The sunlight in the café remained warm. Wen Yan had just calmed her somewhat complicated emotions stirred by Li Zhaohai’s phone call and was about to discuss with Su Wan what to eat later when her phone vibrated again.
It was a WeChat message.
She casually opened it—it was from Li Yanzhou.
“Transferred you five million for spending money. Have fun.”
Wen Yan was stunned.
Five million?
Spending money?
Before she could react, her phone vibrated once more, and a bank deposit notification popped up.
5,000,000.00 yuan.
Wen Yan stared at that string of zeros, frozen.
Su Wan, sitting across from her, noticed her dazed expression as she stared at her phone and curiously leaned over. “What’s wrong, Yanbao? Whose message is it? Is it your Mr. Li checking up on you?”
When her gaze landed on Wen Yan’s phone screen, Su Wan’s eyes instantly widened, her mouth unconsciously falling open. It took a full two or three seconds before she let out an incredulous gasp.
“No way!” Su Wan snatched Wen Yan’s phone and tapped open the transfer record. “Five million!”
Her voice rose with excitement, drawing glances from several nearby tables.
Su Wan didn’t care about that anymore. She shoved the phone back into Wen Yan’s hands, grabbed her arms, and shook her vigorously, her face a mix of shock, elation, and an “I knew it!” kind of excitement.
“Even though five million is nothing to someone at Mr. Li’s level, the point is he thought to give you spending money on his own! And he said ‘have fun’—he definitely likes you!”
Wen Yan felt dizzy from the shaking. Looking at the transfer record on her phone, her heart pounded wildly.
Like her? How could that be possible?
Wen Yan immediately dismissed the absurd thought. This must be another action based on some consideration of his.
Maybe he just felt she was wronged by last night’s incident and was compensating her with money?
Maybe he just felt he needed to fulfill his financial obligations as a husband?
Or perhaps he simply thought that, as Mrs. Li, she shouldn’t appear too shabby when going out shopping?
Various rational guesses swirled in her mind, but deep down, a ripple of emotion and warmth she was unwilling to acknowledge quietly spread.
“Wanwan, calm down, take it easy.” Wen Yan tried to soothe Su Wan and calm herself as well. “Maybe he just thinks that since I married him, I shouldn’t be too financially strained? Or maybe because of last night, he felt he needed to make a gesture?”
Su Wan scoffed, “Come on, I think Li Yanzhou likes you! First, he made a high-profile public announcement and fiercely defended his wife, and now he’s transferred you five million to have fun. This series of moves—what else could it be if not that he likes you?! He must have fallen in love with you at first sight, then realized you’re not only beautiful but also have a great personality and strong professional skills, so he’s falling deeper and deeper! You two are the standard template of love after marriage!”
Wen Yan’s cheeks flushed from Su Wan’s words, and the turmoil in her heart grew even more chaotic.
“Ah, whatever, whatever!” Su Wan suddenly slapped the table and declared excitedly, “Since Mr. Li is so generous, we can’t hold back! Yanbao, you have to treat me to a fancy meal! It has to be expensive! At least Michelin three-star! To celebrate you landing a ‘true love’ husband!”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she immediately started scrolling through her phone to find a restaurant.
“Alright,” she sighed, a faint, helpless yet sweet smile appearing on her face. “You can pick whatever you want to eat.”
“No problem! Leave it to me!” Su Wan instantly beamed, her fingers swiftly swiping across the screen. “Let me see which place is the hardest to book… Hehe, I can finally treat myself to a feast today! Thank you, President Li! President Li is so generous!”
Watching Su Wan’s excitement, Wen Yan locked her phone screen, picked up her cup, and finished the last sip of the now slightly cooled coffee.
The sunlight outside the window remained bright and warm.
Under Su Wan’s enthusiastic “direction,” the two left the café. With Su Wan driving, they headed straight for the renowned three-Michelin-star French restaurant in the heart of Xijing City—”Cloudscape.”
Along the way, Su Wan kept chattering about Li Yanzhou’s “true love,” while Wen Yan seemed somewhat distracted, her fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of her phone.
The car stopped in front of a modern building full of artistic flair.
The restaurant’s entrance was understated, marked only by a small bronze plaque.
A waiter approached them immediately. After Su Wan gave the reserved name, they were respectfully ushered inside.
The interior was the epitome of luxury and elegance.
The space featured high ceilings and sleek modern designs, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a meticulously maintained urban landscape garden.
Soft lighting filled the room, and the air carried a faint, relaxing scent of essential oils accompanied by subtle classical music.
Each table was spaced far apart, ensuring privacy.
After they were seated, the waiter handed them thick menus.
Wen Yan opened hers and looked at the imaginative, intricately crafted dishes with prices followed by multiple zeros. Even with the five million yuan in spending money as a cushion, she still felt a sense of unreality.
Her usual dining choices were limited to decent Western restaurants or refined Chinese cuisine. She had never been to a restaurant of this caliber.
Su Wan, on the other hand, seemed more at ease. She leaned in, lowering her voice with excitement. “Yanbao, let’s go all out today! Appetizers, soup, main course, dessert—let’s get the best of everything! And the finest wine too! This is a rare opportunity!”
Seeing the sparkle in her friend’s eyes, Wen Yan knew Su Wan was genuinely happy for her and wanted to take this chance to let her experience the entirely different lifestyle that came with the title of “Mrs. Li.”
She took a deep breath, nodded, and handed the menu to Su Wan. “You order, then. I’m fine with anything.”
Su Wan didn’t hold back. She summoned the waiter and began ordering fluently in English—from caviar to black truffles, from blue lobster to M12 Wagyu beef, followed by vintage champagne and dessert wine. The entire process was smooth and effortless.
Listening beside her, Wen Yan silently estimated the possible cost of the meal and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
During the wait for the food, Su Wan glanced around the elegant and serene surroundings and couldn’t resist whispering again, “Yanbao, do you see this? This is what life is all about! Before, when we went out to eat, we’d at most queue for half a day at some trendy spot. But now? Sitting here, being served, enjoying the finest food… I know it sounds materialistic, but it really feels different, doesn’t it?”
Wen Yan also looked around. Everything here was exquisitely flawless—the waitstaff were impeccably trained, their smiles perfectly measured, and even the air seemed to carry an aura of ease and superiority built upon wealth.
Indeed, it was completely different from the world she had known before.
“It is different,” she nodded honestly. “But it all feels a bit unreal, like I’m dreaming, or… pretending to be someone else.”
“What do you mean, pretending to be someone else!” Su Wan frowned disapprovingly. “You are Wen Yan, now Mrs. Li Wen Yan. This is the life you should enjoy as your current identity! You need to get used to it, to adapt. Whatever Li Yanzhou gives you, accept it openly. It’s what he should do as a husband, and it’s what you deserve!”