It was already very late after the after-party.

The reporters and fans had long since left, and the celebrities and entrepreneurs used different exit routes. The stars departed via the same red carpet entrance they’d arrived through, while the business executives used another, more discreet VIP passage. Some minor celebrities who had established connections with capitalists also left through this VIP route.

Chen Die was one of the celebrities using the VIP exit, although she only agreed to get in the car with Wen Liang after he had coaxed and pleaded with her for quite some time.

Zhu Qicong was already waiting. One look at the demeanor of his boss and the boss’s lady as they emerged, and he sensed trouble. With great perception, he immediately exited the car and went around to open the rear door.

Wen Liang pushed her directly into the car, quickly sliding in behind her, closing the door, and loosening his tie with a tug. Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been terrified by Chen Die’s previous departure when she left home and disappeared for nearly half a year. She had only been back for a few days now, and he couldn’t let her leave again.

“Who was that person just now?” Chen Die finally couldn’t help but ask.

Wen Liang massaged her palm and said, “You don’t know her, so how would I know?”

“…”

That made sense.

“Then why did she single you out from that whole group of people?”

Chen Die held his face and examined it from side to side. He had a fierce face that didn’t look approachable at all. Why would someone be so reckless as to throw themselves at Wen Liang?

“Because you haven’t given me official status,” Wen Liang said.

Chen Die:?

“She probably read what your fans said online. Her facial features look somewhat similar to yours, and she deliberately imitated your makeup style, thinking I’d be easier to approach that way.”

Chen Die was shocked.

She suddenly remembered a few romance novels she had read jokingly with friends in high school, stories about domineering CEOs and their substitute lovers.

Chen Die shuddered.

How disgusting.

Chen Die snorted coldly, “You observed her quite carefully.”

Having already lured her into the car, Wen Liang wasn’t worried about her running away again. He lazily raised his hand to squeeze her neck, “You could consider giving me an official status.”

Chen Die was stunned, “Huh?”

Wen Liang said nothing, just put his arm around her shoulders and played with her hair, twirling it around his index finger.

“It’s still too early,” Chen Die explained. “Let’s wait and see how my next movie performs. Otherwise, trolls will probably say I’m just using this for publicity.”

“I’m saying, you should come with me to get our certificate first,” Wen Liang said flatly, extremely calm.

Chen Die’s heart skipped a beat, and she asked foolishly, “What certificate?”

“Marriage certificate.”

Not just Chen Die, but even Zhu Qicong who was driving in front was stunned by these words. He didn’t see the turning lane ahead and had to quickly turn the steering wheel to correct course.

Chen Die fell into Wen Liang’s arms due to the sudden motion.

Zhu Qicong truly didn’t want to make such a mistake during his boss’s proposal, quickly apologizing in a low voice and focusing intently on driving.

Although the proposal wasn’t particularly formal.

Chen Die’s heart raced, and she felt somewhat bewildered.

She had always thought that Wen Liang was someone who couldn’t be associated with words like “marriage,” and she could never really imagine what a married Wen Liang would be like.

Chen Die often felt that his personality and appearance had never changed, still the same as when she first met him.

What would Wen Liang be like ten years from now?

Because of his question, Chen Die suddenly began to imagine the distant future.

“I’m asking you,” Wen Liang urged her.

“…” Chen Die blinked, then said, “I’m only 23, who gets married this early?”

“I’m almost 30,” Wen Liang said.

Chen Die laughed, “Yes, you’re almost 30.” Then another thought occurred to her, “CEO Wen is still so vigorous. That young girl who just approached you, was she even 20?”

Seeing her mention this again, Wen Liang clicked his tongue and lowered his eyes, “Shut up.”

“…” Chen Die raised both hands in front of his eyes and applauded him, “CEO Wen has a unique way of proposing.”

“Will you marry me or not?” he asked impatiently.

Is that a threat??

Chen Die: “No!”

In the front seat, Zhu Qicong: “…”

The car drove into the western suburban villa. Chen Die got out first, entered her fingerprint, and pushed open the door to go inside.

Wen Liang didn’t mention the marriage certificate again, as if he had just mentioned it in passing, and followed her in.

Chen Die turned around, stood on tiptoe, and placed the trophy she was holding on the wall cabinet.

This was her first trophy, golden and quite beautiful.

“Wen Liang,” she called out, turning back.

Wen Liang was standing in front of the refrigerator, had taken out a bottle of iced water, and gulped down half of it. “Hmm?”

Chen Die stretched out her two arms, spread her five fingers toward her trophy, and wiggled them, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Beautiful.”

“In the future, this place will be filled with my trophies.”

He smiled faintly, “Mm.”

Chen Die looked at him for a while, inexplicably remembering some of the fan comments she had seen earlier.

Comments about doting, nurturing, indulgence, and the like…

Chen Die looked away, lowered her head, took out her phone, and mumbled about buying some small Christmas tree lights to properly decorate the cabinet.

Wen Liang finished putting everything away, “Going upstairs?”

“Yes.”

Chen Die responded, took another photo, and followed Wen Liang upstairs. At that moment, her phone vibrated, and Wang Mian sent her a message.

Since returning from Wuxi, Chen Die had reconnected with Wang Mian and Chen Jianping.

Neither of them had changed their phone numbers, perhaps hoping that one day Chen Die might contact them. Their numbers were still the same as Chen Die remembered from her childhood.

Wang Mian occasionally sent her messages, though they didn’t chat much—just simple questions about whether she was busy or tired.

Having been apart for so long, they were afraid even a bit of extra care might be too much.

Wang Mian sent another message, “Are you asleep?”

Chen Die, standing on the stairs, replied.

[Chen Die: Not yet, just finished attending an event.]

[Wang Mian: Sleep early, otherwise your body won’t be able to handle it.]

[Chen Die: I’m already home, about to go to sleep. You should sleep early too.]

Typically, their conversation would end here, but Chen Die paused, then sent Wang Mian the photo she had taken earlier.

[Chen Die: I won this award at the event just now. My first award.]

Wang Mian replied quickly.

[Wang Mian: How amazing! That’s fantastic. I knew you would do well in whatever you set out to do. You’ll win many more awards in the future.]

Chen Die smiled and put away her phone as she went upstairs.

Wen Liang was standing by the bed, his back to her, pulling off his tie and tossing it aside.

The light fell softly on his shoulders, somehow making him appear somewhat lonely.

Chen Die remembered what he had asked her in the car earlier: you can consider giving me official status, I’m almost 30.

She had reconnected with her former parents, which had filled a void in her heart, but Wen Liang’s parents had already passed away.

“You go shower first…”

Halfway through Wen Liang’s sentence, Chen Die suddenly embraced him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face against him. “Wen Liang.”

He held her hand and smiled nonchalantly, “What is it?”

“I will always be with you.”

Lacking context, her statement was abrupt, but Wen Liang didn’t ask further. He just tugged at the corner of his mouth and responded with a simple “Mm.”

Chen Die took her pajamas and went to the bathroom to shower. She had just finished removing her makeup, and the water in the bathtub behind her was ready. She was about to undress when Wen Liang unexpectedly walked in.

Chen Die let out a small cry, “What are you doing?”

“I’ve been thinking.”

Wen Liang walked up to her, hooked his index finger under her strap, and pulled it down, slipping it past her shoulder. “If you won’t marry me, might as well get you pregnant.”

Chen Die:?

Is that even human talk?

She widened her eyes and looked at Wen Liang in disbelief. When he moved to remove her dress again, Chen Die finally raised her hand and struck his wrist hard.

“Are you even human?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know how people online describe scumbags? The number one scumbag is someone like you who doesn’t use protection before marriage!”

Wen Liang looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled. He leaned down, rested his head on her shoulder, and placed the item in his hand on the washbasin, “Then we’ll use protection.”

“…”

She fell for it.

“No, wait a minute, I’m taking a shower,” Chen Die pushed him.

Wen Liang stopped listening to her, lowered his head, and sealed her lips. The bathroom filled with misty vapor, and soon a layer of fog covered the mirror. In the steamy heat, the bathwater was reheated several times before Chen Die was finally pulled out by Wen Liang, dripping wet, wrapped in a bathrobe, and settled back on the bed.

Wen Liang returned to quickly take a shower.

Chen Die lay on the bed. The bathroom door wasn’t completely closed, and through the gap, she could see that black formal dress pitifully discarded on the floor, even soaked by water that had overflowed from the bathtub.

This man was…

True to Wen Liang’s character, so petty.

Just moments ago, he was complaining, “I’ve finally managed to strip that rag off you.”

That formal dress had been provided by the company, and according to the rules, if damaged, it would have to be compensated for at full price. Looking at the current situation, that dress was certainly beyond salvaging.

By the time Wen Liang finished his shower and came out, Chen Die was already asleep.

The young woman was exhausted, wrapped in a towel, without the energy to change into pajamas. Her long hair spread over her shoulders like seaweed, the ends still wet.

Wen Liang took out a dry towel and dried her hair, then extracted her from the bath towel.

Chen Die now had a conditioned reflex to him. Even with her eyes closed in sleep when Wen Liang’s hand went to her waist, she kept shrinking backward, her hand precisely striking Wen Liang’s face, her voice whimpering in resistance.

Wen Liang took a direct slap to the face, his nose stinging. He had to grasp her wrist to finally manage to hold her in his arms.

“Don’t touch me,” Chen Die mumbled drowsily. “I’m in pain.”

Wen Liang laughed and patted her back, “I’m just holding you.”

After a good while, when Chen Die was asleep, Wen Liang held her and said softly, “You must always stay with me.”

Chen Die stayed at home for just a few days before it was time to join the film crew. Fortunately, the filming location was in Yan City, so it wasn’t a long-distance relationship.

On the morning she was to join the crew, Wen Liang brought up Chen Die’s large suitcase, “Pack it yourself.”

Chen Die sat on the edge of the bed, looked up at him, and concluded—her boyfriend was being difficult again.

He was unhappy because she had rejected Wen Liang’s request for her to continue living in the western suburbs during the filming period.

Although the filming location wasn’t far from the suburban villa, both in areas near the outskirts with smooth traffic, Chen Die didn’t want special treatment. She didn’t want to skip the crew’s unified accommodation arrangement and return home every day like a schoolchild.

She hadn’t packed many things.

A few changes of clothes and shoes, skincare and makeup products, chargers, and similar items went into the small compartments of the suitcase, and she was done.

Wen Liang still wore a sullen expression as he carried her suitcase downstairs and drove her to the film set.

The car stopped in the parking lot of the hotel arranged by the crew.

Chen Die had tried to coax him during the drive, speaking softly and reasonably, but Wen Liang didn’t seem to be calming down.

She was also getting annoyed.

Who doesn’t have a bit of a temper?

She slammed the car door and was about to drag her luggage out of the trunk, but it was too heavy with all her things. Chen Die couldn’t easily and gracefully get it out by herself.

Wen Liang also got out of the car and was about to help her when Chen Die smacked his hand away.

“I don’t need your help,” Chen Die said stubbornly.

Wen Liang frowned, grabbed the back of her collar to pull her away, and then with one arm lifted, effortlessly placed the suitcase on the ground.

Chen Die took the handle, turned around without looking back, and walked into the hotel lobby.

The crew had already booked rooms for two months in advance. Chen Die handed her ID card to the front desk for registration and was about to take the key card when suddenly a hand reached out from behind her.

Wen Liang pushed the key card back with his index finger and said, “Upgrade this room to the presidential suite.”

Chen Die turned around, temporarily forgetting she was angry with him, “Why did you come in too?”

Wen Liang still ignored her.

“…”

Fine, credit to you for your stubbornness.

The front desk clerk kept their head down as they upgraded the room and handed over the presidential suite key card, not daring to look up the entire time.

The two went up to the top floor presidential suite. This place was much better than the hotel at the film studio city from before. The presidential suite even had a swimming pool, and the room was very spacious.

Wen Liang followed Chen Die inside and inserted the key card into the slot.

Chen Die seemed determined not to speak to him, carrying her suitcase into the bedroom and closing the door.

Wen Liang took a deep breath, ran his tongue across his back teeth, and slowly exhaled before turning the bedroom doorknob.

…It was locked.

Chen Die took everything out of the suitcase and organized it. The crew group chat sent a message notifying everyone to come over for a meeting after they arrived.

She opened the bedroom door and immediately smelled cigarette smoke.

She turned her head to see that Wen Liang was still there, leaning against the wall smoking.

Chen Die blinked, “Don’t you need to go to the company?”

Wen Liang bent down, bringing with him the smell of tobacco, opened his mouth, and bit her lip hard, “Now you’re locking doors?”

“It’s because you’re throwing tantrums. I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Chen Die,” he pinched her nose, “Who was it that told me just a few days ago that she would always be with me? You just say pretty words, always calling me a scumbag. I think you’re the real scumbag.”

“A female scumbag?” Chen Die said in confusion, “This is my work. I’m not refusing to be with you. I’ll come back home after filming. What’s the problem?”

“Is this how it works, disappearing for two months for a job?”

“I’ll come find you whenever I have free time, and you can come see me when you’re not busy.” Chen Die was truly like someone coaxing a child.

Wen Liang snorted coldly.

“…”

What are you snorting about?!

Is there a more tsundere and harder-to-please boyfriend than you in this world?!

Wen Liang flicked his cigarette ash in a very unhygienic manner and calmly stated, “I’m staying here with you.”

“Huh?”

Chen Die looked up in surprise. Wen Liang was looking at her too, and she could read the challenging words in his eyes—and you have the nerve to call me a scumbag?

“Where’s your luggage then?”

“I’ll bring it over tonight.” Wen Liang tapped her head, “Otherwise, why would I upgrade you to the presidential suite? So you can host parties here with those male actors?”

“…”

Chen Die took several deep breaths, telling herself that this man had just done something decent, so she shouldn’t argue with him over this comment. Setting aside her grievances, she asked with gentle concern, “Won’t it be too far for you to go to work every day?”

Wen Liang smiled slightly, “This is to keep an eye on you.”

“…”

“So you don’t attract bees and butterflies while you’re here.”

“…”

Chen Die didn’t linger in the room with Wen Liang any longer. She picked up her bag and hurried to join the crew.

Director Huang Sheng had already arrived and greeted Chen Die when she came in.

Huang Sheng was very fond of Chen Die, not only because she was a good friend of his daughter but also because he could see his past self in her—himself at eighteen when he won the Best Actress award. It could be said that Chen Die had a limitless future ahead.

“Who else hasn’t arrived?” Huang Sheng asked a staff member nearby.

“Just our male lead,” the staff member said. “Let me send another message.”

Just as the staff member picked up their phone, Xue Mu ran in shouting, “Sorry!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Sit down first. We’ve made a few temporary modifications based on our last script reading meeting. Let’s confirm with everyone again,” Huang Sheng said.

Xue Mu pulled out the chair next to Chen Die and sat down.

Chen Die took out her script and pen from her bag. Beside her, Xue Mu gently nudged her with his elbow, “Sister Chen Die, do you have an extra pen?”

“Yes.” Chen Die handed him a blue highlighter, “Just call me by my name.”

Although Xue Mu’s character in the film was a few years older than Chen Die’s, in real life, he was three years younger than her. He was still in college and had debuted in a family drama right before the college entrance examination.

Huang Sheng clearly explained the few changes in the script. Chen Die made notes on it with her pen, marking and revising.

After it ended, Xue Mu returned the pen to Chen Die, along with a small note torn from the blank page at the end of the script. On it, he had drawn a small blue heart with the highlighter, written “thank you,” and added a string of emoticons (////）.

Chen Die remembered the tarot card that Little Qi had drawn for her in the “Hairpin Flowers” crew—a gentle, clingy Aquarius, a “little puppy” three years younger.

“…”

Is this what little puppies are like nowadays?

After Chen Die left the room, Wen Liang quickly departed and returned to his company.

Zhu Qicong was already there and approached as he exited the elevator, “Mr. Wen, we’ve uncovered basic information about Chen Shuyuan’s biological parents.”

Wen Liang responded, “Let’s talk in the office.”

Twenty-three years ago, Chen Shuyuan and Chen Die were born in the same hospital, and by a twist of fate, they were labeled with opposite bed numbers. Chen Ke Lin naturally took Chen Shuyuan home, while Chen Die was taken by Chen Shuyuan’s biological parents.

But they didn’t raise Chen Die for long before abandoning her at an orphanage, from where she was adopted by Wang Mian and Chen Jianping.

Among all parties involved, the most cruel and irresponsible were Chen Shuyuan’s biological parents.

All those hardships in life were originally meant for her, but Chen Die was forced to endure them instead.

Zhu Qicong placed the investigation files on Wen Liang’s desk. After introducing the basic situation, he added, “But I discovered a strange connection. Although there’s no extra contact between Chen Shuyuan and her biological parents, in recent years, Chen Shuyuan has been sending them money.”

Wen Liang frowned, “How much?”

“A total of 1.4 million yuan, with 200,000 yuan just at the beginning of this year.”

For the Chen family, 1.4 million was just a small sum, hardly worth mentioning. But for an adopted daughter to secretly transfer family money to her biological parents was unacceptable.

“Prepare the detailed evidence for me first, and continue to monitor her movements. Don’t let her have any opportunity to harm Chen Die.”

“Yes.”

Wen Liang lowered his head to continue reading the investigation file. Seeing that Zhu Qicong was still standing in front of him without moving, he looked up and asked, “Anything else?”

“Yes, one more thing.” Zhu Qicong scratched his hair, “I’d like to request five days off next week.”

Although Zhu Qicong wasn’t that old, he had become Wen Liang’s right-hand man. He managed many projects for Wen Liang, summarizing, arranging, and assigning tasks. His work ability was extremely strong.

Five days off would be easy for others to request, but not for Zhu Qicong.

“What for?” Wen Liang asked.

“I’m getting married next Monday,” Zhu Qicong said, taking an invitation from his pocket and placing it in front of Wen Liang. “Mr. Wen, please come if you have time. After the wedding, I want to go on a honeymoon with my girlfriend, so I’d like to take some annual leave.”

Wen Liang paused, remembering Chen Die’s reaction when he asked her to get a marriage certificate the night before.

“Alright, hand over all your work before taking leave,” Wen Liang instructed, then seemingly casually asked, “When did you get engaged? I never heard you mention it.”

Zhu Qicong smiled and said, “We skipped the engagement step. We’re both too busy with work. I just successfully proposed recently, and our parents met once and set the date.”

Wen Liang smiled faintly and waved for Zhu Qicong to leave.

Meanwhile, at the Chen family’s main residence in the Binjiang Villa area.

Chen Shuyuan had lost face in front of everyone at the costume ball. Those who used to be her friends were now mocking her behind her back for not being the Chen family’s biological daughter, completely disregarding their friendship.

These days, she hadn’t gone anywhere, staying at home all day.

Even though she received invitations to some parties, she didn’t dare go, even resenting those who sent invitations, believing they just wanted to see her embarrassed again.

After breakfast, Chen Shuyuan went back upstairs to her room.

Lin Quan called out to her, “Yuanyuan, would you like to go shopping with mom this afternoon?”

“No, mom,” Chen Shuyuan replied as her phone vibrated in her hand.

She looked down.

[My darling daughter, your mom and I are short on money again. When can you transfer some more to us?]

[Just 100,000 yuan would be enough for now.]

Chen Shuyuan closed her eyes in disgust, ignoring Lin Quan’s call, and ran straight upstairs.

Who could have imagined that after her biological parents discovered she was the Chen family’s daughter, they would blackmail and extort her? Initially, it was just 20,000 or 30,000 yuan. Chen Shuyuan was young then and only thought about keeping them away from Lin Quan. Twenty or thirty thousand wasn’t much money, so she transferred it to them.

But she never expected that desire and greed would gradually grow through this process.

Later, it increased from 50,000 to 70,000, then to 100,000 yuan.

Chen Shuyuan clenched her teeth tightly.

[Chen Shuyuan: I already gave you 200,000 yuan this year.]

[You’re living the high life in the Chen family. My daughter even took their surname. What’s wrong with giving me some money as compensation?]

[Transfer it to me quickly, or I’ll come to the Chen house to find you.]

Chen Shuyuan read the messages, trembling with anger, and took deep breaths to calm herself down.

[Chen Shuyuan: I can give you money, but you have to do something for me.]

[Chen Shuyuan: Find someone to teach Chen Die a lesson—the one on TV. But don’t expose me.]

[You ask your father for money and expect me to do your dirty work? Do you think I’m stupid? What if I go after her and end up dead? Trying to kill two birds with one stone? Not happening!]

[Listen, 100,000 yuan. If you don’t transfer it tonight, I’m coming to the Chen house for dinner.]

[If your two parents find out you’ve been transferring money to me all this time, you know what they’ll think, right?]

Chen Shuyuan, unable to bear it any longer, threw her phone onto the bed and crouched on the floor, covering her face.

After a while, she picked up her phone again and still transferred the 100,000 yuan to them.

As she exited the page, she received another message.

[This is Fu Wanmei. Want to meet up?]