The dinner at the Li family mansion finally ended, but Lin Yue still felt tense even after they left.
The car ride back to Li Wei Chen's house was quiet.
Lin Yue leaned back in the seat and let out a long breath.
"I survived."
Li Wei Chen glanced at her briefly.
"You did well."
Lin Yue looked at him.
"That's the second time you've said something nice today."
"I'm simply stating facts."
She shook her head slightly.
"Your family is intimidating."
"That's normal."
"Normal?" she repeated. "Your grandmother looks like she can control an entire army."
Li Wei Chen almost smiled.
"That wouldn't surprise me."
Lin Yue stared out the window at the passing city lights.
"For a moment I thought she hated me."
"She didn't."
"How do you know?"
Li Wei Chen replied calmly.
"She didn't object."
Lin Yue thought about that.
"So silence means approval in your family?"
"Usually."
She sighed.
"Well… at least your sister likes me."
"Xiao Ran likes everyone," he said.
"Not true. She clearly enjoys teasing you."
Li Wei Chen didn't respond.
A few minutes later the car stopped in front of the house.
They walked inside together.
Lin Yue removed her shoes and stretched slightly.
"That dinner was more stressful than my entire workday."
Li Wei Chen loosened his tie.
"You'll get used to it."
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow.
"Are you planning to make me attend family dinners every week?"
"Possibly."
She groaned softly.
"Great."
Just then Zhang Ming suddenly appeared from the living room.
"Welcome back!"
Lin Yue jumped slightly.
"Why are you still here?"
Zhang Ming grinned.
"I had work."
Li Wei Chen gave him a look.
"You're still here because you're curious."
"Also true," Zhang Ming admitted.
He leaned closer to Lin Yue.
"So how was meeting the famous Li family?"
Lin Yue sighed dramatically.
"I feel like I just passed a survival test."
Zhang Ming laughed.
"That's actually accurate."
Then he turned to Li Wei Chen.
"Boss, tomorrow's board meeting is ready."
Lin Yue frowned slightly.
"Board meeting?"
"Yes," Zhang Ming said. "The company directors."
Then he suddenly looked excited.
"Oh right."
He looked at Lin Yue.
"You're coming too."
Lin Yue blinked.
"I'm what?"
Li Wei Chen answered calmly.
"You'll attend the meeting with me."
Lin Yue stared at him.
"Why would I attend a CEO board meeting?"
"Because you're my wife."
Her brain paused for a moment.
"This fake marriage is getting too real."
Zhang Ming laughed loudly.
"Madam Lin, welcome to the life of a CEO's wife."
Lin Yue crossed her arms.
"I'm not qualified to sit in a business meeting."
"You don't need to speak," Li Wei Chen said.
"Then why am I going?"
"To make the marriage look real."
Lin Yue sighed again.
"You're using me as proof for your company."
"Correct."
She stared at him.
"You're very honest about using people."
"I prefer honesty."
Lin Yue thought about it for a moment.
Then she pointed at him.
"If this meeting embarrasses me…"
"It won't."
"You said that about dinner too."
"And you handled it well."
She couldn't argue with that.
Zhang Ming clapped his hands once.
"Well, tomorrow will be interesting."
Lin Yue gave him a suspicious look.
"Why do you sound excited?"
"Because," Zhang Ming said with a grin, "the directors are going to be shocked when the CEO suddenly appears with a wife."
Lin Yue sighed.
"Wonderful."
She turned toward the stairs.
"I'm going to sleep."
Halfway up the stairs she stopped and looked back at Li Wei Chen.
"President Li."
"Yes?"
"This arrangement of ours…"
"Yes?"
"I have a feeling it's going to cause a lot of trouble."
Li Wei Chen remained completely calm.
"Probably."
Lin Yue shook her head.
"Yet you look like you're enjoying this."
He didn't answer.
But after she went upstairs, Zhang Ming leaned closer to him.
"Boss."
"Yes?"
"You definitely are."
Li Wei Chen simply walked past him.
But for the first time since the contract marriage started…
Things were becoming slightly less like business.
And slightly more complicated.