jingchen--" Tang Zhilan wanted to say something, but was forced by his eyes and shut up instantly.
"I know about the child." Li Jingchen said firmly, "It has nothing to do with you."
Su Wanyin suddenly raised her eyes and looked at him in surprise.
"You..." She murmured.
"I won't let anyone touch him." He said firmly, "Not even you."
Li Zhengting's face completely sank: "Are you challenging your father's bottom line for a woman?"
"I'm protecting my family." Li Jingchen said coldly.
"From the moment I married her, she and the child are all members of my Li family."
This sentence was like an order, and also like an oath.
Su Wanyin stood there, her eyes quietly moist.
She didn't know why he said this, and she didn't know whether he really recognized her and the child in his heart. But she knew one thing -
He stood in front of her.
Not for the contract, but... like a real husband.
Afternoon.
Su Wanyin sat on the balcony of the room, watching the sun shine through the branches and leaves.
Li Jingchen pushed the door in and saw her sitting with her knees hugged, frowning.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She said softly, "Just... thank you."
"Don't thank me." He said lightly, "I'm just fulfilling the agreement."
"There is no clause in the agreement to protect me and the child." She looked at him with clear eyes.
Li Jingchen paused and avoided her gaze.
"If you don't want to talk about the child, I won't force you. But you have to understand that my helping you once does not mean I can always take care of everything for you."
Su Wanyin nodded: "I know."
She stood up and looked at him seriously: "Li Jingchen, I can live without love, I can have a secret marriage, I can endure rumors, but the only thing I care about is my son."
"Whoever hurts him, I will not let him go even if I fight to the death."
Li Jingchen was stunned, staring at her eyes, as if he really saw her for the first time.
"Okay." He suddenly whispered, "I promise you."
"During the marriage period, I will protect you-protect you and the child."
"No matter who hurts you."
Night fell again.
Su Wanyin lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
She knew that the storm in the Li family had just begun.
Lu Wanqing would not give up, and the Li family would not easily accept her and the child.
The marriage contract between her and Li Jingchen had been eroded bit by bit by reality -
Article 1: Do not interfere with each other's private life.
Now, they have begun to bear the storm together.
This is not acting, but the beginning of a nightmare.
- Writer
