After leaving the director’s office, Wen Yan’s professional smile faded slightly, a hint of barely noticeable weariness flashing in her eyes.
Zhou Zhengming’s conversation earlier, while ostensibly expressing concern about her recent marriage and asking whether she needed adjustments to her work schedule to “adapt to her new life,” was actually still probing for information about her husband’s identity.
This kind of “care” filled with calculation was even more exhausting than Gu Weiwei’s straightforward provocations.
Returning to the office area, she could feel those overt and covert gazes still lingering on her, especially on the ring on her left hand.
The whispers abruptly quieted as she approached and resumed once she walked away.
She sat back at her workstation but didn’t start working immediately. Instead, she picked up her water cup and headed to the pantry to refill it.
This was a good opportunity to observe the office “public opinion” and take a brief break.
Sure enough, in the pantry, two female colleagues from other departments were excitedly discussing in hushed tones.
“She really is wearing a wedding ring! I saw it with my own eyes! The style is super simple, but the diamond is definitely not small—the sparkle is amazing!”
“Oh my god, Wen Yan really pulled off something big without a word! There was no hint at all! So she took leave on Friday to get married?”
“Who did she marry? I never heard she had a boyfriend before!”
“Could it be some wealthy person she met during an interview? Or maybe it was arranged by her family? With her demeanor, she doesn’t seem like someone who’d marry just anyone.”
“Gu Weiwei just went over to pick a fight, and Wen Yan shut her down without being too harsh! You should’ve seen Gu Weiwei’s face—it was hilarious!”
“Wen Yan’s aura is different today. She seems more composed. Does marrying well really give someone that much confidence?”
Wen Yan walked in holding her water cup, her expression impassive.
The discussion instantly stopped. The two female colleagues smiled awkwardly at her. “Anchor Wen, getting water?”
“Mm.” Wen Yan responded indifferently, filled her cup, turned, and left as if she hadn’t heard anything.
She understood her colleagues’ curiosity. After all, she had always presented herself as single and focused on her work. Suddenly wearing a wedding ring was undoubtedly explosive news.
And by deliberately keeping it mysterious and not revealing any information about her husband, she had piqued everyone’s curiosity.
She knew that the speculation and discussion about her “mysterious husband” would continue to brew.
And until Li Yanzhou was willing or it became necessary to go public, she had to keep this secret.
Returning to her workstation, she had just sat down when her phone screen lit up.
It was a message from her best friend, Su Wan.
「Spill it, Yanbao! How was last night, your wedding night? Did you… [wicked grin][wicked grin]」
Even through the screen, Wen Yan could imagine Su Wan’s face, brimming with gossip.
「What do you mean ‘how was it’? It was just like that.」
Su Wan: 「Like what? Did you two do it? How did President Li perform?」
Wen Yan: 「Su Wan! Can you be serious? We just slept normally.」
Su Wan: 「Slept normally? Legally married, wedding night, lying in the same bed, and you just slept normally? Is he not up to it?」
Wen Yan: 「We don’t have an emotional foundation. Wouldn’t doing that kind of thing be weird? Being able to sleep in the same bed is already quite something.」
Su Wan: 「So you really just chatted under the covers? Is Li Yanzhou even a man? How could he be unmoved by a beauty like you?」
Wen Yan felt both embarrassed and flustered by her words, mixed with a complex emotion she couldn’t quite explain even to herself.
She recalled Li Yanzhou’s peaceful sleeping face last night, and the awkward position she found herself in when she woke up this morning…
Wen Yan: “Let’s not talk about this! We have our own way of getting along.”
Su Wan: “Alright, alright, I won’t ask about that anymore. So, are you resting at home today or going to work?”
Wen Yan: “Going to work.”
Su Wan: “You’re going to work?! My dear! You just got married yesterday! And you’re going to work today? Didn’t President Li say anything about taking you on a honeymoon or something? At least taking some wedding leave!”
Wen Yan: “No. He went to the company today too; it seems there’s an important meeting. We didn’t mention anything about a honeymoon or wedding leave.”
Su Wan: “Your marriage is way too practical, lacking any sense of ceremony. Yanbao, don’t you feel a bit wronged?”
Wen Yan: “I don’t feel wronged at all. This is fine—simple and straightforward, without unnecessary trouble.”
Su Wan: “Alright then. Let’s talk about something serious. Tomorrow is Sunday, you must be resting, right? If you are, let’s go shopping together! A huge new mall just opened downtown. They say it has all the brands and the environment is amazing. Let’s go check it out?”
Shopping?
Going out for a stroll and getting some fresh air seemed like a good choice.
Wen Yan: “I should be resting tomorrow. Shopping sounds good; I actually want to go out for a walk.”
Su Wan: “It’s settled then! Tomorrow at 10 a.m., meet at the entrance of the new mall? I’ll send you the location.”
Wen Yan: “Okay.”
Just after replying to Su Wan, before she could even put down her phone, a new message notification popped up at the top of the screen.
This time, it was from Li Yanzhou.
Wen Yan’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat as she tapped to open it.
“What time do you get off work today?”
Wen Yan glanced at the time in the bottom right corner of her computer and estimated today’s workload. Taking over the new program was overwhelming, but the first day was mainly about familiarization and planning, so no overtime was needed.
Wen Yan: “If I leave on time, 5:30.”
Li Yanzhou: “There’s a business banquet at Platinum Joy Hotel at 7 p.m. tonight. You need to attend with me.”
“I’ll pick you up directly at the TV station entrance at 5:30 to choose a dress and get styled.”
His arrangements were always concise and efficient, leaving no room for discussion or hesitation.
This was the path she had chosen—a marriage of mutual convenience, trading personal freedom for a career opportunity and resource support.
The cost was losing some personal freedom, being ready at any time to cooperate with his “business needs,” and playing the role of “Mrs. Li” well.
Wen Yan: “Okay.”
Putting down her phone, Wen Yan let out a soft sigh.
Tonight would be a tough battle where she needed to play the role of “Mrs. Li” perfectly. As for tomorrow’s relaxing plan of shopping with her best friend… she could only keep it tucked away in her heart for now.
She refocused her attention on the computer screen, speeding up her work.
Since she had to leave promptly at 5:30, she needed to finish the urgent tasks at hand first.
Time flew by in the busyness.
At 5:30, Wen Yan saved the last document, turned off the computer, and tidied her desk.
She picked up her handbag, took out a small mirror, and quickly checked her makeup—still fine.
At 5:35, she walked out of the TV station building.
The familiar black Maybach was already quietly parked in a conspicuous but unobtrusive spot not far away.
The car window on the driver’s side was half lowered, revealing Li Yanzhou’s profile—sharp and coldly defined against the dusk.
Wen Yan took a moment to steady her breath before walking over.
She opened the car door and settled into the passenger seat.
Inside the car, the familiar crisp scent of cedarwood lingered, now mingled with a faint trace of tobacco—perhaps he had been smoking while waiting.
“Have you been waiting long?” Wen Yan asked politely as she fastened her seatbelt.
“Just arrived,” Li Yanzhou replied tersely, starting the engine.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if assessing her state, before shifting back to focus on the road ahead.
The car merged smoothly into the evening rush-hour traffic.
“The banquet is quite formal. The host is an important business partner,” Li Yanzhou explained as he drove. “You’ll need to wear an evening gown. We’re heading to ‘Yun Shang’ now—I’ve already booked a stylist and a gown specialist. Time is tight, so make your selections and try on the gown quickly.”
“Yun Shang”—Wen Yan knew it was one of the most exclusive private haute couture and styling studios in Xijing, catering only to high-profile clients. Many celebrities and socialites chose it for important events.
“Alright,” Wen Yan responded.
She understood that, for now, all she needed to do was cooperate.