Chapter 8: True or False Marriage
1518 Words
On a weekend morning, the sunlight in the Li residence poured through the French windows, quiet and warm.
But Su Wanyin woke up early, which was rare.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window in a daze, and the scene of the three-person confrontation last night kept appearing in her mind. Lu Wanqing's sarcasm, Li Jingchen's silence, and her own forced calmness... all rolled in her mind like afterimages, lingering for a long time.
She was not afraid of Lu Wanqing's provocation, but she vaguely felt that things were beginning to get out of control.
The "contract marriage" between her and Li Jingchen was gradually being pushed to the edge of exposure by all parties.
And the old lady Li, whom she had not met yet, the real backbone of the Li family who had always been "manipulating behind the scenes", was finally about to show up.
The phone vibrated.
It was Li Jingchen's message: "Leave at ten o'clock, go to the old house, and change into a decent set of clothes."
There was no extra tone, like a subordinate receiving an order from a superior.
Su Wanyin looked at the screen for a long time without replying.
She felt an inexplicable bitterness in her heart.
**
The old house of the Li family is located in the northern suburbs of the imperial capital, covering several acres, with a deep courtyard, and is a typical old-fashioned style of a wealthy family. Compared with Li Jingchen's modern-style villa, this place looks particularly solemn and solemn.
At ten o'clock, the car stopped in front of the gate.
Su Wanyin was wearing a navy blue dress, with a low bun and plain makeup, which made her temperament calm, restrained and elegant.
As soon as she got out of the car, she saw a majestic figure standing on the steps.
Old Mrs. Li was wearing a dark green cheongsam, leaning on an ivory cane, and her eyes were like torches.
"Is it her?"
Her first sentence was not a greeting, but a direct scrutiny.
"Grandma, she is my wife, Su Wanyin." Li Jingchen was as cold as ever. He put his arm around Su Wanyin's shoulders and said in a steady tone, "I'm meeting you formally."
Su Wanyin stepped forward and bowed slightly: "Grandma, hello."
"Hmph." The old lady snorted and looked at her coldly, "Your manners are acceptable."
But then she froze the atmosphere with a word: "I heard that you have no parents and are of ordinary background. You don't even have a decent wedding to marry my grandson. Miss Su, what makes you think you can?"
Su Wanyin lowered her eyes and said in a steady tone: "I am indeed not worthy of the Li family, but I have never forced this marriage."
"You are frank." The old lady sneered, "If you really know yourself, you should withdraw on your own initiative."
"Grandma!" Li Jingchen frowned suddenly, and his tone was rarely cold, "She is the one I chose. If you are dissatisfied with her, you are dissatisfied with me."
The old lady's face changed slightly, and she tapped the ground heavily with the cane in her hand.
"You are even going to contradict me for this woman?"
Li Jingchen said calmly: "I married a wife, not a tool. Marriage is my own business."
Su Wanyin listened and was slightly shocked.
His words were not just a polite remark to please the elders, but even... a bit of a protective meaning.
But this did not impress the old lady.
"Do you know how many things are behind her? Do you think Lu Wanqing is just talking nonsense? The Li family is not a small family, and it can't stand your willful behavior."
"I don't care about her past." Li Jingchen looked determined, "I only care about the future."
The old lady stared at Su Wanyin for a long time, and suddenly said: "Well, I'll give you a chance - three days later, at the Li family dinner, she must attend as Mrs. Li."
"I want to see if she is qualified."
Before Su Wanyin spoke, Li Jingchen had already agreed: "Okay."
The old lady flicked her sleeves and turned into the house: "If she makes a fool of herself at that time, I don't need to say anything, the entire upper class will not let her go."
The courtyard fell into a brief silence.
Su Wanyin stood there, feeling a little cold in her heart.
She knew that this was not an ordinary meeting with the parents, but a carefully designed trial. And she must pass it perfectly.
Otherwise, she will completely lose the title of "Mrs. Li", and she may even lose her son.
**
After returning to Li's house, Su Wanyin almost didn't rest and started to look through the recent public schedule of Li's family.
She knew that the dinner was a social hunting ground, and it was also a gathering for the powerful to exchange information and bind relationships.
If she lost her composure, if there was any trace of "contract marriage" revealed, she would immediately become the target of devouring.
She must go prepared.
While she was looking at the information, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Li Jingchen walked in with a file in his hand.
"What?" she asked.
"The background information you want." He put the information down, "and you have already arranged to try on the dress tonight."
Su Wanyin looked at the file, her fingertips tightened slightly.
"Why are you helping me?"
Li Jingchen paused, and said after a while: "You are my wife, at least now."
This sentence doesn't sound so warm, but it seems real.
"What if someone deliberately provokes me at the dinner?"
"Fight back."
"If I fight back, they will say I am uneducated."
"Then I will fight for you."
"..."Su Wanyin burst out laughing, "Boss Li, you are really...domineering and considerate."
Li Jingchen raised his eyebrows: "Did you laugh just now?"
"No." She immediately put away her smile, "You saw it wrong."
He stared at her for a few seconds, and suddenly said: "You look pretty when you laugh."
Su Wanyin was stunned.
At that moment, she actually felt a subtle heartbeat.
Maybe there was an inappropriate feeling in this marriage.
But she quickly woke up.
This is not a love fairy tale, but a battle for survival of a wealthy family on the edge of a cliff.
She cannot be emotional.
Otherwise, she will definitely be hurt.
**
Three days passed in a flash.
On the night of the dinner, Su Wanyin wore a high-end custom-made black and gold dress with smooth lines and a cold and beautiful temperament that amazed the audience.
She walked into the venue holding Li Jingchen's hand, with proper manners and restrained smile, attracting everyone's attention.
"Is this the woman who secretly married Mr. Li?"
"She has a good temperament, but she has no background."
"I heard she is a wild model and has a child out of wedlock..."
Various voices echoed in her ears, but she always smiled calmly, as always.
During the halftime cocktail party, several wives of wealthy families came over, smiling with daggers: "Miss Su, are you and Jingchen in a free love relationship? I remember he has always been engaged to Miss Lu?"
"Yes, the two families were ready to marry at the beginning..."
Su Wanyin remained calm: "We are indeed in a free love relationship."
"Oh, Miss Lu is so miserable, her love was taken away by a sword."
"But why has Mr. Li never made it public?"
"Do you think this marriage certificate is photoshopped?"
Their words became more and more tricky, and they obviously wanted to pry something out of her mouth.
Su Wanyin suddenly picked up the champagne and smiled: "Are you questioning the authenticity of my marriage?"
"Of course not." Several people immediately denied, "We just care..."
Su Wanyin's eyes turned cold, but her tone was gentle: "Then please continue to care - but it is recommended that you check your husband's mobile phone before caring about others."
Before she finished speaking, one of them changed his face instantly: "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean." Su Wanyin turned and left, elegant and self-assured.
Li Jingchen had been standing not far away, witnessing everything, with a slight curl of his lips.
This woman is sharper and more terrifying than he imagined.
But it is precisely because of this that she deserves his name.
After the dinner, when she returned to the car, Su Wanyin finally lost her strength and leaned back on the chair and let out a long breath.
"You did a good job." Li Jingchen whispered.
"Thank you."
He turned to look at her: "But, what you said is to help me stir up trouble?"
"You don't like it?"
"I am happy to." He smiled, "Say more in such occasions in the future."
Su Wanyin looked at him, her heartbeat suddenly lost its rhythm.
She suddenly realized something:
Their marriage seemed to be no longer as simple as a contract.
- Writer
