Chapter 50 Heading Forward (5) Wen Chen V: Not being kept. My family takes care of...
New Year's Day had just passed, and the snow outside the window still shone with a cold white light. Scattered icicles hung on the bare branches, and when the wind blew, tiny ice crystals fell down in a flurry, making the air even crisper.
The apartment was warmly heated, and the aroma of milk mixed with the sweetness of syrup permeated every corner.
Gu Moheng was struggling with a bowl of batter in the kitchen, all because last night, Wen Chen, while curled up on the sofa scrolling through her phone, casually mentioned missing the French crepes she couldn't get a turn at in Paris. So, this financial tycoon canceled three high-level meetings today, had Qin Shu prepare the materials and bring them over, and then spent the entire morning in the kitchen, wearing that ill-fitting gray apron.
Wen Chen sat in his study, finishing a few design drafts, the lines on his graphics tablet flowing smoothly and crisply. But the occasional clanging sounds drifting from the kitchen made his lips unconsciously curl into a slight smile. This kind of mundane, everyday life, steeped in the warmth of home, was a luxury he had never dared to dream of in the past eight years.
"Knock knock".
There was a gentle knock on the study door, and when Qin Shu pushed it open, his expression was noticeably unnatural.
"Mr. Wen," Qin Shu said in a low voice, glancing towards the kitchen before saying in a deep voice, "Something has happened."
Wen Chen's pressure-sensitive pen paused, the tip stopping on the graphics tablet. He looked up, the gentleness in his eyes instantly vanishing: "What's wrong?"
Qin Shu didn't say much, but simply handed over the tablet in his hand. The screen displayed a well-known architecture forum, a section that usually focused entirely on discussions of structural aesthetics and design concepts. At this moment, however, a bold red title dominated the top of the page, so glaringly obvious that it couldn't be ignored.
[Up-and-coming architect reportedly in love with a business tycoon? Wen Chen spotted with a wedding ring on her left ring finger! Suspected of being kept by a sugar daddy?]
The accompanying photo was clearly taken secretly; the background was dark and blurry, and the scene appeared to be at an airport. In the photo, Wen Chen was looking down at his phone, wearing a black mask that revealed only his cool, aloof eyes. However, the camera was deliberately focused on his left hand.
The simple ring, reflecting a cold luster under the flash, became the sole focus of the image.
The comment section has already been filled with thousands of posts, and malicious speculations have overwhelmed the few rational voices.
"I've long heard that Wen Chen has powerful connections; otherwise, how could those big projects have fallen into his lap?"
Is this the power of capital?
"What a waste of his talent, he still took the shortcut in the end."
Wen Chen scrolled through the screen expressionlessly. The words seemed to transmit a chill through the glass, and the warmth in his eyes faded little by little with the coolness of his fingertips, like the unmelted ice outside the window.
"Mr. Wen, what about President Gu..." Qin Shu hesitated, then stopped.
"He found out?" Wen Chen put the tablet face down on the table and stood up.
"Mr. Gu's phone kept ringing just now; it must have been the public relations department calling," Qin Shu replied honestly.
Wen Chen didn't say anything more, pushed open the study door, and walked straight to the kitchen. As soon as he got close to the door, the sweet aroma had changed, and now it had a burnt smell.
Gu Moheng stood with his back to him in front of the kitchen counter, his right hand gripping the edge of the whisk tightly, his knuckles white, and the veins on the back of his hand bulging. The tablet computer was tossed on the counter beside him, its screen still lit, displaying that glaring post.
On the expensive marble countertop, a bowl of pale yellow batter was mostly spilled. The viscous liquid dripped down the edge of the table and onto the floor, creating a mess.
"Take it down." He ordered into the Bluetooth headset, speaking rapidly. "Now, immediately, right now. Find the person who posted it, whoever it is, make them disappear from this industry completely."
Gu Moheng hung up the phone and hurriedly grabbed a rag, trying to wipe off the paste on the table, but the more he wiped, the dirtier and messier it became.
The feeling of being out of control almost suffocated him.
He didn't want Wen Chen to see those vicious words.
"Gu Moheng."
A clear, crisp voice sounded behind him, and Gu Moheng's back stiffened abruptly. The rag in his hand fell into the batter with a "thud." He didn't dare turn around, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty, his voice terribly dry: "...Don't come in. It's dirty and messy here."
He tried to maintain the last shred of dignity, not wanting Wen Chen to see him in this disheveled and ferocious state.
Wen Chen ignored him, walking step by step behind him in her slippers. She reached out and reached around his stiff waist, first turning off the still-burning flame of the frying pan. Then she gently grasped Gu Moheng's hand, which was covered in batter and trembling slightly.
"Is this the surprise you were talking about?" Wen Chen's gaze fell on the mess on the table, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
Gu Moheng lowered his head and hurriedly explained, "Regarding the news... I've already had someone suppress it. In ten minutes, no, five minutes, the hype will definitely die down, and no one will talk about it anymore. I will protect you and won't let anyone disturb your life."
"We can still be like before, with no one knowing about our relationship, and you still being that clean-cut designer..."
“Gu Moheng.” Wen Chen suddenly raised her voice, interrupting his incoherent explanation.
Gu Moheng fell silent, but his breathing was so rapid that he seemed to be about to suffocate.
Wen Chen sighed and pulled out a few wet wipes from the side. Little by little, she patiently wiped away the sticky paste from between Gu Moheng's fingers.
"Who said you were going to press it down?" Wen Chen threw the soiled tissue into the trash can, raised her eyes, and stared straight into Gu Moheng's astonished pupils.
“…What?” Gu Moheng was stunned, his mind went blank.
“I said, no need to press.” Wen Chen released his hand, turned around, and picked up the tablet that was still constantly popping up new messages. She glanced at the offensive comments, but a cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth. “The ring was photographed quite clearly.”
Gu Moheng was completely unable to follow his train of thought, and just stared blankly at him: "But those people said you..."
"What did you say about me? That I'm being kept?"
Wen Chen chuckled, turned her head to look at him, and said with a hint of amusement in her eyes, "President Gu, although my net worth is not as high as yours, I am not so low as to need to be 'kept' by someone, am I?"
"That's not what I meant!" Gu Moheng said anxiously, stepping forward to explain.
"I know." Wen Chen raised her hand and placed her palm on Gu Moheng's face, which was pale with anxiety. The slightly cool touch of her fingertips instantly calmed Gu Moheng down.
"Gu Moheng, what are you afraid of?"
Gu Moheng lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes obscuring the darkness within them, his voice hoarse and barely audible: "I'm afraid... afraid you won't admit it. After all, I hurt you so deeply before, and we haven't been back together for very long..."
Looking at his anxious and uncertain expression, Wen Chen felt a sharp, tingling pain in the softest part of her heart. How could Gu Moheng, who was once so proud and arrogant, be so humble and insignificant in front of her?
"Qin Shu." Wen Chen suddenly spoke, but his gaze never left Gu Moheng's face.
Qin Shu, who had been standing invisible at the door, immediately stood up straight: "I'm here."
“No need to pull the hype off.” Wen Chen said calmly. “Contact the public relations department and prepare a press release.”
"Send...what?" Qin Shu was stunned for a moment.
Wen Chen smiled and took Gu Moheng's left hand, which had just been wiped clean. On that slender ring finger, a matching plain ring gleamed with a warm luster. He raised their hands, interlocked their fingers, and held them together.
With a "click," Wen Chen took a picture with his phone. The background was the unfinished crepe batter and the messy countertop in the kitchen.
"It's better to let everyone see, so they won't make wild guesses." Wen Chen lowered his head and edited the Weibo post, his fingertips swiping quickly across the screen.
Gu Moheng felt his heart was about to leap out of his chest, his blood surging wildly in his veins, making his eardrums buzz. "Wen Chen, have you thought this through? Once it's public, you really... won't be able to get rid of me."
The moment Wen Chen pressed the send button, she looked up at him, her eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of provocation in her eyes, "You've been unable to shake me off for a long time, haven't you?"
[Wen Chen V: I'm not being kept. My husband, Mr. Gu, cooks so deliciously, I'm waiting to be fed. @Gu Moheng]
The accompanying picture is that photo of their fingers intertwined.
Less than half a minute after the Weibo post was published, his phone started vibrating incessantly, with private messages and mentions instantly reaching 99+. Qin Shu was still on the phone with the public relations department, and it was clear that the person on the other end was also quite taken aback by this sudden "official announcement."
Wen Chen ignored the private messages and mentions that were practically popping up, and didn't even glance at the screen again before pressing the power button.
The world is finally quiet.
The burnt smell lingered in the kitchen, mingling with the chilly snow seeping in from the window, making it somewhat pungent. Gu Moheng remained in that position, staring intently at Wen Chen's blacked-out phone screen, his pupils trembling.
"Wen Chen, you... it's not too late to back out. Just say your account was hacked, or that you lost a game of Truth or Dare..."
Wen Chen smiled and said to Qin Shu, "Notify all media outlets that a press conference will be held tomorrow at 3 PM. Only mainstream media are welcome. Those tabloids that come uninvited should be asked to leave immediately."
Gu Moheng hadn't quite recovered from his surprise when he said, "The venue is too small. The studio's security isn't enough; those reporters will be like mad dogs. I'll arrange a hotel and bring in Gu's security team. We must set up three lines of defense, review the questions in advance, and eliminate all sharp questions..."
His familiar domineering attitude resurfaced; this was Gu Moheng's reactive response, always wanting to control everything and protect Wen Chen.
“Gu Moheng,” Wen Chen interrupted him, her tone not harsh, “This is my press conference, I trust I can handle it.”
Gu Moheng's fingertips twitched suddenly, and the light in his eyes dimmed instantly, like a large dog being scolded by its owner, its fur that had just stood up drooping down, and his voice was low: "...I'm sorry."
Seeing his expression, Wen Chen turned and walked lazily toward the bedroom, saying, "Alright, come and choose some clothes."
Gu Moheng paused for a moment, then followed closely behind.
The bedroom's walk-in closet is large, with warm yellow light shining on rows of clothes racks, making the fabrics appear even more delicate.
Wen Chen opened the closet door, her fingertips tracing across rows of suits, her long, slender, fair fingers weaving through the dark fabric.
Finally, two suits were brought out. One was a sharply tailored iron gray with a fabric that had a subtle cashmere texture, giving it a warm and understated look. The other was a deep Prussian blue with a peak lapel design, exuding a sharp and sophisticated air.
"This gray one, or this dark blue one?"
Wen Chen turned around, held up the two outfits in front of her, and looked up at him. "Mr. Gu, please choose one."
Gu Moheng's gaze lingered on the two outfits for a long time. Actually, there was no need to choose. The dark blue one was custom-made to suit his personal style.
"You decide." Gu Moheng passed the buck back to the team.
"Tsk." Wen Chen glanced at him with amusement. "Just choose what I tell you to choose."
Gu Moheng pursed his lips, raised his hand, and pointed hesitantly to the dark blue outfit: "This one."
Wen Chen nodded in satisfaction and stuffed the dark blue suit into his arms. "Good taste."
He stood in front of the mirror, holding up another suit jacket to his body, turned his head to look at Gu Moheng, curled the corners of his lips, and had a sly look in his eyes, "Couple colors, but not exactly the same."
-
The snow fell even harder in the dead of night. The wind howled outside the window, like someone weeping softly. The apartment was quiet, the underfloor heating running silently, keeping the chill out of the windows.
Gu Moheng couldn't fall asleep. The dark blue suit was hanging by the bedside, and whenever he closed his eyes, the scene from that rainy night eight years ago would haunt him like a nightmare—Wen Chen's disappointed eyes, the torn design drawings, the resolute back... and tomorrow, how would the media write about it? How would they make things difficult for Wen Chen? Chaotic thoughts, like cold, venomous snakes, coiled up his spine, suffocating him.
The wall clock pointed to three in the morning. He couldn't hold back any longer. He quietly got out of bed, barefoot on the warm floor, without slippers, and pushed open the door to the guest room.
A sliver of warm yellow light shone through the crack in the door.
Gu Moheng was stunned, and Wen Chen was also awake.
The desk lamp was on, casting a soft glow on the slender figure. Wen Chen, dressed in loose pajamas, held a pressure-sensitive pen and was rapidly drawing on the graphics tablet.
The scratching sound of the pen tip was especially clear in the quiet night.
Gu Moheng stood at the door, his breath slightly catching in his throat. Wen Chen stopped what he was doing upon hearing the sound. He put down his pen, turned his chair around, and the light shone on his profile, revealing faint dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that he too hadn't slept all night.
He looked at Gu Moheng, who was standing in the shadows.
"Why aren't you asleep?" Wen Chen asked.
"I'm nervous," Gu Moheng said in a low voice, standing in the shadows.
A brief silence fell over the guest room.
Wen Chen picked up the plain ring from the table again, twirled it around her finger, and then slipped it back onto her ring finger. The cool touch of the metal perfectly caught the vein connecting to her heart.
He looked up and gently waved to the man standing in the darkness.
"come over."
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