Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Cousin Chen Lan

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“Damn, you little double agent!”

When Lin Chen learned that the girl had even taken a red envelope from his mother, he could not resist tapping her on the head.

“Stop hitting me!”

The little girl shoved him away angrily. “I’m already short enough!”

“You may be small, but you sure have plenty of devious ideas.” Lin Chen rolled his eyes helplessly. “Come on, what did you find out?”

“Brother, just look at how miserable you are. I don’t even have to guess—you must have been dumped by your new girlfriend, right?”

“How did you know?” Lin Chen blurted out.

He had not actually been dumped by Xu Mi, but it was true that he would not be able to see her for the time being.

Of course he felt dejected.

“Look at you! Even Amumu isn’t as heartbroken as you are. Come on, tell me—what does my sister-in-law look like? Wait, I mean your ex-sister-in-law. What does she study? Is she pretty?”

Chen Lan fired off question after question like a machine gun.

She and Lin Chen had grown up together and were relatives, so she knew him extremely well.

Her cousin had been exceptionally handsome ever since middle school. At least eighty girls had written him love letters over the years, if not a hundred.

But because his mother had been so strict, she had never heard of him dating any girl.

Today, after hearing from her aunt that her cousin had actually fallen in love, how could she not be curious?

What sort of woman could make her cousin so dispirited?

“Stop asking.” Lin Chen glared at her without elaborating.

That girl really knew how to bring up the one thing he did not want to discuss.

“So you really are dating someone! Let me see her. Come on, let me see!” The gossip burning inside Chen Lan erupted into flames.

“I told you to stop asking.” Lin Chen was already in a bad mood, and her relentless questioning only made him more irritated.

“Fine, I won’t ask! But if Auntie asks, don’t blame me for telling her the truth.” Chen Lan threatened him.

“Fine, you win.” Lin Chen did not waste any more words on her. He pulled out his phone and sent her another two hundred yuan.

After receiving the money, Chen Lan smiled so brightly that her eyes narrowed into slits. “Brother, if Auntie asks me about it, what should I say?”

“Tell her that you met her. From the looks of things, we’ve only just started seeing each other, so our relationship isn’t particularly stable yet. Tell her my girlfriend is very beautiful, seems a few years older than me, and carries herself with great maturity and composure.”

Lin Chen was also using this as an indirect way to prepare his mother.

He wanted to give her at least some warning.

After all, what was the difference between a few years older and more than ten years older?

“Got it. I’ll remember that and tell Auntie exactly that when I get back.”

…

After dinner, Lin Chen took Chen Lan back to campus, then headed alone toward his dormitory.

On the way, he had to pass the artificial lake.

There was a small grove beside it.

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It was the university’s favorite dating spot. Every night, countless couples came there for secret rendezvous.

Tonight was no exception. At a glance, he could see quite a few furtive figures moving about inside. One couple was already locked in a passionate kiss, accompanied now and then by some rather strange noises.

Normally, Lin Chen would have quickened his pace and pretended not to see or hear anything.

But today, he was in a foul mood.

So he stopped, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted into the grove:

“Run! The disciplinary officers are coming!”

The moment he shouted, countless couples burst from the darkness and fled in every direction.

Seeing the chaos, Lin Chen felt considerably better.

Humming a tune, he returned to the graduate dormitory.

…

That night, Lin Chen could not sleep.

He tossed and turned in bed, unable to settle down.

Whenever he closed his eyes, Xu Mi’s image appeared in his mind.

Even he himself could not quite understand it.

He and Xu Mi had not actually spent that much time together—not counting their childhood.

All told, they had only been together for a little over a week.

So why could he not stop thinking about her?

Was it because they were married?

The feeling was incredibly mysterious.

It was as though another version of himself existed somewhere in this world, and he was constantly thinking of and yearning for her.

The moment he lost contact with her, he became restless and anxious.

Just like now.

If longing was a disease, then he was surely already terminally ill.

…

The next day, after washing up, Lin Chen prepared to take the subway to work.

The moment he stepped outside, he received a call from his mother, Zhao Xiuxiu.

“Xiao Chen, have you had breakfast?” His mother’s voice sounded much gentler than usual.

It was easy to guess that she had received some useful information from Chen Lan.

Otherwise, her mood would never have been so calm.

Normally, after only a few words, she would urge him to find a girlfriend. She would not be this composed.

“Mom, I’ve eaten. Is something wrong? I’m in a hurry to get to work.”

“I just wanted to chat with you for a moment. I won’t hold you up. Oh, and I transferred two thousand yuan to you through WeChat. Now that you’re seeing someone, your expenses must have gone up. If it isn’t enough, just let me know and I’ll send you more.”

“That’s not necessary. I have enough money. Mom, did that girl Chen Lan tell you about my girlfriend?”

Lin Chen already knew the answer, but he pretended not to.

“Well…” His mother became hesitant. “She did mention it yesterday.”

“What exactly did she say?”

“She said the girl you found is very beautiful, and that she seems much more mature than you.”

Lin Chen’s heart gave an involuntary little jolt.

He deliberately emphasized, “That girl Chen Lan really does tell everyone everything. Mom, my girlfriend is older than me. You don’t mind that, do you?”

“What would there be to mind? As long as you don’t find a man, I’ll agree to anyone. Besides, they say that a woman three years older is worth a fortune. Finding someone older is perfect—she can help me keep an eye on you.”

“As long as you’re not opposed, that’s all that matters.” Lin Chen chuckled. “Well, I need to catch the subway. I’ll talk to you later.”

After saying that, Lin Chen hung up.

Then, with practiced ease, he saved the recording.

My dear wife, I’ve made quite a few preparations for you. I hope all this effort won’t be in vain.

Lin Chen made his way to the company and went to the office after clocking in.

As a newcomer, he was mainly expected to learn during the initial period, so he did not have much actual work to do.

His superiors had given him a set of documents to organize and categorize with Jiang Yao, while also familiarizing himself with the rules of the marketing department.

Jiang Yao leaned back in his office chair with his legs propped directly on the desk, humming as he flipped through the documents.

Lin Chen frowned. “We’re at work. Could you try not to be so outrageous?”

“We have a private office, and anyone who comes in will knock first. What’s there to worry about?”

“That actually makes sense…”

Lin Chen copied him and put his own legs up on the desk.

He had to admit, it was surprisingly comfortable.

The two of them lazily leafed through the documents in their hands.

Just then, Lin Chen suddenly let out a startled cry.

“Holy crap!”

Jiang Yao was so frightened that he fell straight out of his chair. Wincing in pain, he still could not suppress his curiosity.

“What happened? Don’t scare me!”

Clutching the document, Lin Chen stared at it as though he had seen a ghost.

“The chairman of our group…”

“His name is Xu Mi?!”

The same name as his beloved wife.

Could his wife actually be an incredibly wealthy heiress?

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