Li Yanzhou quickly finished washing up, and Wen Yan then went in to freshen up.
Li Yanzhou went to the walk-in closet and changed into a well-pressed black shirt and suit pants, restoring his usual meticulous, cool, and dignified appearance. It was as if the person who had been troubled by nightmares last night and then clung to by Wen Yan like a koala was not him at all.
He fastened the strap of his wristwatch and walked to the master bedroom door, pausing for a moment before heading toward the bathroom entrance.
He raised his hand, curled his fingers, and knocked twice on the doorframe—not too lightly, not too heavily.
“Wen Yan,” he said through the door, his voice steady and clear, “I’ll go downstairs first to prepare breakfast. Come down to eat when you’re ready.”
After speaking, he didn’t wait for a response from inside before turning around and walking downstairs with steady steps.
In the bathroom, Wen Yan heard his voice and the sound of him leaving. She froze for several seconds before processing what had happened.
He… was making breakfast?!
This realization shocked her even more than discovering she had held him while sleeping all night.
Given Li Yanzhou’s status and busy schedule, she had assumed breakfast would either be prepared by a hired housekeeper, delivered from outside, or simply consist of a cup of black coffee.
Cooking himself? This didn’t seem to align with her stereotypical impression of him as “aloof from worldly affairs, solely focused on his business empire.”
Facing her slightly flushed reflection in the mirror, she took a few deep breaths, trying to banish the cringe-inducing scene from the morning from her mind.
Forget it, Wen Yan. Stop overthinking it. You’d better move on quickly.
She tidied her hair and changed into her outfit for work—a sharp navy blue suit and skirt.
In the mirror, her makeup was flawless, her attire was appropriate, and her eyes had regained their calm professionalism. Good—she was once again Wen Yan, the impeccable financial news anchor.
She picked up her handbag, took another deep breath, and walked out.
From the open kitchen on the first floor of the villa came the faint sizzling of a frying pan. The air was filled with the aroma of fried eggs and toasted bread, mingled with the rich, bitter fragrance of coffee.
Wen Yan paused briefly and looked toward the kitchen.
Li Yanzhou stood with his back to her in front of the kitchen counter.
The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his toned forearms.
He was focused on flipping the fried eggs in the pan, his movements skilled and fluid. Meanwhile, the toaster let out a crisp “ding,” and the toast popped up.
In a small pot nearby, oatmeal porridge bubbled gently with tiny bubbles.
Sunlight streamed in through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, outlining his tall, focused figure.
This scene created a strange contrast with the cold, empty villa and the impression he usually gave.
He sensed her arrival but didn’t turn around, only saying calmly, “Have a seat. It’s almost ready.”
His voice remained steady, betraying no emotion.
Wen Yan followed his words and walked to the dining area, pulling out a chair to sit at the large marble dining table.
Two sets of exquisite bone china tableware, crystal clear, were already arranged on the table.
Soon, Li Yanzhou brought over two plates and placed them in front of each of them.
Each plate held a perfectly fried sunny-side-up egg and two slices of golden, crispy toast.
He then turned back and brought two steaming bowls of oatmeal porridge, along with two cups of hot black coffee.
“I don’t know your preferences, so I kept it simple,” he said, pushing one of the coffee cups toward her before sitting down opposite her.
The breakfast looked quite homely, even somewhat simple, but it didn’t seem at all like something prepared by the busy CEO of a multinational corporation. Instead, it resembled the kind of meal a home-oriented man who valued quality of life would make.
Wen Yan looked at the food in front of her, then glanced up at Li Yanzhou, who had already started eating across from her.
“Thank you,” she said softly, picking up her knife and fork to begin her meal.
The fried eggs were cooked to perfection, the toast was crispy, the oatmeal was soft yet firm, and the coffee was rich and aromatic. The taste… was unexpectedly good.
The two ate breakfast in silence, with only the occasional soft clink of cutlery breaking the quiet.
She looked up at the man across from her, who was nearly finished with his meal, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke.
Her voice was slightly softer than usual, carrying a tone of tentative politeness:
“Mr. Li,” she used this form of address, maintaining an appropriate distance even in a private setting, “I have a question… it might be a bit presumptuous.”
Li Yanzhou paused while cutting his toast and looked up.
His gaze was calm and steady, resting on her face as if signaling her to continue.
Wen Yan carefully chose her words: “This house… doesn’t seem to have a live-in housekeeper? I mean…” She paused briefly before voicing her most direct curiosity, “I didn’t expect you to make breakfast yourself.”
After all, given Li Yanzhou’s wealth and busy schedule, it would be more typical for him to have several chefs, a butler, and servants at home.
After hearing her question, Li Yanzhou’s expression remained unchanged.
He set down his knife and fork, picked up a napkin, and wiped the corner of his mouth, his movements unhurried.
Only then did he look up at Wen Yan again.
“I’m not very comfortable with strangers lingering in my private space for extended periods.”
“A cleaning service comes regularly to tidy up and replenish supplies. As for the rest,” he glanced at the dishes on the table, “I prefer to handle things myself.”
Wen Yan nodded to show she understood.
Soon, Li Yanzhou finished his meal, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood up.
“I have a meeting, so I’ll head out first.” He picked up his suit jacket draped over the back of his chair, his gaze briefly sweeping over her.
“Alright, drive safely,” Wen Yan said, looking at him.
Without another word, Li Yanzhou put on his jacket, adjusted his cuffs and tie, picked up his car keys, and turned to walk toward the door.
Shortly after, the sound of the garage door opening and a car starting and driving away came from outside.
The villa fell silent once more, leaving only Wen Yan alone, facing the unfinished breakfast on the table and the empty seat across from her.
She slowly finished the last sip of her coffee and set down the cup.
She cleared the plates and placed them in the dishwasher. Then, glancing at the time, she saw it was 7:40.
Time to head to work.
She walked to the door and pushed open the heavy solid wood door. The cool morning air and sunlight streamed in together.
Outside, a black sedan was already waiting quietly.
She got into the car and closed the door.
The car drove smoothly away from the villa area, heading toward the familiar Xijing City Television Station.
The black sedan came to a gentle stop in front of the imposing building of Xijing Television Station.
The morning light was just right, reflecting brilliantly off the glass curtain walls. People hurried back and forth, their steps brisk, everything as usual.
“Madam, we’ve arrived,” the driver said in a steady voice, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
“Thank you, I appreciate it,” Wen Yan said, picking up her handbag and pushing open the car door.
Her high heels clicked crisply against the ground.
She stopped and instinctively looked up at the building she had dedicated years of hard work to.
In the past, she would squeeze onto the subway or bus, carrying the morning dust and rush, merging into the stream of people at the entrance.
Today, she arrived in this understated yet undeniably luxurious black sedan. With the driver’s respectful gaze following her, she stepped out alone.
The simple yet dazzling diamond ring on her finger occasionally caught the morning light, reflecting a subtle gleam that silently announced her new status.
As usual, she swiped her card to enter the lobby, nodded to the receptionist, and headed toward the elevator.
Just as she stepped inside, a female colleague from the planning department, whom she usually got along with, immediately brightened up, her eyes precisely locking onto that sparkle.
“Good morning, Anchor Wen!” the colleague greeted with a smile, though her gaze couldn’t help but drift toward Wen Yan’s left hand. “Wow, this ring… it’s so beautiful! Is it new? The design is really unique.”
Wen Yan’s heart tightened slightly, but she maintained a natural smile on her face, raising her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Thank you, it’s… newly bought,” she replied vaguely, offering no further details.
“Such great taste! The cut, the brilliance—it looks incredibly valuable at first glance.” A flicker of envy and curiosity flashed in the colleague’s eyes. “Anchor Wen, is there… happy news?”
The others in the elevator also subtly perked up their ears.
Wen Yan smiled, neither confirming nor denying, and skillfully shifted the topic by asking about the progress of a project the colleague was working on.
When the elevator reached her floor, Wen Yan stepped out first, sensing the lingering gazes and hushed whispers still following her from behind.
She walked to her workstation, had just set down her bag, and was about to turn on her computer when a slightly sharp, exaggeratedly surprised voice rang out nearby:
“Well! Look who’s back, shining so brightly—it’s our esteemed Anchor Wen!”
Gu Weiwei, holding her signature coffee cup, strode over in high heels, swaying gracefully.
Her eyes, like searchlights, immediately locked onto the ring on Wen Yan’s left hand. In an instant, shock, jealousy, and a hint of disbelief flashed in her gaze.
She leaned against the partition beside Wen Yan’s workstation, deliberately raising her voice to ensure those around could hear. “I was wondering, Wen Yan, where you disappeared to all day on Friday. So you were off handling ‘big matters,’ huh? This ring… tsk tsk, it’s certainly eye-catching.”
She leaned in closer, the sourness in her tone almost overflowing. “What, you got married without a word? When did you start dating? You’ve kept it so well hidden! Who’s the lucky one? Some wealthy heir? Or… perhaps a ‘successful individual’?”
She emphasized the words “successful individual,” her eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny and mockery, as if saying: With your background, Wen Yan, what kind of high branch could you possibly climb? Don’t tell me you found some nouveau riche?
Though the surrounding colleagues appeared busy with their own tasks, their ears were all perked up, and even the sound of typing seemed to grow quieter.
The sudden appearance of Wen Yan’s wedding ring was undoubtedly the biggest office gossip of the day.
Wen Yan looked up, her gaze calm as she met Gu Weiwei’s provocative eyes.
Her voice was even, betraying no emotion. “I did take leave on Friday to register our marriage.”
She paused, and just as Gu Weiwei and the others held their breath waiting for her to continue, she abruptly changed the subject, her tone light and indifferent. “As for who it is, there’s no need for Anchor Gu to trouble herself. Personal matters aren’t worth mentioning. During work hours, it’s better to focus on work.”
Gu Weiwei was taken aback by this firm yet polite rebuff, her expression turning somewhat unpleasant.
She stared at Wen Yan’s calm, unreadable face, then glanced at the obviously expensive and exquisitely designed diamond ring on her finger, feeling as if a cat were scratching at her heart.
She had originally intended to use this opportunity to thoroughly mock Wen Yan, but she hadn’t expected Wen Yan to remain so composed, her words tightly sealed without a single leak.
“Heh, Anchor Wen is quite good at keeping secrets.”
Gu Weiwei let out a dry laugh, her tone still sharp. “Or is it… that the other party’s identity is special, something that can’t be brought to light?”
This remark was rather malicious, implying that Wen Yan might be involved in an illicit affair or be a mistress.
Wen Yan’s eyes turned cold. She slowly stood up. Though slightly shorter than Gu Weiwei in high heels, her calm and composed aura was not the least bit weaker.
“Gu Weiwei,” she addressed the other by her full name for the first time, her voice clear and steady. “Please watch your words. My marriage is legal and proper, with nothing to hide. You should focus more on the content of your own programs. After all, what the audience wants to see is substance, not gossip.”
“You—!” Gu Weiwei wanted to say more, but at that moment, the internal phone rang—it was the station director, Zhou Zhengming, looking for Wen Yan.
Wen Yan no longer paid her any attention. She responded to the phone with an “I’ll be right there,” then picked up her notebook and walked calmly past Gu Weiwei toward the director’s office.
She left Gu Weiwei standing in place, glaring resentfully at Wen Yan’s retreating figure, her coffee cup gripped tightly in her hand.
The whispers around them grew louder.
“Wen Yan is really married? That’s so sudden!”
“Look at that ring—it must be expensive!”
“Who is her husband anyway? So mysterious.”
As Wen Yan walked toward the director’s office, she could clearly feel the probing gazes following her from behind.
She knew that the speculation about her “mysterious husband” would become the hottest topic in the station’s breakroom for some time to come.
And for now, she had no intention of revealing the answer.
Let the bullet fly a little longer.
Until the right moment, or until… certain people needed to be put in their place.
Then, she knocked on the door of the director’s office, a professional smile reappearing on her face.